BMS STAR - Summer Update

Hello BMS Teachers and Staff,

I hope everyone enjoys Labor Day weekend and has an opportunity to rest and recharge!

We have a busy four-day week ahead as we continue to settle into our routines and build on the great start we have had together. This week, we will begin our learning around Co-Teaching Models 1–3, continue NWEA MAP make-up testing, and begin our Panorama Survey window. We will also come together for our Staff Meeting and Vertical PLCs.

On Thursday evening, we will welcome our families for Curriculum Night from 6:00–7:30 PM. This is another opportunity to build relationships with our families and share all of the great things happening in our classrooms and throughout BMS.

Week at a Glance | September 7–11

Monday, September 7

• No School – Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8

• Early Release – School-Directed - Co-Teaching Models 1–3 (Auditorium)
• NWEA MAP Make-Up Testing
• Panorama Window Opens - Students take survey during Advisory

Wednesday, September 9

• Staff Meeting | 7:00 AM - Review Discipline Flowchart and Powerschool Log Entry (Cafeteria)
• NWEA MAP Make-Up Testing

Thursday, September 10

• NWEA MAP Make-Up Testing
• Vertical PLC Meeting - Applying Co-Teaching Models 1–3
• Curriculum Night | 6:00–7:30 PM

Friday, September 11

• NWEA MAP Make-Up Testing

Let’s have a great week!

#HawkHooray
#ALLIN

V

Kim stepped in to support BMS last school year and continued with us this year as we welcomed Niky.

Kim, thank you for jumping in and being ALL IN for BMS! You worked alongside our teams and helped strengthen our work with SEL, 504s, and restorative practices. We are grateful for the experience, ideas, and vision you brought to this work.

Most of all, thank you for your positive attitude and presence each day. You were always willing to listen, support, problem-solve, and do whatever was needed for our students and staff.

Kim's last day at BMS will be September 11. We will miss having you as part of our team and are so grateful for everything you have done for BMS!

Hawk Hooray, Kim!

Empathy asks us to:

• See beyond ourselves and try to understand another person’s experience.
• Listen before judging, even when we disagree.
• Recognize another person’s humanity, especially when their experiences are different from ours.
• Allow understanding to influence our actions.

Empathy changes how we respond to students, colleagues, and families. Instead of beginning with “Why did they do that?” we might begin with “What might be happening that I don’t yet understand?”

Curriculum Night Info SY 26-27

Directions on Creation of Grade Level Content & Individual Slide:

• “Curriculum & Standards” slide(s) & “Student Expectation” slide(s) should be created in Grade Level Department Teams.

• Slide template here.

• This slide deck will be uploaded into this Folder by September 8, 2026.

• Here is the folder from 2025-2026.

• Individual teachers will make a copy of the Grade Level Department slides and add their own “Teacher Intro/Contact Information” slide

• Link your individual presentation as “View Only” HERE by September 8, 2026.

• Agenda and Student Schedule

EXCITING NEWS FOR THIS YEAR’S 5K! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

This year, our BSD2 5K will take place as part of Wellness Day! Our goal is to bring staff together across the district for an afternoon focused on wellness, movement, connection, and fun.

We would love to see staff from across BSD2 lace up and join us!

This year’s 5K will have two separate start times:

• Blackhawk Middle School: 2:00 PM
• Elementary Schools: 2:45 PM

We’re thrilled to make this adjustment and give everyone a great start to the wellness day!

Lace up, bring the energy, and let’s get moving together, BSD2!

Ready to join the 5K?
Register here

Prefer a Different Wellness Activity?

If you would like to host an alternative Wellness Day activity (other than walking), please complete the Wellness Day Activity Form.

We are excited to kick off our 2026–2027 Wellness Challenges! There will be four opportunities throughout the year to participate, stay active, and earn some great incentives.

How It Works

• Complete 4 wellness challenges throughout the school year.
• Our first challenge is the BSD2 5K Challenge on September 22.
• After each challenge, five participants will be randomly selected to receive a $10 Amazon gift card.
• Complete all four challenges and you will be entered into our All School Wellness Incentive Raffle!

Grand Prize Raffle

Staff who complete all four challenges will have a chance to win one of nine fitness membership reimbursements, ranging from $50 to $550!

Our first challenge is coming up soon!

🏃 BSD2 5K Challenge | September 22 - Register here

Contact Michele McDonough (mmcdonough@bsd2.org) if you have any questions!

We are getting ready for our Panorama Surveys! The window for completing the survey will open on Monday, September 7th, and run through the end of the day on Friday, September 25th. Students at BMS will take the Panorama Survey on Tuesday, September 8 during Advisory. The Advisory calendar has been updated with the link.

Some useful background information:

• Surveying students on SEL competencies is a valuable tool for understanding students' needs, monitoring program effectiveness, promoting a positive school climate, informing policy and practice, and ensuring student well-being. By gathering and analyzing this data, we are able to create more supportive and effective learning environments for all students.

• Equally as important, our SEL and PBIS teams unpack this data to identify students for additional support and implement interventions to support current needs.

• Lastly, our SEB MtSS committee will use this information to inform appropriateness of interventions and intervention continuum available.

There is one survey for students to complete.

• Students in grades 3 – 8: Panorama Social-Emotional Learning: Student Competency & Well-Being Measures - Now called “Life Skills Survey”

• Students at BMS will complete the survey on Tuesday, September 8 during Advisory.

