670 Crescent Boulevard Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Phone: (630) 469-8600 |
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Principal's Newsletter
Winter Edition
November 2020
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Greetings Glenbard West Community -
The Winter edition of our Principal’s Newsletter typically highlights the many achievements of our students in terms of academics, activities, and athletics. I encourage you to read through this document and be amazed at how Glenbard West students excel in all of these areas. Our teachers, coaches, and sponsors are grateful to be working with so many outstanding young people. Furthermore, the culture of West relies on these achievements as they provide examples and a backdrop for all of our student body. This is especially impressive when we consider the challenging times in which we are living.
COVID-19 and the ongoing adjustments that we have been forced to make at Glenbard West and throughout the district has been very challenging for all of us. Moving back to a fully remote model was difficult, but certainly the right move as we continue to prioritize the safety of our students and staff. Glenbard District 87 has been publishing a COVID-19 Dashboard which provides information related to metrics and COVID-19 cases throughout our district. The Dashboard can be found HERE. We encourage our students and community members to continue to follow safety protocols around wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing so that we can round the corner on this novel coronavirus.
As we move into the final three weeks of the semester, our message to students is “Do Not Give Up!” I can promise you that our teachers will not give up on you. Be assured that our entire staff is working hard to give students every possibility to succeed this semester. Should your student be struggling in a course, hopefully he/she knows that the teacher is available to assist in a one-on-one format. If you have not already seen it, please look over our school supports that exist inside and outside of the classroom. They can be found HERE. If you have questions or concerns, our counselors and administrators are here to provide you with answers and guidance.
The pressures of this pandemic and the normal stress of life can be difficult for our students. Now more than ever, we need to be aware of the importance of our emotional health. Zooming all day is no substitute for the multitude of typical interactions that we enjoy under “normal” circumstances. That said, pay attention to the continual offerings from our Student Services Department, as well as the experts who present in our Glenbard Parent Series. These resources are available for all of our families as we navigate our way through not only the pandemic but also the typical life challenges we face. Our website also provides community resources that can be found HERE.
For many of our families, the Thanksgiving holiday will look different this year. Nonetheless, all of us should continue to be grateful for the relentless strength and hope of our young people. Glenbard West students surely are examples of that strength and hope. We are grateful to them AND we are grateful for our teachers, staff, families, and community organizations. All the best to you and thank you for your continued support.
Best Regards,
Peter Monaghan, Ed.D.
(630) 942-7473
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Perfect ACT
Madeline Beery
National Hispanic Recognition Program
Luisa Metz
Omar Villa-Zuniga
National African American Recognition Program
Pierce Cousins
Daughter of the American Revolution
Good Citizenship Award
Emma Nielsen
Illinois Music Education Association Honors
Senior Band
Spencer Koerner, clarinet
Senior Chorus
Maggie Meyers, alto 1
Jackson Pekny, bass 2
William Rozak, bass 2
Senior Orchestra
Anna Creech, French horn
Maya Umlauf, violin
Zoe Umlauf, violin
9-10 Choir
Joel Scribner, tenor
Ivy Toth, alto
Parker Cain, bass
Marisol Vera, soprano
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Math teacher serves as moderator for NY Times graph feature
Stefanie Geeve, math teacher and instructional coach at Glenbard West, was a moderator for the New York Times What’s Going On in This Graph? this past week. Geeve has been using Annie Fetter’s strategy, What do you notice? What do you wonder? with the NYTimes graphs in her classes for the past few years. Check out the graph, article, and her comments here.
As a moderator, Geeve replies to student comments from across the country. She said her favorite part is reading the "wonderings" of each of the students because they ask such thoughtful questions. She often asks them to go deeper by reading the corresponding article to make further connections.
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Glenbard West will host a virtual FAFSA Completion Workshop for Senior Families on Thursday, December 10th at 6:30 p.m. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
All seniors must complete a FAFSA or Alternative Application this school year as it is a graduation requirement. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is a government-funded agency that helps families complete their FAFSA/Alternative Application so students can access financial aid for college. Glenbard West’s ISAC representative, Alyiah White, will host the virtual FAFSA completion workshop. Spanish-speaking ISAC representatives are available to help go through the FAFSA line-by-line to ensure it is completed correctly. Get the chance to have your questions answered confidentially by a team of highly trained ISAC members.
Please review the 12.10 West FAFSA Workshop document for more information about what materials are needed for the event. Glenbard West asks that families complete the FSA ID prior to the event.
Please email Kruti Parikh at [email protected] if you have any questions about the event or need help registering. A WebEx link will be emailed to you once you register.
