Friday, October 31, 2014



Friday Focus - Special Communication to Parents
  • Our student services department has recently begun and informational blog   with upcoming dates, happenings, showcases, and college and career information.  We hope this tool will help keep parents better informed.  It can be translated in every home language found at BG using google translator widget on the side!  ( the same is true for this blog, it’s kinda cool if you want to test it out!)  Bookmark this website:  http://bgstudentservices.blogspot.com/


  • On November 18th at 7pm in the theater, BGHS welcomes Dr. Devorah Heitner to speak to all parents about “Raising Digital Natives”.  Dr. Heitner is an outstanding communicator, offering insights on growing up in a connected world.   http://raisingdigitalnatives.com/
After a recent parent meeting in Deerfield, a parent posted:
“Devorah has a clear, culturally-based perspective on the digital world in which our children (natives) live and how we as parents (immigrants) can best navigate this world with the most positive results for everyone involved. She combines humor, the latest research and practical takeaway points, all making for a very effective, thought-provoking presentation.”
Martha Silberman, Deerfield Parent Network


EdCamp Chicago
EdCamp Chicago is being hosted by Buffalo Grove High School this Saturday, Nov. 1st.  EdCamp Chicago is a free professional development day for teachers in the midwest to come to BG and learn about various uses of technology and best instructional strategies. We are excited to host this bi-annual event, we have teachers registered from several states and all throughout Illinois!   


Upcoming Dates / Big Events Semester 1
November 5 Parent/Teacher Conference, 5:00-9:00 pm
November 8 Placement Test for Class of 2019 (current 8th graders), 7:45 am-12:00 noon
November 12 Career Night-Engineering & Industrial Technology, Business, and Computer Careers, 6:00 pm, Wheeling H.S.
November 18 Parent Information Evening, BGHS welcomes Dr. Devorah Heitner. Dr. Heitner offers insights on growing up in a connected world. 7:00 pm, Theater.


DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
November 26 Non-Attendance Day  - No School
November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Vacation - No School
December 19 Winter Vacation Begins at Close of Classes
January 5 First Day of Classes after Winter Vacation
January 16 End of First Semester


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
October 31 & November 1 Girls Swimming/Diving at Conference
November 1 Boys & Girls Cross Country at Sectionals (Busse Woods)
November 1 31st Annual Pops Concert, 7:30 pm, Gym
November 8 Boys & Girls Cross Country at State (Time/Location TBA)
November 8 Expressions “Cabaret”, 5:30 pm, Cafeteria


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
BGHS Charger Website launched


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.    


Staff member/ student of the week


What is your name?  Chet Pierce
What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach?   I teach in the Math/Science Division.  Currently, I teach AP Calculus BC, as well as AP Physics Mechanics and AP Physics Electricity/Magnetism.
How long have you been teaching at BG?   This is my 27th year teaching at the Home of the Bison.
Where did you go to high school?   I attended high school in a small town in central Illinois that most have never heard of.  It isn’t far from a place where large yellow earth-moving machines are manufactured.
What part of teaching do you find the most rewarding?   There is no feeling in this profession more rewarding than seeing a student’s eyes light up when a partial understanding morphs into the full and complete mastery of a concept.
What is something unique about you?   I spent one summer of my college years driving an ice cream truck for what worked out to be $0.73 / hr.  I learned that no one in their right mind will leave an air-conditioned house to brave 95 degree temperatures just to buy a slightly mushy popsicle.
What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor?   Over the years I have been involved in coaching and providing support to our Math Team as well as the BGHS Science Olympiad Team.

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Friday, October 24, 2014

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog



Friday Focus - Special Communication to Parents
Last night we hosted Kevin Pearce, a professional snowboarder, who was critically injured with a traumatic Brain Injury.  It was a packed house to hear his presentation!  Thanks to BG teacher Kate Smith and others for putting this together.  Kevin has made dramatic recovery, and has since begun a foundation entitled “Love your Brain”  He was at Buffalo Grove High School to talk to our students to “connect, educate, and empower” them regarding traumatic Brain Injury and the incredible power of the brain.  You can view the trailer to his award-winning documentary film Crash Reel at this link:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KkFZ-QC53Q   It is well worth the time to see this film!  I believe the film can be streamed via HBOGO if you have that access.  