Here is the link to the survey:

• https://surveys.panoramaed.com/bensenville
• The screen for students will say, “Welcome! Enter your access code.”
• The access code is their Student ID.

This is a reminder that our Cycle 1 dates are 9/7-10/16.

A unified district approach to intervention is critical to ensuring all students meet grade level expectations. While much of our professional learning has been focused on tier 1 instruction, we cannot lose sight of the students who need support within tier 2 and tier 3 intervention models. The slide linked below details the tier 2 intervention cycles for the 2026-2027 school year.

• 2026 BSD2 MtSS Cycles of Interventions

Our fall athletics spirit wear store is officially open! Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing anything for the fall athletic season.

https://cookil.destinationstores.com/bms/

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Sarah Taylor

Hello Team!

Get ready to show your school spirit in a BIG way!

We’re excited to announce the launch of another year of our staff spirit wear, featuring designs that proudly showcase our official logos and mascots.

Last year, you told me what you wanted to see in our spirit wear, and now it’s HERE!

• BSD2 - https://www.storessimple.com/jje/bsd2
• Early Learning Center - https://www.storessimple.com/jje/elc
• Blackhawk Middle School - https://www.storessimple.com/jje/blackhawk
• W.A. Johnson Elementary - https://www.storessimple.com/jje/wajohnson
• Tioga Elementary - https://www.storessimple.com/jje/tioga

Tania Gomez

When or if students need to replace earbuds they will be purchased from the main office for $5.00.

Claudia and Ariana will add this purchase in PowerSchool and students will purchase the earbuds from Claudia and Ariana.

It will be added to PowerSchool the same way lanyards and gym uniforms are purchased. The purchase can be made via debit card, credit card, or cash.

If you need to be absent, please follow these steps:

The District uses an online system called Facility Tree for all maintenance work orders.

Moving forward, please email Ariana Meza with all maintenance requests and copy V on the email. Ariana will submit the work order through Facility Tree to ABM.

Please do not contact Greg directly with maintenance requests. Facility Tree is used District-wide to:

• Streamline maintenance requests
• Provide equitable access across buildings
• Track requests and identify broader trends or needs

Thank you for following this process!

Congratulations to the new members of our PTO: Jacquanet Goggins and Cristina Barrera!

• President: Diana Medina
• Vice President: Jacquanet Goggins
• Secretary: Cristina Barrera
• Treasurer: Michelle Juran

Join us for our next meeting! We meet in the cafeteria once a month and start promptly at 6:30 PM.

Here are our meeting dates for the year:

• October 8, 2026
• November 12, 2026
• December 10, 2026 (Tentative)
• January 14, 2027
• February 11, 2027
• March 11, 2027
• April 8, 2027
• May 13, 2027
• June 10, 2027 (Tentative)

Events Scheduled

October 2026

Hawk Haunted Hangout: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

November 2026

BMS PTO Tree Lighting Ceremony: November 2026 (Date Dependent on Bensenville Tree Lighting

ceremony schedule).

December 2026

Book Fair/Literacy Night: Week of December 7, 2026

Literacy Night December 9, 2026

Book Fair dates: 12/8, 12/9 AM and PM during Literacy night

February 2027

Dave & Buster’s and Family Event (Rosemont): Thursday February 25, 2027 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

March 2027

Retro Kahoot Night: (Tentative) – March 12, 2027

May 2027

Sneaker Ball (8th grade) – Tuesday, May 25, 2027

• September 7 - Labor Day - No School
• September 14-25 - NWEA Make Up Testing
• September 8 - Panorama Window Opens
• September 9 - HOME XC @BMS
• September 9 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Jackson @Jackson
• September 10 - Curriculum Night - 6:00-7:30 PM

• September 10 - Fenton Band Night rehearsal @ Fenton HS (7/8 Band)6:00 pm-8:00 pm

• September 11 - Kim Shaffer - Last Day

• September 11 - Fenton Band Night Performance @ Fenton HS (7/8 Band)5:00 pm-9:30 pm
• September 14 - XC @Prospect Park
• September 14 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Indian Trail @Indian Trail - 2 games
• September 16 - ILMEA Junior Audition Nominations Due (6-8 Band and Chorus eligible, select students only)due by 3:00 pm
• September 16 - HOME XC @BMS
• September 17 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Churchville @BMS
• September 18 - Institute Day - No School
• September 21 - Picture Retakes
• September 21 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Wood Dale @Wood Dale - 2 games
• September 22 - Uniform Fitting Night (7/8 Band) All 7th and 8th grade students need to get fitted for concert uniforms - pants and tuxedo shirts 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
• September 23 - XC Conference Meet
• September 24 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Jefferson @Jefferson - 2 games
• September 28 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Indian Trail @BMS - 2 games
• September 30 - ILMEA Junior Auditions Due Online (6-8 Band and Chorus eligible, select students only)due by 3:00 pm
• October 7 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Churchville @Churchville

As we get ready for the new school year, this is a reminder that all Blackhawk Middle School staff must park in the BMS parking lot.

Please do not park at the EAC. The EAC parking lot is reserved for EAC staff and visitors.

Thank you for your cooperation.

District 2 prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://www.bsd2.org/students-families/non-discrimination-title-ix-and-anti-harassment

Diana Vergara - Principal

dvergara@bsd2.org

Jacquelyn LeMon-Williamson, Assistant Principal

jlemon@bsd2.org

Nichole Zipprich, Assistant Principal

nzipprich@bsd2.org

Mary Hamilton, Students Services Coordinator

mhamilton@bsd2.org