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No School - November 25 - 27
Thanksgiving Recess
Classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2020
No School - December 21 - January 4
Winter Break
Classes resume on Tuesday, January 5, 2021
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NATIONAL HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST AWARD |
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Congratulations to Glenbard West Senior Luisa Metz, who recently earned third place in the National Gilder Lehrman Institute’s David McCullough Essay Contest. This contest was judged by a jury of eminent historians who read through all the finalists’ essays. Luisa wrote her essay on the history of the American Food Stamp Program from 1939 to the Present. For her academic work on this essay, Luisa was awarded a $1,000 prize and will have her work featured on the Gilder Lehrman website.
Gilder Lehrman is the leading American nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also curating one of the great archives of American history available to educators.
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Final Exam Adjustment
Due to our rapidly evolving circumstances during this pandemic, we have had to adjust instruction to better meet the needs of our students. Teachers across the district have been given the autonomy to make those instructional decisions, which may look different from course to course. This requires us to also be adaptive on how we assess student learning.
The end of the semester is usually reserved for Final Exam days and the schedule adjusted accordingly. However, the instructional adjustments teachers made this semester have resulted in the need to adapt these assessments as well. As a result, Glenbard District 87 will not have a traditional final exam schedule. Instead, we will follow the schedule below, and your student may encounter a variety of assessment experiences ranging from a final exam, a unit summative assessment, or a culminating project. Teachers will communicate how first semester grades will be finalized.
We are very proud of our students and how they rose up to the learning challenges this semester. If you or your student have any questions, feel free to reach out to your student’s teachers.
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INCOMING 8TH GRADE ENROLLMENT |
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Incoming 8th Grade Families,
On Wednesday, January 13th you will have the opportunity to learn about the curriculum, summer school enrichment opportunities, registration, and enrollment process from your own home. This year, video links from each department will be shared on January 13th via email and can also be found on our website at https://www.glenbardwesths.org under the Parents Tab.
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November is Gratitude Month at Glenbard West and we would like to take a moment to show our gratitude to those who have served or are serving our country. Our military has always championed the values that are central to the American character.
On November 11th, Social Studies students participated in an activity that included watching the Medal of Honor video, In Their Own Words and completing a survey asking two questions, "What does Veteran's Day mean to you?" and "If you could thank anyone today, who would you thank?" Below are two-word clouds that summarize whom students would like to thank. Also included are a handful of quotes from students.
This was an opportunity for us to reflect on how we too can demonstrate the values of courage, commitment, sacrifice, patriotism, integrity, and citizenship in order to make our school, community, and nation a better place.
Remember, Together We are West!
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Quotes from Students about Veterans Day:
"Veterans Day is a day to appreciate those who are selfless, fearless, and courageous while fighting for the freedom of our country. I am grateful for their efforts throughout continuously hard circumstances."
"To me, Veterans Day means bravery and sacrifice. All the veterans who served our country and protected us are the very image of bravery. Many of them left families, friends, and loved ones behind while they go off to protect those loved ones. Veterans Day commemorates those who served our country"
"Veterans Day is a day to honor the people who not only fought but participated in the warlike nurses and doctors at war. It's a time to reflect on what they've done and hear their stories because it's important to hear their story of bravery and struggles. It really is a big and important part of history, and to hear the perspectives is crucial and shows our respect for them."
"So many times, these people who served and risked their lives for our country go unnoticed or are forgotten and neglected. Veterans Day is a reminder to us that we should be so thankful for these people, and we should never forget their courage and bravery."
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GLENBARD WEST BOOSTERS
HOLIDAY SALE
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Glenbard West Boosters Holiday Gear Sale is scheduled on Thursday, December 3rd from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Circle Drive. There will be a full selection of clothing, hats, license plate covers, etc. Flags will be available. This will be our last sale of 2020. |
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Fundraiser Benefits West Boosters
Glenbard West Boosters have a shopping spree/sponsorship setup with the Gnome Colony, 485 N. Main St. in Glen Ellyn. From Nov. 22 through 28, 10% of all sales will go to Glenbard West Boosters. No special mention or code needed.
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DR. REBECCA SULAVER
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR INSTRUCTION
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2021 Standardized School Day Testing Information
Over the next few weeks, counselors will communicate with students to discuss the benefits of taking challenging yet balanced courses to ensure their academic path prepares them for life after high school. As part of this preparation, students will begin to prepare to take standardized tests that may help them gauge their readiness.
