The Glenbrooks: Summer 2023 Issue

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GBN RADIO PROGRAM TRANSITIONS TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING

GLENBROOK SCHOOL

HEALTH CENTER: Leading the Nation with SchoolBased Health Care

22 WORLD LANGUAGES PROGRAM: Opening Doors to Cultures and Perspectives

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A Message from Dr. Charles Johns Board of Education

A Message from Bruce Doughty

Art as a Form of Resistance: Holocaust Remembrance

Student Spotlight: Ukrainian Student Finds Community at Glenbrook South

GBN Radio Program Transitions to Digital Broadcasting

2023 Distinguished Teachers

Glenbrook School Health Center: Leading the Nation with SchoolBased Health Care

Student Spotlight: GBN Senior Uses His Passion for Math to Help Others

World Languages Program: Opening Doors to Cultures and Perspectives

District 225 Enjoys Continued Financial Stability

GBS Advanced Horticulture Fosters Student Growth

2023 Distinguished Alumni

D225 By the Numbers

SUMMER 2023 ISSUE

The Glenbrooks is a community publication by the District’s Communications Department.

©️ 2023 Glenbrook High School District 225. Reproduction of material without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Editorial Team

Carol L. Smith

Executive Director of Communications

David Olson

Communications Manager

Christina Salonikas

Communications Manager

Alice Kus

Executive Assistant

Superintendent

Dr. Charles Johns

Deputy Superintendent

Dr. R.J. Gravel

A MESSAGE FROM DR. CHARLES JOHNS Superintendent

District 225 is excited to bring you the latest edition of The Glenbrooks publication that tells stories about the accomplishments of our students and staff members during the second half of the 2022-23 school year.

Our staff members have provided quality education and support to our students, going above and beyond to ensure they have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

Students continue to excel academically, be recognized for their athletic abilities, showcase their talents as part of the performing and visual arts, and make a difference in the community through work in clubs and activities. On the pages of this publication, you will read about a student from Ukraine who has embraced her new community while helping others who were also displaced by the ravages of war. Another student shares his love of math and his desire to teach others by tutoring and serving as a classroom assistant. Finally, two students who wanted to honor the past worked diligently to create a remembrance event so their peers would never forget the Holocaust.

Serving students’ academic, physical, and wellbeing needs is best accomplished when they are

“OUR STAFF MEMBERS HAVE PROVIDED QUALITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.”

Dr. Charles Johns

in school. In partnership with Advocate Health, the Glenbrook School Health Center opened at Glenbrook South High School in December 2022 to keep students healthy and in school. Since then, students have received athletic physicals, immunizations, and point-of-contact tests for strep, flu, and COVID. In addition, a mental health professional is on-site and available to speak to students needing support. We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to promote the health and well-being of everyone in our schools.

We are grateful to our community for the ongoing support and partnership shown to our district. Your trust in us to teach, nurture and prepare our students to succeed in their post-secondary lives is appreciated.

A MESSAGE FROM BRUCE DOUGHTY

Board of Education President

With wide-ranging academics and extracurricular programs, the Glenbrooks provide opportunities for every student to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom. These rich offerings are grounded in a culture of caring and belonging, where our Glenbrook community supports and inspires our students. We strive to equip them well for the world ahead, able to think critically, use sound judgment, respect others, and so much more. In the tradition of Glenbrook excellence, the value of our students’ education blossoms well beyond their time with us.

We understand, of course, that excellence is not static. Our aim—to be outstanding—is constant. But advancement occurs, and we do not sit still. We are dedicated to continuous improvement, embracing all we do well, while tirelessly seeking ways to do even better. This ethos is at the core of our District’s goals and initiatives. Broad and ambitious, these objectives help guide our efforts, all for our students’ benefit.

In the teaching and learning area, for example, the Board of Education recently reached a five-year agreement with our teachers, which not only fosters educational excellence, but lowers class sizes, enabling even more individualized instruction. This multi-year contract is also part of our commitment to long-term financial stability, another key objective. Our robust position permits us to keep furnishing firstrate education. We are working, as well, to support our goal of wellbeing. With the establishment of our health center, we now offer basic services, helping our community stay healthy and in school, where our students best learn.

The Board deeply appreciates the remarkable support of our families and community. Their many contributions are crucial to student success. Our administrators, teachers, staff, coaches, and sponsors are exceptional, but we all understand the importance of a full-team approach. Only through collective efforts can we provide the best possible education to prepare our students for a rewarding future. With profound gratitude, the Board looks forward to our continuing partnership.

