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,

It’s hard to believe that we’re just eleven days away from the start of the 2025-26 school year. I know I speak for all of us at Glenbard West when I say that we are thrilled to welcome students back into the building, starting this week for our back-to-school days and freshman orientation. You can find all of the details for these events in the newsletter below.

We are beginning the school year with revised traffic patterns for morning drop-off and after school pick-up in anticipation of construction beginning later this fall. In creating a new traffic plan, we worked with the Village of Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Police Department to . . .

• Better separate the three streams of traffic—staff, buses, and students.

• Minimize traffic within the vicinity of ongoing construction on the north side of campus.

• Be conscientious of our neighbors’ access to and from their homes during peak traffic times.

You can find a video detailing the new traffic patterns here. A few things to emphasize:

• This plan will go into place on the first day of school for students: Thursday, August 14th. Most of the restrictions are in place only during the peak traffic times of 7:30 to 8:00 AM and 2:30 to 3:15 PM.

• Our Biester parking lot project has encountered a significant delay due to corroded storm water pipes that are now being replaced. The anticipated completion of this project is early October. Until then, the Biester lot won't be available for parking.

• I will be sending additional information prior to the first day of school to ensure that all stakeholders know how to navigate campus during the school day and peak traffic times.

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

August 6th

Back to School Day

Freshman and Seniors

Freshman Meet & Greet

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Glenside Public Library

August 7th

Back to School Day

Sophomores and Juniors

August 8

Freshman Orientation

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

August 14th

First Day of School

August 15th

Pep Rally

8th Period

Circle Drive Dance

7:00 - 10:00 pm

August 28th

Back to School Open House

5:30 - 8:30 pm

August 29th

Early Dismissal

1:00 pm

THIS IS YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR SUPPLIES, SCHOOL ID, YEARBOOK PICTURE, AND OFFICIAL SCHEDULE - THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WILL BE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH, AT WHICH TIME THERE MAY BE LONG LINES.

PICTURES: Student ID photos taken during Back-to-School Days and will also be used as your student’s yearbook picture. Students should dress neatly and in good taste. We will communicate these details along with other Back-to-School Week information in the coming weeks.

STUDENT ID REQUIREMENTS: Students will be required to carry, and present upon request, their student ID to any Glenbard Staff Member. Student IDs are required for entry to the building, to get on the bus, lunch purchase, library and lab check-in, etc.

STUDENT SCHEDULES: Final schedules will be available online by August via Schoology and PowerSchool. Counselors will be available for questions beginning August 4th. Change requests are limited by availability and will only be evaluated as a result of level change, a course needed for graduation requirements that can’t be taken otherwise, change due to taking a class in summer school, or a course aligned with post-secondary goals.

Dear student and parent(s),

Welcome to Glenbard West! We know that the transition into high school is exciting, but also has its challenges. For that reason, West has designed a mandatory new student orientation to provide our incoming freshmen and new students with the best opportunity for success. New Student Orientation will take place on Friday, August 8, 2025. Orientation will begin at 8am in the Biester Gym. All freshmen/new students are required to attend New Student Orientation.

All freshmen/new students will attend orientation sessions led by the Glenbard West Staff and West Mentor Leaders. Our Mentors have undergone several hours of training so that they can assist freshmen students with this transition and provide them with the information needed to successfully begin high school at Glenbard West.

Sessions held at the orientation will acquaint students with members of the staff, allow students the opportunity to meet other freshman students, provide an overview of the academic resources available to students, explain extracurricular opportunities, introduce students to the culture and traditions of Glenbard West, and provide recommendations for academic success and practical tips to help your student succeed at Glenbard West.

On August 8th, bus transportation to orientation will be provided. At Registration on Wednesday, August 6th, freshmen will receive information about their bus routes and times (if applicable). Buses will pick students up at their assigned stops, and will transport students back to their regular stops at the conclusion of New Student Orientation.

Please encourage your student to eat a healthy breakfast before attending orientation. Students do not need to bring anything to orientation, including iPads. Students will be asked to put their cell phones away during the program. Students should wear comfortable shoes and clothing for walking around the building and being active.

On behalf of the Senior Mentors, Faculty and Staff, we welcome you to the Glenbard West Family and look forward to meeting you on August 8th.

