670 Crescent Boulevard Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Phone: (630) 469-8600
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Principal's Newsletter
Welcome Back
August 2019
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2019-2020
Glenbard West Administrative Team
Stacy Scumaci, Peter Monaghan, Rebecca Sulaver, Alexandria Taylor,
Chris Mitchell, Joe Kain, Thomas Barlow, Mike Souza
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Glenbard West Community -
Welcome to the 2019 - 2020 school year. Today is the first day of school and I am so excited to have approximately 2400 students stepping into our building and embracing the learning experience of Glenbard West. The start of the school year is always exciting as we have an entire class of new students (freshmen) while the rest of the students have taken on different roles and challenges. Surely all of them are aware of the many possibilities that lie in store for them.
It is important that our students and parents both understand the level of commitment, expertise, and passion that our teachers and staff bring to the job every day. Monday and Tuesday of this week, the entire staff participated in learning activities designed to enhance their practices around instruction, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of how mental health impacts learning. They have been working hard and I can tell you that they are charged up and ready to go! West teachers use progressive instructional strategies and high-level collaboration to create learning environments that are responsive and student-centered. Students and parents alike understand that Glenbard West teachers are change agents who care deeply about the success of all of our students.
I continue to encourage our parents to stay connected and get involved with school. Information is found not only on our web page but also via twitter (@GWhilltoppers) and also on our electronic calendar. West is very lucky to have a number of parent groups whose mission is to support our students and help us run programs throughout the school. Please consider any one of these groups when looking to get involved:
Also, keep in mind that Glenbard West Open House is on Thursday, August 29th. We look forward to seeing you there. Please take a moment to check out our
Glenbard Parent Series
, where experts from across the country present on topics important to parents, educators, and students. We know that when schools work closely with parents, the impact on student learning can be profound. We rely on your support and the support of our entire community.
My mission as principal is to continually strive for improvement when it comes to creating a strong, sustainable learning environment here at Glenbard West. Obviously, that goes for what happens inside of the classroom, but it also applies to the many athletic and activity opportunities afforded to all of our students. Furthermore, we look for students to be engaged and to challenge themselves when it comes to academics and involvement. Personally, every year, I look to challenge
myself
to “get better.” Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the administrative team members with any questions or comments.
Go West!
Peter Monaghan, Ed.D.
630-942-7473
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SCHOOL MESSENGER
TEXT MESSAGING SERVICE - OPT IN!
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Daily Herald Academic Team
Ahalya Lettenberger
Peter Blatchford, honorable mention
Perfect ACT
Paul de Vair
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2019 - 2020
NEW STAFF AT WEST
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Thomas Barlow
Dean of Students
Ronald Brock
FACS/Business
Brenda Czabaj
World Languages
Devon Dickson
Psychologist Intern
Wilyna Frankel
Social Work Intern
Theresa Kim
Mathematics
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Michael Langhurst
Special Education
Marissa Mersch
Special Education
Jennifer Panici
Special Education
Miles Ritchie
Science/AP Support
Philip Wicyk
FACS/Business
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DEANS' OFFICE
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Glenbard West Deans
Thomas Barlow, Alexandria Taylor, Mike Souza
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Welcome back Glenbard West Community. It is our goal to continue to ensure the safety of all while creating a healthy and positive learning environment. Glenbard West places extreme importance on instructional time and regular school attendance requires a cooperative effort by parent/guardian and school personnel. A parent must call the attendance office to report an absence. This call should be made before 10:30 a.m., however, calls can be made at any time to an answering machine at (630) 942-7480.
Please remind students to bring their electronic devices to school fully charged and to keep them in a safe place at all times. Please take a moment and review our
Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
(Section 9:10) and contact our office with any questions.
In addition, Glenbard West's dress code is outlined in the
Castle Keys Handbook
. The
dress code is designed to eliminate distractions and focus on academics within the school setting.
We look forward to an exciting year as our students continue to strive for excellence!
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Bullying Tip Line
The School Violence and Bullying Tip Line
(630) 942-7406
is for students and others to anonymously report threats of school violence and/or bullying behavior.
