BBCHS Newsletter
April 2026
What's Happening?
Music In Our Schools Month
The BBCHS Tri-M Music Honor Society highlighted Music In Our Schools Month, a nationally recognized celebration of music education. Throughout March, BBCHS music students and Tri-M members shared this celebration through performances, volunteer efforts, informative and engaging decorations, trivia activities, and travel experiences.
Approximately 200 BBCHS student musicians performed at the IHSA Solo and Ensemble Contest, with several students and ensembles earning the coveted "Best of Day" award. We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and their willingness to share the gift of music with others. We are so grateful to the many students and families who volunteered their time and efforts to help make the event a success.
In celebration of Music In Our Schools Month, Tri-M hosted engaging activities including a Music Trivia table, a photo booth, and a chapter gathering focused on music appreciation. These events highlighted the importance of music education while creating a fun and interactive experience for students.
The BBCHS Music Department traveled to Walt Disney World over spring break, where orchestra and choir students participated in clinics with professional Disney musicians and recorded music set to Disney animation. The Marching Band also had the incredible opportunity to perform in a parade down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom. This trip allowed students to grow as musicians, collaborate creatively, and strengthen their music community while experiencing a memorable performance environment.
Arab American Heritage Month
BBCHS celebrated Arab American Heritage Month during this month of April! To kick off the month, one of our teachers Mrs. Maha Mohammad took her Baking class to “Little Palestine” (Bridgeview) to visit cultural food establishments and taste some food items heavily in her culture. They also tasted items that were imported from overseas! This was a great way to kick off our Arab American Heritage Month celebration!
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
BBCHS would like to recognize our incredible paraprofessionals who dedicate themselves each day to supporting our students and staff. Their hard work plays a vital role in helping our school days run smoothly, and we are truly grateful for everything they do!
National School Librarian Day
BBCHS recognized our amazing School Librarian, Mr. Mike Dorsam! Mike has also seen much success as the Scholastic Bowl Coach at BBCHS. We appreciate everything you do for our students - thank you!
Assistant Principals Week
Thank you to all of our Assistant Principals at BBCHS for the hard work and dedication that you put into our school to make it better each day!
BBCHS Alumna - Member of NASA
We are proud to spotlight a remarkable BBCHS alumna who continues to make an impact on a global scale!
As a member of NASA, Suzanne Bell serves as the Lead Investigator for the Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness study, supporting the recent Artemis II mission and future Artemis missions. Her work plays a critical role in ensuring the health, safety, and success of astronauts as they prepare to return to deep space exploration.
We’re excited to share this interview that she participated in to discuss all of her work with this groundbreaking research and its importance in advancing human spaceflight.
Your BBCHS family is cheering you on as you reach for the stars! We are proud of you!
Pre-AP Biology Lab
Mr. Dustin Rennewanz’s Pre-AP Biology students extracted DNA from strawberries in class using their knowledge of cell structures within their study of genetics! His students had a blast!
Student Quotes - Music Education
In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month last month, music students were asked, “What do you love about music education at BBCHS?” See what they had to say!
INCubator MVP Pitch Event
Mrs. Heather Johnson’s INCubator class held their INCubator MVP Pitch event! Six entrepreneurial teams “pitched” their business ideas that they have been working on all year to BBCHS staff members.
These groups focused on their “Minimum Viable Product” (MVP). An MVP is a version of their product/service that they can create and ship to customers to test market acceptance. They did an amazing job, and our staff members loved their ideas!
Time to TALK Day
Time to TALK Day is a day-long, student-led program that we brought to BB this year, thank you to our school counselors and social workers. TALK stands for Teens Activating the Language of Kindness and the goal is to help students find empathy and understanding toward others, creating a safe and supportive environment in our school.
First semester, we took 10 juniors and seniors to a training that Oswego High School provides for area schools. Those leaders then worked with a total of 50 students who participated in activities that are geared towards building students’ skills related to self-awareness, teamwork, and including others.
The hope is that what our students learn during the day is then implemented in the hallways and classrooms of BBCHS, making our spaces a more cohesive and supportive community, spurred on by the students. The students loved the day and our hope is to have an even bigger group of students next year!
Jesus Christ Superstar - Spring Musical
The BBCHS Theatre Department put on a great Spring Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar! It was the first all-female production of this musical to be staged in the 50 years that this show has been performed! Our students did an amazing job, and congratulations to our Theatre Department Director, Mr. David Morgan, for putting on a great show!
