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| Volume #6 Issue #7 Date: July 2020
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The Fenwick Friars wish Americans everywhere a Happy Independence Day. Let freedom ring! #USA
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| New Committee Is Studying Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion at Fenwick
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At its mid-June board meeting, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee was appointed. Board Chair John Barron ’76 is serving on the permanent committee. Fenwick High School held the first DEI meeting on June 30.
The goals of this committee are to provide recommendations to the board, accountability for Fenwick leadership, and sharing resources within the community. Fenwick is committed to addressing the following six areas:
Cultural Inclusion and Sensitivity Training
Policy and Governing Practices
Curriculum
Student, Faculty, Staff Recruitment
Admissions and Financial Aid
Community Service
The committee is looking to push the work forward in these areas in the future.
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| Welcome to Our Newest Alumni
From the Class of '20!
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Young alumni in the Class of 2020, welcome to FAN (Fenwick Alumni News), your monthly e-newsletter.
Please udate your contact info and email address by CLICKING HERE.
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| Our COVID-19 Financial Aid Challenge
Raised >$474,000 for Fenwick Students
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Launched in early May with a matching challenge of $235,000 from several generous donors, $239,000 more has been donated to the COVID-19 Financial Aid Challenge! In late June, we surpassed our goal of doubling the matching-gift offer. This money will help to ensure needed financial assistance for Fenwick students!
Thank you.
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| Fathers' Club Hosts Food Drive
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This past weekend, members of the Fenwick Fathers' Club hosted a Catholic Charities/Fenwick Food Drive. Thirteen FFC members opened their homes as drop-off locations for donations -- saving people a trip to school as the homes are located across the Chicago metro area for ease of drops. Some 200 bags and 50 large boxes of food were collected over the two days. A procession of Friars' students delivered the food to the Catholic Charities Foodbank in Cicero, IL, on Monday, June 29.
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| TWO TEACHERS ARE RETIRING:
Andy Arellano (Speech) and Dee Megall (Spanish)
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Long-time Fenwick teachers Mr. Andrew Arellano and Mrs. Denise Megall announced their retirements following the 2019-20 school year. Andy started at Fenwick in September of 1972: 48 years of service. Dee started in 1992: 28 years of service to Friars!
"Few people have impacted Fenwick students as much as Andy and no one has impacted them more," praises Principal Peter Groom. "Of all the courses that Fenwick offers, Mr. Arellano’s speech class is the one cited over and over again as the most beneficial in preparing our students for life. Andy’s passion and attention to detail are a small part of what has made him so incredibly successful. While being a great teacher, Mr. Arellano has also been a guardian angel for so many of our students that are trying to find their way. He has a unique ability to identify students that are hiding their pain and help them get the comfort that they need. He will be dearly missed.
"Alan Howell and Dee Megall were the pillars of our Spanish program for decades," Mr. Groom continues. "While not all students valued their experience when they had her, after studying Spanish in college, most realized what an incredible teacher she is and how much further ahead they were in the language than their peers. I will personally miss Dee. As a young teacher, Dee was a mentor to me and became a dear friend. I love her sense of humor, personality and the little dance she does from time to time."
Formal plans to recognize their 76 years of combined service have been put on hold for now, but please stay tuned, former students!
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| COLLEGIATE FRIARS 2019 Classmates
Laura Durkin and Samuel Saunders
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LAURA DURKIN
Fenwick Graduation: 2019
Hometown: Riverside, IL
Grade School: St. Mary’s
Current School: University of Illinois (Gies College of Business)
Major: Finance and Information Systems
Summer internship: A summer internship I am currently pursuing is branching off of the Venture Capital Association club that I participated in my freshman year at U of I. This internship involves working with private equity firms across the United States to provide financial analytics and exit-strategy consulting. This summer I will be continuing research and performing quantitative due diligence to identify potential target investments for a private equity firm that I have been on a project with since the beginning of my second semester. This internship will be paired with an internship through COVID-19 Business Fellowship Program where I will help small businesses throughout the Chicago area to reimagine and redefine how they reach customers, achieve business objectives, and help them to adapt to the new normal by mobilizing in the face of adversity. Read more.
