September 2012
Glenbrook North H.S. | Connections
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 Dear Parent,
Here we go! Energetic vitality, big smiles, and intellectual curiosity have returned to Shermer Road after a challenging summer.
I was and continue to be frequently reminded of how fortunate we are to have each other. Thank you for teaching your children to be kind. Kindness is the foundation for our work in this dynamic learning community.
"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 by clicking here or through the District website.
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 6, if not sooner.
With Spartan Pride,
Paul Pryma
Principal
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Calendar Highlights
September
3 - Labor Day, No School
4 - Choral Parents/Theatre Parents Org. Meeting., 6 p.m.
5 - Parents' Association Meeting, 7 p.m.
6 - Driver Education Parent Night, 6 p.m.
Freshman Parent Meeting, 6 p.m.
Parent Night in the Classroom, 6:45 p.m.
10 - Board of Ed. Meeting,
7 p.m. @ GBS
Band Parents Meeting,
7 p.m.
Booster Club Meeting,
7 p.m.
10-14 - GBN Goes Pink
11 - Student Late Arrival, 9:40 a.m.
12 - Grad Night Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
13 - Market Day pick-up, 3:30 p.m.
17 - Rosh Hashanah,
No School
18 - 22 Homecoming Week (see article)
24 - Board of Ed. Meeting,
7 p.m. @ GBS
26 - Yom Kippur,
No School
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Homecoming Week: Seuss on the Loose
Sunday, Sept. 16 
Decorate the school, 12 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 18
Paint-the-town, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday - Thursday, Sept. 18-20 (all welcome)Float Building in Auto Shop
Friday, Sept. 21
Homecoming Assembly (Parents, Alumni welcome)
1:30 p.m., Main Gym
Homecoming Queen and Court announced
Homecoming Parade
4 p.m., begin downtown Northbrook; proceeds west on Cherry to Western
Student Tailgate (following parade)
Football vs. Deerfield
4:30 p.m./ Soph; 7.p.m./Varsity
(special half-time show)
Fireworks following game
Saturday, Sept. 22
Homecoming Dance
8:30 - 11 p.m., Student Cafeteria
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District launches new website
It wasn't just the inside of Glenbrook North that was renovated this summer. On August 3, Glenbrook High School District 225 premiered a new virtual look that aims to please through easier navigation, interactive features, social media plug-ins and several other features.  The website was built in-house with a navigation design based on the district'sphilosophy of the three A's: Academics, Activities and Athletics. The district utilized feedback from its 2011 communication audit and small discussion groups to help guide the website development process. In early summer 2012, the designs were tested among various focus groups including parents, students, staff and members of the local community. The website received an average participant rating of more than 8.5 on a 10-point scale in the areas of design, navigation, features and overall functionality. "We are pleased to put forth a product that enhances the online experience for our users and allows staff easier access to contribute valuable information," said Director of Public Relations and Communications Karen Geddeis. "We view the website as a continuous work-in-progress as we add additional content and alterations based on user feedback."For a video tutorial, click here.
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Website transition requires new bookmarks
Based on feedback from parents, students, staff and the community, the navigation and page structures were reorganized. In this transition process, users may notice that previous bookmarks and other links may not work. In this instance, please navigate to the page you are looking for from the respective school or district homepage, and re-bookmark:District: www.glenbrook225.orgGBN: www.glenbrook225.org/northWe appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy the new website.
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Techny Road construction information
Over the summer, the Village of Northbrook and the Cook County Highway Department began the Techny Road and Pfingsten Road Improvements. These improvements will affect parents, students,and faculty visiting or dropping off students at the high school.
Construction starts at Second Street and continues westbound on Techny Road until it reaches the completion at Pfingsten Road. Storm sewer work will also be occurring on Pfingsten Road between Canterbury Drive and Techny Road.
Techny Road has been reduced to one-way westbound traffic only between Second Street and Pfingsten Road. The detour route for eastbound Techny Road traffic has been clearly designated, and includes Pfingsten Road to Willow Road to Shermer Road.
This means for students, parents and faculty who leave the high school from the north parking lots on Second Street will be able to turn east or west bound on Techny Road. Westbound only traffic starts at Second Street.
The village has advised those going to school in the morning to use Walters Avenue or Willow Road to get to Shermer Road as a detour to eastbound Techny Road for access to the high school.
Construction should be completed by December 2013.
More information on the construction project can be accessed at http://technyroadimprovements.blogspot.com/
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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 6.
