Principal's Weekly Blog 01/13/2017

Friday Focus

Bison Boosters Las Vegas Night

The Bison Boosters are hosting their annual Las Vegas Night to be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Ditka's, 2000 West Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights at 7:00pm. Last year's event was a near sell out so get your tickets today at www.seatyourself.biz/buffalogrove and help support the 28 athletic programs of Buffalo Grove High School. Booster Invite 2017 Vegas Night vFinal1 copy.pdf

Frozen Fantasy Tea

The Orchesis dancers would like to invite you to a Mother/Daughter Tea on Saturday, January 21, 2017.  The Frozen Fantasy Tea features a special winter themed afternoon of fun, including:  a performance by BGHS Orchesis, Dance Skill Lesson, Crafts, Photo Booth, Treats, Tea and Hot Cocoa Bar, Nail Station.  This tea is open to anyone between Preschool through early middle school age.

Tickets are $30 for 1 Adult & 1st Child and $10 for each additional child or relative (please limit to 3 children per adult). CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE. For questions about the event contact denise.jaszka@yahoo.com

All proceeds will go towards our Orchesis performance trip this Spring Break in Disney World!!!!

Upcoming Dates

Date	Event
January 16	Martin Luther King Day - Building Closed
January 17	Class of 2021 Parent Meeting 7:00 pm (Theater) Note: Also offered on 1/19
January 18-20	Semester 1 Final Exams
January 18	BGPA Meeting 7:00 pm (Community Room)
January 19	Class of 2021 Parent Meeting 7:00 pm (Theater) Note: Also offered on 1/17
January 21	Frozen Fantasy Tea 1:00-3:00 pm (Cafeteria) Orchesis Children’s event
January 23	Institute Day - Students Not in Attendance
	Curriculum Activities Fair - Incoming Freshman Class of 2021 7:00 pm (Gym)
January 24	Third Quarter Begins
January 26	Blue Late Start - 8:30am
February 18	Turnabout Dance
February 20	Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL
March 16	End of 3rd Quarter

Celebrating Our Success!

• Congratulations to seniors Andra Tecusan and Christopher Tsourmas on being named Honorable Mention on the Daily Herald’s 2016-2017 Northwest Suburban Leadership Team!

• Congrats to our Coed Varsity Cheerleaders for finishing 2nd at the MSL Conference Championships.  We are proud of you!

• Congrats to BG JV Cheerleaders on their second place finish at the Lake Zurich Invite.  Great way to finish the competitive season!

• Congratulations to Jack Delattre who broke a 40 year old school diving record! 6 Dives with a score of 289.55!

• Congratulations to diver Matt Misch on a 2nd place finish at the Vernon Hills Invite!

• Celebrating another fine group of seniors from our wrestling program. Congratulations and Fight On!!!

• Congrats to Jessica Soskich for being the individual champion at the Prospect Invite! 228 average for 6 games!

• Congratulations to our JV Girls Gymnasts on staying UNDEFEATED! Led by a sweep in the All-around: 1st Patty Sobolak, 2nd Nikki Ruby, 3rd Hope Fickett in triangular vs. Prospect and Rolling Meadows.

Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the Coming Week

Date	Time	Event
January 13	4:30pm	Varsity Boys Swimming & Diving vs. Wheeling
	6:00pm	Varsity Wrestling Dual vs. Rolling Meadows
January 14	6:00pm	Varsity Boys Basketball vs Prospect
	7:30pm	Varsity Girls Basketball vs Prospect
January 21	1:00pm	Varsity Swimming & Diving - Fred Palffy Invitational
January 26	7:00pm	Variety Show
January 27	7:00pm	Variety Show

For underlevel and away sporting events and the most current information for BGHS activities, please go to: Buffalo Grove High School Comprehensive Calendar

BGHS in the News

BGHS Teacher Honored With Education Award

Journal-Topics, December 19, 2016

Buffalo Grove High School English teacher Anna Schultes received the Alumni in Education Award from the Council of Educators in Polonia and Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU).  Schultes received her Master of Science Degree in Instruction from Northeastern Illinois University. In addition to teaching English, Schultes works as an immigration education specialist for Township High School Dist. 214.  Read Story

Honorable mentions: Northwest Suburban Leadership Team 2016-2017

The Daily Herald, January 12, 2017

Buffalo Grove High School seniors, Andra Tecusan and Christopher Tsourmas, named Honorable Mention to the Daily Herald Northwest Suburban Leadership Team.  Read Story

