Dr. Peter Monaghan, Principal

Greetings Glenbard West Community -
 
I am very excited to welcome all of you to the 2016 - 2017 school year.  I know that staff and students alike are thrilled to reenter a building where there is not only a new Science wing, but also newly completed air conditioning throughout the facility.   Most of you have watched our Science wing grow during the last year and I can tell you that it is absolutely spectacular from the inside as well.  We expect to be on schedule and to be ready for our first day of student attendance on August 22, 2016.  These improvements at Glenbard West symbolize our progress and development as a high school and also the commitment of our communities and district.  I am very proud to lead these efforts and to be a part of something so special.
 
Students, just a reminder that you are attending one of the best high schools in the state.  The opportunities at Glenbard West are vast and I encourage you to take advantage of them.  Our entire staff is dedicated to your success and willing to go the extra mile to help you reach your goals.  We ask that you in turn stay focused on your personal success and commit yourselves to joining the Glenbard West community. 
 
Being the parent of a high school student has never been more challenging.  I encourage all parents to support their students and to foster independence and autonomy with their children.  We look for parents to get involved in one of our many parent support groups.  These include Boosters, CARES, AMP and West Nation.  Please look for contact information and definitions on our web page.

Also, parenting, like teaching, demands constant learning.  The Glenbard Parent Series provides an amazing opportunity to hear from experts from around the country on topics that include, brain development, technology and behavioral science.  The program for GPS can also be found on our web page .  Finally, be sure to mark your calendars for all important school dates.  These include the following:
  •  Back to school days - August 15th and 16th
  •  Freshmen Orientation - August 17th
  •  Parent Night for Student Athletes - August 17th         
  • First Day of Student Attendance - August 22nd
  • First GPS Night - August 25th
  • Parent Open House - September 1st
It is indeed a great time to be a Hilltopper and part of the Glenbard West community.  Please stay connected by following us on Twitter @gwhilltoppers.  Also, contact me personally any time at peter_monaghan@glenbard.org or 630-942-7473.   


As always, Go West!
Dr. Peter Monaghan
630-942-7473
peter_monaghan@glenbard.org

BACK-TO-SCHOOL WEEK
 
Textbooks, workbooks and novels will be distributed as part of the book rental program. Required supplies, Physical Education uniforms and locks will be available for purchase. Payment may be made by cash, check or Visa/MasterCard during Back-To-School Week. In addition, students receive class schedules, student lockers and busing information. Yearbook and ID photos are taken at this time; dress code applies.
 
*The current book list will be available on the District website after August 1 st. The website is www.glenbard87.org
 
Monday, August 15
FRESHMAN ONLY
8:30AM-12:30PM
8:30-9:15AM           ---            A-C
9:15-10:00AM         ---            D-H
10:00-10:45AM       ---            I-M
10:45-11:30AM       ---            N-P
11:30AM-12:15PM  ---           Q-S
12:15-1:00PM         ---            T-Z
BREAK
1:00-2:30PM
Monday, August 15
SENIORS ONLY
2:00-6:30PM
2:30-3:15PM           ---            A-C
3:15-4:00PM           ---            D-H
4:00-4:45PM           ---            I-M
4:45-5:30PM           ---            N-P
5:30-6:15PM           ---            Q-S
6:15PM-7:00PM      ---           T-Z
Tuesday, August 16
SOPHOMORES ONLY
8:30AM-3:00PM
8:30-9:15AM           ---            A-C
9:15-10:00AM         ---            D-H
10:00-10:45AM       ---            I-M
10:45-11:30AM       ---            N-P
11:30AM-12:15PM  ---           Q-S
12:15-1:00PM         ---            T-Z
BREAK
1:00-2:30PM
Tuesday, August 16
JUNIORS ONLY
2:30-3:15PM           ---            A-C
3:15-4:00PM           ---            D-H
4:00-4:45PM           ---            I-M
4:45-5:30PM           ---            N-P
5:30-6:15PM           ---            Q-S
6:15PM-7:00PM      ---           T-Z
 
Remember to send your student with a form of payment for classroom materials: Check, cash or Visa/MasterCard is accepted. Please make checks payable to Glenbard West High School - students will fill in the amount owed and will receive a receipt for their purchase. If using a check as payment, be sure your student has multiple checks for all consumables, yearbooks, West Nation passes, Activity passes, Glenbard Gear and any other items of interest, as they are all purchased separately.
 
*FRESHMAN, TRANSFER STUDENTS & SENIORS ONLY 

After going through the Back-to-School stations, all freshmen, transfer students & senior students receiving iPads for the first time, will be required to stay for a 1½ hour District 87 iPad training. Upon completion of training all students will be allowed to take their iPads home. No one will be issued an iPad without this training.

Transportation: Glenbard West will provide two shuttle busses from 10:30 a.m. to approximately 8:00 p.m. These busses will run every 15 minutes and will depart from the back of the main building. The purpose of the busses is to take students home following iPad training. Please see the Bus Drop-off Locations chart below and discuss the best drop-off site with your student. Note that parents are responsible for getting their students to Glenbard West at their scheduled time. See the chart below for the Freshman Back-to-School Day/iPad Training and Deployment schedule.
 

