Feb. 2012
Glenbrook South H.S.| Connections
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De ar Parents,
Please join us at our Gala luncheon at noon on Saturday, February 25 as we bring our community, staff and alumni together to officially celebrate 50 years of Glenbrook South High School.
We will open the Silver Time Sphere that was sealed during Glenbrook South's silver anniversary in 1987 to illuminate messages from the past and will fill our Golden Time Sphere with messages for the future that will be reopened in the year 2037. Afterward we will enjoy the Titan talents showcased in this year's Variety Show, Gold.
Fifty years ago Glenbrook South High School had its beginning; it has been sculpted through time into the institution of excellence that now proudly celebrates its golden anniversary. Glenbrook South's educators are leaders in their field and embrace the importance of education as an essential ingredient of a meaningful and successful life.
Alumni throughout the years have recognized that Glenbrook South is a special place. They are not alone. I personally have admired this outstanding high school as a physics teacher, an associate principal of curriculum, a grateful parent, and as a devoted principal.
Dr. Scott Thompson, past Deputy Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals described us well. He observed, "Glenbrook South is a happy place engaged in the serious task of educating. Civility remains a virtue at the school, lubricating the sometimes bumpy process of learning and maturing. The fatigue fractures so evident in the structure of far too many large secondary schools in America are not observable at Glenbrook South."
Don't miss out on this outstanding community celebration! I look forward to seeing you all at our Golden V-Show Gala! Tickets for this event are available now at
With Titan Pride, Brian K. Wegley
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Calendar Highlights
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February
1 - Incoming Freshman Orientation Night,
7 p.m.
3 - Women in Math/Science Breakfast,
8 a.m.
6-10 - Business Education week
8 - Student Late Arrival, 10 a.m.
Senior Assembly
13 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @ GBN
20 - Presidents' Day
No School
21-24 - Student Art Exhibit
22-25 - Variety Show "Gold 2012" 7:30 p.m.,
12 p.m. Sat. Gala & Matinee (see letter)
27 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @ GBN
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We need your feedback...Earlier this school year, District 225 launched a number of new initiatives in an effort to improve its communication services with the school community. Included in those initiatives was the implementation of e-newsletters.
Approximately each month throughout the school year, subscribers are e-mailed GBS Connections. In an effort to gauge how effective these newsletters have been, we are asking all subscribers to take a brief survey that can be accessed by clicking here or visiting http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S2WGM55.
Your feedback is appreciated. |
Course registration information
The schedule for registering students is as follows:
Week of January 30 - February 3 Junior Groups
February 6 All Day Junior Boys Registration - Guidance Dept.
February 7 Junior Boys Make-Up - Guidance Dept.
February 9 All Day Junior Girls Registration - Guidance Dept.
February 10 Junior Girls Make-Up - Guidance Dept.
February 13 Period 3 Sophomore Assembly February 15 All Day Soph. P.E. Registration - Guidance Dept.
February 17 All Day Soph. Health Registration- Guidance Dept.
February 21 Soph. Class - Make-Up - Guidance Dept.
February 22 All Day Incoming freshman
February 27 All Day Incoming freshman
February 29 All Day Incoming freshman
March 9 All Day Incoming freshman
February 28 Period 5 Freshman Assembly
March 2 All Day Freshman Girls Registration - Guidance Dept.
March 7 All Day Freshman Boys Registration - Guidance Dept.
March 8 Freshman Class Make-Up - Guidance Dept.
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Grad Nite 2012
A group of parents have started planning this year's Grad Nite and is seeking other parents to volunteer and/or chaperone. Grad Nite is a safe celebration for our seniors and has become a popular, fun-filled tradition that is usually attended by more than 85% of the class. Parents of students from all classes are welcome to join the committee. If you would like to assist, please contact Jayme Bielanski at 847-486-1113.
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GBS seeks students for internship program
Juniors and seniors looking to gain career exposure are invited to enroll in Glenbrook South's internship class. Students can sign themselves up beginning the first week of February. 
Those enrolled will fulfill 75 hours as an intern, learning about a career that interests them. Past internships have touched on a variety of different career paths including pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, business, marketing, finance, veterinary science, law and hospital services.
