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,

Second semester is in full swing on the hilltop. Many classes are headed toward their first summative assessment, students and counselors are wrapping up enrollment for next year, and our Winter sports are participating in or preparing for their postseason. Tonight is the final night of this year’s Black Box performances—written, directed, and performed by West students. If you’re able, I recommend checking it out. The show starts at 7 PM.

Last week, we hosted a Community Traffic and Parking Forum in the Elliott Library. We reviewed our construction traffic patterns and shared our proposed plan for accommodating contractor parking during construction. This plan includes working with the Village of Glen Ellyn to allow for temporary contractor parking on the west side of Lake Road. You can find a recording of the forum, along with the slide presentation and a written summary on our Construction Updates webpage.

On Monday, February 9th, our Board of Education will vote to approve the bids for the first phase of our construction project, which includes a new wing of classrooms, a student commons, and a secondary performing arts space. We anticipate breaking ground in April of this year. This phase of the project should be open for students in August of 2027.

February is a short month, but it is action-packed. Read on for information on Heart Hop, our Black History Month events, Live Life Well Week, and the 8th Grade Activities and Athletics Night.

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

February 4

Valentines for Vets

All Lunch Periods

Cafeteria

February 10

Winter Band & Jazz Concert

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Auditorium

February 13

Student Council Valentine's Day Breakfast

7:15 - 8:00 a.m.

Cafeteria

D87 Multicultural Night

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Glenbard East High School

February 14

Heart Hop Dance

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Biester Gym

February 16

No School - President's Day

President's Day of Service

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center

800 St. Charles Rd., Glen Ellyn

February 16 - 20

Live Life Well Week

February 17

Masterworks Choir and Orchestra Concert

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Glenbard East High School

February 18

8th Grade Athletic and Activity Night

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Biester Gym

February 18 - 25

Annual Food Drive

February 20

West Nation Live Life Well Week Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 a.m.

Cafeteria

February 25

Junior College Night with School Counseling

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

Auditorium

February 27

No School - Institute Day

Glenbard West had two students honored for their outstanding leadership and academic success at the January 12th D87 Board of Education meeting at the Glendale Heights Senior Center: Seniors Sama Khan and Isaac Guerrero. Both Sama and Isaac are outstanding examples of the West Way: successful inside and outside of the classroom; involved in clubs, athletics, and service organizations; and respectful toward all those with whom they interact. Go West!

The Scholastic Art Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.

We are so proud of all of our art students. An open house reception for all Scholastics Regional winners will be held Sunday, February 1, at Downers Grove North High School from 1:00 -4:00 p.m.

Ashley Stevens - individual Gold (will go on to be juried at the National level)

Bred Cane - individual Silver

Brooke Esquivel - 2 individual Silvers and Silver for her portfolio

Quinn Doyle - individual Honorable Mention, A Constant

Brooke Esquivel Quinn Doyle, Mr. Peterselli, Ashley Stevens, Bred Cane

Each year Glenbard West recognizes one deserving student for the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. Lillian Svach is the 2025 - 2026 recipient of the Glenbard West DAR award. The DAR Good Citizen Award recognizes one student who excels in dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Lillian displays strength in all these areas through her involvement in activities and clubs at Glenbard West as well as her academic achievements. The local DAR chapter will honor Lillian during an award ceremony at Glen Ellyn Historical Society on February 24, 2026.

Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the IHSA competitive dance state final competition:

• Glenbard West students Jane Adduci, Ava Beil, Isla Braun, Maddie Chiang, Juliet Cline, Emme Derma, Ce Ce Dunne, Carmen Guerrero, Lillian Knapp, Heather Landgraf, Lauren Lynch, Marin McCollam, Elie Nicholas, Eleanor Prester, Lily Rinaldo, Madelyn Schaffnit, Amelia Smoter, Audrey Todd and Hudson Weiss. Head coach is Kaitlin Valdick.

In order to recognize students for academic achievement, Glenbard West students will receive an academic award as follows:

Glenbard West will use the final grades for the first semester of the current school year. A student with a first semester GPA of 3.8 or higher qualifies for the Academic Letter or Gold Bar.

The academic letter will be the same varsity letter given to athletes with an embroidered lamp of learning or scholastic torch. Subsequent academic winners will receive a bar to add to their letter.

In the event of an error or misinterpretation of the transcripts, a parent may petition the principal in writing (email) for an Academic Letter or Gold Bar at the conclusion of the second semester.

The ACTS Committee (Advocating Character Through Service) of West Nation is proud to sponsor various service activities throughout the year.

