Principal's Newsletter

Hello - this is a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have a student at, or have expressed an interest in, Glenbard West High School. Communication between Glenbard West and our families and community is very important to us. Don't forget to add gw_news@glenbard.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Please email any questions directly to Glenbard Staff, we are happy to respond.

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February 8

Winter Band Concert

Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

February 14 - 18

Annual Student Council/Glen Ellyn Food Pantry Drive

February 16

8th Grade Athletic and Activity Night

Begins in Biester Gym

7:00 p.m.

February 21

No School - President's Day

February 21 - 25

Live Life Well Week

February 24

Masterworks Concert

(Choir and Orchestra)

Glenbard South Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

March 4

No School - Countywide Institute Day

March 12

Spring Parent/Athlete Meeting

Biester Gym

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

March 15

District 87 Band Festival

Glenbard East Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

March 21

District 87 Art Show

Glenbard East High School

4:00 p.m.

March 23

District 87 Voices of Glenbard Concert

Glenbard East Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

March 28 - April 1

No School - Spring Break

Classes resume on Monday, April 4

Glenbard West Community -

Hard to believe, but we are now in the fifth week of the second semester. I am encouraged to see our students engaged and challenging themselves inside and outside of the classroom. Our students worked hard the first semester, and we are excited to see this trend continue in the second half of the school year. Kudos to our teachers, counselors, deans, and related service personnel who are there to provide additional support when needed. Should your student be struggling, please check out THIS document that captures the various supports throughout the building.

It is an exciting time around Glenbard West as a great deal is going on throughout our campus. Last week, our theater department presented The Doll House, an outstanding production with many talented students involved. Tuesday, February 1st, our Forensics team held its annual Meet the Regional Speech Team event where the best present their speeches as they prepare for an upcoming competition. In addition, this week after school on Wednesday, students participated in Valentines for Vets and gathered in the cafeteria to write letters to veterans in nearby hospitals or serving overseas. Finally, our top-ranked Boys Basketball team will take on Sierra Canyon at the Wintrust Arena on Saturday. While this is far from a comprehensive list, it gives you an idea of the energy and activity around the school.

So it makes sense that our incoming freshman class would be excited to begin high school here at Glenbard West. On February 16th, West will hold its annual Athletic and Activity Night. Future Hilltoppers will join us to learn about the vast array of extra and co-curriculars that Glenbard West has to offer. When we had our virtual family night last month, we talked about the importance of early involvement with our freshman class. If you missed any of those presentations, you can still check out the information on this LINK.

Hopefully, our parents have had an opportunity to connect with some of our top-notch presenters through the district-sponsored Glenbard Parent Series. Last week, David Epstein presented via zoom for free to anyone interested in tuning in. You may have heard of him as he is the bestselling author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. His book makes the case that as learners it is best to avoid “early specialization” and instead approach intellectual growth in an experimental way that places more of an emphasis on broad knowledge. Epstein encourages both students and adults to explore varied interests, and he urges “mental wanderings as sources of power rather than as a disadvantage.” I mention this only because it aligns with our overall philosophy of the District’s Profile of a Graduate. You will note that the Profile of a Graduate outlines broad competencies that we look to instill within our graduates as they prepare to encounter an ever-changing world. Furthermore, the Profile encourages students to build upon their own agencies and advocate for themselves within the high school setting and beyond.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our parents and guardians who continue to support the efforts of Glenbard West and our students. Our success relies on this support! We are looking forward to the spring months and improved opportunities for all of our students.

Go West!

Peter Monaghan, Ed.D.

Congratulations to Glenbard West student Joseph Green on being selected as a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program, which honors some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the country’s highest honors for high school students.

Outstanding Leadership and Academic Success

Allyn Gordon

Kamari Spencer

American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME)

Congratulations to sophomore Ishaan Gupta who qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) by scoring a 99 on the American Math Competition (AMC). Only the top 5% of AMC participants nationally qualify for the AIME.

The AIME is the second in the pyramid of three mathematics examinations given by the committee on the American Mathematics Competitions, which leads to participation in the USA Mathematical Olympiad.

