February 2013
Glenbrook South H.S. | Connections
Dear Glenbrook Community,
With 2012 now behind us, it is fitting to reflect on many of the significant accomplishments achieved in District 225 under the leadership of the Board of Education. Supt
  • The 50th Anniversary celebration of Glenbrook South that started with an amazing Lip Dub concluded with a Grand Gala and Variety Show at the school.
  • Chicago Magazine ranked GBN #1 and GBS #4 among suburban Cook County high schools.
  • The Chicago Tribune named District 225 as a Top 100 Workplace in Chicago.
  • New contract agreements were reached with two of the three District 225 unions.
  • Fiscal year 2012 closed in June with a $5.5 M surplus in the operating fund.
  • A plan to reduce District expenditures by $520,000 for fiscal year 2013 was adopted.
  • Action was taken to abate approximately $120,000 to taxpayers through bond refinancing efforts.
  • Energy consumption was reduced by 9.3%, saving $151,000.
  • Retro-commission studies were conducted at both high schools to identify further energy reduction projects.
  • Postal expenditures were reduced by 15%.
  • A plan for measuring student engagement through classroom observations and surveys was established and implemented.
  • A new administrator evaluation instrument was adopted and implemented.
  • State-required training for administrator and teacher evaluations was completed.
  • A new website with new homepages for the District and each high school was launched in August.
  • School calendars were automated and made available for subscription through the new website.
  • Social media systems were imbedded in the website for the schools.
  • School crisis plans were reviewed, revised and implemented at each school and now include communications procedures.
  • A long-range plan for the refresh of technology resources was adopted and implemented.
  • A disaster recovery plan for district technology systems was adopted and implementation is underway.
  • Upgrades and improvements were completed to District facilities including the installation of a new artificial surface on the main outdoor athletic field at Glenbrook South.  A similar field is scheduled for installation at Glenbrook North next summer.

We were blessed to experience the joy of many outstanding student achievements during the past year.  At the same time, we experienced tragic losses of students, staff and community members that brought us extreme sadness and sorrow. I am extremely proud of the many efforts of our students and staff to reach out to each other and make our school environments kind, friendly and supportive places.

The Glenbrooks serve two outstanding communities who have high expectations for student achievement, but are ever mindful of their emotional needs as well.  Our potential for the future is unlimited as we work together to face the challenges of the present.  Best wishes to everyone for a healthy and prosperous 2013!

With Glenbrook pride,
Signature - Riggle  
Michael D. Riggle
Superintendent
Calendar Highlights
 
February
4-8 - Business Education week

5 - Student Late Arrival, 
10 a.m.

8 - Women in Math/Science Breakfast, 
8 a.m.

11 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @ GBN

18 - Presidents' Day
       No School

19-22 - Student Art Exhibit

20-23 - Variety Show "Carpe Diem"
       7:30 p.m., Thurs-Friday
       2 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday
       (see article)

25 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @ GBN

26-28 - Musical auditions
GBS News Update
Course registration information
The course registration schedule for all students can be found by clicking here.
Variety Show- Carpe Diem
The 2013 GBS Variety Show "Carpe Diem" opens Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. and continues Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, February 23, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.  Reserved seating tickets may be purchased in advance for $13 at www.showtix4u.com, at the door or by calling 847-486-4672. For more information on the Variety Show, go to www.glenbrook225.org/south.
Grad Nite 2013
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 847-708-6112. 
New courses proposed for 2013-14 school year

On Monday, January 14, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education reviewed a list of proposed new courses for the 2013-14 school year.  The administration recommended the following new courses:

Applied Technology

Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

 

PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design (IED): The major focus of the IED course is to expose students to the design process, research and analysis, teamwork, communication methods, global and human impacts, engineering standards and technical documentation. (Yearlong elective)  

 

PLTW Principles of Engineering: Students will be exposed to major concepts to better prepare them for a post-secondary engineering course of study. (Yearlong elective)

English
Honors News and Sports Broadcasting: Advanced students in News and Sports Broadcasting will act as directors of current programs broadcast over GBS TV and be responsible for the assignments of any student in the program (production work, live broadcasts, writing) as well as the management of novice learners. (Yearlong elective)

Social Studies
AP Microeconomics: In response to numerous AP Macroeconomics alumni and parents asking for an AP Microeconomics class, this course will combine both one-semester long courses to create a full-year course. (Yearlong elective)

World Languages
American Sign Language 363: ASL has been a 2-year language program for more than 14 years. Numerous students, parents and guidance staff have expressed interest in extending the sequence. (Yearlong elective)

The new courses proposed will have little to no impact on District resources.  For a complete look at the New Courses Report as presented to the Board, please visit the District website (www.glenbrook225.org) Board of Education section. The Board is expected to take action on this agenda item at the next scheduled meeting on January 28.

"It is important that the District continues to offer a diversity of courses that encompass both the academic rigor and comprehensive educational experience our community expects of the Glenbrooks," said Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Rosanne Williamson. 

School event allows students to 'connect' with careers
Hundreds of local community leaders, business professionals and parents crowded the hallways of Glenbrook South on December 12 as part of the school's first-ever GBS Connects event.
Andrew Sykes, an actuarial scientist, speaks to students during GBS Connects.
 