SAAM Spirit Week
Our SASH (Students Against Sexual Harassment) students hosted a week of recognition for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. They asked students and staff to join them in their demonstration of support for sexual abuse survivors by following the dress-up themes each day. Their main goal and focus was for all students to feel safe and supported.
KACC Students of the Quarter
Congratulations to our students: Luci Jensen, Sommer Boswell, Lexi Rodriguez, Jayson Mentel, and Kaedyn Neff for all the great work you are doing at KACC and on being named the Students of the Quarter! We are proud of you!
Createur Conference and Pitch Competition - BBCHS Award Winner
Our Entrepreneurship class, INCubator, taught by Mrs. Heather Johnson attended the Createur Conference and Pitch Competition at Olivet Nazarene University. One of our students, Elias Vasilakis, pitched his business idea alongside 21 other high school contestants from across the region. After presenting his idea and answering questions from four judges, Elias Vasilakis was selected as one of only four high school students awarded a $1,000 prize to further develop his business concept! What an amazing accomplishment. We are very proud!
Adler Planetarium Field Trip
Mrs. Kelly Katzmann brought her Astronomy class to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago to further enhance their knowledge on astronomy. They all had a great time exploring the museum!
Prom Court
Congratulations to our 2026 Prom Court! The King and Queen will be announced on Saturday at the dance. Good luck to all!
Left to Right: Kessi Le, Logan Lamore, Alayna Sykes, Timothy Martinez, Sophia Banaag, Malik Jackson, Avery Moutrey, Caleb Sunn, Sophia Domont, Zachary Hoffner
Administrative Assistants Day
We recognized our amazing Administrative Assistants at BBCHS for all of the work they do to keep BBCHS running smoothly. We appreciate you and the positive impact you have on our school!
ACT and preACT
This month, our freshmen and sophomores took the preACT, and our seniors took the ACT. Our students and teachers have put in a lot of hard work to be prepared for these tests. Academic Approach testing days has helped our students learn about ACT question formatting, the relative content of the ACT, and how to keep themselves composed when it came to test time. For our freshmen and sophomores, the preACT will help them with providing a benchmark of their progress so far in their educational journeys. The ACT for our juniors will be helpful to those who are going to college, trade school, or trying to get a job after high school.
Students were encouraged to use scrap paper all throughout their test to work out problems or further prove that their answer was correct by checking it. They were asked to turn in their scrap paper at the end of the test, and if they used it appropriately, they were put into a raffle to win a bluetooth speaker! Rihanna Randall was our lucky winner - congratulations!
Art Show
This week, our Art department hosted an Art Show in the Boiler Room during the school day. Our students' artwork was on display including pieces that were award-winners and other stand-out work. It was amazing to see the amount of talent that walks the halls of BBCHS every day!
Spanish Honors Society
Wednesday night last week was the Spanish Honors Society induction! Students who qualify for the Spanish Honors Society have completed 3 or more semesters of Spanish, achieved a B or above in all semesters, and maintained a 3.0 GPA or above. These students are also expected to complete volunteer hours and are encouraged to participate in cultural events!
BBCHS has 39 students joining the Spanish Honors Society this year! Congratulations to all!
Arab American Heritage Month Spotlights
As this is the last week of Arab American Heritage Month, we had students at BBCHS with an Arab background who wanted to share more about their culture! Thank you to Reem Hijab, Ribhi Mustafa, Sarah Bouferrache, and Semma Mohammad for opening up about the traditions and pride in your cultures!
School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
On Tuesday, BBCHS celebrated School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! We appreciate our bus drivers for providing safe transportation for our students to get to and from school every day!
Nathan Bisping
Kimberly Caruso
Alan Clutter
John Hammond
Kevin Harris
Brittany Jacobs
Brian Kaack
Kathryn Kaack
Wesley Mills
David Marcotte
Joseph Peppin
Betty Peppin-Hack
Laura Petitgoue
Darrel Regnier
Julie Robinson
Michael Stone
Jeff Widdicombe
Brenda Walton
Operation Prom
On Wednesday, all juniors and seniors attended an assembly put on by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) highlighting the consequences of poor decisions while driving. With Prom coming up this weekend, SADD found that this time of year is a good time to review what not to do while driving. We hope this was an impactful presentation that our students can learn from going into Prom weekend!
Spanish Honors Society Assists Spanish 1
Our Spanish Honors Society students stepped up in an incredible way by offering after-school tutoring for Spanish 1 students ahead of their writing assessments!
This opportunity not only gave students valuable one-on-one support in a subject that can be challenging, but also allowed our advanced Spanish students to sharpen their skills by revisiting key concepts. It is amazing to see students supporting students at BBCHS. Great work by all involved!
