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Week of November 17 to November 25 2025

 

 
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Update from Superintendent Bentsen

 
Dear Fenton School Community,
 
We hope all our students, teachers, and staff have a great Thanksgiving and are able to spend meaningful time with friends and family.
 
Our Fenton Community has so much to be thankful for, especially our hard working and dedicated students who are mentored by incredible teachers, coaches, and support staff. 
 
Similarly, our Board of Education paves the way for much of what our students and staff strive to accomplish. November 15th was School Board Members Day and we’re thankful for all the time and energy they contribute toward educating the children of our shared community.
 
 

 
 
Being part of a community means coming together in times of need. Our students and staff contributed in a variety of ways to making sure our Fenton Families and our neighbors in Bensenville, Wood Dale, and Addison had food during these uncertain times.
 
Students and staff donated food and household items to the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry over the last few weeks. Rick Kambic, Fenton’s Director of Community Relations, presides as President of the Food Pantry and works collaboratively with other community leaders to bring resources to our community and volunteer opportunities to our students. 
 
 
Mr. Kambic displays food and household goods being donated to the food pantry
 
 
Mr. Kambic displays food and household goods being donated to the food pantry
 

Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone facilitated a donation of 250 turkeys from Grand Subaru to the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry for a Thanksgiving-themed distribution. Mr. Kambic, President DeSimone, and a team from Grand Subaru were on hand Saturday morning to assist other Food Pantry volunteers in distributing the turkeys and other items.
 

 
 
Fenton's Rick Kambic poses with Village officials and executives from Grand Subaru during a Thanksgiving turkey give away
 

Fenton student volunteers were also on the scene making sure everyone in our community can celebrate Thanksgiving and focus exclusively on enjoying time with their loved ones.
 
 
Fenton students volunteer at the Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry
 
 
Fenton students volunteer at the Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry
 
 
Fenton students volunteer with Mr. Rick Kambic at the Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry
 

Then on Tuesday more than 40 students stayed at Fenton late, giving up part of their holiday break, to participate in a mobile food pantry with School Board President Cary Lewis, Board Vice President Leo Figueroa, Mr. Kambic, Principal Ward, and other incredible staff members.
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
Students volunteer to distribute food during Food For Families event November 25
 
 
More than 230 families were provided with extra food during this holiday season. Our students learned an incredible lesson about being selfless and compassionate.  

Thank you to everyone who joined this great cause.
 
 
 
Sam Bentsen, Ed.D.
Superintendent
 
 
 

New Options for Reporting Attendance

Fenton is excited to provide an update on options parents can use to report absences, including new features on ParentSquare and PowerSchool. Click here to read more.
 
 
 
 
Juniors listen to a panel of alumni talk about their experiences in college
 

Alumni Share Wisdom with Juniors

Thank you to the recent alumni who visited Fenton on Tuesday, November 25 and shared their experiences in college with current juniors who are at the beginning of their post-high school planning.
 
The panel took turns answering questions, such as “What do you love most about your college experience so far” and “What’s one thing you wish you knew back in high school?”
 
Ms. Rachel Georgakis, Fenton’s college and career counselor, also shared more information about important upcoming opportunities for juniors, including:
  • College Search Process Presentations in U.S. History classes
  • 1-on-1 meetings with counselors
  • Career Exploration Week in February
  • College Exploration Week in March
 
Juniors listen to a panel of alumni talk about their experiences in college
 
 
 
 
A flier seeking alumni for Fenton's Career Week in February
 
 
 
 
Preview for a Glenbard Parent Series event about applying for College
 

Finding and Getting into the College That’s Right for You

Fenton is affiliated with the Glenbard Parent Series, which is 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.
 
On December 10, guest speaker Jeff Selingo will talk about how to find and get into the college that’s right for your student. The free program is available on Zoom at noon and 7 p.m. Click here to learn more and sign up. 
 
Selingo has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is the author of three groundbreaking books including “Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admission” which gives readers a peek inside the admissions offices of three selective universities.
 
 

 

We invite parents to bookmark their website https://gpsparentseries.org/ and sign up for their emails.
 