This service event will take place during the school lunch period. It is an opportunity for students to acknowledge the dedication of the brave men and women who have sacrificed greatly on our behalf.

Supplies and snacks are provided for participants. Please reach out to our ACTS chairs, Liza Sury at lizasury@gmail.com or Emily Lobdell at emilylobdell@gmail.com, with any questions or to volunteer.

Heart Hop is just around the corner! Online tickets will be available at https://store.5starstudents.com/GlenbardWest starting February 1st and in-person tickets will be sold during lunch hours the week of February 9th. Students bringing a guest from another school, must pick up a Guest Pass Form in the Deans' Office and return it for approval prior to buying tickets. Please email Mrs. Allison Tranchita or Mrs. Elizabeth McGann with any questions.

West Nation supports Live Life Well Week with FREE breakfast for the entire school. Held in the cafeteria until the first bell, students, staff and faculty will enjoy breakfast donated by local businesses and parents.

Volunteers are needed to: work with local businesses, donate, drive, bake, set up, serve and clean up. Sign up today using the links below!

• Link for volunteers

• Link for donations

The Father Daughter Dance is a memorable West Nation tradition for Glenbard West girls and their fathers or mentors. Tickets are $50/couple when purchased in advance (at West-Nation.com) or $60/couple at the door.

Our co-chairs have been busy planning a great night for all attendees! Come dressed in country western theme or dressy casual attire. There will be a DJ, photo booth, ice cream, games, and more. Proceeds benefit GBW Post Prom.

Questions? Please reach out to co-chairs Shana Nicholas at drshananicholas@gmail.com or Heidi Ruskusky at HRuskusky@yahoo.com.

We’re excited to announce that the Special Olympics Cool Schools Polar Plunge will take place on Tuesday, March 17, after school at Glenbard West! This is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together, have fun, and support a truly meaningful cause.

We would love to see as many plungers as possible; staff, sports teams, and student clubs alike! Costumes are strongly encouraged, but not required, so feel free to get creative and make a splash in style. Also, York currently has the Illinois Top title of Polar Plunge Cool Schools - we must beat York!

Participating in the Cool Schools Polar Plunge is more than just a fun event; it's a chance to show solidarity with Special Olympics athletes, Best Buddies, raise awareness, and foster school spirit. Every plunge helps support athletes in our community and contributes to a culture of inclusion and empowerment for all students.

If you’d like to register as a plunger or a team or donate to support a plunger, you can do so here: Special Olympics Cool Schools Polar Plunge Registration/Donation

Thank you for helping make this event memorable and meaningful for everyone involved!

Thank you to all of our incoming Hilltoppers and their families for coming to 8th Grade Family Night. We look forward to welcoming in the Class of 2030!

We are gearing up for the school-day ACT in April, which is a graduation requirement in the state of Illinois. Freshmen and sophomores will take the preACT. These scores will be used as part of the enrollment process in the subsequent year in conjunction with teacher input. The spring testing calendar 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.

Our junior students have clocked a total of over 193 hours in the first two weeks of the program! This is a great start and a testament to their commitment to improve their ACT scores by focusing on their individual strengths and areas for growth. Feel free to check out our new “Eight to Elevate: Your Path to ACT Success” page on our district website for additional information for this program.

While 8 hours is the minimum goal for all junior students, they have unlimited access to the program and are strongly encouraged to dedicate additional hours to practice if they are able to do so. Students participating in any outside tutoring should consider using the platform as a way to check their skill progression over time with the large array of specific practice questions and section tests available. There is something for everyone to hit their hours and grow in the specific areas they need.

Student progress will be monitored by our ACT Prep Coordinator, Mary Crowe, who will reach out to students and families to celebrate their successes and encourage them along the way in meeting their goals. Feel free to reach out to the API Office or contact her directly at mary_crowe@glenbard.org with any questions you may have about the program. Thank you for asking your junior students about their hours and supporting them as they ready themselves for the April 15th ACT.

AP students currently in a second semester or yearlong AP course should log into their College Board account to ensure the appropriate exams are showing. Note that students must join their course in myAP classroom in order to have an exam ordered for them. If there are any errors noted in College Board or the decision is made to not take an AP exam for their 2nd semester course, please notify the API office as soon as possible so we can make any necessary changes before the March 13 ordering deadline.

If you have not yet reviewed Volume Two of our AP Guide for Families in English and Spanish, please do so. You’ll find all relevant information about exam registration for second semester-only AP courses, exam order changes, and answers to frequently asked questions about exam registration. Please contact the office of the Assistant Principal for Instruction with questions: 630-942-7471. For AP-related updates, please join our Remind by texting @gbwaptest to the number 81010 or clicking here.