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SAMUEL SAUNDERS
Fenwick Graduation: 2019
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
Grade School: St. Petronille
Current School: Syracuse University (Upstate New York)
Major: Double majoring in Finance & Entrepreneurship
Involvement on campus: I’m currently a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, NYA chapter where I’m on the Finance Committee. This is a great experience because I get the opportunity to manage a $100,000 budget. Last year, I was elected to be the RHA (BBB) Director of Administration and Finance where my role was to govern student life for the 730 students in my hall and oversee Syracuse’s housing budget. I’m also an active member in Cuse’s Entrepreneurship Club where we bring in prosperous entrepreneurs such as Kenneth Langone Sr. -- investor, philanthropist, and co-founder of Home Depot -- to guest speak at our business school. Read more.
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| FACULTY FOCUS: Math Teacher Toni Dactilidis
Is Entering Her 13th Year at Fenwick
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What is your educational background?
TD: I was educated in the City of Steel and Stone: Joliet, Illinois. From preschool at the Little Red Schoolhouse to my Master’s Degree at the University of St. Francis, I feel so fortunate that I grew up in a diverse city with valuable lessons surrounding me at every turn. I am reminded of a beautiful quote from the Greek philosopher Diogenes that I saw every day in high school proudly displayed in the building, 'the foundation of every state is the education of its youth.' I love my hometown and, as I grow older, I search for ways to give back to show appreciation for all the education I received in that city. I relish all the lessons learned – from sports to dance, music to the Greek language – my education began at a very young age thanks to my mother, Mary Ann, and all the resources she found for me in Joliet.
What did you do prior to becoming a teacher at Fenwick?
TD: I will begin my 23rd year of teaching in August. Next month will definitely look different than other school year beginnings; but, I am excited to connect with a new group of Friars. I started teaching young people right out of college. I have taught students from the grade school level up to the college level for the past 22 years at Gompers Junior High School to Joliet Junior College. I completed my student teaching at Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), where I truly witnessed the power of a Catholic high school education for young people. Read more.
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| Golfers, Have You Registered for the
FRIAR CLASSIC on August 14?
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Registration for the 51st Friar Classic Golf Outing is open and tee times are filling up. Register today to reserve your spot on the course for Friday, August 14.
Come support Fenwick students while playing a round of golf at beautiful Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton!
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| Fenwick Business Directory
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Please use our new Fenwick Business Directory to support Friar-owned and operated businesses. To be added to the online directory free of charge, please send the name of the business, phone number and website to Alumni Relations Director Peter Durkin '03 at pdurkin@fenwickfriars.com.
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Class of 1970 50th Reunion
Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3
68th Annual Blackfriars Gala
Friday, November 20
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| Sign Up for "FriarsConnect"
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FriarsConnect recently went through an upgrade in its design! Log in or sign up today to check out Fenwick’s exclusive alumni platform. Nearly 1,000 members of the Friar Community have signed up for this service that keeps you connected to your fellow Friars.
FriarsConnect allows you to:
- Find jobs and opportunities where you can work with your fellow Friars
- Cultivate meaningful mentoring opportunities
- Connect with and organize the powerful relationships available via the
Fenwick community - And so much more!
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| From the School Archives ...
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Tuesdays are for trivia on Fenwick "social-media" channels: The first musical performed by the Blackfriars Guild dates back to 1945. What was the production?
A. No No Nanette
B. Mame!
C. Best Foot Forward
D. Oklahoma
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The correct answer is C) "Best Foot Forward."
Click on the icons below to follow Fenwick on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram:
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Have something to share with your fellow alumni? Please send all of your alumni news and happenings to Peter Durkin '03, Director of Alumni Relations (pdurkin@fenwickfriars.com).
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A new academic year begins in August. Help ensure that the next generation
of Friars is as well prepared for their futures as you were!
Click the button below to make a donation:
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Fenwick High School is owned and sponsored by the Dominican Friars
of the Province of St. Albert the Great headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
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