Boosters Donate Sweatshirts to ELL Students

Here is a message from Patty Denny, the Glenbard West ELL Community Liason, thanking the Boosters for their generous gift of sweatshirts to our ELL (English Language Learners) students:

Thank you for supporting the ELL sweatshirt project!   Once again all eighty-five ELL students received a brand new Glenbard West hooded sweatshirt.

We had an event planned to distribute the sweatshirts for Friday, December 19th, but given the information we had about the potential snow storm approaching, Jane Thorsen suggested we hand out the sweatshirts on Thursday. The whole day was a hectic scramble and the venue was not what I had hoped, but we did get the sweatshirts out to the majority of students. The atmosphere was the same as the last two years. The students were confused in the beginning of the presentation as I explained to them who helped fund these gifts and why the ELL Program is an important element at Glenbard West High School. The students wondered why total strangers would want to give them something, but after they realized it was a gift from people who care about our school and community and that each one of them would be going home with a popular sweatshirt, the atmosphere turned festive and joyously loud!

Today, as we are back to hitting the books and the weather is below freezing, I got to look around the room in my first period class and see many of the students wearing their beautiful hoodies. It was definitely worth all the effort that went into making this event happen once again. I can tell that the students feel proud to be part of a school and community that would reach out to them and as a bonus they are cozy and warm, too. 

Thank you for helping make this holiday special for the West ELL students and myself as well. This was a community effort and it is heartwarming to have so many people jump on the bandwagon for these students. I was concerned at the beginning of this project knowing that the economic times are challenging and we had the additional challenge of purchasing more sweatshirts than the past two years. Once again it is evident that we live in a caring, generous and compassionate community.

2008/2009 year is proving to be a great year for the Glenbard West Boosters.  As the Boosters have participated in or cheered on the many successes of our students, we also need to reflect on the successes that this year has brought our fundraising and community participation efforts:  a very successful golf outing in late September, a memorable homecoming, a record-setting Parent Dinner Dance, a pancake breakfast, the Senior Showcase Fashion show, and lots of success with football programs and chaperoning the homecoming dance.  These are just a few of the opportunities our booster members have enjoyed this year.

To find out how to join and what is involved, please contact Betsy & Dave Golterman @ (630) 858-3074 or visit our Join the Boosters page If you already have a membership form, please send it to: Glenbard West Boosters
P.O. Box 154
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

Monthly Booster Meeting – Come see what all the buzz is about, join us at our First meeting on Thursday, September 18th at 7:00pm in the Elliott Library. Check out the Calendar for more scheduled activities!