Mark your calendars - Bennett-Shedd School all-class reunion

 Let's get away from government & politics for a moment given that this is a blog that is an homage to my grammar (elementary) school alumnus. Who knew that there was a soon to come all-class reunion for Bennett-Shedd School.

Check out this group on Facebook for more info on this reunion. Mark your calendars.

Perhaps the alumni of the Pride (or I prefer Badgers) took an idea from Harlan Alumni who hold an all-class reunion every year themselves.

With this said since this will be coming next year - mark your calendars NOW!

R.I.P. Bill Campbell

This was in the news last Thursday the passing of longtime ABC 7 Chicago/WLS-TV personality Bill Campbell. Campbell was an alumni of both Harlan High School and Bennett Elementary School. He was 70, back in 2017 it was noted in the press then that he had suffered a stroke and there was a GoFundMe established to support his convalescence at the time.

He is noted as an alum of Bennett School even in the comments section to this post by Robert Feder and in some fb groups for Bennett-Shedd.

Bill Campbell, who served as director of editorials and community services over a 32-year career at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, was best known for his long run as host and producer of the weekly public affairs show “Chicagoing.”

The longtime Evanston resident died Wednesday at a Symphony Care Network nursing home in Chicago after a long illness, according to his family. He was 70.

Friends generated a GoFundMe page to help defray medical costs after Campbell suffered a stroke in 2017.

Born on Chicago’s South Side, Campbell was the son of a chemist father and visual artist mother. After graduating from John Marshall Harlan High School and Carleton College in Minnesota, he worked as a staff assistant to the administrative assistant to Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and director of communications for the Chicago Urban League.

He joined ABC 7 in 1978 and spent his first 10 years at the station writing and delivering on-air editorials — expressing the views of station management on critical issues of the day — which he taped on location.

facebook me!

facebook.com

Years ago someone on fb was able to contact me regarding an opportunity to start an alumni organization for Bennett-Shedd School. This was a while ago, however, times have changed. Then I responded to that message somewhat coolly because it certainly came out of nowhere and I never posted my fb information here.

That changes this week. This doesn't mean well be fast friends of course, but as to whether or not you want me to feel comfortable around you is entirely up to you. You're always free to say hello or what not.

Another idea I have considered is whether or not this Shedd School/Public School blog needs it's own fb page. I have some experience with The Sixth Ward and it's various social networking wings so that shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish. Feel free to let me know if that interests you although there are fb groups for past and present students of Bennett/Shedd School.

Also, this has become something of a "9th Ward Blog" lately as Bennett-Shedd is located within that city council district. So it's probably OK to start compiling groups for that purpose as well.

In the meanwhile feel free to facebook me. I have a badge at the top of the sidebar and you can also find me via the email address - itsmymind @ gmail.com - also in sidebar.

Ruggles Alumni fundraiser...

Ruggles School - 7831 S Prairie Ave

Lately I've been posting about what what other elementary schools are doing. There was a post about a library makeover at Neil School in the Chatham neighborhood. Then I find out about a fundraiser for a computer lab at Chatham's Ruggles School.

Now let's not get ahead of ourselves about Ruggles. Ruggles is a school that is said to have been on academic probation for many years according to some sources that I have in my capacity as a blogger for The Sixth Ward. Still it's great to know that school has an active alumni association. The Ruggles Alumni association is hosting a bowling fundraiser at a south suburban bowling alley on November 3, 2012 - refer to flyer below.

So while I do hope Bennett-Shedd gets a true library makeover like Neil got. Hopefully we can find out how Bennett-Shedd can have an active alumni association to make sure students at the lowest levels of our education system can truly be a step ahead.

BTW, even if you do consider yourself a Badger at heart perhaps you can help Ruggles raise money for their students and hopefully learn something from what their alumni seeks to do.

ALSO, I consider myself a Badger although it seems Bennett-Shedd has changed their mascot since I've left. They're either the Royals or the Lions, not sure. Surely someone knows the school's mascot!