December 2012/January 2013
Glenbrook North H.S. | Connections
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Finding the right fit: New program brings students, community members together
Every Tuesday afternoon, Paige Lipschultz and Stacy Merrigan meet on the treadmills at the Northbrook YMCA for their usual midweek work out.
They both set their machines to a brisk walking pace and pick up their conversation from where they left off the week prior. Any new animal stories or plans for the upcoming holidays are shared -- all standard staples of dialogue for the women.
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Paige Lipschultz (left) and Stacy Merrigan talk during their workout at the Northbrook YMCA.
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It's an easy and comfortable exchange between two friends who any onlooker could easily assume have known each other for years.
"We've become fast friends," Merrigan said. "Paige is busy. She has book club, cooking classes with friends and she tells me all about the recipes she makes."
Recently, Merrigan and Lipschultz were introduced to each other through Fitness Buddies, a newly found program that serves as a partnership between Glenbrook North High School's Transition Program and the Northbrook YMCA. Lipschultz is a student in Transition.
The Transition Program works with disabled students ages 18-21 to successfully integrate them into the community by addressing the areas of work placement, post secondary education, community access, independent living and recreation.
Members of the Y are paired up with Transition students, and once a week, for 45 minutes, the two meet and participate in some sort of physical activity.
"Fitness Buddies helps foster relationships between community members and students while also building community acceptance," said Mardi Scott, Fitness Buddies founder and Transition teacher in District 225.
Fitness Buddies is an equally rewarding experience for both the volunteer and student, she explained. For the student, it is about developing a relationship with someone outside of Transition who they can keep in contact with after graduation. This helps in developing a sense of independence and acceptance.
As for the volunteer, they are gaining new perspective about people with disabilities, Scott said. They are able to connect in a more personal way with the student and really give back by helping develop this type of friendship.
For more on Fitness Buddies, click here.
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Calendar Highlights
December
3- Band Parent Org. Mtg.,
7 p.m.
Booster Club Mtg.,
7 p.m.
4- Choral Parents' Org./Theatre Arts Parent Org., 6 p.m.
10- Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @GBS
12- Student Late Arrival,
9:40 a.m.
13-15 - Winter Play, 7:30 p.m., nightly (see article)
18- Winter Concert, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Break, No School
December 24- January 6
January 2013
7 - Band Parent Org. Mtg.
7 p.m.
Booster Club Mtg., 7 p.m.
8 - Choral Parents' Org./Theatre Arts Parent Org, 6 p.m.
9- Parent Assn. Mtg., 7 p.m.
14 - Reserved Snow Day (School in session if "Snow" Day has occurred prior)
Board of Education Mtg.,
7 p.m. @GBS
15-17 - Final Exams
16- Finding the Fit...Financial Aid Nuts-N-Bolts, 7 p.m.
17- Incoming Freshman Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
18- Glenbrook Institute Day, No school for students
21- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No school
28- Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @GBN
31 - Driver Education Parent Night, 6 p.m.
Parent Night in the Classroom, 6:45 p.m.
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Winter Break begins Dec. 24
Friday, December 21 is the last day of school before Winter Break begins. Classes resume on Monday, January 7.
Please note, the schools and offices will be closed Monday, December 24 through Wednesday December 26 and again on Monday, December 31 through Tuesday, January 1.
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 First semester final exam schedule
The first semester final exam schedule for Glenbrook North, which begins Tuesday, January 15, can be viewed by clicking here.
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GBN welcomes our new class of 2017 families
Annual Incoming Freshman Curriculum Night, January 17, 6:30 p.m.
Center for Performing Arts
Welcome new Spartans! All parents of incoming freshmen for the 2013-14 school year are encouraged to attend. Event details will be mailed to all families in early January. The staff at GBN looks forward to helping freshmen plan for their first year of high school.
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Glenbrook musical announced: "West Side Story"
Students of GBS and GBN come together each year to present a musical performance, and this time they will move audiences with "West Side Story." Performances will be held at GBS on May1-4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Norman E. Watson Auditorium.
"West Side Story," with a book by Arthur Laurents, score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, premiered on Broadway in 1957, and went on to win the Tony Awards for Jerome Robbins choreography. It was later adapted as a major motion picture and has enjoyed numerous revivals worldwide.
Based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," the story is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood in New York City in the mid-1950s. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.T he young protagonist, Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The director of the show is GBS' Stevi Marks. Additional staff include: Marty Sirvatka, music director; Bonnie Lasky, choreographer; Rich Winship, technical director; Kristin Wagner conductor; Marilyn Bergquist and Barb Blohm, costumers; Sheryl Morton, properties; John Knight, production assistant; and Jim Shellard, producer. Ticket information can be obtained by calling the GBS Student Activities offices at (847) 486-4671. Auditions for the show will be held on February 26 at GBN and February 27 at GBS, with callbacks at GBS on February 28, March 1 and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 2, if needed.
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GBN Librarian to appear on "Jeopardy"
In many ways, Ana Peso's job is the real world version of the popular afternoon game show "Jeopardy." As one of Glenbrook North's librarians, she is a constant source of information on a broad range of topics for both students and teachers.