Upcoming Dates / Big Events Semester 1
October 24 End of 1st Quarter - FULL DAY OF SCHOOL, DISMISSAL 2:50 PM
November 5 Parent/Teacher Conference, 5:00-9:00 pm
November 8 Placement Test for Class of 2019 (current 8th graders), 7:45 am-12:00 noon
November 18 Parent Information Evening, BGHS welcomes Dr. Devorah Heitner. Dr. Heitner offers insights on growing up in a connected world. 7:00 pm, Theater.


DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
October 27 Institute Day - Students Not in Attendance
October 28 2nd Quarter Begins
November 26 Non-Attendance Day  - No School
November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Vacation - No School
December 19 Winter Vacation Begins at Close of Classes
January 5 First Day of Classes after Winter Vacation
January 16 End of First Semester


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
October 24 & 25 Girls Tennis State
October 24 Boys Soccer at Regionals, 4:00 pm, Stadium
October 25 Boys & Girls Cross Country at Regionals (Time/Location TBA)
October 26 District 214 Honors Orchestra Concert, 3:00 pm, Theater
October 28 Boys Soccer at Sectionals (Time/Location TBA)
October 28 Girls Volleyball at Regionals, 6:30 pm, at Stevenson H.S.
October 28 District 21 & 214 Orchestra Festival, 7:00 pm, Theater
October 30 Girls Volleyball at Regionals (Time/Location TBA)
October 31 Boys Soccer at Sectionals, Semi-Finals (Time/Location TBA)
October 31 & November 1 Girls Swimming/Diving at Conference (Time/Locations TBA)
November 1 Boys & Girls Cross Country at Sectionals (Time/Location TBA)
November 1 31st Annual Pops Concert, 7:30 pm, Gym


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
McTeacher Night
Volleyball Fight On For Fuges




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.    


Staff member/ student of the week
Kate Hutchinson doing what she loves - reading!!
1.   What is your name?  Kate Hutchinson
2.              What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach?  English/Fine Arts.  Lately I’ve been teaching Sophomore World Literature and Contemporary Literature, a senior elective.
3.              How long have you been teaching at BG? This is my 29th year.
4.              Where did you go to high school?  Elk Grove High School.  I’m much more blue than green by now, though!
5.              What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding?  The day-to-day interactions with the students are what keep me passionate about coming here every day.  Reading inspiring literature with a class and then having a thoughtful, in-depth discussion about the issues it presents – this brings me joy.  Every class is different, and each student brings a unique perspective to the room.
6.              What is something unique about you?  I watch no TV at all.  (Really!)  And I’m probably the only teacher who helps in the school mailroom now and then, along with my son Ramon, who has a disability.

7.              What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? This is the first year I haven’t been involved with activities in my long career as a Bison.  From 2000 until last year, I served as Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator; prior to that, I also directed plays and the annual Variety Show, and I coached the Speech Team.

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Friday, October 17, 2014

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog



The Pursuit of Perfection . . .  

