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College recommendation letters help students succeed
When he totals it up, Glenbrook South social studies teacher Ben Hussman realizes that over the course of his 20-year career he has written several hundreds of letters of recommendation for seniors applying to colleges.
An AP US History teacher, he said he writes around 20 letters each year, tailoring each one to the student's strengths and personality.
With the November 1 and November 15 college application deadlines recently passed, Hussman is one of many teachers who have wrapped up a busy season of helping District 225 students gain admission to higher education institutions.
With more and more large and popular schools adopting the Common Application - the generic undergraduate application used by 400 colleges and universities - students at Glenbrook North and South are requiring the necessary letters from one counselor and one academic teacher.
"I know it is part of the process of preparing them for the next steps of their educational journey," said Hussman. "My teachers worked to give me opportunities so I feel it is essential that I do the same."
The same time and dedication a student puts into a college application can be seen by teachers and counselors writing recommendation letters, said GBN College Coordinator David Boyle.
"Our letters offer two perspectives. The counselor writes from a global perspective on what type of person the student is, while an academic teacher spotlights who the student is in the classroom, how he or she compare to other students in the class, and how he or she will fit into life on the college campus," he said.
At Glenbrook North, more than 600 letters of recommendation will be written during the 2013-2014 school year.
Similarly, 190 GBS teachers have been requested to write a letter of recommendation in the last five years, said Ann LePage, GBS Coordinator of College Counseling.
With each counselor writing letters for their students, online surveys through the website Naviance have helped streamline the process. Beginning junior year, students fill in information regarding their activities, interests and strengths.
To round out any holes, seniors have a recommendation interview with their counselors. Parents and coaches, club sponsors and other close adults also are allowed input through a Brag Sheet.
"Kids are humble and they may not recognize some of things they are accomplishing with their clubs or activities or classes are exceptional because it is the standard here," said LePage, who started at GBS as a teacher, before moving to counseling. "Parents are great at recognizing what is extraordinary about their lives - whether it is an activity involvement or caring for family - and it lets us into their insight."
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December
2 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @GBS
3 - Sophomore Safe Passage, 7 p.m.
6 - Battle of the Bands, 7 p.m.
10 - Winter Sports Assembly
13- Dance Show, 7:30 p.m. Auditorium
16 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @GBS
17 - Winter Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Break - No School
January 2014
9 - College Finance Night, 7 p.m.
13 - Reserved Snow Day (School in session if "Snow" Day has occurred prior)
Board of Education Mtg.,
7 p.m. @GBS
14-16 - Semester Exams
15 - Junior Parent Night II, 7 p.m.
16 - Incoming Freshman Parent Curriculum Night,
7 p.m.
17 - Glenbrook Institute Day, No Classes
18 - North Shore Jazz Festival
20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School
23-25 Winter Play
27 - Board of Education Mtg., 7 p.m. @GBN
28 - Drivers Education Parents' Night
29 - Incoming Freshman Night, 7 p.m.
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Winter Break begins Dec. 23
Friday, December 20, is the last day of school before Winter Break begins. Classes resume on Monday, January 6.
Please note, the schools and offices will be closed Tuesday, December 24 through Wednesday, January 1.
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GBS reminds parents of attendance protocol
For the continued safety of Glenbrook South students, it is policy that a parent or guardian call the attendance office prior to the student leaving the building. The office must receive a verbal request in order to release the student.
As a reminder, the student will sign out at the attendance window and obtain a pass. Upon returning to school, he or she must sign back in or receive an unexcused absence for the missed periods.
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First semester final exam schedule
First semester final exams begin at Glenbrook South on Tuesday, January 14. The schedule will be available on the Glenbrook South website.
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GBS welcomes our new Titans - Class of 2018
Incoming Freshman Parent Curriculum Night: January 16, 7 p.m.
Incoming Freshman Night: January 29, 7 p.m.
Event details will be mailed to families of 8th graders in January.
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College Finance Night
Thursday, January 9, 7 p.m., Watson Auditorium
This program is geared toward parents of juniors and seniors. Financial Aid advisors from local colleges and universities will discuss how to get the most money for college, how to complete financial aid forms and information about obtaining financial aid for next year.
