Friday, September 26, 2014


A lesson taken from Rosh Hashanah:  Taking time to reflect.  
Slowing down is so hard for us to do, I believe we can all take something away from the spirit of Rosh Hashanah, even if we do not celebrate the Jewish new year ourselves.  Taking time to reflect on the past and look forward to the new is always to our benefit.  I decided to take advantage of the day at home and take some time to reflect and think ahead.   A few ideas I am committing to incorporate more into my professional life this year:
  • Be open to change and new ideas
  • Listen more and talk less
  • Prioritize people and conversation over duties and to do lists.  
Whatever it is for you, I hope you have a wonderful “New Year”  

BGHS Daily Announcements Link Weblink:  http://bghs.d214.org/daily_announcements.aspx

Friday Focus
Tonight, Friday, Sept. 26th, is McTeach Night!   Come to see BG administrators and staff taking your order or working the Drive Thru.  Bring in this Flyer (Click on Flyer) and 15% of your order will go back to Buffalo Grove Student Government.  




“Edu-talk”
The Staff at BG know that we teach students, not subject areas.  This article, sent to all teachers this past week, highlights the attitude of the staff and administration and how we view teaching students.  
http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/teachers-mentoring-students/

Upcoming Dates / Big Events Semester 1
October 1 Bison Boosters Meeting, 7:00 pm, Community Room
October 6 - 10 HOMECOMING WEEK
October 10 Homecoming Football Game
October 11 Homecoming Dance
October 13 Columbus Day - No School
October 27 Institute Day - Students Not in Attendance
November 26 Non Attendance Day - No School
November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 19 Last Day of classes before Winter Break
January 5 Classes Resume (Monday)
January 16 End of First Semester

Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
September 27 Girls Swimming/Diving-Bison Invite, 8:00 am, Pool
September 29 Girls Volleyball vs. Stevenson, 6:00 pm, Gym
September 30 Boys and Girls Golf Conference
September 30 Girls Tennis vs. Rolling Meadows, 4:30 pm, Tennis Courts
September 30 Boys Soccer vs. Palatine, 6:30pm, Stadium


October 1 Boys Soccer vs. Hoffman Estates, 6:30pm, Stadium
October 2 Girls Swimming/Diving vs. Hersey, 4:30 pm, Pool
October 2 Girls Volleyball vs. Wheeling, 6:00 pm, Gym
October 2 Football vs. Hersey, 6:30 pm, Stadium


For underlevel and away sporting events and the most current information for B.G. activities, please go to:  http://il.8to18.com/buffalogrove/calendar

BG in the News
Josh Golden, BG alum, is doing some big things!  


Congratulations to the Girls Golf team who won the Mundelein Invite this past weekend.  Freshman Haeri Lee took 1st place with a 4-over 76 and was joined by Junior Emily Carnes in 2nd place and Freshman Jasmine Yi in 3rd.

Staff Spotlight

What is your name? Ed Jacobi


What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach? English/Fine Arts / Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Instrumental Ensemble


How long have you been teaching at BG? This is my 30th year


Where did you go to high school? Lane Tech my first 3 years and Fremd for my senior year


What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding? The feeling we all get as a musical ensemble when we achieve our musical outcome together in a public performance and in essence, making the music with my students.  To me, there is no greater joy.


What is something unique about you? I have proudly led the BG Band on ten Concert Tours to Europe and performed in some of the most amazing concert venues in the world.  I also directed the IMEA All-State Jazz Band in 2007.


What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? Band crosses over the curricular line so it's often a gray area.  Basically anytime you see the band performing at school, in the community, or overseas, we cross into the activity/club aspect of school.  We perform almost weekly outside of our designated class time.


Friday, September 19, 2014

Principal's Weekly Blog


Welcome to the second edition of the Principal’s weekly blog.  I hope you find this information informative, timely, and relevant.  

The purpose of this blog is to keep you informed of weekly activities and feel "in-the-loop" with what is going on in our school and in the world of education.  Additionally, the Friday Focus will highlight special upcoming events.  I am very excited about this Friday's Focus, John Underwood is a very sought after speaker and communicator.  

Have a wonderful weekend!  


Daily announcements link
Buffalo Grove High School provides daily announcements to the students to keep them informed of current and upcoming events. To provide you with more information, the Student Announcements are now online. The announcements will be online for 10 days.    


