Friday Focus:
On behalf of the National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University and the Illinois National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Comprehensive Support System, we would like to congratulate Jamie Domaracki, who earned the title of National Board Certified teacher and Master Teacher designation on the Illinois Professional Educator License!
Congrats Jamie, we are proud of you!
The Bison Impact:
Congratulations to our Orchestra All-State Musicians, Sydney Paunan and Spencer Sadler! (photo is pre-pandemic)
Congratulations to All State Choir students Charlie Morrison and Holden Wheeler!
Congratulations to senior Justin Wytmar! Justin competed in a series of history competitions last weekend. He was named a NATIONAL CHAMPION in the category of Military History Written Exam in the Military History National Championship Exam, hosted by International Academic Competitions. What's even more impressive is that he had to compete in a final round tie breaker in order to become the champion!
Congratulations to Technical Crew senior, Melanie Reitman, on her work as part of the 2021 Illinois High School Theater Festival (IHSTF). The IHSTF will host a streaming performance featuring a select ensemble of the top high school actors, technicians, and musicians from the 2021 graduating seniors throughout the state of Illinois. You can view the performance online tomorrow, Saturday, January 9, at 7:00 pm, using the link that will be posted on both the IHSTF and the Illinois Theater Association websites: www.illinoistheatrefest.org and www.illinoistheatre.org. The event is free.
Upcoming Dates
Senior Portraits & Underclass Retakes
Seniors - check your mail for a postcard from LifeTouch/Prestige Portraits, the District 214 school portrait photographers. Senior Retakes will be happening from January 12 through February 2. Lifetouch sent a postcard to every senior with their scheduled date and time.
Opportunities for underclassmen portraits and retakes are still being determined, but will likely be scheduled for February. An email will be sent with more detailed information early next semester.
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.
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.
Staff Spotlight
What is your name? Michael DiMatteo
What department do you teach in/ How long have you been teaching at BG? I teach in the Social Studies department and have been at BG for eight years - 34 overall.
Where did you go to high school? I attended Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Illinois.
What part of teaching do you find the most rewarding? There is no greater reward to my mind better than when a former student sends me an email or letter relating how I was able to help them in some aspect of their life, be it fostering a love of history and the historical processes or in some other way. That’s why we are in this profession…to pay it forward…and I can’t think of anything else I’d rather have done with my professional life.
What new thing have you learned this year teaching remotely? That experience does matter. Having created curriculum for both the regular and the AP level throughout my career, I was forced to draw upon all of those resources, and still draw upon them, in trying to create engaging and meaningful lessons for my students. I can honestly say that this has been the most challenging aspect of my rather long career to this point, but one that I’m changing into as I would have as a first year teacher. As Goerge Danton once said, “L’audace, L’audace, Toujours L’audace!” (audacity, audacity, always, audacity).
What are you currently reading, and/ or do you have a favorite author or podcast? I am always reading…and writing (finishing my first historical fiction novel). I read 3 or 4 books at a time - as one would eat ice cream (today I like vanilla, now I like chocolate…). I’m reading Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, George Burns’ All My Best Friends, and Finley Hooper’s Roman Realities.
What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor? I coach football at BG, and Track and Field at Wheeling.
What is something unique about you? I do a lot of different things. I guess something really unique is that I was a professional singer, doing night clubs and shows in my late teens and early 20’s before I became a teacher. I’m also a rabid biker - riding my motorcycle all over the country.
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
