Greenbriar Gazette 10/11/24

Dear Greenbriar Families,

We had another great week with lots of outside time in this gorgeous weather. We're hoping the beautiful fall will continue later in the month for our Greyhound Gathering Fall Fest on October 25th! More details about this event are provided below. We hope everyone can join us for this fun community event.

We're looking forward to parent-teacher conferences next week on Wednesday and Thursday and appreciate all families who have signed up for a conference already. If you haven't had a chance to sign up, please email your child's teacher to find an available time. We hope these conferences will be a time to share some initial feedback on your child's progress, preview upcoming instruction, and collaborate on how best to support our students throughout the next several months.

Next week, during conferences, we'll also be hosting our annual book fair in the large gym. The book fair will be open on Wednesday and Thursday during conference hours. This will be the only book fair at Greenbriar this year so we hope everyone will make time to stop by. Students will be filling in digital wish lists via SeeSaw for parents to view (see more details below). We're also looking for parent volunteers to help staff the book fair. Please click here if you're able to help!

There is no school on Friday, 10/18, so the next issue of the Gazette will come out on Thursday morning. Have a great weekend!

Warmly,

Ginny

Congratulations to our September Greyhound Greatness award winners: William C., Oliver K., Olivia G., Belle A., and Nathan A. Not pictured: Christiana L. These students were nominated by their teachers for their kindness and hard work over the month.

During the 2024-2025 school year, District 28 will continue to focus on student well-being and belonging. One of the ways schools will collect data in order to establish goals for student belonging is through a survey that we will administer to students in grades 3-8 on Monday, October 21, 2024. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey gives students the opportunity to reflect on connection and belonging at school. Students will not be individually identifiable in the analysis and use of the survey results. The goal is to gather general data for goal setting. The survey is developed from the Psychological Sense of School Membership (PSSM) scale, which has been used for more than 20 years to measure students’ sense of school belonging.

There will be nine questions and students will rate these questions on a scale of 1 being ‘not true’ to 5 being ‘completely true.' Please know there will also be an optional question that asks if a student would like to speak more to an adult at school regarding their responses. Only at that time will a student have the option to include their name. This information will only be shared with staff who would respond to support the student.

We are asking that all students in grades 3 - 8 participate in this survey in order to help schools determine this year’s goal in ensuring that every student has a sense of connection and belonging at school. If you have any questions or would prefer that your student not participate in this survey, please contact your building principal.

Toss on your spookiest sweater, favorite flannel, or most creative costume, and join us for Greenbriar’s first-ever Fall Fest on Friday, October 25. The sensory-friendly fun begins at 5:00 PM and all are welcome at 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM.

The main event, TRUNK-OR-TREAT, only has 4 spots left! Grab your Boo Crew and try to win the grand prize for best trunk! Click here to register or be haunted. Can’t commit to a car? We also need bounce house volunteers, found at the bottom of the signup genius!

A reminder that this is a family event and NOT a drop-off activity. It will be dusk and dark so keep good track of your Goblins. We recommend walking, as the parking lot will be filled for the trunk-or-treat. If you require handicapped parking accommodations please email AmandaMishevich@gmail.com.

Today, your student will participate in our Erin's Law presentations focused on age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention. This link provides follow up information for families to help discuss the topic with your children. The link also includes a digital download of the Be Seen and Heard coloring book and music videos which students may ask about following today's presentations.

Parents, are you curious about what books your child would enjoy from the Book Fair? Take a peek at their GRADE LEVEL's Library Seesaw account for ideas. The recommendations will be posted by the end of the day next Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Our Book Fair will be open during conferences on Wednesday and Thursday.

As conferences approach, we wanted to share information about how Greenbriar staff provide support for students who may need additional help in any area (e.g., math, literacy, behavior, emotional, etc.). Please see this document for additional details on the process we use to identify if students are in need of intervention support via our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Teachers will be happy to answer any questions or concerns about your specific child at conferences.

Greenbriar is hosting a children's book drive to benefit Bernie's Book Bank from October 14 to October 25, 2024. Please consider donating new and gently used children's books (reading levels birth through 6th grade) during our book drive.

Bernie's will accept picture books, board books, recent non-fiction, graphic novels, and chapter books. Bernie's cannot accept activity books, coloring books, dictionaries, textbooks, religious books, over-loved books, or foreign language books (other than Spanish). Here is a YouTube video explaining what they will accept.