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GBN encourages parent involvement
Parents' Association - Dawn Spiewak, 847-559-8184 Booster Club - Vince and Joan Tedeschi, 847-412-9606Special Education Parents Advisory Board - Kathy French, 847-509-2667 or kfrench@glenbrook225.org Theatre Parents - Debby Shulman, 847-833-2190 or debbyshulman13@gmail.com Choral Parents - Debby Shulman, 847-833-2190 or debbyshulman13@gmail.comBand Parents - Mark Running, 847-509-2435Orchestra Parents - Steve Gianni, 847-564-2767Debate Parents - Michael Greenstein, 847-509-2648 or mgreenstein@glenbrook225.org Vocational Advisory Board - Mary Kosirog, 847-509-2440 or mkosirog@glenbrook225.org Grad Night 2012-13 - Steve Isaacson, 847-656-9247 or steve@isaacson.net
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New staff joins GBN
District 225 welcomes new teachers, support staff and administrators
Teachers: Rachel Bialk,Mathematics; Amy Hague,Speech Pathologist. Support staff and administrators: Catherine Goodworth, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Catalina Guerrero, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Matthew Haggis, Instructional Assistant, Dean's; Jennifer Holmbeck, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Scott Kandelman, Instructional Assistant, Dean's/Test Center; Melissa Malnati, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Barbara Nellans, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Sarah Nichols, Instructional Assistant, Math; Paulina Pak, Instructional Assistant, English/ARC; Steven Pipkin, Instructional Assistant, Dean's LAC; Joseph Zimmerman, Instructional Assistant, Special Education.
Glenbrook Off-Campus: Marigo Afendras, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Jack Benvenuti, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Joy Benvenuti, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Daniel Gorecki, Instructional Assistant; Special Education; Sandra Morse, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Stephanie Shanahan, Instructional Assistant, Special Education; Tracey Tralmer, Instructional Assistant, Special Education.
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Wacky class project turns into winning campaign
When then GBN Juniors Andy Margolis, Jack Nelson and Andrew Farwell started working on a class project to build an advertising campaign for Wacky Mac & Cheese , the three had a very clear -albeit unusual - goal in mind. They wanted their names on a street sign. "The sign is a funny story. We began the project with the sole goal of getting the sign," Farwell said. "So now seeing it up is extremely rewarding and almost surreal because it is a physical representation of a goal we created and accomplished through hard work and long hours."In May, Farwell, Margolis and Nelson earned top honors in two categories at the International DECA competition for their Wacky Mac & Cheese Advertising Campaign. It was the second time in two years GBN had secured a first place win at the competition. The previous year, Charlie Serota earned first place in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing category.The win earned him a special recognition in Northbrook - four street signs celebrating his win were installed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. And like Serota, the boys were proud when they, too, saw their street signs go up in July.
For more on Wacky Mac, click here.
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Each month, this section will feature a different article that ran in Glenbrook North's student-run newspaper The Torch, and, occasionally, other student-produced work. A new edition of The Torch is distributed approximately every month and can be found in newsstands throughout the school. GBN student spotlight will return next month.
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District reports positive fiscal position for 2012-13 budget
At a meeting on July 30, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education approved the tentative 2012-13 budget. As part of the process, the Board also reviewed the 2011-12 fiscal year.The 2012-13 budget projects $101,502,769 in revenues and $102,047,295 in expenditures in the Operating Fund. Based on the tentative budget for 2012-13, the District forecasts an Operating Fund balance of $65.3 million as of June 30, 2013. "Maintaining strong fund balances is a key financial strategy for our district as we face uncertainties such as increasing student enrollment and potential decreases in state and federal funding," said Board President Skip Shein. "By doing so, we greatly enhance our ability to continue providing the level of service our community expects from the Glenbrooks."The majority (95%) of the District budget is funded locally, primarily through property taxes with less than 5% of funding provided by state and federal sources (compared to the average Illinois school district which receives approximately 38% from the state and 9% from federal sources). This structure gives District 225 taxpayers greater control over the quality and value of their schools. It also ensures a favorable credit rating for the District and protects the schools from severe fluctuations in revenues, which could result in the elimination of programs.
For more on the budget, click here.
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District 225 Board seeks applicants for vacancy
Glenbrook High School District 225 is seeking applicants for its current Board of Education vacancy, left open by a recent resignation. The appointed Board member would serve the remainder of the four-year term, ending in April 2013.
Candidates must meet the following state qualifications in order to be eligible: be a U.S. Citizen; resident of school district for at least one year; 18 years of age; registered voter; neither a school trustee or treasurer; and not a registered child sex offender (11-9.3 of the criminal code). School board members are also not allowed to hold an incompatible office.
For more information on the vacancy and additional instructions, click here.
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