Across District 225 on August 23, students filled the halls of Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools for the first time after a particularly challenging summer.

The months usually consumed with vacations and relaxation had been broken up by a handful of inexplicable events that touched the lives of many in the Northbrook and Glenview communities.  

Glenbrook Academy Program Director Matt Whipple talks to students on the first day of school.

So on the rainy Thursday morning, as students of the Glenbrook Academy of International Studies gathered in the Student Activities Center at GBS, they were greeted with a personal story from the program's director Matt Whipple about the strength of the Glenbrook community.

I've spent more than half my life here and it took me 28 years to have a tough (year)," he said while speaking about the recent loss of four of his family members.   "And the beauty of being here during that time was I had a lot of good friends in this building...people I knew well. I also had a lot of people I didn't necessarily know well, but I developed a respecting relationship with them. And I could count on them even if I didn't call them my closest friends."

Founded in 1981, the Glenbrook Academy of International Studies is a nationally recognized program that links the teaching and learning of English, foreign language, and social studies to help provide students with a more global understanding of international issues.

For more on the Glenbrook Academy, click here.  

Grant Rushing of Glenbrook North was recently named the Chicago Bears High School All-Star of the Week.

Photo Credit: Scott Margolin

Rushing ran for 295 yards on 16 carries and scored five touchdowns in Glenbrook North's victory over Lane Tech on August 31. The senior running back

set the tone early when he broke loose for a 68-yard score on the third play of the game. Rushing also plays safety and returns punts for the Spartans.

"The Lane Tech game was my best career day in terms of stats, and I credit that all to my linemen. Without them I wouldn't have been able to find the holes that I did, and I thank them for that," he said. "I'm proud of my team and I'm proud of myself. It's the best feeling in the world to walk off the field with a win."

Rushing is a senior at GBN and this is his third year on varsity. Some of his past accolades include being named CSL North Player of the Year, All Conference and Offensive MVP.

"This season, I hope we win conference, make the playoffs and go as far as we can," Rushing said. "I'll be thankful if I achieve any other personal achievements, but I just want to keep winning football games for the boys and make our community proud."

For more information on Rushing, click here. 

On a Wednesday afternoon, sunlight streams in through the windows of the Glenbrook North Library providing a perfect backlight to the rainbow of book titles lining the shelves.

The quiet sounds of a group of students working together mix with the clicking of another's calculator and computer keys. These sounds have become a recognizable hum at the library that, despite an age where information is instantly accessible, continues to be an important destination for students and educators.

"Libraries used to be warehouses of materials - magazines, books, videos, etc. Today, many of these materials are available to students and teachers digitally," said GBN head Librarian Sue Eddington. "However, the seemingly infinite number of sources on the Internet varies dramatically and in quality, relevance and appropriateness. This makes the job of the librarian more essential than ever. Students don't just need instant answers, they need to learn how to question, discern, and act deliberately. "

Recently, the Glenbrook North library underwent a physical and instructional renovation. The changes were in response to both the needs of students and today's information age.  

For more on the library, click here. 

 - Sports Radio 25th Anniversary Celebration: An Uncensored Evening of Celebrity Entertainment is set for October 6, 2012 at the historic Chicago Theatre to benefit Parent Heart Watch and the Jennifer Lynn Snyder Teen Heart Foundation. For more information, click here.

 - The Village of Northbrook and the Northbrook Park District are working together to develop a sustainability plan. A Sustainability Plan aims to encompass the community's vision for environmental awareness in a realistic, comprehensive manner and in a way that focuses on the challenges, opportunities and structures in place. Visit www.northbrook.il.us/Sustainabilityfor more information.  

 - Northbrook Autumn Fest is Saturday, October 13. For more information click here.

 - Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13. For more information from the Northbrook Fire Department click here.