This is the second year GBS has offered the class, which helps students learn soft skills such as email and phone etiquette, resume development, writing a cover and thank you letter, preparing for an interview, proper dress in the workplace, work responsibilities, communication skills and conflict resolution.
Glenbrook South continues to search for businesses interested in offering internships as part of the class. Those interested should contact Business Education teacher Rosie McManamon at 847-486-4447 or by email at rmcmanamon@glenbrook225.org. |
Self Defense course to debut in 2012-13
The Board of Education recently adopted a new course to be offered in the 2012-13 school year. The administration recommended the following new course at GBS after conducting an annual curriculum review:
Physical Education: Self Defense
This is a one semester elective offered in place of physical education.
For more on the courses adopted by the Board, click here. |
GBS swimmer sets sights on Olympic trials
With a total of three state swimming records under her belt and a second place finish in the women's 100 meter backstroke during Winter Nationals, Glenbrook South junior Olivia Smoliga has made quite the name for herself both in and out of the Titan swimming pool.
But if you ask her, she is just a normal teen.
"My life as a student is the same as everyone else," she said on a recent Thursday afternoon shortly before an interview with a national news channel. "I have homework and have to go to class. And when I don't go to class, I have to make up the work."
Smoliga was only 4 years old when she first learned to swim. Now 17, she has her sights set on the Olympics. In June she will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials, with a chance to represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
For more on Smoliga's path to the Olympic trials, click here. |
Balloon business brings needed opportunity for GBS students
As the poor economy continued to put a strain on the local job market, Glenbrook South Special Education Job Coach Ann White decided it was time to add a little hot air to the mix.
Earlier this school year, GBS opened the first ever Titan Balloon Store. Located in the cafeteria, the store is staffed by a number of students with a wide range of disabilities who otherwise might not have found work in the community.
"For the average worker it is very difficult to find a job in today's economy, let alone a kid who needs a little extra help," said Julie Smith, transition specialist at Glenbrook South. "The Titan Balloon Store gives them an opportunity to develop real career skills essential to preparing them for their futures beyond high school."
For more on the Titan Balloon Store, click here. |
More headlines from GBS...
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Rep. Daniel Biss talks with students during a visit to GBS last month.
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- Rep. Biss visits GBS, talks legislation with students. For the full story, click here.
- Special Olympics coach honored for work. For the full story, click here.
- Titan Stars to cheer on Varsity game. For the full story, click here.
- Assistant Prinicpal shares personal story to motivate students. For the full story, click here.
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Each month, this section will feature a different article that ran in Glenbrook South's student-run newspaper The Oracle, and, occasionally, other student-produced work.
A new edition of The Oracle is distributed approximately every five weeks and can be found in newsstands throughout the school. It is also mailed to all Parents' Association members. This month's article is written by Assistant Features Editor Rachel Mann.
'Wise' pursues teaching passion over office success
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Photo by: Dan Chmielinsk
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Students walk into Room 192 and receive a personalized "wassup" from Steven Weissenstein, business education teacher. According to senior Vicki Powers, Weissenstein, commonly refferred to as "Wise" by his students, plays the role of both teacher and friend.
Before Weissenstein was a teacher, he worked at the accounting firm Arthur Andersen for two years. There, Weissenstein determined a 9-to-5 job wasn't for him.
"Everyday when I come to [GBS], I drive by a train station, and I see so many people going downtown," Weissenstein said. "That would probably be me today if I stayed an accountant. I knew pretty much [when] I started working there that it wasn't going to be something that I could do for the rest of my life. After a couple years I said, 'I have to make the break now. If I keep working here, I'll never get out.'"
To read more about Weissenstein, pick-up the Dec. 16 edition or click here to visit The Oracle's online edition. |
| Glenbrook United to move on to state competition
For the second consecutive year, the Glenbrook United Gold and White basketball teams have won area gold, qualifying them for the state competition. Three teams representing the Glenbrooks will go downstate to compete. The competition will take place at Illinois State University on March 16-18. Glenbrook United is the district's Special Olympics program.
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