Friday, March 20, 2015

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog

Friday Focus - 1:1 technology!!

I am very excited to announce that all Buffalo Grove High School students will have District-issued iPads for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year!!
This means that we will have one-to-one technology that allows us to continue to deliver relevant, innovative curriculum to all of our students from 9th to 12th grade. I am honored to be working in a district that is willing to make the commitment to invest in our school by investing in devices for all students.  While sound teaching and learning is the core of student achievement, I believe that providing our students access to current technology tools is one of the best ways to prepare them for their future. I have seen first-hand the transformational way that this technology is changing and improving student learning, engagement, and growth.
The one-to-one implementation follows six years of innovation on the part of hundreds of staff members across High School District 214, who empowered a teacher-led process to bring iPads into our classrooms, developing new instructional materials and identifying ways to transform learning.
For our teachers, ongoing professional development opportunities have been offered to support thoughtful and innovative approaches to integration of technology into each subject area. Teachers will use a wide variety of platforms and applications for assignments and for communication with students and parents, including Schoology, iTunes U, iBooks, Google Classroom, blogs, and Google Sites. Likewise, students will be able to use a range of iPad apps and web tools to create, conduct research and complete assignments.
1:1 iPad implementation supports increased communication between teachers and students and increased student choice and autonomy over their own learning. Faculty are working with students so that they are thoughtful and aware of their digital footprints and can make excellent choices in sharing content that will enhance their digital reputation. We believe that having all students equipped with an iPad will motivate them, support autonomous engagement and strengthen the multidisciplinary learning that defines BGHS.


BGPA Communication and Link (Janet/ Karla)
Lou's Pizza Factory and BGPA** (Buffalo Grove Parent's Association) will be having an ONGOING fundraiser EVERY Sunday through Thursday.  Lou's Pizza Factory has delicious antipasti, pastas (including gluten free), flat and pan pizzas, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks.  They are just a few blocks east of BGHS - located at 719 E. Dundee Rd. in Arlington Heights.  If you mention BGPA, Lou's Pizza Factory will not charge sales tax and they will be donating 25% of their income to the BGPA!  Tell your friends, relatives, and neighbors.  This is valid for Dine in, Carryout, or Delivery.  Any questions, please contact BGPA member, Lisa Groh at vantagept1@gmail.com or (847) 682-1200.  Thank you for your continuing support of BGPA to help our students!



DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
March 20 Spring Vacation Begins at Close of Classes - Dismissal at 1:50 pm
March 30 First Day of Classes after Spring Vacation
April 3 Non-Attendance Day - No School
April 6 Institute Day - Students NOT in Attendance
May 25 Memorial Day - No School
May 31 Commencement Exercises
June 5 Last Day of Classes


Upcoming Dates/ Big Events Semester 2
March 20 EARLY DISMISSAL, Students Dismissed at 1:50 pm
March 30 Summer School, Drivers Ed, Sports Camps - Online Registration Begins


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
March 20 Badminton Lucky Clover Varsity Invite, 4:30 pm, Gym & Fieldhouse
March 21 Badminton Karen Douglas Invite, 8:00 am, Gym & Fieldhouse
March 25 Badminton JV Invite, 4:30 pm, Gym & Fieldhouse
March 28 Boys Volleyball, Bison Battle Invite, 8:30 am, Gym & Fieldhouse
March 30 Girls Water Polo vs. Elk Grove, 5:45 pm, Pool
March 31 Badminton vs. Schaumburg, 4:30 pm, Gym & Fieldhouse
April 1 Softball vs. Grant, 4:30 pm, Softball Field
April 1 Boys Water Polo vs. Prospect, 5:30 pm, Pool
April 1 Boys Gymnastics vs. Prospect, 6:00 pm Gym
April 1 Girls Soccer vs. Elk Grove, 6:30 pm, Stadium
April 4 Baseball vs. Niles West (DH), 11:00 am, Baseball Field


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



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 Spotlight

Screen Shot 2015-03-18 at 1.31.42 PM.png

What is your name? Jeffrey Robert Grybash

What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach? English Department. I teach Junior American Lit, Contemporary Lit, & AP Lit & Comp

How long have you been teaching at BG? This is my 10 year

Where did you go to high school? I went to William Fremd High School

What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding? Without question, the relationships that are built and developed.

What is something unique about you? My son thinks he's a real life tiger... And that I'm his daddy tiger. We speak in 'roars' upon my entering the house.

