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This week, Blackhawk students were reminded of our behavior expectations that were introduced on the first day of the school year. Each grade-level had its own assembly on Tuesday to revisit our PBIS behavioral expectations. Some of the topics reviewed included,

• Kindness Rules!: it is our goal to have a safe and welcoming school for all students at all times.
• Locker usage: students should not be sharing their lockers with anyone at any time and they should not be setting their lockers in the open position.
• Hands, feet, and objects to yourself: though this is pretty self-explanatory, it is still an ongoing challenge for many middle schoolers.
• Proper use of phones: though phone misuse has drastically improved this year, we still remind students and families that texting throughout the day is not permitted except during students' designated lunch periods.
• Appropriate dress: as the weather will be warming up soon, we reminded students that appropriate length pants and shirts are expected at school--regardless of fashion trends.
• IDs: students are expected to have their IDs every day--consequences possible
• Tardies: students are expected to arrive to school on time, seated in advisory by 7:50--consequences possible
• Lunch: delivery services for lunches is not permitted
• Finish strong: students were encouraged to pick one or two of the above to work on for remainder of the year

This month's Blackhawk Alumni Spotlight shines on Dr. Masa Arifovic who was promoted from Blackhawk in 2008. She currently holds a bachelors in psychology and chemistry and also has her doctorate. She currently is a doctor of pharmacy working as a pharmacist.While at Blackhawk, Dr. Arifovic was on the cross-country and the girls’ basketball teams. She states this helped her stay involved and gave her something to look forward to at the end of the school day. Dr. Arifovic graduated from Fenton in 2012. While at Fenton, she was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in the top five percent in her class. As an Illinois State scholar, she did varsity track and field for four years and was a chess team manager. She enjoyed staying active and involved throughout all her schooling.

When asked what's something she remembers about her Blackhawk years, she responded:

"Mr. Hodges' science class." She shared that Mr. Hodges’ class was where she first became interested in science. She never knew a class could be so fun and informative as well. Whenever she would go back to visit Mr. Hodges after graduating, she would tell him she was going into science, getting her doctorate, and then finally becoming a pharmacist! He was so proud of her. Dr. Arifovic would also like to mention Mrs. Popescu. While in Mrs. Popescu's math class, she always made Dr. Arifovic feel at home and comfortable. Believe it or not, math used to be one of the Arifovic's weaker subjects (funny because she chose a career that has A LOT to do with math). Arifovic shared that Mrs. Popescu always believed in her, showing her tough love and never allowing her to doubt herself. Arifovic claimed, "Mrs. Popescu probably knew I would succeed before I even knew it myself!"

When asked what advice she might have for current Blackhawk students, her suggestion is, "You can accomplish anything you set your mind and heart to!! Never give up on any dream you have. I wanted to be a doctor and although it was the most challenging aspect of my life, it has been the most rewarding!"

The Blackhawk PTO is sponsoring a spring book fair at Blackhawk next week. Wednesday through Friday, students will be offered the opportunity to sift through adolescent literature and informational books during their ELA classes. Interested families are encouraged to send money to school with their children to purchase books on these days. Partial proceeds from the book fair will go to the Blackhawk PTO who support events and activities for our students. The next Blackhawk PTO meeting is May 4th at 6:30 PM in our Learning Center. All are welcome.

This week, our 8th graders were treated to valuable information, experiences, and conversations with various members of our local community. A career day, featuring over 25 different employment options for our students to explore, was part of the learning happening on Thursday. Some of the career paths offered to our students included:

• accountant
• architect
• beauty/cosmetology
• car industry
• engineer
• firefighter/paramedic
• lawyer
• medicine
• police
• politics
• teacher
• travel
• veterinarian

This career day was a collaborative effort involving Ms. Mazzone, 8th grade social science, and Ms. Schwarz, District 2 Community Liaison, and the entire 8th grade team.

This career day fits nicely into the next 8th grade social science unit that explores personal finance and budgeting. In this unit, students are required to find a job which is an area in which many students need support and experience. Ms. Mazzone surveyed the kids to see what jobs they would be interested in learning more about. Then the team, led by Ms. Schwartz, set off to find those people in those fields to invite them to participate in career day. The team didn't have to guess what the kids wanted to explore--the kids told them in the survey. It all came together wonderfully and produced great excitement in the auditorium Thursday.

We are so proud of how our students let their curiosity lead them through this experience. Some career representatives at the fair said our students were well-prepared with good questions and handled themselves with maturity and respect. It is our hope to make the career day an annual event and include even more professions in the future.

April 12th Technology Center of DuPage, 7th grade trip

April 12th-14th Book Fair

April 12th Blackhawk track meet at Fenton HS

April 14th National Museum of Mexican Art, select students trip

April 15th Blackhawk Jazz Band performance at Chicago Wolves game

April 19th Blackhawk track meet at York HS

April 20th, Erin's Law Presentation, 6th grade

April 21st Third trimester midterm

April 26th Blackhawk track meet at Fenton HS

May 3rd Blackhawk Chorus and Steel Drum concert, 6:30 PM, auditorium

May 2nd Student Recognition Breakfast, 7:00 AM, cafeteria

May 4th Blackhawk PTO meeting, 6:30 PM, Learning Center

May 4th Blackhawk track meet at Hinsdale Central HS