Principal's July Newsletter

Hi, this is a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have a student at, or have expressed an interest in, Glenbard East High School. Communication between Glenbard East and our families and community is very important to us. Don't forget to add ge_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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July 31

Marching Band Preview Performance

6:30PM - Stadium

August 3

Freshman Parent Night

6PM - 8PM - Biester Auditorium

August 4

Freshman Back to School Day

8AM - 12PM & 1PM - 2:30PM - Enter Door 6

August 5

Sophomore & Junior & Senior

Back to School Day

8AM - 12PM & 1PM - 2:30PM - Enter Door 6

August 7

Freshman Orientation

7:30AM - 1:30PM - East Gym

August 12

First Day of School

Dear East Families,

As a well-deserved summer break comes to a close, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to both our new and returning families as we enter the 2026–2027 school year! We are eagerly anticipating another year packed with learning, personal growth, and memorable experiences for every student.

If you’ve passed by Glenbard East recently, you’ve likely seen the incredible progress on our multi-year construction project. It is an exciting time as we see these modern learning spaces come to life—spaces built to benefit our students for decades to come. As we approach the first day of school, I want to reassure you that our building is safe, clean, and fully prepared for opening day, Wednesday, August 12th. While some final touches in designated areas may continue, these efforts are carefully managed to ensure zero disruption to student learning. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we enhance our campus!

As we kick off this new academic year, I’d like to highlight three foundational pillars that drive our students' success:

One of the most essential keys to a successful school year is consistent, daily attendance. Each day in the classroom provides rich instruction, hands-on learning, and peer collaboration that simply cannot be replicated. Being present keeps students connected, engaged, and on track with their goals. While we know emergencies and illnesses happen, we ask that you make daily attendance a priority. If your student must miss school, please notify our attendance office promptly.

Showing up is the first step, but active academic engagement is where the magic happens. We encourage our students to stay curious, ask big questions, eliminate distractions, and take genuine ownership of their learning. Our dedicated staff is committed to fostering dynamic, supportive spaces where every student can thrive. We want our students to challenge themselves this year and make the absolute most of the diverse academic programs we offer.

Academics build the mind, but extracurricular activities build the complete high school experience. With 30 athletic programs and over 60 clubs and activities, there is truly something for everyone at East. Participating in sports, clubs, or the arts builds leadership, creates lasting friendships, and fosters a true sense of belonging. We expect every Ram to find at least one activity that sparks their interest and get involved this year!

Our mission remains clear: to serve every student, every day in their journey to become a Glenbard East graduate who is self-empowered, thinks critically, embraces diversity, communicates, creates, and collaborates. We look forward to partnering with you to make 2026–2027 our best year yet.

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff at Glenbard East High School, thank you for being a vital part of a community where EXCELLENCE IS TRADITION.

Let's make it a great year—We Are East!!!

Mr. Antoine Anderson

Principal

Welcome to Jordan Poll, who was recently approved as the new Assistant Principal of Student Services at Glenbard East High School. Poll previously served as the principal of District 87’s Directions Program. Prior to his time at Directions, Poll served as School Psychologist and Dean of Students at Glenbard West High School.

We’d also like to welcome three new Dean of Students to our administrative team. Tonja Killingham comes to East after serving as a dean for the previous six years at York High School. Justin Stringer joins the team after serving as a dean at Morton West High School the previous 2 years. And Mike Zarco rounds out the team and comes to East with previous administrative experience in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice school system.

We are excited to have these individuals join East and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students and school community.

All students must attend Back-To-School week to receive their Glenbard East ID card and have their yearbook photo taken. If they are unable to attend, they will be required to secure their ID card on the first day of school and will likely miss class time.

Students are only permitted to take part in Back-to-School Week if the following items are completed and turned in:

1. Proof of Residency - All families must verify residency each year prior to registering for school.
2. Registration - Must be completed through PowerSchool Click here. (If you have trouble creating a PowerSchool account, please view these instructions.)
3. PHYSICAL for Freshman & Transfer Students - All freshmen and transfer students should provide a completed physical with required immunizations to the school nurse by July 1st. The physical exam must have been completed within one year of entrance into 9th grade. iPads will not be mailed to students until a complete school physical signed by the parent/guardian is turned in. Students will be excluded from attending school until the school nurse has received the required Health Exam and Immunizations records. If you have questions, please call (630) 469-6500. Please note that the nurse will be available at school starting August 4, 2026.

