Dear Glenbard Families,

Thank you for being an involved and supportive parent of the Glenbard high schools. We greatly appreciate the six school districts that feed into the four Glenbard high schools. We would like to provide another update regarding our two-year implementation of a daily schedule change. Last year, our spring 2023 community newsletter detailed the changes at this link. Our Glenbard Hour, held on Mondays and Fridays, has been successful and well received by students this school year.  

In the 2024-25 school year, we will implement a block schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Also, we will move our school start time and dismissal time 30 minutes later to 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. See details below.

We greatly appreciate your partnership and support as we provide an exemplary comprehensive high school experience for your student. 

We are excited to launch a hybrid block schedule in the 2024-25 school year and implement later start and dismissal times. This schedule will provide deeper learning experiences for our students and enhance our Profile of a Graduate competencies. Our vision of a Profile of a Graduate is a student who communicates, thinks critically, creates, collaborates, embraces diversity and is self-empowered.

The schedule for the 2024-25 school year includes:

• Eight periods per day on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays with Glenbard Hour on Mondays and Fridays; and a block schedule with four 90-minute periods on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• A later start time and dismissal time, anticipated to be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Research indicates a later start time has physiological benefits for adolescents that lead to better engagement and increased student learning.
  Note: the length of the school day does not change.
• Increased opportunities for deeper learning during the 90-minute blocks.

Throughout this school year, our talented educators are participating in our professional development sessions that prepare them for the hybrid block schedule. They are learning about topics such as: student-led discussion and activities; student supports within the class; student choice; planning for the week to maximize deep learning on block schedule days and teaching about our Profile of a Graduate.

Glenbard Hour
We introduced the Glenbard Hour in our school day schedule this year. This designated time during the school day benefits our students, whether they need help with classwork or are doing well and want to tap into extended learning opportunities

During the twice weekly Glenbard Hour, students are seeking help; learning new concepts; and gaining new skills. This dedicated time each week allows students to access their teachers for academic support. It also reduces the need for students to arrive early or stay after school to seek assistance.

Most Glenbard Hour sessions are devoted to student agency. Students use this time in areas that most benefit them. Examples include:

•           Students getting help from their teachers
•           Extending students’ learning
•           Students collaborating with peers
•           Test and lab retakes
•           Future planning through college/postsecondary presentations

The Glenbard Hour also features advisory sessions on topics such as:

•           Course selection
•           Postsecondary planning
•           Skill development in self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision making, relationship building and social awareness
•           Safety drills
•           Surveys
•           Career exploration
•           Assemblies
•           Award ceremonies and more.

The Glenbard Hour and our upcoming hybrid block schedule and later start and dismissal times are all part of our focus on providing students with a high-quality learning experience that meets their needs and prepares them for life after high school.

New Bus Company
Another update for the 2024-25 school year: our Board of Education approved a 5-year contract with a new bus transportation provider on Feb. 5. We will contract with Safeway Transportation Services for regular education transportation services, starting next school year. We conducted a thorough review of Safeway and are pleased with their track record for safety and performance. Additionally, Safeway has been partnering with Glenbard over the past year and a half for a portion of our athletic and extracurricular routes at Glenbard South and Glenbard East. This familiarity with our district will ensure a smooth transition for our full contract of transportation services next year. The new transportation contract results in annual estimated payments that are approximately 17 percent less than our current projected annual expenditures.

This is an exciting time in Glenbard’s history. We look forward to the opportunities and learning this new schedule will bring to our students and families.

Sincerely,
David F. Larson, Ed.D.

Glenbard Bell Schedule 2024-25

Glenbard Bell Schedule 2024-25, with A-B-C Lunch times