Principal's February Newsletter
February 17, 2023
Hi, this is a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have a student at, or have expressed an interest in, Glenbard East High School. Communication between Glenbard East and our families and community is very important to us. Don't forget to add ge_news@glenbard.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Please email any questions directly to Glenbard Staff, we are happy to respond.
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February 16, 17, & 18
Winter Theatre Performance - Hay Fever
7PM - Rider Hall
February 20
NO SCHOOL
Presidents' Day
February 24
Winter Dance
February 28
Glenbard East Music Association Board Meeting
All are welcome!
7PM - Room 201
March 3
NO SCHOOL
Institute Day
March 8
Orchestra Invitational Concert
7PM - Biester Auditorium
March 9
Multicultural Night
7PM - Biester Auditorium
March 15
Theatre Performance - Là Llorana (in Spanish)
7PM - Rider Hall
March 17
GBX Music Festival
6PM - Biester Auditorium
LIVE LIFE WELL WEEK
Glenbard District 87 students and staff will celebrate healthy habits through our annual Live Life Well Week 2023 from Feb. 20-24. This year's theme is, "When it’s Raining, Look for the Rainbows. When it’s Dark, Look for the Stars”. On "Make a Difference Monday" - Feb. 20, the Presidents' Day Holiday, all students are invited to volunteer to make blankets for children with cancer at the Glen Ellyn Park District Ackerman Facility from 11:30am-1:30pm as part of Project Linus. Pizza and supplies are provided by the ACTS: Advocating Character Through Service Parent Committee in partnership with Glenbard clubs, and teams. On Feb. 21st, “Time Out Tuesday”, take time to reflect and create while enjoying a warm drink. Also, a dietician offering education on healthy eating habits will be outside the cafeteria. On “Wholesome Wednesday”, Feb. 22nd, our rams will encourage and lift one another up by making a compliment chain and placing inspirational quotes on lockers. During physical education classes on “Thursday Thoughts”, Feb 23rd, students will hear virtually from guest speaker Juan Bendana who will share the strategies to “Helping Students Step in their Greatness”. After school our rams will use that new found knowledge to create mood boards. “Food & Fun Friday/Power of Play Day” Feb. 24th, students will have the opportunity to play Minute to Win it during lunch periods.
DRESS UP DAYS FOR LIVE LIF WELL WEEK
Tuesday, Feb 21st: Slay your Hat Day
Wednesday, Feb 22nd: Wacky/Tacky/Crazy Hair Day
Thursday, Feb 23rd: Zoom call – Business/Fancy on top, Casual on the bottom
Friday, Feb 24th: White Out w/Splash of neon! (Black out w/splash of neon for the dance)
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment for all students has been completed. We appreciate all the planning you and your student have done to complete this process and we thank those who took advantage of the online format to complete this process at home. Over the next few months, the counseling staff and administration will be busy attempting to design the school’s Master Schedule for next year based on the requests that the students made during enrollment. Courses will be calculated and created based on students' requests. Therefore, please check PowerSchool to confirm your student’s course requests. Please contact your student’s School Counselor immediately if you find an error.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE ENCOURAGED
Although your student’s high school experience is primarily about academics and preparation for their future, involvement in extracurricular activities is vital to their overall success. Research shows that students who are involved with extracurricular activities tend to perform better in school than those who are not involved. Through participation, students at East have the opportunity to give back to the community by completing service projects, engaging in hobbies and items of interest, and competing with other students on both the local and national level. With that in mind, we ask that you encourage and challenge your son/daughter to get involved in something. It is never too late. Seize the moment. Carpe Diem. The high school years tend to fly by. The more students are involved and engaged, the fonder the memories they will have of this time in their life. Click here to learn more about the 60+ clubs offered at East. Our extracurricular program is something that we take great pride in and continue to identify activities that students are interested in. Transportation is also available to those students who wish to participate in after school activities. We offer 4:30PM and 6PM buses on Monday-Thursday as well as a 5PM bus on Friday.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
It is important to understand that in order for students to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them, they must be at school. Daily attendance is vital to both academic and extracurricular success. We expect East students to attend school, be on time, and be prepared for school each day. However, if your son/daughter is sick, we encourage you to keep them home and call our attendance office at 630.627.2595 or email at ge_attendance.org
TRANSFER STUDENTS WELCOMED
We are excited to continue welcoming new transfer students to Glenbard East. The Counseling Department has enrolled over 167 new students so far this year. On February 14th, we hosted an orientation for students that are new to us this semester where we reviewed technology, academic resources, and ways to get involved. Welcome to East!
