News & Articles

Here We Grow Again! Spring 2019 Construction Update

We are thrilled to share the enormous progress made in the exciting expansion of the Bennett Day School Campus at 955 W. Grand Ave. Located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood at Morgan and Grand Avenues, Bennett Day is the fastest growing independent PK-12th grade school in the City of Chicago.  As you can see, the expansion is coming…

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Junior Kindergarteners Channel NPR with Podcast on the Human Body

Inspired by the children’s doctor-themed dramatic play and the Bennett Day “Get Wellthy” Challenge, Mr. Nearpass and Ms. Simmons’ kindergarten classroom spent three months researching the body and medical professions to better understand how to keep themselves healthy.

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Mentors Make All the Difference: A Reflection on Student-Teacher Relationships at High Tech High & Bennett Day Upper School

Bennett Day School is the only school in Illinois to receive the New School Creation Fellowship from High Tech High, the progressive, project-based school featured in the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed.” Representatives from Bennett Day Upper School spent a week at High Tech High in San Diego for the second phase of the fellowship….

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Tips for Choosing a Best-Fit Summer Camp

Studies show that camps of all kinds help kids build a solid sense of identity and community, while also contributing to mental and physical well-being. But with so many options out there, how can families make the best choice possible for their children?

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Student Innovation Through Bennett Labs: Creating Apps, Books, and 21st Century Learning at Bennett Day School

  By Frances Judd, Special Projects Coordinator & Early Childhood Tinkering and Engineering Sciences Lab Teacher I love sharing these photos of enthusiastic and engaged learners at Bennett Day School as they participate in Bennett Labs projects:

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Building Bennett Day School: An Interview with CEO Cameron Smith

After the birth of his first son in 2010, Bennett Day School Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Smith, came face-to-face with the shortage of options for progressive, independent schooling in Chicago. Though his heartfelt reasons as to “why” he founded the school are well-documented, we sat down with Cameron to discuss the “how” behind his motivational journey in creating…

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Decision Time: Our Top 3 Tips for Choosing a Best-Fit School

No parent takes school-fit decisions lightly, and Chicago families are reporting more and more that the dizzying array of PK-12 options in the city can feel stressful.

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CEO Cameron Smith: “The Schoolhouse Gate” and the Changing Face of American Education

In November, I had the privilege of engaging in a discussion at the offices of education law firm,Franczek Radelet, with University of Chicago Constitutional Law Professor, Justin Driver. His new book,The Schoolhouse Gate:Public Education, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for the American Mind,inspired me to think more deeply about how our schools are addressing…

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The Power of “Quiet”: Thoughts by Cameron Smith on Tomie dePaula’s Latest Picture Book

Quiet by Tomie dePaolaSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers I recently heard the NPR Author Interview about Tomie dePaola’s latest book, Quiet.  I listened to the three-minute interview around 5:45 am on my way to the gym.   And I turned off the radio. Immediately. Not exactly what NPR might have been going for, but…

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