Principal's Newsletter

Hello - this is a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have a student at, or have expressed an interest in, Glenbard West High School. Communication between Glenbard West and our families and community is very important to us. Don't forget to add gw_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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Hilltopper Community,

The temperatures have dipped, the leaves have turned, and here at Glenbard West we find ourselves just six weeks (!) from the end of first semester. In fact, this is the last Principal’s Newsletter of the calendar year—full of important information for November and December. As we wrap up the semester, I’m hoping you are willing to offer your feedback on two topics related to our partnership with families:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences. Whether you were able to attend this year’s parent-teacher conferences or not, we would appreciate your feedback on the communication, process, and format as we plan for next year. You can find a brief survey here.

• Parent Programming. We are interested in developing in-person or online workshops that will provide Glenbard West families with important information to support your students’ success. To do so, we would like to know which topics and formats you would find most valuable. Please share your input on this brief survey. The survey is also available in Spanish and Urdu.

November also means that it is citrus season at Glenbard West. Every year the Glen Ellyn Rotary Club provides five of our seniors with scholarships. One way we can thank them for their generosity is by participating in their annual fundraising drive. New this year: Clementines! You can find ordering info below.

There are several important dates for your calendar in this newsletter—two of which I’d like to highlight. First, opening night of our fall musical Between the Lines is Thursday, November 13th. Tickets are available here. Second, we are hosting a Community Construction Update on Thursday, December 4th at 6:30 PM in the Elliott Library. We’ll review last summer’s construction projects and look ahead to the projects getting underway this spring.

Finally, I encourage you to spend some time looking through our School Counseling section below, as it has a great deal of information on the 2026-27 course enrollment process for current West students.

As always, thank you for reading. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns.

Go West!

Ben Peterselli

630-942-7473

ben_peterselli@glenbard.org

November 13th - November 15th

Fall Musical

7:30 to 10:00pm

Auditorium

November 17th

Vision and Hearing Screening

Turkey Trot

3:15 pm

Duchon Field

November 18th

Glenbard Gratitude Day - West Nation

Freshman PLC will attend, and all others are welcome

2:23 to 3:05 pm

Fieldhouse

November 20th

Band Ensemble Concert

7:30 to 9:00 pm

Choir/BlackBox/ Band Rooms

November 26th - November 28th

No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 4th

Community Construction Update

6:30 pm

Elliott Library

December 4th - 5th

Madrigal Performance

7:00 to 9:00 pm

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

393 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn

December 5th

Dodgeball

6:00 to 8:00 pm

Fieldhouse

December 9th

Freshman PLC

2:23 to 3:05 pm

December 10th

Winter Music Festival

5:00 to 10:00 pm

Auditorium

December 12th

Winter Donut Breakfast

7:15 to 8:00 am

Cafeteria

December 17th - December 19th

Final Exams

December 22nd - January 2nd

No School - Winter Break

January 5th

No School - Staff Institute Day

January 6th

School Resumes

Congratulations to Kendall Mehta who earned 3rd place in the 1st singles draw at conference. She also won three matches in the state tournament and finished as 3rd team all state. Kendall finished the year with a 26-12 overall record at 1st singles. Pictured with Mr. Peterselli and head coach Kevin Graham.

Student Services hosted the October Matter of Pride Ceremony on October 17, 2025. For those that are not familiar with our Matter of Pride Award, it was created over 30 years ago at West as a way to recognize students with outstanding character. This is the only award at West that focuses on a student's kindness, willingness to help others, going above and beyond for their school and/or community, and positive attitude. Basically, Matter of Pride recipients are what makes West the Best!

Congratulations to our October Award Recipients:

Nicholas Burns, Alessia D’Argento, Shay Demchinski, Leah Fenske, Tucker Formanski, Arianna Genc, Levi Hackman, Abigail Tschite, and Hailey Voelker (not pictured Thanh Dinh)

There are only two more Freshman PLC/Link Crew meetings left for 1st semester. Please be reminded that we do not have PLC meetings during 2nd semester.

• November PLC: Tuesday, November 18th - freshman students will meet their Link Leaders in our Fieldhouse after 8th period to participate in our West Nation Gratitude Day event.

• December PLC: Tuesday, December 9th - freshman students will meet their Link Leaders back in their small group classrooms to discuss tips on how to be successful and how to finish strong going into final exams.

The deadline for withdrawing from a year-long or first semester AP course is fast approaching. November 14 is the last day students can withdraw from a year-long or first semester AP exam without incurring College Board’s $40 canceled exam fee. Please have your student log into their College Board account to confirm that the correct year-long and/or 1st semester courses are showing in their myAP classroom. Note that students are not registered for an exam until they join the myAP course section classroom using the code provided by their teacher.