CAP AND GOWN - SENIOR CLASS OF 2023
If you have not ordered your Cap and Gown for Graduation please visit Jostens.com. Or call the Jostens office in Lisle, at 630-963-3500.
In order to have a Cap and gown for Graduation you need to order by Friday, March 10th as that is the final day before our cutoff.
SENIORS: COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Please see your counselor immediately if you still need to complete any remaining college applications. It is not too late to apply to some colleges, but time is quickly running out. The counseling department offers a final college application workshop on February 23rd during all lunch periods. Seniors who want assistance completing college applications can stop by the library during their lunch period. No appointment is needed!
Springtime is the time to get the financial component of the college decision process worked out before finally choosing what college you will be attending next year. Check the financial aid page on the website for each of your schools to see what types of scholarships they offer. All high school seniors must complete their FAFSA or an opt-out waiver to graduate. Students can complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by going to www.fafsa.gov. Colleges require the FAFSA to determine the amount of financial aid for which you may be eligible. Financial Aid does run out, so complete this form today if you have not done so already. Also, ensure you read all the correspondences you receive from your colleges. Once you have filed your FAFSA and are awaiting your financial information from the colleges, it is not uncommon that they may ask you for additional documentation. If your FAFSA gets "flagged for verification", this does not mean you have done anything wrong, but your schools may require additional documentation to fully process your financial aid package. If it has been a while since you filed your FAFSA, and you are still waiting on your financial aid package, we encourage you to contact the Financial Aid Office at your prospective school to check on the status of your Financial Aid offer. Remember that you have until May 1, 2023, to officially commit to whatever school you plan to attend in the fall. Take the time to find out how much it will cost you before committing!!!
FINAL TRANSCRIPTS: Colleges may be sending you a request for a final transcript in the next few months. This transcript cannot be produced until all grades for the entire year are posted in June. Counselors will be surveying seniors in May, asking where they want their final transcript sent. Please disregard senior transcript requests when you receive them from the colleges…we have it covered!
JUNIORS: COLLEGE PLANNING
Counselors will visit Junior English classes in early March to provide students with post-secondary information. Juniors will be introduced to our new college and career program, SchooLinks, that families can use to research career and college options. During these 2-day presentations, students will be provided information on a diverse range of postsecondary options. Families of Juniors are encouraged to consider scheduling college visits for spring break and summer. Please consider attending The Illinois Regional College Fair at North Central College on March 16th for college exploration. You may use the GEHS Junior Checklist as a step-by-step planning guide.
AASA PRESENTS MOCK MENDHI
Glenbard East’s Asian American Student Association is thrilled to be hosting its 1st official Mock Mehndi on Saturday, March 11th! A Mock Mehndi is a traditional cultural celebration in South Asian communities that brings together music, food, clothing, and dancing to kickoff a wedding. It is an event that we hope showcases the many aspects of South Asian culture and spreads awareness about our culture.
AASA will be holding its event in the East Gym from 5:45-9:30 PM and tickets will be sold beginning on February 24th. All Glenbard students are invited to attend and perform. For any additional questions, please contact 1240020@glenbard.org!
CONGRATULATIONS TO TCD's A*TEAM
Being named to the TCD A*Team is recognition for students’ outstanding achievement in their respective programs at TCD. The A*Team certificate is awarded to those students who received an “A” from TCD for the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year. We feel this represents many hours of work by the student and the combined efforts of your staff and ours. Ceremonies honoring the students will be Friday, February 17th in the Gates Center of TCD.
