December 21, 2023

BSD2 News & Notifications | District & Community Flyers | BSD2 Events Calendar

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Thank you for the gifts you give our schools!

Greetings BSD2 Families, Students, Staff and Community Members,


The holidays are a time to reflect, celebrate, and - of course - give. That is why I am once again filled with gratitude for the incredible generosity of the BSD2 community.

 

Take, for example, the District’s annual Giving Tree program. Each fall, our school social workers and classroom teachers work together to identify students from families that may not be able to afford gifts, and anonymously invite them to share their children’s wish lists and clothing needs. BSD2 staff then volunteer to spend about $30 purchasing gifts for each student, and return their donations wrapped and ready to deliver to the students’ families before winter break. 


This year, BSD2 staff generously donated around $4,710 in gifts for 157 students from 60 different families in need through this annual Giving Tree program.


That’s just one of many examples of this District’s giving and gracious nature. Throughout the year, I’ve witnessed countless acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness from our families, students, staff, and community members. Whether it's a helping hand, a thoughtful word, or a generous donation, it is heartwarming to see the generous spirit that defines our district and makes our schools not just places of education, but true communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging. 


Our schools thrive because of the collective efforts of every individual within our community. Your generous contributions, both big and small, help create an environment where students feel supported, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. It is this spirit that makes our schools not just places of learning, but places where we grow together as a community.


As we come together to celebrate the holidays, let us carry this spirit of generosity into the new year. May our shared commitment to giving continue to make District 2 a special place to learn and grow. 


Thank you for all of the gifts and joy you bring to our schools. Have a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and those you love. I look forward to seeing everyone back on January 8, 2024.


Warmest regards,


Dr. Katie McCluskey

Superintendent of Schools

Bensenville School District 2

GOOD TIDINGS TO YOU!

Students from across the District offer holiday greetings at the annual BMS Holiday Sing-Along

When it comes to holiday music, there are standards most everyone knows by heart, and there are tunes you know when you hear them, even if you don’t know their names or words.


This year, the BMS Holiday Sing-Along featured a few songs from each category, as Blackhawk’s bands and chorus staged lovely performances of “African Bell Carol” and “Sleigh Ride,” and led lively sing-alongs to “Jingle Bells,” “Up On the Housetop,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” (The Jazz Band also nailed “Jingle Bell Rock" to open the show.)


Every year, second- and fourth-grade students from Johnson and Tioga schools visit Blackhawk Middle School for the Holiday Sing-Along. But this fun field trip is more than just a festive way for students to celebrate the holiday season. It is also a showcase of the fine arts opportunities that await these young students when they move on to middle school.


MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD

Johnson’s holiday concerts allow parents to watch students perform virtually or in person

Parents can get great joy from watching their children perform in person, but it can also be difficult for working parents to attend their kids' concerts during the school day.


W.A. Johnson School solved this problem with its "Music Around the World" concerts for kindergarten, first- and second-grade classes. This year, parents were invited to watch their children perform in person. However, these performances were also live-streamed to allow parents to take a peek into students' music classes in real-time or at their own convenience.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Tioga students celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa during the annual Winter Sing-Along

Tioga students gathered in the school’s gym Wednesday to sing some of their favorite holiday songs. The school’s annual Winter Sing-Along featured a version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" that also included greetings for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. It also provided students opportunities to belt out "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," and a number of other holiday favorites.

SONGS & KEEPSAKES

Pre-Kindergarten families celebrate the season

Twas the day before winter break, and in every class, students and parents made memories to last!


Pre-Kindergarten parents were treated Wednesday to an opportunity to visit their students' classrooms for the Pre-K Winter Holiday Celebration.


During their visit, they watched their children sing holiday songs, partnered with them to make seasonal souvenirs, and posed with them for fun photos!


SHARING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT 

Blackhawk band students perform for residents of local senior living communities

On December 14, a group of Blackhawk Middle School band students visited Castle Towers and Bridgeway senior living communities to perform a variety of holiday favorites for the residents.


A SWEET HOLIDAY TRADITION

Tioga kindergartners - and many of their parents - decorate gingerbread houses

Every year, the kindergartners at Tioga School march from their classrooms to the cafeteria carrying undecorated gingerbread houses they fashioned from graham crackers, milk cartons, and globs of white frosting.


Awaiting them in the cafeteria are colorful plates of assorted candies, and -- in many cases -- grinning parents eager to help them decorate their little creations with all those sugary confections.


It is the sweetest of sweet holiday traditions at Tioga School.


WHEEL OF WISDOM

Thank you, Johnson PTA, for bringing back this beloved game show 

Wheel of Wisdom made its much-anticipated return to W.A. Johnson School on Thursday, December 14. Thank you to the Johnson PTA for bringing the fun-filled game show back each year. It is one of the favorite annual events of both students and staff.


DARBY'S PLAYGROUND

District 2 joins Metropolitan in dedicating new playground at Bensenville Early Learning Center to late Head Start director's memory

District 2 joined its partners from Metropolitan Family Services on Sunday, December 5, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Head Start playground at the Bensenville Early Learning Center.


The playground was dedicated to the memory of Darby Pool, who tragically passed away in April at the age of 44. Darby worked for Metropolitan for nearly 20 years, starting as a classroom teacher and eventually rising to become the Head Start Director and the DuPage Associate Director of Early Childhood Education.


During her time serving in Bensenville, she passionately supported staff, families, and - most of all - the children in the Head Start program. One of her dreams was for the program to have its own playground at the Bensenville Early Learning Center.


"She is dearly missed," said Dr. Katie McCluskey, BSD2 Superintendent of Schools. "The playground will forever bring laughter and joy to children in her honor."

A CELEBRATION OF LITERACY

Tioga families enjoy annual evening of reading fun

Thank you to all of the students, families, and staff who participated in Tioga's Literacy Night on Wednesday, December 6. It was a fun celebration of literacy and of all our work -- both at home and at school -- to raise children who love to read.


HOOPS, CHEER, & DANCE

Catch it all at a Blackhawk boys basketball games

The BMS boys basketball teams tipped off the 2023-2024 season earlier this month.


Of course, the BMS cheer and dance teams always turn in awesome performances at their home games.


That's why there's not a better atmosphere for a middle school basketball game than the gymnasium at Blackhawk Middle School.


Check it out when they return to action after Winter Break!


CHECK IT OUT

 If you're active on social media, please like and follow the BSD2 Facebook and Twitter pages

If social media is your thing, we’d love it if you’d visit our Facebook and Twitter pages, click the “like” button, and follow our postings to keep up with the latest BSD2 News.


Just login and search for “Bensenville School District 2.”


You’ll know you’re where you belong when you're on a page with the District's new "Learning & Growing Together" logo shown to the right.

BSD2 E-FLYERS

Here are the current community flyers posted on the District's website

District 2 has gone "green" in its approach to distributing community flyers.


Rather than sending flyers home with each student via backpack mail, District and community flyers are posted on the BSD2 E-Flyers page for parents to view or print 24/7.


It is estimated that this saves our schools hundreds of hours per year spent sorting and handling the materials, not to mention the number of trees and other resources saved in producing them.


Bensenville School District 2
210 S. Church Street
Bensenville, IL 60106
 630-766-5940
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