Friday Focus - special communication to parents
We welcome John Underwood, Founder and Director of the Life of an Athlete Human Performance Project, to our D214 community. John’s experience as a former NCAA All-American, International distance runner and World Masters Champion, an Olympian coach and advisor of over two dozen athletes, and three diplomas in International Olympic Solidarity has led him to his expertise in athletic performance, specializing in recovery, peaking training, and lifestyle impact on mental and physical performance. His “Life of an Athlete” program has gained international prominence.This presentation is designed for all student-athletes, parents, and coaches. Topics to be address include:

• Maximizing athletic training
• Healthy lifestyles
• Brain science for athletes
• Proper sleep/nutrition
• Chemical health

Please join us! Tuesday October 14, 7:00 pm at Rolling Meadows High School. All
High School, Middle School, Park District, and Private athletic coaching center coaches,
student-athletes, and parents are welcome for this once in a lifetime opportunity!
Please register to attend at:

John Underwood’s presentation is brought to you by Link Together, our community coalition
supporting drug and alcohol free youth. For more information, please visit:
www.linktogethercoalition.org


BGPA Communication and link
We had our first meeting last night, Thanks to all who attended.  The next meeting is October 15th at 7pm.  


“Edu-talk”
What are the CCSS? - Common Core State Standards
The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core.
Recognizing the value and need for consistent learning goals across states, in 2009 the state school chiefs and governors coordinated a state-led effort to develop the Common Core State Standards. Designed through collaboration among teachers, school chiefs, administrators, and other experts, the standards provide a clear and consistent framework for educators.
The Common Core is informed by the highest, most effective standards from states across the United States and countries around the world. The standards define the knowledge and skills students should gain throughout their K-12 education in order to graduate high school prepared to succeed in entry-level careers, introductory academic college courses, and workforce training programs.
The standards are:
  1. Research- and evidence-based
  2. Clear, understandable, and consistent
  3. Aligned with college and career expectations
  4. Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
  5. Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
  6. Informed by other top performing countries in order to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society



Upcoming Dates/ Big events Semester 1
Bison Boosters Comedy Night, Saturday, September 20, 7:00 pm, Theater
HOMECOMING - Week of October 6 -- Soccer/Football Games Friday, October 10; Dance Saturday, October 11

DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
Non-Attendance Day - Thursday, September 25, 2014 - No School
Columbus Day - Monday, October 13, 2014 - No School
Institute Day - Monday, October 27, 2014 - Students Not in Attendance
Non-Attendance Day - Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - No School
Thanksgiving Vacation - Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28, 2014 - No School
Winter Vacation Begins at Close of Classes - Friday, December 19, 2014
First Day of Classes after Winter Vacation - Monday, January 5, 2015
End of First Semester - Friday, January 16, 2015



Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
Friday, Sept 19, Football vs. Fremd, 7:30 pm, Stadium
Monday, Sept 22, Girls Golf vs. Highland Park & Prospect, 3:30 pm, BG Golf Course
Tuesday, Sept 23, Boys Golf vs. Wheeling, 3:30 pm, BG Golf Course
Tuesday, Sept 23, Girls Tennis vs. Hersey, 4:30 pm, Tennis Courts
Tuesday, Sept 23, Girls Volleyball vs. Elk Grove, 6:00 pm, Gym
Tuesday, Sept 23, Boys Soccer vs. Schaumburg, 6:30 pm, Stadium
Wednesday, Sept 24, Girls Golf vs. Palatine, 3:30 pm, BG Golf Course
Saturday, Sept 27, Girls Swimming/Diving-Bison Invite, 8:00 am, Pool



For underlevel and away sporting events and the most current information for B.G. activities, please go to:  http://il.8to18.com/buffalogrove/calendar




Staff member/ student of the week

Interview with:  Billy Montemayor

Teaching Area: I teach in the Physical Education department.  I teach two Freshman PE classes and two Net/Team Sports classes.  I also teach one referred study class.  

How long have you been teaching at BG?   This is my first year teaching PE at BG, but it is my second year in the building.  

Where did you go to high school?  Elk Grove High School

What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding?  The part of teaching I find most rewarding is the relationships I am able to create with the students.  It is awesome when a student approaches me for advice, or wants to talk about a sport or activity they participated in the night before.  To develop that type of a relationship over time with a student is very rewarding.  


What is something unique about you?  I am a huge Dave Matthews Band fan.  Every summer, I travel to multiple venues with a group of friends to see them play live.  

What outside activities do you coach/ sponsor? I am the head Freshman football coach, and I also coach the Sophomore baseball team in the Spring.   







Thursday, September 11, 2014

Principal's Weekly update



BG Daily Announcements
Buffalo Grove High School provides daily announcements to the students to keep them informed of current and upcoming events. To provide you with more information, the Student Announcements are now online. The announcements will be online for 10 days.    



Friday Focus - Special Events Coming Up
Not My Kid!?  
You won’t want to miss this evening filled with information from a panel of experts, knowledgeable about our youth’s exposure to alcohol and other drugs, and how we, as parents, can keep our kids drug and alcohol-free.
The communities of Deerfield, Highland Park and Lake Forest recently hosted similar events and there wasn’t an open seat in the house!  Come see why!
Date:  Tuesday, September 30th, 2014
Time:  7-9 p.m.
Location:  Performing Arts Center,
               Stevenson High School,
             Park in Lot B, enter through circle drive
RSVP:  Click here so we can save you a seat!
Sponsored by:  STAND STRONG, a community coalition dedicated to keeping our youth drug and alcohol-free.