So when an opportunity surfaced to appear on the actual show, Peso took some comfort in knowing that life at GBN had helped prepare her.
"I think being a librarian helped enormously," she said. "This is what I do for a living - you ask me a question, and I answer it or help you find the answer. Plus, I read a lot."Recently, Peso flew to California to put her trivia skills to the test for the chance at winning big on "Jeopardy." She was chosen to appear on the show almost a year after taking the online test and being asked to audition. Her episode will air on December 31.For more on Jeopardy, click here.
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Nominate an outstanding alumnus for recognition
GBN seeks nominations for the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award. To be considered for this award, the alum must be distinguished in his or her line of work or made a special contribution to the profession, be a good citizen, and must have graduated at least 20 years ago.
Please send your suggestion, along with supporting material, by February 14 to:
Dr. Michael Tarjan, Assistant Principal of Student Activities
Glenbrook North High School
2300 Shermer Road
Northbrook, Il 60062.
The deadline for nominations is Thursday, February 14, 2012.
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GBN looking to give back this holiday season
This year, members of Key Club are organizing the 2012 Holiday Gift Donor Program through Youth Services. It is a program through the Youth Services of Glenview and Northbrook where the students create "wish lists" for the holidays.
Sports, clubs, and classrooms will be sponsoring 51 families in the Glenview/Northbrook community. If anyone wishes to participate in either program, please contact Danielle Fluegge at (847) 509-2471.
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Students compete in Burger Challenge
Students in Intro to Business will be putting their burgers to the test on December 4 from 5-9 p.m., during the Burger Challenge at Tom & Eddie's restaurant in Deerfield.
Two classes have created their own specialty burger, and whichever sells the most burgers, Tom & Eddie's will donate 10% of sales proceeds to the class's organization choice.
One class created the Pizza Burger, which is a cross between a pizza and a burger. Should it generate the most sales, a portion of the proceeds will benefit GBN Band.
The other option is the AVI-ator Burger, which is packed with cheddar cheese, haystack onions, barbecue sauce and bacon. Should it win the challenge, a portion of the proceeds will go the Northbrook YMCA.
Tom & Eddie's is located at 740 Waukegan Road in Deerfield Square. For more information, call 847-948-5117.
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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. This month's article is written by staff writer Isabel Hubeny.
School strives to connect
One of the many things the administration works on is helping the school branch out. A blue square on the school website opens up to a list of all the social media that Glenbrook North uses: Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest, Blogger, Twitter, Flickr, and Vimeo.
Karen Geddeis, director of public relations and communications, is one of the
people who works with these accounts and said, "In PR and communications we're looking for the next step, and social media is the natural extension."
Although the networking sites are used to update students on the latest, upcoming events, instructional technology coordinator Ryan Bretag believes they are also a way for students to simply become a part of the school.
"Students should ask themselves, 'How do I want to connect with GBN?'" Bretag said.
He acknowledges how students can connect to the school through sports and clubs, but also offers social media as an alternative way of being a part of the community.
Geddeis thinks of social media as a way of "getting people involved with the conversation and knowing there's another outlet to connect with."
For more on GBN's Social Media, click here.
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Glenbrook United repeats to earn state gold
Glenbrook United White earned volleyball state gold during the Special Olympics Illinois Fall Games held October 27-28 at Harlem High School at Machesney Park. 
Glenbrook United White beat the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) and Shabbona Park in straight sets, becoming the first team to repeat as gold medalist in any sport in the program.
Team members include Alexander Durham, Bobby Cameron, Katie McManus, Ryan Manso, Sean Manso, Logan Pitman, Michael Young, Karmesha White, Maddy Halamaj and Jacob Rosenberg.
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Tribune names Glenbrooks Top Workplace
The Chicago Tribune named Glenbrook High School District 225 one of the "Top 100 Workplaces" of 2012 as part of its annual feature published on November 13. Chicago-area companies were selected based on employee surveys that measured company leadership, communication, career opportunities, working environment, managerial skills, pay and benefits. The Top Workplaces are determined solely on employee feedback.
"It is gratifying to know that our employees' responses qualify us for recognition as one of Chicago's best workplaces," said Superintendent Dr. Mike Riggle. "Every employee contributes through their daily actions to a healthy and positive work environment. For us this means a better environment for students and potential for the highest levels of achievement."
Glenbrook staff were invited to participate in the survey this past spring, conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, LLP, after being nominated for the award by an employee. A total of 584 out of 778 (75%) Glenbrook employees participated in the elective survey, well above the required 35% level and higher than the average response rate of 66%.
The survey compares District 225 data to similar organizations across the country, and offers open-ended comments and suggestions for future improvements.
"The administrative team plans to use the open-ended comments and suggestions as a tool for reflection and future improvement," said Riggle.
Board President Skip Shein, GBN Principal Paul Pryma, and GBS Principal Brian Wegley accompanied Riggle to represent the district at a special recognition event on November 12.
Glenbrook High School District 225 serves more than 4,700 students from Northbrook and Glenview.
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Coming in December from the Northbrook Park District: a free ice skating class, a musical community celebration, performances of Legally Blonde, and Breakfast with Santa. Details of those programs and more can be found here. |
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