BUS DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Park Plaza Ave. & N. Parkside Ave. (NE
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
Hadley Junior High
Bloomingdale Rd. & Shorewood (SE)
Glenside Junior High
Willow Lakes Clubhouse
W. Meadow Ave. & Cimarron Rd. (NE)
  
Freshman Orientation Program
August 17th

9:45 - 10:15:  Opening Assembly in Biester Gymnasium
  • Meet Senior Mentors and Student Council President
  • Welcome from Principal Monaghan
  • Introduction to "The West Way"
10:30 - 11:30:  Small Group Sessions with Senior Mentors
  • Meet Senior Mentor and Small Groups
  • Questions and Answers with Senior Mentors
  • Tour of School (Pending construction work!)
11:30 - 12:30:  Closing Assembly in Biester Gymnasium
  • Dean's Presentation
  • Learn Fight Song and Cheers with Marching Band and Cheerleaders
  • Faculty Speaker
Important Orientation Program

Freshman PLC Meetings - on these days, freshmen are required to remain at school from 2:00 to 2:35 for additional enrichment activities.  Busses will be provided for students at the conclusion of the meetings.
  • August 29
  • September 12
  • September 19
  • October 3
  • November 7
  • December 5 
Other Freshman Events:  There will be additional social, service, and educational events freshman will be invited to with their Senior Mentor throughout the school year.  A calendar of events will be provided at a later date.

Dr. David Larson,
Superintendent

Mindset key to students' success
The start of a new school year is an exciting time filled with limitless possibilities. It's so important that students start the school year with a positive mindset and maintain that mindset going forward.
 
A growth mindset influences a student's commitment and work ethic. Through a growth mindset approach, students can gain momentum and have better academic achievement over time. Our instructors, staff and administrators believe all students can grow academically, and they instill this belief in students. We support students as they break out of their comfort zone and empower them to succeed.
 
AP Launch
Our new AP Launch program is a good example of supporting and empowering students. AP Launch is a free 5-day program for first-time Advanced Placement students. We hosted the program this summer, helping students prepare for their first AP class.
  • The program helps students learn time management and study skills, as well as the value of study groups.
  • Thirty Glenbard West students participated in AP Launch.
AP Enrollment Growth
More and more students are challenging themselves by enrolling in Advanced Placement classes. This semester, Glenbard West has 572 first-time AP students. That's impressive!
 
Teachers' Continuous Improvement
Throughout the summer, our instructors have been busy working on curriculum projects and participating in a variety of professional development opportunities. I am impressed with how our instructors continue to improve their teaching practices.  Here are just a few examples of what our instructors did over the summer:
  • Math department chair Melissa Dudic and English teacher & instructional coach Nessa Slowinski attended the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's Summer Conference on Teaching Excellence.
  • Instructional Coach Stefanie Geeve attended Learning Forward Summer Institute "Do as I Do" Modeling Differentiation in Professional Development. 
  • World languages teacher Michelle Wuttke, English teacher Laura Kammes-Bumm, social studies teacher Mark Staron, social studies department chair Kristin Brandt and science department chair Sean Byrne served as Advanced Placement readers, grading AP exams. 
  • Social studies teacher Jim Fornaciari, English teacher Kelly Hass and math teacher Jennifer Fiorella attended the Advanced Placement Annual Conference. 
  • Social studies department chair Kristin Brandt, science department chair Sean Byrne, English department chair Ben Peterselli and Assistant Principal for Instruction Rebecca Sulaver made a presentation at the Advanced Placement Annual Conference.
I am confident that with your support, your student will grow tremendously during the next several months. Best wishes for a great year!


DATES TO REMEMBER

August

15-16        Back-to-School Days 
22             1st Day for Students
                 PLC Early Dismissal at 1:52 p.m.
29             PLC Early Dismissal at 1:52 p.m.

September

1              Open House - 6:00 p.m.
                Counseling Sessions - 5:00 p.m.
5              NO SCHOOL - Labor Day


 







 
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016   
Parent and Athlete Meeting
Defining Character On and Off the Field: Who Are you When No One is Watching
Glenbard East  6:00 p.m.
Glenbard West   6:30 p.m.
 
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Common/Family Read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Speaker: Rebecca Skloot
Glenbard West   7:00 p.m.  Auditorium

Thursday, September 15, 2016
Coping Strategies to Regulate Anxiety: An Introduction to Distress Tolerance
Speaker:  Laura Koehler PhD Linden Oaks Behavioral Health
CCSD District 93 Administration Center    noon
 
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Different ...Not Less
Speaker: Temple Grandin, PhD
Temple may be the most famous person with Autism; Advocate/Author/Animal Rights Activist
Glenbard East   3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.   Auditorium
 
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World/ Raising Digital Natives
Speaker: Devorah Heitner PhD
Glenbard West    7:00 p.m.  Auditorium

 
GPS Navigating Higher ED

Saturday, Sept 17, 2016
Frank Palmasani - Conquering the Challenges of College Costs in English
Ercilla Jonas,   Illinois Student Assistance Commission in Spanish
Glenbard West  10:30-noon   Library

 
FUSE Families United for Students Excellence/ African American Parent Committee
 
Thursday, August 25, 2016 
Kick-Off for School Success Family Picnic
Young People Have the Power to Succeed
David Swope, College of DuPage
Glenbard West  6:15 p.m.   Cafeteria