Congratulations to these students:
AM
Nathan Carbajal - Criminal Justice
Paula Carbajal - Nursing Assistant Training Program
Miranda Dephillips - Professional Cooking, Baking, And Service
Joshua Gutierrez - Automotive Technology
Payton Hayes - Fire Science
Nael Hernandez - Professional Cooking, Baking, And Service
Diamond Holmes - Professional Cooking, Baking, And Service
Awad Jameeluddin - Automotive Technology
Sean Knowles - Multimedia & Television Production
Jessica Mayer - Multimedia & Television Production
Cristal Mendoza - Nursing Assistant Training Program
Yahel Miguel - Automotive Technology
Leena Nawaz - Cosmetology
Luke Novak - Emergency Medical Technician
Rachelle Pobanz-Pawlak - Automotive Technology
Christopher Van - Multimedia & Television Production
Tamara Villalobos - Cosmetology
PM
Ciara Adams - Nursing Assistant Training Program
Arianna Carrano - Medical Terminology & Healthcare Careers
Abygail Chambers - Criminal Justice
Chezia Conte - Medical Terminology & Healthcare Careers
Daniel Davis - Emergency Medical Technician
Alexander Delguidice - Welding Technology
Hailey Glennon - Nursing Assistant Training Program
Grace Groveau - Professional Cooking, Baking, And Service
Trevor Hoh - Professional Cooking, Baking, And Service
April Jimenez Tenorio - Medical Terminology & Healthcare Careers
Jacob Johnson - Emergency Medical Technician
Jocelyn Osorio - Medical Assisting
Luz Pacheco - Early Childhood Education & Care
Christian Robles - Computer Information Systems & Game Design
Calvin Szeluga - Computer Information Systems & Game Design
Jacob Velasco - Automotive Technology
CONGRATULATIONS TO MATH TEAM
Congratulations to the East Math Team for earning 2nd place at the Glenbard Invitational. The Junior Team led by Jason Cisnero, Tommy Gill, Claire Flanagan and Kayla Hickman earned 1st place at the event. The Math Team will be competing in their conference tournament on Thursday February 16th, wish them luck!
CONGRATULATIONS TO STUDENTS PERFORMING IN NATIONAL CHOIRS
The following students have been selected to participate in the 2023 American Choral Directors Association National Honor Choirs, February 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio:
Linaea Walsh – Soprano 2 - High School SSAA Honor Choir
Hailey Mecenas - Tenor 1 - High School SATB Honor Choir
Olive Turner – Soprano 1 - Jr High/Middle School Honor Choir
CONGRATULATIONS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE SCHOLASTIC ART COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to the following students who earned awards in the Scholastic Art Competition:
Taylor Breen - honorable mention in expanded projects
Julia Merrick - Silver Key for painting
CONGRATULATIONS!
Julia Merrick self portrait
Taylor Breen - Teeny
G-COIN AWARD
Glenbard East is proud to announce a new student recognition program – the G-coin. Throughout the school year, each administrator will recognize one student, who will receive a certificate of acknowledgement, a G-Coin, as well as East Spirit Wear that the student selects from our website.
During first semester the following students were selected:
Kaylee Choi
Kaylee was selected by East’s Assistant Principal for Operations, Mitch Berenson. She is a senior who has been an outstanding student in many ways throughout her time at Glenbard East High School.
One Saturday afternoon last fall, she heroically jumped into a bus from the parking lot and pushed the brake down to prevent it from rolling in the street. Such a selfless act shows her bravery and desire to protect those around her.
Thank you, Kaylee, for your heroic act!
Gregorio Monroy Jr
Gregorio was selected by East’s Assistant Principal for Student Services, Broderick Booth. He exemplified the mantra "take care of others" and "take care of east" by putting the needs of others at the forefront of his thoughts and actions.