BGPA (Buffalo Grove Parent Association)  
- a message from BGPA co-presidents Karla Meyer and Janet Reed
The Buffalo Grove Parent Association (BGPA) will kick off the new school year with it's first meeting on Sept. 17th at 7pm in the community room ( immediately to the right after entering the circle drive doors). The featured guest will be BG's new principal Jeff Wardle. Come hear his vision for BGHS and have any questions you may have answered.

Looking for spirit wear? It will be available at all home football games as well as the BGHS website (parent groups) ortlkmarketing.tuosystems.com/store/bgspirit2014  New this year: navy and orange BGHS scarves!
Missed buying a student directory at Open House? They can be purchased in the main office. $5 for BGPA members, non members $10.



“Edu-talk” (What are with all these acronyms?)
What is R.T.I.?
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tier approach to the early identification and support of students with learning and behavior needs. There are 3 Tiers to any RTI program at a school.  Tier 1 of the RTI process begins with high-quality instruction and universal screening of all children in the general education classroom. When this is not working, the general education teacher has a number of interventions they attempt to use with the student to keep their learning on track.  Extra tutoring, preferential seating in class, a call home to parents, use of the Literacy Lab, etc, are all examples of Tier 1 interventions. 

If all of these do not work, a Tier 2 intervention kicks in.  In Tier 2, struggling learners are provided with interventions at increasing levels of intensity to accelerate their rate of learning. These services may be provided by a variety of personnel, including general education teachers, special educators, and specialists. Progress is closely monitored to assess both the learning rate and level of performance of individual students. Educational decisions about the intensity and duration of interventions are based on individual student response to instruction. Some of these examples at BGHS include Referred Study, Compass Learning, and assigned tutoring.  

If these are still not working, a student would move to Tier 3, which means a case study would be done to determine eligibility for Special Education Status.  RTI is designed for use when making decisions in both general education and special education, creating a well-integrated system of instruction and intervention guided by child outcome data.




Upcoming Dates/ Big Events
BGPA Meeting, Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm, Community Room
Bison Boosters Comedy Night, Saturday, September 20, 7:00 pm, Theater
HOMECOMING - Week of October 6 -- Soccer/Football Games Friday, October 10; Dance Saturday, October 11


District 214 Calendar
Non-Attendance Day - Thursday, September 25, 2014 - No School
Columbus Day - Monday, October 13, 2014 - No School
Institute Day - Monday, October 27, 2014 - Students Not in Attendance
Non-Attendance Day - Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - No School
Thanksgiving Vacation - Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28, 2014 - No School
Winter Vacation Begins at Close of Classes - Friday, December 19, 2014
First Day of Classes after Winter Vacation - Monday, January 5, 2015
End of First Semester - Friday, January 16, 2015


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
Friday, Sept 12, Football vs. Conant, 7:30 pm, Stadium
Saturday, Sept 13, Girls Tennis, Bison Invite, 8:00 am, Tennis Courts
Sunday, Sept 14, Expressions Fall Preview Show, 7:00 pm, Theater
Tuesday, Sept 16, Girls Golf vs. Rolling Meadows, 3:30 pm, BG Golf Course
Tuesday, Sept 16, Boys Soccer vs. Barrington, 6:30 pm, Stadium
Thursday, Sept 18, Boys Golf vs. Hoffman Estates, 3:30 pm, BG Golf Course
Thursday, Sept 18, Girls Tennis vs. Elk Grove, 4:30 pm, Tennis Courts
Friday, Sept 19, Football vs. Fremd, 7:30 pm, Stadium


For Under-level and Away sporting events, Academic Competitions, and the most current information for B.G. activities, please go to:  http://il.8to18.com/buffalogrove/calendar



BG in the news


Staff member of the week

Interview with: Mary Negley

Teaching Area: Math Department. I teach Honors PreCalculus and AP Calculus BC.

How long have you been teaching at BG? 30 Years

Where did you go to high school? Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst

What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding?  I love seeing the students progress through their high school math career and gain confidence in their abilities to enter the collegiate setting or the business world.
I also enjoy the "aha!" moment that comes when students truly understand the mathematics behind why a process works. I wish for this in every class.

What is something unique about you?  I have been teaching long enough at BGHS that I have taught some of my fellow teachers when they attended BGHS!

What outside activities do you coach/ sponsor?  I used to coach volleyball at BGHS. I coached for 16 years, including 6 years as the head girls volleyball coach.