FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Thank you for making eLearning successful
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Dear BSD2 Families,
I hope this message finds you warm and well. I wanted to extend my sincere appreciation for your incredible patience and persistence during our recent Emergency eLearning Days due to inclement weather.
In particular, Friday presented us with unexpected challenges, as the blizzard caused intermittent power outages and internet connectivity issues that caused some delays in a small number of students and staff from participating in online instruction for a short time. Despite those challenges, though, we had high attendance and teachers reported that student participation was strong. While we never enjoy calling an eLearning day, we certainly appreciate everyone’s commitment and participation in making these successful days of learning.
Winter weather in the Chicago area is always unpredictable. Please continue to dress your students warmly for their walk or bus ride to school. Together, we will navigate any future weather challenges and continue to learn and grow as a community. I look forward to having all of our students back in our school buildings tomorrow, January 17.
With warm regards,
Dr. Katie McCluskey
Superintendent of Schools
Bensenville School District
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PROGRESS REPORTS
Second-trimester mid-term progress reports will be available Thursday, January 25
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Tuesday, January 16, is the second-trimester mid-term.
Second-trimester mid-term progress reports will be shared on Thursday, January 25.
Kindergarten
Parents of kindergarten students will receive a message via Seesaw regarding students' progress for the second trimester on January 25. If they haven't already, kindergarten parents should contact their child's teacher to get connected to their Seesaw class.
Grades 1-5
Students in Grades 1-5 will be sent home with a printed mid-term progress report on January 25. The report will only include comments regarding student progress in math and language arts.
Grades 6-8
Assignment scores for students in Grades 6-8 will be viewable on January 25 through the Student Portal of the PowerSchool student information system. Students in Grades 6-8 were shown how to access the PowerSchool Student Portal earlier this year. Parents are encouraged to sit alongside their students while on a District Chromebook to review their assignment scores.
Standards-Based Grading
District 2 uses standards-based grading. This means you will receive scores for standards only. You will not receive an overall score for assignments/assessments.
The grading scale is:
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E - Exemplary (4): The student independently extends and applies key concepts, processes, and skills and can transfer this learning to new contexts.
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M - Meets (3): The student demonstrates a solid understanding of key concepts, processes, and skills and can consistently apply this learning.
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P- Progressing (2): The student is progressing toward an understanding of key concepts, processes, and skills with minimal assistance.
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B - Beginning (1): The student is beginning to understand key concepts, processes, and skills with assistance.
Click here for more information on Standards-Based Report Cards.
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HANDS ON
OpenSciEd experiments turn BMS students into science discoverers
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Blackhawk Middle School students are engaged in more hands-on science experiments this year through the OpenSciEd program.
The District has partnered with Dr. Carol Baker, a creator of the state’s Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), to introduce OpenSciEd at Blackhawk. Students learn through discovery using OpenSciEd’s free, high-quality instructional program that was developed for the NGSS standards.
OpenSciEd’s phenomena-based approach to learning inspires students to lead in questioning, investigating, and solving problems. At each step, students use science and engineering practices to figure out pieces of the scientific idea they are investigating. Each piece they figure out adds to their developing understanding of the phenomenon they are exploring.
Through OpenSciEd’s hands-on experiments, students …
- Learn through an repetitive process that builds on new understanding and knowledge.
- Discover, investigate, and construct understanding with their peers.
- Develop their ability to solve problems, ask questions, interpret data, and argue from evidence.
“We are so excited about these new hands-on learning experiences we’re providing Blackhawk students in their science classes,” said Dr. Anne Paonessa, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning. “They’re aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, and they are designed for how students learn science best."
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JOIN US!
Become a parapro, and become a part of our classrooms!
We’re hiring paraprofessionals to serve in a variety of different capacities.
“What’s a paraprofessional?”
Good question - they’re vital members of so many of our classrooms.
Parapros serve as instructional aides, assisting in classroom settings under the supervision of certified teachers. Many of them work one-on-one with students to meet their unique needs.
Their primary responsibilities include:
- Assisting with the preparation and adoption of instructional materials.
- Assisting with the supervision, escorting, and instruction of students, as directed.
- Assisting the teacher with all aspects of the daily instructional program.
- Assisting with the maintenance of accurate records on student progress.
- Participating in staff development activities as directed by contract.
- Performing other duties as may be assigned by the administration.
Paraprofessionals work seven hours a day five days a week, and get summers, winter and spring break, and holidays off. As full-time employees, they qualify for the District’s insurance benefits, and they contribute toward IMRF pension plans. Their pay starts at $16.50 per hour, and those serving in bilingual and special education roles receive annual stipends ranging from $1,300 to $1,950.
Parapros must have excellent communication skills, basic computer knowledge, and a paraprofessional license. Anyone 19 or older who holds a high school diploma or equivalent now qualifies for a DuPage County Short-Term Approval Paraprofessional License.
For more information on becoming a BSD2 paraprofessional, visit www.bsd2.org/parapro. To apply, visit www.bsd2.org/employment.
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ENROLL NOW
COD offering free citizenship course for English learners at BSD2 Family Resource Center
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UPDATE: College of DuPage (COD) is offering a free citizenship course at the BSD2 Family Resource Center at Tioga School during its 2024 spring semester.
Classes will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting January 30. Placement tests will be administered at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, and Thursday, January 25.
MORE ABOUT COD’S CITIZENSHIP COURSE
College of DuPage offers free citizenship courses to help adults prepare for the citizenship test. Citizenship courses are based on the 100-question citizenship test and include three learning modules:
- Procedures and History
- Government and Constitution
- Customs
Participants will also learn about procedures and processes involved in the path to U.S. Citizenship including the citizenship application and passing the interview.
All students must take a placement test and attend a short orientation/intake session prior to registering for citizenship courses. Placement testing, orientation and registration take approximately 2½ hours. No children are allowed in the testing room.
For more information, visit cod.edu/ela, call 630-942-3697 or email ela@cod.edu.
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SPECIAL SERVICES PARENT GROUP
January 24 meeting to focus on child development
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Bensenville School District 2 is hosting a parent engagement series for families of students receiving specialized services.
The next meeting in the series will be from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, at Tioga School, 212 W. Memorial Road (enter Door 43). The meeting will focus on "your child's development."
For more information, contact Blanca Cruz, Early Childhood Outreach Coordinator, at 630-766-2602 ext. 4275 or bcruz@bsd2.org.
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ATTENTION EIGHTH-GRADE FAMILIES Fenton High School hosting Welcome Night on Thursday for the Class of 2028 | Mark your calendars for 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 18. That’s when Fenton High School will host its Class of 2028 Welcome Night. This event provides future Bison and their parents an opportunity to learn everything they need to know about joining Fenton next year. | |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Blackhawk's spring musical - Disney's Frozen JR. - will hit the stage in March
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Auditions for Disney's Frozen JR., Blackhawk Middle School's spring musical, were held last week!
Frozen JR. will bring Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. The show will feature all of the memorable songs from the animated film, and the same cast of beloved characters. Loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Stay tuned to more info.
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CHECK IT OUT
If you're active on social media, please like and follow the BSD2 Facebook and Twitter pages
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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.
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BSD2 E-FLYERS
Here are the current community flyers posted on the District's website
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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.
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Bensenville School District 2
210 S. Church Street
Bensenville, IL 60106
630-766-5940
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