Gregorio intervened as three students had a disagreement, asking that they break it up and also asking them "are you ok?" The level of concern he showed was admirable, and it was evident that his heart was in the right place. During times where some students opt to encourage negative behaviors or video record, it is refreshing to see a young man step up to help in a challenging moment. We would like to honor his courage, care and wherewithal.
Thank you, Gregorio, for your kindness!
RAMS OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER & JANUARY
Our Rams of the Month are outstanding students who display our District 87 Profile of a Graduate tenets which include evidence of communication, critical thinking, embracing diversity, creation, collaboration, or self-empowerment within their classrooms or extracurriculars. These students were nominated by staff and are deserving of our recognition. Mr. Broderick Booth, Assistant Principal for Student Services, personally recognizes these students each month. Congratulations to all!
Marcos Chavez - December
Nominated by Mrs. Zeller who said, "Marcos brings positivity and inclusivity everyday to class, builds rapport with peers and teachers, engages in deep learning and challenging tasks, and student shows initiative, responsibility, agency, and accountability in all spheres of school."
Kyle Leyva - December
Nominated by Mr. Lahey who said, "Kyle’s energy and enthusiasm in Drivers Ed is infectious throughout the entire department. His participation in the classroom is unmatched and he practices responsible decision-making out behind the wheel."
Nicolas (Nico) Moro - December
Nominated by Mr. Voss who said, "Nico has excelled in AP Statistics all year long. In addition to performing extremely well on his assessments, Nico is an active participant in class; volunteering responses, asking clarifying questions, asking extending questions, and helping his peers both in and out of class. He makes responsible choices by getting high quality work submitted in a timely manner. Nico consistently demonstrates all six competencies of Glenbard's Profile of a Graduate."
Annabelle Stevenson - December
Nominated by Ms Bowen who said, "Annabelle works hard and is a leader in the class. She strives for excellence in and outside of the classroom."
Vlad Tryfanenko - December
Nominated by Ms. Johnson who said, "Despite working long hours outside of school, Vlad brings positive energy to the class. And despite being the only speaker of Ukrainian, he interacts exceptionally well with his Spanish-speaking classmates, even taking the opportunity to learn some Spanish. In addition to his regular classwork, Vlad spends extra time growing his knowledge of the English language by participating in small group instruction with the Literacy Specialist. Recently, Vlad increased his reading rate by twenty words and increased his accuracy by 6%. These gains are a testament to Vlad's engagement in the learning process. Way to go, Vlad!"
Rahma Ahmed - January
Nominated by Mr. Novak who said, "In English class, Rahma truly takes her work seriously: whether it's a small homework assignment or a full essay, Rahma's attention to detail reveals her love of learning. But Rahma doesn't hoard what she learns; when a classmate was struggling to make sense of a short story, Rahma politely guided him and asked him thoughtful questions that helped him see the story from a fresh perspective and understand the motivation of the protagonist. Rahma is the embodiment of a dedicated learner with the will to quench her curiosity. She is truly deserving of being a Ram of the Month."
Phoenix Fodrey - January
Nominated by Mr. Podraza, who said, "He is one of the highest scoring students in the class. Phoenix always has a positive attitude and a willingness to make a strong effort. He works well with others, demonstrates leadership and participates in class. It is because of these qualities that I am selecting Phoenix as Ram of the Month for mathematics."
Makenzie Goldsmith - January
Nominated by Mr. Jaffe who said, "Makenzie's curiosity is contagious. She's hard working and ready to take on new challenges. She brightens everybody's days."
Emely Heinle - January
Nominated by Mr. Edgar who said, "Emily is off that a great start at Glenbard East. She is a hard working student who is polite and respectful to everyone around her. Emily works well individually and as member of a group. Emily is always willing to help out her classmates and likes to see everyone be successful. Keep up the great work Emily!"
Zabdi Hernandez-Juarez - January
Nominated by Mrs. Koonce who said, "Excellent student! Always on task, takes responsibility for self and team! Inspires and motivates others!"
