Bulldog News

August 9, 2024

September 13, 2024

A note from Mr. Dubinsky

On Friday, September 27, Briar Glen students will be participating in the regular lockdown drill with the Wheaton Police Department. This drill is similar to the drills that students participate in each year. It involves teachers locking their classroom doors, turning off lights, and students practicing strategies to stay safe.

During the drill, a police officer will walk through the building with me, ensuring that each door is secured. The drill should take less than 10 minutes. Please use this as an opportunity to also have a discussion with your child(ren) at home about safety and staying calm during any emergency situation at school.

These drills are an important part of keeping our school safe. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Great job, Second- and fourth-grade students on CogAT!

This week, second and fourth-grade students took the Cognitive Abilities (CogAT) digital test. The students did a great job! You can expect a CogAT report to be mailed home to you with your child's results later in September or October.

Cubs Scouts 9/11 flag ceremony

Thank you, Cubmaster Ayers and Cub Scout Pack 382 for organizing a wonderful 9/11 flag ceremony on September 11. It was a meaningful event that honored Skokie Firefighter and Briar Glen parent Mr. Connor for his bravery and support as a first responder.

Your support in these community events helps instill important values in our students. Thank you for providing this memorable occasion.

Art Cub is now FULL

We are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Buettner, Mrs. Elavia, and Miss Lillwitz are introducing the Art Club at Briar Glen! The club will consist of two main groups: one for first- and second-grade students, and another for third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. Each group will meet every other week, and specific dates for both groups can be found in the survey linked below. See the flyer below for more details.

Please note that there is a maximum capacity for each section, so we encourage you to sign up quickly. Registration is only available through online submissions.

Click here to sign up!

We are grateful for the PTC's generosity, which allows us to offer this club at no cost to join. We can't wait to start creating with you!

Character Strong - kindness kickoff

We’re excited to kick off the new school year by talking about kindness. Our definition of kindness is: acting with understanding, generosity, and care. We believe developing skills around kindness will help us build a strong foundation for a great year of learning, connecting, and growing together. Check out the Family Letter below for more information about PurposeFull People and some fun ways you can join us in kicking off our most kind year yet! Watch for monthly newsletters like this that outline the skills we are learning in class and provide fun ideas to grow as a family at home.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PRESCHOOL PARENT EVENINGS

Classroom party volunteers needed!

We’re excited to kick off another school year full of fun classroom parties, and we need your help! If you’re interested in volunteering, please scan or click on the QR code below and fill out a separate form for each of your children. You can choose which parties you’d like to help with on the form.

Thank you for being so supportive in making these events memorable for the kids!

FirstView app helps families keep up with bus travel

Many CCSD 89 families can now track their student’s bus trips to and from school through the free FirstView busing app. Parents can download the FirstView app, which will show an estimated number of minutes until the bus will arrive at a bus stop and when buses arrive at school. Families should search for “FirstView” on the app store. (Please note: there is also a “FirstView 1.0” app that will not show CCSD 89 bus routes.)

The app only works for students riding First Student buses. It is not available for special education (Hopewell) transportation, early or late buses, or student field trips. Learn more: www.ccsd89.org/busapp

CCSD 89 students get in free to Friday’s Glenbard South football game

CCSD 89 students who wear their school colors can get in free to the Glenbard South football game on September 13, which is “Raider Pride” night. CCSD 89 students are invited to form part of the tunnel for players to run through. All students must be accompanied by an adult. Info: https://bit.ly/3zdOagj

High school district looking for feedback in superintendent search

Community members are invited to share feedback with high school district Glenbard 87 as part of the district’s superintendent search. Most CCSD 89 students will attend a Glenbard 87 high school. Glenbard 87 superintendent David Larson is retiring from the district at the end of the school year. Glenbard 87 has an online survey available through September 21 at www.glenbard87.org/superintendent-search More info: https://bit.ly/3z1bldX

Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades will participate in BESS screener

CCSD 89 is committed to helping all students grow academically while also developing life skills that will help them be successful adults. In order to better measure students’ ability to manage emotions and make good decisions, CCSD 89 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades will be participating in the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (commonly known as BESS) in September.

The BESS screener will take students less than 10 minutes to complete. Students are asked to indicate whether they never, sometimes, often, or always agree with 28 different statements. Examples of the statements include “I’m happy with who I am” and “I’m good at making decisions”. Students will take the BESS more than once this school year.

BESS is not a tool for making a diagnosis and there is no grade associated with it. BESS will give the school data about how your child internalizes risk, self-regulates, and establishes good relationships. This data will be paired with in-class observations to help track student growth over time. If the BESS screener shows any immediate concern for your student’s emotional health, a social worker or school psychologist will reach out to you by phone and discuss ways to support you and your student.

Upcoming Events

September 16: Fire drill, 10 a.m.

September 19: PTC meeting, 7 p.m.

September 23: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

September 24: Parent Series: The many ways of conditional love, noon and 7 p.m.

September 25: Fall pictures

September 27: Lockdown drill

September 30: Parent Series: A new term for ADHD, noon and 7 p.m.

September 30: Boosterthon Fun Run kickoff

October 1: Parent Series: “બાળકોને શારીરિક અને માનસિક રીતે મજબૂત બનાવવા માટે ના માતા પિતા ને માર્ગદર્શન, 7 p.m.

October 2: Parent Series: Criar al niño pequeño a través de crisis, noon and 7 p.m.

October 8: Parent Series: Who gets into college and why, noon and 7 p.m.

October 9: D89 Music Boosters fall fundraiser online meeting, 6 p.m.

October 10: Evening conferences

October 10: Boosterthon Fun Run, time TBA

October 10: Parent Series: El proceso de solicitud de ingreso en la Universidad, 7 p.m.

October 11: No school (conferences)

October 14: No school (Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day)

October 17: PTC meeting, 7 p.m.

October 17: Parent Series: Solutions to our disaffected youth, noon and 7 p.m.

October 21: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

October 30: Preschool Halloween parties

October 31: Kindergarten-5th grade parties, 2:30 p.m.

Parent Series: How to set goals to own your future (September 17)

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, Aurora University professor VaLarie Humphrey will discuss the best way to get teens to set goals, demonstrate resilience, navigate setbacks, and better understand how their efforts lead to future success. This is an in-person event at Glenbard South High School. More info: https://bit.ly/4gfwJNe

Parent Series: Community read – “Crying in H Mart” (September 18)

The 2025 GPS Parent Series Community Read features Michelle Zauner’s memoir “Crying in H Mart,” about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. Zauner will discuss her life and her book in a virtual presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18. More info: https://bit.ly/4dNUb2z

Parent Series: Former NBA player talks about preventing drug us (September 19)

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, former NBA player Chris Herren will discuss his journey from basketball star to drug addict to recovery. Herren will discuss how to prevent drug use by young people and take audience questions. This is an online and in-person event at McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage. More info: https://bit.ly/47pZQJr

Follow Briar Glen on X!

Check out what's going on at Briar Glen and get announcements too! Click here to follow @BriarGlenSchool.

Students, families can report crises and threats through Safe2Help

Students and families can confidentially call, email, or text the Safe2Help tip line to report bullying, threats, or classmates in crisis. Students or families can call (844) 4-SAFE-IL, which is (844) 472-3345; text SAFE2, which is 72332; email Help@Safe2HelpIL.com; or submit tips through the online form. Safe2Help submissions are monitored every hour of every day. More info: https://bit.ly/3BPxObO