DR. MARCELO SZTAINBERG Board of Education Member

SANDRA MUHLENBECK Board of Education Member

MICHELLE SEGUIN Board of Education Member

SKIP SHEIN Board of Education Member

PETER GLOWACKI Board of Education Vice President

MATTHEW O’HARA Board of Education Member

ART AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE: HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

During her first year at Glenbrook North High School, class of 2023 member Klara Walny noticed the school did not host an annual Holocaust Remembrance Day. As the great-granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, it was essential that she find a way to honor victims and survivors and tell their stories. When Walny was a sophomore, she spoke with her Hebrew teacher, Dorit Dahari, and World Languages instructional supervisor, Josh Morrel, about planning a remembrance for the following year.

Walny knew that much of her classmates’ knowledge about the Holocaust was limited to the units in history class and what they read about Anne Frank. She spent her junior year researching the Holocaust, and, with the help of Morrel, delivered a historical narrative to students and staff members from various social studies classes.

The response to the presentations was positive, but Walny and other students wanted to create a legacy of remembrance to ensure the GBN Holocaust Remembrance Day continued.

One student who attended the presentation felt connected to the subject and realized she could bring new information and perspective to the day. Class of 2024 member Claire Eisenstadt is also

“BRINGING EVENTS LIKE THIS TO LIGHT HELPS TO OPEN PEOPLE’S MINDS AND WORK TOWARD PEACE AND ACCEPTANCE.”

Claire Eisenstadt

the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. The two students formed a committee and began thinking of a theme for the 2023 remembrance day when they landed on “Art as a Form of Resistance.”

While there are many forms of resistance, the event in April planned by students and staff showed that the memory of those who were lost in the Holocaust cannot be silenced but lives on through their art.

Eisenstadt believes the theme illustrates strength: “Resistance is my favorite aspect of this topic. It shows how the Jewish people could unite and fight back as they were persecuted.”

On the day of the Holocaust Remembrance event, as students entered the Center for the Performing Arts, they viewed photos of artwork created by victims and survivors of the Holocaust before, during and after World War II. The many works hidden in attics or buried in a cemetery before the artists were moved to concentration camps were recovered by surviving family members. Artist Heinz Geiringer told his sister, Eva, about his art as they entered Auschwitz. He did not survive, but after the war, 16-year-old Eva recovered the paintings that now hang in the Dutch Remembrance Museum in Amsterdam.

The story plays well into the theme. “We were looking at art from the teen perspective, which is how we got to Heinz and Eva,” said Walny.

Walny worked with representatives from the Illinois Holocaust Museum to choose the artwork to be

displayed. The first piece she found was a painting by Karl Bodek and Kurt Conrad Loew, of a yellow butterfly on a barbed wire fence with a train in the background. “It had to be displayed,” she said.

Eisenstadt and Walny showed a portion of the documentary Violins of Hope, which tells the story of father and son violin makers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein from Tel Aviv and Istanbul, who have dedicated their lives to acquiring and refurbishing violins owned by Jews before and during the war. Several violins will be displayed at the Northbrook Public Library in August.

Walny is proud of the work she and the others have done to honor those who survived and remember those who didn’t: “There aren’t many Holocaust survivors left. I realized that current middle and high school students are the last group to have first-hand interactions with survivors. That makes events like this even more important.”

Eisenstadt agreed on the importance of the day: “Bringing events like this to light helps to open people’s minds and work toward peace and acceptance.”

“WE WERE LOOKING AT ART FROM THE TEEN PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS HOW WE GOT TO HEINZ AND EVA.”

Klara Walny

UKRAINIAN STUDENT FINDS COMMUNITY AT GLENBROOK SOUTH

At the beginning of March, you can feel the crisp air as the snow melts. Spring is around the corner, and the halls at Glenbrook South are filled with eager students counting down the days until spring break. However, in 2022, this wasn’t the case for one student.

“One year ago, I left Ukraine. That was the last time I had been home and slept at home,” said Lidiia Okilko, Glenbrook South class of 2025.

On February 28, 2022, Okilko left her home, family and friends in Ukraine to continue her education as a freshman in high school: “Everything in my memory is so hazy. It feels like I didn’t even have anything. Everything was lost.”

Okilko and her mother first traveled to Poland by bus from their home in Lviv. Under normal circumstances, the journey lasts about two hours; however, this trip lasted 26 hours, and they were without food and water. Once in Poland, they stayed two weeks before deciding Okilko would travel to the United States alone.

Luckily, she was somewhat familiar with Glenview, Illinois. In 2017, Okilko and her family lived for one year in Glenview, where she attended fifth grade at Hoffman Elementary. During that year, she learned English and developed lasting relationships with other families that would help her when she arrived in the States five years later.

“It was so nice seeing people I hadn’t seen for five years. To see how they changed and how I changed was a great feeling. I never knew meeting somebody again after such a long time gives a ‘wow’ feeling,” Okilko said. The familiar faces made her first day at GBS in March 2022 more comfortable.

With only a few months left in the 2022 school year, Glenbrook South English teacher Austin Smith was surprised by how quickly Okilko

“IT’S THE FEELING THAT LIFE IS GETTING BETTER BECAUSE I AM DOING WHAT I LOVE. I HAVE PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO ARE THE BEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET, AND IT IS HELPING MY LIFE GET BACK TO NORMAL.”