Scholastic Writing Contest

Congratulations to senior Harrison Buelow who received two Honorable Mentions in the annual Scholastic Writing contest. Harrison received honors in both the Science Fiction & Fantasy category and Writing Portfolio category.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program is the nation’s longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. For the past 100 years, the Awards have recognized and encouraged artists and writers such as Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Tom Otterness, and Zac Posen, among countless others. This is the second year in a row Glenbard West has placed in this highly competitive contest.

Technology Center of DuPage

"A" Team - Semester One

Being named to the "A" Team is recognition of the students’ outstanding achievement in their respective programs at TCD. The "A" Team certificate is awarded to those students who received an “A” from TCD for the first semester of the 2021-2022 school year. This award represents many hours of work by the students.

Hannah Adachi, Audrey Allman, Anna Andres, Katherine Bachman, Ian Baker, Ava Balfe, Ava Batz, Henry Bayert, Alina Bhagwakar, Jane Blatchford, Lukas Breunig, Anna Burrus, Kira Campagna, Andrew Carlson, Daniel Carpenter, Dean Carroll, Samuel Casas, Daniel Ciosek, Andrew Clark, Jason Clarke, Anna Creech, Scott Dastrup, Jack Desmond, Mary DiLoreto, Enzo Diomede, James Doyle, Tanner DuVair, Trevor DuVair, Sienna Dyavanapalli, Delaney Engel, Andrew Estes, Tyler Faris, Elizabeth Fausey, Cooper Feinberg, Margaret Flanagan, Jennifer Fox, William Frantzis, Maribella Fues, Anne Gathof, Mia Gialo, Chaney Giampaolo, Kenneth Gibson, Jacob Glynn, Leslie Gonzalez-Flores, Taylor Gottsman, Joseph Green, Hannah Grogan, Katherine Hardesty, Audrey Harrington, John Hatlestad, Olivia Hedley, Ryan Heller, Sydney Hierbaum, Margaret Hoffman, Patrick Hohe, William Housey, Braden Huff, Zaahi Hussaini, Elijah Ick, Ellis Irwin, Mansi JaJodia, Lina Jensen, Anastasia Jimenez, Ava Johnson, Karina Johnston, Zahra Kazi, Devon Kelleher, Mohammedyaar Khan, Boden Kiker, Grace Kim, Henry King, Emma Kluge, Jacob Kowalczyk, Connor LaForte, David Lagomarsino, William Lanciloti, Charles Lange, Elizabeth Latta, Aaron Lewis, John Ludeke, Ella Maas, Kyrah Maas, Olivia Malek, David Manzke, Emma Martin, William McKinnon, Margaret Meyers, Anne Mitten, Ruby Moellering, Ayaan Mohammed, George Morris, Anna Nickoley, Julia Norton, Julia Oledzka, Ryan Park, Isa Patel, Deepa Phuyal, Jane Pieper, Caden Pierce, Nathaniel Pinto, Trevor Powell, Peter Ranchero, Sean Rath, Maeve Repking, Anna Rojas, Brooke Roscich, Kyle Rossy, Thomas Sear, Norah Seidler, Faiz Shaik, Simone Shapiro, Nolan Sheehy, Jextinian Sheffield, Robert Sladewski, Gavin Swartz, Nathan Tsai, Nikolette Tyburk, Dante Villalobos, Aditi Vinay, Benjamin Vogel, Celia Voigt, Maggie Wachter, Kendall Walch, Olivia Wallace, Brynn Wheeler, Paige Wheeler, Katelyn White, Elizabeth Williams, Matthew Wind, Alexander Woltman, David Wuertzer, Shruti Yamala, Madeline Yob, and Emily Zimmer.

Congratulations to Glenbard West student Devon Kelleher on being part of the All-State company of “Cabaret.” Devon is part of the cast.

Students from our four schools were scheduled to attend the Illinois High School Theatre Festival but unfortunately, the festival was canceled. However, the All-State show, which is a highlight of the annual festival, was performed to a limited audience.

