News and events
Valentines for Vets a success Thanks to the efforts of students, parents and staff, Valentines for Vets at the Glenbard Schools was a huge success. After school on Jan 30, hundreds of students at each of the four Glenbard High Schools with their friends and representing various clubs and teams worked to create thousands of valentines for veterans and current military. BR Ryall YMCA child care participants, area Girl Scouts, and students at District 16, 15, 89, 93 and 41 also participated. Special thanks to parent volunteers (Kathy Gilligan chair) and local vets who attended. The Village of Glendale Heights coordinated distribution of the
Valentine's to hospitalized veterans in Illinois hospitals and overseas. Valentines for Vets is held annually and organized by the Glenbard District 87 Schools ACTS (Advocating Character Through Service) Committee.
Can success be summed up in an ACT score? The average parent, it seems, will not accept an average child. Read the article by John Keilman, Chicago Tribune reporter.
People are talking... "I have been meaning to write
this note since I attended Dr. Levine’s GPS presentation in August. I have attended all but one of the speaker presentations since Dr. Levine’s wonderfully informative and sensitive presentation. I have thanked D87 in the car on the way home from each one. I convinced my son and husband that we ought to attend the panel on teen substance abuse together in January and it opened the doors for conversation on that topic for our family. For that, I am immensely grateful. Glenbard West Parent
Thank you GPS for this series. I am so, so very grateful. One more thing to make me proud of Glenbard District 87. My only regret is that I didn't get this ‘education’ a few years ago. I know that it would have helped me better shape my parenting approach. I’m sure that I have seen program information previously, but didn’t take appropriate notice of it, so the regret is simply that I didn’t know what I didn’t know!! I hope you continue to encourage the participation of families with middle school students—it is such an important time for families."
Glenbard East Mom
THANK YOU Glenbard Schools for arranging our WONDERFUL speakers for the GPS Series. I ended up going to both of Dr. Ginsburg’s presentations yesterday and even brought my husband for the latter. We both found Dr. Ginsburg to be everything we’d like to find in a speaker: enthusiastic, knowledgeable, amusing, engaging, and the list could go on and on. I thought that the presentations couldn’t get much better than Madeline Levine last month but boy was I wrong! It just keeps getting better and better! Glenbard South Parent
I was at a recent GPS program and was happy to see the audience was a nice mix of parents, teachers,psychologists, social workers and doctors. The beauty of District 87's program is that it is open to the public. Everyone wins because stronger and healthier communities benefit the world at large. I would encourage parents of children of all ages to attend, because it is a great investment of their time which will directly benefit their family. I look at this as an "in service" for the profession of parenting. Many companies invest in sharpening the skills of their employees by having periodic in-services because it strengthens their employees which directly benefits their company. What "company" is of more value than a family?” Glenbard North Parent Supporting your teen What's one of the best ways to help your children when they're about to make a major life change, like going to college or stepping into their first job? Simply be there for them! Use the following suggestions to guide your teens through the high school years and beyond.
Listen to what your kids say. Do they have any fears? Are they excited? Teens who are about to make a big transition may feel many different emotions, sometimes all at the same time. Their trust in their decisions may change from day to day or even from minute to minute. Let them know you'll be their sounding board. Talk less -listen more.
Discuss their feelings. If your teens are anxious or upset, ask them why they feel that way. But resist the temptation to jump in and give advice. Instead, gently encourage them to figure out a solution. You'll show your teens that you understand and that you think they are mature enough to solve their problems.
Reassure your children. Nobody sails through a new situation absolutely perfectly. You'll take a heavy burden off your high schoolers if you emphasize that mistakes are part of the learning process rather than signs of failure. Praise Effort!