College Board Suite of Assessments
For many years, the State of Illinois has funded a college entrance exam for juniors. A few years ago, the State decided to shift from the ACT Exam to the SAT Exam. All juniors in Illinois will take the SAT exam on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. This is not an optional exam; in fact, the State now requires a school day administration of the SAT for graduation from any Illinois High School. Please be assured that most, if not all, colleges accept either an ACT or an SAT score for acceptance decisions.
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If students want to improve their scores on the school day administration of the SAT, Glenbard West is tentatively scheduled to host an SAT National Test date on March 13th. Interested students should register through their College Board accounts by February 12th.
- Seniors attending College of DuPage should plan on taking placement testing or meeting with a C.O.D. counselor on dates they do not have class.
Glenbard West is offering a FREE 10-week SAT Prep Course taught by Academic Approach SAT Instructors from January 25 - April 8, 2020 for Juniors. There are two different times to choose to ensure every Junior has the opportunity to participate in this program, Thursday from 2:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. or 5:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The goal of this program is simple, to help empower students to maximize their SAT Score and enhance their postsecondary opportunities. Please use this link to register for the FREE 2021 SAT Prep Course.
One of the key advantages of the Suite of Assessments that excites us is the availability for students to receive free, high-quality exam preparation through Khan Academy online. Students are able to take practice tests, receive immediate feedback, and store and retrieve previous exam scores that they have taken to track their progress. This may be especially helpful for those juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT exam in October, as it will give a benchmark that Khan Academy will use to customize SAT prep for the student. You can access Khan Academy's SAT support at https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat.
Spring Illinois Science Assessment (Testing window March 1, 2021 - April 30)
In compliance with federal testing requirements, Illinois will administer a science assessment to all junior students enrolled in a public school district. The assessment will be administered in an online format and is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were adopted in 2014.
ACCESS Testing for English Language Learners
(Testing window January 4 – March 20, 2021)
Illinois uses the WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener (for Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which will take place from mid-January through mid-February. If your child has been identified as an English Language Learner, they will be notified regarding specific test dates in January.
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2021-2022
APPROVED SCHOOL CALENDAR
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STUDENT COUNCIL TOILETRY DRIVE |
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NEWS FROM STUDENT SERVICES |
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As a Glenbard West community, we have all experienced a terrible loss with the recent passing of one of our students. As we are deeply saddened by this tragedy, it is important to reflect on ways to effectively cope with this devastation.
Our Student Services department has been working closely with many students and their families in the aftermath. It can be challenging from a parent’s perspective to know how to best support your teen. Below are some tips and strategies to consider when going through the grieving process:
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Acknowledge the situation. Speaking to the situation directly is important; this can show that you are not afraid to have an honest conversation about the loss they have experienced. Always make sure you choose an appropriate time and place to have a conversation like this, so he/she can feel safe talking to you about their loss.
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Express your concern. Show that you are aware that this has affected them and that you are there when they need help. Example: "I'm sorry to hear that this happened. I am here when you need me."
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Reflect on their emotions. One way of demonstrating that you are able to hear their story is by reflecting back to them what they are saying. Example: "I can see that you're sad and confused about why all this happened."
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Be genuine in your communication and don't hide your feelings. It is OK to show that you are also saddened by the loss and that you do not have all the answers. Example: "I'm not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care."
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Offer your support. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for someone is just letting them know that you are there for them when they need you. Example: "I want you to know I'm here for you. Tell me what I can do."
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Ask how he or she feels. Don't assume you know how the bereaved person feels on any given day. Sometimes just asking how they feel allows the opportunity for him or her to express their feelings.
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LISTEN: Be an active listener. Though it can be difficult to know what to say, being able to listen effectively is most important. Often finding the right words is less important than letting your student share with you the nature of the loss. It's not unusual for well-meaning people to avoid talking about the loss or mentioning the deceased person, thinking this is helping. However, the grieving person often needs to feel that others are willing to acknowledge the truth of the situation.
Some strategies to be an active listener include:
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Accept and acknowledge all feelings. Let the grieving person know that it's OK to cry in front of you, to become angry, or to break down. Don't try to reason with someone over how s/he should or shouldn't feel. He/she should feel free to express feelings knowing that you are willing to listen without judgment, argument, or criticism.
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Be willing to sit in silence. It's not your job to get him/her to start talking. Instead, be willing to be present and show you are ready to listen when s/he is ready to speak. If you can't think of something to say, you can show your support through eye contact, a squeeze of the hand, or a reassuring hug.
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Let him/her talk about the loss. They may need to tell the story over and over again, sometimes in great detail. Be patient. Repeating the story is a way of processing and accepting the death. With each retelling, the pain lessens.