GBS Connects sought to help students see the connection between what they are learning in their classrooms and careers/professions. Students were able to attend a variety of sessions that were about 45 minutes in length and varied between professional panels and single classroom presentations.

Guest speakers shared their personal stories about their career paths. Students could choose from more than 150 presenters who represented a variety of career paths including the arts, business, communications, education, engineering, entrepreneurship, health, legal, marketing, mechanics, military, science, service, sports and technology.

Members of the GBS Connects Committee spent more than a year planning the event. Members of the committee included Lara Cummings, assistant principal for student services; Ann LePage, coordinator of college counseling; Molly McBride, counselor; Socorro Rogers, counselor; and Julie Smith, transition counselor.

For more on GBS Connects, click here
Students to Sandy Hook: We are here for you

In an effort to offer their support and sympathies, students from Glenbrook South High School filled out cards to the students and faculty of Sandy Hook Elementary School who were deeply impacted by the deadly shooting.

The card drive was created after students approached Assistant Principal of Student Activities Jim Shellard with the idea of wanting to reach out to members of the Newtown, Connecticut community.

During all lunch periods on December 20, poster boards were put out on tables with markers for people to leave their thoughts, prayers or words of encouragement.

GBS senior Grace Abiera was one of the students involved in organizing the card drive. While filling out her own message she wrote, "Our entire community is here for support during this difficult time."

Although the incident at Sandy Hook was not directly related to GBS, Abiera said students still feel the impact.

"Our entire nation understands the severity of an incident like this. We needed a way to not only bless Sandy Hook, but unify our school as well as remind us how blessed we are," she said.

To further show Glenbrook South's support, Shellard rented an eagle costume - Sandy Hook's official mascot - to walk alongside Tommy the Titan and encourage students to sign the cards.

"This card drive provided an opportunity for our students to express the emotion they are feeling about this tragic situation," he said.  

GBS Student Spotlight
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 Staff Writer Grace Brunzell.
 

The Horticulture team is one of South's most successful and accomplished teams, as can be demonstrated by the numerous championship banners decorating the walls of the New Pit. The team competes annually at State, and if it succeeds there, it travels to Nationals. Horticulture is the study of plants, and training and competitions consist of plant identification, plant sorting and plant judging.

 

One of Horticulture team's key players planning to uphold the team's winning tradition this year is senior Nicole Haddad, according to coach Jeff Yordy.

 

There are many skills required to be efficient in studying Horticulture, including a vast knowledge of the material, according to Haddad, who knows over 300 plants and counting.

 

Haddad has been on the Horticulture Team at South since the middle of her sophomore year. While she has added to the success of the program with her high rankings in almost every competition, she says the team has also changed her.

 

"I took Horticulture as an elective because I had no idea what it was about, and I just wanted something completely random," Haddad said.

 

For more on Haddad, click here. 

District News Update
Glenbrook United Boys Gold,White earn area gold
The Glenbrook United Boys Gold and White teams captured area gold for the 3rd consecutive year and will now advance to the state competition.

Glenbrook United Boys Gold team beat Hoffman Hawks 42-29. Then, in the gold medal game, Glenbrook United won 34-25 over Vernon Hills JV. Members of the Boys Gold team are: Clay Brassil, Bobby Cameron, Ryan Jennings, Arsheel Lalani, Sean Manso, Bryan Nash, Daniel Raviv, and Jacob Rosenberg

The Glenbrook United Boys White team beat District 128 Storm Black by a score of 36-14. Then, in the gold medal game, the White team beat Jacobs Eagles Varsity 50-34. Members of Boys White team are:  Alexander Durham, Ryan Manso, Andrew Spilios, Henry Tish, Michael Young, Andrew Yang and Yordan Yaneva.

The Boys Gold, Boys White and Girls Gold compete downstate March 15-17 at Illinois State University.
District sees cost savings following changes to workers' compensation, insurance plans
A more streamlined approach to workers' compensation and changes to insurance plans have yielded significant savings for Glenbrook High School District 225.

During a report to the Board on January 14, Assistant Superintendent of Business Hillarie Siena said over the past two years the district has seen a reduction in the time it takes for an employee to return to work, as well as the total number of claims and costs and expenses per claim.

As a member of the Secondary School Cooperative Risk Management Pool (SSCRMP), the district was able to achieve these reductions through a new administrative model that brings greater efficiency through the utilization of a dedicated claims adjuster and safety coordinator. In addition, the District has benefited from the development of new safety and security initiatives, onsite safety inspections and ongoing employee training.

As part of her presentation, Siena shared that the total costs for workman's compensation has dropped by 63 percent, resulting in a savings of nearly $230,000. This is based on a comparison of a two-year period from 2009-2010 to 2011-2012.

Total employee insurance costs from August 31, 2011 to August 31, 2012 fell from $11,285,036 to $10,642,804. This was achieved through increasing premium costs to cover projected shortfalls, implementing a new PPO dental plan and increasing participation in the District's wellness program.

"With salaries and benefits making up the largest component of our budget, we understand the importance of implementing different cost savings measures," Siena said. "These efforts also go hand-in-hand with increasing the overall health and safety of our employees, which remains our top priority."

For more on these savings, click here