Spartan Weekly
News from Glen Crest Middle School: September 6, 2021
From the Principal
Happy Labor Day! I hope you all enjoyed the longer weekend and beautiful weather.
As you may be aware, school bus companies nationwide are experiencing driver shortages. Our bus company is not an exception. At this time, the bus company has been able to staff all regular routes but they do not have many back-up drivers. When there is a substitute driver, it can cause delays. This has a ripple effect and impacts our activity buses as well. All buses will pick up and drop off students, and we will do our best to communicate to families when there is a significant delay on a route. The bus company is in the process of training a new group of drivers, which will be a big help for all our local school districts. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience.
A few reminders for the drop off/pick up car line... Please do not make u-turns on Sheehan. We realize it mat take a little longer to go around if you need to head back toward Park Ave, but it will keep everyone safer. Also please remember to pull all the way down to the end of the drop off line before you stop to drop off, or for your student to enter your car. Your student should have their things in their laps, ready to jump out quickly. It helps keep the line moving faster for everyone. Last, please do not block the entrance to the parking lot if you are waiting in line.
Understandably, there are a lot more parents dropping off and picking up this year. The shortage of bus drivers isn't helping. However, the safety of every student and staff member is extremely important. We need the cooperation of everyone to help make the process as safe as possible.
From the PE teachers ~ Fitness testing went SO well! We are so proud of our students for accomplishing the four FitnessGram fitness tests. You should be seeing a bright pink sheet with their scores on it- please sign the white sheet attached and have your student return it to their PE teacher by Friday, Sept. 10 for a 20pt homework grade.
Music t-shirts will be ordered soon!! Band, Chorus, and Orchestra members will wear these for concerts throughout the year. Please complete the attached order form and return it to your student's music director no later than Friday, September 17.
Glen Crest families are encouraged to share their student's COVID-19 vaccination records with the school nurse. The COVID-19 vaccine is not required. Providing your student's vaccination record will help the nurse when your student has symptoms or has been a close contact. Students who do not show proof of vaccination will follow the isolation and quarantine rules for unvaccinated students.
Extra-curricular activities
There will be an informational meeting for Dungeons & Dragons Club (D&D) on Wednesday, 9/8 in the library after school. Let Mrs. O'Connell know if you have a conflict but are interested in joining the club.
Chorus rehearsals begin September 7 - 9. Information is attached. Please contact Paul Ropp (propp@ccsd89.org) if you have any questions or need an early bus schedule.
9/8- Girls volleyball home vs. Westlake
9/9 Girls volleyball @ Glenside, Cross Country @ Marquardt
News from the district
Parent Series: Author will discuss the two fates of Wes Moore on Sept. 8
The next Glenbard Parent Series event will be this year’s Community Read author. U.S. Army veteran, Rhodes Scholar, and White House Fellow Wes Moore will talk about his book “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates”, which details the story of two boys born blocks apart who ended up on very different paths. This will be a free virtual presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8. More info: www.glenbardgps.org.
Talking with your students about Afghanistan, hurricanes
When tragedies dominate the news, they can affect students in different ways. With the recent deaths in Afghanistan and the hurricane hitting the southern coast amid an ongoing pandemic, children may be absorbing even more than we realize. If your student is struggling, please reach out to our counselor or social worker for support. They can help with strategies about how to have transparent conversations that are age-appropriate.
These resources can also help in talking with your children at home:
Large-Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Children Cope
The news these days is, well, a lot. How do you talk to your kids about it?
Volunteers need to show proof of vaccination or participate in rapid testing
The district has received updated guidance on the governor’s recent executive order. Community members that regularly volunteer at schools and are not vaccinated against COVID-19 can continue volunteer if they participate in a BinaxNOW test on the day they are scheduled to volunteer. The volunteer would need to come to the school at least 20 minutes prior to volunteering and participate in a BinaxNOW test at the school. The volunteer would need to fill out the BinaxNOW consent form: https://bit.ly/3t875Sq It takes about 15 minutes to get test results.
All volunteers will need to submit this form at the school. Families are encouraged to fill out the form prior to arriving at the school and bring their COVID-19 vaccination card, if applicable. The form will also be available at the school.
Families that are simply stopping by the school for a few minutes to make a quick drop off or pick up are not required to fill out the form or test. Masks are required for all adults and students in any school at all times.
Free meals will be available throughout the school year
All students will be able to receive a free lunch and breakfast throughout the 2021-22 school year. (Students who are not taking the free lunch but want to get a milk at school must pay for the milk.) Students will also be able to take a breakfast at the end of each day. More info: https://bit.ly/3xFnKgy
District is hiring classroom aides, instructional assistants
The district is currently accepting applications for lunchroom aides, instructional assistants, and bus drivers. You can learn more about these positions at: www.ccsd89.org/Page/779 To apply to be a bus driver, go to: https://firststudentinc.com/careers/
Use district’s new site to get technology help
Families that need support for iPad or Chromebook issues should use the district’s new online help system. Enter your contact information and some details about the problem at: https://bit.ly/89techsupport
Families can pay school fees by creating MySchoolBucks account
Families can pay their 2021-22 school fees by logging directly into or creating a MySchoolBucks account. If you have not previously used MySchoolBucks, you will start at the MySchoolBucks homepage, then choose “Sign Up Free” from the left side of the page. You can find out more information here: https://bit.ly/3xMwx0o
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 6: No school (Labor Day)
September 8: Glenbard Parent Series: Community Read with author Wes Moore
September 11: Board of Education work session
September 14: Glenbard Parent Series: Teenage Social-Emotional Health
September 16: Glenbard Parent Series: Technology Tips to Help Teens (Español)
September 20: Board of Education meeting
September 23: Glenbard Parent Series: Youth Mental Health Post-Pandemic
September 28: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee
September 28: Glenbard Parent Series: Let’s Talk About Depression and Suicide
October 8: Morning attendance for students
October 11: No School (Columbus Day)
CCSD 89 on-line backpack
Glen Crest Middle School
Attendance phone: (630) 858-1844
Daily announcementsEmail: info@ccsd89.org
Website: www.ccsd89.org/glencrest
Location: Glen Crest Middle School, Sheehan Avenue, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 469-5220
Facebook: facebook.com/CCSD89
Twitter: @GlenCrestMS