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Offer comfort without minimizing the loss. Let them know that what he or she is feeling is OK. If you've gone through a similar loss, share your own experience, if you think it would help. However, don't give unsolicited advice, claim to "know" what the person is feeling, or compare your grief to his or hers.
This is a trying time regarding COVID-19, the disruption in routine and ongoing uncertainties can also compound mental health issues that teens may be facing. It is OK to not be OK; there is support available for students at Glenbard West to process their feelings/emotions. We would like to re-introduce you to the Student Services Team that is available to assist students. In our roles at West, we are here to support students through this recent loss, but we are also available to help teens with a variety of other issues such as stress at school, LGBTQ+ concerns, eating disorders, anger management issues, peer problems, family issues, improve problem-solving strategies, academic support, substance abuse prevention, responsible choices in sexual decisions, help for friends, self-injurious behaviors, anxiety, and depression.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DEANS OFFICE |
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Attendance Matters!
There is no doubt that this has been a challenging semester for all of you. You have been faced with a lot of obstacles and we are very proud of your hard work, resiliency, and adaptability during these times. As we have entered the second half of the semester, continue to put forth your best effort! Please remember, we are here to support you, and we want to make sure that you are getting the most out of your experience at Glenbard West!
A few tips to help you be successful:
Attendance:
- Consistently attend all of your classes.
- Be on time, and stay logged in the entire period.
- Communicate ahead of time if you are going to be absent or late.
Grades:
- Advocate for yourself by checking in with your teachers.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Develop a plan to make up your missing assignments.
- Schedule time to study.
- Utilize building resources.
- Make the most out of this difficult situation.
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GLENBARD WEST
2020 - 2021
THEATRE SEASON
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Glenbard West Theatre has begun work on our Winter shows. |
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Our Black Box New Play Festival, featuring
Everything We Need
Written by student Henry King;
Student Directed by Devon Kelleher & Charlie Musser
Performance dates: January 22 & 23, 2021; 7:30 p.m.
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Our virtual mainstage comedy CLUE, directed by Michael Moran.
Performance dates: January 28, 29, 30, 2021; 7:30 p.m.
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Don't miss a single show...SUBSCRIBE NOW!!! Click Here
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MR. JOE KAIN
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ATHLETICS
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Once again, Glenbard West enjoyed a great fall season with many team and individual accomplishments. Here are just a few highlights: |
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Varsity Girls Cross Country advanced to the IHSA Sectional with a successful season of over 40 girls who competed this season. Audrey Allman finished 5th at the Lyons Township Sectional.
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Varsity Girls Tennis won the IHSA Sectional held at Schaumburg High School. Shannele Lopez won the singles tournament and Elizabeth Fausey and Emma Chirila won the doubles competition. |
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Boys Cross Country qualified and competed in the IHSA Sectional and finished 6th Place as a team. They were led by Pierce Cousins who finished 14th.
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Varsity Boys Golf won the IHSA Sectional for the 2nd consecutive year. John Wild was the medalist at the Sectional.
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Varsity Girls Swimming Coop with Glenbard South finished 5th place at the IHSA Sectional in St. Charles.
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Many of our winter sports teams are getting ready for their seasons to begin. Up to date schedules can be found at http://il.8to18.com/glenbardwest. We appreciate your patience as we work to provide opportunities for our student athletes during the pandemic.
GO WEST!
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SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT |
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News from School Counseling
Seniors - We know you are feeling some relief as the bulk of the college application deadlines passed on November 1st! There are still applications being submitted for December and January deadlines, but we’ve currently had 3,199 applications submitted by 429 students! Make sure to remind your seniors to send a thank you note to all the teachers that took the extra time to write their letters of recommendation. We are excited to report we partnered with two other Glenbard high schools this Fall to facilitate virtual visits by 193 college representatives, which over 450 students attended! Another reminder, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened up in October and is a graduation requirement this year. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you go to FAFSA.gov to get it completed, not only for consideration of financial aid but also for scholarships from colleges. Speaking of scholarships, Local Scholarship applications will become available in January on Naviance.
Juniors - A reminder to sign up for the free SAT test prep courses available to you from Glenbard District 87. Be sure to access the resources we sent out to you this Fall. Although the bulk of our college rep visits have taken place, there will be more in the Spring! Make sure you are checking in Naviance to sign up for these virtual visits.
Sophomores - Counselors will be working with your English classrooms the first week of December to present on selecting classes for next year and reviewing your options. It is never too early to start talking to your teachers about recommendations on what you should be taking junior year. In Spring, we’ll be meeting to guide you through a personality test on Naviance and begin exploring some potential careers, college majors, and developing an activity resume.