CONGRATULATIONS TO DON PROCHILO - CTE INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Glenbard East business teacher Don Prochilo on being named CTE Instructor of the Year by the DuPage Area Occupational Education System and College of DuPage, for his extensive efforts in building Glenbard East’s INCubator program.
Glenbard East’s INCubator brings creativity, innovation and expert entrepreneurial guidance together in one course that allows students to jump-start their business ideas. Glenbard East students work in small teams to develop an original business idea and collaborate with community experts and entrepreneurs who act as mentors and coaches, helping students see their ideas to fruition. Our students are taught by Prochilo, as well as a team of business coaches and mentors, who guide them through an authentic entrepreneurial experience. The class culminates with a Shark Tank-style pitch contest at the end of the year for potential funding for students’ businesses.
Prochilo helped to launch Glenbard East’s INCubator program in 2016 and is recognized for demonstrating innovation, passion and advocacy for career technical education (CTE) and entrepreneurship. He will be honored during a ceremony on Feb. 28 at the Technology Center of DuPage.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GARIECIA ROSE
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has recognized Glenbard East's Gariecia Rose, social studies teacher, with the Outstanding Early Career Educator Award. ISBE awards one educator, who has less than five years of experience and has demonstrated excellence and leadership beyond their years, annually.
STAFFULTY OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER/JANUARY
The Glenbard East Staffulty of the Month Award has been established to recognize outstanding
people for their dedication, professionalism, and work. Those receiving this award are nominated by administrators, colleagues, and students for exhibiting our D87 Profile of an Educator tenants.
Each month, we recognize two staff members based on their advocacy for students, empathy for
others, critical thinking, embracing diversity, innovation, and collaboration.
Congratulations to this month's honorees!!!
GEORGE WEDEL
George Wedel was nominated by a staff member for exhibiting the following Profile of an Educator competencies: Advocates, Empathizes, Thinks Critically, Embraces Diversity, Innovates, Collaborates. Here is what they had to say:
"George Wedel is truly admirable in his interactions with students. He is always looking out for the best interest of our students, and sees the good in everyone. Students look to him for guidance and they know he is someone that they can always talk to. Many of my E3 students end up in George's Senior English sections and it always warms my heart to know that they will have someone so kind and caring to look out for them their senior year."
KEISHA EDWARDS
Keisha Edwards was nominated by a staff member for exhibiting the following Profile of an Educator competencies: Advocates, Empathizes, Embraces Diversity, Collaborates. Here is what they had to say:
"Keisha has done an excellent job organizing The Giving Tree for our students at Glenbard East. She has gone above and beyond to provide gifts for the students who need them most. She has shown the members of her club the importance of giving back and helping others this holiday season (taking care of others). I am happy to see this tradition back at Glenbard East thanks to Keisha."
SUPERINTENDENT, DR. DAVID LARSON: ENCOURAGES FOCUS ON WELLNESS
In the midst of winter, when it can be tempting to hunker down and hibernate, our schools host Live Life Well Week, which is filled with activities designed to inspire students to increase their emotional and physical well-being.
This year’s theme for the week is “When it rains, look for rainbows; when it’s dark, look for stars.” Throughout the week, activities focus on positivity. The activities tap into creativity as a way to foster gratitude, self-compassion and mindfulness. Activities also will highlight empathy, kindness and connection. The theme and lessons of Live Life Well Week last long after the week ends. Throughout the year, our staff and administrators frequently communicate the importance of these concepts to students.
Healthy tips
We also reinforce health experts’ recommendations to maintain good health:
· Be active. Activities that involve movement such as yoga or dancing release endorphins, which reduce stress and improve one’s mood.
· Get outside. A short walk after school several times a week is good for overall health.
· Develop healthy eating habits. Nutritious food will fuel the body far longer than a diet of mostly processed foods.
· Maintain good sleep habits
· Practice mindfulness techniques
· Develop meaningful relationships with others. Among the benefits is supporting each other during difficult times.
Families are key partners in helping students understand the importance of physical and mental well-being. The Glenbard Parents Series is a tremendous resource for families. Nationally recognized experts share tips for families on a wide range of topics, including helping teens develop coping skills, make healthy choices, benefit from physical activity and much more. Check out the list of upcoming GPS webinars at this link.
