Bulldog News

Note from Mr. Dubinsky

🎁 Briar Glen Holiday Gift Giving is back! 🎁

If you are interested in supporting another Briar Glen family in need, please sign up for a gift below.

Wrapped gifts are due to the Briar Glen Office on Thursday, December 11. Please label the gift with the number listed in the description!

Click here 👉: Holiday Giving Program 2025

Thank you for supporting our Briar Glen community and spreading kindness this holiday season!

Please reach out with any questions:

Emma-Leigh Strock, Briar Glen School Psychologist
📞 (630) 545-3522 | ✉️ estrock@ccsd89.org

Kristin Payne, Briar Glen Social Worker
📞 (630) 545-3275 | ✉️ kpayne@ccsd89.org

Planning an early pickup? Please try to arrive before 3:15 p.m.

As we approach the end of the day, our front office and hallways become especially busy preparing for dismissal at 3:35 p.m. If you need to pick your child up early, we ask that you do so no later than 3:15 p.m. This helps us ensure a smooth and safe dismissal process for all students. In the event of an emergency, please do not hesitate to call the office at (630) 545-3300 ahead of time and we will have your child ready. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

At-Home Family Reading Night, November 20

Family Reading Night is an annual statewide event held the third Thursday in November to encourage families to spend quality time reading together. This is sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of State/State Librarian and the Illinois Center for the Book. If you wish to participate, snap a photo and add it to our Reading Night Padlet by using the QR code.

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed November 26-28 for Thanksgiving break

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The district offices will be closed November 27 and 28. School will resume on a normal schedule on Monday, December 1.

Be prepared for winter with accurate contact info, warm clothes

When school buildings need to close due to extreme weather, information will be released through a phone message, as well as the district’s website (www.ccsd89.org) and Facebook page (facebook.com/CCSD89). The district’s messaging system uses contact info supplied by guardians, so it is important you contact the school secretary and update your records if they have changed.

Even when school is open, students should dress for the cold. Students will continue to go outside for recess as long as the weather remains above 10 degrees (feels like temperature). If your family needs help getting winter clothing, our school can help; please call the school’s main number and ask for our school’s social worker.

Support our Scouts and the Glen House Food Pantry (November 10–17)!

Our fifth-grade Arrow of Light and second-grade Wolf Cub Scout dens are volunteering at Glen House Food Pantry on Monday, November 17, to assemble birthday bags for families in need. We’re collecting pantry donations — with a special focus on birthday bag supplies per the pantry’s guidelines — and handmade cards to tuck into the bags.

Please place donations in the lobby bin labeled “Glen House Food Pantry – Birthday Bag Drive” between November 10 and 17.

Details: Glen House Food Pantry’s Birthday Bag flyer. Thank you for supporting our community!

Elementary students invited to “Future Spartan Night” at November 18 basketball game

All elementary school students are invited to see their future middle school and cheer on the Spartans at the basketball games on Tuesday, November 18. The seventh-grade game will start at 4 p.m., and eighth-grade at approximately 5 p.m. Elementary students will have the chance to win Glen Crest swag. Students are encouraged to wear blue to support the Spartans! More info: https://bit.ly/3JzeC9w

This event was organized by CCSD 89 student board members Olivia Loftsgaarden and Skylar Usalis.

Upcoming Events

November 17: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

November 18: Parent Series: The food-mood connection, noon and 7 p.m.

November 20: At-Home Family Reading Night

November 20: PTC meeting, 7 p.m. (in-person or join zoom)

November 20: Parent Series: Estrategias de motivación para el éxito escolar, 6 p.m.

November 24: Parent Series: Tackling tough topics, noon and 7 p.m.

November 25: Team Day

November 26-28: No school (Thanksgiving break)

December 1-12: K-5 NWEA MAP Testing

December 2: Parent Series: How to better manage your emotions, noon and 7 p.m.

December 4: Parent Series: Porque la Universidad te Incluye a tí, 7 p.m.

December 4: Parent Series: Why college includes you, 7 p.m.

December 10: Parent Series: Find the college that’s right for you, noon and 7 p.m.

December 11: Holiday gifts for Briar Glen families due

December 15: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.

December 16: Parent Series: Supporting your teen’s mental health, noon and 7 p.m.

December 17: CCSD 89 winter orchestra concerts, 6 and 8:30 p.m.

December 18: CCSD 89 winter band concerts, 6 and 9 p.m.

December 18: Parent Series: Elementos esenciales para niños felices y saludables, 7 p.m.

December 19: Preschool winter holiday parties, 10 a.m and 2 p.m.

December 19: K-5 Winter holiday parties, 2:30 p.m.

December 22-January 5: No school (winter break)

January 6: School resumes after winter break

Parent Series: The food-mood connection (November 18)

What does new evidence tell us about the connection between food, mental health, and mood? At noon and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, Dr. Drew Ramsey will provide direct, actionable techniques to improve brain function and emotional health. Preview. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3XbNb93

Parent Series: Estrategias de motivacion para el exito escolar de su adolescente (November 20)

En este poderoso evento presencial, los padres de familia y/o tutores descubrirán estrategias efectivas para abordar temas como el bajo rendimiento escolar y aprenderán por qué la autonomía y el deseo de contribuir pueden influir en la motivación y toma de decisiones de un adolescente: https://bit.ly/4hWLfdL

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