Student ID’s
Each Glenbard West student is required to have a current school identification card. The card serves the following purposes:
1. Student identification
2. A Bus Pass for students eligible to ride the school buses
3. To be shown when entering the building prior to first period
4. A library card for students checking out materials
5. Lunch purchase using Point of Sale program
6. To be shown when entering a dance
Students must carry their identification card when at school and are expected to present it when entering the building or when asked for identification by any staff member (administrator, teacher, clerical, security staff, and custodial) or employee of Illinois Central School Bus. If the circumstances warrant, the staff member may keep the identification card and present it along with a Behavior Report to the Dean’s Office. Refusal to present and relinquish the card will be considered insubordination and will result in disciplinary action by the Dean of Students.
The first I.D. card for the current school year will be issued during the registration period in mid August. After school starts, replacement cards are available in the Library for a fee of $2.00.
Latex Allergies
Schools across the nation are experiencing more and more students who have latex allergies. Often, students with this allergy can have severe and even life threatening reactions if exposed to latex resins and powders. For their safety, there are certain latex products we no longer allow on campus. Latex balloons and silly string pose a significant health threat to students with a latex allergy. These products are not allowed on campus at any time, including after school, evening and weekend events. With this in mind, we request your help: Please talk with your children about this health and safety issue. Some students might not understand the reason for a "balloon ban." We want all Glenbard West parents to know that their children are safe on our campus.
Leaving Campus During School Hours
Students,
except for freshman
, may leave campus during their lunch period. At no other time may students leave campus without permission.
Students who become ill while at school have the option to be excused through the Health Office or Attendance. Students leaving campus for partial day pre-arranged absences must first report to the Attendance Office.
Upon returning to school, students must submit a doctor's/court notes to the Attendance Office. If a student leaves school without pre-arranged status and the parent notifies the school after the fact, the absence will be considered truant. Students who are excused from school (or suspended) may not come on campus to work in the library media department or computer labs.
Professional Learning Communities (PLC's)
Early Dismissal Mondays. Every Monday (except holidays) Glenbard West students will be dismissed at 1:52 p.m. to allow teachers time to meet in collaborative groups. Regular bus service will be provided for students, including extra-curricular and athletic buses.
Freshman Orientation Mondays
Throughout the first semester, Freshman students will remain on campus during teacher PLC time (1:59 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.) on six specific dates to participate in continued Freshman Orientation activities. Attendance during the following dates is
mandatory
for all Freshman students.
August 19, 2019
September 9, 2019
September 16, 2019
October 7, 2019
November 11, 2019
December 2, 2019
All Freshman students will be able to ride their normal bus route home on each of these days once they are dismissed at 2:35 p.m.
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GLENBARD WEST
2019 - 2020
THEATRE SEASON
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- Great Savings!
- Priority Seating!
- A Guaranteed Night Out!
- Email reminders when a main stage show is approaching!
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Don't miss a single show...SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!
Click Here
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THE BLACK BOX NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
May 1 & 2
Student written & directed!
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MS. STACY SCUMACI
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR OPERATIONS
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Hello Glenbard West -
My name is Stacy Scumaci and I would like to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal for Operations at Glenbard West High School. I am beginning my eleventh year of serving The Glenbard 87 School Community, previously as a mathematics teacher, ELL teacher, dean of students, and summer school principal. I am looking forward to this new position and the challenges that it will bring. I can assure you that I share in this school community’s dedication to caring for our students while providing them with a meaningful and safe learning environment.
I am very excited to enhance each student’s learning experience by making updates to classrooms, common student spaces, athletic facilities and our campus in general.
Every summer we take time to make improvements throughout our buildings in order to create a safe and clean learning environment for our students. Below is a brief list of things we accomplished while our students were on summer break:
Indoors -
- LED lighting installed in the Field House
- Innovative cooperative learning space in the library
- Brand new carpet in the auditorium
- A mathematics resource room built next to the math office
- Main entry along with 13 classrooms and numerous hallways were painted.
Outdoors -
- New green roof furniture
- Brick pavers and landscaping added near the victory bell
- Landscaping and beautifying of campus
- The parapet wall above above the cafeteria (adjoining rooms 410 through 414) underwent major restoration which entailed repairing and replacing masonry work that had given out over the decades.
I look forward to a safe and successful school year. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns.
