Principal's Message

Dear Greenbriar families,

Winter has finally arrived! It was fun to watch the kids play in the snow this week and we were able to give some just-in-time reminders about our winter recess rules. Next week is looking to be the coldest we've had this season. We will continue to go outside if the "feels like" temperature is 10 degrees or higher so please send your students with layers and appropriate snow gear, if needed.

I hope you will all encourage your children to participate in the Greenbriar Science Night coming up on March 15th. Here's a flier with more information and another with more details for participants. Sign up at this link. Hard copies of this information will be sent home today for each family.

We're also looking forward to our upcoming Family BINGO Night and our family service initiative. Please take a moment to review the information in the PTO News section below.

I'm thrilled to announce that we have hired Mr. Hector Barajas as our new Head Custodian. Hector has worked in District 28 for the past two and a half years maintaining our landscaping and filling in as Head Custodian at all the schools. I know it will be a smooth transition for Hector as he already has great knowledge of our building and district. His first official day will be February 6th. Please join me in welcoming Hector!

Have a great weekend!

Ginny

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Conferences will be held on February 15th and 16th. As in the fall, we will offer parents the opportunity to meet with teachers in-person or via Zoom. Parents will receive directions on how to select their preference via the conference scheduler. Please note, if you will be out of town on the 15th and 16th and would like to have a conference, please select the Zoom option or contact your child's teacher to schedule a phone call during the allotted conference times.

WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

Mrs. Sanchez and a committee of staff have organized some great events for February 1st, World Read Aloud Day. Check out this document for more details. We're also making February 1st a school-wide pajama day so please remind your children to wear their favorite pjs!

AUTHOR VISIT--JOANIE BECKER GOLDBERG

Author and illustrator Joanie Becker Goldberg had the pleasure of reading her book Goldie A. Poligee and the Three Bears with K-3rd classes this week. Parents wanting to purchase a copy of the book should complete the order form that was sent home with your child by January 31st. You can also purchase books at www.goldieapoligee.com or via the information included in this document.

CODING CLUB FOR 5th GRADERS, SIGN UP BY TODAY *repeat*

Kristin Cash and Jessica Sliepka would like to invite 5th grade families to sign up for coding club, a club that meets weekly for 5 weeks during lunch and recess starting on 2/1. In coding club, students will learn about fundamental programming concepts that apply to most coding languages, and then apply these concepts to their own coding projects. If you would like to sign up your child, please fill out this form by 1/27.

KRIEGER'S ON INSTAGRAM! *repeat*

Greenbriar's favorite facility dog is now on Instagram. Feel free to follow @KriegerGBdog to see how Krieger supports the students and staff at Greenbriar!

VALENTINE'S DAY UPDATE *repeat*

Our fantastic parent volunteers will coordinate classroom parties on Valentine's Day. Teachers will send out information in the coming weeks about procedures for students who want to exchange valentines. Here are some reminders:

• If students choose to exchange valentines (it's optional), they should bring one for every student in their class.
• No food, candy, gum, etc. may be given out with valentines.
• Non-food items (e.g., pencils, stickers, etc.) can be given out.

FAMILY SERVICE INITIATIVE

Join the Greenbriar community in our annual event to come together and give back! This is a wonderful opportunity to talk to Greenbriar students about the power of sharing with those in need, and caring for our community in a variety of hands-on ways.

This year’s projects will be a combination of at-home projects as well as at-school collections.

• Quilt squares: Once again, we welcome families to decorate fabric squares with cheerful, hopeful imagery and messages. Project Linus makes these squares into quilts, and distributes to babies and kids through hospitals and other social service agencies. Quilt squares kits are available for a $10 donation per kit. More information and purchase process on Paperless PTO: https://www.greenbriarpto.com/Grt/index.cfm
• Bernie’s Book Bank Collection: Students are encouraged to collect their gently loved, no-longer-read children’s books (birth through sixth grade), to share with kids across Chicagoland. Book donation guidelines can be found here.
• Cradles to Crayons Collection: Families can get a head start on spring cleaning by donating gently used everyday essentials for children newborn to age 12. See here for what Cradles to Crayons Chicago needs most now.
• Canines 4 Comfort Collection: Canines 4 Comfort – rescue and training organization of everyone’s favorite canine buddy, Krieger – is collecting new or gently used blankets for many rescue dogs, in partnership with The Penny’s Purpose, which provides blankets to rescue dogs, veterans, and people facing illness or surgical recovery. Canines/Penny’s Purpose wishlist links coming soon!