Lidiia Okilko

wanted to dive into the curriculum. “There was this fearlessness in her. She was willing to jump right in like she could handle it by putting forth her best effort,” he said.

Smith ensured Okilko felt welcomed in a new environment by opening his classroom to her as a safe space.

“I connected the most with Mr. Smith and appreciated the support he has given me,” Okilko said.

Her other safe space when she first started at GBS was in her choral class, Girls Glee Club: “Everything that is connected to music, I am interested in.”

During the 2022-23 school year, Okilko enrolled in a music production class where students learned how to create music on computers.

Fine Arts teacher Brian Boron said, “She will crack jokes and put all my other students at ease. She’s the first person in the class to talk daily and break the ice for the other students.”

Boron said Okilko is very creative and sees how happy music makes her.

“It’s the feeling that life is getting better because I am doing what I love. I have people around me who are the best people I have ever met, and it is helping my life get back to normal.”

Okilko is in the school’s premiere chorus and a cappella ensemble, Fusion. Additionally, she was cast in this year’s winter play, participated

in the variety show and was cast as ‘Janis’ in the Glenbrook Musical “Mean Girls.”

There are 13 transfer students from Ukraine attending Glenbrook South, and Okilko has made it her mission to get to know each of them.

“I want to know how they are doing, where they are from; maybe we have some connections,” she said. Okilko will help the students with their questions and suggest ways they can get involved at GBS based on their passions.

A year later, Smith no longer has Okilko in class but continues to be marveled at her actions to help others who were once in her shoes. “For her to be this lighthouse beacon to others, to support them, and to see what she’s done with her involvement in music and acting is amazing,” Smith said. “She is very talented, and she is putting herself out there. It is cool to see her just embrace this new lifestyle.”

In addition to keeping up with her studies at GBS, Okilko also is finishing school virtually with her classmates in Ukraine:

“Ukraine is everything. Ukraine is me. There’s not a day when I don’t think about my country. I love my country and everything about it. I am proud that I am Ukrainian.”

Okilko and her father live in Glenview, while her mother travels back and forth between the two countries: “Thank you to every teacher and every kid in this school and to the families that sheltered me here. The people who helped me get back to my life and my parents for being supportive.”

Justin Weiner

For decades, Glenbrook High School District 225 has owned and operated WGBK 88.5 FM, a non-commercial radio station broadcasting from Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South. Each school has its own radio studio where students share the airwaves hosting weekly sports talk, pop culture, music and news broadcast throughout the Glenview and Northbrook communities.

When the district acquired the station in the 1990s, the studios were run on analog equipment. According to Glenbrook North Broadcasting teacher Justin Weiner, the main studio hadn’t been updated since that time. As digital technology progressed, so did the needs of the Broadcasting program; “We had the same setup for 30 years. Although it was functional, it did not cater to the current landscape of radio broadcasting at the professional level,” Weiner said.

Recognizing the need for modernized technology, Weiner contacted the Glenbrook High School Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the district’s innovative teaching projects. During the 202223 school year, the Glenbrook High School Foundation funded nine requests totaling more than $34,000, donated $4,200 to clubs for competitions and gave away $5,000 in need-based scholarships at GBN and GBS.

The foundation extended its generosity to the radio station, awarding GBN $7,500 to renovate the facility and update it from the analog system to a modern digital-capable system. “A project like this is expensive and might have taken five years to complete without help from the foundation,” explained Weiner. “I heard great things from colleagues about the foundation and appreciate the funding that enabled us to update our space.”

The GBN radio studio enhancements were completed in April 2023, revolutionizing the studio’s capabilities and providing students with real-world broadcasting experience. Included in the upgrade was the purchase of new consoles, nodes, amplifiers,

“A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS EXPENSIVE AND MIGHT HAVE TAKEN FIVE YEARS TO COMPLETE WITHOUT HELP FROM THE FOUNDATION.”

GBN RADIO PROGRAM TRANSITIONS TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING

headphones and radio DJ automation software. “The equipment is not only sleek but extremely functional,” Weiner said.

One especially exciting addition was the purchase of a “Graham Studios R-rack,” a storage system containing broadcasting equipment, which has revitalized and enhanced the overall studio setup. The new state-of-the-art equipment allowed for a revamping of the broadcasting curriculum, offering opportunities not widely taught in high schools. “Moving from one studio to another was cumbersome,” Weiner said of the radio station’s previous workspace. Now, he added, the studio has transformed “into a streamlined workflow that is visually appealing and functional.”

This new set-up improved the studio workflow, allowing the radio shows to have four people on microphones instead of three. The news anchors, reporters and show guests can hold conversations with each other in an immersive, professional, on-air setting. The news anchor role, in particular, provides a valuable training ground for students at all grade levels to develop their on-air presence.

