Friday Focus: BGHS Salute to Staff Honors Outstanding Contributions to Education
This week we had the pleasure of celebrating and recognizing staff members for their outstanding contributions to education and their service to Buffalo Grove High School. The Outstanding Contributions to Education winners are Special Education teacher Toni Genova, Library/Media Specialist Kim Miklusak, Counselor Brittany Vesper, College & Career Assistant Kathleen Becker, Technology Assistant-Library Alex Brown, Athletic Assistant Kym Corbett, and Groundskeeper Amy Rubio. This year’s Principal’s Award went to our EL Instructional Assistants Griselda Lobato, Cristina Lopez, Francisco Plazola and Olesya Priyma. Special recognition went to Michael DiMatteo for his induction into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Philip Tschammer as the recipient of the “New Teacher of the Year Award” by the Technology Education Association of Illinois. Sharon Horwath was selected by her peers as the recipient of the 2021-22 Sue Moon Service to Colleagues Award.
We would also like to recognize Tom Mroz, the Buffalo Grove High School nominee for the annual District 214 Dr. Elizabeth A. Ennis Innovator Award. Tom Mroz truly defines what it means to develop and grow a career pathway. He has single handedly advocated for and created an expanded and more rigorous curriculum and course sequence in our Business Pathway, which now, thanks to Tom, includes BOTH Financial and Managerial Accounting Dual Credit courses, allowing students to earn 6
early college credits before graduation. These essential courses also satisfy two challenging prerequisites for students who will go on to major in Business in college. While already at MA+60 level, Tom jumped at the opportunity to take an additional 18 graduate credits in order to earn the credentialing to teach this Dual Credit course through National Louis University, because he knew what an amazing opportunity this would be for our Business Career Pathway students. Tom is a natural innovator who, 4 years ago, spearheaded our Blended Learning Pilot and opens his classroom doors regularly to both peer and external observers who wish to learn from his engaging instructional methods. He has developed a rich learning management system for his courses which allow for student agency over their work. Tom does all of this in a humble and understated manner, always putting students first. He models what it is to be an innovative, lifelong learner and epitomizes the characteristics of the Liz Ennis Award criteria.
The Bison Impact:
Congratulations to BG teacher and legendary football coach, Mike DiMatteo, inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame this week!
Congratulations to Rohan Ganeshan, the first-ever BG student named to First Team All-State by the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association!
Congratulations to the District 214 Winter Guard, VIVA, made up of students from Buffalo Grove and Prospect, on winning 1st place in their division at the recent competition in Minooka, performing their show “Knight Moon.” VIVA is a part of the Midwest Color Guard Circuit. Congratulations to BG Winter Guard students Orli Argentar, Gina Deckowitz, Emma Pavlik, and Grace Root! Click HERE to watch a short clip of the Winter Guard winning performance.
Congratulations to the Buffalo Grove High School Wind Ensemble on being selected to perform at the 2022 University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival! This the first time any band from BGHS has been selected for this prestigious festival. We are so proud of the work of our amazing students, both past and present, to get here. Selection for participation in this festival is competitive and based on blind evaluations of submitted performance recordings. The band will perform for a panel of college band directors at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
Congratulations to the ACES (Academic Challenge in Engineering Sciences) team! On the Friday before spring break, the ACES team competed in the Sectional competition and placed 4th overall, but by proxy of at-large score qualifications, they advanced to the State finals on Friday, April 8th. Individual accolades go to: Artur Mullagaliyev (4th Computer Science), Lucas Pasdo (3rd Physics-tie, 4th Chemistry), Rohan Ganeshan (3rd Chemistry-tie), Angela Liang (2nd Chemistry and State qualifier), Irina Kryukov (3rd Chemistry-tie, 1st in English and State qualifier), Sanjay Manoj (State qualifier math, 3rd Physics-tie), Spencer Sadler (State qualifier math, 3rd Physics-tie), Harmony Sosa (State qualifier math)
District 214 College Fair
Tuesday, April 5 6:00-8:00 PM
The District 214 College Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 6:00-8:00pm at Forest View Educational Center at 2121 S. Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights. The participating institutions represent colleges of a variety of types from various parts of the country and around the world. The college representatives are prepared to discuss admission requirements and procedures, curriculum offerings, scholarships, financial aid information, housing options, and programs for advanced study.
Please visit the District 214 website HERE for a list of participating colleges and universities, suggested questions to ask a college rep or to register in advance (not required). Advance registration will provide you with a barcode for easy contact information exchange with college representatives. At the college fair, colleges will scan your barcode to get your contact information. In return, you will receive the college representative’s contact information and additional material about the schools that interest you.