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DR. REBECCA SULAVER
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR INSTRUCTION
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Open House
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Auditorium
The staff and students of Glenbard West High School cordially invite you to join us for our annual Open House on
Thursday, August 29th
. We will begin promptly in the auditorium at 6:00 p.m. From 6:30 to 8:25, you will have the opportunity to follow your student's class schedule. Classes will be ten-minute sessions so that teachers can speak with you and other parents in your group about the specific classes your students are taking this fall. Get ready, as well, to hear about the countless ways in which subjects very familiar to those of us who graduated a few years ago are taking on some new and exciting dimensions. We know that you will have questions about these courses, and we encourage you to ask them. We ask, however, that you arrange for an individual conference with a teacher if you wish to discuss the individual progress of your students. During your student’s lunch period or study hall, please stop by the MURC for a presentation on Digital Citizenship or visit the Elliott Library to hear about resources for your student. Should our six-story building get you a bit turned around during the evening, student guides will be in our halls to distribute maps and to direct you to classrooms. Please don't hesitate to take advantage of their assistance. We always look forward to this evening, for we have found that it is an excellent way for our parents to get a true feel for the academic program their students are pursuing and to meet those people most responsible for making it come alive for these young ladies and gentlemen.
NOTE: IMPORTANT MEETING INFO
Meeting for parents of seniors (with counselors) begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Library.
Meeting for parents of juniors (with counselors) begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium.
Meeting for parents of sophomores and freshmen (with counselors) begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria.
Make sure to bring a copy of your student's schedule with you to Open House.
Here is the schedule you will follow:
Principal Presentation in the Auditorium (6:00)
Period 1
(6:30 - 6:40)
Period 2
(6:45 - 6:55)
Period 3
(7:00 - 7:10)
Period 4
(7:15 - 7:25)
Period 5
(7:30 - 7:40)
Period 6
(7:45 - 7:55)
Period 7
(8:00 - 8:10)
Period 8
(8:15-8:25)
Zero Hour
(8:30-8:40)
*Drivers Ed will be in Room 428
*P.E. will be in the Cafeteria
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Friday, August 30, 2019
Student Early Dismissal Schedule
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Zero Hour
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
Period 8
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6:45 a.m. - 7:20 a.m.
7:35 a.m. - 8:08 a.m.
8:13 a.m. - 8:47 a.m.
8:52 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.
9:30 a.m. - 10:03 a.m. **
10:08 am. - 10:41 a.m. **
10:46 a.m. - 11:19 .a.m. **
11:24 a.m.- 11:57 a.m. **
12:02 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
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** Lunch period for students and staff
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AM routes - no change
AM Bus to TCD - no change
TCD bus brings students back to GBW/leaves TCD at 9:30 a.m.
NO PM TCD
TCD Bus returning Directions student to GBW/leaves TCD at 12:20 p.m.
PM Route Busses will leave school at 12:45 p.m.
Activity bus at 2:00 p.m.
Athletic Busses will leave 4:00 p.m.
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State Testing
The Illinois State Board of Education
will provide the College Board’s PSAT 8/9 to all students in the ninth grade, PSAT 10 to all students in the 10th grade, and SAT to all students in the 11th grade for free beginning spring 2020.
Experience is one way students can become better prepared for the SAT college entrance exam they will take in April of their junior year. Another way students can prepare for this high stakes test is through taking a Kaplan or Excel Edge test preparation class, which are hosted at Glenbard West. Students may sign up for these classes at exceledgeinc.com or Kaplanatschool.com/glenbardwest. A final and
free
way students can prepare for the PSAT or SAT test is through FREE individualized test preparation at the Khan Academy website
(
www.khanacademy.org/test-prep
)
. Junior students will learn about this free offering at school.
Parents and students can learn more about this free resource by watching a 10 minute video at
https://goo.gl/BjYDZg
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2019-2020
AP CHANGES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
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AP Students and Parents,
Major changes are occurring this year with AP. Starting in 2019-20, schools will implement new annual processes and have access to new classroom resources and supports. AP Exams will be ordered in the fall (2019) via a new registration and ordering system. College Board studied fall exam registration with over 40,000 students and saw that students scored higher on the exam, particularly students who are traditionally underrepresented including females in STEM courses.
Teachers and students will receive free course and exam preparation resources, including question banks, personal progress checks, and performance feedback. To learn more, visit the
AP 2019 page
.