“2022-23 school year station manager, Dylan fields, praised the transformative impact of the upgrade, calling it a “game-changer.” Fields has been in the program for three years and noted that in the previous studio, “there were always problems with the software. Now it is much simpler to use.”

The positive effects of the radio station upgrades extend beyond the Glenbrooks. Each year, GBN radio holds a radiothon where the students raise money for cancer research. At this year’s 28th annual radiothon, the students utilized the new equipment while broadcasting live for an impressive 12 hours. Their effort raised over $10,000 for the Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Foundation for the second consecutive year. “I was very proud of myself and my classmates for all the effort we put into beating our goal,” Fields said.

By investing in the radio station, the district not only has equipped students with innovative technology - They have fostered a sense of creativity and engagement. The equipment upgrade allows students to hone their broadcasting craft, explore their interests and make a positive impact on the community.

“I WAS VERY PROUD OF MYSELF AND MY CLASSMATES FOR ALL THE EFFORT WE PUT INTO BEATING OUR GOAL.”

Dylan Fields

2023

DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS

SARAH ILIE

Glenbrook North, Social Studies

Sarah Ilie, Glenbrook North Social Studies teacher, is the recipient of the Distiniguhsed Teacher of 2023 award. Ilie, who has worked at GBN teaching various social studies subjects like AP Psychology since 2010, has been nominated by her students more than a dozen times over the years. Ilie’s students say she goes above and beyond to support them and make her classroom a safe space. She uses real world examples in all of her classes to help students connect with material and understand how it impacts their life. In addition to teaching, Ilie is also the head speech coach and sponsor of both the law club and black student union club at GBN. Ilie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science and History from University of Illinois - Chicago, a Master of Science in Secondary Education and Teaching from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing her Principal Endorsement at National Louis University.

MARK BAUMAN

Glenbrook South, World Languages

Mark Bauman, Glenbrook South World Languages teacher, is the recipient of the Distinguished Teacher of 2023 award. Bauman, who has worked at Glenbrook South as a Spanish teacher since 2002, has been nominated by his students more than a dozen times over the years, especially for the ways in which he connects with all his students, making them feel valued. Bauman inspires students to follow their passions, some even pursuing higher education in Spanish literature. He also is the sponsor for the school’s Water 1st Club, a nonprofit that helps build and sustain clear water systems in developing countries. In addition to teaching at GBS, he is the World Methods instructor at Northwestern University. Bauman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature from Roosevelt University.

GLENBROOK SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER: LEADING THE NATION WITH SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CARE

On Friday, January 13 the district celebrated the opening of the Glenbrook School Health Center (GSHC) with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Glenbrooks is excited to offer premiere and equitable accessible health care to the school community. Since its soft opening in December 2022, the Glenbrook School Health Center has seen more than 400 students and staff members.

In the spring of 2022, the district became aware of a funding opportunity from the federal government. With the support of United States Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and State Senator Laura Fine, the school district was awarded a one-time grant of $250,000 for facilities and equipment. The grant was sourced through Congress’ 2021 Community Project Funding process as part of the Omnibus spending bill. Additionally, the school district received $1.09 million in unanticipated, unbudgeted reimbursements from FEMA for previously submitted COVID-19 expenses, which supplemented the one-time construction costs.

US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

“WE KNOW JUST HOW CRUCIAL ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE IS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.”

During the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in January, Congresswoman Schakowsky said, “We know just how crucial accessible health care is for children and families. The Glenbrook School Health Center will provide students and staff with top-of-the-line medical care at no cost. All people, especially our children, deserve access to affordable, quality and accessible health care. I am ecstatic that I was able to help secure funds and contribute to bettering the health of our community.”

State Senator Laura Fine also addressed attendees at the event and said, “I am proud of my community’s commitment to making health care resources more accessible, and for this center to be serving such an essential group in our community—its students and educators who are shaping the future of our country.”

Historically, students and staff members come to school when they feel unwell as a means to “power through” their symptoms. Even students who have access to health care do not take time from their day to visit a clinic or doctor’s office or cannot get a same-day appointment.

In the year leading up to the 2020 pandemic, daily student visits to the district’s nurse’s offices increased dramatically. The process to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 uncovered additional information about the schools’ populations and their health needs.

Additionally, for several years prior, the district experienced an alarming increase in insurance premiums and health claims for its staff members. Coupled with the costs related to hiring and training substitutes, the issues sparked conversations in the district about how it could support students and staff members with their healthcare needs.

State Senator Laura Fine

As the district researched, it became clear to the administration that building a school health center could be the answer. Visits to suburban school districts with similar facilities provided insight into the structure, costs and benefits of opening a school health center.

“I AM PROUD OF MY COMMUNITY’S COMMITMENT TO MAKING HEALTH CARE RESOURCES MORE ACCESSIBLE.”

