In the Community

Countryside is active in the Northbrook/Glenview and surrounding communities.

Each year parents and students look forward to the annual Fourth of July parades in Northbrook and Glenview. The school's activity bus is decked out in Red, White and Blue, fitted so that patriotic music is played through a roof-top speaker, and filled with enthusiastic Countryside students waving at the crowds through open windows.

The school's popcorn machine is always a hit on Earth Day in Northbrook.

And, the highlight of the year is Countryside's participation in Northbrook Days which raises funds for the Northbrook Civic Foundation. Countryside families provide volunteers for Bozo's Buckets and the school provides all of the prizes. Never a dull moment at this booth!

Philanthropy

Each year the Elementary students are inspired to help others. Whether it is a local pursuit or international, the students organize and plan the project from start to finish. There are event chairs, communications directors, and an accountant. If needed, the children opened a bank account to safely keep the money. This has provided the children with countless life lessons in social responsibility, finances, organization, planning, leadership, communication and more.

Local

In previous years elementary students have chosen to serve lunch at a soup kitchen in Chicago. They would collect items to donate to the needy and organized trips downtown to work at the kitchen serving meals.

International

After watching an informative episode on El Sistema, a Venezuelan Music Program aired on CBS 60 Minutes elementary students were inspired to support the program. Learning that the core idea of El Sistema consists of the formation of community-based youth orchestras by providing free instruments and tuition to children living in dangerous, poverty-stricken areas and children with disabilities, Countryside students wanted to reach out and help those children by raising money to buy instruments for them.

Starting in 2008, through a series of student planned and organized bake sales, pancake breakfasts, and school movie nights, to date, they have raised $2,512. The students were able to present their funds raised to both Dr. Abreu (founder of El Sistema) and Maestro Dudamel (a product of El Sistema and world renowned conductor) following a rehearsal at the Chicago Symphony Center. Click here to read more.