Additional resources
· We are fortunate that there are several health resources available in the community. The DuPage Health Department provides numerous health resources, including a list of mental health resources at this link.
· Check our list of additional health community resources at this link.
· East’s knowledgeable, caring related services staff are available to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally.
A focus on wellness aligns with East’s motto of Take care of yourself. Take care of others. Take care of East. Together, we can help students develop healthy habits that will last them a lifetime.
ATHLETICS NEWS: FEBRUARY 2023
We continue to build and live by our athletic motto: Students First: VICTORY Will Happen…as victory is way more important than just simply winning. We continue to implement the Glenbard Profile of a Graduate transferable life skills and its six competencies: self-empowered, communicates, thinks critically, embraces diversity, creates, and collaborates. We feel these skills will afford our students post-secondary opportunities including college, jobs/careers, military, and help them to be successful in whatever they choose to do.
2022-23 Spring Athletic Head Coaches
- INDOOR TRACK & FIELD BOYS - start date Tuesday, January 17, Head Coach Daniel Greco (daniel_greco@glenbard.org)
- INDOOR TRACK & FIELD GIRLS - start date Tuesday, January 17, Head Coach Molly LeMark (molly_lemark@glenbard.org) and Jordan Flowers (jordan_flowers@glenbard.org)
- GYMNASTICS BOYS – start date Monday, February 13, Head Coach Wayne Hill (wayne_hill@glenbard.org)
- BADMINTON - start date Monday, February 27, Head Coach Scott Llorens (scott_llorens@glenbard.org)
- BASEBALL - start date Monday, February 27, Head Coach Clayton George (clayton_george@glenbard.org)
- SOCCER GIRLS - start date Monday, February 27, Head Coach Athena Toliopoulos (athena_toliopoulos@glenbard.org)
- SOFTBALL - start date Monday, February 27, Head Coach Victor Swanson (victor_swanson@glenbard.org)
- TENNIS BOYS - start date Monday, February 27, Head Coach Steven Hoogerheide (steven_hoogerheide@glenbard.org)
- VOLLEYBALL BOYS - start date Monday, March 6, Head Coach Kelly Markworth (kelly_markworth@glenbard.org)
Student Athletic Fees/Registration - $150: All students/families who participate in athletics will be required to register and pay the $150 athletic fee for one, two, or three sports. Student-athletes take advantage of this great deal and participate in multiple sports! Fees are due before the first competition. Parents can register and pay online through PowerSchool. If financial help is needed, there is a PEP grant waiver available through the athletic office.
GLENBARD EAST ATHLETIC ON THE INTERNET
Glenbard East Athletics keeps players, parents, and fans up to date with team news, pictures, schedules, rosters and more.
For the most up to date team schedules and announcements, please visit our athletic website:
- http://il.8to18.com/glenbardeast
- Follow us on Twitter: @GEHS_Athletics
- NFHS Livestream: If you cannot attend in-person, please view our Rams teams that compete in the East Gym-Main Gym and in the Stadium: Click here for Livestream Events
- Athletic Wall-of-Achievement: https://glenbardeast.touchpros.com/Home2.aspx
ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB
Our Athletic Booster Club attempts to annually raise over $30,000 that go directly to our teams and student-athletes; helps provide essentials that help enhance our athletic teams pursue VICTORY! However, we need more parent volunteers! Please sign up and continue to help enhance our athletic program. The main website is: geramsboosters.org for information about membership, parent volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, concession, purchasing spirit wear, and family activity passes. Any further inquiries please contact Athletic Booster Club President, Mrs. Jerri Gapastione (jgw8@comcast.net).
See information for Red & Black Trivia Night (Friday, February 24, 2023)
Glenbard East High School
Email: ge_news@glenbard.org
Website: glenbardeasths.org
Location: 1014 South Main Street, Lombard, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 627-9250
Twitter: @GE_Rams