CONVENIENCE IS A PRIORITY

Glenbrook School Health Center is open during regular school hours, including school breaks and summer. Students and staff members may schedule their appointments using a link on the district’s website - many same-day appointments are available.

This flexibility allows students to have appointments before or after school or during their flex period, greatly reducing missed class time. Additionally, parents and caregivers do not have to miss work or other commitments to attend doctor appointments. Staff members also benefit from the convenience of having a medical center located at their place of employment.

Glenbrook South Instructional Supervisor for Special Education Stacey Wolfe, is pleased with the responsive, timely care she received at GSHC: “I had a frustrating experience trying to be seen at a medical facility during the school day. The prompt care location was far from the school, and the wait was long. Conversely, after making a same-day appointment at the Glenbrook School Health Center, I was seen by a professional who

“AFTER MAKING A SAME-DAY APPOINTMENT AT THE GLENBROOK SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER, I WAS SEEN BY A PROFESSIONAL WHO ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, WROTE A PRESCRIPTION FOR MY CONDITION AND GOT ME BACK INTO MY OFFICE QUICKLY.”

Stacey Wolfe

answered my questions, wrote a prescription for my condition and got me back into my office quickly.”

Another convenience the district provides is free transportation to the school health center. Students who attend Glenbrook North or Glenbrook Off-Campus can request this free shuttle service when they are scheduling their appointment.

At the school GSHC, we take privacy seriously. The privacy policy ensures that all medical records are kept confidential and never shared with the district. If a parent or guardian wants to share their child’s medical information with the school, we provide consent forms.

ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE

The school health center is staffed with professional healthcare workers — a nurse practitioner, a medical assistant, a licensed clinical social worker — who can diagnose conditions and prescribe medications, making the healthcare process more efficient, streamlined and effective.

The GSHC is designed to complement the school nurse’s office. Collaboration between school nurses and school-based health centers has been shown to improve students’ overall health, well-being and academic success. According to a joint statement issued by the National Association of School Nurses and the School-Based Health Alliance, continuity of care occurs when health professionals coordinate with each other about student health needs.

There is another major benefit of on-campus health care: graduation rates increase, and both student and staff absences decrease.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE

In addition to medical care, GSHC provides comprehensive mental health care services comparable to those offered at community health agencies. An on-site licensed clinical social worker conducts therapy sessions, both in person and virtually, and works in collaboration with a pediatrician.

Just as with medical care, all students and eligible staff have access to the mental health services at GSHC at no cost, and their insurance is not billed. To accommodate students in transition, incoming freshmen and outgoing seniors also can receive counseling at the school health center.

Due to an increased need for mental health care services, community members often experience long wait times to see a provider. GSHC bridges the gap by offering therapy sessions, diagnoses and ongoing counseling with a licensed clinical social worker. An added benefit is that there is no limit on the number of sessions.

The school health center takes a holistic approach to therapy, treating the mind, body, and spirit. Therapy sessions also can include integrative approaches such as art therapy or aromatherapy.

SCHOOL AND SPORTS PHYSICALS

One of the most commonly used services at GSHC is receiving a school or sports physical. The medical staff conducts a comprehensive examination and reviews the student’s health history. Students can schedule a convenient appointment for a physical at the school health center rather than wait weeks to see their primary care physician or standing in a long line at an immediate care clinic.

AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT INCLUDE:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Self-esteem

• Stress

• Relationships

• Emotional regulation

• Trauma

• Social skills

• Self-care

• Sleep hygiene

• Problem solving

“HAVING THE SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR STAFF WHO ARE SO VITAL TO OUR DISTRICT’S SUCCESS.”

Superintendent Dr. Charles Johns

The Glenbrooks is committed to providing students, families and staff with an exceptional educational experience, which includes equitable, quality health care and the positive impact it has on the school community. According to Superintendent Dr. Charles Johns, “Our number one priority is educating students, which is best done when students are in school. Having the school health center contributes to student health and the well-being of staff who are so vital to our district’s success.”

GLENBROOK SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER SERVICES

INCLUDE:

• School and sports physicals

• Immunizations

• Point-of-care testing (COVID-19, flu, strep throat, glucose)

• Medical screenings (dental, vision, hearing)

• Diagnostic lab tests

• Examination, diagnosis and treatment of pain and minor aches (eye, ear, head, stomach)

• Treatment of minor cuts, scrapes and abrasions

• Individual counseling

GBN SENIOR USES HIS PASSION FOR MATH TO HELP OTHERS

Glenbrook North class of 2023 student Tom Mitchell’s interest in math began when he was five years old. His older brother shared that interest, and the two regularly played math or problem-solving games like Rubik’s Cube: “My brother and I were interested in solving problems, and math, compared to any other subject, is the one that related most to my interest in problem-solving. I like taking a specific equation, manipulating it, and switching it around into something that looks completely different but is still equal.” Mitchell’s interest in Algebra spurred his desire to learn about cryptography, whereby he uses computer science to hide information only accessible to him unless he chooses to share it.

