Bulldog News

Note from Mr. Dubinsky

This week we welcomed author Amy Logan, who wrote A Girl with a Cape, to our school. During her visit, she shared messages about kindness, empathy, and the impact our actions can have on others. Amy encouraged students to look for ways to help those around them and to make someone feel like a superhero. The remainder of the day teachers had great classroom conversations about being kind to others.

Checkout the video below of Amy talking about writing and becoming an author.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey before it closes TODAY at 5 p.m.

CCSD 89 has begun the process of creating the district’s next strategic plan, and feedback from families is an essential part of this work. The strategic plan is a document that will guide the big-picture work of the district over the next five years. Families are invited to share their feedback through this survey: https://bit.ly/ccsd89familysurvey

The deadline to complete this survey is 5 p.m. Friday, January 16.

Learn more about the strategic plan work at www.ccsd89.org/strategicplan

All schools will be closed on Monday, January 19

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The district office will also be closed. All CCSD 89 buildings will re-open on a regular schedule on Tuesday, January 20.

Volunteers need All Abilities Fair on week of March 2

Briar Glen is looking for parents to help with the second annual All Abilities Fair on Friday, March 6. Students will have hands-on activities that will help them develop acceptance, inclusion, and respect for disabilities and other differences.

grades 1-3 will be int he AM
grades 4-5 will be in the PM

Families are needed to help run stations in either a morning session (8-11:45 a.m.) or afternoon session (12:35 to 3:30 p.m.). If you are interested in volunteering please SIGN UP HERE or need more information, please contact Mrs. Miller at jmiller@ccsd89.org.

Families can buy ‘awesome’ shirts to support 2026 All Abilities Week

CCSD 89 will once again host an All Abilities Week in March. Families who want to support this event can purchase a shirt for themselves or their student from “The Awesome Company”, an Ohio business that employs adults with autism.

Order the shirt at: https://bit.ly/3NcW5RN

The 2026 shirt will say “Choose to Include” and will be a different color than the 2025 shirt.

Orders are due by January 28. The shirts will be delivered to schools in February so they will be ready to be worn during All Abilities Week.

2026-27 preschool pre-registration now open

Families interested in having their child attend CCSD 89 preschool in the 2026-27 school year can now fill out pre-registration. This is for students who will be new to the district in 2026-27.

There are limited openings for 3- and 4-year-old children. The program features a developmentally appropriate curriculum delivered by certified early childhood educators. CCSD 89 preschool is held at Briar Glen. More info: https://bit.ly/4oW002w

Pre-registration for other students who will be new to the district in 2026-27 will open February 4. Registration for returning students will open April 8.

Lost and found items

Are you missing a hoodie, jacket, hat, or gloves? Scroll through the photos or stop by the lost and found just inside Door #1. Thank you Sarah for all your help in taking the pictures and organizing our lost and found.

Briar Glen Lost and Found

Students, families invited to District 89 Day of Service on January 19

CCSD 89 students and their families are invited to participate in the District 89 Day of Service on Monday, January 19, at Park View Elementary School. Students and adults will have the opportunity to make crafts and assemble care packages to benefit others at this free event. Families can sign up to participate from 9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Both sessions have the same activities.)

Sign up to participate in the event

Sign up to volunteer at the event

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4qcWvX0

Parent Series: Fostering athletes’ confidence for peak performance (January 21)

At noon and 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, Nike performance coach Kirsten Jones will discuss how families can positively impact their child’s confidence, wellbeing, and performance in athletics, while also preparing them for success outside of sports. Preview Learn more: https://gpsparentseries.org/events/kirsten-jones/

Upcoming Events

January 19: No school (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

January 21: Parent Series: Fostering confident athletic performance, noon and 7 p.m.

January 22: D89 Music Boosters meeting, 6 p.m.

January 22: Parent Series: Parents’ guide for flourishing families (Urdu and Hindi) 7 p.m.

January 26: Board of Education meeting 7 p.m.

February 4: Kindergarten/new student registration opens

February 10: Parent Series: Navigating children’s mental health, noon and 7 p.m.

February 11: Parent Series: An entrepreneurial journey, noon and 7 p.m.

February 12: Preschool Valentine's Day classroom parties (10 a.m. & 2 p.m.)

February 13: Valentine's Day classroom parties, 2:30 p.m.

February 16: No school (President's Day)

February 19: PTC meeting, 7 p.m. (in-person or zoom)

February 19: Parent Series: Strategies to improve academics, noon and 7 p.m.

February 23: Board of Education meeting 7 p.m.

February 26: End of second trimester

February 26: Team Day

February 26: Evening conferences, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

February 27: No school (Teacher Institute Day)

Follow Briar Glen on Instagram!

Check out what's going on at Briar Glen and get announcements too! Click here to follow @briarglenschool on Instagram.

Follow Briar Glen on X!

Check out what's going on at Briar Glen and get announcements too! Click here to follow @BriarGlenSchool.

Students, families can report crises and threats through Safe2Help

Students and families can confidentially call, email, or text the Safe2Help tip line to report bullying, threats, or classmates in crisis. Students or families can call (844) 4-SAFE-IL, which is (844) 472-3345; text SAFE2, which is 72332; email Help@Safe2HelpIL.com; or submit tips through the online form. Safe2Help submissions are monitored every hour of every day. More info: https://bit.ly/3BPxObO