If you have not yet done so, please be sure to read and familiarize yourself with Volume One of our AP Guide for Families in English and Spanish. You’ll find all relevant information about exam registration for year-long and first semester AP courses, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. For AP-related updates, please join our Remind by texting @gbwaptest to the number 81010 or clicking here. For any other questions, please contact the office of the Assistant Principal for Instruction: 630-942-7471.

As we begin year two of working with the ACT testing suite, juniors will continue to take a practice test in late October and the school-day ACT in April, which is a graduation requirement in the state of Illinois. Freshmen and sophomores will take the preACT in the spring. These scores will be used as part of the enrollment process in the subsequent year in conjunction with teacher input. The testing calendar for this year is as follows:

• Wednesday, April 15, 2026: School-day ACT with Writing for Juniors (Illinois graduation requirement). Students will be automatically registered at no additional cost. This is a non-attendance day for all freshmen, sophomores and seniors.

• Thursday, April 16, 2026: preACT testing for freshmen and sophomores. This is a non-attendance day for all juniors and seniors.

This year, all of our juniors will be using an online platform called Progress Learning for ACT preparation. This program is designed to help your student build confidence and improve their ACT scores by focusing on their individual strengths and areas for improvement. A strong ACT score can significantly expand your student's college options and help them qualify for valuable merit-based scholarships. No additional registration steps are necessary as this platform will be provided to all junior families in District 87 at no cost.

All juniors took a Diagnostic ACT test last Tuesday, 10/28 within the platform. Make-up testing will take place on Tuesday, 11/4. Students will receive further guidance during an upcoming Glenbard Hour on how to access their scores and individualized study plan for each content area as part of the program.

Starting after winter break and continuing up until the official ACT Exam on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, all juniors will be required to complete a minimum of 8 hours of learning in the Progress Learning platform. Students will have unlimited access to the program and are strongly encouraged to dedicate additional hours to practice. Research has shown that dedicating more time to practice leads to significant score improvements on the ACT. Junior families will receive further details in November.

We are excited to welcome the families of incoming freshmen to Glenbard West for our 8th Grade Family Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 14th beginning at 6:30 p.m. This night is an opportunity for us to share information about our academic offerings, summer school enrichment opportunities, and the registration and enrollment process. Additional information will be sent directly to families of incoming freshmen mid-December.

Please note that students are not allowed to take early final exams due to a pre-arranged absence or family vacation. If these situations arise, students can either take their exam(s) during our makeup periods or receive an Incomplete and make up the exams upon return from Winter Break. If you know that your student will miss final exams, please alert our Deans’ Office as soon as possible.

Students who miss an exam due to an unexpected absence can make arrangements with their teacher to take the exam during the Makeup Exam slot on Friday at 11:10 a.m. The Test Center will be open until 4:45pm on Tuesday, January 13th, Wednesday, January 14th, and Thursday, January 15th to accommodate make-up final exams.

Front Row: Lisa Cunningham, Jessica Walters, Pete Baker, Amanda Meyer, Bridget Mazzone

Back Row: Max Hufnagle, Nisa Gabbidon, Jaclyn Reeves, Pam Hagstrom, Deandra Bass

Front Row: Lissete Ochoa, Natalie Rubino, Kruti Parikh, Malaika Khan, Rhiannon Sieck
Back Row: Mike Neberz, Jeremiah Wiencek, Tad Keely, Tony Bergantino

The Glenbard West School Counselors have just finished a highly insightful book study on Jeffrey Selingo's Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You.

Our counselors are encouraging all families to read Jeffrey Selingo's Dream School! This helpful book focuses on fit over prestige, providing a practical look at how the landscape of college admissions has changed. Selingo powerfully emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit for your student, arguing that "Dream School" serves as a guide that turns the college search process from a high-stress race into a rewarding journey of self-discovery.

Join the West School Counselors for the upcoming virtual GPS Parent Series event

Date: Wednesday, December 10th
Time: Noon & 7 PM

For more information and the virtual meeting link, visit the GPS Parent Series website (link).

Students who have notified their counselor and will complete all graduation requirements by the end of first semester are invited to attend the Early Grad Meeting on Friday, November 17th during Glenbard Hour in Room 428.

Early grads will have the opportunity to learn about the logistics of finishing mid-year, including participating in the annual graduation ceremony held in May. A representative from the Admissions Office at the College of DuPage will also be on hand to answer questions and assist students interested in transitioning to the College of DuPage for the second semester. As well as our ISAC representative to make sure you have completed your FAFSA requirement. This meeting is MANDATORY for early graduates.