Top 10% Dinner
Last night, our top 10% of students academically at BBCHS in the senior class were recognized at a celebratory dinner at ONU! Each of these students was able to choose one staff member who has impacted them along the way in their high school journey that they can invite to the dinner and be recognized for their work as well. This is always a great night celebrating BBCHS students and staff members. Congratulations to all who were recognized!
Boiler Block Enrichment Spotlight
Understanding Domestic Violence
Students from Mrs. Amy Cook's Advanced Health class did an advocacy research project and chose to study domestic violence. They chose this topic because there are many different types and they felt it was important to learn what it is, the signs of it, and how to help people.
They presented their project to their classmates during Boiler Block and described what domestic violence is by definition. These students also acknowledged the different types of domestic violence, such as physical, emotional/psychological, verbal, sexual, and financial.
Although they knew that having discussions around this is important, so they also wanted their classmates to know what domestic violence looks like in daily life. They also gave the class resources if they ever needed help, like the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Harbor House, and the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
They explained that it is important to have awareness about domestic violence because it is very common, and it happens in families and households daily. We simply do not always hear about it even though it is taking place.
To end the enrichment, the class played a game on their chrome books to test their domestic violence knowledge, and the winners won some delicious snacks! Great job to our students, Samantha Warren, Amar Villanueva, and Jada Vallow-Toliver for a great presentation!
Beyond the Classroom
Lydia Hammond - No Hitter
Pitcher, Lydia Hammond had a dominant performance in the circle of Game 2 on the season against State ranked #4 Dunlap High School! She saw just 1 more than the minimum and struck out 12 of the 22 batters she faced. Congratulations!
Water Polo 3-PEAT!
Congratulations to our Boys Water Polo team on finishing in 1st place for the third year in a row at the Main East Tournament! This is a major feat, and we are very proud of you! We can't wait to see you go for the 4-peat next year!
Baseball - All-City Champions
The BBCHS Baseball team first defeated Kankakee High School and then did the same against Bishop McNamara Catholic High School to be crowned the All-City Champions! The Boilers trailed 2-1 going into the 6th inning and batted in two huge runs, while holding the Irish to 0 runs the rest of the game with final score of 3-2!
They started up SWSC conference play at the beginning of April with 6 of 9 teams ranked in the top 20 in the state. Some key injuries and tough competition have played factors in their 5-12 record so far. They are getting better every week and their top pitchers have a good shot to be back for Regionals after returning from injury. They are excited to be hosting the Regional this year at 315 Sports Park - come on our and enjoy the new complex! They are very happy to call it their new home!
Undefeated Spring Break for Softball
What a Spring Break for our Varsity Softball team! They were entered in the highest competitive bracket of Varsity Big Schools in their tournament in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and played teams from around the Midwest, going 4-0 on the week! Their pitching staff had a combined ERA of .560, while they had a team batting average of .352. Good job, girls!
Our team has fought throughout their whole season, taking on tough competition. They most recently hosted the BBCHS Invite and finished in 4th place!
They are currently sitting at a 14-5 record and take on Lincoln-Way West on Monday!
Boys Tennis Update
Boys Tennis is in full swing as they work toward their conference tournament and sectionals to follow. Their first Singles, Isaiah Sharda, and their second singles, Mason Greer, are both positioned to be seeded at the conference tournament and should both be seeded for the sectional tournament, giving them an excellent opportunity to qualify for State! Our team got two wins over Lincoln-Way East, the most in school history. They will also defend their All-City title over Bishop McNamara and Kankakee this Spring! Best of luck, boys!
Harper Tollefson Leads Soccer Past McNamara
BBCHS Sophomore, Harper Tollefson scored a whopping 5 goals against Bishop McNamara to lead our team to a 9-1 win!
Previously, BBCHS competed against Kankakee for part of All-City and ended in a 2-2 tie! Kankakee and Bishop McNamara then faced off head-to-head for the final All-City game. Kankakee beat Mac 8-0, which made BBCHS and Kankakee share the All-City title.
Girls soccer saw lots of success early in the season, and they look to continue that as they get closer to playoff time. They currently have a 8-9-1 record and take on Lincoln-Way West tonight! Good luck!
Boiler Brigade eSports Success
Our Boiler Brigade eSports team competed for the SWSC Conference at Andrew High School and came back with 4 trophies! Derek Otero placed in the top 2 for FC and Smash, and Aiden Lewis placed in the top 3!