Volunteering is also an important part of Mitchell’s life. Being a peer tutor and a classroom assistant allows him to give back to the school community. “I am excited about math, and I wanted to share my passion with others,” he said.

Peer tutors are available in the Math Resource Center (MRC) during the day to support students with homework or help them prepare for a test. Mitchell shared his strategies for lessening a student’s anxiety about a test: “The first thing I do is tell them it’s going to be okay; I’m going to help you through it, and you’re going to do well on this test.” His process also includes helping students create successful study habits. Several times this year, students he assisted reported earning an A on the test.

Now in its sixth year, the GBN classroom assistant program accepts 15-20 students annually.

Glenbrook North Mathematics Instructional Supervisor Dr. Maria J. Vasilopoulos is in charge of the program and says the students interested in serving must apply and interview before

“I LIKE TAKING A SPECIFIC EQUATION, MANIPULATING IT, AND SWITCHING IT AROUND INTO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUT IS STILL EQUAL.”

Tom Mitchell

being notified of acceptance in the spring. The four-hour orientation at the beginning of the year and quarterly meetings provide assistants with expectations, responsibilities, and strategies to succeed in a classroom filled with peers. Vasilopoulos said the program positively impacts all those involved: “This program benefits the classroom assistants, the teachers with whom they are placed and the students enrolled in the classes.”

Mitchell credits the teaching staff at GBN for providing opportunities to advance his mathematical knowledge, which propelled him to be a classroom assistant: “We are fortunate to have teachers who can teach higher level courses like advanced topics, which is a multi-variable calculus class usually taught in college.”

Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms teacher

Steve Goodman appreciates Mitchell’s perspective: “Computer science is broad and constantly changes. Tom took this class last year and has a wealth of knowledge and experience from his pursuits in computer science. He can add things and share things I don’t know about.”

When Mitchell is in the room, Goodman said he can differentiate his instruction: “I’m circulating

Steve Goodman

the room and visiting with more than 20 students individually. Tom helps by looking at code and assisting students, which allows me to spend time with students who need additional support.”

Goodman said that Mitchell has found a balance between friendship mode and classroom assistant mode: “Lots of his friends are in the class, and he can manage the different interactions. He understands he is there to do a job.”

Math is his first love, but Mitchell has committed to studying computer science after graduating from GBN: “I plan to study at the University of Maryland, which is close to Washington D.C. There are a lot of government internships available, and the connections I can build there made it the place for me.”

“COMPUTER SCIENCE IS BROAD AND CONSTANTLY CHANGES.”

Steve Goodman

“TOM HELPS BY LOOKING AT CODE AND ASSISTING STUDENTS, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO SPEND TIME WITH STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.”

World Languages Program: Opening Doors to Cultures and Perspectives

“HIGH SCHOOL IS ABOUT TRYING THINGS OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.”

Jordan Combs

As floral designer Miho Ito artfully positions each flower in a traditional Japanese arrangement, a group of students who study Japanese language and culture gather around to observe the artistic process.

“Western culture puts many flowers together in one way,” explained Glenbrook South Japanese teacher Yasuko Makita-Discekici. “In Japanese culture, there is space between them, and the lack of symmetry is more natural.”

Beginning in 2004, the Japanese program became one of nine language programs taught in Glenbrook High School District 225. About 70% of students at both Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South are enrolled in at least one world language class.

GBS class of 2023 student Jordan Combs said she was drawn to the Japanese program based on her love of anime: “High school is about trying things outside your comfort zone. My favorite thing has been learning about festivals and what people in Japan do during different seasons.”

Every 10 years, the district surveys students and parents to determine what language classes students may want to pursue.

According to Glenbrook South World Languages

Instructional Supervisor Danita Fitch, the survey brought the students’ interest in Japanese to the district’s attention. Interest in Mandarin and Hebrew was identified through a similar process.

“Learning another language opens the door to many opportunities, such as gaining an advantage in the workplace,” Fitch said. “Additionally, it offers students exposure to new cultures that allow them to enjoy deeper, authentic experiences when traveling, listening to music or admiring art.”

In 2010, Glenbrook North World Language Instructional Supervisor Josh Morrel helped create the Hebrew curriculum at GBN. Since that time, the program has grown robustly, more than doubling the number of sections and students.

“The program has evolved in incredible ways over the last 13 years,” Morrel said. “Our students study Hebrew in Israel or at a college or university. Many students, with or without Hebrew language background before high school, earn the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy in Hebrew. Ultimately, the legacy of the program is our students’ sense of community.”

Similarly, in 1998, Rosemarie Carsello created a new curriculum for the World Languages department, the GBS American Sign Language program. It began when she contacted teachers and interpreters in the area willing to advise her on ways to teach the unique language.

