Bulldog News

August 9, 2024

October 11, 2024

A note from Mr. Dubinsky

During the week of October 14, our school’s social worker, Kristin Payne, will be visiting all classrooms for the annual Erin’s Law presentation. Illinois school districts are required to provide age-appropriate Erin’s Law lessons to all students from preschool to eighth grade. The goal of this presentation is to help children feel empowered to report problems and increase awareness of crimes against children.

The Erin’s Law presentation will focus on keeping our bodies safe and how others should respect our personal space. Students will practice saying ‘no’ to anyone who is not respecting their body, and how to report an incident. Students will be asked to think of trusted adults in their life they could talk to if they felt someone was making inappropriate comments or touching. Younger students will hear the book "We Can Say No" by Lydia Bowers and discuss its meaning.

The Erin’s Law presentation is done once each school year. Guardians have the option to withdraw a student from a unit of instruction by sending written notice to me at mdubinsky@ccsd89.org.

If you have any questions about the content of the presentation, please don’t hesitate to contact our social worker Kristin Payne.

Halloween will be here before we know it!

Parties will be on Thursday, October 31. Some children go home for lunch to get their costumes. Children who remain at school for lunch will bring their costumes to school in a bag and put them on after they eat lunch. Preschool Halloween parties will be on Wednesday, October 30.

All children leaving the building for lunch will exit Door #1 by the office. Cars may not be left unattended on the west side of Briarcliffe Blvd. There will be many children exiting near the street during our noon and after-school dismissals. We urge you to drive cautiously.

For lunch, students should be picked up at 11:45 a.m. and return to school at 12:35 p.m. for the afternoon. Regular classes will be held from 12:35 to 2 p.m. At that time, students will prepare for the Halloween outdoor parade, which will begin at approximately 2:10 p.m. We will exit Door #3 and parade outside to Door #1. Parties will begin at 2:35 and end at 3:20 p.m. so teachers have time to prepare for a safe dismissal.

Costumes must be non-violent. Costumes should not include swords, guns, knives, clubs, lasers, or any other type of weapon. All costumes and masks must be designed for safety and adequate vision. All costumes must be tasteful and age-appropriate.

If you are a room parent for the party, please remember to contact the teacher to discuss games. Room parents may bring party supplies to the classrooms at noon or after 2:15 p.m.

Briar Glen Bulldog Fun Run event highlights!

As we wrap up our fundraiser, we are thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! Thanks to your incredible support and generosity, we have not only met but exceeded our fundraising goal of $35,000!

Here are some key highlights and updates:

1. 🥁Fundraiser Total: Together, we have raised a total of $35,000!

2. 🎉Impact: Your donations will go directly toward a new primary playground structure, enriching the educational experience for all students at Briar Glen School.

3. 🙌THANK YOU: We extend a BIG thank you to our volunteers who played a crucial role in making this fundraiser a resounding success. Your dedication to our school community is deeply appreciated!

For any last minute donations, our fundraising platform, MyBooster.com, will remain open for one more week!

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. Your involvement has made a tremendous difference and showcases the strength of our school community!

D89 Basketball League registration due October 13

Registration for the D89 Basketball League is now open. Registration is due by Sunday, October 13. The D89 Basketball League is an independent organization that plays many games in CCSD 89 schools and includes many CCSD 89 students in third through sixth grades. Register: https://bit.ly/4eMUk6n More info: https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=89basketball

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The Great Pumpkin decorating contest! 🎃

Celebrate your love of books this October by decorating a pumpkin to look like a book or book character! This contest is optional and should be completed at home.

Rules:

One submission per student
Pumpkins cannot be carved
Pumpkins must represent a book or book character

We will have a primary (preschool, first, second) and intermediate (third, fourth, fifth) contest. A first and second place prize will be awarded for each division. Winners will receive a gift card to Learning Express!

Pumpkins can be dropped off at the Briar Glen library on Friday, October 25. Voting will take place on Monday, October 28. Winners will be announced on Halloween! All pumpkins must be picked up by the end of the day on Friday, November 1.

Questions? Email Mrs. Casmer at acasmer@ccsd89.org

👻 Monster Mash, 6-8 p.m. October 26 at Glen Crest

When: Saturday, October 26

Where: Glen Crest Middle School gymnasium

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Who can attend: All Briar Glen students, parents and siblings are welcome to attend. Please note that this is a family event, and each child must have a parent or guardian present at the dance.

Activities: DJ, dancing, photo booth, costume contests and more! (Water and drinks will be provided at the dance.)

Costumes: Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required for Monster Mash Dance. We ask that costumes not include scary/gore themes or masks, weapons, or any violent imagery. Please be mindful of young children.

Cost: $8 per person prior to the event, $10 at the door

Please fill out the early entry form on MySchoolBucks by Friday, October 18. If payment by cash or check is preferred, fill out the form that came home with your student and return to school.

Please make checks out to Briar Glen PTC. Label envelope "Monster Mash".

NOTE: See PTC email for helpful tips if you are having issues purchasing tickets on MySchoolBucks.

Individual entry tickets may be purchased at the door on October 26, with the entry fee of $10 (Cash or check only.) Please make checks out to Briar Glen PTC.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Kristin Payne, the school social worker, who will speak to you confidentially regarding the possibility of financial assistance.

Wristbands (entry ticket) and one drink ticket (per person) will be given out the week of October 21st to the oldest students of families who registered ahead of time.

If you have any questions, or would like to help with this event, please contact Sarah Frega (630-464-3684) or Sarah Palazzolo (630-800-8912). See previous PTC emails for SignUp Genius link to donate or volunteer!

Click here to register for preschool parent evenings

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. (Note: there is also a “FirstView 1.0” app that will not show CCSD 89 bus routes.)

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

Upcoming Events

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 18: Back-to-School family bocce ball event, 4-6 p.m.

October 22: Parent Series: Teen anxiety and school anxiety, noon and 7 p.m.

October 28: Parent Series: Community read – ‘Gods of Jade and Shadow’ 6 p.m.

October 29: Parent Series: Strategies for responsible, respectful kids, noon and 7 p.m.

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

October 26: Briar Glen's Monster Mash at Glen Crest, 6-8 p.m.

October 30: Preschool Halloween parties

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

November 4: No school (Teacher Institute Day)

November 5: No school (Election Day)

November 6: Fall picture retakes

November 7: Parent Series: The price you pay for college, noon and 7 p.m.

November 13: Parent Series: An evening with best buddies, 7 p.m.

November 14: Parent Series: Limiting social media for teens, noon and 7 p.m.

November 15: First trimester ends

November 15: Preschool developmental screening

November 18: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

November 20: Parent Series: Understanding, preventing addiction, noon and 7 p.m.

November 21: Parent Series: Ayudar a los adolescentes a gestionar sus emociones, 6 p.m.

November 21: PTC meeting, 7 p.m.

November 26: Team day

November 27-29: No school (Thanksgiving break)

Parent Series: Solutions to crisis of disaffected youth (October 17)

At noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, clinical psychologist John Duffy will discuss adolescent behavior and offer methods for raising kids who are motivated to overcome depression, anxiety, and avoid risky behaviors. More info: https://bit.ly/3zLgpTW

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