Invitations will be sent to students via the School Counseling office prior to the 17th. Contact Mr. Tad Keely in the School Counseling Office at tad_keely@glenbard.org with any questions about this event.

We will begin our enrollment and course selection process for the 2026-27 school year soon. From October 27 through November 7 teachers will begin talking to students in their classes about all the course options available in their subject area for next school year. These decisions are informed by PSAT scores, current course performance, and each student’s post-secondary goals. Students will have an automatically recommended course in PowerSchool in the areas of Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. The intention is to place students in the most challenging courses within these areas so they are most prepared for the post-high school experience. All families and students will have the opportunity to review and adjust these recommendations as needed. Then students will be meeting one-on-one with their School Counselor throughout January and the beginning of February to ensure an overall healthy balance, before finalizing course selections. Look for updates from the School Counseling office by the beginning of December.

October 27 - November 7

Teacher Recommendations and discussions with students

November 24

-Course selection presentation in Glenbard Hour Advisories

-Email home with student course recommendations and instructions

November 24 - January 5

Families review course recommendations in PowerSchool, choose electives, and make adjustments

January 7 - February 6

Individual 1:1 follow-up meetings with School Counselors

School counselors will present course selection videos in all Glenbard Hour Advisory classes to discuss the online enrollment process and share instructions on the process. Freshmen will be meeting with their counselors in small groups throughout November to talk about their postsecondary plans and how to align their sophomore-year course selections.

Students and Families will review, edit, and enter their course requests online through a web browser in the student or parent portal of PowerSchool.Students who have an IEP or who receive academic support within the EL program will have access to view their course selections which will be chosen through an individualized team process. After January 5, students will meet individually with their school counselors during the weeks of January 7 - February 6.

The Course Selection Worksheet/Schedule and List of Courses (rough draft) can be reviewed and utilized as a tool to assist students/parents in selecting next year's courses.

For more detailed course descriptions please refer to the online Glenbard West Academic Program Guidebook (next year’s will be updated by December).

It is essential that every student give careful consideration to his/her course choices. We will do all we can to individualize course selection discussions with a focus on maintaining a healthy balance in every student’s overall educational experience. Any changes after February 6 must be discussed with the student's School Counselor and will only be available on a space-available basis. Parents, we value your input in this process because you best understand your own student's interests and goals. You also see how the overall academic rigor of his or her schedule affects daily functioning.

Check out the School Counseling College Application Resources for more info on scholarships, application support videos, and college research.

Seniors - We know you are feeling some relief as the bulk of the college application deadlines passed on November 1st! Don’t forget to update your decisions in SchooLinks as you get your results. We love to hear the updates! There are still applications being submitted for December and January deadlines, but we’ve currently had thousands of applications submitted! Make sure to remind your seniors to send a thank you note to all the teachers who took the extra time to write their letters of recommendation. We are excited to report we have hosted visits by 126 (and counting) college representatives, with 633 student attendees! Another reminder, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is currently available and is a graduation requirement. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you go to studentaid.gov to create your FSA ID. The FAFSA is not only for consideration of need-based financial aid but also scholarships from many colleges. Speaking of scholarships, Local Scholarship applications will become available in December on SchooLinks.

Juniors - College Night is tentatively being planned for February 25th. Stay tuned for more information! Although the bulk of our college rep visits have taken place, there will be more in the Spring! Make sure you are checking in SchooLinks to sign up for these virtual visits. Counselors will be doing follow-up visits to your English classes in February to get more in-depth with college research.

Sophomores - Make sure you’re talking to your teachers about recommendations regarding what you should be taking junior year. In Spring, counselors will be visiting your English classes to guide you through a personality test on SchooLinks and begin exploring some potential careers, college majors, and developing an activity resume.

Freshmen - Counselors are meeting in small groups with you over the next month to get to know you, talk about your sophomore year classes, get you logged in and introduced to SchooLinks, and work with you to set some postsecondary goals.

Incoming Class of 2030 - Electronic enrollment packets with detailed information will be going out in early January. Please make sure you check your emails and review the information thoroughly. If you have any questions, please contact Patty Fanella, School Counseling Administrative Assistant at patricia_fanella@glenbard.org or 630-942-7482. For Spanish please contact Bea Ferreira, Administrative Assistant School Counseling at beatriz_romerodeferreira@glenbard.org or 630-942-7483.

We had another incredible month of attendance at West in September. Our Average Daily Attendance rate was at 94.92%, which increased slightly from August. We’re hopeful that October’s numbers will break through 95%! Thank you for all you do to get your students out the door every single day.