At the beginning of the school year, students will sign in to their college board account. If students do not have an account, they will need to
create an account
.
A join code will be provided to you from your teacher so students can enroll in their class section. This will allow students to access the new resources throughout the school year. This will also allow students to register for the exam in October for year long courses or 1st semester courses. The college board portal does not collect fees for exams. After students have registered with the College Board, they will need to visit our Total Registration site to ensure an exam will be ordered for them.
The fee for each AP Exam your student will take this year has not changed from last year and is $94 (with the exception of AP Seminar and AP Research which cost $142) if ordered and paid for by November 15. It is important that you order by November 15, as exams that are ordered late between November 16 and March 13 incur an extra $40 late fee ($94+$40 fee). The ordering deadline for second semester only courses will be March 13, 2020.
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DRIVERS EDUCATION PARENT CLINIC
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Drivers Education Parent Clinic for current Drivers Ed students will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the MURC (Rm. 303)
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SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
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2019-20
College Application Season!
We understand the entire college application process can be a stressful one. Between visits, financial considerations, discussions on the right fit, and pressure put on you by the colleges themselves trying to get you to apply early, things can easily become overwhelming. We also understand many of our seniors may be the first in their family to apply to college. To minimize your worries, West’s School Counselors are here to guide Seniors and their families along the way.
The first step in the college application process; all seniors and their parents completing the “College Profile” and “Parent Input Form” respectively on Naviance under the “About Me” and “My Surveys.” This valuable information will help support seniors’ letters of recommendation. There was a Senior Letter sent home in July to prompt this process. Please refer to it for more information or always feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor.
The second step will be counselors meeting with all of our seniors during a special
“Senior Convo” on August 27th
to discuss the process for requesting both transcripts and letters of recommendation. We believe this information is also important for parents so there will be a presentation by the School Counseling Department on
August 29th prior to Open House
in the Elliott Library. After the Senior Convo and parent presentation, counselors will be meeting with all seniors in small groups and individually as needed, fully preparing all for the major November 1st deadline. Stay tuned to your child’s Naviance account, future newsletters and emails for additional information.
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THE HISTORY OF GLENBARD WEST
SECOND EDITION - AVAILABLE NOW!
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Now available!
The History of Glenbard West—SECOND edition!
Over 400 pictures and updated information. All copies are signed by the author: GWHS English teacher Steve Wiersum.
OR
click on this link to go to the GWHS History Webpage:
100% of profits go towards the GWHS English Department Writing Scholarship: The Firley Award. Our Goal: To raise $10,000 for The Firley Award. This will continue to allow the Glenbard West English Department to give the award for at least 10 years.
Thank you so much…and go Hilltoppers!
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NEWS FROM STUDENT SERVICES
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Welcome back!
With the ending of summer, we know that there are mixed emotions about your student returning to school.
Many of our students are juggling rigorous class loads, managing social/familial relationships, attending to family responsibilities, and squeezing in time to enjoy outside interests. It's no surprise that more than one in four Americans describe themselves as “super stressed”, according to Mental Health America. Unchecked levels of stress can lead to significant physical and psychological effects such as a weakened immune system, difficulties sleeping, gastrointestinal issues, and an increased risk of depression and anxiety according to author, Julia Keim in article Managing School Stress. Additionally, stress can impact a student’s concentration level, their mood, and harm relationships. It can also negatively affect one’s productivity.
While we all need a certain amount of stress to motivate and help us perform at our best, the key to managing stress lies in that one magic word: BALANCE.
It is crucial that we assist students in finding a healthy school-life balance to cope with and best manage their stressors. Students may be overly committed which impacts their ability to effectively manage all of their responsibilities as well as their health. Some examples of may be fitting in time to exercise, be in nature, spend time with family/friends, listen to music, practice deep breathing or journaling, etc.
Other helpful tips:
- Help your student identify their values: as a family, it is important to discuss and share with your student, what is valued such as hard work, perseverance, character rather than ambiguous ideals such as high grades, awards, recognition, etc.
- Help your student set a schedule: plan ahead and keep track of activities and obligations.
- Help them assess their own limits: encourage your student to monitor their stress levels, when your student notices they may becoming stressed, help them to make time for self-care.
- Help your student be present: assist your student to focus on the current moment rather than be distracted by future worries or activities. Mindfulness is a great tool to use!
