Bulldog News

Note from Mr. Dubinsky

Pre-registration for 2026-27 kindergarten, preschool, new students now open

Families with students who will be starting kindergarten or new to CCSD 89 in the 2026-27 school year can now fill out pre-registration. More info: https://bit.ly/3O8Y7Te

Families interested in having their child attend CCSD 89 preschool in the 2026-27 school year can also now fill out pre-registration. This is for students who will be new to CCSD 89 preschool in 2026-27. More info: https://bit.ly/4oW002w

Registration for returning students will open Wednesday, April 8.

Students will participate in state’s 5Essentials survey next week

Next week, fourth and fifth-graders will be taking the 5Essentials online survey at school. If your student has been in school for a few years, you’ll probably recognize this annual survey that measures the learning climate and conditions at all Illinois public schools.

The survey provides another opportunity for your student to have a voice in improving our school. The survey attempts to measure the “five essential” qualities of successful schools: effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environment, and ambitious instruction. Your student’s individual answers are anonymous and cannot be seen by the school. The cumulative results of the survey are available to anyone in the community.

If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, please contact the school.

The 5Essentials survey is also open to families at https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/login/

📚 Kane County Cougars Reading Challenge ⚾

Briar Glen will once again be participating in the Kane County Cougars Reading Challenge. Our students will have the opportunity to improve their reading skills while earning a free ticket to a Cougar's game, enjoying a free hot dog and drink at the game and participating in a parade on the field before the game. The Reading Challenge is an 8 week program that begins next Monday, February 9 and runs through April 10. We are giving an extra week due to Spring Break. Please be on the lookout for reading logs for the program to come home today. Each grade level is assigned a different goal, which will be listed on the form. Please reach out to Mrs. Kimmerly in the LMC with any questions. Happy Reading!

No school on Monday, February 16, for Presidents’ Day

All CCSD 89 schools and the district office will be closed on Monday, February 16, for Presidents’ Day. All buildings will be open on a regular schedule on Tuesday, February 17.

Families can now provide 5Essentials feedback

Through March 13 , families of CCSD 89 students can help improve our school by providing feedback through the state’s 5Essentials survey at: https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/

After selecting the "Parent Survey", choose "DuPage" as the county. When you begin to type our school’s name, it will appear in a drop-down list.

One parent per household may participate in the survey. If you have more than one child attending the same CCSD 89 school, you can participate in the survey more than once.

Students will participate in BESS screener in the coming weeks

In the next few weeks, students in third through eighth grades will again be participating in the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System, commonly known as BESS. Students in the same grades participated in BESS at the start of this school year.

BESS is not a tool for making a diagnosis, and there is no grade associated with it. BESS will give the school data about how your child internalizes feelings, self-regulates, and establishes good relationships. This data will be paired with class observations to help track student growth within the school year and from year to year. If the BESS screener shows any immediate concern for your student’s emotional health, a social worker will reach out to you.

If you have any questions or do not want your student to participate in BESS, please contact principal Mitch Dubinsky as soon as possible. We are excited to have this opportunity to support your child’s social and emotional development.

Learn more about BESS here: English Español Hindi Urdu

Video explanation: https://youtu.be/SmK_ODZdQ5c?si=p0X0Zeo9ZcAazsjP&t=791

We’d love to share these Valentine’s Day reminders

Valentine’s Day is approaching and we’re excited to celebrate a day of friendship. A few reminders:

Time will be scheduled in class on February 13 for students to exchange valentines, if they would like to participate. If your family needs help getting valentines, please reach out to the school social worker.
No candy or other food items can be sent to school or attached to valentines.
Valentines should promote kind words and friendship.

Any specific grade-level information will be shared by your child’s teacher.

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 in the morning
grades 4-5 will be in the afternoon

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.

Parent Series: Navigating your child’s mental health (February 10)

At noon and 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Christine Crawford will share information about how to discover the early warning signs of mental health conditions and the reasonable expectations for recovery. Preview. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4byOG9F

Parent Series: My entrepreneurial journey (February 11)

At noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, Jodi Norgaard will share her entrepreneurial journey from “a-ha moment” to developing a socially responsible product. Norgaard is the founder of Dream Big Toy Company and creator of the “Go! Go! Sports Girls” dolls and books. Norgaard be in person at the College of DuPage at noon, and on Zoom at 7 p.m. Preview. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4r3B5vY

Parent Series: Fomentar el liderazgo y las habilidades para la vida (12 de febrero)

Los padres desempeñan un papel crucial en guiar a los jóvenes hacia vidas saludables y plenas. El reconocido educador Ricky Castro llega a este taller para padres de GPS con un enfoque en el liderazgo como objetivo fundamental de la crianza. A las 19 horas del jueves 12 de febrero. Más información: https://bit.ly/3ZiuVf7

Upcoming Events

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. and 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)

March 3: Parent Series: Raising terrific kids in terrifying times, noon and 7 p.m.

March 4: Spring pictures

March 5: Preschool open house for new families, 6-7 p.m.

March 6: All Abilities Fair

March 6-13: Anderson's Book Fair

March 11: Parent Series: Memoir of a chef, noon and 7 p.m.

March 12: Family Literacy Night, 5:30-7 p.m.

March 13: Last day to fill out 5Essentials survey

March 14: VIP Dance, 5-7 p.m.

March 16-27: IAR Testing for grades 3-8

March 16: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

March 17: Parent Series: Creating healthy connections, noon and 7 p.m.

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

March 20: Preschool developmental screening (no preschool)

March 24: Parent Series: College admission essentials, noon and 7 p.m.

March 25: McTeacher Night, 4-6 p.m.

March 30-April 3: No school (spring break)

April 6: No school unless more than one emergency day has been used

April 6-10: IAR makeup testing

April 8: 2026-27 registration opens for all students

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