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Week of February 17 to February 21
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Update from Interim Superintendent Bentsen
Dear Fenton School Community,
I’m excited to celebrate several staff achievements that reaffirms our belief that Fenon has and will continue to be a special place because of our valued educators.
Congressional Commendation
Ms. Laura Avila-Peterson teaches social studies for English Language Learners and she was recently given a Congressional Commendation by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez.
While speaking on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, Congresswoman Ramirez praised Ms. Avila-Peterson for her dedication to English Language Learners and how she tailors her teaching to each student’s individual needs.
This passion was squarely on display when Ms. Avila-Peterson hosted Congresswoman Ramirez on November 22 for a 30-minute Q&A that covered a variety of topics the students were learning about in class. The event was extremely well organized, complete with students asking great questions they prepared and rehearsed in the days ahead.
Fenton extends its gratitude to Congresswoman Ramirez for honoring one of our very best teachers.
Thank you Ms. Avila-Peterson for sharing your passion for education with our school and our community.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Avila Peterson next time you see her. This recognition is a great honor. Her achievements, which are our children’s achievements, are now part of our country’s permanent record, living forever in the Halls of Congress.
Golden Apple Finalists
As you may have seen on the news, our very own Dr. Kelly Torres and Mr. Luis Garcia were named as finalists for the 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching!
Dr. Torres is a social studies teacher and Mr. Garcia is a business education teacher. These are two outstanding educators and we’re very excited for them to be recognized in such a big way. Only 30 finalists were selected from 470 nominations throughout Illinois. Of the 30 finalists, just 10 are from the suburbs.
The Golden Apple Foundation recognizes exemplary educators, supports young teachers through mentorship programs, and works to recruit future teachers through a scholars program that’s open to high school and college students.
A select few of the finalists will be chosen as winners sometime in the Spring.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Torres and Mr. Garcia. We’re very proud of their efforts as they are very deserving finalists.
The Big 300
Congratulations are also in order for Boys Basketball Coach Chaz Taft. Wednesday's 58-48 victory over South Elgin marked his 300th career victory! That is a major milestone in the high school basketball coaching community. Please congratulate Mr. Taft when you get a chance, as he clearly demonstrated that he is an incredible coach over his career.
Fastpitch Coach of the Year
Varsity softball coach Dave Mello received a high honor from his peers. Last weekend he was named 2024 Coach of the Year for Class 3A Sectional #4 by the Illinois Softball Coaches Association. Coach Mello’s recognition covered his long dedication to softball, including Fenton's two Conference Championships and four Regional Championships.
It's great to see that Coach Mello has received the recognition he deserves for the passion he brings to coaching. Please join us in congratulating him as well.
Fenton is truly a place where we can achieve anything. We value our staff as well as the students and parents who partner with us to set and achieve goals.
Sam Bentsen, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Drive Thru Food Pantry on Tuesday, February 25
Fenton High School and the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry have a Food For Families distribution on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Fenton High School.
This unique opportunity is open to anyone in the area who is in need of food; supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. Please drive through our bus lane, remain inside your car, and open your trunk when you approach our teams.
Please do not line up until after 3:30 p.m. so our buses and students can leave campus normally.
Volunteers Receive Gift For Their Upcoming Trip
Congratulations to band students Edith Gonzalez, Garrett Wawczak, and Victoria Socha for receiving $150 each from the Bensenville Youth Coalition to go toward their upcoming Music Department California Trip.
All three students volunteered countless hours with the Bensenville Youth Coalition selling snacks and raffle tickets at the Bensenville Music in the Park this past summer. Revenue from the fundraising goes towards programming that addresses youth needs and promotes positive activities for children.
Fenton music students leave Friday, February 28th for a three-day trip to California to learn at a university clinic and will also explore unique locations such as the Madame Tussauds Museum, The Catalina Jazz Club, a tour of a Hollywood studio, and a visit to the San Diego Zoo.
When members of the Youth Coalition learned about Edith, Garrett, and Victoria’s upcoming trip, the board voted unanimously to support their educational opportunity as a gesture of gratitude for the many hours of volunteering.
Rick Kambic, Fenton’s Director of Community Relations, serves on the Bensenville Youth Coalition and was thrilled to deliver the checks.
Celebrating Black History Month
Thank you to award-winning artists Tukkiman and Victoria Boateng for visiting Fenton on Wednesday to help us celebrate Black History Month.
Tukkiman is from Senegal, West Africa and his music combines Afrobeats, Assiko, Reggae, hip-hop, and Pop.
Victoria Boateng uses the djembe, a rope drum that brings sound from West Africa, to spread awareness for the autistic community.
Classes visited the auditorium throughout the day to learn about this cultural music. Some students were even able to join Tukkiman and Ms. Boateng on stage!
Spaghetti with a Song Music Department Fundraiser is Sunday, March 9th
Mark your calendars! Our annual Spaghetti With a Song public event is 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9th. All proceeds benefit the Fenton Music Boosters and the Fenton Music Programs.
Enjoy a plate of spaghetti while listening to a variety of student performances. We always enjoy a live audience! This is open to the public, whether you have children at our school or not.
Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance and $12 at the door. Children age 3 and under are free. If you buy four tickets, the fifth ticket is free!
As preparations get underway, the event organizers are still looking for donations including but not limited to raffle prizes, soft drinks, and disposable tableware. Contact Jenn Barr from the Music Boosters at 630-892-0583 if you are able to contribute.
Dance Force Takes Off at State
Congratulations to the Fenton Dance Force team for an outstanding season! Last weekend they took 2nd place in the hip hop division of the Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) State Finals.
Earlier this month they qualified to the IHSA State Finals and earned 15th place overall. This was Dance Force’s first trip to State in five years. They advanced to state by winning 2nd place at the Sectionals Tournament held at Maine Township in January.
This year's remarkable routine is an outer space themed dance, and they shared that performance at various school events and athletic competitions.
2 Speech Team Members and PIR Qualify for State
Congratulations to the Fenton Speech Team for qualifying 17 students to this weekend’s IHSA Speech State Finals! Teammates, friends, and coaches gathered Thursday for a State Bound sendoff to celebrate and wish them well.
Senior Tereza Belej took 1st place in Informative Speaking at Sectionals and advanced to State. Junior Arturo Hurtado Jr. took 2nd place in Special Occasion Speaking at Sectionals and advanced to State.
The Performance in the Round cast for "If Anything Happens, I Love You" took 3rd place at Sectionals and advanced the following students to State:
| Alonso Romero | Jon Aguilar | Julia Windham |
| Erik Benitez | Analia Arteaga | Kaitlyn Sisto |
| Jayden Mojarro | Damaris Lopez | Keya Shah |
| Javier Quinones Jr | Gabriela Sanchez | Sarah Charles |
| Jason Vargas | Hailey Cruz | Yuliana Garcia |
Good luck in Peoria this Friday and Saturday!
In recent weeks, the Speech team in its entirety repeated as Upstate Eight Conference Champions and Regional Champions.
Boys Wrestler Qualifies for State
Congratulations to Senior Thomas Klos for advancing to the IHSA Wrestling State Finals taking place later this week. Teammates, friends, and coaches gathered Wednesday morning for a State Bound sendoff to celebrate and wish him well.
Thomas was 32-4 this season with 26 pins. He won the Upstate Eight Conference Championship for his weight class and later the Regional Championship for his weight class.
This is Thomas's second time going to state.
Football Player Signs to Play in College
Congratulations to Nate Stewart for signing to continue his football career at Quincy University. Teammates, friends, and family gathered Tuesday evening to celebrate this huge achievement. Nate is a four-year starter at quarterback for the Bison. He was Fenton's overall team MVP this year, which was a resurgence season that saw the Bison go 6-3 and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Nate also filled in at safety for part of this year and was named to the Daily Herald ALL-AREA team for both his quarterback play and defensive presence in the secondary.
Bison Renegades Advance to Hockey Championship Round
The Renegades Hockey Club advanced to the North Central Hockey League Championship! The team features several students from Fenton, Addison Trail, Willowbrook, and Montini high schools. The championship is a best of three series set to start on Wednesday and continue into the weekend at the West Meadows Ice Arena.
Yearbooks and Senior Advertisements Only Sold Online
Don’t miss out on buying your copy of the 2024-2025 Highlights Yearbook. Walsworth Publishing allowed for guaranteed yearbook orders through January, but now all yearbooks are available while supplies last. As designing of the book wraps up, the deadline for senior advertisements is Friday, March 7. Below is a sneak peak of this year's book...
Yearbooks and senior ads (hint, hint, moms and dads) are only sold online. Search "Fenton High School" on yearbookforever.com.
Attention Seniors!
Our yearbook editors will soon start designing our seniors advertisements. The deadline to submit a baby picture or senior advertisement is Friday, March 7.
Senior ads are a great way to cement your favorite memories and accomplishments in a book that's archived forever. Simply choose your desired advertisement size, write your custom message, and upload your picture(s).
The “Guess Who” senior baby pictures are another fun way to contribute to this school-wide celebration and they only cost $10. Start looking for your best picture! Once you find one, send an electronic version to Mr. Kambic (kambic@fenton100.org) AND Ms. Dantona (dantona@fenton100.org). Drop off your $10 cash or check (made to Fenton High School) with Ms. Dantona in the ARC -- place your payment in an envelope with your name and student ID number. If your preferred photo is only in print form, drop it off with Ms. Dantona and the Highlights Yearbook Club will scan it.
Email Mr. Kambic if you have any questions.
Noteworthy Dates
- February 25 – Food For Families Drive Thru Distribution, 4 to 5:30 pm while supplies last
- February 25 – Talent Show Dress Rehearsal
- February 26 – Summer Jobs Fair, All Lunch Periods
- February 26 – Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
- February 26 – Winter Choir Concert, 7 pm
- February 27 – Talent Show, 6:30 pm
- February 28 – No School - Teachers Institute
- March 6 – Winter Band Concert, 7 pm
- March 9 – Spaghetti with a Song Music Department Fundraiser, 1 pm
- March 20 – Padres Unidos Meeting, 6:45 pm