Seniors Only - All seniors will need to provide proof of receiving their second Meningitis conjugate vaccine to the School Nurse by July 15th. Students will not be allowed to purchase parking passes until all requirements have been fulfilled. Students will be excluded from attending school until the School Nurse has received this information.

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, 2026 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.

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. Picture Flyer

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 to enter the building, to ride the bus, to purchase lunch, to check in at the library and labs, etc.

BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK AUGUST 4th & 5th

August 4th & August 5th Bus Transportation Schedule

Transportation will run every hour based upon the above schedule.

Due to the lunch break, there will be no pickups from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

There will also be a return bus every hour to match each drop-off.

Please review Freshman Orientation letter and busing information.

August 7, 2026 Freshman Orientation Bus Schedule

The building opens to students at 7:00AM Monday-Friday.

As we continue to make progress on our facility improvements, we are adjusting our traffic patterns to ensure the safety of our students and staff while navigating construction zones.

Starting August 12, 2026 (First Day of School) we are implementing a new traffic flow for arrivals and dismissals:

• Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up: All parent vehicles should enter exclusively via the North parking lot off Wilson Ave. All drop-offs and pick-ups must occur directly at Door #5.

• Bus Transportation: The top of the hill drive (Door #24) will now be exclusively dedicated to bus transportation.

• The new Main Office is located off Main St. and serves as the visitor entrance (Door #26).

• Drop-Off & Pick-Up Map

**We understand that adjustments to daily routines can be inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to modernize our campus. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students safe.

Glenbard East has a limited number of lockers to issue to students. If a student would like a locker, they must register to receive one during back to school week.

A QR code will be provided and the locker assignment will be given out at a later date and updated in PowerSchool.

We are excited to invite you to our Open House on Thursday, August 27! The evening will begin at 5PM with a Construction Update. The Principal’s Welcome Address begins in Biester Auditorium at 5:45PM. From 6:05 to 8:05PM, you will have the opportunity to visit classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, learn about the content of your student's courses, and understand teacher expectations. This is a great chance to discover how you can support your student’s success at Glenbard East. A more detailed schedule will come out soon!

Students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28th.

October 21 from 4 - 8PM

October 22 from 2 - 6PM

More information regarding registration dates and steps will be shared with all our families in September.

AP Registration Fees

The cost of a student’s AP exam(s) is factored into school registration fees at the beginning of the school year. The Glenbard District 87 School Board has made the investment to pay for one AP exam for every Glenbard student every year. All subsequent exams are expected to be $99. To officially register for each AP exam, students must join the MyAP classroom for each of their AP courses. MyAP is a College Board website where students register for exams, access course resources, and see their exam scores. If your student drops an AP class, the student’s balance will automatically be updated to reflect the change. Families can withdraw from the exam without financial penalty by November 2, 2026 for full year AP courses or March 1, 2027 for second semester only AP courses by notifying the Assistant Principal for Instruction, Miranda Moses. After this date, families will receive a partial credit (exam cost minus a $40 canceled exam fee).

AP Exam Ordering

AP students (those with at least one AP class) will register with College Board in each of their AP classes at the beginning of the school year. AP teachers will give students a Join Code that will give them access to course-specific resources and assignments. When students join their class section, they will automatically be registered for the AP exam in May.

Students can prepare by checking their College Board login at https://myap.collegeboard.org and resetting the password if necessary. Please do not create a second account! This can create problems in the future when sending scores to colleges. Those who can log in quickly will take only a few minutes to join the AP Classroom. Thank you for preparing ahead. Here are some helpful hints as you review your College Board account:

• Check that it is the students’ full legal name (i.e., Patricia, not Patty) on the account.
• Use a student personal email address instead of a school email address. School email is eventually inactivated. Using a personal email address maintains access. It is highly recommended to change it if necessary.
• If you have trouble accessing the account, please contact College Board. 866-630-9305. We are very limited in what we can do to help with account access.
• Students can save their College Board login somewhere in their phones - in notes or photos.They will use it multiple times in high school, so they will want to keep it safe and accessible.

Email questions to miranda_moses@glenbard.org.