Students can drop off books by the front atrium or by the Greenbriar Library.

Greenbriar is delighted to welcome author/illustrator JACOB GRANT on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Mr. Grant will talk with our K-2 students about his career as an author/illustrator and discuss his new book, UMAMI.

To ensure a personalized, autographed copy of this book, please return the order form attached below* with payment (cash or check payable to NORTHBROOK DISTRICT 28) by Friday, October 25, 2024. If you miss that date, a limited supply of signed books will be available for purchase until November 6, 2024.

*All K-2 students have also received a paper copy of the order form.

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.

Building Tomorrow Together community engagement workshops will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Mondays, Oct. 14 and 28, in the Northbrook Junior High School Large Gym, 1475 Maple Avenue.

During the community engagement workshops, community members will learn about D28’s educational programs, facilities and finances and participate in interactive work activities to help identify the community’s priorities for the future of its schools. Results from Building Tomorrow Together will be included in recommendations that will be presented to the Board of Education in December.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in Building Tomorrow Together. Registration is not required, but RSVPing will be helpful for planning. For more information, visit Northbrook28.net/BTTD28 or contact Terry Ryan, Communications Director, at 847-504-3404 or tryan@northbrook28.net.

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

Dear 3rd Grade Families:

This week, your child received a Mental Health Coping Kit. This effort was co-sponsored by CATCH and District 28. We want to evaluate the effectiveness of this program and value your feedback.

Can you help us?

Please take a few moments to complete a short survey on the impact the Mental Health Coping Kits had for your family.

Here is a Summary of the Anxious Generation Presentation for those who couldn't attend the presentation last month at GBN. As a reminder, Dr. Hiltz and Dr. Meek will be continuing the conversation about this book at their Parent Engagement Series presentation on January 22nd (see details above).

The District 28 Music Parents Club 68th Annual Wreath & Coffee Sale is LIVE and runs through 11/1/24! Our children are so lucky to be part of the D28 Award-winning music program and we ask all musicians to participate. If you would prefer not to participate in the sale, we ask each family to consider making a flat donation so the Music Parents Club can continue to do great work in providing the music directors what they need to sculpt our children into musicians! We appreciate the support of all D28 Music Families.

• October 11: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
  
• October 14: Community Workshop on Our School Buildings @ NBJH @ 6pm
• 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
• October 22: Board of Education meeting @ 7pm
• October 25: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
• October 25: Greyhound Gathering Fall Fest; 5-5:30 sensory-friendly start; 5:30-7:00 open event
• October 28: Community Workshop on Our School Buildings @ NBJH @ 6pm
• October 29: Beginning Band Demo Night @ NBJH @ 7pm
• October 31: Halloween! Parade @ 2pm and classroom parties to follow
• November 1: All-school pajama day!
• November 1: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!
• November 5: NO SCHOOL, Election Day
• November 8: PTO Pizza Day and spirit wear day!

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

Two Themes in One! In the a.m., step into the ballot box with Mr. V., as we celebrate Election Day in the John and Nancy Hughes Theater! We will honor America in song and story, celebrating her history, diversity, and her natural wonders. In the afternoon, we turn our gaze thousands of miles away learning songs from Mr. V.’s original musical “The Race,” honoring the incredible round-the-world solo-sailing race, The Vendée Globe, that begins on Nov. 10th. Please provide a lunch!

OPTION #1: 1/2 day – 9 am to Noon = $49
OPTION #2: 1/2 day – Noon to 3 pm = $49
OPTION #3: Full Day – 9 am to 3 pm = $99

Ages 4 to 10

Register here

Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to a day of dancing with the Glenbrook North Orchesis Dance Company from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 27th at the high school.

The cost is $30 per dance and includes a t-shirt and one ticket to the Orchesis Show in December.

Advanced registration is required. Register here.

12U Green is hosting a Clinic Series for interested 8U baseball (2nd grade) players. Join our players and coaches to learn skills that can help prepare for the upcoming season and 9U tryouts.
Clinic Series Schedule

• Wed. 1/15/2025 5-6 p.m. Fielding
• Wed. 1/22/2025 5-6 p.m. Hitting/Running
• Wed. 1/29/2025 5-6 p.m. Pitching

All three clinics are hosted at The Dugout, 1885 Holste Road, Northbrook.

Register today.