Meadowbrook Star News 10/24/25
Hello Meadowbrook Families!
It will be a busy and fun day today as we get into the spirit for our Halloween parties and parade! If you're planning to join for the parade, please gather on the red/west playground, no earlier than 2:45. We will be walking out the front door toward the red blacktop, around the baseball field and back on the blacktop to the side door off the playground. Please feel free to spread out on the field and blacktop, leaving a lane for us to walk through. The parade will start with our kindergarten classes and continue up the grades.
As a reminder, our students will follow our typical dismissal process today. All students will return inside after the parade. Students riding the bus will be dismissed at 3:25 as usual and everyone else will be dismissed at 3:30. Please ensure you have communicated any changes in your children's dismissal plans with their teachers.
I'd like to share some important news regarding construction. The construction team will begin work on a storm trap to be installed along the east side of the school property. To keep students safe, we will be closing the blue/east playground for the remainder of the school year. In an effort to continue making it easy for our neighbors on Shag Bark Lane to access the school property, we will fence off a walkway from the Shag Bark entrance, along the grass on the east, to the front sidewalk of the school. This fenced walkway will be constructed in the next couple of weeks.
Have a fun, safe weekend!
Warmly,
Ginny
New Club for 4th/5th: The Husky Huddle
The Husky Huddle is a new club, run by Mrs. Samuels and Mrs. Siglin, focused on developing strong leadership and communication skills. Students will work on real projects that impact our school and community through three different teams:
- The Scoop Squad (School Newspaper)
- The Community Crew (Community Outreach)
- The Idea Incubators (Student Input for School-wide Issues)
We are looking for 12 students from each grade level. Selection will be made through a lottery system. We will meet during lunch/recess on the following dates:
- 4th Grade Meeting Dates: November 13, 18 and December 4, 11
- 5th Grade Meeting Dates: November 17, 18 and December 4, 11
Sign up by November 7th by clicking on this link to enter the lottery!
Krieger's Crew: A School Facility Dog's Journey *repeat*
I'm excited to share that I have published a picture book about Krieger, our school facility dog. Many of the students have seen the book around school and are asking about it. Parents are able to order a book online at kriegerscrew.com/shop and I will send a signed copy home with your student. Please choose the "school visit or family friend" option for delivery. I will be reading the book to all students during a special library event in January and you can order at that time as well. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Canines 4 Comfort, the organization that trained and donated Krieger to District 28. Please email me, ghiltz@northbrook28.net, with any questions. Thanks!
Husky Houses *repeat*
Husky Houses are houses around Meadowbrook where a trusted adult is available in the mornings before school (8-8:30) and in the afternoons (3:30-4:00) as children may be making their way to and from school on their own. The responsibility of the Husky House adult would be to assist in the event of an emergency and to help the child connect with their parents or the school. Houses will have signs placed in the front windows to let students know that it is a safe house at which they can ask for help. This is a variation of the "block parent" program that has been in use for years across many school districts.
What the Meadowbrook Husky House Adult Should Do:
1. For a lost child, call 9-1-1.
2. Please attend to a slightly injured child (e.g., band-aid). Contact the child’s parent (if you have info or the child can share) or contact the school to let us know.
3. For a seriously injured child, call 9-1-1 then the parent or school.
4. For a child who has been frightened by a stranger, call 9-1-1 then the parent or school.
What the Meadowbrook Husky House Adult Should Not Do:
1. Do not provide food or beverage because of possible food allergies or dietary restrictions.
2. Do not provide toilet facilities.
3. Do not provide transportation.
If you're interested in serving as a "Husky House" please click here to sign up. Signs will be sent home with students and should be placed in a front window visible from the street.
Gymnasium Roof Work to Begin in a Few Weeks
Each day brings visible progress on our gymnasium. Next week, construction crews will begin building the walls for the entryway, bathrooms, and office area. They’ll also start digging the storm trap on the east side of the playground. Roof steel is scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks, with installation planned for the end of November. Click the link above to watch the latest time-lapse video and see the progress for yourself!