What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? I coach football and basketball here.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog



Friday Focus - PARCC test
As you know, on March 16th and 17th, Buffalo Grove High School will administer the state-required Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) exam.  This exam will be given on March 16th to all students in junior level English classes, and on March 17th to all students in an Advanced Algebra course. Per Illinois state mandate, the English and math tests will be administered twice, once in March, as a “Performance Based Assessment” (PBA) and again in May, as the “End-Of-Year Assessment” (EOY).  
I want to give a little background about PARCC in this blog, as it has been in the news on an almost daily basis recently.
PARCC is an assessment based upon the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  It is the assessment of the CCSS that the State of Illinois has adopted, along with Arkansas, Colorado, Loiusiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island.   However, they are distinctly different entities.  PARCC is purely an assessment.  The CCSS are the set of standards on which the creators of the PARCC test used to create their assessment.  
My opinion is that the CCSS is a well-developed set of standards meant to challenge typical classroom teaching, and instill a model that targets students’ critical thinking and processing skills through the lens of core content.
We are hopeful that the data from this test can be used as a further educational tool for self-assessment of our instruction.

To learn more about the PARCC test, you may visit: http://www.parcconline.org/about-parcc



BGPA Communication and Link
BGPA Meeting, Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 pm, Community Room
Lou's Pizza Factory and BGPA** (Buffalo Grove Parent's Association) will be having an ONGOING fundraiser EVERY Sunday through Thursday.  Lou's Pizza Factory has delicious antipasti, pastas (including gluten free), flat and pan pizzas, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks.  They are just a few blocks east of BGHS - located at 719 E. Dundee Rd. in Arlington Heights.  If you mention BGPA, Lou's Pizza Factory will not charge sales tax and they will be donating 25% of their income to the BGPA!  Tell your friends, relatives, and neighbors.  This is valid for Dine in, Carryout, or Delivery.  Any questions, please contact BGPA member, Lisa Groh at vantagept1@gmail.com or (847) 682-1200.  Thank you for your continuing support of BGPA to help our students!



DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
March 20 Spring Vacation Begins at Close of Classes - Dismissal at 1:50 pm
March 30 First Day of Classes after Spring Vacation
April 3 Non-Attendance Day - No School
April 6 Institute Day - Students NOT in Attendance
May 25 Memorial Day - No School
May 31 Commencement Exercises
June 5 Last Day of Classes


Upcoming Dates/ Big Events Semester 2
March 18 Financial Aid Night, 7:00 pm, Buffalo Grove H.S. Theater
March 19 Blood Drive sponsored by Senior Class, 7:30 am - 3:00 pm, Gym
March 20 EARLY DISMISSAL, Students Dismissed at 1:50 pm
March 30 Summer School, Drivers Ed, Sports Camps - Online Registration Begins


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
March 13 Girls Track vs. Cary-Grove, Lake Zurich, Wauconda, 4:30 pm, Fieldhouse
March 13 Expressions Preview Concert, 7:00 pm, Theater
March 16 Badminton vs. Naperville North, 4:30 pm, Gym
March 16 Boys Water Polo vs. Wheeling, 5:30 pm, Pool
March 17 Girls Soccer vs. St. Viator, 4:30 pm, Stadium
March 18 Girls Water Polo vs. Hersey, 5:30 pm, Pool
March 20 Badminton Lucky Clover Varsity Invite, 4:30 pm, Gym & Fieldhouse
March 21 Badminton Karen Douglas Invite, 8:00 am, Gym & Fieldhouse



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



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.    

BG in the news
Buffalo Grove Band Trip to Northwestern
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/buffalo-grove/news/ct-bgc-nu-concert-tl-0312-20150309-story.html



Staff member/ student of the week
Mr. VanGrondelle speaking to students
about cellular respiration

1.What is your name?  Chris VanGrondelle

2. What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach?  I work in special education department.  I co-teach biology, chemistry and physics.

3. How long have you been teaching at BG?  I have been teaching at Buffalo Grove High School for 21 years.

4. Where did you go to high school?  I went to Marist High School in Chicago when it was 2000 Marist men.

5. What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding?  I love the interactions with young adults.  I believe I have a personality that allows kids to feel comfortable talking to me or asking questions.  When this happens they become more engaged in my teaching and will listen more, try harder and consequently will learn more.

6. What is something unique about you? I live with 4 incredible women.  My wife and 3 daughters who are all AMAZING people.

