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September 2012
Glenbrook South H.S. | Connections
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 Dear Parent, Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year. Our educators are leaders in their field and support all students in their care. We earnestly invest in the education of each student to develop minds and passions, generously share our abilities, and embrace a culture of civility and involvement. All are ingredients of Glenbrook South High School and essential for a meaningful and successful life.
Our central mission of preparing students to successfully enter our interconnected, competitive world remains the focus of our high school. There is much to celebrate on this front. Students at GBS continue to be extraordinary achievers. In 2012 they earned college credit for over 1100 AP exams, and students earned a strong average ACT score of 24.3.
There is also much to celebrate outside of the classroom. Glenbrook South High School thanks the numerous people responsible for making our new turf athletic field a reality. These include community sponsors Abt Electronics, Glenbrook High School Foundation, Glenview State Bank, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, Jennings Chevrolet and Volkswagen, Nicholas and Associates, Inc., Upright MRI of Deerfield, as well as the District 225 Board of Education.
Also essential were GBS parent groups: the Glenbrook South Instrumental League, the Titan Pom Boosters, and of course the Titan Booster Club. The Booster Club's current and former members all contributed to this effort, and the club also created "Titans 4 Turf," a special fundraising program just to support the field. Contributions can still be made by clicking here.
This tremendous resource will increase the use of the stadium field from 170 hours to nearly 3,500 hours annually to serve our physical education department, band and athletic teams.
Please join us at our ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 31 at 6:45 p.m. We look forward to seeing you before the football game when the Titans take on Metea Valley for our first victory on the new turf.
You will find Glenbrook South to be a warm place of opportunity for all students. I invite each of you to partner with us by becoming involved at GBS.
Connections is a monthly newsletter designed to help keep you informed; and the GBS website serves as an additional avenue to keep you up to date.
Thank you for your partnership. This promises to be an outstanding year and I extend a warm welcome to all who are part of the Glenbrook South family!
With Titan Pride,
Brian K. Wegley, Principal
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Calendar Highlights
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September
3 - Labor Day, No School 5 - Senior College Night,
7 p.m.
7 - Pep Rally
10 - Board of Ed. Meeting, 7 p.m. @ GBS 11 - Student Late Arrival, 10 a.m.
Freshman EXPLORE Test13 - Parent Night in the Classroom, 7 p.m.15 - Marching Band Garage Sale, 9 a.m. 17 - Rosh Hashanah,
No School20 - Freshman Parent Night, 7 p.m. 24 - Board of Ed. Meeting, 7 p.m. @ GBS
24-28 - Homecoming Banner Painting and Float Construction
26 - Yom Kippur,
No School
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New turf field means new life for GBS
Ribbon cutting ceremony planned
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GBS will host a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 31 at 6:45 p.m. just before the football game.
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Despite the normal absence of any students or athletes, the football field outside Glenbrook South was alive with activity this summer. Construction crews worked through the season's rising temperatures on installing the school's first-ever artificial turf field. Its completion is a momentous occasion for the school and district as a whole, with GBN on tap next summer to also receive artificial turf. The new fields will mean a drastic increase in usage and offer many more student groups the opportunity to utilize the outdoor facilities. The fields will be used for physical education classes, marching band, school and community athletic practices and competitions."The cost of turf fields is approximately $34,000 more per year** than the current grass fields, however our field utilization increases dramatically and provides an opportunity for virtually all students," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Hillarie Siena.
(** Based on 20 years)The estimated budget for the installation of artificial surfaces at both schools is $3.5 million and includes synthetic surfaces, irrigation systems, site work/drainage, running track replacement, water detention, and fees/contingencies. The project is also being funded by a number of sources including: corporate sponsors, Titan Booster Club donations, Small Building Project allocations, School Community donations, Capital Projects Reserve, and remaining Build America Bond Funds.Please note: In celebration of the turf completion and in recognition of the community donors who have helped support the project, GBS will host a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 31 at 6:45 p.m. just before the football game. In addition to the many contributors, current and future Titans who will benefit from this field will be part of the ceremony. These include: the GBS Student Body President, PE leaders, band members and representatives from every sport that will use this resource.
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District launches new website
It wasn't just the inside of Glenbrook South that was renovated this summe r. 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's philosophy 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.org GBS: www.glenbrook225.org/southWe appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy the new website.
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GBS encourages parent involvement
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New staff joins GBS
District welcomes new teachers, support staff and administrators
Teachers: Stephen Farber, Mathematics; Amy Hague, Speech Pathologist;Courtney Kelly, Physical Education; Joshua Koo, Science; Taylor Morello, Psychologist;Travis Myers, Guidance; John O'Malley, Mathematics; Nicole Pilotte, English; Katie Schroeder, Business Education;
Jill Serikaku, Science; Stephen Silca, Applied Tech; Michael Sinde, Applied Tech; Matthew Topham, Guidance; Anne Walsh, World Language; Aaron Wojcik, Music.
Support staff and administrators: Dawn Hal, IS, Career/Life Skills ; Stacey Wolfe, IS, Special Education; Laura Albecker, Clerical, Dean's; David Berkson, Instructional Assistant, English; Dina Bosco, Instructional Assistant, Dean's; Miguel Iriarte, Custodian, Maintenance; Jennifer Kolba, Instructional Assistant, Dean's, Annette Maloney, Clerical, Special Education; Alison Miller, Clerical, World Languages; John O'Malley, Instructional Assistant, Math; Renee Travers, Clerical, Technology/ Library.
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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Glenbrook South grad authors book about life in the operating room
Before Sara Bilimoria had even graduated Glenbrook South High School, she accomplished what some adults spend a lifetime trying to achieve.
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Sara Bilimoria poses with her book in the GBS Library.
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By age 17, Bilimoria authored a book, assisted with a handful of surgeries relating to the most heart wrenching of medical cases and developed countless memories of life in one of the poorest countries in South America. "I am very blessed to have had these opportunities. They have helped put me on a new path when it comes to my future," she said. Last November, Bilimoria released her first book Doctorita: What I Learned Helping the Impoverished of Bolivia. The 218-page novel chronicles her experiences working alongside her father in the operating room of a Bolivian hospital where she assisted with incisions, dispensed medications and helped translate. Through her time at Glenbrook South, Bilimoria was able to prepare for these unique adventures, particularly in Spanish class where she worked on developing her language skills. GBS World Languages teacher Rachael Rothrauff also helped in the Spanish translation of her book. "As teachers, we often strive to prepare our students for the real world. However, with Sara, she hasn't waited until life after high school to begin applying these skills," Rothrauff said. "The life lessons she learned in Bolivia are ones that many people don't encounter until adulthood. It was a pleasure to be part of her project."For more on Bilimoria's book, 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. GBS 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, or to download an application, click here.
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