“It appeals to some students because it doesn’t have all of the aspects that spoken languages have, while other students have a personal interest in it because they may know someone who is deaf or hard of hearing,” Carsello said.

GBN class of 2023 student Mindy Pick started learning American Sign Language at 13: “I remember I saw some people in public signing, and I was curious. I Googled it and asked my mom if I could start taking classes. She and I started taking family classes at the Center on Deafness in Northbrook.”

When classes went online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it allowed Pick to enroll in American Sign Language at GBS during her sophomore year. “It’s been fun. I’ve made friends at South,” she said. During her junior year, she began commuting to GBS to attend class in person.

Because of her experience and passion, Pick has decided to major in deaf studies in college to become a speech-language pathologist. She

“ULTIMATELY, THE LEGACY OF THE PROGRAM IS OUR STUDENTS’ SENSE OF COMMUNITY.”

Josh Morrel

hopes to use American Sign Language with the kids she will work with one day.

In addition to Pick, a handful of GBN students take American Sign Language at GBS. Due to high interest, GBN will offer a level one class of American Sign Language beginning with the 202324 school year.

Conversely, GBS students travel to GBN to learn Russian and Hebrew. GBN is one of a few public

high schools in Illinois that offers Russian as a world language.

Glenbrook North Russian teacher Svetlana Borisova said the goal for her students is to have a sense of belonging, learn about the culture and understand what people are saying: “When you teach by the book, it is mostly grammar, and you are limited by it. The performance-based approach puts grammar aside and focuses on how much the students can create with a language and use it without the fear of making mistakes.”

The World Languages program gives students the opportunity not only to learn a new language but also to discover new customs and traditions. As Morrel noted, “Language is the window to a culture.”

District 225 offers its students American Sign Language, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Spanish Heritage.

District 225 Enjoys Continued Financial Stability

The school district’s budget is a dynamic process that adapts to ever-changing local and external factors. Developed over the fiscal year, the largest expenses—salary, benefits and capital projects —are carefully determined in advance based on student enrollment, course registrations and the long-term capital projects plan. Guided by

a zero-based budgeting approach and a formulabased decision-making process, we continue to maintain financial stability. To ensure a progressive and conducive environment for our students, we remain dedicated to the ongoing modernization and enhancement of facilities and learning spaces.

EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

AAA/A aa Bonds

Glenbrook has achieved and maintained the highest bond ratings from both Moody’s Investors Services and S&P Global.

Financial Reporting

Glenbrook is recognized annually by the Association of School Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting.

State Financial Rating

Glenbrook has achieved the highest financial management assessment rating of any school district in the State of Illinois (recognition).

General Obligation Refunding School Boards

General Obligation Refunding

Limited Tax Life Safety Bonds

Refunding Bonds

Limited Tax Life Safety Bonds

DEBT MANAGEMENT

figure 1 (above)

In August 2020 the school district took advantage of historically low-interest rates to refund existing debt, resulting in a savings of $1.7 million to taxpayers. Glenbrook is on track to retire all existing debt by December 1, 2027.

School

Boards

TAX RATE COMPARISON CHART

figure 2 (below)

District 225 is excited to share that among comparable districts, we proudly hold the distinction of having the lowest operating tax rate. Additionally, our tax rate, including bond and interest, is the second-lowest. We are grateful to our community for their continued support of our district, as reflected in our property tax revenue.

Total Outstanding Debt: $53.7 Million

GBS Advanced Horticulture Fosters Student Growth

As students prepared the impatiens, geraniums, coleus, and tomatoes for purchase at Glenbrook South High School’s annual horticulture class plant sale on May 3rd and 4th, the warm air and smell of fresh soil perfectly complemented the rows of potted flowers and vegetables in the school’s greenhouse.

For more than 40 years, GBS has offered Horticulture as part of the science curriculum. Students enrolled in fall and spring horticulture classes learn about plant propagation and classification, soil testing, greenhouse operations and landscape design before moving to Advanced Horticulture.

Gardening combines class of 2023 Georgia Mondlock’s interest in science and horticulture, both of which help reduce stress before a long day of classes: “It’s a good way to start the day before I have to sit down and concentrate on school work. It’s a calming and refreshing experience first thing in the morning.” Mondlock also appreciates the guidance she received from her teacher, Erin McBride: “Mrs. McBride does a good job of encouraging the work we do, and how it can help us if we decide to go into the field.” This type of encouragement has paid off for some graduates who have found global success in the field.

Advanced Horticulture students assist firstyear students with floral design while designing and installing front planters at school. The holidays are busy as students design and make wreaths and create floral arrangements for events. However, their most significant project is managing the greenhouse and preparing for the plant sale, which is a team effort.