Collection bins for Bernie’s, Cradles and Canines donations will be in the Greenbriar vestibule from February 21 – March 10.

GREENBRIAR BINGO NIGHT ON FEB. 28TH *repeat*

We are so excited to announce Family BINGO Night! Bring your family and friends. BINGO night will be Tuesday February 28th, along side Family Service Night. Pre-Registration for bingo cards will open February 1st. Pre-Register on-line for a discount. In order to make this night successful we are asking for your help. More information is coming about volunteer opportunities to help at BINGO night and donate prizes.

REMINDER TO ALL 5th GRADE PARENTS *repeat*

Please submit a baby picture of your child (6-12 months old) for inclusion in the yearbook and end of year video montage. Photos are due today (January 20th) and can be emailed to: [email protected]

SCIENCE NIGHT, MARCH 15TH *repeat*

Calling All Scientists! Join us for Science Night, Wednesday March 15th from 6-7pm at Greenbriar's Gymnasium.

Showcase your love for science with the project of your choice or double the fun and do a project with a friend. Open to all Grades. More information will be sent home via Science Night Flyer. Please spread the word & sign up here!

Not sure if you ordered pizza or a treat? *repeat*

To double check your orders, click on this link, log into the PTO website, and look under "my account" and then "my orders."

IMPORTANT LINK

Greenbriar PTO: https://www.greenbriarpto.com/

As always, please reach out to Lori or Shelly should you need anything at [email protected].

Climate Survey Seeks Parent, Staff and Student Input

District 28 and our school principals invite you to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This opportunity allows you to share your views on important elements of school effectiveness.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be conducted through March 31. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.

Students in grades 4-8 will also participate. Student participants will be required to log-in using their state student ID and birth date in order to complete the survey. Students’ identities will be completely confidential. Teachers or administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions and will only receive aggregated information, such as the total percentage of students who agree homework assignments help them learn the course material.

Please be aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your student(s). Survey questions can be found on the UChicago Impact Support Center.

If you do not want your son or daughter to participate please contact your school principal.

For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected].

It is time to begin thinking about the 2023-24 school year, especially for our kindergartners. Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023 should be enrolled for the 2023-24 school year. 

All registration will be conducted online beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 6 until midnight Feb. 10.

To begin the process, please visit the kindergarten registration webpage. There you will find complete instructions on preparing documents and completing forms necessary for registration. If you have any questions about kindergarten or the registration process, please contact Diane Gillis. If you know of someone with a child of this age within District 28 boundaries, please share this information with them.

District 28 invites local non-profit organizations and community government agencies to promote events for families and children. Each week, some event are highlighted in the newsletter. View the complete list of events on the Virtual Backpack web page. To submit an event, please email the web-friendly flier to Terry Ryan, Communications Director. All fliers are subject to approval.

Jr. Football & Cheer Registration Open

Registration is now open for Northbrook Jr. Spartan Football and Cheer Spring 2023 programs, including 7-on-7, Co-Ed Flag, Girls Flag, and Cheer. Learn more by visiting Jr. Spartan website.

Register for Little League Baseball

Registration is now open for boys, preschool thru 2nd grade, & girls, preschool thru 3rd grade. Visit www.northbrookactionbaseball.org

Northbrook Baseball Registration Open

Registration for Northbrook Baseball’s Spring House League Season is open now through January 31. Northbrook Baseball encourages boys and girls of all skill levels in Grades 3-8 to play. You can read more about the program on our website: northbrookbaseball.com

Spring Softball for 2nd through 9th grade

Registration is now open for the Northbrook Girls Softball Spring 2023 House League Season! NGSA’s House League accepts girls in 2^nd through 9^th grade regardless of experience or ability. The main priorities of the league are having fun while participating in low-pressure softball instruction. Visit our website for information and registration.

Greenbriar School | Dr. Ginny Hiltz, Principal | 847-498-7950 | [email protected] | Website