In order to recognize students for academic achievement, Glenbard West students will receive an academic award as follows:

Glenbard West will use the final grades for the first semester of the current school year. A student with a first semester GPA of 4.8 or higher qualifies for the Academic Letter or Gold Bar.

The academic letter will be the same varsity letter given to athletes with an embroidered lamp of learning or scholastic torch. Subsequent academic winners will receive a bar to add to their letter.

In the event of an error or misinterpretation of the transcripts, a parent may petition the principal in writing (email) for an Academic Letter or Gold Bar at the conclusion of the second semester.

Do you still need to complete your FAFSA or Alternative Application? The FAFSA is not only a key component to graduate from Glenbard West High School but also a way for your student to receive money for college. If you still need assistance with this process, please consider attending one of the following events:

• District-wide FAFSA Completion Workshop - February 24th from 6: 00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Zoom. Spanish-speaking representatives will be available. Register HERE.
• Office Hours with Yasmeen - February 14th during periods 4-7 in the Library Mac Lab.
• In-person FAFSA Completion Workshop on March 21st at 6:00 p.m. at Glenbard West High School. Spanish-speaking reps will be available.

On Thursday, February 3rd, Global Connect met with our partner school, Miondoni Secondary School, over Zoom. We exchanged questions and learned more about the daily lives of students in Kenya while they learned about ours as well.

“It was really fun to match names to faces, to see all of their personalities come out, and to watch how all of the students interact with each other.” - Kendall Walch and Jennifer Fox

“It was really interesting to see the differences, but I was also surprised to see the number of similarities between our lives.” - Katelyn White

“Their laughter was contagious and brought a smile to our faces.” - Anne Dillman

“It really puts things into perspective.” - Molly Nelson

Student Council is hosting the annual Crosstown Classic Food Drive vs. Glenbard South from February 8 - February 18 to support the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry to see which school can collect the most items for donation.

We are also bringing back the Amazon Wishlist. Please make a donation or send in items with your child.

The most needed items currently are tomato soup, canned vegetables, bagged brown rice, crackers, cooking oil, and canned sloppy joes, but all non-perishable food items will be warmly accepted.

Welcome back to 2nd Semester! Please see below for a couple of reminders from the Dean's office:

1. Calling in a Student: Attendance 24-Hour Line: (630) 858-5060. Please include the student's name, ID number, and reason for absence.

2. Masks: Students are to wear masks properly over their nose and mouth. Disposable masks are available on rare occasions, but students are expected to bring their own mask. If we wish to remain open and in-person, we need to follow all health and safety guidelines.

3. Freshmen On Campus: This is a reminder to freshmen that they are to remain on campus throughout the duration of the school day. Freshmen are not to leave campus during lunch periods or anytime. 9th graders can only leave campus if their parents have called the attendance line and they have received a pass from attendance.

4. Hallways during Lunch Periods: Students will notice that a bell rings halfway through lunch periods. This bell signifies a short passing period for students to travel to and from the cafeteria. Students can use this time to go to the library, receive extra help in the department resource rooms, or meet with their teacher. If a student needs to leave the cafeteria before or after the halfway bell, they must have a pass from their teacher.

Each Quarter our teachers across the various departments at Glenbard West choose the one student who best exemplifies excellence within their discipline. The Glenbard West community

remains strong because of these students. We congratulate the Departmental Recognition Award Recipients and we thank the families and teachers who have helped them along the way.

Our 2nd Quarter 2021 - 2022 Departmental Award Recipients:

Brooke Benson/Art, Renata Diaz-Ruiz/English Language Learners, Phoebe Diloreto/Health, Paityn Formanski/Physical Education, Ishaan Gupta/Science, Zaahi Hussaini/Mathematics, Olivia Janninck/English, Sean Kern/World Languages, Ibad Khan/Speech, Kungeng Liu/Social Studies, David Manzke/Music, Kristjan Papa/Business Education, Bennett Schumacher/Technology Center of DuPage, Narmeen Srour/Driver’s Education

Students Chosen for ILMEA All-State

Congratulations to our students who were chosen for the Illinois Music Education Association All-State Student Programs for band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, composition, and the Future Music Educators Seminar. Of the 6,000 high school students who auditioned, our students are among approximately 1,500 students named to the 2022 ILMEA All-State Student Programs.

