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Back to School Newsletter 2025
Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic en la bandera en la esquina inferior derecha y cambie el idioma.
Update from Superintendent Bentsen
Dear Fenton School Community,
We’re having an outstanding start to the 2025-2026 school year and we have so many opportunities to Level Up in the weeks and months ahead. I’m thankful for our incredible teachers and staff who endured through the final stages of construction and were ready to enthusiastically welcome students back to school. Our students are once again walking our halls, learning and growing in our classrooms, and representing Bison Pride in competition.
As you know, we started the year a little late so we could finish moving into our new STEM Wing. The reactions we’ve received from students, staff, and community members have been remarkable. We’re proud to enhance Fenton’s learning environments and provide more opportunities to our students!
The Fenton Board of Education dedicated this new addition to the communities of Bensenville and Wood Dale for their continued belief in the possibilities education creates for our students.
Homecoming 2025
One of our favorite times of the year is quickly upon us, and that’s Homecoming! We welcome our current students and alumni back to Fenton to celebrate our shared pride in the school. We encourage participation, as it’s well known that students who feel a sense of belonging typically do better academically.
Most importantly, let’s show our Bison Pride at Friday night’s football game against Elmwood Park! But please remember to use our new stadium entrance accessible from the lighted sidewalk by the tennis courts.
Photo by Casey Brock of the Highlights Yearbook Club
Our list of events can be found in a news item on the homepage of our website. Click here to read more about Homecoming.
Open House & Parent Involvement
Open House is a great way to meet your child’s teachers, learn about the class, ask general questions, and pick up a syllabus. This year’s Open House is set for Thursday, September 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. Mark your calendars!
We have plenty of other ways parents can be involved at Fenton. Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), Padres Unidos, Polish Parent Outreach, and Music Boosters are all groups families can join to stay connected and participate throughout the year.
We’re also planning to continue our partnership with the Glenbard Parent Series. It’s a large group of area schools working together to find guest speakers and produce informative literature to help families navigate life with a growing teenager.
Most programs in the Glenbard Parent Series programs are virtual and can be joined from home over the internet, and all presentations are free. We plan to communicate various upcoming presentations as the year progresses, but we invite you to bookmark their website https://gpsparentseries.org/ and sign up for their emails.
Here is their first lineup of the year:
Superintendent Search
As we’ve previously shared, the Board of Education has begun a Superintendent Search Process under the guidance of search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA). This new superintendent would assume the role on July 1, 2026 after I retire.
We are using an electronic survey to collect feedback from students, their families, staff, and community members. The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete and it includes questions about the status of our school, your expectations for the future of our school, and the qualities you think our next Fenton superintendent should possess.
Please note, the survey repeats in Spanish and Polish. Everyone is invited to participate.
Again, welcome back. Let us know if you have any questions about the new year.
Sam Bentsen, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Board of Education Celebrates Elizabeth Delgado's Softball Career
Class of 2025 graduate Elizabeth "Izzy" Delgado was recognized by the Fenton Board of Education during its July meeting for her achievement in being named to the Illinois Softball Coaches Association All-State 3rd Team. This is her second straight year receiving this statewide honor!
Izzy earned All-State honors in 2024 while filling in at catcher for a large portion of the season and in 2025 received All-State honors while playing her natural outfield position.
Coach Dave Mello also surprised Izzy with an announcement that her jersey #2 is now retired and a banner will hang at the softball field in her honor.
With 35-to-37 games per season, Coach Mello said Izzy is the first softball player in his 17 years at Fenton to play in every single game all four years.
Izzy now ranks top 4 among all Fenton softball players in the following categories:
- 3rd in runs with 160
- 3rd in hits with 151
- 2nd in doubles with 33
- 1st in triples with 21
- 4th in RBI with 123
Congratulations, Izzy! Good luck at Triton College!
Join the Game Day March
The Bison Marching Band drum line gets the school amped up for each home football game by leading the team through the building at 7:45 a.m. They did so on August 29 before our first home game and will do so again on Friday, September 12 prior to our Homecoming Game. Students are invited to wear Blue and Orange on Friday and cheer on the Bison before 1st period.
