Instructors at Glenbrook North are continuing to monitor a recent restructuring

A GBN student participates in a forensics science class.

of the science curriculum, which introduced new electives to students and changed the sequence of required courses.

"It's been really positive so far," said Science Instructional Supervisor Mary Rockrohr. "The kids really like having options and some of our elective classes have just exploded in popularity amongst students."

The changes were introduced to all freshman students during the 2008-09 school year following a survey that looked at the science curriculum throughout District 225 as well as the elementary feeder districts, particularly 6th through 8th grades.    

To read more, click here.

Four students from Glenbrook North have earned perfect ACT scores.

The ACT is required by all the state schools in Illinois and accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Juniors are advised to take the ACT in February, April or June.

ACT scores range from 1-36. Those with a perfect score of 36 include: Jason Hirshman, Aaron Jankelow, Jordanna Lutz and Julia Schuman.

The decision to cancel school is made by the District Superintendent and is usually due to severe or extreme wind chills, snow accumulation or unsafe road conditions.

The goal is to notify families of school cancellations as early as possible, usually by 6 a.m. Parents can expect to be contacted by the District via an automated phone and email system. (TIP: It is a great time to contact the school to make sure contact information is up-to-date.)

Notifications will also be sent out through the school's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Additionally, parents can obtain school closing information on the District ( www.glenbrook225.org) and school websites (GBN: www.glenbrook225.org/north ), the WGN Emergency Closing Center (www.emergencyclosings.com),  and local radio or T.V. news channels.

The District has built one emergency day into the calendar on Monday, April 2, 2012. If no emergency days are used prior to April 2, then there will be no school on that date. However, if an emergency day is needed prior to that date, then school will be in session on April 2. This calendar feature minimizes the need to add emergency days to the end of the school year in June.

On November 16 and November 17, GBN hosts the annual event "Finding the Fit...Who am I?" starting at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts. This program is for junior students and their parents and serves as an introduction to the college selection process. The evening concludes with small group discussions with school counselors. 

Parents are advised to attend on the evening when their child's counselor is present, although they are welcome either night. Counselor schedules are as follows: Wednesday, November 16:  Bozacki-Rae, Higgins, O'Rourke, Rogers and Niemiec. Thursday, November 17: Standerski, Ruppert, Sullivan and Gebhardt.

On Wednesday, November 16, and Thursday, November 17, all Glenbrook North students will have the opportunity to participate in Screens for Teens -- a free cardiac screening offered by the Max Schewitz Foundation. The testing includes an EKG for all participants and an echocardiogram for certain students.  

Every year, healthy young adults like 20-year-old Schewitz die from hidden heart conditions. His parents started the foundation after finding out that many life-threatening heart conditions are detectable and treatable.  

Only students with written permission and who have turned in a health history form will be tested.  An EKG detects "markers" of certain serious health conditions that are undetectable by a stethoscope.  An echocardiogram provides a picture of the heart and can clarify some findings from an EKG test.

The testing is conducted in private booths set up in the gym, with every effort made to respect privacy and modesty. Cardiologist Eli Lavie, MD, of Northshore University HealthSystems will oversee all aspects of testing and interpretation.

The GBN Band Parents Organization is hosting Festa Italiana - a fundraiser for the school's bands featuring music, dancing, raffle prizes and food. The event will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, November 6 in the student cafeteria. Music is provided by GBN's jazz bands. Tickets are $13 for students and $25 for adults.

Registration is preferred.  For more information, send an email to festagbn@gmail.com or download an invitation from the GBN website under "Parents, BPO Organization." 

The 2011 State School Report Cards are now available on the district website. Click here to view the Report Cards.  

Due to the recent extension of a federal Impact Aid bill, Glenbrook High School District 225 is eligible to receive additional federal funding.  The bill will provide federal funding to school districts that provide education to the children of military personnel as well as to other "federally supported students" who attend either Glenbrook North or Glenbrook South High Schools. 

In order to receive this funding, parents/guardians are asked to verify their high school student falls into the category of "federally supported students" by completing a survey and returning it to Julie Bezanes at the District office by December 1.

Some examples include:

• Child resides with a parent who works on federal property.
• Child resides with a parent employed by the federal government.
• Child has a parent who is active (or reserve) duty in the uniformed military service.
• Child resides in federally subsidized housing.
• Child resides on federal property with a parent employed on federal property situated in whole or in part within the boundaries of the school district. 

A copy of the survey can be found by clicking here. Anyone with questions may call Julie Bezanes at 847-486-4591.