Sincerely,

Peter Baker

Assistant Principal for Student Services

August 6: Registration

August 8: New Student Orientation

Senior Mentor PLC Meetings: On these days, freshmen are required to remain at school from 2:20 to 3:05pm for additional enrichment activities. Buses will be provided for students at the conclusion of the meetings.

• August Meeting - Tuesday, August 26

• September Meeting - Tuesday, September 9

• October Meeting - Tuesday, October 14

• November Meeting - Tuesday, November 18

• December Meeting - Tuesday, December 9

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. We look forward to working with your student to make this year successful and rewarding. The comprehensive information below will make the process as simple and convenient as possible. Our first attendance day for students is Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Ready to begin registration through PowerSchool? Click here.

(If you have trouble creating a PowerSchool account, please view these instructions.)

July 1: Online Registration Opens

August 6-7: Back to School Days

August 8: Freshmen Orientation

August 14: First Day of School – Full Day

Required Fees:

• $250 – Registration & fees (Prompt pay fee of $225 if paid in full by midnight on July 31, 2025) – fee includes registration; all course fees; student activity pass and digital handbook
• $174 – iPad rental fee* for freshmen, sophomores & juniors (as a result of increased cost from our vendor)
• $149 – iPad rental fee* for seniors
• $85 – Digital curriculum fee

*iPad rental fee: Fee includes device, charger, case, insurance coverage, and loaner program. After the family has made four annual rental payments over the student’s career at Glenbard and the student’s account is paid in full the device will become the property of the student. In other words, this is a rent-to-own program.

Deadline: Families must complete online registration and payment by midnight on July 31, 2025. Registration and payments received after this date will pay the $250 Registration & Fee charge versus the prompt pay fee of $225.

PE Uniform & Lock: PE uniform and & lock will be provided to all incoming freshmen. The PE uniform & lock charge of $24 will be directly billed to you for online payment. If needed, returning students will be able to purchase PE uniforms and lock once school is in session.

Advanced Placement (AP) Fee Process & One Free Test: Glenbard charges the AP exam fee through the registration process in the summer, along with the other student fees. The AP exams are $99 each for the 25-26 school year. This includes AP Seminar and AP Research. Our School Board has made the investment to pay for the cost of the first AP exam for every student, so families will only be responsible for paying the AP exam fee for their student’s additional exams each year. Families will have the opportunity to ‘opt out’ of the exam and fee by November 14, 2025, or March 16, 2026, for 2nd semester-only AP courses. After these dates, families will be responsible for a $40 unused/canceled exam fee. If you are in need of financial assistance for AP Exam Fees, please contact your building Assistant Principal for Student Services.

Optional Fees: The athletic participation fee is $175 per student, per year. The fee allows your student to participate in unlimited sports. Yearbooks are available for purchase through the online registration & payment process. Students that sign up for the Behind the Wheel portion of Drivers Education will be charged $350. Parking passes are limited and the annual fee is $200.

Payment of Fees: It is the policy of the Glenbard Board of Education that prior to the first official day of class families should pay fees in full. Payments are due by midnight on July 31, 2025 for families to realize the prompt-pay discount of $25. The online registration process will guide you through the registration and payment process. Families that cannot pay in full due to financial circumstances should refer to the Financial Assistance Programs referenced below.

Payment Plan: Glenbard allows families to set up monthly payment plans for school fees. Families can choose their monthly payment amount. We encourage you to select the optional $175 athletic fee if you anticipate your child playing a sport so it is included in the payment plan. If the payment minimum of $100 per month cannot be met, please contact the Business Office.

National School Breakfast and Lunch Program (Free Meals): Families that are eligible for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program (Free Meals) must apply each year for approval. Applications for the program can be submitted using our on-line application form by visiting this link. If you believe you are eligible, please complete the on-line application form for submission. If you have questions regarding this program, please contact the Assistant Principal for Student Services Office.

Waiver of School Fees: Families that receive SNAP, TANF, or Income Eligible Medicaid should be directly certified for waiver of fees by our business office. Families can also apply for a waiver of student fees if they meet the household income eligibility requirements. Families can apply online for a fee waiver. Information can be found by visiting this link.