Click here to watch the August 29 drum line march on Facebook.
Freshmen Level Up with Exciting Welcome to Bison Nation
Fenton is excited to welcome the Freshmen Class of 2029. Most of these newest students attended Freshmen Orientation on August 19 and met Principal Kate Ward, members of the Bison Link Crew, and other fellow freshmen. Attendees enjoyed several fun get-to-know-you activities leading up to a tour of the building.
A huge thank you to the incredible Bison Link Crew, which consists of returning students who volunteer to be the link between freshmen and everything Fenton. Thank you for living The Bison Way and being the emerging leaders and innovators of the future.
These Link Crew leaders will continue to assist freshmen and parents during various events and school functions throughout the year. Freshmen are encouraged to stay in touch with their new Link Crew friends.
Click here to watch the freshmen entry on Facebook or click on the video embedded above.
Learning About School
Throughout the first week of school our students attended grade-level assemblies during Bison Time to get re-acquainted with school expectations, support services offered, and to learn about new processes and procedures relating to attendance, the cafeteria, and grades. Students are invited to ask their Bison Time teacher, counselor, or Link Crew leader for more information if questions come up as the year continues.
A Step Up in Coding
Students in AP Computer Science and Foundations of Coding wasted no time using Fenton’s new Learning Staircase on their second day of school. Teachers Brandon Brzuszkiewicz and Ty Acosta teamed up on an algorithm writing activity their students could do in small groups spread out on the staircase. The large LCD monitor mounted on the wall across from the “stairs” transforms the area into another learning space.
Alumni Wall of Fame
Fenton is thrilled to continue adding to the Alumni Wall of Fame and the tradition of recognizing those who excel in their profession and/or go above and beyond to support Fenton High School. The goal is to celebrate homegrown success stories and show current students what is possible through hard work and dedication.
If you know of any alumni who are deserving of recognition, please visit the alumni portion of our website to learn about the criteria and nomination process.
Celebrating 100 Years of Fenton Holiday Concerts
Fenton will host its 100th Annual Holiday Band and Choir Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 14th at 2 p.m. In addition to inviting the public to join in this historic occasion, the band and choir programs are inviting music alumni to join the performance for a cross generational song. Please mark your calendars for an afternoon of holiday joy, and alumni interested in participating can click the button below to sign up or share photos.
Music students joined Mr. Kambic in promoting the holiday concert at the Village of Bensenville Music in the Park concert on August 20th. Fliers were given out with the date and time for those who want to attend, and a QR code for alumni to sign up for the performance. Fenton’s Music Department graciously received half of the $492 Split the Pot raffle proceeds from that night. Thank you to the Bensenville Community Foundation for the donation!
Taking Action to Defeat Hunger
We love seeing our students volunteering in the community, making a difference in the hometowns we share. Danna, a senior at Fenton, and her father were up early to help unpack and then distribute food to neighbors in need at the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry on Saturday, September 6.
September is Hunger Action Month and food pantries across the United States are raising awareness about the many forms of food insecurity that quietly impact children, working adults, and senior citizens. Fenton High School continues to partner with the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry to address food insecurity by volunteering, fundraising, and bringing mobile food pantries to our campus. If you are able, please contact the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry and ask how you can volunteer or donate funds in our name. Let’s work together to defeat hunger!
Noteworthy Dates
- September 10 – Homecoming Movie Night, 7 pm
- September 11 – Homecoming Bonfire, 7 pm
- September 12 – Homecoming Assembly, 2 pm
- September 12 – Homecoming Football Game, 7 pm
- September 13 – Homecoming Dance, 7 pm
- September 18 – Open House, 6 pm
- September 19 – 12:08 pm Early Dismissal
- September 24 – Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
- September 27 – Day of Service (volunteering), 9 to 11 am
- October 1 – NHS Summer Community Service Deadline