Congratulations to the following students:

All-State Band

Kate Bachman

All-State Composer

Maggie Meyers

Fine Arts Courses

The Fine Arts Department offers courses to all Glenbard West students regardless of ability. Entry level courses include drawing, choir, ceramics, guitar, hip hop production, and theatre. The best part – no previous experience necessary for these courses. Please consult with any fine arts teacher as well as a school counselor to answer any questions.

West Concerts Coming Up

The Glenbard West Bands will present their Winter Concert on Tuesday, February 8th at 7:30 p.m in the Auditorium. Jazz Band, IBand, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band will perform a wide variety of music to suit young and old alike. Admission is a free will donation…just sit down, relax, and enjoy some wonderful music.

The Glenbard West Choirs and Orchestra will perform their Masterworks Concert on Thursday, February 24th at 7:30 p.m in the Glenbard South Auditorium. This performance will include both groups combining to perform music from Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria. Admission is a free will donation…just sit down, relax, and enjoy some wonderful music.

District 87 Band Festival

Please join all the Glenbard Bands for the District 87 Honor Band Festival on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:30 p.m. in the Glenbard East Auditorium. The students selected will represent the best and brightest band performers from all four Glenbard High Schools. The festival is part of the District 87 Fine and Performing Arts Month...a culmination of student participation in the arts in Glenbard Township 87 High Schools.

District 87 Art Show

Please join all the Glenbard High Schools for the District 87 Art Show on Monday, March 21st at 4:00 p.m. at Glenbard East. One hundred pieces of artwork from all four Glenbard schools will be on display. A recognition and reception will occur at 6 p.m. for the student artists, friends, and family. The show is part of the District 87 Fine and Performing Arts Month...a culmination of student participation in the arts in Glenbard Township 87 High Schools.

District 87 Voice of Glenbard

Please join all the Glenbard Choirs for the District 87 Voices of Glenbard Concert on Wednesday, March 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Glenbard East Auditorium. The students selected will represent the best and brightest vocalists from all four Glenbard High Schools. The festival is part of the District 87 Fine and Performing Arts Month...a culmination of student participation in the arts in Glenbard Township 87 High Schools.

2022 Scholastic Art Suburban Chicago Regional Award Winners

This year in our Suburban Chicago Art Region, 948 students and 186 educators at 46 schools participated.

2351 entries were adjudicated across fifteen media categories. Students from 43 different schools won awards. 657 works were honored with awards.

Glenbard West had four students win six awards.

Those students are:

1. Oli Gonzalez: 2 Honorable Mentions and one Silver Key

2. Grace Romano: 1 Honorable Mention

3. Ava Skowronski: 1 Honorable Mention

4. Evan Stevens: His entire Design Portfolio earned an Honorable Mention

Please click on this link to see the awarded works and please congratulate these amazing kids if you see them.

The Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 guidelines for schools have recently been updated. Please see below for the most recent guidance:

• All individuals who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms (fever of 100.4 or greater, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, moderate/severe headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion, sore throat, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea) must remain home from school regardless of vaccination status.

• All symptomatic individuals should have a negative COVID test prior to returning to school. COVID testing must occur within 48 hours of symptom onset. If testing is outside of this 48-hour window, a 10-day quarantine from the onset of symptoms will need to occur.

• Rapid tests and PCR tests are being accepted for symptomatic individuals. At-home testing kids are not accepted.

• The DuPage County Health Department is allowing a shortened 5-day quarantine option for those who have tested positive. The 5-day quarantine will start from the onset of symptoms (with symptom onset being considered day 0). After at least the 5-day quarantine period once students have been fever free for 24 hours, free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved they are cleared to return to school.

• When returning to school masks must be properly fitted and worn at all times (especially during athletics/extracurricular activities) on days 6-10.

