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Fenton Community High School
FENTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | District 100 1000 West Green Street Bensenville | Illinois 60106 630 766 2500 www.fenton100.org Mission Statement Cultivate successful, passionate learners through rigor, relevance and relationships. Board of Education Kit Tingpalpong | President Vacant | Vice President Leonel Figueroa | Secretary Sylvia Hayde Patty Jalowiec John Radzinski Juliet Rago
Administration James Ongtengco | Superintendent Sam Bentsen | Principal Jose Jaramillo | Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations Bruce Martin | Chief School Business Officer Jim Batson | Director of Technology Rick Kambic | Director of Communications and Community Engagement Michelle Papanicolaou Director of Curriculum and Instruction Todd Becker Director of Activities and Athletics Thomas Kobel, Director of Building, Grounds and Transportation Eileen Roberts | Assistant Principal Pedro Castro | Dean of Students Jason Madl | Dean of Students Nancy Coleman | Director of Special Education Kate Ward | Division Leader Eric Koranda | Division Leader Brian Agustin | Division Leader
Dear Fenton families & valued community partners,
We have all done an amazing job of working toward “as close to normal as possible” while bringing students back into the building and reacquainting ourselves with various routines.
Unfortunately, some aspects of “normal” involve facilities and learning spaces that are far too old and antiquated. A majority of our building was originally constructed in the 1950s and based around learning models from the 1950s. Fenton underwent a facilities audit in 2019 and early 2020, up until COVID put a halt to our efforts. The deficiencies and challenges highlighted in the 2019 audit were unavoidable when we brought our entire student body back to school after 18 months of no students or light student traffic in the building. Our kids deserve better. Together, as a community, we have openly talked about these challenges and potential solutions. Fenton is grateful to all who participated in person at our 10 Public engagement sessions as well as everyone who completed our communitywide phone survey or one of our online survey forms. We also are very thankful to the parents, neighbors, and business leaders on our Community Engagement Committee, which helped us test and refine our presentations during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of this outreach initiative.
All of this incredible feedback lets us know what the community prefers and will support. This collaboration will ensure our final plan is fair, fiscally responsible, and reflective of the wishes of our community. These conversations will continue as we move forward, toward safe facilities that are capable of 21st Century Learning. We ask that our community stay involved. A Phase 3 phone survey will go out in January with the latest options that have been modified based on your feedback and preferences. All are invited to review our Community Engagement webpage, which contains reports, copies of our presentations, and our informational videos. Please visit: fenton100.org/district/community_engagement Myself, the Fenton Administrative Team, our teachers, and entire staff are all so proud to serve this community. We’re excited to see what the future holds for Fenton High School.
Go BISON!
JAMES ONGTENGCO | Superintendent
well done!
FENTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | District 100 1000 West Green Street Bensenville | Illinois 60106 630 766 2500 www.fenton100.org Mission Statement Cultivate successful, passionate learners through rigor, relevance and relationships.
Fenton Football Players Present Proceeds from September 11 Fundraiser to Bensenville and Wood Dale First Responders
The Fenton High School football team fundraised $12,200 as part of its September 11, 2001 Remembrance Program and its two captains presented checks to Bensenville and Wood Dale first responders during the November 17 Fenton Board of Education meeting. Fenton’s memorial ceremony took place prior to the September 10, 2021 home game against East Aurora High School. It included active and retired members of the military, including Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Yantis, who was working in the Pentagon the day of the attack. Retired and active first responders also lined the football field and participated in a bell ringing ceremony. The fundraising efforts include but are not limited to: • A $5,000 Donation from the Chicago Bears • Memorial T-Shirt Sales, and • Proceeds from the Concessions Stand • Nike Corp. Fenton football player Richard Chavez presented a $3,050 check to Bensenville Village Manager Evan Summers and Police Chief Dan Schultz, as well as a $3,050 check to Battalion Chief Angel Reyes of the Bensenville Fire Protection District. While at the podium, Richard said the following:
“I don’t know what it’s like being a police officer, a firefighter, or a paramedic. But I know it’s more than just making traffic stops, staying up late nights, and handling small disputes. The bravery and selflessness exhibited by first responders on a daily basis for the residents of Bensenville, Wood Dale, and all communities across the United States of America is truly inspiring and heroic. These men and women wake up each day not knowing what the day will entail or what is awaiting on the other side of that phone call. Thank you and your families for the sacrifice you make daily for the residents being served. In the climate we are currently living in today, people forget first responders are ordinary citizens that have feelings and fears. However, first responders suppress those feelings and fears for the betterment of society. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you on behalf of everyone who lives in the Village of Bensenville and the City of Wood Dale. Thank you for everything you have done, and for everything you will do.”
Bison football player Zane Benayad presented $3,050 checks to each Wood Dale police and fire officials.
Before the audience full of football players and first responders could disperse, Principal Sam Bentsen also chose to recognize Head Football Coach Matthew Lynch for organizing the memorial program. “Honestly, you guys have no idea how much time this man put into this program,” Principal Bentsen told the school board. “Hours and hours of meticulous planning. Meetings where he told us EXACTLY how it had to be done. It was an incredible program and it was his vision from the beginning. I just want to thank him. We’re fortunate to have Matt – as a teacher, as a coach, as a mentor. I think he deserves a standing ovation.”
FENTON APPROVES STRATEGIC PLAN 2.0
The Fenton Board of Education approved a newly developed Strategic Plan 2022-2025 in October after having formally accepted results from the inaugural Strategic Plan 2018-2021 a few months prior. A Strategic Plan is important because it acts as Fenton’s roadmap for the next three years. Fenton’s committee of 38 students, parents, educators, administrators, and school board members met four times in September and October and engaged in meaningful dialogue based around leadership principals found in the book “Great By Choice,” authored by Jim Collins. A subcommittee often met as well, to finish small tasks or streamline broad ideas proposed by the group. This new strategic plan is affectionately dubbed “Strategic Plan 2.0” because many of the concepts are continuations, enhancements of, or related to those in the original strategic plan. After strengthening the mission and belief statements, the committee identified six themes, or areas of focus, and then drafted meaningful goals in each theme. Fenton administrators will now work to develop action plans for each of those goals. Thank you to everyone who dedicated countless hours to this important three-year plan that reflects the priorities of our community.
Mission
Successful, passionate, empowered learners thrive when: We provide a safe, caring and welcoming environment Diversity, equity and inclusion unify our community School and home collaborate as one We champion innovative teaching and engaged learning, with state-of-the-art facilities We infuse social-emotional learning into academics and culture We prepare students to fulfill their civic responsibility We immerse students in authentic life experiences
Strategic Plan Themes
Teaching and Learning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Social-Emotional Growth Student Life Communication, Collaboration and Community Securing the Future