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Junior Parent Night II
Wednesday, January 15, 7 p.m., Watson Auditorium
"The College Search" program is designed to educate parents on how to help their students make appropriate college choices. Parents will meet in small groups according to their child's counselor and then in larger groups to discuss topics such as admissions criteria, a calendar for college selection, college visits and resources available at GBS. There will also be an optional session about highly selective schools at 8:45 p.m.
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Six Titans signed Letters of Intent
As part of National Signing Day on Wednesday, November 13, a record-breaking six student-athletes signed Letters of Intent with colleges and universities.
The athletes are:
Konstatin Brkovic - Boys' Soccer - DePaul University
Conor McCarthy - Baseball - Villanova University
Izabella Rapacz - Girls' Volleyball - Temple University
Caroline Ryba - Girls' Tennis - University of Minnesota
Mario Tursi - Baseball - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Kelly Ward - Girls' Lacrosse - Longwood University
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Glenbrook musical announced: "Legally Blonde"
This spring, the Glenbrook stage is going pink. Students of GBS and GBN will - like, totally - come together to woo audiences with a fun musical adaption of "Legally Blonde," based on the novel and 2001 film by the same name.
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GBS winter play shows power of drama
This year's winter play at Glenbrook South will be "Circle Mirror Transformation" by Annie Baker.
One of the most performed plays in the country, this contemporary production traces the lives of several small-town Vermont residents who gather each week for an acting class taught at the local community center. With a small 5-person cast, each part at GBS will be double cast and students will rotate between shows for a different dynamic and energy at each performance.
VIEW FULL STORY
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Nominate an outstanding alumnus for recognition
GBS seeks nominations for the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award. To be considered for this award, the alum must be renowned in his or her profession or must be a good citizen who has made a special contribution throughout the community, country or world.
Please send your suggestion by February 14 to:
Dr. James Shellard, Assistant Principal of Student Activities
Glenbrook South High School
4000 West Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 60026
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Each month, this section features an article from Glenbrook South's student-run newspaper the Oracle. A new edition of the Oracle is distributed approximately every month and can be found in newsstands throughout the school.
Students pursue various careers, use internships as means
Kelsey Pogue, Co-Web Editor and Connie Hoekstra, Staff Reporter
Many students see high school as a way to prepare themselves for the future. However, not all are sure about what they want to do with the rest of their lives.
 | | Photo Credit: Wyatt Richter |
What they also may not know is that a course exists at South for that very purpose: the Internship class instructed by Rosanna McManamon, Business Education teacher. It is a one semester class for juniors and seniors. The class does not meet on a day-to-day basis and most of the work is done outside the classroom in the form of an internship. In order to earn half of a credit for the class, a total of approximately 75 unpaid hours must be completed, according to McManamon.
McManamon said the learning experience and real life experience are two important parts of an internship.
"The internship does one of two things: it either solidifies and says 'this is exactly what I want to do,'" McManamon said. "The other end is where they realize this is not the career they want for their future. I think [that] is just as valuable, because it's better that they find out now in high school."
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Third consecutive gold for Glenbrook United
For a third year in a row, Glenbrook United White received the state gold medal in volleyball. In October, GU beat out the Jacksonville Blue Thunder in the semi-finals and defeated both teams from the Freeport Tornadoes in the championship.
 The third consecutive win is a rare feat and can be attributed to the hard work of the team over the summer, said Glenbrook United sponsor Pa'al Joshi.
"The team served extremely well, but the tremendous improvement of this team to defend - or return serve - was impressive and key to our success," he said.
Glenbrook United won area silver earlier in the season.
GU White team members are: Bobby Cameron, Alexander Durham, Maddy Halamaj, Ryan Manso, Sean Manso, Katie McManus, Jacob Rosenberg, Karmesha White, and Michael Young.
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Glenbrook Academy information session
The Glenbrook Academy of International Studies will host a curriculum night for incoming freshmen and their parents on Wednesday, December 11.
VIEW FULL STORY
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Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak will present a free property tax appeal seminar on Thursday, December 5 at 7 p.m. in Northbrook Village Hall. For more information, visit northbrookchamber.org
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4000 W. Lake Avenue, IL - 847.729.2000
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