• Upon returning to school social distancing must be maintained during lunch periods on days 6-10. Students will be asked to eat lunch in a designated area to maintain social distancing.

• The DuPage County Health Department is also allowing a shortened 5-day quarantine option for individuals who remain asymptomatic during their close-contact quarantine. These individuals must stay home for 5 days after their last exposure to the COVID-19 case. If symptoms develop, testing is recommended and students would follow the 5-day quarantine from when symptoms developed if they test positive.

• Fully vaccinated individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID case AND have not developed any symptoms are not required to quarantine. Please continue to monitor for any new onset of symptoms. If any COVID-like symptoms develop, keep the individual home and immediately report symptoms to the health office.

• For students aged 5-17 fully vaccinated is considered the primary series of a COVID vaccine (2 weeks after final dose)

• For students and staff aged 18 years or older fully vaccinated is considered those who have received all recommended vaccine doses (including boosters for any vaccination series beyond the past 5 months)

For any questions please reach out to the Health Office. Please continue to report any new COVID-like symptoms immediately, the Health Office can help provide guidance for testing or isolation/quarantine procedures. Thank you for your support in keeping our schools safe.

At Glenbard 87, we celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February. Also known as African American History Month, Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements and accomplishments by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in United States history.

It's that time of year again! The theme for Live Life Well Week this year is "Grow Through What You Go Through." Now more than ever, Glenbard District 87 wishes to celebrate our students and encourage their continued growth and resiliency as we all navigate through personal and global challenges.

Events and activities throughout the week will focus on promoting self-awareness, cultivating creativity and joy, and spreading kindness throughout our school and community. Students are encouraged to participate in activities during the week and will have the opportunity to win raffle prizes for their engagement.

Below is a brief outline of the week's events.

February 21 President's Day of Service

No School - President's Day.

From 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., students will have the opportunity to volunteer to make blankets for children with cancer at the Glen Ellyn Ackerman Facility for Project Linus.

February 22 Thankful Tuesday

Events will aim to cultivate creativity as a way to incite gratitude, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Students will have the opportunity to engage in activities that highlight their unique skills of imagination and innovation.

February 23 Wellness Wednesday

Throughout the day, students will be encouraged to engage in activities that promote self-reflection for their actions, emotions, and to enhance their sense of self-compassion.

Students in PE classes will hear virtual guest speaker, Javier Sanchez, share encouraging strategies to experience life to the fullest in healthy, safe, and positive ways while reminding all students that their power to change their lives and change the world around them starts with the choices they make. -- “I Matter: Helping Students Move From Inspiration to Action to Outcomes”

February 24 Thoughtful Thursday

Events will highlight skills of empathy, kindness, and connection while encouraging students to remain present in the moment.

Javier Sanchez speaks to GPS at 7 p.m.: "Cultivating Connections That Count"

Go to GlenbardGPS.org for the link.

February 25 Fun Friday/Power of Play

Live Life Well Week Breakfast sponsored by West Nation.

Activities throughout the day will aim to foster joy through the power of play. Students will be encouraged to utilize skills of problem-solving, connection, and communication to reinforce social relationships through fun and games.

Student Services hosted the January Matter of Pride celebration on January 14, 2022. Matter of Pride is a long-lasting tradition at West as a way to recognize students with outstanding character. Matter of Pride is the only award at West that focuses on a student's kindness, willingness to help others, going above and beyond to foster a positive community at West. Matter of Pride recipients are what makes West the Best!

Front Row L to R: Victor Martinez, Brooklyn Allman, Rose Fenske, Hannah Persino, Sarah Fathima

Back Row L to R: Luis Gaytan, Katrina Engel, Jackie Houghtaling, Maariya Quadri (Not Pictured: Aaron Reynoso)

Thank you to all who helped make our annual Winter White Out Pack the Place event a huge success. It was a great day full of athletic events watching our Hilltoppers compete at a high level.

