Board Notes 04.18.12
| School start set for Aug. 22 |
Students will return from summer break on Aug. 22, a little later than previous years, to ensure Johnson and Tioga additions are ready. Staff will return on Aug. 20.
The new start date will move the last day of school to June 4. The winter and spring breaks fall within the usual calendar, with winter break Monday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Spring break will be the last week of March as in past practice, March 25-29, 2013.
Parents and staff committees that reviewed the calendar especially liked the mid-week start, which eases students back into the school routine.
Download 2012-13 Calendar at a Glance |
| Former Tioga School teacher named Co-Principal |
Mr. David Rojas has been appointed Co-Principal of Tioga School, effective July 1. He will share administrative duties with Mrs. Nicole Robinson, Chippewa School Principal, when the schools merge.
Mr. Rojas is completing his second year as English Language Learners Coordinator in District 2. Earlier in his career he spent three years at Tioga School as an English as a Second Language and bilingual teacher.
Mr. Rojas served as Assistant Principal at Hermes School in Aurora for three years before returning to District 2.
As ELL Coordinator, Mr. Rojas supervised the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the bilingual education program, and the English as a Second Language program. He also served as interim Principal at Tioga this past fall and will serve as interim Principal at Chippewa School during Mrs. Robinson’s leave of absence.
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Mr. David Rojas |
“I am very excited to come back to Tioga School. I am looking forward to working with the students, parents, and staff at Tioga School to provide the children in our community with the best educational experience. Bensenville School District 2 is leading the way in education and I am thrilled to be part of the process!” Mr. Rojas said.
Mr. Rojas holds a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute, a master’s degree in urban teaching from Columbia College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Olivet Nazarene University.
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| 19 teachers receive tenure |
The following teachers were approved for tenure, having successfully taught in Bensenville Elementary District 2 for the past four years.
Blackhawk Middle School – Carol Calderin, Lisa Kellogg, Kerry Olsen.
Chippewa School – Kara Amy, Marjorie Bottari, Katie Vivoda.
Mohawk School – Rebecca Boisse, Armando Campos, Nichole Kaberna, Christina Mellen, Angela Monson.
Tioga School – Cristina Cabezas, Natalie Georgopoulos, Kelly Harrison, Kristi Mullen, Samantha Riggi.
W. A. Johnson School – Lena Canestrini, Katherine Hellstrom, Crystal Kirschke.
The teachers will be recognized with a special reception at the Board of Education meeting May 16.
Summer School administration appointed
Sarah Humboldt, assistant principal of Blackhawk Middle School will serve as Summer School principal. Kerry Olsen, Blackhawk Middle School counselor, and Valerie Mazzone, Blackhawk Middle School Social Worker have been appointed assistants to the principal. This provides each teacher with the opportunity to gain administrative experience. The summer school teaching staff was also approved as proposed.
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New library furnishings allow for flexible use of space
Furnishings for the new media centers at Tioga and Johnson Schools were approved by the Board of Education.
The furniture design plan includes many spaces for students to work with materials or to read in relaxing settings; to participate in classroom activities; and to hear presentations. Flexibility has been emphasized in the furniture selection, anticipating future changes in Learning Center use.
The expected cost is approximately $125,000 at each location, but final pricing is still being revised as the Administration evaluates each item for appropriateness. These figures fit within the District’s two-year furniture budget of $750,000. Prices include installation and a 46 percent discount through purchasing cooperatives from both suppliers.
Both buildings will also have computer labs of comparable size to the library labs in the “Innovation Lab,” an area located near the classroom wings, allowing for flexibility in scheduling for testing and student access to resources. Students will also have access to computers and mobile technology through carts that can be utilized in the classroom and other learning spaces.
Designers' rendering of Johnson Library furniture plan
Designers' rendering of Tioga Library furniture plan |
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