Monthly News from Fenwick High School
Monthly News from Fenwick High School
September 2020
A Message from Fenwick Admissions
Dear Future Friars:
First and foremost, the entire Fenwick community has been praying for an end to our current pandemic. We have found great joy in the comfort of knowing that we are all in this together and that we can rely on our great group of teachers, coaches and students we call Friars. What is most important is that we continue to practice and follow the guidelines offered to us to stay healthy so that we can all return to a much more normal life in the not-so-distant future. 

In mid-August, our brand new Fenwick Class of 2024 began their four-year high school career. We opened the doors to in-person learning to 275 new freshman Friars. The Class of 2024 is at full speed surrounded by our supportive faculty, talented student body and a community that will continue to hold the highest expectations in and out of the classroom. 

As our classrooms and our halls have opened to a new school year, we want to make sure we stay connected with the future Friars and let them know we are already preparing to have you join our Friar Nation. Please take a moment to read about some recent news at Fenwick.

Warmest Regards,
Mr. Ori

Joseph Ori

Admissions Director
(708) 386-0127, ext. 302

jori@fenwickfriars.com
BECOME A FUTURE FRIAR
Fenwick Merit-based Scholarships
Fenwick Welcomes Back Students
In-person physics students were socially distanced and separated by plexiglass dividers in a Fenwick classroom on
August 25. Their lab partners were at home, consulting with them over FaceTime on their mobile phones or Apple iPads.
On August 24th, Fenwick High School officially began its 92nd academic year with an in-person/remote-learning hybrid model. Students were warmly welcomed back to the Oak Park campus last week. Half the school is present on Mondays and Wednesdays, while the other half is eLearning from home. Classmates then switch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are in-school "Freshman Only Days" for 2020-21.
8th Grade Shadow Program
PLEASE NOTE: In-person Shadow Days have been
suspended for the 2020-21 school year. 

TAKE OUR ENTRANCE EXAM
To be considered for enrollment and admission into Fenwick High School, all 8th graders must take the Fenwick Entrance Exam held each year in December. Detailed information on how to register will be made available in November.
Fenwick TEAMS Takes 1st in State
Before school closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Fenwick hosted the TEAMS competition. The Varsity A team had the 2nd highest multiple-choice score in not only the state or nation, but internationally, reports Coach/Math Teacher Kevin Roche ’05. Fenwick's overall score of 174 places us third internationally among large, selective schools.

The Varsity A team consisted of Claire Hill, Dan Castellano, Dan Majcher, 
Eva Homberger, Joe Zawacki (captain), Nate Crowell, Ronan Kristufek 
and Sebastian Torres. “I will miss this senior class,” Roche says. “They are a brilliant, fun and charming group. I am grateful that Dan, Claire and Ronan will be around to help lead the drive next year’s team.
Illinois Champs in Academic Challenge
Team Fenwick is the Illinois State Champion in the Academic Challenge (formerly WYSE)! Achieving success in anything is a significant and substantial accomplishment. However, the ultimate accomplishment comes when you are challenged by the best in difficult times and rise undiminished with similarly focused and minded teammates. Teams that achieve this accomplishment are called champions.

That is what our Friars are! We were informed in early June by the Academic Challenge administrative team that Fenwick is the Illinois State Champion. Twenty schools qualified at the 10 sectional sites and competed in the state competition. We finished 1st. In addition, Team Fenwick bested last year's state champion from Missouri to win the overall Academic Challenge 1st Place trophy. 

We were not be able to watch you hoist the trophy on the auditorium stage and present it to Fr. Peddicord and Principal Groom in front of your classmates while they chant "Day Off, Day Off," but we will always cherish your wild intelligence, teamwork, drive, humor and awkward competition dress themes. Congrats on your success. Many more successes to come for you and Fenwick!

Individual Medal Winners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Fenwick
“Now is the time to be bold. Now is the time to lead," says Mr. Moland
Please join us in congratulating alumnus Raymond Moland '96, who in mid-August was named Fenwick's first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Mr. Moland will serve as a member of the school’s leadership team and is responsible for leading Fenwick's efforts in developing and implementing DEI initiatives across all organizational departments. He had served as the Friars' Senior Dean of Students since 2014.
Read About Fenwick's DEI Committee
New Courses for Our 92nd Academic Year
Principal Peter Groom
The Fenwick administration and faculty are excited to offer several new courses to students this school year! A series of four Advanced Computer Topics (ACT) classes as well as a new World Language course (Mandarin), an Advanced Theatre class and a new Physical-education class (yoga).
In discussing the new Advanced Computer courses, “Close to 30% of Fenwick’s graduates pursue a degree in STEM [science, technology, engineering or mathematics],” reports Computer Science & Physics Dept. Co-chair Dave Kleinhans. “Our investment in courses and physical spaces must match this interest.” The school’s new Computer Science Engineering & 3D Printing Lab, which debuted in the fall of 2019, will support four new advanced Computer Science (CS) classes: Data Structures & Algorithms, Introduction to Robotics, 3D Printing and IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW COURSES
Friars Welcome New Swimming Coach for
Boys and Girls' Aquatics Programs
Fenwick is excited to announce that Steve Thompson has taken over as Aquatics Director. In addition, Mr. Thompson is our new Head Coach for Girls’ Swimming and Diving as well as Head Coach for Boys’ Swimming and Diving. Thompson’s experiences as a coach include six years as the Head Men’s’ and Women’s Coach at Lewis University (Romeoville, IL) as well as a stint as an Assistant Coach at North Carolina State University. Earlier in his career, he was the Head Coach at Seneca Valley High School (PA) and Farragut High School (TN).

On the girls’ teams, he replaces long-time Coach Renee Miller, who stepped away following last season. On the boys’ side, to streamline the men’s and women’s swimming programs under new leadership, Luke McGuire ’90 is stepping aside after 15 years and much success. Mr. McGuire remains a valued member of our faculty.

More About Coach Thompson
2020 Honors Convocation
Fenwick High School is proud to announce the 2019-20 student winners of its
Faculty Honor and Lawless Awards for excellence:

WHO WON WHAT?
'Virtual' Art Exhibit
We were unable to have our in-person Spring Art Show this year, so the Expressive Arts Dept. presented a Virtual Show. Enjoy the work of our students this Spring semester!

Click the button below, then click on the down arrow in the upper right hand corner. Choose which class you would like to view and then click on the down arrow to see a list of students. Then click on the student's name.

Virtual Art Exhibit
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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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