Buffalo Grove works 3 OTs to edge Grayslake North

The Daily Herald, January 7, 2017

Buffalo Grove boys basketball coach Keith Peterson was hoping that this would be a turnaround season for his Bison.  The host Bison added to the trend in that direction with a thrilling 87-77, three-overtime win over Grayslake North on Saturday night.  Read Story

Junior guard Alyssa Floro thrives as Buffalo Grove simplifies its system

Chicago Tribune, January 9, 2017

Alyssa Floro likes to work. It's the only way the Buffalo Grove junior basketball player knows how to get better.Before a scrimmage in practice, Floro will say a few words to her defender."I tell them, 'Don't go easy on me,' " she said. "If they don't go hard, I won't be prepared for the game."... Read Story

Click Here for BGHS’s Daily Announcements

Staff Spotlight

1. What is your name?  Tim Podulka

2. What department have you/ do you work in?  I am the RTI (Response to Interventions) Facilitator, but I have been a Case Manager and Social Studies teacher.

3. How long have you been working at BG?  This is my 8th year at BG.

4. Where did you go to high school?  I went to Elk Grove High School.

5. What part of working at BG do you find the most rewarding?  The most rewarding part of teaching for me, is connecting with students, helping them grow as individuals, and helping them reach new heights that they never thought were possible.

6. What is something unique about you?  I turned down an opportunity to play football professionally in Europe to take a job at BGHS, and it has turned out to be the greatest decision of my life!

7. What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor?  What activities at BG do you follow?  I am the Defensive Coordinator for the Varsity Football Team and I am the Head Track Coach.

Principal Wardle's Weekly Blog 01/06/2017

Friday Focus  -  Meet our new School Resource Officer

What is your name and title?

A: Falon Adams.  To the students, my official title is Police Liaison Adams or School Resource Officer (SRO) Adams.

Tell us about your family?

A: I've been married a little over a year.

Where did you grow up/go to high school?

A: I grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and attended Oak Park and River Forest High School.

What do you enjoy most about being a police officer?

A: I enjoy the spontaneity. It is rarely ever boring, you get a wide variety of calls which allows for a wide range of experience as well as greater opportunities to impact different people's lives.

What are your first impressions of BG?

A:Right now, I'm trying to learn the culture and see how best I can compliment it. I do really appreciate how approachable those members of the faculty and staff (that I have met) have been over the past few weeks. Hopefully, I will remember everyone's names at some point!

What is something interesting/unique about you?

A: I am a huge fan of Marvel movies/DC Comics/Any graphic novel based television shows e.g "The Flash", "Arrow", and "The Walking Dead". In fact, there is usually Captain America or The Green Arrow as my screensaver.

Upcoming Dates

Date	Event
January 5	Blue Late Start - 8:30am
January 12	Blue Late Start - 8:30am
January 16	Martin Luther King Day - Building Closed
January 18-20	Semester 1 Final Exams
January 23	Institute Day - Students Not in Attendance
January 24	Third Quarter Begins
February 20	Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL

Celebrating Our Success!

Well done Bison cheerleading! Bison cheerleading giving back to the community by volunteering at Community Threads.

Back Those Bison - Varsity Home Sports and Fine Arts for the Coming Week

Date	Time	Event
January 6	4:30pm	Varsity Boys Swimming & Diving vs. Hoffman Estates
	6:00pm	Varsity Wrestling Dual vs. Elk Grove
January 7	4:30pm	Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Grayslake North
January 10	7:00pm	Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Hoffman Estates
January 13	4:30pm	Varsity Boys Swimming & Diving vs. Wheeling
	6:00pm	Varsity Wrestling Dual vs. Rolling Meadows
January 26	7:00pm	Variety Show
January 27	7:00pm	Variety Show

For underlevel and away sporting events and the most current information for BGHS activities, please go to: Buffalo Grove High School Comprehensive Calendar

BGHS in the News

Buffalo Grove's Colin Calcagno a complete player in third varsity season

Chicago Tribune, December 30, 2016

Colin Calcagno has always been a good shooter for the Buffalo Grove boys basketball team, but the three-year varsity player has become much more for the Bison this season.  It was Calcagno's shooting, defense and overall leadership that put Buffalo Grove in a position to win its opening-round game against Deerfield at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic before falling 43-40 to the Warriors on Dec. 27.  When Buffalo Grove coach Keith Peterson promoted Calcagno from the sophomore team to the varsity squad two years ago, he said he did it because of the 5-foot-11 guard's shooting ability. Now, he said Calcagno is a complete player.  Read Story

Buffalo Grove aims for winning finish at Wheeling

The Daily Herald, December 28, 2016

In the 38-year history of the Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic, it has awarded a consolation championship only in the last 29 of those years, to the team that runs the table by winning its last three games after having dropped the opener.  Read Story

Pioneer Press year in review: Roundtable with Arlington Heights ADs

Chicago Tribune, December 27, 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, Pioneer Press contributor Rich Mayor caught up with Arlington Heights-area athletic directors to discuss highlights from the past year and what's to come in 2017.

