4-26-2024

 I am so glad that we were able to recognize all of the hard work and dedication that Kim and Evelyn give to our school for Administrative Assistant Day on Wednesday.  I know I speak for everyone when I say Thank You for all that you do.  

Thanks to Colleen for putting together the ABC countdown!  Friday is Crazy Hair Day and Monday is Disney Day!

50 mini lessons for student research

On Monday I will be taking 8th Graders Carlos M and Maggie B to the Illinois Principal Association Student Recognition Breakfast. These two students will be recognized alongside other students from all over DuPage County in 4th, 8th and seniors in high school for being outstanding students.  

I am excited for the Band Trip today to NIU.  Thanks to Morgan Martin for creating this great opportunity for our student musicians.  

 7 ways to promote positive communication with Families.

Dr. Woell has been making his way around to teams to update them on the capital plan and to get everyone's input on upcoming changes.  I appreciate his communication and transparency with this process.  

I am looking forward to seeing the talent show  a week from Friday.  Thanks to Chris and Lynette for working with the students to practice their acts in preparation for the big show. 

Joe, Bill, Carrie and Abby did a great job of hosting a huge track met today with many conference schools participating.  Thanks to Dan for his help organizing the event and to all of the staff that helped supervise and run the events.  Everyone pitching in makes a big difference.  

Dr. Filas did a great job running the district furniture vendor committee meeting on Wednesday.  BMS was well represented.  Next up the committee will hear from three vendors on Tuesday May 7th.  I appreciate staffs willingness to serve the district in this way, giving up their time to benefit all of us. 

20 ideas for exit tickets as an effective way to end your class

 Grade level teams will be giving their final STAR tests soon.  Teachers please encourage your students to really give their best effort on this final test.  

Thanks to Lauren Dunne for heading the Eclipse glasses donation drive so that they can be used again in Latin America.  

Nicole C and Megan D went above and beyond yesterday to help a family with a truancy issue.  I appreciate their willingness to be creative and think outside the box.  

Friday, I will be sending out the articulation schedule for May 3rd along with our assembly schedule for the talent show. 

"Expect everything, I always say, and the unexpected never happens." -- Norton Juster

"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." -- Epictetus

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

4-19-2024

 Bengals Night was a huge success!  Thanks to Melissa, Sherry, Lynette, April, Morgan, Jen V and Joe for all of their hard work to make this happen. 

 

Thanks to Michelle F and Carrie for their hard work in the bookfair.  Waldo made his way to the register as well!

Mrs. Anderson put on a wonderful Fiesta for the 5th and 8th graders last Friday which also provided us with lunch on Monday and Tuesday of this week!

Joe, Bill, Carie and Abby did a tremendous job of sticking with the track meet this week despite of possible bad weather!  Special thanks to Dan for working with our coaches and the other teams to communicate updates and make it happen.  

Matt Tylk and our girls soccer team pulled out a great victory against Elgin this week!

Thanks to our 8th grade team for their willingness to chaperone the 8th grade kiddos to a Cubs game this Friday!  Although fun, a lot of extra work and responsibility for our staff.

Thanks to 8th grade and 5th grade teams for getting the state science testing done this week.  Keeping students motivated is hard work.  Thanks to Vanessa, Danielle and Angela for being the tech help to fix any problems that came up. 

Morgan had the band director from WCCHS and a bunch of HS students come to band practice this morning.  These kids (many former Bengies) gave up sleeping in to help out our students!   

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -- Aristotle

"What worries you, masters you." -- John Locke

"When you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it." -- B.F. Skinner

4-12-24

 Frank was honored at the school board meeting on Monday. I know I speak for everyone when I say we all appreciate everything he does to help us everyday!  Thanks Frank!  

Dr. Huenecke, Dr. Salamone, Melissa L, Nicole C, Kerry and myself participated in teacher interviews this week.  I appreciate everyone giving up their time to make our school stronger.

4th grade students and parents had a blast on Wednesday.  I appreciate everyone that pitched in to make the day and night happen,  This includes, Chris, Melissa F, Jen H, Melissa L, April, Danielle, Morgan, Angela, Jessica and Kim G.  Also thanks to Jen V and Joe for being flexible and letting us use the gym during the school day. 

Thanks to Michelle F and Jamie B for helping with IAR make-up testing.  

The Eclipse on Monday was a special shared experience for our Bengals!  Thanks for everyone's flexibility to enable this opportunity for our students.  

Thanks to Nicole for her continued help with student attendance. 

7 strategies to make content stick

strategies to make content stick

I appreciate our spring sports coaches as they have already been dealing with crazy spring weather on top of getting practices and games underway!  