7. What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor?  I coach the girls golf team, the girls bowling team and I'm the head girls badminton coach.  I am the voice of the Bison Pride Marching Band during football season.  I have been on the microphone for the boys basketball team for over 10 years.  During my time at BG, I've also coached girls basketball, boys basketball.  I was the head coach of the varsity girls basketball and girls badminton teams at Wheeling High School.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog



Friday Focus
Today I spent the day at Apple, Inc offices in Chicago with the District Leadership Team. While we were not allowed to take pictures or tweet out content, I can say that it was an incredible day of personal and professional growth, as well as a day of insight into the future of technology in the educational setting. Our presenters were all former educators, and were phenomenal. I am so excited to work in a district that recognizes that students' lives growing up are different from ours as teachers and administrators, and that teaching and learning can be greatly enhanced as we Modify and ReDesign our teaching through technology. Learning is not so much about content as it is about context. Content is available 24/7. It's the skill of putting that content into a useful context is what gives today's student the tools they need for their future.
I work with an incredible staff that is ready to test boundaries with technology, teaching, and learning in the years to come. I'm excited to lead this passionate team.


BGPA Communication and Link
Lou's Pizza Factory and BGPA** (Buffalo Grove Parent's Association) will be having an ONGOING fundraiser EVERY Sunday through Thursday.  Lou's Pizza Factory has delicious antipasti, pastas (including gluten free), flat and pan pizzas, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks.  They are just a few blocks east of BGHS - located at 719 E. Dundee Rd. in Arlington Heights.  If you mention BGPA, Lou's Pizza Factory will not charge sales tax and they will be donating 25% of their income to the BGPA!  Tell your friends, relatives, and neighbors.  This is valid for Dine in, Carryout, or Delivery.  Any questions, please contact BGPA member, Lisa Groh at vantagept1@gmail.com or (847) 682-1200.  Thank you for your continuing support of BGPA to help our students!


DISTRICT 214 CALENDAR
March 20 Spring Vacation Begins at Close of Classes
March 30 First Day of Classes after Spring Vacation
April 3 Non-Attendance Day - No School
April 6 Institute Day - Students NOT in Attendance
May 25 Memorial Day - No School
May 31 Commencement Exercises
June 5 Last Day of Classes


Upcoming Dates/ Big Events Semester 2
March 9 Winter Sports Awards, 7:00 pm, Gym
March 10 Orchesis - District Dance Show, 7:00 pm, Theater
March 18 Financial Aid Night, 7:00 pm, Forest View Educational Center Theater
March 19 Blood Drive sponsored by Senior Class, 7:30 am - 3:00 pm, Gym
March 30 Summer School, Drivers Ed, Sports Camps - Online Registration Begins


Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the coming week
March 6 & 7 Orchesis Show, 7:30 pm, Theater
March 7 Boys Track Scarpino Invite, 10:00 am, Fieldhouse
March 9 Winter Sports Awards, 7:00 pm, Gym
March 10 Orchesis - District Dance Show, 7:00 pm, Theater
March 11 Boys Water Polo vs. Hoffman Estates, 4:30 pm, Pool
March 12 Concert Band Festival, 7:30 pm, Theater
March 13 Girls Track vs. Cary-Grove, Lake Zurich, Wauconda, 4:30 pm, Fieldhouse
March 13 Expressions Preview Concert, 7:00 pm, Theater

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


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.    


BG in the news
BG Expressions wins Indiana Competition
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150303/submitted/150309665/



Staff member/ student of the week
Mr. Linhart on Cardigan Wednesday!
1. What is your name? Brian Linhart

2. What department do you teach in/ what courses do you teach? Student Services/School Counselor

3. How long have you been teaching at BG? This is my second 2nd year

4. Where did you go to high school? West Leyden (sports teams are Leyden, East/West combine)

5. What part of teaching to you find the most rewarding? Helping the students at BG.  It's a passion of mine.  What's really cool is how "help" is defined differently for every student.  Whether it be the students I meet with only during our Core curriculum and to schedule classes, to those who I have a standing weekly appointment with, and whether it is from an academic perspective or a social emotional issue.  Being a factor, big or small, in helping a student is more rewarding than any paycheck I have every received.

6. What is something unique about you? I work Mike Krzyzewski's Basketball Camp at Duke University every summer.

7. What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? I coached girls basketball last year, I am in charge of the Bison Advisory Mentors, and I run our school's St. Baldrick's event.