Bulldog News

August 9, 2024

August 16, 2024

A note from Mr. Dubinsky

NEXT WEEK! I am so excited to welcome all our students and families to a new school year. Last year, our office was given a new look; now, the rest of Briar Glen looks even better!

The first day of the 2024-25 school year for students will be Wednesday, August 21. Staff will start the school year with two planning days on August 19 and 20.

School hours:

Kindergarten through fifth grade: 8:50 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
Preschool hours: 8:30 - 11:10 a.m. (morning session) and 12:30 - 3:10 p.m. (afternoon session).

Students kindergarten through fifth grade should not arrive at school before 8:30 a.m. When the 8:40 a.m. bell rings, students will enter the school. Students must be in their seats ready to start when the 8:50 a.m. bell rings or they will be marked tardy. Briar Glen staff will be available outside the school on opening day to assist students and answer questions.

Please note: Preschool and their drop-off time is 8:20 a.m. Preschool dismissal is 3:10 p.m. Please DO NOT plan on arriving earlier than 8:20 a.m. or earlier than 3:20 p.m. Kindergarten through fifth-grade morning supervision does not begin until 8:30 a.m.

Get your back-to-school answers

Looking for information on the 2024-25 school year? We’ve collected answers to some of the most common questions about calendars, food, transportation, supplies, and more on our back-to-school page: www.ccsd89.org/welcome

Briar Glen supply list

2024-25 CCSD 89 calendar

Know which health forms your student needs

Students entering preschool, kindergarten or sixth grade, as well as students who are new to CCSD 89, must have a current certificate of child health exam and updated immunization record on file. All Illinois children entering kindergarten, second, and sixth grades are required to have a dental exam. An eye exam is required for children enrolling in kindergarten and students new to Illinois. Additionally, Glen Crest students who want to try out for athletics have a pre-participation form filled out by a doctor. Go to the CCSD 89 health page for more information: www.ccsd89.org/health

Learn about low-cost dental and immunization resources: www.ccsd89.org/Page/534

School schedules, teacher assignments are now available on PowerSchool

Families can log in to their student’s PowerSchool account to see their teacher assignments and school schedules. You can find out more information about logging onto PowerSchool here.

Families new to the school district were sent a letter in the U.S. Mail with their PowerSchool log-on information. More info: https://bit.ly/4fOepKH

Meet-the-teacher and supply drop off

Meet-the-teacher and supply drop-off will be 8 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20 for kindergarten through fifth grade students. Preschool will be from 8 to 8:25 a.m. (morning session) and 8:30 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. (afternoon session). Stop by Briar Glen with your school supplies to lighten your load on the first day of school and meet your teacher.

We will be ending the meet and greet promptly at 8:30 a.m. so staff can get back to their professional development.

Our nurse will have a table to drop off the following items:

Kindergarten: medical, eye, dental forms
Second grade: Dental forms
Any emergency care plans (allergies)

The PTC welcomes kindergartners!

School fee invoices were sent via email on August 7

On Wednesday, August 7, all CCSD 89 families were emailed an invoice from MySchoolBucks requesting payment for 2024-25 school fees. The invoice came from “do-not-reply@myschoolbucks.com”. As a reminder, school fees were not paid during registration. Families can also pay for optional items (such as gym clothes, lockers, and recorders) through MySchoolBucks. You will need to log in to MySchoolBucks directly to pay your fees. Read more: https://bit.ly/46JlFn5

Before- and after-school care available through YMCA, park district

Do you need before- or after-school care for your child this school year? CCSD 89 partners with the B.R. Ryall YMCA and the Butterfield Park District to provide before- and after-school programs for students at Arbor View, Briar Glen, Park View, and Westfield elementary schools. More information: www.ccsd89.org/domain/1299

Back to school safety tips for drivers and students

Please be aware, the Wheaton Police Department’s back to school safety plan includes increased police presence at all schools to ensure everyone arrives to/from school safely and to enforce safe transportation practices around schools.

Below are tips to help make this a safe and successful school year.

Driver safety

Obey speed limits and school zones.
Avoid distracted driving.
Watch for students walking or on bikes.
Do not pass a stopped school bus.
Ensure everyone in a vehicle wears their seatbelt.
Adhere to the directions of crossing guards to ensure the safety of children and drivers.

When to stop for school buses:

On a two-lane road, vehicles traveling in both directions MUST stop when a school bus is loading/unloading.
On a road with four or more lanes, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop and may proceed with caution. Vehicles traveling in the same direction as a stopped bus must stop.
On a divided highway (where there is an unpaved space at least 5 feet wide, a raised median or physical barrier), vehicles behind the bus must stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction may proceed with caution.

Upcoming Events

August 19: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

August 19-20: Teacher Institute days

August 20: Meet-the-teacher, 8-8:30 a.m.

August 20: - PTC Ice Cream Social at Briar Glen, 4-5:30 p.m.

August 21: First day of 2024-25 school year for students

August 22: Parent Series: How to help kids start strong, noon and 7 p.m.

August 26: Parent Series: Body language to boost confidence, noon and 7 p.m.

August 27: Parent Series: How to raise a health gamer, noon and 7 p.m.

August 28: Blood drive at Glen Crest, 2-6:30 p.m.

August 28: Parent Series: Anxiety in young children, noon and 7 p.m.

September 2: No school (Labor Day)

September 4: Parent Series: Becoming the parent you want to be, noon and 7 p.m.

September 5: Preschool-fifth grade Curriculum Night, 6-7:30 p.m.

September 7: PTC New Kindergarten Event, 9-11 a.m.

September 7: Board of Education workshop (tentative), 8 a.m.

September 11: Parent Series: Stress reduction for teens, adults, noon and 7 p.m.

September 13: Preschool developmental screenings

September 19: PTC meeting, 7 p.m.

Door #1 (pre-construction photo)

Grades 4 and 5 will enter through door #1 at 8:40 a.m.

Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, and 5th walkers will exit door #1.

Door #2

Grades 2 & 3 will enter through door #2 at 8:40 a.m.

Only grades 1st and 3rd walkers will exit door #2.

Door #3

Preschool will enter through door #3 at 8:20 a.m. (AM session) and enter at 12:30 p.m. (PM session).

Kindergarten & 1st will enter through door #3 at 8:40 a.m.

All grades being picked up by cars will exit door #3.

Pick-up and drop-off at Briar Glen

Ice Cream Social: 4-5:30 p.m. August 20

GPS Parent Series: How to help your kids start the school year strong

The GPS Parent Series hosts free presentations with insights on students and parenting. You can see the full schedule of 2024-25 speakers at: www.gpsparentseries.org

The next speaker is developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of “The 5 Principles of Parenting”. At noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, Pressman will discuss strategies for parents to help their children start the school year strong. Learn more: https://gpsparentseries.org/events/aliza-pressman/

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