Click here to view the 2027 AP Exam Schedule

This year’s testing calendar includes a range of opportunities to support college and career readiness. As part of Illinois' graduation requirements, all juniors will take the ACT during the school day on April 14, 2027. To help all sophomores and juniors prepare, they will also participate in a diagnostic PreACT/ACT on October 27, 2026. Freshmen and Sophomores will take the PreACT on April 15, 2027. Additionally, juniors interested in qualifying for the National Merit Scholarship may choose to take the optional PSAT on October 23, 2026. We remain focused on providing meaningful assessments that guide student growth. The full testing calendar is outlined below:

• Friday, October 23, 2026: Optional PSAT/NMSQT for juniors interested in qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship. Students interested must complete this opt-in survey by 3PM on Friday, August 28th 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 27, 2026: Diagnostic PreACT/ACT for Sophomores and Juniors. Students will be automatically registered at no additional cost. This is a non-attendance day for all freshmen and seniors.
• Wednesday, April 14, 2027: School-day ACT for Juniors. This test is a 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 15, 2027: PreACT testing for freshmen and sophomores. This is a non-attendance day for all juniors and seniors.

Support the Glenbard East Fine Arts Community in 2026-27!

Whether your student is involved in band, choir, orchestra, theatre, visual arts or film, GEFAB (Glenbard East Fine Arts Boosters) helps create the experiences that make Fine Arts at Glenbard East exceptional.

Anyone can join or support GEFAB—parents, extended family members, friends, alumni, and students are all welcome. Your involvement helps strengthen and sustain our Fine Arts programs.

Membership supports opportunities beyond what school funding provides, including:

• Student scholarships, private lessons and summer camp assistance
• Guest artists and clinicians
• Student travel and enrichment opportunities
• Special events and activities that strengthen our Fine Arts community

As a GEFAB member, you'll also enjoy:

• Access to the annual Activities Pass for concerts and sporting events (allows you + family to attend most Glenbard East home athletic events and many school performances throughout the year without paying admission each time)
• Discounted parking for certain concerts
• Early access to seating for theatre productions and Holiday Concerts
• A tax-deductible contribution that directly benefits Glenbard East Fine Arts students

Whether you're a returning family or new to Glenbard East, joining GEFAB is one of the best ways to support your student's Fine Arts experience while connecting with other Fine Arts families throughout the year.

Become a member for 2026-27

Visit the Glenbard East Fine Arts website to learn more about GEFAB, explore the lineup and calendar for the year, and get to know the new GEFAB board. You can also contact us at gefaboosters@gmail.com.

Join Us Tonight! (July 31) The Glenbard East Marching Rams will wrap up Band Camp with their annual performance Friday, July 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the stadium. Families and community members are invited to attend! Stop by the GEFAB table to purchase spirit wear, become a member, ask questions, and learn more about how you can support Fine Arts at Glenbard East.

VISION: To utilize school and sports to develop “WELL-ROUNDED” student-athletes and establish great pride in our RAMS COMMUNITY.

Fall Sport Tryout/Practice Information

• Girls Cross Country

• Tryouts - August 10 - 3:25-5:25 PM

• Location - Concession Stand by Football Field

• Items Needed - Running shoes, t-shirt, shorts, water bottle

• Boys Cross Country

• Tryouts - August 10 - 3:25-5:25 PM

• Location - Concession Stand by Football Field

• Items Needed - Running shoes, t-shirt, shorts, water bottle

• Boys Football

• Practice - August 5-8 - 8:00-11:00 AM

• Location - Varsity on Stadium Turf, Soph on Wilson St. Field, Frosh on Freshman Field

• Items Needed - cleats, mouthpiece, speed girdle, athletic clothes, gym shoes, water bottle

• Girls Flag Football

• Tryouts - Aug. 10 - 1:45-3:15 PM

• Location - Driver’s Education Classroom

• Items Needed - Mouth guard and cleats

• Boys Golf

• Tryouts - Aug. 10 1:30-3:00 PM

• Location - Links & Tees, 900 W. Lake St., Addison, IL 60101

• Practice - Aug. 11 and 12 1:30-3:00 PM - Location to be determined and communicated by the coaching staff. Players will either be at Glendale Lakes or Links & Tees.