We will continue with testing next week with 8th grade taking the ISA on the 16th, 17th, and 18th and 5th grade testing on the 17th, 18th and 19th.  Thanks to Grega and Vanessa for getting this ready.  

I am looking forward to Bengals Night on Thursday April 18th.  It is a great celebration of the arts and a wonderful school event.  Please remember that it is a mandatory attendance event for all of our certified staff.  

"Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other." -- Maxwell Maltz

So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work. --Peter Drucker

All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed. Sean O'Casey (1880 - 1964

4-5-24

 Thanks to to everyone for preparing your students to take the IAR, which means teaching the students the content they need to know that is aligned to state standards and then motivating them to give their best.  Special thanks to Greg for getting the tests ready and to Vanessa for leading the support team of teachers in the hallways to solve testing problems. 

I appreciate everyone's flexibility when it came down to adjusting 8th period classes for students to have the opportunity to see the 20 year eclipse this Monday.  Thanks to the science teachers for helping me get it quickly organized and to Michele Davis who organized an "Eclipse Playlist" today to be played in-between classes.  Dr. Woell also was able to find us a doctor who donated all of the glasses that we thought we were going to have to buy.  

Speaking of Michele Davis...she was able to organize a fun roleplaying activity with her 6th grade social studies students on feudalism.  I can tell you first hand that they were engaged and learning!

Sherry was able to have another celebration of the spanish culture with her students learning some spanish history and getting to eat a variety of spanish dishes.  I always love the fact that she gets a lot of parent volunteers to come into the classrooms on these days!

If you can make First Friday today I hear their may be an appearance by Matthew Turek.  

Thanks to Michelle F and Carrie L for helping to prepare and work the Bengal Night Book Fair on April 18th.   

On April 10 we will have our 4th grade students over for orientation followed up by a parent night on the same evening.  Thanks to Melissa L for organizing everything and to the 5th grade teachers, Mellissa L and Dr. Salamone for attending the parent night.  

I know the last thing we need is another calendar, but I believe I have finally shared correctly the end of the year calendar which includes major events/activities from now until the last day of school.  If you want something added just tell your team leader.  If you see a mistake then let me know.  

The extra duty sheet for next year will be coming soon!

Thanks to the 5th grade and especially Melissa Falkos for preparing for the Too Good For Drugs program and graduation.  Students and parents enjoyed the ceremony with our police officers and Chase from Paw Patrol (I think)

"Great minds have purposes; others have wishes."

-- Washington Irving

"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." -- Frank A. Clark

"The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more." -- Wilson Mizner

3-15-24

 Monday night before the board meeting Nicole, Sherry, Nicole J, Jessica E, Principal Smith and myself had a blast at the PTA Culvers event serving some great Benjamin families and other Carol Stream patrons.  

Speaking of the board meeting, Megan Peterson was at the board meeting with her husband to receive her NBCT recognition from Dr. Woell and the school board.  

I appreciate Greg being in house for our IAR training.  It is not easy getting everything ready for testing.  Also, shout out to Kim G who also worked extremely hard to get the IAR accommodations entered for all of our students and getting them pulled to the correct testing room.  

I will be talking with all of our students during lunch periods on Monday about getting ready to give their best on the upcoming IAR tests.  On Tuesday I will be getting slimed at the end of the 8th/5th grade lunch period (11:20) outside in the back.  This is for students that raised enough money in the fun run in the fall.  

Increase your students math literacy

improving math literacy

I appreciate the hard work that Chris is putting into the BB300 each week.  I especially liked her having kids do the pledge while using american sign language.  

Spring sports are right around the corner.  Dan sent out the sign up genius link for supervision.  We will need lots of help  especially for our two home track meets so please sign up!

Using daily reflection writing to check on connections with students.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/daily-reflective-writing-teachers

The 8th grade students had a great time on their golf reward trip.  I am proud of how this group of 8th grade students have handled themselves this year.  

Joe has been doing a great job with his students in the healthy cooking class.  It is a very demanding task to get it all accomplished in 45 minutes!

                                               Words Matter

The musical stage is empty now but very soon will be filled with song, dance, and nervous kids about to have the time of their young lives. Before it's all over I want to take the time to thank Danielle, April and especially Melissa who will be at the helm of the musical for her very last time.  I know how much she loves what she does and we all appreciate how much time and energy she pours into making each musical the best it can be.  Bravo!

Newsies

"You use a glass mirror to see your face: you use works of art to see your soul." 

George Bernard Shaw

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."

Samuel Beckett

"Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

Oscar Wilde

3-8-24

 The musical is just one week away.  Melissa, Danielle and April  will be putting the motors on full blast next week for tech week leading to the first school performance. Shout out to April for all of the extra work she has put into the backdrop the last few days.  . 

