An Exciting Week at Glenbrook!

This was quite a week at Glenbrook! Our students continued to work hard to practice being Respectful, Responsible and Real Safe, and our 5th and 6th Graders worked on their leadership skills by training students throughout the entire week.  Then on Wednesday, we held our Jan Heim Library Dedication. Mrs. Heim, a former Glenbrook Teacher, recently passed away from ALS, and is missed by many of us.  See pictures below of the wonderful new library that was remodeled in her honor.

Each year we practice a bus evacuation drill. Our 6th graders help students learn how to enter and exit the buses while the drivers review all of the safety rules on the bus. The drivers also help the students to understand what to do in the event of an emergency bus evacuation.

All grade levels have now practiced several new SPA (Supervised Physical Activities) games. These are games that they play at recess time. In order to play safely, the children need to understand the rules of the games. Thanks again to the 5th and 6th graders for being the "experts" and teaching the games to all students. 

Jan Heim Memorial Library

Thanks to the effort of many, we were able to raise enough money to remodel a space in our library and make it a cozy garden for the children to enjoy for many years to come.  Our friend and colleague, Mrs. Jan Heim would be so proud of the space that was designed in her memory. Mrs. Heim taught at Glenbrook for many, many years and although she is deeply missed her legacy lives on in all of those whose lives she touched.  

Mrs. Stacey Berenson and Mrs. Laurie Summers, longtime friends and co-teachers of Mrs. Heim's, organized the fundraising and the redesigning of the library.  Through staff, former students and their families as well as Mrs. Heim's family, we were able to raise well over $1000.00 to create a beautiful garden space for our library. 

Librarian, Mrs. Lisa McDonald was instrumental in the fundraising effort and supporting the remodeling. Thank you Mrs. McDonald!  She allowed us to invade her space so many times as the decorators piled in to paint, hammer and glue.  Here Mrs. McDonald is with a smile and a buffet of desserts for the dedication ceremony. 

Mrs. Heim's family joined us at the dedication. They too donated many funds to support the project which included a silk tree, koi pond rug, picket fence and some furniture.  Here you see her husband, mother, siblings, children and grandchildren all happily enjoying the space. 

Mrs. Heim had a saying when she often found a child out of his or her seat. She would say to them, "___, your seat is lonely."  They would look at her puzzled and return to their "lonely chair." She also was a great lover of Dr. Seuss.  Here you see her 3 grandchildren sitting in a "lonely chair" painted in Dr. Seuss colors."  

Former Glenbrook Student and amazing artist Krysty Rayski created this wonderful mural. Krysty donated her time to honor Mrs. Heim. The beautiful tree, sky and prairie behind it brings the space together. 

So, why the cow?  Well, Mrs. Heim grew up on a dairy farm. This cow symbolizes Jan's life on the farm. It's just another piece of Jan's life to incorporate into the design of the library. It brings such a smile to our face to see her face peeking out from behind the tree. 

These very special panels, 4 of them, were painted by 5th and 6th graders, many of them who were Mrs. Heim's former students.  They designed and painted the murals as small teams.  They are absolutely beautiful and really brighten up the garden space.  A special thanks to Mr. Luis Uribe for helping to hang them and Mr. Roger Summers who helped to figure out how to secure the picket fencing. 

  Mrs. Berenson hangs the dedication plaque on the tree. The tree will serve as a permanent dedication tree for Mrs. Heim and any others who we wish to honor in the future.

The beautiful garden space is complete.  The children love it and from time to time we may even catch a staff member sneaking in to cuddle up with a book.  For years to come the space will be enjoyed by many and Mrs. Heim's memory will live on in the elements hidden within.