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: Bea Ferreira, Mary Yangas, Rhiannon Sieck, Malaika Khan, Kruti Parikh, Lissete Ochoa
Back Row: Patty Fanella, Mike Neberz, Tad Keely, Jeremiah Wiencek, Tony Bergantino, Natalie Rubino

When: Wednesday, February 25th at 6:00 PM

Who Should Attend: Junior students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to join us…families in their first time through the admissions process will especially appreciate the material presented.

Special Guest Speaker: Julie Nelson, Assistant Dean of Admission, Xavier University - Cincinnati, OH

Event Highlights:

• Introduction to the College Selection Process: Learn about application timelines and how to get started.

• Overview of Holistic College Admissions: Understand the factors considered in applications and begin your college search.

• Finding the right fit for your personal comfort and learning experience.

Breakout Sessions:
Engage with school counselors on topics including:

• Overview of SchooLinks

• Scattergrams

• Finding your Fit

• Navigating College Websites

Summer School

Glenbard West Summer School Registration Is Now Open!

Summer school registration is available HERE.

Parking Applications Coming Spring Break

Parking Applications for the 2026-2027 School year will be shared with students on Schoology on March 16th. The application will remain open through Spring Break until April 10th. Please be aware that spaces are extremely limited, and many students complete applications each year. Any student not selected is placed on the waitlist in case any spots become available.

Average Daily Attendance

December was another great month for our overall attendance as we jumped from 92.08% to 93.76%! That’s an unbelievable jump from one month to the next. Thank you for everything you do to help get our students to school, day in, day out.

Monthly Attendance Tip - Keep Communication Lines Open

Everyone gets sick! It happens! We certainly don’t want students coming to school spreading an illness to their peers and staff members. Still, sometimes teenagers will present as sick when dealing with other issues.

The best way to know what might be keeping your student from coming to school is by talking with them every day about what’s going on at school, offering the right supports to deal with those issues, and communicating with the right people (Deans, Social Workers, Counselors) here at West when necessary. This is an important time for students to develop skills to confront obstacles, build resilience, and learn to seek support when necessary.

Remember!

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

Need Help?

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.

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

The Dupage County Health Department is coming to Glenbard West on Friday March 6th for FREE dental exams for all students who return a completed signed consent form. This exam will meet the state mandated requirements for 9th grade students if they have not completed the necessary dental examination yet. If the student meets the necessary requirements, in addition to the exam, they will receive a dental cleaning, fluoride treatment and sealants. All high school students are welcome to participate. Health forms are available in the Glenbard West Health Office and are attached. Forms must be turned into the health office, faxed to 630- 942-7559 emailed to stephanie_brezwyn@glenbard.org by Tuesday March, 3rd.

Thank you to all who helped make our annual Pack the Place event a huge success. Even

though it was cold outside, the West community came together and it was a great night full of

athletic events watching our Hilltoppers compete at a high level. The Boosters play such an

important role in bringing the Glenbard West community and it is always great to see everyone

together.

We look forward to hosting the following IHSA State Series events in Biester:

Girls Gymnastics Regional on Monday February 2nd starting at 6:00pm

Girls Basketball Regionals the week of February 16th

Boys Basketball Regionals the week of February 23rd

All schedules will constantly be updated on our athletic website as we look forward to

following the Hilltoppers as they advance through the postseason at the following website:

https://schools.snap.app/glenbardwest

Spring sports are right around the corner. The first day of practices for Boys Gymnastics is

February 16th , and Softball this year will begin February 23rd . Girls Badminton, Boys Tennis,

Girls Soccer, Girls and Boys Lacrosse, Baseball, and all begin on March 2 nd with Boys

Volleyball beginning on March 9th . Please make sure all current physical forms are turned into

the athletic office prior to the first day of practice.

IHSA By-Law Changes - Recently, the IHSA member schools voted on some changes to the

association’s by-laws that we wanted to make you aware of as it relates to athletics at Glenbard

West and schools across the state. Please see the brief notes below and feel free to reach out if

you have further questions:

• Non-School Competition Information

o No more than 5 “contests” in an event

o Event can’t be more than 7 days in length

o Not allowed to practice with non-school team during the IHSA season

o Still must receive approval from IHSA through the Schools Center

• No Contact Week

o June 29 - July 5 - Facilities are closed

o No conditioning, open gym, weight room, summer camp, etc. during this week

• Softball - Spring 2026

o Moves start of the season up 1 week - First day of allowable practice - Feb. 23

Make sure to follow us on Instagram @glenbard_west_hilltoppers

Go West!

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.

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