

Blackhawk Banner
January 2024
TRANSLATING: Did You Know?
You can translate this newsletter to any language! You can also change the size of the text and use a high contrast mode!
- If you are reading this on a computer, the feature is on the top right by the heading.
- If you are reading this on a phone, the feature is the round icon in the bottom right corner.
- ¡Puedes traducir este boletĂn a cualquier idioma! ¡TambiĂ©n puede cambiar el tamaño del texto y usar un modo de alto contraste!
- Możesz przetłumaczyć ten biuletyn/gazetkę na dowolny język! Możesz
także zmienić rozmiar tekstu i użyć trybu wysokiego kontrastu!
Thank You Blackhawk Families For A Successful eLearning Day Today !!!!!!!!🙏💪🤙
7th Grade Owl Pellet Activity
The last day before winter break, our 7th grade students were given the opportunity to practice some forensic science skills as they attempted to determine what owls consume to survive. Prior to this activity, students studied the digestive operations of owls. Once learning that an owl compresses its leftover food using its organ called the gizzard, our students learned that the gizzard functions like a trash compactor, crushing bones and hard cartilage from its prey into a pellet.
The muscles in the gizzard compress the leftovers into an oval pellet. That pellet remains in the owl's gizzard until the bird is ready to eat again, a time period of 10 to 12 hours. Pellets inhibit eating, so prior to the next meal, owls regurgitate pellets from the gizzard.
The content of the pellet can be very bland or very exciting. Some students extracted fully intact bones from the pellet they were provided and some students even extracted small skulls from most likely mice. Students' involvement in this hands-on activity was based upon their willingness to participate. Some students were merely observers while other students fully immersed themselves in this hands-on learning activity.
Blackhawk Dance Team Competes
The Blackhawk Dance team is competing for the fourth time in a middle school dance competition. This is an exciting opportunity for our dancers to highlight their hard work this season. In this competition, each team performs one routine and is evaluated by a panel of judges using a dance rubric adapted from the IHSA (Illinois High School Association). The team with the top score at the end of all performances is determined to be the winning team.
This year's Blackhawk Dance Team consists of nine 8th graders, nine 7th graders and three 6th graders. Leading up to this dance competition, the BMS Dance Team has been performing at each of the boys' basketball teams' home games. We want to say a special thank you to the dance team coaches this year, Ms. Arado and Ms. Lee, and former Blackhawk student, Jerry Gurrola who has been assisting with our dance team since leaving us to go to Fenton.
We wish our dance team all the best of luck and are so proud of all they have accomplished already this year. Go Hawks!
Blackhawk Morning Entry
We wish to remind our families to ensure our students are dressing warmly during these winter months. Our school doors open for students to enter the building at 7:40 AM each day. We do make exceptions to this entry time when there is excessive rain, wet snow, or if the temperature drops below 15 degrees which includes the windchill. On dangerously cold days when the windchill temperature goes below 15 degrees, we open the doors at 7:15 AM for students to be supervised in the auditorium. At 7:40 AM, students are dismissed from the auditorium to go to lockers and advisory to begin their day.
8th Grade Corner
Now that the holidays are behind us, it is time to start talking about 8th grade events that are happening in January.
- January 18th Fenton visits Blackhawk to address 8th graders about high school courses
- January 18th Fenton hosts an incoming 9th graders night at Fenton (6:00 PM)
- January 19th 8th grade promotion pictures (one in promotion gown and one without)
- January 22nd Fenton visits Blackhawk to support 8th graders in course selections
The Importance of Students Being in School
We want to help our families understand the importance of all students attending school on a regular basis. One thing that became apparent from the pandemic is that students learn and grow more when regularly attending school. COVID-19 is still around and making people sick, but when students are healthy, research suggests students need to be in regular attendance at school. The term "chronic absence" or "chronic absenteeism" is a term you may have heard before from our school, district, or the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE). Chronic absenteeism means absences that total 10% or more of school days of the most recent academic school year, including absences with and without valid cause. More information about this can be found in Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/26-18. This definition of chronic absence was signed into law in Illinois on August 18, 2017. To make this easier to understand, ten percent of the school year translates into two missed school days each month. More than two days of absence a month on average will designate a student to be chronically absent from school.
According to research, the effects of chronic absence in kindergarten is associated with lower academic performance in first grade. The impact is twice as great for low-income students. A Baltimore study found a strong relationship between sixth grade attendance and the percentage of students graduating on time or within a year of their expected high school graduation. Chronic absenteeism increases achievement gaps at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. (Robert Balfanz and Vaughan Byrnes. The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public Schools, 2012)
It is our goal to increase the attendance of our chronically absent students. If you have any questions or need assistance with your child's school attendance, please reach out to an administrator or your child's grade-level social worker.
6th grade, Ms. Campanile: acampanile@bsd2.org
7th grade, Ms. Ottolino: dottolino@bsd2.org
8th grade, Dr. Perkins: tperkins@bsd2.org
Blackhawk Alumni Spotlight
This month the Blackhawk Alumni Spotlight shines on Michael Park! Michael was promoted from Blackhawk in 2011. From there he went on to graduate from Fenton in 2015. After Fenton High School, Michael attended the College of DuPage for three years. It was here that Michael successfully pursued an associate's degree in science. Soon after this accomplishment, Michael transferred to Illinois State University where he received his bachelor's degree as a teacher of physical education with a minor in health making him a certified teacher.
While attending Blackhawk, Michael participated in several sports such as track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Another extracurricular interest of his was helping to create the Blackhawk yearbook. One of his most memorable events from middle school was "Going undefeated in volleyball my 8th-grade year with Mr. Ellett, also being able to make music videos and do technology projects in the computer rooms." Special teachers that Michael remembers from Blackhawk who he'd like to thank include: Mr. Hodges, Mr. Ellett, Mrs. Fritsch, and Mr. Schneider.