Evergreen Park then hosted the last invitational of the school year, where Rocket League took 1st place again!
This week, they competed in Sectionals, where they qualified two games for State! Congratulations on great performances:
1st place - Madden - Tyrell Berry
2nd place - Rocket League - Dylan Nava, Charlie Blatt, Clayton Heusing, Mason Koch
3rd place - Super Smash Bros - Gunnar Thorne
Tyrell and our Rocket League players will compete at State next week at Evergreen Park. Great job, and best of luck!
Boys Volleyball Update
The Boys Volleyball team has grown in size for the third straight year, with the addition of the Freshman B Team! Across the board, the boys have been working hard helping to build a culture and identity for the program, focused on hard work and comradery. From freshmen to seniors, they all look out for one another and are there to support their teammates on and off the court! They are kicking off conference play currently, and they are excited to see where the rest of the season takes them!
Key dates:
- Friday, May 1: vs. Bishop McNamara (Home)
- May 11: Teacher Appreciation Night
- May 20th: Senior Night
Nevaeh Brown - History Maker and Athlete of the Week
Our very own, Nevaeh Brown was named The Daily Journal Athlete of the Week after sweeping the 100 and 200 meter races at the Lincoln-Way Central Knight Invite on April 11th, but she also made Boilermaker history in the process. Her 200 time of 24.89 seconds broke a school record that had been set in 1982!
Boys Track & Field Invite Champions
At Thornridge, BBCHS tallied 152 points to dominate the invite, beating runner-up Whitney Young by 44 points! They won two relays - the first being the 4x100 with Seth Teague, Brandon Sumrall, Jordan Fitch, and Lyzale Edmon. The second relay they won was the 4x200, made up of Teague, Sumrall, Fitch, and Kayden Bowens. Lyzale Edmon won the 100, Joel Morrical won the shot put with a 14.45m, and Ty Berry won the discus with a 46.05! Their next meet is at Homewood-Flossmoor tomorrow!
Boys Water Polo Update
Our Boys Water Polo team has been battling hard throughout their whole season so far. They have taken on tough competition night in and night out. They currently sit at a 9-18-1 record, with two recent wins agains a tough Deerfield team 10-9 and a convincing win against Northside with a final score of 15-5! Next up is Shepard on May 5th, and the following week will kick off tournament play in the state series! Best of luck!
Unified Track - State Bound!
Congratulations to Unified Track who is State Bound! They traveled to Richards High School to compete in Regionals and secured a spot in the State Finals! They will compete over the summer at Illinois State University. Great job, and best of luck!
Theatre Nominations
Congratulations to our Theatre Department on their production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” being nominated for Best Ensemble, and our Theatre Director was nominated for Best Direction at the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards through Broadway in Chicago. We are all very excited and awards will be handed out May 11th at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago!
Success in the Music Department
Congratulations to our music department who was awarded Runner-Up for the IHSA State Music Sweepstakes! They are also ranked second in the state for their accumulated scores for the IHSA Music Contest series! This is an outstanding achievement!
Girls Badminton Update
Our Varsity Badminton team is competing at doubles and singles conference this week at Homewood-Flossmoor. Throughout conference play, they defeated Andrew and Stagg in very competitive games. They have also secured non-conference wins against Oak Forest, Romeoville, and Lemont!
Sectionals begins next week (top 2 doubles and singles)!
#1 Singles - Lillian Myrick (Sophomore)
#2 Singles - Maegan Chimino (Junior)
#1 Doubles - Haley O'Malley/Kate Greenlee (Seniors)
#2 Doubles - Olivia Nuesse (Junior) / Acacia Sharda (Sophomore)
Good luck, girls!
BB Works: Student of the Month
On-Campus Spotlight
Rafael Mendez
Copy Runner, Special Services - Rafael has earned the title of "most improved" worker on campus. He has increased his delivery speed, accuracy, and independence. When all the copies have gotten to the correct teachers, he has taken it upon himself to check if the other offices need help running passes. There is a lot of buzz in the work program about this busy bee!
Community Spotlight
Adrian Zaragoza
Olivet Nazarene University - Adrian works well within his team to keep the cafeteria clean after the lunch rush at ONU. He has been reliable in every role, from washing tables, sweeping, and taking out the garbage. His work quality consistently exceeds expectations. Some may say he puts the "A" in T-E-A-M!
Upcoming Dates
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Event Information
Please contact me with any questions or comments.
Kennedy Weigt - Director of Communications and Community Engagement