Upcoming Dates
New Print Edition of the Charger Available NOW!
Click HERE for The Charger online
Staff Spotlight
What is your name? Jim Petruzzi
What department have you/ do you work in? I work in Security/Campus Safety.
How long have you been working at BG? I have been working at BG for 9 years.
Where did you go to high school? I went to Weber High School in Chicago.
What part of working at BG do you find the most rewarding? I really enjoy working with the students and so many wonderful co-workers.
What are you currently reading or do you have a favorite author, podcast or movie? I love westerns and war movies. My favorite movie is Kelly’s Heroes with Clint Eastwood. If you haven't seen it, you should!
What is something unique about you? I am a retired Chicago police officer. I may be rough on the outside but I’m really a big softie.
What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? What activities at BG do you follow? I work as many sporting events as I can throughout the year because I enjoy watching the Bison compete.
Back Those Bison!
Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the Coming Week
For underlevel and away sporting events and the most current information for BGHS activities, please go to: Buffalo Grove High School Comprehensive Calendar
Grease Tickets on Sale NOW!
Visit tickets.d214.org
Bison in the News
Pataky named D214 Ennis Award winner for innovation
The Daily Herald, March 31, 2022
Tom Mroz, business education teacher, Buffalo Grove High School: Buffalo Grove High School business teacher Tom Mroz advocated for and helped create an expanded and more rigorous curriculum in the BGHS Business Pathway, adding a second college-level accounting course--and even took an additional 18 graduate credits in order to become credentialed to teach the class through National Louis University. Thanks to his efforts, students now can earn up to six early college credits in financial and managerial accounting dual credit courses, two widely required classes for college business majors.Read Story
Boys volleyball: Buffalo Grove scores thrilling win over Fremd
The Daily Herald, March 29, 2022
After battling it out all night, it looked like visiting Fremd had Buffalo Grove on the ropes, leading 21-17 in the third set of a Mid-Suburban League boys volleyball match Tuesday night. But the Bison never folded in the pressure-packed match as they outscored the Vikings 8-2 down the stretch to pull out an exciting 25-23 crossover victory in the decisive set with a huge spike by senior Piotr Wymoczyl leading to a wild on-court celebration by Buffalo Grove (4-2). Read Story
Buffalo Grove Scholastic Bowl team wins state tourney
The Daily Herald, March 28, 2022
The Buffalo Grove High School Scholastic Bowl team has had an unforgettable season. In late February, Buffalo Grove put an exclamation point on an excellent year by winning the prestigious NAQT Illinois State Championship tournament, besting the top teams from all over the state. Read Story
Scouting girls track and field in the Northwest suburbs
The Daily Herald, March 22, 2022
First-year Buffalo Grove head coach Bryan Quesea gets to deploy senior Cassidy Kallas in the 800; she qualified for state in the event last year. The coach noted the Bison crew is twice the size of last year's edition, and 13 of BG's 15 athletes that ran in last year's MSL outdoor meet have at least one more year of eligibility. Read Story
Scouting the 2022 boys volleyball season in the Northwest suburbs
The Daily Herald, March 17, 2022
In the MSL East, Buffalo Grove has most of its varsity starting lineup from last season coming back, including middles Piotr Wymoczl and Colin Shin, outsides Connor Dell and Dan Feder, and setters Kevin Sinkiewicz and Colsen Castle. "Each of these players have been playing at a high level in the offseason," said coach Tim Kosiek. "We are eagerly taking advantage of each moment in the gym to improve our skills as we prepare for our first contests." Read Story
Eight honored with District 214 Distinguished Service Awards
The Daily Herald, March 24, 2022
The Board of Education for High School District 214 last week honored eight individuals with the District's 2021-22 Distinguished Service Awards. The awards are presented annually to people - community members, parents, volunteers and others - who have made significant contributions to the District and its students. Read Story
Sweetheart Dance! Saturday April 9th 6:00-9:00 pm
Formerly known as the Daddy-Daughter Dance, the Sweetheart Dance is open to any parent/guardian and their child, preschool age and up. Yes, it will all be here: balloonist/ DJ-MC/ and photo booth along with the usual crafts & games! The cost is $30.00 per family. Register by email to Lily Justiniano at lily.justiniano@d214.org.
Looking for More?
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Click Here for the Unspoken Herd Podcast
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Click Here to Join/Support the Buffalo Grove Parent Association
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