Principal's Message

Dear Greenbriar families,

Thanks to all parents for helping students participate in our spirit week! I'm including some photos below and encourage you to check out our Greenbriar Facebook and Instagram accounts for more updates and photos of our days at Greenbriar.

Friday, March 3rd is the end of trimester two. At the end of each trimester, we take a look at student attendance and reach out to families of students who have missed 10 or more days of school this year to see if there's anything we can do to help students get to school for the remainder of the year. We appreciate that kids may need to miss school for illness or other reasons but encourage families to make every effort to have students attend as we know this consistency is critical for student success.

As I shared last week, we are trying to maximize the impact of this newsletter and I'd love to hear your thoughts on WHEN is the best time to receive the Gazette each week. If you haven't already, please take a moment to fill out this very short survey to share your input by March 1st. We value the feedback!

As a reminder, the IL 5Essentials survey is open until March 31st. We invite parents to take a few moments to provide anonymous feedback about your experience as a member of the Greenbriar community. All parents are invited to fill out the survey (if a student has two parents, both may fill out their own survey). Click here to access the survey. Thanks to those of you who have already completed the survey; we have met the 20% threshold requirement but appreciate feedback from anyone still able to take the survey.

I hope to see many of you at Family BINGO Night on Tuesday!

Have a great weekend,

Ginny

Tuesday was stuffy day. Above, kindergarteners show off learning with their stuffies!

Students wore their favorite hats on Wednesday. Above, a 2nd grade class says, "Hats ON for reading!"

Thursday was our GREEN OUT and all-school spirit assembly. It was great to have everyone come together in our big gym!

ASSESSMENT REPORTS

NWEA MAP reports for students in 2nd-5th grade and CogAT reports for 3rd and 5th graders will be sent home at the beginning of March. We encourage parents to consider these assessments as one data point amongst many that help us understand how best to target instruction for students. As well, recommendations for next year's placement for current 3rd graders for math and current 5th graders for math and ELA will be shared with families in April.

GREENBRIAR GUARD HOUSES WANTED (formerly Block Parents)

We are looking for families who may be willing to serve as Greenbriar Guard Houses (formerly known as Block Parents). These families would put a green sign in a street-facing window to indicate that they're a safe house for kids to go to in the event of an emergency when they may need adult assistance. We're specifically looking for volunteers who typically have an adult at home between 8:00-8:30 and 3:15-3:45 when students are coming to and from school. If you're willing to serve as a Guard House for the remainder of this year, please fill out this form and we will provide volunteers with signs.

INTERNATIONAL MATH DAY - March 14, 2023 - PARENT HELP NEEDED

Do you have a passion for math? Would you be willing to help us continue to foster a love of math in our students? If so, we would benefit greatly from your time and expertise in sharing how you use math in your job and/or everyday life via a video recording. This will assist our students in connecting what they are learning to the real world. The videos will be shared each day on the announcements. Please keep the video to roughly 2 minutes or under in length and upload it to the International Math Day Folder. You can also email videos to Rachael Miller at [email protected].

GREENBRIAR BINGO NIGHT ON FEB. 28TH

Join us for a fantastic family fun night at Greenbriar from 6–7:30pm on Feb. 28!  This special night is open to all Greenbriar family and friends! We will have a fun night full of prizes, special bingo callers, and will be selling pizza and snacks. Feel free to come when you want and leave when you want! Please note: this is not a drop off event! Presale on Pizza and BINGO cards have closed, but you can purchase cards and food on the night of the event too! 

FAMILY SERVICE INITIATIVE *repeat*

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 kits are available for a $10 donation per kit. Quilt square kits will be sent home in your child’s backpack. 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. To donate, please check out these online wishlists.
• Amazon Smile wishlist can be found here.
• Chewy wishlist can be found here.
• 
  

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

Valentine’s day Party Volunteers *repeat*

If you volunteered in a classroom, please remember to send your pictures to each grade’s photo historian listed below. These pictures are so valuable for future yearbooks!

5th Grade, Ellen Silva/Erika Phenner ([email protected])

4th Grade, Jenn Turk ([email protected])

3rd Grade, Cari Raymond Stoneburner ([email protected])

2nd Grade, Kristen Schotke ([email protected])

1st Grade, Ali Franklin ([email protected])

Kindergarten, Andrea Denes ([email protected])

SCIENCE NIGHT, MARCH 15TH *repeat*

Calling All Scientists!! We are very excited for Science Night to come back to Greenbriar.  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 was sent home via the Science Night Flyer or on the PTO homepage. 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].

District Values, Strengths, Opportunities and Next Steps

At the Feb. 21 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jason Pearson, provided a report on his engagement with the community, staff and students over the past seven months and identified goals and actions for the next seven months. Read the Entry Plan Report.

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.

Northbrook Cultural Fair Feb. 26

The Northbrook Community Commission Presents a Cultural Fair from 3 to 5 p.m. on February 26th at the North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Road.

The event will bring together a variety of cultural organizations in the area to celebrate the cultural backgrounds of Northbrook residents. Come out to enjoy dances, musical acts, art displays, food (samples), and arts & crafts! Admission is free and open to all ages.

Northbrook Symphony Winter Concert

The Northbrook Symphony presents its second concert of the 43rd season at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 26th at Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road.

Under the direction of Music Director Mina Zikri, avid chamber musician and soloist Noah Chen will perform R. Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor. Chen is a former Principal Cello of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, currently attends Curtis Institute of Music, and is a member of the Chen Family Quartet. The Orchestra will also perform Serenade No. 1 in D major.

For additional information and to purchase tickets, and complimentary tickets for children, visit www.northbrooksymphony.org or call the Symphony office at 847-272-0755.

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.

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