Week of April 21 to April 25

An image of a check presentation for INCubator

April 28, 2025 9:00 AM

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Update from Interim Superintendent Bentsen

Dear Fenton School Community,

This week we welcomed three new school board members and celebrated the tenure of three outgoing board members who stepped aside after years of valuable service.

The DuPage County Clerk’s election staff recently certified the results from our April 1 election and all changes were implemented during Fenton’s April 23 Board of Education meeting.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Bensenville residents Rachel Matug, Dr. Christopher McCullough, and Michael Miller to the Fenton Community High School District 100 Board of Education.

As previously communicated, John Radzinski is going to continue serving on the Board under what’s known as a “holdover” provision. Under Illinois law, a current seated school board member’s term of office does not end until a qualified successor has been appointed or elected. This election only had three candidates run for four possible seats on the Board, and Mr. Radzinski expressed an interest in continuing to serve.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, our newly constituted Board of Education voted for officer positions. Mr. Cary Lewis was re-elected as Board President. Mr. Leonel Figueroa was elected Board Vice President, and Mr. Radzinski was elected as Board Secretary. We thank them for volunteering for these elevated roles.

Board of Education Officers for 2025 to 2027

We also recognized and gave thanks to the three outgoing Board members. Ms. Juliet Rago served on the Board of Education since 2017, Ms. Sylvia Hayde since 2021, and Mr. Kent Kovac since 2022. All three have contributed to our school in their own unique way and will be missed.

School Board Members are recognized after leaving office at the April 2025 Board meeting

Two staff groups were also recognized and celebrated this week.

Administrative Professionals Day

Wednesday, April 23 was National Administrative Professionals Day and we are so thrilled to celebrate these professionals who do so much work behind the scenes to ensure our teachers, students, families, and administrators are supported in all aspects of running the school.

Fenton celebrates its administrative professionals

Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Tuesday, April 22 was National Bus Driver Appreciation Day and we gave thanks to all the incredible Fenton bus drivers who transport our students to and from school, to and from field trips, and to and from sporting events. They are the first adults many of our kids see in the morning and the last adults they see before they return to their families. Thanks for all that you do!

I’m honored to partner with this staff and our Bensenville/Wood Dale community.

Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your partnership.

Sam Bentsen, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

Students tour the YWCA Clothesline Project

Fenton Observes Sexual Assault Awareness Month by Hosting YWCA’s Clothesline Project

Thank you to the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago for bringing their Clothesline Project to Fenton High School. Classes were invited to visit and tour the exhibit all throughout the day on Friday, April 25. Representatives from YWCA did a brief introduction each period before releasing students to browse independently. YWCA counselors and advocates were also in the front gym in case anyone needed support. This important activity coincides with April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

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The Clothesline Project began in 1990 as a way for survivors of sexual violence to share their experiences and raise awareness through decorated t-shirts, each telling a unique story. Inspired by the AIDS quilt, visual artist Rachel Carey-Harper proposed using a clothesline — a traditional symbol of women’s work and community connection — to give voice to survivors. Today, the project continues to honor survivors.

Seniors Class of 2025 pictured at Homecoming

Class of 2025 Important Dates

May is always a busy month as we gear up for Graduation. The following are events and important dates for the Class of 2025:

Decision Day

Join in the celebration by sharing your plans post-high school on Thursday, May 1st, during all lunch periods.

Senior Sundaes

Celebrate your sweet success with an ice cream sundae bar during all lunches on Wednesday, May 14th.

Seniors Last Day of School

Thursday, May 15th. Return all materials to the Chromezone, library and bookstore no later than this date.

Prom

Friday, May 16th from 6pm to 11pm at Carlisle Banquets in Lombard. Tickets will be available for purchase in the bookstore from April 14th to May 2nd.

Senior Awards Night

Monday, May 19th at 6:30pm in the Fenton Auditorium. Formal invitations will be sent to students who will be recognized.

Senior Brunch

Tuesday, May 20th at 10am at White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville. Tickets will be available for purchase in the bookstore from April 14th to May 15th.

Graduation Practice - MANDATORY

Wednesday, May 21st at 8:30 a.m. in the Fenton Field House.

Graduation

Thursday, May 22nd at 7 p.m. in the Fenton Field House. A ticket is required for entry. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 6:55 p.m.

