Bulldog News

Note form Mr. Dubinsky

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed October 10, October 13

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed for students on Friday, October 10, for a Teacher Institute Day. All schools will also be closed on Monday, October 13, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day. The district office will also be closed on Monday, October 13. All schools and the district office will be open on a regular schedule on Tuesday, October 14.

Title I Presentation, October 24 at 10 a.m.

Briar Glen will host its annual Title I presentation on Friday, October 24 at 10:00 a.m. The session will provide an overview of District 89’s Strategic Plan, share student demographic data, and explain what it means to be a Title I school. Topics will include the Title I Schoolwide Program, curriculum aligned to Illinois Learning Standards, and a review of school achievement and performance data. Families will also learn about the School Improvement Process (SIP), the District and School-level Parent and Family Engagement Plans, and the Title I School-Parent Compact.

Our Briar Fun Run weekend challenge!

Who’s ready for a weekend challenge?!🙋‍♀️ Enter a $90 flat donation or $3 per lap donation before Monday to snag a glow-in-the-dark edition keychain! If your student hasn’t received their first donation of $35 yet, now’s the time! They will also receive a free Main Event Game Play Pass and an entry to win a free MEGA VIP party! 😮 Good luck!

Help us reach our $35,000 for a new playground structure ⬇️

1. Sign up your student(s) on MyBooster.com.

2. Share with your family/friends using the SHARE tools on MyBooster.com.

3. Give a donation.

Every donation counts and brings us closer to a new playground structure for our students!

Reminder: Our big Briar Glen Bulldog Fun Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, October 17! We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Thank you again for supporting our school!

Job posting: Long-term substitute elementary art teacher

We are hiring a long-term substitute elementary art teacher to cover a maternity leave from approximately January 12 to April 15, 2026. The position serves both Arbor View and Briar Glen schools. Applicants must hold an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Art or Visual Arts endorsement. The daily pay is $180. To apply, visit www.ccsd89.org and submit all required materials online.

Briar Glen is hiring a full-time instructional aide

Are you interested in working full-time at Briar Glen School? We have an instructional aide position available.

If interested, 👉 click here and apply today!

2025-26 Briar Glen Directory is now available

The PTC is excited to announce that the 2025 - 2026 Briar Glen Directory is now available for those who opted to be included in the directory during registration! If you were a DirectorySpot user last year, then you don’t need to do anything. Just log in (same username and password) and you will see the new data.

If you are a NEW user, you need to set up your account and can download DirectorySpot for free from the App Store (iPhone users) or Google Play (Android users), or you can also access the data from the web.

Smartphone Users: Download the DirectorySpot app by going to your app store and searching "DirectorySpot" or by clicking on the appropriate link here:

iPhone
Android

To set up account as a new user:

Launch DirectorySpot, enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password."
Click on the link in your email to set your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and login with your username and password.
For Tablet, Mac, or PC Users: Go to directoryspot.net and click on "Login" in the upper right-hand corner.
Enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password." An email will be sent to you with a link to set your password. Click on the link in your email to set your password and login.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Additionally, if you have any data changes throughout the year, please contact ckatsikas@gmail.com

October 16: ‘Supporting Success’ family event for English-learner families

Families of English-learner (EL) students are invited to a family event from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 16, at Park View Elementary, 250 S. Park Boulevard, Glen Ellyn. “Supporting Success: An English-Learner Family Event” will include technology help for parents, info on how to support students at school, fun activities for kids, and more. Registration is requested at: http://bit.ly/4pWHhW9 More info: https://5il.co/3qr4s

Families can support bilingual education by joining district’s advisory committee

Parents and guardians of students in CCSD 89 English-language-learner programs are invited to join the district’s Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC). The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee provides ongoing recommendations to the district’s English-learner and bilingual programs. Members attend four meetings – one in person and three virtual meetings. Teachers, counselors, and community leaders are also welcome to join. To sign up, go to: http://bit.ly/4geEwLH

Halloween will be here before we know it!

Parties will be on Friday, October 31. Some children go home for lunch to get their costumes. Children who remain at school for lunch will bring their costumes to school in a bag and put them on after they eat lunch. Preschool Halloween parties will be on Thursday, October 30.

All children leaving the building for lunch will exit Door #1 by the office. Cars may not be left unattended on the west side of Briarcliffe Blvd. There will be many children exiting near the street during our noon and after-school dismissals. We urge you to drive cautiously.

For lunch, students should be picked up at 11:45 a.m. and return to school at 12:35 p.m. for the afternoon. Regular classes will be held from 12:35 to 2 p.m. At that time, students will prepare for the Halloween outdoor parade, which will begin at approximately 2:10 p.m. We will exit Door #3 and parade outside to Door #1. Parties will begin at 2:35 and end at 3:20 p.m. so teachers have time to prepare for a safe dismissal.