Q: What was the highlight for your athletic programs this calendar year?

Matt Myers, Buffalo Grove: It would have to be our cheerleading team bringing home another state title (in the co-ed division). Obviously we're beyond excited about that. Our school completely appreciated their efforts and ended up being another classic moment.  Read Story

Buffalo Grove scores a big seasonal win with Partners for our Communities

The Daily Herald, December 23, 2016

The idea came about via Buffalo Grove boys basketball coach Keith Peterson and his affiliation with the Deer Grove Covenant Church. A group from the church three years ago wanted to do something during the holiday season for underprivileged children and families in the area. Peterson's group contacted Rachel Lara at the Partners for our Communities in Palatine at Rand and Hicks roads.

Peterson took the concept to heart and decided to ask his Bison boys basketball team if it was something they would like to try.  Read Story

Buffalo Grove H.S. students partner for tot fashions

The Daily Herald, December 21, 2016

For the first time, Buffalo Grove High School's fashion design and early childhood practicum classes partnered to give fashion students the opportunity to design and make clothes. Fashion students designed and sewed customized pajamas for 16 children in the Little Bison Day Care program. The children modeled the clothes during a fashion show in early December.  Read Story

Buffalo Grove girls basketball team remains upbeat amid growing pains

Chicago Tribune, December 17, 2916

A season after winning 24 games, the Buffalo Grove girls basketball team is learning how to win again. It's a lesson the Bison can learn even after losses. Buffalo Grove jumped out to a 10-point first-half lead against Wheaton North on Dec. 13 at the Lake Zurich Exam Jamm tournament, but the Falcons rallied for a 54-47 victory.  Read Story

Camardo's big finish helps Buffalo Grove past Hersey

The Daily Herald, December 16, 2016

Buffalo Grove center Mac Camardo needed to get more involved as the Bison hosted Hersey in Mid-Suburban East boys basketball Friday night. Camardo went into halftime with 3 points and 2 rebounds. When the game ended, the 6-foot-6 junior had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot.  Read Story

Click Here for BGHS’s Daily Announcements

Staff Spotlight

1. What is your name?  Kurt (occasionally Ashton) Wagner

2. What department have you/ do you work in?  I’m technically part of Special Education, but a large part of my job is in Student Services as well. A few years back, a fairly prominent school psychologist started talking about some of our major roles as “every ed” initiatives (as opposed to “gen ed” or “special ed”); I’ve always really connected to that sentiment and tend to see my job as a school-wide role.

3. How long have you been working at BG?  Since about ½ hour before the new faculty orientation this past August, so just under 1 semester!

4. Where did you go to high school?  I went to Rolling Meadows. True story, I tried out for the school mascot and got pretty far along until I tried on the costume and found out it was clearly made for someone much shorter than me.  

5. What part of working at BG do you find the most rewarding?  For the past nine years I worked in Crystal Lake. With the differences between the two communities, this year I’ve gotten to work with students on some substantially different issues than what I’d seen out there. By the same token, there are many more resources here (both in BG and in the community) that offer a better chance for students getting their needs met.

6. What is something unique about you?  Well, until I found out about the Miller dynasty (there are three Millers that work at BG) I’d have said I have a uniquely educator family – my wife, both my parents, both my sisters, and one of my cousins are all teachers, and my grandma was a principal’s secretary. To be honest, aside from weird little proclivities (like, I was tracking personal data before it was cool – or easy), I’m not sure what’s truly “unique” about me. A lot my job is to just really listen to people and normalize their worries and self-judgments. It’s hard for me to do that and not see similarities more easily than differences.

7. What activities or clubs do you coach/ sponsor?  What activities at BG do you follow?  I’m currently an assistant coach for the speech team (@SpeechBGHS) with Tom Foster at the helm, and help out Kate Smith with the Gay-Straight Alliance. The Early Morning Hoops (EMH) crew knows I’m about as athletic as a moose, but even though half the time I have no clue what’s going on I love watching high school sports! I’m excited to see the football team build over the next few years and have enjoyed seeing a steady stream of articles in the paper about our athletes across the board. With young kids at home though (Clint is 2 ½ & Wyatt is about to turn 5) I have to say theater and orchestra are trending pretty strong after Elephant and Piggy!