• Items Needed - Golf attire and golf clubs

• Girls Golf

• Tryouts - Aug. 10 1:30-3:00 PM

• Location - Links & Tees, 900 W. Lake St., Addison, IL 60101

• Items Needed - Golf attire and golf clubs

• Boys Soccer

• Tryouts - Aug. 10-12 - 2:00-5:00 PM

• Must attend all tryout days

• Parent Meeting - Aug. 9 - 7:00 PM via Zoom, reach out to Coach Adler for the link

• Location - Grass Soccer Field

• Items Needed - Running shoes, soccer cleats, shorts, shirt, shin guards, soccer ball

• Girls Tennis

• Tryouts - Aug. 10-11 1:45-4:15 PM

• Location - Glenbard East Tennis Courts

• Items Needed - Water bottle, athletic clothes, tennis racket

• Tennis rackets available from the program for tryouts if necessary

• Girls Volleyball

• Tryouts - Aug. 10 and 11 - Frosh 2:00-4:00 PM, Soph/JR/SR 4:00-6:30 PM

• Must attend both days of tryouts

• Location - East Gym

• Items Needed - Athletic clothes and shoes

IHSA start dates:

ALL Fall Sports start on/after Monday, August 10. Please feel free to reach out to the following head coaches for more specific information regarding preseason:

• Cheer CoEd Sideline: Lakeisha Greer, lakeisha_greer@glenbard.org
• Cross Country Boys: Andrew (Andy) Adduci, andrew_adduci@glenbard.org
• Cross Country Girls: Chris Pietsch, christopher_pietsch@glenbard.org
• Dance Poms: Courtney Clay, courtney_clay@glenbard.org
• Flag Football Girls: Clayton George, clayton_george@glenbard.org
• Football: John Walters, john_walters@glenbard.org
• Golf Boys: Chris Wienke, christopher_wienke@glenbard.org
• Golf Girls: Chris Nagel, christopher_nagel@glenbard.org
• Soccer Boys: Josh Adler, joshua_adler@glenbard.org
• Swimming Girls: Steven Flanagan, steven_flanagan@gmail.com
• Tennis Girls: Scott Llorens, scott_llorens@glenbard.org
• Volleyball Girls: Bradley Cardott, bradley_cardott@glenbard.org

Please register on PowerSchool prior to the start date of your respective sport(s) and assure student-athletes have up-to-date medical physical examinations and immunization records. While student accident insurance is provided for all enrolled students, additional insurance is mandatory for those in tackle football.

All Parent and Athlete Video Information - Please see information about our Athletic Department, Expectations, and our Booster Club via short videos linked in this document.

GLENBARD EAST ATHLETICS ON THE INTERNET

Glenbard East Athletics is now prepared to keep players, parents, and fans up to date with team news, pictures, schedules, rosters and more.

Website: https://schools.snap.app/glenbardeast

Instagram & X: @GEHS_Athletics

Follow us on our new Facebook Page: Glenbard East Athletics

Rams Athletic Wall-of-Achievement: https://glenbardeast.touchpros.com/Home2.aspx

Student Athletic Fees/Registration - $175

All students/families who participate in athletics will be required to register and pay the $175 athletic fee for either one (1) sport or three (3) sports, so student-athletes should take advantage of this great deal and participate in multiple sports. Remember, colleges and employers are searching for well-rounded students! Fees and/or a confirmed payment plan are due before the first competition and can be paid online. There are fee waivers available for families. Please stop by the Athletic Office and inquire. Also, students must have an up-to-date medical physical examination. FRESHMEN and TRANSFER STUDENTS must have all immunizations completed with their medical physical examination.

Assistant Principal for Athletics - Tony Millard - tony_millard@glenbard.org

Administrative Assistant to APA - Lakeisha Greer - lakeisha_greer@glenbard.org

Assistant Athletic Director - Dan Voss - daniel_voss@glenbard.org

Welcome back East athletes, coaches and families! It’s time to kick-off a new year of athletics and we need your help!!

Our Athletic Booster Club annually raises funds (over $40,000 last year) that go directly to our teams and student-athletes. These funds help provide the essentials that enhance our athletic teams' pursuit of VICTORY!

However, we need more members and parent volunteers! We have 900+ athletes registered but just over 200 parent members. Please sign up and continue to help enhance our athletic program.

The main website is: https://www.geramsboosters.org/ Visit the website for information about membership, parent volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, concession, spirit wear, and family activity passes.

Email: ge_news@glenbard.org
Website: glenbardeasths.org
Location: 1014 South Main Street, Lombard, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 627-9250
Twitter: @GE_Rams