I hope everyone had a good time at the first annual Contest of Champions at the staff learning meeting.  Congratulations to the Specials Team for taking home the coveted "Wilson" trophy.  I know it will travel amongst their rooms in a place of honor for the next year!  You are all winners in my book.  

Jessica and the Tiger Times put out another outstanding issue this week.  I am always amazed at the detail the students put into each article.  They definitely earned their issue release party!

Colleen, Alex and student council have kicked off the food drive to help the Carol Stream Rotary fill the food pantry shelves. Since next week is the last week, please encourage and remind your students to participate and bring in non-perishable food and nonfood items for charity. 

3 strategies to increase student participation.

increase student participation

I am looking forward to Greg's IAR presentation on next Wednesday's early release schedule.  It will be in the multipurpose room and it will start at 1:45pm.  

Thanks to grade level teams for ensuring that all students take the 5 Essentials Survey before the March 29th deadline.  I appreciate the extra time put into explaining the purpose and process so students take the survey seriously.  

8 Great Tech tools to try this year.  (actually check this one out when you have time or maybe in team) From Cult of Pedagogy

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/ed-tech-tools-2024/ 

Both  Michele Davis and Sherry tied in awards presentations/themes to their classroom to ramp up the engagement and excitement in their lessons this week.  I appreciate the effort that all of you put into your lesson planning each day.  

Dr. Woell and Dr. Filas did a great job of setting the stage with the three architecture presentations to the school board on Monday.  This involved a lot of work leading up to the presentations to put us in the best position to have great choices to do the work that needs to be done in the next couple years.  Special thanks to Michele Davis, Megan Dusing, Dan Baker and Sherry Anderson for staying for the three hours of presentations.  

Shout out to Catherine Miller for returning to Benjamin to finish her MS-SLP internship with Megan Dusing.  The student is now the teacher! I look forward to seeing the work she does to help our students.  

"The very meaninglessness of life forces man to create his own meaning." -- Stanley Kubrick

"Persistence is stubbornness with a purpose." -- Richard DeVos

"With a purposeful story, you can change a 'wanna be' to a 'gonna be' to a 'be'." -- Peter Guber

3-1-2024

 Michelle and Carrie hosted the Caudill Party for select 5th and 6th grade students. One of the activities was listening to author Megan Freeman who gave the students insights on writing.  

Thanks to April, Morgan, Elena and Danielle for participating in the music position interviews.  I know the extra time is hard to come by but I appreciate everyone’s efforts.

Thanks to Nicole Johnson for finishing the hefty task of completing all of the Access testing. It was A LOT of work and I appreciate the hard work Nicole put into testing and servicing the students.

Thanks to Morgan for putting out the March band schedule.  I am sure the teachers appreciate her organization and communication that makes a complicated system easily accessible by all staff to stay informed.  

Newspaper Club celebrated their Hard work on the latest edition of the Tiger times Thursday after school. Jessica throws my kind of parties...ice cream and Bugs Bunny cartoons were the order of the day.  

Pretty great article on unplugging in the classroom. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/unplugging-technology-classroom

Thanks to Dr. Woell for putting together the "field trip" today for staff to see different possibilities for our upcoming renovation. I'm looking forward to the bus ride, last one on the bus is in charge of attendance!

Thanks to Todd and Jana for leading our district's CPI refresher today. What a treat to have our own staff able to do this in house!

Just a reminder to make sure you sign in and out in the office for the Institute Day PD Hours. (Bus riders it will be there  by 7:30am) You must put your IEIN number on the form.  

One of my goals is to start researching and sharing ways that CHAT GPT and other AI can help and contribute to our classrooms.  Here is an image on how you can check student writing  to ensure they are not using AI.  

The Girls Basketball team has had a very busy short week with away and home games as well as practice! Thanks to Mr. Baker and Mr. Tylk for coaching and motivating the lady bengals to give their best.

Thanks to Mrs. Budinger who stepped up to help two of our students meet their unique STEM needs by planning some activities that matched their abilities and interests.

I know lunch duty is often a thankless task. Thanks to Bill, Sue, Chris, Joe, Jim, Jen, Jessica, Lynette, as well as Lori and Carrie who often sub for lunch duty. I appreciate the effort put into not only making sure kids eat, get cleaned up and are safe at recess, but also the effort the staff puts into building positive relationships with students...all students that make the classroom management aspect of lunch duty easier in the long run.  

"If we have a choice between being right, and being kind -- be kind, and we’ll always be right!" Chris Boyd

"Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." -- Henry David Thoreau

"To listen is to lean in, softly, with a willingness to be changed by what we hear." -- Mark Nepo