See Tomorrow’s Business Leaders at Incubator Pitch Night

The public is invited to attend Fenton’s inaugural INCubator Pitch Night on May 8th in the Fenton Auditorium. Visitors can tour the project booths from 5 to 6 p.m., while the Final Pitches are scheduled for 6:15 to 8 p.m. The evening will closely resemble the hit TV show Shark Tank, with real money going toward real business ideas.

Students in the full year Entrepreneurship class (also known as INCubator) have the opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service and incorporate it into a real-world business they own. Guided by real-world entrepreneurs and local industry-leading mentors, students experience the full range of business operations, including ideation, research, marketing, accounting, human resources, as well as the legal aspects of running a business.

A flier for the May 8 INCubator Pitch Night

The course culminates in Pitch Night, where student teams present their innovative ideas to a panel of professionals, with the chance to secure funding to bring their business plans to life. This process not only sparks creativity but also equips students with practical skills and experience to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the real world.

Several local businesses and organizations have generously donated seed money to the Pitch Night award fund over the past few months. Thank you to:

Chicago White Metal Casting

A check presentation to Incubator students from the VFW Tioga Post

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Tioga Post 2149

A check presentation to Incubator students from the UPS Store in Bensenville

Fenton alumni Jimmy Ochoa at the Bensenville UPS Store

The Bensenville Community Foundation

and multiple anonymous donors!

Give us a call if you're interested in becoming a business mentor or providing a tax deductible donation to our INCubator program.

Student Engineers Get Showcased at Google HQ

Two groups from Fenton engineering classes traveled to the Google Headquarters in downtown Chicago to participate in an April 25 STEM Showcase with the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.

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In recent weeks students were challenged to solve an engineering problem, present their solution to a panel of professionals, and then defend their solution. Each challenge involved an aspect that tied into environmental preservation. One group from Ms. Lauren Lemm's class took recycled plastic water bottles and converted them into fabric for swimsuits, a project that cleared the panel and was invited to the Showcase in Chicago. The other chosen group was from Mr. Ben Nelson's class, which took recycled clothes and converted them into clothes for dogs.

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The two Fenton groups, plus a few German Exchange classmates, joined with others from schools all over Illinois to present their projects.

Students visit Google headquarters for the Illinois Science Technology Coalition STEM Showcase

Spring Assembly 2025

Fenton hosted its Spring Assembly on Wednesday, April 23 and it included:

A Swing Choir performance,
1st Place Talent Show Winning Performance (piano),
Recognition of our 3rd Place at State Group Interpretation Cast,
Recognition of our State Champion Contest Play Crew,
A Prom Announcements,
A Scene from the Sprint Musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Charlie Brown Comes to Fenton in Spring Musical

Theater students thoroughly entertained crowds during four performances of the Spring Musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is based on the hit cartoon from Charles M. Schulz and the 1967 Broadway musical, which was remade in 1999. Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang explore life’s great questions while enjoying hobbies, fumbling through homework, obsessing over crushes, celebrating friendship, and of course…singing.

Thank you to all the cast, crew, and theater directors for such a great show!

A scene from Spring Musical 2025 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Seniors in the Spring Musical 2025 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Need a Summer Job? Fenton Seeks Student Workers

Fenton’s Building, Grounds, and Transportation Department needs several summer workers to do routine school maintenance. Some of the positions involve outdoor tasks while other positions focus on needs inside the building. Students should be available to work between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting the last week of May. Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the Building, Grounds, and Transportation Department office -- Room 934 in the music hallway (before you get to the Athletic Department Office).

Noteworthy Dates

May 1 – Decision Day, with celebrations during all lunch periods
May 1 – AP Art Show, 7 pm
May 5 – Spring Choir Concert, 7 pm
May 7 – Spring Band Concert, 7 pm
May 8 – INCubator Pitch Night, 6 pm
May 13 – Music Department Awards Night, 7 pm
May 15 – Padres Unidos Meeting, 6:45 pm
May 16 – 12:08 Early Dismissal
May 15 – Prom, 6 pm
May 19 – Senior Awards Night, 6:30 pm
May 21 – Final Exam Day 1
May 22 – Final Exam Day 2
May 22 – Commencement Ceremony, 7 pm
May 23 – Final Exam Day 3

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