Friday Focus: The Passing of a Legend
Earlier this week, we learned of the passing of an absolute legend, Buffalo Grove HIgh School’s first head football coach, champion Bison and leader to generations of student athletes, Grant Blaney. Coach Blaney led the Bison to a football State championship in 1986, and our football stadium was named after him in 2011. We thank you for the memories and your influence on our school. Blessings to the Blaney family.
There were two articles written about the passing of Grant Blaney:
Daily Herald article:
Chicago Sun-Times article:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/1/13/22230075/grant-blaney-buffalo-grove-football
Annual District 214 Art Expo
Art Expo is an annual exhibition of artwork created by District 214 high school students, and District 21, District 23, District 25, and District 59 junior high and middle schools students. The virtual exhibition will feature five works of art from each school. Viewers will vote for their favorite high school and middle school. Winning schools will receive the Art Expo Cup, title of Best of Show and bragging rights until next year's Art Expo.
The Art Expo Throwdown video and gallery can be viewed on the exhibition site http://d214artexpo.weebly.com and on YouTube. Please view the video, check out the gallery and vote for your favorite high school and middle school.
BGHS artists Kaylie Clark, Mya Estanislao, Jillian Guittar, Emily Valencia and Maja Wegrowski were selected to represent BGHS in this year's Art Expo. Please help support our artists by voting. Voting ends Friday, January 15, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
Upcoming Dates
Senior Portraits & Underclass Retakes
Prestige Portraits will be at BGHS for senior portraits and retakes January 12 through February 2 during school hours. Lifetouch/Prestige Portraits sent a postcard to every senior with their scheduled appointment date and time. Please contact Prestige Portraits directly at 630-910-6800 (option 5) with any questions regarding senior portrait appointments.
LifeTouch will be at BGHS for freshman, sophomore and junior student portraits and retakes on February 9, 10, and 11. Please check your email for more detailed information on how to schedule a time to have your photo taken.
Please note that ALL portraits for seniors and underclassmen are mailed directly to the student’s home. No individual student portraits are ever received at the school building.
BGHS Library Virtual Book Club
Save the date! The BGHS Virtual Book Club will meet on Wednesday, January 20, at 3:30 pm. New members and drop-in visits are always welcome! No mic, camera, or prior reading required. Please contact bghslibrary@d214.org for the zoom link.
BGPA Scholarship Application Now Available
The Buffalo Grove High School Parent Association (“BGPA”) and donor Mrs. Jackie Sell are pleased to award scholarships to recognize the achievement of our students. The winners will be selected based on school and community involvement, leadership, motivation, and academics, as well as a compelling personal essay. All graduating BGHS Class of 2021 seniors are eligible for this scholarship. Additionally, scholarship Applicants must plan to attend a post-secondary or technical school as a full-time or part-time student and must meet District 214’s requirements to participate in and to be awarded a diploma at commencement in 2021. The Scholarship is an outright gift and will be announced and disbursed at the Principal’s Awards Assembly on May 6, 2021.
The BGPA Scholarship application is posted in Naviance, as well the College and Career Website. CLICK HERE for the link to the scholarship page
All applications will be reviewed with complete anonymity. The completed application (stapled with required attachments and signatures) must be received in the BGHS College/Career Center by the end of school on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. All decisions made by BGPA will be final. Any application not submitted with all attachments or unsigned by the end of school on March 31, 2021, will be rejected.
New BGHS Student Podcast Debuts
The new student created podcast, The Unspoken Herd, debuted this week. You can listen to the podcast at https://anchor.fm/unspokenherd, and it is also available on Spotify and Google Podcasts, with Apple Podcast availability coming soon. The premier episode features special guest, Phil Tschammer, Project Lead the Way and manufacturing teacher and BGHS Theater Technical Director. The podcast also highlights the BGHS Multicultural Club in a conversation with sponsor, Sarah Manos. This entire podcast was created remotely - teacher Stefanie McCleish and the students involved have actually never met in person. We are very excited to watch the progress and evolution of this project.
You will hear seniors Jobani Gonzalez and Alex Vasquez on the mic. The episode was edited by sophomore Jesse Leon. The theme song music was composed by sophomore Charlie Morrison.
Staff Spotlight
What is your name? My name is Olesya Priyma.
What department have you/ do you work in? I work in English/EL department.
How long have you been working at BG? This is my third year working at BG.
Where did you go to high school? I graduated from Buffalo Grove High School.
What part of working at BG do you find the most rewarding? The most rewarding part is seeing students’ growth and success. Additionally, BG provides a very friendly and supportive environment for students and staff.
What are you currently reading, and/ or do you have a favorite author or podcast? Currently, I’m taking online classes to get my ESL endorsement and most of my readings are course related. The last book that I read for pleasure was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
What is something unique about you? I speak 3 languages: English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? What activities at BG do you follow? I am a member of Russian Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee. My team and I organize events to help explain American education system to Russian-speaking families.
BGHS in the News
Influential former Buffalo Grove football coach Grant Blaney dies at 85
The Chicago Sun-Times, January 13, 2021
Grant Blaney, who started Buffalo Grove’s football program and led it to an undefeated state title run 12 years later, died on Tuesday. He was 85. Blaney played at Amundsen and Iowa State before embarking on a lengthy coaching career that included stints as an assistant at Thornridge and Wheeling before he came to Buffalo Grove when the school opened in 1973. Read Story
Grant Blaney, Buffalo Grove coaching legend, dies at 85
The Daily Herald, January 13, 2021
Before he was ever formally introduced to Grant Blaney, Buffalo Grove head football coach Jeff Vlk felt like he already knew the legendary Bison football coach. "When you first come to Buffalo Grove as a teacher, one of the first people they make sure you know about is Grant Blaney," said Vlk, who began his career at Buffalo Grove as an assistant coach and teacher in 2005. "He is a legend at Buffalo Grove." Read Story
Looking for More?
Click Here for the New Block Schedule
Click Here for the Blue & Orange Calendar
Click Here for the D214 School Calendars
Click Here for the 3rd Quarter Parent Newsletter
Click Here for BG's student newspaper, The Charger
Click Here for the oneBG Podcast
Click Here for One Grove Gallery exhibits and information
Click Here for the detailed daily BG Activity/Athletics Calendar
Click Here for the BGPA Bison Spiritwear online store