Offer encouragement-Build the relationship. Your support will give your children a solid foundation to life off from, and a safe place to land if they need one. (Reprinted from High School Years)
Volunteer opportunities In planning a productive summer for your teen, consider the many volunteer opportunities that are available in our community. Every GPS speaker has stressed the physical and emotional benefits of teen engagement in volunteerism, and the invaluable lessons of learning new skills, developing self worth, compassion and responsibility. Now is the time for students to begin investigating summer opportunities for giving back. One website that serves as a clearinghouse for volunteer service organizations is www.givingdupage.org. Students are encouraged to share their talents, and experience the positive rewards that giving to others brings. Glenbard Instructional Volunteer Senior Leaders  The GIVS program continues allowing seniors and juniors with a study hall to partner with a mentor teacher and assist in a classroom. GIVS is a beneficial and life enriching experience that allows students to become more engaged in learning as well as benefit from the experience of giving. Now is the time for students to begin investigating summer opportunities for giving back. GPS – Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families  The purpose of the Glenbard Parent Series is to assist and facilitate real-world parenting skills, enhance our teens’ social and emotional development, and promote respect-based relationships that will keep our adolescents safe. The Series helps our communities to become educated and proactive. We explore ways to help our Glenbard students learn responsible decision-making at the monthly forums hosted at Glenbard West, East, North and South High Schools. No
registration is required, and everyone in the community is welcome to attend, strengthening home and community partnerships in pursuit of our mutual goals -- Inspire…Empower…Succeed!The Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families has been generously funded by a grant from the Cebrin Goodman Center and CASE. Additional funding has been donated by Linden Oaks at Edward, the Meadows-Glen Ellyn, Trust Comany of Illinois, Helping Girls Navigating Adolescence, the Glen Ellyn Character Coalition, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Carol Stream and others. Parent Education Consortium of the North Shore Looking for more parental resources? Check out the Parent Education Consortium of the North Shore. It is a wonderful resource of parent programs and they always mention ours. See it at www.PECcalendar.org.
District 87 volunteer opportunities ACTS (Advocating Character Through Service): The goal of ACTS is to help students develop an understanding about the importance and impact of service, strengthen their character, and enlarge their roles as engaged citizens and proactive members of society. To volunteer please contact Kathy Gilligan at 630-942-0188. ACTS organizes Glenbard Gratitidue Day and Valentines for Vets and supports service learning in our schools.Service learning opportunities, help with two all school events.
INTOUCH (Illinois Network to Organize the Underst anding of Community Health): The Glenbard INTOUCH Committee is a collaborative network that exists to educate and assist families and students by forming collaborative relationships with public and private agencies that provide family support services. Contact Gilda Ross, 630-942-7573. |
GPS Programs Please plan on joining us at the monthly Glenbard Parent Series programs (GPS: Navigating Healthy Parenting) addressing today's most important parenting topics. Join in the 6:30p.m. LETS TALK pre-meeting discussion
group prior to all 7 p.m. programs.
Programs available in English and Spanish. Free continental breakfast and childcare will be provided.
Parent resources Are you on the mailing list?  Many of the presentations are posted on Glenbard 87's YouTube channel. There you can see the events and happenings at all of the Glenbard High Schools.The Parent Education Consortium of the North Shore (PEC) is a centralized source of information on parent resources and programs that promote stronger schools, family and community life. For more information, contact Lonnie Stonitsch, editor, lonnie@PECcalendar.org.
Notes and videos Couldn't make the last parent education program? Don't worry, scroll down and pick out a topic. Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
William H. Dietz, M.D.
Dr. Aaron White
Dr. Jason Washburn
Dr. Madeline Levine
Carol Dweck A short video giving an excellent overview on having a "fixed vs. a growth" mindset, compliments of Larry Ferlazzo’s blogsite.
Michelle Garcia Winner
Lee Hirsch
John J Ratey, M.D. Al Ross, LCSW
Jason J. Washburn, Ph.D., ABPP
Personal stories of lives lost to alcohol and other drugs Important websites:
Dr. Dan Siegel
Dr. Wendy Mogul
Dr. Ken Ginsburg
Madeline Levine, Ph. D., video Madeline Levine, Ph. D., notes
Dr. JoAnn Deak Peg Hendershot notes
Dr. Shiraz Butt Read an online article about child rearing expert Dr. Ron Taffel explains how to raise a teenager in the 21st century using better communication. Dr. Mike Riera Using real-life examples, empirical evidence and anecdotes, Dr. Riera described what physical, cognitive and emotional changes are occurring in teens as they grow from children to young adults. Dr. Ned Hallowell
Dr. Michael G. Thompson
Dr. Thompson mixes anecdote and clinical experience with his research on the sometimes rocky waters of childhood friendships. Dr Michael Thompson Anastasia Goodstein Goodstein writes a blog at www.Ypulse.com about teens and their digital world.
Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg Dr. Aaron Cooper
Dr. Michael Bradley Dr. Michele Borba
Service learning speaker: To read an interesting interview with Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., an international service learning consultant, click on this link. Milton Creagh "Parenting Is the Key" Aaron White |
Glenbard Parent Series
