Update from Superintendent Bentsen

Dear Fenton School Community,

 

We’ve crossed the finish line for the First Semester! Thank you to all our students, teachers, and staff for your hard work these last few weeks as we wrapped everything up and completed final demonstrations of what we learned.

 

Second Semester begins on Tuesday, January 6th. We hope you enjoy your Winter Break and spend quality time with your family and friends.

 

For a special select few students, finals didn’t just mean the end of the semester — they were the finish line at Fenton. Congratulations to our Early Graduates who took on extra classes and completed high school in December. Their commitment and motivation are cause for celebration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Education Vacancy

Due to the resignation of Board Member Rachel Matug, the Board of Education of Fenton Community High School District 100 is accepting letters of interest and applications for an appointment to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Education. Fenton High School District 100 would like to thank Ms. Matug for her 7 months of dedicated service. The duration of this appointment is until the next school board election on April 6, 2027. The Board intends to seat the new member no later than the February 10, 2026 regular Board meeting.

 

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, a resident of Illinois and District 100 for at least one year, and a registered voter. If you are interested in the board position, please pick up a Board Application at Fenton High School’s District Office.

 

 

Required application materials must be submitted to Keren Vasilikos at the Fenton District Office and received by 3:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026.

Prospective candidates who have questions about the application process can contact the Superintendent’s Office by calling (630) 860-6284 or sending an email to vasilikos@fenton100.org.

 

E-Learning Reminder

We experienced a large volume of snow and erratic temperatures in early December. That is likely to continue as winter progresses in January and February. I want to remind our students and families about E-Learning, which is the short term use of Internet-based classes. E-Learning was approved for Fenton in 2019 as a tool for continuing the learning process when coming into the building is not possible due to an emergency. If we are unable to open Fenton for one reason or another, the following will be in effect:

 

1. Students will follow the regular bell schedule for the day while learning from home.



2. Students are expected to begin virtual instruction at the time of the bell for each period. Students should log-in to the Google Classroom for the appropriate class period and join their teacher and classmates in virtual instruction by using the Google Meet link located in the upper left hand corner of the page. Students are expected to participate in all virtual learning activities and complete any work as assigned. Teachers will be available to help and assist students virtually throughout the entire class period.


3. Attendance will be taken for each class.


4. Bison Time: Students are expected to check in to Bison Time if an E-Learning day occurs Tuesday - Friday. Teachers will take attendance for Bison Time. Bison Time will be an opportunity to make school-wide announcements to the students. If no announcements are necessary, students will be dismissed from Bison Time after check-in.

Welcome Dr. Jason Klein, Fenton’s Next Superintendent

Finally, as most of you already saw in our announcement last week, the Fenton Board of Education voted unanimously on Wednesday, December 17 to appoint Dr. Jason Klein as the district’s next Superintendent effective July 1, 2026.

 

Dr. Klein presently serves as Senior Director of Learning Partnerships at Northern Illinois University’s College of Education and Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development. 

 

 

 

 

A transition plan will unfold between now and when I retire in June. 

 

It’s been an honor and privilege to serve the Bensenville and Wood Dale communities in various capacities here at Fenton since 2018. I know how special Fenton High School is, and I look forward to us continuing to work together throughout the remainder of the school year.

 

Let’s all welcome Dr. Klein to Fenton! If you would like to learn more about him, click here to read the full announcement.

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Sam Bentsen, Ed.D.

Superintendent

 

 

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SEL/PBIS Monthly Newsletter

As we wrap up the first semester, our focus has been on creating a school environment that is both respectful and supportive. From cleaning up our shared spaces to preparing for final exams, our students have shown incredible growth in their social and emotional skills.

 

We celebrated our students' hard work during our monthly Redemption Day! Students were able to use their hard-earned "Be REAL" stamps to purchase…

Click here to continue reading the December 2025 newsletter from Ms. Melissa To, Fenton’s PBIS and SEL Coordinator.

 

 

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Fenton Music Students Selected to the All-State Music Convention

Congratulations to Jan Olmos, Faith Wrzeciona, and Ezrael Lukman for being selected for the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Convention! 

 

Ezrael Lukman was selected as a cellist for the IMEA All-State Honors Orchestra. Yes, not just the All-State Orchestra, but the All-State HONORS orchestra!

 

Jan Olmos was selected as a Bass I for the IMEA All-State Honors Choir. Yep, another Fenton musician in the highest, most prestigious ensemble! This is his second consecutive year being an All-State Honors musician.

 

Faith Wrzeciona was selected to represent Fenton in the Future Music Educators Seminar, and she will participate in educational sessions at the All-State Convention. She was selected based on a video application.

 

Students in the performing ensembles represent the best student musicians in Illinois and students in the Future Music Educations Seminar represent our next generation of classroom heroes. They will all unite January 28 - 31 in Peoria.