The Pursuit of Perfection is something we often hear or read about. It is certainly something we strive for in education, both personally as an educator, and for our students.  
One of the blog writers I follow, Randy Gravitt, recently posted about a near perfect football offensive lineman named Walter Jones, who played his entire career in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, making the Pro Bowl 9 times (the same number of holding penalties he had in his 13 year career!), and recently inducted in the Football Hall of Fame.
When asked about his offensive left tackle, Seahawks coach, Mike Holmgren, said, “Walter is the best offensive player I have ever coached.”  Taking into consideration that Holmgren coached players such as Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Brett Farve, this is an incredible statement.  While most of us have heard of the last four names (I apologize to all non football fans!), I bet very few of us, if any, have heard of Walter Jones.  Jones was content being in the background, supporting his team in the invisible position of offensive lineman.  
I relay this story to you for this reason:  Every organization has “hidden players”, those folks that we couldn’t do business without, yet no one notices or gives appreciation to.  We have many of these folks at Buffalo Grove High School, but I want to highlight one such group.  The security staff at Buffalo Grove High School.  These individuals work every day to ensure the safety of every child at BG.  Led by our terrific deans, Steve Kolodziej and Kevin Schrammel, these men and women are active eyes and ears in the building, but so much more than that.  They are confidants, friends, and bring stability to students who have a clear structure in which to operate.  Ask your student who their favorite security guard is, I bet they have one!  Thank you BG security staff!!    


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.    
Weblink:  http://bghs.d214.org/daily_announcements.aspx

Friday Focus - Special Communication to Parents
BGPA is now enrolled in the GFS Fun Funds program at the Palatine store on Rand Road. Just mention BGPA at checkout and 5% of your purchases will go to our organization. This includes Market Day items. Proceeds will help subsidize a fun-filled Post Prom!

BGPA Communication and Link
*** NEWS BULLETIN ***   Just announced, BGPA will host Post Prom 2015 at PINSTRIPES.  After researching many different venue options and taking the students' interests into account, the BGPA has decided to support a Post Prom at Pinstripes in Northbrook.  Per the BGPA Co-President: "We wanted to give our students a variety of venues junior and senior year, and are very excited to roll out Pinstripes as our venue in 2015.”   BGPA will be subsidizing the Post Prom event again this year, so the costs will remain only $35 per student.  Students will have the opportunity to continue their Prom experience while listening to a DJ, hanging with friends by the outdoor fire pits, playing bocce or going bowling along with other fun activities.  There will be food/drinks served throughout the evening along with some additional culinary specialties.  This is a great option for students and parents to have a fun, safe, and drug and alcohol free post prom experience!  

Upcoming Dates/ Big Events Semester 1
October 21                        Career Night-Health/Natural Resources, Prospect High School, Registration 6:00                                               pm, Program 6:30 pm
October 23                        Kevin Pearce, Former Pro Snowboarder, Speaks at B.G.H.S. on Traumatic Brain                                              Injury Awareness, 6:00 pm, Theater
October 24                       End of 1st Quarter, 1:50 pm Dismissal
November 8                     Placement Test for Class of 2019 (current 8th graders), 7:45 am-12:00 noon
November 18                   Parent Information Evening, BGHS welcomes Dr. Devorah Heitner. Dr. Heitner offers                                          insights on growing up in a connected world. 7:00 pm, Theater.

Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week

October 17                        Boys Varsity Soccer, 5pm, Stadium
October 17                        Steele Magnolias, 7:30pm, Theater
October 18                        Steele Magnolias, 7:30pm, Theater
October 21                        Girls Swimming, 4:30pm, Pool
October 21                        Boys Soccer, 4:30pm Stadium
October 23                        Girls Volleyball, 7:00pm, Gymnasium           
            

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
 1.         What is your name? Nancy Conlin

2.              What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach?  Math/Science  General Biology, LEP General Biology and AP Biology

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

4.              Where did you go to high school? Melrose High School in central MN (small farming town of about 3000 people - 185 students in my senior class)

5.              What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding?  Absolutely working with the students and seeing them excited about a lesson, a topic or an accomplishment.  I also think I work in the best department in the district with many wonderful colleagues who challenge me every day to be the best teacher I can be.

6.              What is something unique about you? I have been to all 50 states and worked for the NCAA for one year where I traveled to about 40 colleges helping student-athletes run a "big brother/big sister" type program that matched college athletes with junior high students.  This is how my husband (a Hersey grad) and I met.

7.              What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor?  I work the table at almost every boys and girls volleyball and basketball games, work track meets, Saturday School, Lit Lab tutor after school.  I try to help out wherever I can.
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