ROOM TO GROW
Take a virtual tour of the Bensenville Early Learning Center's recently completed expansion project!
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The Bensenville Early Learning Center is located at Tioga School, and it houses the District’s pre-kindergarten classes and the Head Start program operated by Metropolitan Family Services.
The six-classroom expansion of this facility will allow the District to meet the projected demand for preschool for at-risk students while also adding much-needed space for K-5 special education programs.
A 2016 study by DuPage County indicated there was an ongoing need to provide preschool services for an additional 180 at-risk children ages 3-5 in the BSD2 community. The 2017 construction of the Bensenville Early Learning Center added space for 54 of those students. This expansion will serve the remaining 126 by providing five new classrooms, one gross motor space, and one flexible space for offices or a classroom.
The $4.7 million project's cost was covered by cash reserves and bond proceeds leftover from previous construction projects.
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STRATEGIC PLAN
Review the results of the District’s community engagement effort
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District 2 is engaged in a strategic planning process to develop a shared vision for our schools. Involvement in this process by stakeholders from every corner of the community will result in a long-term framework for decision-making that builds upon the common values held by our community.
As part of this process, the District conducted focus groups and an online survey of its employees, parents, students, and community members to ask them about their perceptions of BSD2 schools and their vision for the future of District 2.
During the BSD2 Board of Education’s March 16 meeting, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the District’s strategic planning consultants, reported on the results of this community engagement effort.
In April, a Strategic Plan Task Force composed of a variety of BSD2 stakeholders will write a new strategic plan. It will meet three times to review this community engagement information, outline the strengths the District needs to expand upon and the concerns it needs to address, and establish the District’s priorities moving forward.
The new strategic plan will be presented to the BSD2 Board for approval in May, and will be implemented for the 2022-2023 school year.
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REGISTER YOUR CHILD
Online registration for students returning for the 2022-2023 school year will open April 8
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Login information for the BSD2 online registration portal will be emailed to parents and sent to students' home addresses on Friday, April 8, along with detailed registration instructions.
The online registration portal can be found on the District 2 website, www.bsd2.org, along with resources to assist you and answer any questions you may have.
Students’ take-home Chromebooks can access the online registration portal wherever you find wireless Internet (Wi-Fi). If you don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, please contact your child's school to arrange to complete your registration over the phone.
NO REGISTRATION FEES
District 2 will not collect registration fees for the 2022-2023 school year.
The BSD2 Board of Education voted to eliminate the registration fees for the coming year to continue to provide financial relief for its families, many of whom have faced economic hardships throughout the pandemic.
Most districts charge registration fees, often $100 or more. For many years, District 2’s registration fees were $40 for elementary students and $44 for middle school students. (Middle school students will still be charged fees for agendas, lanyards, IDs, gym suits, and calculators.)
The District historically collects about $30,000 in registration fees. However, it also grants fee waivers to students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals, which amount to about 50 percent of the District's student population.
For the past seven years, the District has also provided classroom supplies for all students at an annual cost of about $80,000 to the District. It will continue to do so for the 2022-2023 school year.
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PARENT CAFÉ
Listen and learn from other parents, build community, and offer support
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The BSD2 Community Center's March 24 Parent Café will be held in person at Tioga School, and it will focus on child safety.
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FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
Nobody knows your child better than you
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Bensenville School District 2 will conduct free developmental screenings for children ages 2-5 on Thursday and Friday, April 28 and 29.
These screenings are the first step in identifying children for our Preschool for All program and/or Head Start.
Call the Tioga School office at 630-766-2602 ext. 4200 to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening.
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WOMEN TRANSCEND
An empowerment and self-care seminar
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To celebrate International Women’s Day and the kick-off to Women’s History Month, District 2 hosted the “Women Transcend” seminar March 5 at Blackhawk Middle School.
Alicia Severiano, a Fenton High School senior and former BSD2 student, envisioned the conference during the pandemic. She wanted “Women Transcend” to empower women in the community and help them with self-care.
When Lara Schwarz, BSD2 Community Liaison, found out about Alicia’s vision, she found grant funding and community partners to help her make it a reality.
Fifty-eight women, ranging in age from 12 to “over 40” attended the event, which turned out to be an impactful, empowering day.
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The event was highlighted by keynote speaker Lisa Dietlin. Lisa spoke about how women can find joy, no matter the circumstance, and gave everyone tools to take control of our own happiness and spread it to others. Lisa also made her books available for purchase.
Additionally, Katherine Layden from the YWCA presented a “history of dance.” She had everyone out of their seats and dancing around the auditorium to help them understand they are to love our bodies and are free to express and celebrate themselves.
The day concluded with a lunch sponsored by the Bensenville Community Foundation, Bensenville-Wood Dale Rotary, and the Bensenville Youth Coalition. In addition, there were “take-away tables” hosted by the YWCA, IMPACT Bensenville, Bensenville Wood Dale Rotary, and Mary Kay Cosmetics. Among the “take-way tables” was one loaded with beauty products donated largely by Elmhurst University, which it collected items specifically for this event.
“I would say that Alicia truly realized her vision,” Mrs. Schwarz said. “Judging by all of the positive feedback we’ve received, the women of this community would like to see this be an annual event.”
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Bensenville School District 2
210 S. Church Street
Bensenville, IL 60106
630-766-5940
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