Many of our winter sports teams are gearing up for or are in the middle of postseason play. Please come out and support the following teams in the month of February:

Competitive Dance and Competitive Cheer will compete in their Sectional competitions and look to qualify for their state competitions in Bloomington.

Our Bowling Coop with Glenbard North finished in 2nd place in their Conference and competed in the IHSA Regional.

Boys Swimming Coop with Glenbard South has looked strong as they get ready for the WSC meet Friday, February 4th at Downers Grove North and IHSA Sectional the following week at St. Charles East.

Girls Gymnastics won the WSC Silver Division and will host the IHSA Sectional Thursday, February 10th at 6:00 p.m. in Biester Gym.

Wrestling won their 800th dual in school history recently and also won the West Suburban Conference Silver Division. The IHSA Regional will be held at Wheaton North High School on Saturday, February 5th.

Our Girls Basketball team concludes its regular season on February 8 at home in Biester at 7:00 p.m. and will travel for IHSA Regionals the week of February 14.

Boys Basketball is having an outstanding season and hosts the IHSA Regionals the week of February 21.

Boys and Girls Track has started their indoor season and is practicing to get ready for meets in mid-February.

All schedules will constantly be updated on our athletic website as we look forward to following the Hilltoppers as they advance through the postseason at the following website: https://il.8to18.com/glenbardwest/home.

Spring sports are right around the corner. The first day of practices for Boys Gymnastics is February 14th, and Girls Badminton, Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer, Girls and Boys Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, and Soccer all begin on February 28th with Boys Volleyball beginning on March 7th.

Please make sure all current physical forms are turned into the athletic office prior to the first day of practice.

GO WEST!

Glenbard West will host its annual 8th Grade Athletic and Activity Night in Biester Gym on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, beginning at 7:00 p.m. All of our coaches and club sponsors will be there to provide information and promote activities at Glenbard West. As part of the West Way, we encourage and invite our students to become involved in our amazing clubs and athletic teams. Please come to learn more about all the extra-curriculars Glenbard West has to offer. More information will be sent to our sender middle schools as we get closer to the event. We are very excited to welcome the Class of 2026!

The evening begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. in Biester Gym

This month students are meeting with their counselors to select classes for the next school year. The Glenbard West Academic Program Guidebook can help students and parents better understand the wealth of courses offered at West, as well as which courses fulfill high school graduation requirements. We encourage families to discuss students’ educational interests and post-secondary goals during the registration process. Should you or your student have any questions, please reach out to their school counselor.

2022 Standardized School Day Testing Information

As in years past, Glenbard West students will provide students the opportunity to experience the College Board Suite of Assessments in April. One of the key advantages of the Suite of Assessments is the availability for students to receive free, high-quality exam preparation through Khan Academy online. You can access Khan Academy's SAT support here.

Please note that the PSAT and SAT testing dates will be non-attendance days for students who are not testing. Details below.

Spring Illinois Science Assessment

Testing Window: March 1, 2022 through April 29, 2022

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.

School Day SAT Test for Juniors

Test Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022

All juniors will be automatically registered for this test and must take it on this day (or the designated make-up day) as a graduation requirement. This is a non-attendance day for freshmen, sophomores, and seniors.

PSAT Test for Freshmen and Sophomores

Test Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9 and sophomores will take the PSAT 10. This is a non-attendance day for juniors and seniors.

As testing scores become available throughout the year, students may access their scores in their very own College Board portal. Click the link for Student Directions to Access Scores in the College Board Reporting Portal.

Pictured: Deandra Bass, Nisa Gabbidon, Pam Hagstrom, Caitlin John, Claire Leoni, Amanda Meyer, Chris Mitchell, Bridget Mazzone, Kristie Smalley, Jessica Walters, and Mary Yangas

Here we are again in the midst of uncertain times with COVID-19 spikes throughout the nation. Sadly, these unforeseen events are beginning to feel like our new normal which continues to cause much stress and hardship. It may feel as though life is just happening to us rather than having any control over our lives.

Although difficult, let’s try to focus on what we CAN control in our lives.