Residency Verification: All families must verify residency each year prior to registering for school. Residency verification was due June 12. Glenbard verified 95% of our students’ residency electronically. If we could not electronically verify your residency, you should have received a letter in the mail from us in May, requiring you to verify residency in person or by mail by the due date referenced above. Residency procedures are located in the Parents section of our website, under the Registration section. Verification of residency protects all of our families and ensures that only students that live in our school district boundaries attend Glenbard schools. It is illegal to attend school in a district where you are not a resident. Contact the Assistant Principal for Student Services (APSS) at school for more information.

iPad, Charger & Case:

All incoming freshmen and transfer students will receive an iPad to manage coursework. Glenbard will ship your iPad and training information to your residence after you have registered, paid your fees and/or signed up for a payment plan. We strongly encourage families to register as early as possible so that your student has more time to train on their device prior to the first day of school.

Returning students that had an iPad for the 2024-25 school year are responsible for maintaining their device in good working order and will use their device for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Returning students should run all software updates prior to the first day of school. If you experience technical issues with your iPad contact the technical support help desk at 630-942-7777.

Digital Curriculum/Applications: Glenbard provides students with digital curriculum (digital textbooks, digital novels, digital workbooks) and applications (Schoology, our learning management system; etc.) that the student will use for their coursework.

Note: Certain courses may still require non-digital materials (hardbound textbooks; paperback novels or workbooks). If your student needs these non-digital materials, we will provide them at no additional charge. Textbooks must be returned by the student in good condition at semester end (semester classes) or by year-end for (full term classes), or fines could apply. These materials will be provided to your student once school is in session.

Providers: Glenbard contracts with Safeway Transportation for transportation services.

Routes: Glenbard uses transportation routing software to lower transportation costs and increase efficiency. Bus routes may be different from one school year to the next as routes are re-evaluated.

Bus Route Information: Students that are eligible for free transportation (living 1.5 miles or further from Glenbard West High School) will find their bus route number as well as pick-up and drop-off times and locations on their schedules at Back-to-School Week. Additional transportation information can be found on Glenbard’s Bus Information page.

Student ID Ridership Requirements: Students are required to present upon request their student ID to any bus driver or Glenbard staff member. Students not able to produce their ID will be required to receive a temporary pass to ride the PM bus. Students not able to produce their ID will be referred to the Deans Office for appropriate consequences. Students will be responsible for riding their designated buses. Bus drivers and school administrators will deny requests for students to ride other routes than previously assigned unless pre-approved by the Deans’ office.

Freshman: All freshmen are required to provide an updated school physical for freshman year as part of enrollment. This physical is to be turned into the health office by July, 15 2025. This physical must be less than 1 year old at the start of the school year (freshman physicals can be accepted that are dated on/after 8/14/24). Click here for physical specifics and needed immunizations.

Seniors: All seniors must show proof of having two doses of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) with the first dose on or after the 10th birthday and the second on or after the 16th birthday.Acceptable vaccines: Menactra, Menevo, and MenQuadfi. Please note: the MenB vaccine does NOT meet the senior year requirement! If the first dose was given after the 16th birthday only one is required. Proof of the meningococcal vaccine is to be turned into the health office by July, 15, 2025. Click here for additional information.

Insurance: District 87 provides “school-time” accident insurance protection for your student as part of its current insurance program. “School time” includes the school day while your student is attending academic school sessions and up to one hour before and one hour after regular classes. Your student is protected during school-sponsored activities as well, which further includes travel directly or indirectly and uninterruptedly to and from such school activity. Note: This coverage does not include interscholastic tackle football. Benefits are secondary to all other collectible insurance policies. Accidents or injuries must be reported to the appropriate teacher, coach, trainer, or nurse as soon as possible. Accidents that are not reported within 30 days of the accident will not be covered by the insurance carrier. Medical insurance is the responsibility of parents. This insurance program is for “school-time” accidents only. Optional coverage can be purchased for two programs: 24-Hour Optional Student Accident Coverage and Grade 9-12 Interscholastic Tackle Football. Insurance brochures are available during Back-to-School Week or can be received by calling the school.

We hope all of our incoming freshman students and families can join us at the Glenside Public Library at 25 E. Fullerton Avenue in Glendale Heights on Wednesday, August 6th from 6-7:30pm. Families can come any time between 6pm and 7pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet some of our senior leaders, chat with some of our staff members and mingle with other incoming freshman families. There is also a raffle for students to win Glenbard West gear. We hope you can make this wonderful event for incoming freshman families!

