February 13, 2015

A Few Words Pictures From Mr. Tenopir

Chess Team State Send-Off

Digital Democracy Raffle Promotion

Senior Night - Poms, Vikettes, Band

National Signing Day Ceremony

And a Valentine's Day Tribute to My Wife

On an average week, I attend school events (meetings, sports, activities) on at least three nights, but often four. There has even been occasion where there was something going on every night. Needless to say, this is a lot of time away from my family. Last night, after returning from my third consecutive night of events without seeing my kids before bedtime, my wife, Christy, said, "Thank you for all that you do to support our family." Knowing the toll that taking care of our three rapscallions can take on a person, I am grateful that she understands the time demands of my position. I couldn't do the job that I love without her positive attitude and support. And the heart-shaped pancakes that my little guys and I will make for her this weekend are only a small token of my appreciation for her.

Highlights and Successes

• Congratulations to Varsity Debaters Sresht Iyer and Joshua Lee for being 1st seed at the Evanston Township High School Public Forum Debate Invitational.
• Congratulations to Coach Elise Ference and the Girls Gymnastics Team on winning Regionals.  The following gymnasts won awards:  Gab Lytle, 1st Vault; Carly DeFilippo, 2nd Vault, 2nd Floor and 3rd All-Around; Chrissy Radochonski, 3rd Vault, 3rd Beam, 1st Floor and 1st All-Around; Emily Neal, 1st Bars; Sydney Plichta, 2nd Bars and 2nd Beam; Mariah Gura, 3rd Bars and 3rd Floor and Abby Moran, 1st Beam.
• Congratulations to Girls’ Bowler Becca Rutkowski on qualifying for sectionals with an individual average of 187 and high game of 229.
• Congratulations to Coach David Yates and the Girls Basketball Team on winning the MSL West with a record of 10-0.  This is their 6th straight championship.
• Congratulations to Girls Basketball Coach David Yates on being named West Division Coach of the Year.  Also congratulations to Haley Gorecki on being named West Division Player of the Year.
• Congratulations to Coach Dan Ruettiger and the Boys Wrestling Team on taking 4th place at Regionals.  The following wrestlings took awards in their weight classes:  Cole Riemer - 3rd place; Grant Barwacz-2nd place; Quinn Bergles - 2nd place; Dom Lorig - 4th place; Matt Kurtishi - 4th place; Chris Sheets - 4th place; Alex Jacobs - 1st place; Aaron Cortez - 2nd place; and Zack Nemek - 3rd place.
• Congratulations to the following 2015 National Merit Finalists:Justine Chee, Nathan Cornwell, Soumyaa Mazumder, Ellen Ni, Walter Panfil, Sanjana Shah, Jeemin Sim and Jennie Yang.
• Congratulations to Coach Dave Yates and the Girls Basketball Team on winning the MSL Championship.
• Congratulations to Coach Elise Ference and the Girls Gymnastics Team on winning 2nd place at Sectionals and qualifying for the State Competition.  Sydney Plichta- 2nd place Beam and 5th place Bars;  Christine Radonchonski 3rd place Floor,  4th place Vault and 4th place All-Around.

Note: With over 60 clubs and activities, and almost 30 sports at Fremd, it is difficult to list the results of every event. Therefore, I rely on the varsity coaches and sponsors to submit their Highlights and Successes to me. If you don’t see your student’s accomplishments for his/her varsity sport or competitive activity listed here, please kindly encourage the coach/sponsor to do so in the future.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

February 13	Wrestling vs. IHSA Individual Sectionals @ Barrington - 4:30 p.m. Boys Basketball vs. Barrington - 7:30 p.m.
February 14	Boys Track & Field vs. Bolingbrook Quad Meet @ Bolingbrook - 9:00 a.m. Wrestling vs. IHSA Sectionals @ Barrington - 9:00 a.m. Boys Swimming & Diving vs. MSL Conference (Diving) 9:00 a.m. (Swimming) 1:00 p.m. @ Barrington Girls Bowling vs. IHSA Sectionals @ Brunswick Zone, Mt. Prospect - 9:00 a.m. Honors Orchestra Concert - Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
February 15	Boys Baskeball vs. Naperville N. @ Northside Prep H.S. - 1:30 p.m.
February 16	President’s Day - No School
February 17	Band Benefit Dinner/Concert - Cafe/Auditorium, 6:00/7:30 p.m. Girls Track & Field @ Glenbrook S. - 4:30 p.m. Girls Basketball vs. IHSA Regionals @ Lake Forest - 6:00 p.m.
February 19	Girls Basketball vs. IHSA Regionals @ Lake Forest - 7:00 p.m.
February 20	Early Dismissal 11:50 a.m. Boys Track & Field @ Glenbrook South - 4:30 p.m. Boys Basketball @ HEHS - 7:30 p.m. Girls State Gymnastics @ Palatine High School - 5:05 p.m. (Individual events, finals in all-around, team competitions)

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page.

Staff Spotlight

Name:  Tom Cole

Position:  Guidance Department Chair

Years at Fremd:  This is year #15.

Life Before Fremd:   I went to Loyola University of Chicago on the 8-year plan.  Got my undergrad degree in English, worked in the residence halls, became a residence hall director at Campion Hall, an all-male dormitory on Sheridan Road on the Lake Shore Campus.   While in Loyola’s employ, I completed my Master’s degree.  Loyola was a great place to live and work.  I learned to love the city. From there I worked at St. Viator High School (of which I am an alum) for 20 years, first as an English Teacher, then a program chair, and for my 13 years there,  as a counselor.  I married the lovely Mollie Mills in 1986.  I got to know Fremd and 211 when Julie Lockett Labrasca Schmidt, then psychologist at Hoffman Estates, helped us at Viator to train peer mediators in the mid-‘90’s.  Through her I connected with the Chicago and Suburban Peer Mediation training program initiated out of D211,  and met other great Fremd folks, like Kim Filian, Gina Baddick, Suzanne Adamski and Tony Tosh.  I consider myself lucky to have landed here in 2000 and to be enjoying this great 2nd Act in my professional life.

Hobbies/Interests:   I love movies old and new.  “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one favorite (My son’s name is George Bailey Cole) . . .  “The Big Lebowski” is another.   “Casablanca” is a perfectly crafted gem of film entertainment.   Recent recommendations:  “Boyhood”, “The Drop”, and “About Time”.   I love to ride my bicycle.  I have more than a passing interest in craft-brewed beer.   

Insider Tip for Parents:   I should have a really good one, right?   I have been on an academic schedule for my whole life, and I have taken many courses.  I have found parenting to be a lifelong independent study course for which I have not been provided the grading rubric.   

Ask the Principal

Are you curious about something at Fremd but have never asked? Email me at ktenopir@d211.org. If your question is pertinent to a wider audience, I will include it in the next blog post.