- Help your student learn to ask for help: students may need assistance in knowing when to ask for help, encourage them to not be afraid to reach out to others for support.
If you as a parent feel that your student’s stress level extends beyond normal levels, know that Glenbard West Student Services Department offers social-emotional support/services to help them create a health school/life balance
.
Students can e-mail or visit Student Services in order to secure an appointment with a School Social Worker or School Psychologist. When they come for their appointment they will be greeted by one of the administrative assistants. They will be assigned a staff member according to alphabet. Alphabet is broken down into teams via School Counselor.
The breakdown is listed below. Please feel free to contact your student’s School Counselor or the associated Student Services personnel for questions or more information.
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MATTER OF PRIDE
MAY RECIPIENTS
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Matter of Pride is a recognition award given to students who demonstrate through their actions, quality character that promotes Glenbard West. Nominations come from
staff members as well as individuals within our communities. Ten nominees are
selected monthly and presented with certificates and t-shirts.
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Back Row: Katie Laird, Brennan Dougherty, Evan Taylor, Jonny Zydlo, Caroline Morawski. Front Row: Kyle Drexler, Sage Wuertzer, Noor Ansari, Samra Haseeb, Jacqueline Gutierrez
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DR. DAVID LARSON, SUPERINTENDENT
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Dr. David Larson, Superintendent
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Profile of a Graduate key component of our work
I trust you and your family are enjoying the last several weeks of summer.
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After many months of meetings and hard work, I am excited to share with you our Profile of a Graduate (see below) and updated mission statement. The Board of Education is slated to approve these at its Aug. 12 meeting. Our Profile of a Graduate is a collection of capabilities or qualities that characterize our graduates. It will guide our work to prepare students for a bright future in a changing world.
During second semester last year, a committee of more than 60 people
participated in three work sessions as a
part of the Profile of a Graduate process. This committee represented a cross-section of our community and included students, staff, administrators, parents, business people, faith leaders, alumni and higher education representatives. We sincerely appreciate their significant work.
I look forward to engaging with our faculty and staff about the best approaches for integrating the competencies of our Profile of a Graduate into everyday teaching and learning.
In the coming years, the Profile of a Graduate will be a key component in our overall work. We have an integrated approach to implementing the strategies and tactics that guide our work. The following is a brief description of each area.
Mission Statement
At our final Profile of a Graduate Committee meeting, committee members offered feedback about a revised Glenbard District 87 mission statement. We also gathered feedback on it from colleagues in our six sender school districts. We have considered all of the feedback, and last spring and early this summer, all Glenbard administrators and department chairs worked on revising the Glenbard mission statement. After several iterations and much discussion, we proposed the following new mission statement to the Board of Education on July 15:
“We inspire and empower each student to become a
critical thinker who engages as a global citizen.”
Board Goals
We believe that what’s important gets measured. Our Board of Education has several goals related to student achievement, as well as student engagement and fiscal stewardship. See the goals
here.
We hope to develop key targets related to our Profile of a Graduate.
High Leverage Practices
We detailed a list of our high leverage practices that guide our work. These practices include:
- Persistent Attention on Equity as a Measure of Impact
- Student Supports By Name, Strength, and Need
- Powerful Team Culture in Professional Learning Communities
- Leveraging Technology for Deep Learning
- Embracing Data to Eliminate Gaps
- Alliance with Middle Schools to Meet Student Needs Early
- Exceptional Professional Growth Programs
- Reflective Evaluation that Supports Continuous Improvement
Board Commitments
Our Board of Education commitments, previously referred to as Beliefs and Convictions, are aligned with our programs and practices. See the commitments
Profile of an Educator
In the fall, we will begin a six- to eight-month process to develop a Profile of a Glenbard Educator, which will complement our Profile of a Graduate. The growth of and support of students occurs because of the work of numerous educators. We will develop the profile of the hard working, highly skilled educators who make up our schools.
As you can see, we are committed to continuous improvement. We are excited about the new school year and eager to connect with our students. I hope you and your student(s) have a great year.
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GLENBARD PARENT SERIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Bullying Tip Line
The School Violence and Bullying Tip Line
(630) 942-7406
is for students and others to anonymously report threats of school violence and/or bullying behavior.
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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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