Some memories of life at Fenton that Michael shared included four years of participation on the gymnastics team and when the cheerleading squad he was on went to State his senior year. Another highlight of high school was his perfect attendance during his sophomore year. He also shares he had work entered into the art fair while in high school. He was put in charge of senior event planning while at Fenton which included making t-shirts for Fenton school-wide events while in his graphics class. Michael also was a PE class leader for two years which helped shape his career path toward teaching. He realized the enjoyment he experienced from teaching PE and appreciated the support from the teachers who are now my mentors. Regarding his time at Fenton, Michael stated, "I'll never forget when the counselors gave us time to look up careers and take a career test to see what we wanted to be when we grew up." And then he added from middle school, "Blackhawk introduced me to technology that was new at the time and is still around today and relevant. It gave me the opportunity to explore new websites and programs to then make school projects."
Michael faced some significant challenges on his quest after high school. Like many young adults, being away from his family for an extended amount of time created the necessity to establish independence. He learned how to establish adult characteristics that he realized were extremely valuable for his success. Another huge challenge he faced was the onset of COVID-19. The pandemic placed a huge amount of stress on his schooling and the process it took to attend college. His focus was to finish school and find a high school where he could teach PE. At the end of 2023, he interviewed at the same school he student taught at and got the job as a PE teacher at Lake Park High School.
Advice that Michael Park offers our current Blackhawk students: "Don't let a small town stop you from believing in yourself. We live in a community that is very close to a city that has endless opportunities. Reach for the sky and if you miss at least you tried. While you are still in middle school, be grateful for your time there because as you get older times change, people change, and your responsibility gets greater. If I could share one piece of advice, I would say 'Ask yourself if you had to work for free, what would you do every day for fun then enjoy and chase your passion that way.' I told myself I would play sports all day, and I enjoy coaching young athletes to get better. Boom, just like that my mentor said I should be a PE teacher, and from then on, my heart has been complete.
Michael's future plans beyond becoming a high school PE teacher include owning a small thrift shop. We wish him the best of luck in all of his aspirations and adventures.
Blackhawk PTO Updates
The Blackhawk PTO is busy planning another social event for our students. The inaugural Snow Ball, a potential annual winter dance is scheduled for Saturday January 20th. Like the Hawks Haunted Hangout, the Snow Ball will have separate time for 6th graders and combined time for grades 7th and 8th. Sixth graders will chill at the Snow Ball from 5:00 to 6:30 PM and 7th and 8th graders will chill from 7:00-8:30 PM. This is a free event for Blackhawk students and all must have their school ID to enter. Because this is a ball, this is an opportunity for students to "dress to impress." There will be games, contests, food (for purchase), and a live DJ.
The Blackhawk PTO is also planning another night of fun for students and families. Mark your calendars for Friday, February 23rd for the Blackhawk PTO Bingo Night. More information on this fun event will be coming in the upcoming weeks.
Click on the SignUpGenius below if you'd like to volunteer or donate to the Snow Ball.
8th GRADE HAWKS Spirit Week
January Calendar
January 8th
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Art Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Jewelry Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Boys' BB practice
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Dance & Cheer Practice
January 9th
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Laboratory Fitness Club
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Soccer Club-8th grade
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Jazz Band
January 10th
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Musical Workshop
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs. Indian Trail 7H/8A
January 11th
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Laboratory Fitness Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM PALS Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Boys' BB practice
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Dance & Cheer practice
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Fashion Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Musical Auditions
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Spanish Club
6:30 PM to 7:30 PM PTO Meeting BMS Cafeteria
January 12th
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs Churchville 7A/8H
January 15th
No school -Martin Luther King Day
January 16th
Spirit Week: BBQ Dad vs. Soccer Mom
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Laboratory Fitness Club
8:14 AM to 9:44 AM Fenton Fine Arts w/8th graders
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Soccer Club-6th grade
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Jazz Band
January 17th
Spirit Week: Student/Teacher Swap
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Gardening Club
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs. Sandburg (7th Gr)
January 18th
Spirit Week: Throwback Thursday (6th grade 60s, 7th grade 70s, 8th grade 80s)
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Fitness Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM We Belong Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Fashion Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sewing Club
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs. CHMS 7H/8A
January 19th
Spirit Week: Formal Friday
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Robotics Club
8:00 AM to 2:30 PM 8th Grade Promotion Pictures (2 poses)
10:45 AM to 1:45 PM Fenton Tri-District Choral Field Trip
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs. Jackson 7H/8A
January 20th
6:00-7:30 (6th) 8:00-9:30 (7th&8th) Snowball Dance
January 22nd
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Art Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Jewelry Club
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB vs. Bryan 7A/8H
January 23rd
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Fitness Club
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Soccer Club-7th grade
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Jazz Band
January 24th
NWEA MAP Reading & Math
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Boys' BB Tournament Begins
January 25th
NWEA MAP Reading & Math
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Muscle Fitness Club
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM PALS Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Fashion Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Spanish Club
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM BPL Family Night-The Little Prince in Auditorium
January 26th
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Robotics Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Cheer & Dance Practice
January 29th
Access Testing Begins
8th grade YWCA presentations
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Art Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Jewelry Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Cheer & Dance practice
January 30th
8th grade YWCA presentations
7:00 AM to 7:40 AM Choir
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Soccer Club-8th grade
3:20 PM to 4:30 PM Jazz Band
January 31st
Access Test Makeups
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Gardening Club
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Dance practice