When considering costumes for school they must be non-violent. Costumes should not include swords, guns, knives, clubs, lasers, or any other type of weapon. All costumes and masks must be designed for safety and adequate vision. All costumes must be tasteful and age-appropriate.

If you are a room parent for the party, please remember to contact the teacher to discuss games. Room parents may bring party supplies to the classrooms at noon or after 2:15 p.m.

Tips for a productive parent-teacher conferences on October 23-24

Conferences for families of CCSD 89 students will be held on the evening of Thursday, October 23, and during the school day on Friday, October 24. (There will be no school for students on October 24.)

Conferences are a great opportunity to learn more about your student’s experiences at school and how you can help at home. If you are looking for ideas on preparing for conferences or sample questions to ask teachers, Colorín Colorado has created some helpful guides: English Español ردو हिन्दी

Click Here 👆

When: Friday, October 24, 2025

Where: Glen Crest Middle School

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Who can attend: All Briar Glen students, parents and siblings are welcome to attend. Please note that this is a family event, and each child must have a parent or guardian present at the dance.

Activities: DJ, dancing, photo booth, costume contests and more! (Food, water and drinks will be provided at the dance.)

Cost: $8 per person prior to the event, $10 at the door

Please fill out the early entry form on My School Bucks by Monday, October 20, 2025. If payment by CASH or CHECK is preferred, fill out the form that came home with your student and return to school. Please make checks out to Briar Glen PTC. Label envelope Monster Mash.

Individual entry tickets may be purchased at the door on, 10/26, with the entry fee of $10.00 (CASH or CHECK ONLY). Please make checks out to Briar Glen PTC.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Kristin Payne, the school social worker, who will speak to you confidentially regarding the possibility of financial assistance.

Wristbands (entry ticket) and one drink ticket (per person) will be given out the week of October 20 to the oldest students of families who registered ahead of time.

If you have any questions, or would like to help with this event, please contact Sarah Frega (630-464-3684) or Sarah Palazzolo (630-800-8912). Scan the QR code above to sign up to donate or volunteer at this event!

Costumes: Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required for Monster Mash Dance. We ask that all costumes please not include scary/gore themes or masks, weapons, or any violent imagery. Please be mindful of young children.

Helpful Tips for ordering tickets on MySchoolBucks:

Select ONE of your students in the first drop down box labeled "Student." You can order all your tickets under one student (preferably your oldest student).
Select the quantity of tickets desired in the second drop down box labeled "Options."
Fill in all the remaining information with Parent's email address, the selected student, grade and teacher. Make sure to fill in all the information.
Fill in the names of all attendees, including the name of the student you selected.
Type in the total number of attendees.
Double check to make sure all information is filled in and the correct

number of tickets is still selected.

Upcoming Events

October 13: No school (Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day)

October 15: Parent Series: Communicating with young people, noon and 7 p.m.

October 16: PTC meeting, 7 p.m. (in-person or join zoom)

October 16: Parent Series: Aprenderán acerca de la admisión a la universidad de principio a fin, 7 p.m.

October 17: Boosterthon Fun Run, 10 a.m.

October 20: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

October 21: Parent Series: Raising spirited children, noon and 7 p.m.

October 23: Evening conferences, 4-7 p.m.

October 24: Title I Presentation, 10 a.m.

October 24: No school (conferences 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

October 24: Monster Mash, 6-8 p.m. at Glen Crest

October 30: Preschool Halloween parties

October 31: K-5 Halloween parade, 2:10 p.m.

October 31: K-5 Halloween parties

November 5: Picture retakes

November 12: Parent Series: What teens want you to know, noon and 7 p.m.

November 13: Smile Squad at Briar Glen

November 14: End of first trimester

November 14: Preschool developmental screening

November 14: No Preschool

November 17: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

November 18: Parent Series: The food-mood connection, noon and 7 p.m.

November 20: PTC meeting, 7 p.m. (in-person or join zoom)

November 20: Parent Series: Estrategias de motivación para el éxito escolar, 6 p.m.

November 24: Parent Series: Tackling tough topics, noon and 7 p.m.

November 26-28: No school (Thanksgiving break)

Parent Series: Motivating and communicating with young people (October 15)

At noon and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, Dr. David Yeager will explain the right and wrong way to show respect to young people while avoiding frustrating patterns of miscommunication and conflict. Yeager is a psychology professor well known for his research on growth mindset. Learn more: https://gpsparentseries.org/events/david-yeager/

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