Greenbriar Gazette 9/13/24

Dear Greenbriar Families,

Thanks to everyone who attended our first PTO meeting of the year, either in-person or via Zoom, on Tuesday. We invite all parents to join any of our monthly PTO meetings to hear about the latest news and events from Greenbriar and across the district. Thanks to our PTO executive board and other volunteers for helping to start our year off so positively!

We're excited for our first Greyhound Pack meetings next Thursday. For those who are new to Greenbriar, our Greyhound Packs are small families of students from across grade levels who meet monthly to connect and participate in fun activities. Packs stay together the entire time students are at Greenbriar. The Packs are one of the ways Greenbriar tries to increase belonging for students (and staff members!) and to help build connections between students who may otherwise not have many opportunities to interact. Next week, we'll welcome our new kindergarteners and other new students into their Packs and have a first chance to reconnect with our Pack members this year. Look for more updates on our Facebook page!

We're also happy to highlight our first Greyhound Greatness Award winners for the month of August, pictured below. These students were nominated by their teachers for their kindness and hard work in the first weeks of school. See more details about the Greyhound Greatness Award below.

A friendly reminder, our lost and found is already overflowing! Please take a moment to write your child's name on a tag in their clothing, especially sweatshirts and jackets, so we can return items to their owners. Our lost and found is by our main dismissal door on Greenbriar Lane, so please encourage your children to check it during the day or on their way out!

Have a great weekend!

Warmly,

Ginny

Congratulations to Ellie, Jada, Veera, Payton, Jacob and Clayton, our August winners of the Greyhound Greatness Award!

New this year, we're going to highlight Greyhounds from each grade each month to receive the Greyhound Greatness Award. This award is intended to honor students who have shown kindness and/or hard work throughout the month. One or two students are nominated by each classroom teacher and one nominated student from each grade is randomly chosen to receive the award and have their picture taken with Flash. Parents will be informed if their child is nominated. Thanks for helping us highlight our awesome Greyhounds!

If your child participated in the Greenbriar Summer Book Club and finished the book, DOGTOWN s/he is invited to a party on Friday, September 27, 2024. The celebration will take place in the Library during lunch/recess time. Please RSVP to Mrs. Sanchez (csanchez@northbrook28.net) by Monday, September 23. Be sure to include your child’s name, grade, and teacher.

We're excited to offer three opportunities for parents and caregivers to come together around topics of interest to our District 28 community. District administrators will facilitate conversations around the following books/topics:

• Discussion around Yardsticks by Chip Wood: October 23, 6:00-7:00 @ Meadowbrook
• Discussion around The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: January 22, 6:00-7:00 @ NBJH
• Discussion around Young Explorers' podcast series: The Power of Play: May 14, 6:00-7:00 @ Westmoor.

Please join us for any or all of the above discussions by RSVPing here. The first 20 registrants for the Yardsticks and The Anxious Generation discussions will receive a copy of the text. Please see this flier for additional information.

• As a reminder, parents of kindergarteners and new students in 1st-5th grades must submit health and vision forms by 10/15/24. Kindergarteners, 2nd graders, and new students are also required to have a dental exam form on file, due by 5/15/25. Please submit any forms to Nurse Sherman via email, send in hard copies with your child, or drop them off in the main office.
• If students choose to wear sandals, Crocs, or boots to school, please also send gym shoes for PE and recess to help avoid injuries.

Want to learn more about your child's curriculum? Curriculum Guides shared during curriculum night are posted on the district website for easy access whenever you have a question.

View Curriculum Guides by Grade

As a reminder, we have changed our fall community event to be the Greyhound Gathering Fall Fest on October 25th. There will be no Greyhound Gathering (previously on the calendar for end of September). Look for more details coming soon from our PTO about the Fall Fest!

We're excited about our annual Halloween traditions at Greenbriar on 10/31 with a parade at 2pm and classroom parties from 2:30-3:15. We invite all families to watch the parade around the Greenbriar neighborhood. More details will be provided as we get closer to Halloween.

We know many students are thinking about Halloween costumes already so, when selecting a costume for your child to wear to school, please follow these guidelines:

• Students will change into their costumes at school after lunch, or at home if they go home for lunch. Please make sure students are able to get into their costume with minimal help. Teachers are unable to help with makeup application, etc.
• Costumes must be comfortable enough for the student to remain in them for the whole afternoon and easy to navigate for using the bathroom.
• Costumes may not have full masks or cover the face.
  
• Costumes may not be overly scary or include replica weapons or excessive blood and gore.
  
• Costumes should avoid including political statements or inappropriate language.

Please mark your calendars for December 13th for Greenbriar's Winter Festival of the Arts! Our 1st through 4th graders will perform (see times below) and we will host our PTO Cookie Walk and Holiday Market. All families are invited to stop in to purchase cookies and holiday goodies. More details will be coming closer to December.

• 1st grade performance: 9:00am
• 2nd grade performance: 9:45am
• 3rd grade performance: 10:45am
• 4th grade performance: 12:45pm

Please see this note from Mr. Bartunek about how your 1st-4th graders can submit audio recordings of their favorite holiday/winter stories and memories to be included as a part of the show.

The PTO will be sending a weekly update on Mondays...you can also always find the latest news and updates on the PTO website.

• September 13: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
  
• September 19: First Greyhound Pack meetings!
• September 20: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
• September 24: Board of Education meeting @ 7pm
• September 27: Picture re-takes
• September 27: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
  
• October 3: NO SCHOOL
• October 4: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
• October 8: PTO Meeting @ 8:45
• October 11: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
• October 16 & 17: Parent-teacher conferences and Book Fair
• October 17: Half day for students, 12:00 dismissal
• October 17: Greyhound Pack meetings!
• October 18: NO SCHOOL

You can also visit Greenbriar.northbrook28.net calendar to add these events to your personal device.

If you are interste din Greenbriar's Brownie Troop, please email Chanel Pike at chanellwing@gmail.com for more information.

Visit the library one hour before we usually open to browse and check out materials and engage in a sensory-friendly activity for families with disabilities from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. Accessibility Hour is a supported program for families with disabilities.

Learn more at northbrook.info/accessibility

Glenbrook North Feeder Basketball will hold tryouts for boys in grades 3 through 8 on Sept. 16 and 18 at Glenbrook North Field House.

• 3rd-5th Grade 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• 6th-8th Grade 7:45-8:45 p.m.

Cost-$20 (cash only and if you make a team this will go toward your team fee!)

Attendance to both nights is strongly recommended! To sign up for tryouts and get more information please visit www.gbnfeeder.com .

For more information or questions on the Boys Feeder Program you may contact Scott Lidskin Director of Feeder Basketball via email at scott.lidskin17@gmail.com

Tryouts for the girls program is in October.

The North Suburban YMCA is hosting mindfulness workshops for children in grades kindergarten through 5th grade throughout the fall. Visit Children's Workshops on the YMCA website for more information.

2024KidsMindfulnessClasses.pdf

WHAT: Community Conversation and Call to Action

WHEN: 7 p.m.Monday, Sept. 30

WHERE: United Methodist Church, 1190 Western Ave., Northbrook

Join us as CATCH leads a Community Conversation and Call to Action about our kids' mental health! There is lots of buzz about Jonathan Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation," which brings the youth mental health crisis to the forefront. Haidt talks about smartphones, social media, and over-parenting, and he outlines very reasonable steps that we can take to create real change for our kids. We will talk, share our concerns, and discuss actionable next steps to reverse this youth mental health crisis. None of us can do this alone, but we CAN do this together.

Register today