I CAN control:

My mindset, my words, my reaction, and my choices

I CANNOT control:

Others, the news, COVID-19, the weather, and traffic

Next time you are feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself this question,

Can I Control or Change This?

If the answer is “No”, try the following:

• Remind yourself of something you can control or change

• Take a deep breath and slowly, let it go!

• Imagine tying it to a balloon

If the answer is “Yes”, try the following:

• What can you control or change?

• Make a list and write a plan

• Take a DEEP breath and remind yourself that you CAN control this!

Remember, you can always control how you respond!

If you are worried about your student’s mental health, please feel free to contact the staff personnel listed below to seek support, guidance, and necessary resources.

Class of 2022: The deadline for Seniors to order a cap and gown for the Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony was December 17, 2021. There is still time, if your senior has not yet ordered a cap and gown please call Herff Jones directly at (815) 756-4743 or follow this LINK.

Spring Musical: LIttle Women (based on the novel of the same name)

Performance dates: April 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available online about a month prior to the show.

Group discounts are available for organizations. For more info, please contact: mike_fox@glenbard.org

For the link to purchase tickets, visit GW Theatre's website:

https://www.glenbardwesths.org/glenbard-west-theatre/

Description of musical:

Louisa May Alcott’s American classic shares the adventures of the four March sisters. A Civil War story filled with adventure and imagination, heartbreak and hope. The struggle of these “Little Women” to find their own voices mirrors the growing pains of a young America. With joyful melodies, memorable characters, and a big-hearted message, Little Women reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

We encourage all students to enroll in a course this summer. Credit courses are available to satisfy graduation requirements and if a course needs to be repeated. Also, our noncredit (Bridge) courses help students prepare for a course they plan to take and provide an opportunity to explore areas of interest.

You can review our course offerings at sr.glenbard.org. All courses this year are free of charge. Need help setting up your account and registering for classes? Watch this tutorial.

If you have any questions, please contact our in-year Summer School Principal,

Peter Baker: peter_baker@glenbard.org or (630)942-7479.

There’s an old adage that says the only constant in life is change. That’s certainly true when it comes to the pandemic. The effect of the Omicron variant is the latest change we are navigating.

As we have done throughout the pandemic, we continue to follow guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DuPage County Health Department. As you’ve seen, guidance from health officials changes frequently. Be assured that we closely monitor these changes and discuss what the changes mean to our schools with health officials and area school leaders.

In addition to adhering to all COVID-19 safety mitigations, we offer our students and staff free, voluntary SHIELD Illinois testing at school. We invite students and staff to get tested. Our process requires that a parent or guardian provides consent to test by logging into PowerSchool so their student can participate in voluntary testing on either a weekly or twice per week basis. If you have not participated yet, you may start at any time.

Here are a few ways we can all help support the health and safety of our students and staff:

• Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and get tested.
• Contact your student’s school health services office if your student is symptomatic.
• Get vaccinated, including a booster shot.
• Wear masks properly, including over your nose and mouth.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Maintain a social distance from others.

Working together, we can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Glenbard West's Student Council Junior class board is busy planning for Prom. Please save the date for Prom this year on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Bobak's Signature Events in Woodridge with Post Prom to follow. More details to come prior to Spring Break.

Events for the 2021 - 2022 school year will be contingent

upon COVID safety guidelines of District 87.

No School - Spring Break

March 28 - April 1

Classes resume on Monday, April 4, 2022

During Spring Break, the Main Office will be open from March 28 through April 1. Operation hours will be from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

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 Test Line: Text HOME to 74141 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 State of Illinois is launching a school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois in an effort to raise awareness of the 21st-century threats facing schoolchildren in Illinois. Safe2Help Illinois will offer students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is intended to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.” Call 844-472-3345 or Text 72332(SAFE2) to report.

The Attorney General's Safety Tips homepage contains several links that may provide additional helpful resources https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/children/index.html

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.

Email: gw_news@glenbard.org
Website: glenbardwesths.org
Location: 670 Crescent Blvd.
Phone: 630-469-8600
Twitter: @GWHilltoppers