We are excited to welcome parents to Glenbard West with our annual Open House on Thursday, August 28th. Please plan to join us for this opportunity to hear from school counselors, walk your student’s schedule, meet their teachers, and learn more about course content and other school programs. Specific details on the evening will be shared with all Glenbard West families the week prior.

As we begin year two of working with the ACT testing suite, we will continue to offer an optional PSAT for students interested in qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship. 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. The testing calendar for this year is as follows:

• Friday, October 24, 2025: Optional PSAT/NMSQT for students interested in qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship. Students interested must complete this opt-in survey by 3pm on Friday, August 29th to ensure testing materials can be ordered before the deadline. There is no additional cost for this exam. Note this is a non-attendance day for all students not choosing to test.

• Tuesday, October 28, 2025: Practice ACT for Juniors. Students will be automatically registered at no additional cost. This is a non-attendance day for all freshmen, sophomores and seniors.

• Wednesday, April 15, 2026: School-day ACT for Juniors. 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.

If your student is planning to take any AP courses this year, please be sure to read and familiarize yourself with Volume One of our AP Guide for Families. 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 any other questions, please contact the office of the Assistant Principal for Instruction: 630-942-7471. For AP-related updates, please join our Remind by texting @gbwaptest to the number 81010 or clicking here.

In School Counseling, we realize Senior year is an exciting time. All those years of hard work culminating in the postsecondary decision making process! We also understand the entire postsecondary/college application process can be a stressful one. Between visits, financial considerations, figuring out your right fit, and pressure put on you by the colleges themselves, things can easily become overwhelming. This process can be especially challenging for many of our 1st generation college bound seniors who are the first in their family to attend college. To minimize your worries, West’s School Counselors are here to guide all seniors and their families along the way. The School Counseling department is in the process of updating a Senior Video Series to help guide them and families throughout each step of the way.

The first step in the college application process from the high school is college bound seniors and parents completing the “Counselor Recommendation Form” and “Parent Input Form” respectively on SchooLinks (students can login with Google and their Glenbard credentials). This valuable information will help support seniors’ letters of recommendation. Please refer to the School Counseling Senior Family Letter we sent home and always feel free to reach out to your child’s School Counselor with any questions.

The second step will be the “senior convo” videos being played during Glenbard Hour in August to review the college application process. We believe this information is also important for parents, so there will be a presentation the evening prior to Back to School Open House Night to help guide families through the application process as well. After the senior convo and parent presentations, counselors will be offering college application workshops through Glenbard Hour support days and meeting with all seniors in small groups (and individually as needed), fully preparing all seniors for the major November 1st deadline. Stay tuned to your child’s SchooLinks account, future newsletters and emails for additional information.

WELCOME BACK HILLTOPPERS!

All fall sports begin on Monday August 11, 2025. Fall sports include Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Flag Football, Boys Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Tennis, Girls Swimming and Girls Field Hockey. Please look for specific practice times that will be posted on our athletic website as we get closer to the season. Information will also be available at registration week.

In order to participate, registration must be completed on the parent portal for PowerSchool which includes the Athletic Code agreement and concussion awareness agreement. In addition, a current physical within the last 13 months MUST be turned into the Athletic Office prior to practicing. The Glenbard West Athletic Handbook can be found on the Athletic website as well.

Please note that our mandatory Fall Parent Athlete Meeting will take place on Tuesday August 19th at 6:30 pm scheduled for the Auditorium. You will learn important updates with regards to fall sports, Booster involvement, and our District wide GPS series. This will help both new and returning athletes and their families familiarize themselves with Glenbard West Athletics as we get ready for a great year.

GO 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

All Glenbard West students are encouraged to take part in any of these productions on or off stage, no experience required. An Information Session is held before auditions for each show. To find out more, students can attend our first Theatre Club meeting, Monday, August 18, at 3:05pm in the Auditorium.

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 primarily a fundraising organization with more than 350 members and 125+ Board members that plans various Booster-sponsored events and fundraising activities. The funds raised enhance academic programs, athletic programs and extra-curricular activities that enrich the student experience at Glenbard West.

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

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