Georgia Mondlock

GBS Horticulture teacher Erin McBride supervises the process that culminates with the sale of

“IT’S A GOOD WAY TO START THE DAY BEFORE I HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND CONCENTRATE ON SCHOOL WORK. IT’S A CALMING AND REFRESHING EXPERIENCE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.”

10,000 plants in May. “Early on, students decide what to grow and schedule the shipments to arrive in shifts,” explains McBride. “Once the plants get here, it is straight to work.” The young plants arrive in plugs, which are seedlings or cuttings that must be transplanted to larger containers.

To prep the soil, students add nutrients and water to ensure the seedlings flourish under the right conditions. Class of 2023 student Preslie Quinn said the process requires all horticulture classes to pitch in: “Students share the tasks of filling containers, carefully placing the seedlings, sorting the pots into the correct categories and placing them in the right spots.”

According to McBride, the plant sale offers students more than just a way to raise money to support the horticulture team or purchase horticulture program supplies. “Students get a feel for what it is like to have a business, sell a product and work with a client or consumer. It is fun to see their different skills shine during this process,” she said. Preparation for the plant sale also gives students hands-on cultivation experience - literally.

Being allergic to pollen did not stop class of 2023 member Oliver Mitchell from taking Advanced Horticulture during his junior and senior years. Taking his first horticulture classes virtually during the pandemic was a challenge, so Mitchell wanted to take the course in-person to get his hands dirty: “I love the material and like working with plants, and I was excited to do it in person.”

Mitchell serves as the captain of the Horticulture team, which has participated in events such

as plant identification, floral design, pest and disease identification and landscaping practicum. After high school, he plans to continue working with plants at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

All the hard work in the classroom and greenhouse paid off this year. The Horticulture team placed 2nd in the Joliet Junior College horticulture/floriculture competition and also placed 8th at State.

Thanks to the GBS Horticulture program, students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field have been successful. According to McBride, one former horticulture student, Dasha Raguimov, works in France, harvesting and sorting cantaloupe and communicating with clients in French, while another, Patrick Dziura, is a food scientist in the San Francisco Bay area. A third alum, Laura Schonken, recently accepted an internship at 80 Acres Farm in Ohio, where she helps to grow hydroponic vegetables. When Schonken contacted McBride about the opportunity, she wrote, “I will be helping with some planting and am very excited about the position. I think my experience as a part of the Horticulture team helped me get the internship.”

Erin McBride

“Learning by doing” is an integral part of the Advanced Horticulture course. Using the knowledge they receive in other fall and spring Horticulture classes, and with a bit of brainstorming with McBride, students are free to choose their own cultivation projects for class projects. These projects, both large and small, can include landscape design for the school campus, creating corsages and boutonnieres for special occasions, or assisting McBride with her clients’ floral arrangements. By putting their knowledge into practice in this way, students are well equipped to pursue careers in various fields of the horticulture industry.

“STUDENTS GET A FEEL FOR WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A BUSINESS, SELL A PRODUCT AND WORK WITH A CLIENT OR CONSUMER.”

2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

DAVE REVSINE

Glenbrook North, Class of 1987

Dave Revsine, a Glenbrook North 1987 graduate, is the Lead Studio Host for the Big Ten Network. He works on programs such as the BTN Football Championship and Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament and is a play-by-play announcer. After working for 11 years at ESPN, he was the first on-air hire when BTN launched in 2007. Revsine is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation. During his time at GBN, Revsine was a part of the broadcasting program’s radio station and theater productions, and he was the vice president of his senior class. Revsine holds a degree in history from Northwestern University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

MATTHEW FERRARO

Glenbrook South, Class of 1983

Matthew Ferraro is an American composer, producer and director. He has written and orchestrated original music for Academy Awardwinning films “The Insider” and “The Incredibles” and the Emmy-winning TV shows “The Muppets,” “Dune,” “Futurama,” and more. His music is licensed in television and media productions worldwide. Additionally, Ferraro has written, arranged and performed with various Grammywinning artists such as Buddy Guy, Barbra Streisand, members of the Tonight Show Band, and The London Symphony Orchestra. Ferraro is one of the few composers whom the Vatican commissions. While at GBS, he participated in marching band, orchestra, jazz band, master singers, variety show, musical, breakfast club, key club, and football. Ferraro holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from DePaul University. He attended the Guildhall University of Music in London and has a visual and performing arts diploma from the University of Kent at Canterbury. He participated in a composition study with Morten Lauridsen and Witold Lutoslawski from the University of Southern California.

Glenbrook High School District 225

3801 W. Lake Avenue

Glenview, IL 60026

Glenbrook High School District 225 offers a public education to more than 5,100 students in Glenview, Northbrook and portions of unincorporated Northfield Township.

“The Glenbrooks” is a community publication of District 225 and is mailed by postal route. Some individuals who do not live within the Glenbrook High School District 225 boundaries may receive this mailing.