Glen Grove Community Project
May 2026
May 2026: Summer Celebrations
Reflect, Rest, & Return
This year is especially sentimental for me, as the Glen Grove Community Project is celebrating its 5th year as part of Glen Grove School. It has been amazing just how much we have learned and grown together as a Gator community.
As I have told a number of people over the years who ask me how GGCP got started, it began with a conversation: how can we learn about the traditions in our community and what is important to the families in our school. Our questions were answered with pictures, videos, interviews, and support, which then turned into the GGCP website, which became the foundation for this project.
Once we sat on that information, we wondered what we would do with all of the wonderful connections and ideas that came from those interviews - from which stemmed the three events we have been holding every year for the past four years: Remembering Loved Ones, Lunar New Year, & Global Gator Games Night. Every year, we've added, connected, shared, and celebrated with everyone.
It is important to look from where you came from in order to find your direction for the future.
And so, as we break for the summer, know that the journey continues even as the cycle slows down for some rest and recuperation. We reflect, we rest, and we return to continue on our journey.
There's no finish line... just a new chapter waiting to start.
On behalf of the wonderful educators, past and present, who have been part of the Glen Grove Community Project, we hope you will join us as we turn the page and continue our story.
Wishing you joy in all you celebrate,
Aurora Joaquin
GGCP Coordinator
Thank you to our WB/GG PTA Members who have helped decorate the bulletin board!
Over the past few years, we have had PTA members help decorate our bulletin board. This year, we would like to thank Anna Bui & Hee Eun Jo for all of their help!
The last bulletin board of the year features memorable pictures across 5 years of the GGCP's work in the Gator community - from events to videos/pictures on our website, we have showcased a lot of celebrations!
Summer Celebrations our Gators Partake In
Upcoming Holidays & Important Events
Learn more about disability pride through supporting these groups!
Will's Place
A cafe in Skokie run by young adults with disabilties
I Just Am Studio
Inclusive art studio in Northbrook
Lambs Farm
A farm run for and by individuals with disabilities
America is celebrating 250 years!
Here are some resources to learn more about America's celebration of 250 years as a nation:
If you have a celebration you want to share with us, please let us know!
Community Blurb #10: What Community Means to Us
(Belated) Autism Acceptance Month Display
ILS Mural
Pathways to Biliteracy Famous Autistic People Posters
In partnership with I Just Am Studios, a nonprofit inclusive art studio in Northbrook, students from our Instructional Life Skills (ILS) program created a mural for Autism Acceptance Month (celebrated in April). This mural currently hangs in our front nook display near the office. In addition, the middle school Pathways to Biliteracy students created posters in two languages (English and either Spanish or French) about famous autistic individuals around the world.
GGCP Year-In-Review
Here are just some snapshots of all of the joy and celebration we have had this year!
Family Activity: Flower Wreath for Midsommar
Midsommar is the Swedish celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Festivities include dancing around a maypole (midsommarstång), eating traditional Swedish Midsommar food (i.e., pickled herring, strawberries, potatoes, etc.), outdoor activities, and wearing flower crowns. Learn how to make your own flower crown from this video by IKEA!
Guiding Question of the Month
Land Acknowledgement
The GGCP acknowledges the land upon which Glen Grove School stands on and in being part of this community, we want to share resources to further our students' and families' knowledge of the land and respect communities of past and present. This year, a donation was made to the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
Have questions? Contact us!
Committee Members
- Katherine Ellison, Glen Grove Principal
- Aurora Joaquin, Glen Grove Speech-Language Pathologist
- Hedy Helfand, Glen Grove English Language Learning Teacher
- Lisa Funke, Glen Grove Learning Resource Center Director
- Nicole Bright, Glen Grove 4th Grade ClassroomTeacher
- Marie Chang-Pisano, Glen Grove Reading Intervention Associate
- Jill Burns, Glen Grove Science Coach
- Indra Ganzorig, Glen Grove Senior Secretary
- Sylvia Gorski Duarte, District Title III Family Resource Teacher
- Lindsey Lurie, District Multilingual Instructional Coach
Email: GGCommunityProject@gmail.com
Instagram: @ggcommunityproject