Freshmen - Counselors are collaborating with you Biology teachers in the upcoming weeks to present on how to plan for your future, show you how to choose your classes in PowerSchool and how to set some goals for success.
Class of 2025 - Electronic enrollment packets with detailed information will be going out later in December. Please make sure you check your emails and review the information thoroughly. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Gladish, Administrative Assistant School Counseling at [email protected] or (630) 942-7482. For Spanish, please contact Beatriz Ferreira, Administrative Assistant School Counseling at [email protected] or (630) 942-7483.
2021-22 School Year Course Enrollment
Beginning December 7th
School Counseling will begin the course enrollment process for the next school year. Students will once again enter their course requests online through a browser in the student portal of PowerSchool. During the week of December 7th, school counselors will visit Sophomore English and Junior U.S. History classes to discuss the online enrollment process and share course enrollment forms. Freshmen will be receiving presentations from their counselor during Biology to make general selections in PowerSchool and provide instructions on how to edit from home.
Students will be able to enter their course selections beginning December 7th-January 5th. Students who have an IEP or who receive academic support within the EL program will have access to view their course selections which will be chosen through an individualized team process. After the deadline, students will meet individually with their school counselors during the weeks of January 11th-29th. These dates can be found on the Glenbard West School Counseling public calendar.
It is essential that your student give careful consideration to his/her course choices. Any changes after January 29th must be discussed with the student's School Counselor and will only be available on a space available basis. Parents, we value your input in this process because you best understand your own student's interests and goals. You also see how the overall academic rigor of his or her schedule affects daily functioning.
Important Dates
December 7 - 18
Teacher Discussion Recommendations
Counselors provide enrollment information
December 7 - January 5
Input course requests in the student portal of PowerSchool
January 11 - 29
Individual 1:1 follow-up meetings with School Counselors
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DR. DAVID LARSON, SUPERINTENDENT |
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Superintendent discusses quality, equitable instruction
I am confident in both our hybrid and fully remote learning models, which were designed to adapt to the circumstances of the incidence of COVID-19 in our community. When we need to shift from one model to the other, we will maintain the same schedule and quality instruction.
While our learning environment might change, we are focused on a quality learning experience for our students whether they are in person or learning remotely. Teachers are livestreaming their lessons and providing instruction and assistance five days a week.
School looks different these days, but some things remain the same – our exceptional faculty and staff’s commitment to the success of each student and their genuine care and concern for every student. Whether we are in a fully remote or hybrid model, be assured our student-centered staff is connecting with students, offering support with academic and social-emotional matters alike.
During our hybrid model, our teachers developed instructional strategies that apply to the students in front of them in the classroom, as well as those learning remotely. They used practices that kept both the hybrid model and the fully remote model equitable.
Teachers continued to use Schoology to post and collect assignments. They used tools such as online whiteboards for instruction so all students could clearly see the materials.
Teachers are providing support for students both during class time and during teachers’ office hours. Our teachers understand that students will have questions, and they are ready to help each student with the content, along with other issues students are facing. Under extraordinary circumstances, they show up every day focused on helping students prepare for the future they choose.
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WINTER BREAK OFFICE HOURS
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During Winter Break, the Main Office will be open on December 21, 22, and 23, as well as, December 28, 29, and 30. Operation hours will be from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
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GLENBARD PARENT SERIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
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A new thread of Glenbard Parent Series is now available. Check out the 5 minute videos created by our guest speakers - with a Take 5 (Teen Talk) version for students and a Take 5 (Parents/Adult) version for their parents/caregivers.
Start the conversation here!
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SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND BULLYING HOTLINE |
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At Glenbard West, we offer a violence and bullying hotline which allows students to provide anonymous information to school officials regarding potential school threats or bullying incidents. The number is (630) 942-7406.
Additionally, students can text a CRISIS Text Line: 741741 which sends information to a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to help individuals return to a healthy/stable level of functioning.
The Attorney General's Safety Tips homepage contains several links that may provide additional helpful resources.
Students who wish to report a potential act of school violence at Glenbard West may also leave an anonymous message with our Police Liaison Officer at (630) 942-7463.
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Main Office
(630) 469-8600
Attendance (24-Hour Line)
(630) 942-7480
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Attendance
(630) 858-5060
Nurses' Main Office Number
(630) 942-7493
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Attendance AFTER HOURS (630) 858-5060
Bullying Tip Line (630) 942-7406
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Glenbard West High School
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