When students see the value in education, they are more likely to show up everyday and make it a priority to show up on time. Let your child know that attending school every day is important for their success. For example, say, "Going to school daily helps you stay on track with your work." Show an active interest in their education by asking about what they're learning or how their classes are going. Ask to see assignments or projects they’re working on.

When students see that you care, they’re more likely to take attendance seriously and stay engaged in school.

Last year, we switched procedures at West, requiring all students to carry physical IDs. Then, we added BEEP monitors at our entry points, which scan our student IDs and give a visual and auditory cue to our security team about whether a student belongs at West. These two changes have created a far more secure and safe school environment.

Although students can use the barcode on their iPad in a pinch to scan into the building, it is not as seamless and secure as a student having their ID. For that reason, the Dean's Office will begin conducting ID sweeps in the near future. Students will be notified prior through Schoology messages as a warning.

Please know that all students can have a new ID printed in our Library at any time throughout the school day if they have lost theirs, and students are asked to get new ones each time they enter the door without one by our security staff or Administration.

All absences must be communicated with our Attendance Office before 10:30 a.m. Call (630) 858-5060 anytime, day or night to speak with one of our Attendance Office Assistants or leave a voicemail.

Sometimes, speaking up is not the easiest thing to do. If you know your student is struggling to confide or communicate with their Dean or another school official regarding something serious, harmful, or dangerous, Glenbard West provides the Hilltopper Help Form.

Additionally, students can text a CRISIS Test Line: Text HOME to 74141, which sends information to a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human trained to help individuals return to a healthy/stable level of functioning.

Finally, the State of Illinois launched a school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois to raise awareness of the 21st-century threats facing school children in Illinois. Safe2Help Illinois will offer students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence, or other threats to school safety. This program is intended to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.” Call 844-472-3345 or Text 72332(SAFE2) to report.

Go West!

It has been great to see so many of our Hilltopper student athletes competing this fall with great weather for the majority of the fall season. We will update all of the successes in the next newsletter. As we move into November, Glenbard West is proud to host the following post-season events:

• IHSA 4A Girls Volleyball Sectional - November 4th and 6th Biester Gym.
• IHSA State Football Playoffs - TBA weekly

The Glenbard West Athletic website https://schools.snap.app/glenbardwest will have more information to follow with specific times for these events.

We are excited to announce the following dates for the start of winter sports at Glenbard West:

• Competitive Dance and Competitive Cheer - Monday, October 27
• Boys Bowling Coop with Glenbard North (Girls are welcome) - Monday, October 27
• Girls Basketball - Monday, November 3
• Boys Basketball, Girls Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Wrestling - Monday, November 10
• Boys Swimming Coop with Glenbard South - Monday, November 24

Anyone interested in participating must register on PowerSchool. All physicals must be current within the last 13 months in order to participate. Physicals can be dropped off in the Athletic Office or emailed to ellen_reifel@glenbard.org.

Please check our athletic website at https://schools.snap.app/glenbardwest for current schedules. Please remember that athletic schedules change daily and the Glenbard West 8 to 18 site is the ONLY schedule that is updated daily.

The mandatory winter parent athlete meeting will take place on Saturday, November 15, at 10:00am in Biester Gymnasium.

GO WEST!

Did you know that students entering 12th grade must show proof of having two doses of the meningococcal vaccine?

Start making your appointments now for this needed vaccine and turn in your vaccine proof to the health office after your appointment! You can receive this vaccine when going to the doctor for your annual checkup or when getting a sports physical.

Questions about if you have already received it? Stop in the health office and we can let you know!

Senior MCV Form

Have you turned in your proof of dental examination?

If not, please turn in the proof of examination form to the health office ASAP. Dental exams performed on/after 11/15/2024 will be accepted for this requirement. Exams can be sent to stephanie_brezwyn@glenbard.org or faxed to (630) 942-7559

Freshman Dental Examination Form

Our district food service provider OrganicLife has a weekly rotation of available halal food items. Please see the flier below for a sample menu.

Our Glenbard students played a crucial role in this process, serving in several focus groups and providing important feedback and ideas. This implementation of halal food options helps promote an inclusive school environment where students can have access to food that meets their dietary needs.

Halal menu options will become available at our other Glenbard high schools starting in mid-January.

Hello Glenbard West Families!

At Glenbard, we’re proud to use the West Way as our foundation for positive behavior. The West Way means being involved, successful, and respectful- qualities we encourage every day in our students, both at school and at home.

What is PBIS?
PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It’s a school-wide approach that helps us teach, model, and reward positive behaviors. By focusing on what students can do right, we create a safe, welcoming, and productive environment for learning and growth.

