|
Sept. 2011
Glenbrook North H.S. | Connections
|
|
|
|
Dear parent,
The 2011/12 school year is off to a terrific start. Welcome back Spartans, and a special welcome to those students and families new to Glenbrook North.
"Connections" is a monthly newsletter designed to inform parents about current activities, events, and opportunities at GBN. The school website is another valuable information source and can be accessed through the district website at www.glenbrook225.org.
An important factor in the success of our school is the positive relationship we share with parents. With all of our contributions, GBN will continue to be a place where students, parents, staff, and community members enjoy learning and working together.
As always, we value your partnership as we guide young adults through the journey of high school. I look forward to meeting you at Parent Night in the Classroom, September 8th,if not sooner.
With Spartan Pride,
Paul Pryma
Principal
|
|
|
Calendar Highlights
|
September
5 - Labor Day, No School
6 - Choral Parents Meeting, 6 p.m.
7 - Parents' Association Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
8 - Driver Education Parent Night, 6 p.m.
Freshman Parent Meeting, 6 p.m.
Parent Night in the Classroom, 6:45 p.m.
9 - Back-to-school dance
Loyalty Day
12 - Board of Ed. Meeting, 7 p.m. GBS
Band Parents Meeting,
7 p.m.
Booster Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
20 - Student Late Arrival, 9:40 a.m.
26 - Board of Ed. Meeting, 7 p.m. GBS
29 - Rosh Hashanah, No School
|
|
|
 GBN student leaves his mark in the Village of Northbrook
Glenbrook North High School senior Charlie Serota dreams of one day being a notable name on Wall Street. For now, though, he is starting with his hometown of Northbrook. Last month, the Illinois Department of Transportation installed four signs recognizing his recent first place title at the 2011 International DECA competition in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing category. DECA helps prepare high school and college students for emerging careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. For more on Serota, click here. |
Students trade in summer vacations for a  charitable cause
For 80 Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high school students, this summer wasn't about family vacations, daily visits to the local pool or relaxing with friends.
It was about giving back.
As part of a District 225 summer school program linked with international non-profit Habitat for Humanity, groups of 20 students and four chaperones traveled to Lexington, Kentucky over the past few weeks to help build homes for families in need. The first group left in June, and the last remaining clusters of students returned in July.
"It's definitely an experience that challenges you on so many different levels," said Glenbrook North chemistry teacher Nicole Scherr, who chaperoned one of the groups that returned earlier this month. "The kids find it to be so gratifying."
For more about the trip, click here.
|
New staff joins GBN
District 225 welcomes new teachers, support staff and administrators
Teachers: Michael Campbell, Math Teacher; Jamie Ellinger, Social Studies Teacher; Jason Heath, Fine Arts/Music; Sarah Ilie, Social Studies Teacher; Tiffany Kim, Physical Education Teacher; Amanda Lazzaro, Psychologist and RTI Coordinator; Amy Ludolph, Science Teacher; Michael Rast, Social Studies Teacher; Hollie Saraswat, World Language German Teacher; Dominic Savino, Math Teacher; Jill Serling, Science Teacher; Justine Walsh, Social Worker.
Support staff and administrators: Eileen Bourne, Clerical Special Education; Meaghan Clavey, Physical Education Instructional Assistant; Mary Gregg, Dean's Office Instructional Assistant; Andrew Guilde, Dean's Office Instructional Assistant; Emily Horigan, Math Instructional Assistant; Scott Lasky, Dean's Office Instructional Assistant; Alexandra Salomone, Special Education Instructional Assistant.
|
Parents asked to walk in their child's shoes
Parents will have a chance to walk in their child's shoes during Parent Night in the Classroom. During the event, parents can follow their child's abbreviated schedule, learn about their courses, meet their teachers and find out more about expectations and academic goals.
Parent Night in the Classroom runs from 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 8.
|
|
GBN encourages parent involvement
Parents' Association - Dawn Spiewak, 847-559-8184
Booster Club - Ross and Laurie Landman, 847-272-0288, or Jim and Janet Pucin, gbnboosters@gmail.com
Special Education Parents Advisory Board - Kathy French, 847-509-2667 or kfrench@glenbrook225.org
Theatre Parents - Jennifer Kohrs, 847-205-7802
Choral Parents - Jennifer Kohrs, 847-205-7802
Band Parents - Jennifer Kohrs, 847-205-7802
Orchestra Parents - Steve Gianni, 847-564-2767
Debate Parents - Michael Greenstein, 847-509-2648 or mgreenstein@glenbrook225.org
Vocational Advisory Board - Mary Kosirog, 847-509-2440 or mkosirog@glenbrook225.org
Grad Night 2011 - Kent Figge, 847-272-6342 or figge@northbrook.il.us
|
|
More headlines from GBN...
- Student newspaper earns first place award. For the full story, click here.
- Scholarship formed to honor former Glenbrook North teacher. For the full story, click here.
- GBN, GBS baseball go head-to-head in burger battle. For the full story, click here.
- Construction projects at GBN, GBS are on time and on time budget. For the full story, click here.
- GBN Math teacher named 2011 Distinguished Teacher. For the full story, click here.
|
|
|
|
District announces new communication initiatives
Google calendars, Twitter and Facebook to launch
Last year, District 225 conducted a communications audit in an effort to improve its services to students, parents and the school community. The research findings supported numerous new initiatives including improved school calendars, websites, newsletters, and social media utilization.
Calendars
The new school year brings with it a new online calendar system that will provide students, parents, and the school community with an easy-to-use, interactive, downloadable format. Google calendars are available for both school calendars and the district Board of Education meeting dates.
Users may subscribe to an entire calendar (e.g. All Student Activities) or just one event at a time (e.g. Homecoming). Instructions on using Google calendars can be found here.
E-Newsletters
Connections will be emailed and posted online, instead of mailed to every household.
Parents will be automatically subscribed to receive new bulletins that will include Board of Education Highlights and District Updates. Parents may also receive the Connections from both high schools, if they so choose.
Social Media
 
Both high schools will launch Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to help share great news about our students, staff and community. In addition, these venues will serve as another outlet for emergency school closing announcements. Find us on Twitter @Glenbrooknorth and on Facebook at Glenbrook North High School.
|
|
District 225 passes tentative budget
At a meeting on July 25, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education approved the tentative 2011-12 budget.
The 2011-12 budget projects $98,585,052 in revenues and $97,935,260 in expenditures. Based on the tentative budget for 2011-12, the District forecasts an Operating Fund balance of $65.2 million as of June 30, 2012. This represents an operating reserve of 63.7%. The current Board-established policy requires a minimum of 33% in fund balance reserves.
"District taxpayers expect us to be fiscally conservative," said Board President Skip Shein. "Strong fund balances are necessary to maintain our stability as we face future challenges such as increasing student enrollment and potential decreases in state and federal funding."
For more on the budget, click here.
|
Village uses new communications system
The Village of Northbrook is now using a communications system known as Notify Northbrook. The village-wide communications system enables the village to notify residents via home phone, cell phone (calls and text) and email. Residents are asked to register by going to www.northbrook.il.us and click on Northbrook Notify on the right-hand side. |
This publication will be sent monthly to every parent/guardian email on file at the high school. In addition, the district will also send out a Board of Education summary after each meeting. While we hope our school community enjoys the information that these publications provide, you may safely unsubscribe at anytime by clicking on the link called "SafeUnsubscribe" below in the footer. .
|
|
|