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Congratulations Ezrael, Jan, and Faith! Fenton is proud of you!

 

 

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Fenton Celebrates 100 Years of Holiday Concerts!

Congratulations to Choir Director Seredy Williams and Band Director Garett George on a wildly successful milestone event – the 100th Annual Band and Choir Holiday Concert.

 

The special occasion, which took place on December 14, saw alumni from across the United States return home to perform on stage in honor of the occasion. Choir alumni joined with current students to perform a rendition of the song “Hallelujah,” while band alumni performed “Sleigh Ride.”

 

More photos and videos can be found on our Fenton social media, including on our music accounts. Additional photos and footage are being collected and will be shared. 

In the meantime, Mrs. Williams composed a newsletter with more information and media from the event: https://app.smore.com/n/rnt4w

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fenton Students Team Up with Chicago Bears to Distribute Food this Holiday Season

If there's one thing Bears fans and Packers fans can agree on, it's that nobody should go hungry.

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We are grateful to the Chicago Bears for their generous $2,000 donation, which made it possible for students and staff on both sides of the rivalry to come together on December 4 to unload a mobile food pantry from Northern Illinois Food Bank and distribute much-needed nourishment to 200 families in our community.

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Special thank you to the Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry for helping order the food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Board of Education Celebrates All-State Runner Josslyn Wade and the State-Qualifying Girls Cross Country Team

The Fenton Board of Education at its November meeting was thrilled to celebrate this year's historic Girls Cross Country season, which includes the Bison qualifying for the IHSA State Finals as a team for only the second time in school history. 

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Senior Josslyn Wade also was recognized for finishing 9th Place out of 236 runners at State. The top 25 finishers are considered "All-State Runners" and this is Josslyn's third consecutive year as an All-State Runner!

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Here's what Josslyn had to say:

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"I want to thank my coaches for everything they do for us. Coach Kekstadt, who not only showed us what we are capable of but also believed in us and helped us make it to the end. Coach Giselle, who is always ready to give advice for injuries, never fails to put a smile on our faces. Coach Mimi, who is the loudest voice in the crowd, ensures we know what we have to do during every race. Coach Flores, who can never keep a straight face and always makes us laugh. Coach Lopez, who is so kind and sticks it out with us even in the cold weather. This season would have been very different if it weren't for each and every one of them. 

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“I also want to thank my team for putting in the work – especially when it got tough, for always coming to practice with a good attitude, and for simply being themselves. 

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“This program and this team are special, and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of it. I will never forget the experiences I've had this season, and I can't help but feel bittersweet since it's my last year. 

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“Still, I feel confident in passing the torch to this team because they truly are incredible. Cross country is not an easy sport, but these girls have shown heart, resilience and, most importantly, spirit. I can’t wait to hear of their future successes, and no matter what I will always be their biggest supporter.”

 

 

 

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Board of Education Celebrates Matthew Andersen for Qualifying to the Boys Cross Country State Finals

The Fenton Board of Education at its November meeting was thrilled to celebrate boys cross country runner Matthew Andersen for his incredible accomplishment of qualifying to the IHSA Cross Country State Finals. 

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Matthew led the Bison through Regionals, where the entire team qualified to Sectionals. Then at Sectionals, he finished 13th out of 136 runners and earned himself a trip to the Finals in Peoria.

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Congratulations Matthew!

 

 

 

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Fenton Wrestlers Earn Medals at Weiss Invite

Fenton wrestlers performed well at the 45th annual Weiss Invite on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6 here at Fenton. 

 

Congratulations to the following medal winners from the girls team:

• Maria Quintero (1st place – individual champion), 
• Kai Zamora (1st place – individual champion), 
• Giselle Castillo (1st place – individual champion), and 
• Ariana Solideo (1st place – individual champion). 
• Kaylee Roque (5th place) 
• Merita Drabo and Matylda Piskorz also won matches

 

Congratulations to the following medal winners from the boys team:

• Devin Aviles (2nd place), 
• Omar Diaz (3rd place),
• Jose Honorato (4th place),
• Evan Umana (4th place), 
• Gabriel Hernandez (5th place), and 
• Rene Reyna (5th place)

 

Coach Weiss retired in 1990 after 22 years as head coach and was later inducted into the Illinois wrestling coaches Hall of Fame with a record of 337 wins, 91 losses and 12 ties. Coach Weiss led the Fenton team to a state championship in 1973, coached two students to individual state championships, and 17 others placed at state during his tenure.

 

Congratulations to all the wrestlers, Coach Brian Hastings, and his staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Polish Klub Makes Pierogi!

The families of Fenton's Polish Klub enjoyed spending time together making pierogi in the Culinary labs on Wednesday, December 10. Visitors were welcomed to a variety of different pierogi to sample and learn about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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