How Does the West Way Work?
Our staff recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate being involved, successful, and respectful. Whether it's by participating in class, helping others, working hard, or showing kindness and courtesy, we encourage the West Way every day. Each week, students who earn a “West Way Scan” will enjoy a special treat delivered to them during school on West Way Wednesdays.

Connecting Home and School:
We encourage families to reinforce these West Way values at home, too! Talk with your child about ways they can be involved in your family and community, strive for success in their pursuits, and show respect to others.

Together, we can help students build habits that serve them well now and in the future! Remember: Together We Are West!

Glenbard West families can see a great season of shows, get priority seating, and save 25% on ticket prices by purchasing a season subscription on Push Coin OR by sending in a check along with the Season Subscription Form. Get a season subscription for each member of your family!

Fall Musical: Between the Lines, November 13-15

Winter Studio Shows: Black Box New Plays, January 28-30

Spring Drama: Radium Girls, April 16-18

Glenbard District 87 is pleased to partner with OrganicLife as our food service provider. Information regarding OrganicLife, menu offerings, and nutrition/allergen information will be available on your high school’s website this summer.

We encourage you to visit www.pushcoin.com to sign up for the prepayment option with their easy-to-use system.

Please note that for the 2025-2026 school year, free meals will be available to those who qualify. Please see the “Residency, Fees, and Financial Assistance Information” page for more information.

You can keep up with Glenbard information throughout the year by signing up for Glenbard News, our district-wide enewsletter, at this link.

Each week, you will receive district-wide news about students’ achievements in school-sponsored activities; upcoming events; fund-raisers; school board information and more.

Glenbard West Boosters is a fundraising organization with more than 350 members. The Boosters plan various events throughout the year including Homecoming activities such as Pancake Breakfast, winter's Pack the Place, and serve as the official supplier of Glenbard West gear. Funds raised enhance academic programs, athletic programs, and extra-curricular activities that enrich the student experience at Glenbard West. Last year, Boosters granted over $140,000 back to the students.

Any West parent, alum, or Glen Ellyn community member can become a Boosters member. By joining Boosters, you help increase the amount of money granted and Booster members have the opportunity to volunteer throughout the school year.

Boosters meets the third Thursday of every month in the Elliott Library (at school) at 7:30pm.

Please visit the Boosters website to learn more and JOIN! See us at Gear sales at every home football game!

West Nation proudly supports Glenbard Parent Series (GPS). Visit www.GlenbardGPS.org for information on the nationally recognized speaker series for parents, students, educators and community members. The series is free and open to the public.

Please visit www.gbwnation.com to purchase a membership, make a donation and to volunteer. We invite all students and parents to be a part of WEST NATION!

Follow us on Twitter/@GWWestNation or Facebook/GlenbardWestNation

This year, GPS Parent Series proudly celebrates 30 years of providing free, expert-led resources to support families both locally and beyond. World-renowned authors and clinicians deliver timely, research-based guidance to promote positive youth development and well-being for all ages.

Our free programs equip parents, caregivers, and educators with practical strategies to build stronger individuals, families, and communities. We will present over 50 events this year in multiple languages. GPS is completely free and open to everyone—no registration, no subscription required! Note: CEUs are available for school staff.

Explore the full lineup of speakers at GPSParentSeries.org and help spread the word by sharing this incredible resource with friends, relatives and coworkers.

Schools across the nation are experiencing more and more students who have latex allergies. Often, students with this allergy can have severe and even life-threatening reactions if exposed to latex resins and powders. For their safety, there are certain latex products we no longer allow on campus. Latex balloons and “Silly String” pose a significant health threat to students with a latex allergy. These products are not allowed on campus at any time, including after school, evening, and weekend events. With this in mind, we request your help: Please talk with your children about this health and safety issue. Some students might not understand the reason for a “balloon ban.” At West, we want all parents to know that their children are safe on campus.

Crisis Text Line - Text REACH to: 741741

This sends information to a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to help individuals return to a healthy/stable level of functioning.

Safe2Help Illinois Call 844-472-3345 or Text 72332(SAFE2)

Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is intended to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”

Students who wish to report a potential act of school violence at Glenbard West may also leave an anonymous message with our School Resource Officer at (630) 681-3177 or call the Bullying Hotline Call (630) 942-7406

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call/Text 988

This number has trained staff to answer calls and respond to texts from individuals at risk for suicide as well as those experiencing other mental health and substance use-related emergencies. Specialized services will be available for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other groups.

Email: gw_news@glenbard.org
Website: glenbardwesths.org
Location: 670 Crescent Blvd.
Phone: 630-469-8600
Instagram: @glenbard_west_hilltoppers