Projected Construction Timeline
- March 2026: Meadowbrook gymnasium completed & construction of the new Meadowbrook School begins
- August 2027: New Meadowbrook School completed
New Drop-off Procedures for Elementary Music Students at NBJH
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 3, Northbrook Junior High is adjusting morning drop-off locations for elementary music students to improve traffic flow at NBJH.
Band Students: Continue drop-off at the gym lobby doors in the back of the school.
Orchestra Students: Begin using the curbside lane at the front of the school.
Separating the groups should help reduce congestion in the car line. Click here to view a visual of the new morning drop-off procedures.
Young Explorers Community Play Date
Are you seeking a nurturing and engaging early childhood program (ages 2-5) for your little one? Come enjoy a cup of coffee and donuts while you meet the caring staff from District 28's Young Explorers Program! See how the program inspires young minds through fun and education at a FREE community play date on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Westmoor School, which houses the program.
- Tour classrooms and program spaces with the program's dually-certified teachers (Early Childhood and Special Education)
- Learn how the program embeds lessons from the team’s specialists (Speech Language Pathologist, School Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker)
- Experience how the program teaches the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards through play!
Wreath & Coffee Sale Ends this Weekend!
Affy Tapple Caramel Apple Fundraiser *repeat*
Treat yourself (or a friend!) to a bite of nostalgia with Affy Tapple’s festive caramel apples - in Original Peanut, Original Classic and Autumn Sprinkles flavors - for $3 per apple.
Place your order by next Monday, November 3rd - and apples will be delivered to the classrooms by November 18th. Get all the info (including ingredients) and order HERE.
To purchase through the PTO Website: Log in→For Sale→Scroll to “Meadowbrook Affy Tapple Fundraiser” and pick your flavor(s)!
🍎 PTO Food Drive Runs Nov. 17-Nov. 21 🍎 *repeat*
Join us in supporting the Northfield Food Pantry by donating essential items during our upcoming food drive! Collection bins will be located outside the school and inside by the office. In addition, volunteers will collect goods in the morning car line (between 8:10a-8:30a), starting Nov. 17.
Most Needed Items: Juice & Juice Boxes (100% juice preferred), Boxed Cereal, Rice Mixes (e.g., Ben’s, Zatarain’s), Baking Supplies (cake/cookie mix, sugar, flour, etc.), Condiments, Spices, Snacks (granola bars, pretzels, mixed nuts, etc.), Tea & Instant Coffee, Cleaning Products and Personal Care Items (soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc.).
October 31: Halloween! Parties @ 2:15 (K), 2:30 (1-5); Parade @ 3pm
November 6: PTO Pizza Day
November 10: NB28 Children's Choir Concert @ 7pm @ Greenbriar (Gleo and Something More)
November 11: NB28 Children's Choir Concert @ 6pm @ Greenbriar (Singers)
November 11: NB28 Children's Choir Concert @ 7pm @ Greenbriar (Laetus)
November 12: PTO meeting @ 9:30 (and via Zoom)
November 13: D28 Faculty Recital @ 7pm @ NBJH
November 14: Last day of trimester 1
November 14: Spirit Day: Crazy Sock Day!
November 18: Junior Band & Concert Band Concert @ 7pm @ NBJH
November 19: Culture Fest @ 5:30-7:30
November 20: PTO Pizza Day
November 21: Husky Pack meeting!
November 21: NB28CC Something More at Illuminate Northbrook @ Village Green
November 24-28: Thanksgiving holiday, NO SCHOOL for students
December 2-3: Book Fair!
December 2: Board of Education meeting @ 7pm
December 3: Beginning and Philharmonic Orchestra concert @ 7pm
December 4: Cadet, String and Chamber Orchestra concert @ 7pm
December 5: First trimester progress reports shared with families via email