 
 
 

 

Additional Veterans Day Footage

Enjoy this additional footage from the Bensenville Veterans Day Breakfast featuring music from the Fenton choir and band and the full reading of Defenders of Freedom Essays.
 
Congratulations to Aaliyah Kershaw (3rd Place)⁣, Kevin Beben (2nd Place), and Makayla Cruz (⁣1st Place) for winning the Defenders of Freedom Essay Contest. These students wrote their essays as part of their military history class with Mr. Frank Kekstadt.
 
 
 
 
A flier promoting Fenton's 100th Annual Band and Choir Holiday Concert
 
 

Commemorative Shirts

Students, families, staff, and alumni can still order commemorative t-shirts for the 100th Annual Band and Choir Holiday Concert by using this link. Orders will be shipped to your home instead of the school.
 
 
 

 

Students Perform at ILMEA District 1 Ensembles

Congratulations to the following Band and Choir students for being selected into the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 ensembles. They were recognized and performed in the District 1 Festival on Saturday, November 8 at Elmhurst University.
 
These musicians worked so very hard preparing their audition material for the last 7 weeks by meeting for weekly preparation sessions, and submitting mock auditions.
 
  • Jan Olmos - Senior Chorus - Bass 1
  • Paula Serpa - Senior Band - Tenor Sax
  • Ezra Lukman - Senior Orchestra - Cello 
 
Annually over 2,000 Students in Illinois audition to perform in an ILMEA ensemble (band, chorus, orchestra, jazz band or vocal jazz ensemble) within one of nine geographic districts. Based on that audition, Senior Level (grades 10-12 high school) students may be invited to participate in the annual All-District Festivals and Illinois All-State Music Conference.
 
The All-State Conference is January 29th, 30th, and 31st. Judges are now evaluating auditions.
 
 
Fenton students perform at the ILMEA District 1 Festival 2025
 
 

 
 
Fenton students perform at the ILMEA District 1 Festival 2025
 
 
Fenton students perform at the ILMEA District 1 Festival 2025
 
 
Fenton students perform at the ILMEA District 1 Festival 2025
 
 
 
 
Spanish students visit the National Museum of Mexican Art
 

Exploring Latino Art

Building off Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Spanish 3 classes visited the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago in late October to tour the National Museum of Mexican Art. The group wrapped up the trip by touring murals in the neighborhood with Churros and hot chocolate from Xurro Cafe.
 
 
Spanish students visit the National Museum of Mexican Art
 
 
Spanish students visit the National Museum of Mexican Art
 
 
Spanish students tour murals near the National Museum of Mexican Art
 
 
Spanish students tour murals near the National Museum of Mexican Art
 
 
Spanish students enjoy lunch during a trip to the National Museum of Mexican Art
 
 
 
 
Students see Wicked on opening day at the York Classic Cinema
 

A Wicked Fun Field Trip

Fenton's Film Club enjoyed a trip to York Classic Cinema in Elmhurst on Friday, November 21 for the opening night of Wicked. Thank you to Ms. Norris for this timely and much in-demand learning experience.
 
 
Students see Wicked on opening day at the York Classic Cinema
 
 
Students see Wicked on opening day at the York Classic Cinema
 
 
 

Noteworthy Dates

  • November 26 – Thanksgiving Break
  • November 27 – Thanksgiving Break
  • November 28 – Thanksgiving Break
  • December 1 – NHS Fall Community Service Deadline
  • December 4 – Food For Families Mobile Pantry Distribution, 4 to 5:30 p.m. while supplies last
  • December 4 – Students on Stage (Bison Scripts) Showcase, 7 pm
  • December 6 – FAFSA Workshop, 12 to 2 pm
  • November 11 – Padres Unidos Meeting, 6:45 pm
  • December 12 – Holiday Assembly
  • December 13 – Recital for Band and Choir Holiday Concert
  • December 14 – 100th Annual Band and Choir Holiday Concert, 2 pm
  • December 17 – Final Exam Day 1
  • December 17 – Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
  • December 18 – Final Exam Day 2
  • December 19 – Final Exam Day 3