Hawthorn - District News

Breaking News

Dates to Note...

Kindergarten (and new 1st grade) Walk-In Registration Begins - Feb. 8 at District Office
Board of Ed Meeting - Feb. 8 at District Office
Town Hall Meeting: The Role of a Board Member - Feb. 9 at Elementary North
4th Grade Parent Health World Meeting - Feb. 10 at Townline
Evening Kindergarten Registration Hours - Feb. 11 at District Office
Parent Information Meeting: Middle School Schedule - Feb. 11 at Middle South
Elementary Parent University: Writing - Feb. 11 at Elementary North
PTO Valentine Room Parties - Feb. 12 at all Elementaries
Board Applications Due - Feb. 12 at District Office
NO SCHOOL for Presidents Day - Monday, Feb. 15
MS Band Concert - Feb. 16
Kindergarten (and new 1st grade) Walk-In Registration Due - Feb. 18
MN Band Concert - Feb. 18
PTO Boys' Night Out (at Middle North) - Feb. 19
Solo & Ensemble Contest (hosted by Middle South) - Feb. 20
Board of Ed Meeting - Feb. 22
PTO Market Day - Feb. 25
Future Search Conference - Feb. 25-27
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Feb. 25 & 26
NO SCHOOL for Parent/Teacher Conferences - Friday, Feb. 26

For more complete schedule information, please check the updated, sortable online calendar, which is always accessible from a link on the right sidebar of this page.

For each school's daily schedule, click here... More»

In Other News...

Program Update - Middle School Schedule, Enrichment, Language - Info Meeting on Thursday

Parents should watch their students' backpacks for the January 2010 Hawthorn Program Update, which outlines proposed changes to next year's academic schedule. One proposed change, which administration presented during the January 27 Middle North/Middle South Joint Faculty Meeting, is moving the middle schools to a flexible block schedule. The plan would increase core academic time for language arts, math, social studies and science classes to 60 minutes per day. As proposed, this block schedule would require some flexible scheduling for students involved in both band/orchestra/chorus and Spanish. More information is outlined in the Program Update, also available in Spanish, which also addresses ongoing efforts with elementary enrichment programming and language learning opportunities. Parents interested in hearing more about middle school schedule changes are invited to attend a parent meeting on Thursday, February 11 beginning at 7 p.m. at Hawthorn Middle South, 600 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills. A backpack note was distributed to all students beginning February 5 to announce this newly scheduled meeting.

About Snow Days...

When snow or other circumstances require our schools to close, Hawthorn will activate our automated emergency calling system to send a telephone message to our families. Calls for snow closings will go to our students' main phone numbers, as provided by parents on student registration/information forms. Our goal is to have those calls completed before 6 a.m. on mornings when school will be closed due to snow or other weather-related problems. School closing information will be posted at the top of this website. In addition, we will send a notice to www.emergencyclosings.com as well as to a variety of local radio and TV stations. For more information, please read on... More»

Board Accepts Resignation of John Sonnenberg - Board Applications Due by Feb 12

At the January 25 meeting of the Hawthorn Board of Education, board vice president John Sonnenberg submitted his formal resignation, based on the fact he is moving out of the District. Thank you to Mr. Sonnenberg for his years of dedication to the Hawthorn Board of Education, our schools and our entire community. Hawthorn District residents interested in serving the remainder of this term, which runs until April 2011, should complete and return a Board Application to the District Office by 3 p.m. on Friday, February 12. The board will review applications with the intent of interviewing applicants and appointing an interim member at the February 22 meeting. If you'd like to receive a paper application, please contact Becky Hill at 847-990-4215 or hillr@hawthorn73.org. Interested applicants are also encouraged to attend a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, February 9 at Elementary North, 301 Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills. The topic of that meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m., is "The Role of a School Board Member."

Hawthorn Happenings - February 2010

Please read on for news about our students and our schools, including all of the generous service projects undertaken by our students, staff and families... More»

Kindergarten Registration Resources - Register by Feb. 18

Children who turn 5 by September 1, 2010 are eligible for Hawthorn Kindergarten this coming fall. The registration season began on January 28 with the annual Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting. The actual walk-in registration process will begin on Monday, February 8 at the Hawthorn District Office. Kindergarten registration is due by February 18 at 3 p.m. For more information, please read on... More»

Town Hall Meeting on Role of Board Member - Feb. 9

Residents are invited to attend a Town Hall Meeting focusing on the "Role of a Board Member." The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9 at Hawthorn Elementary North, 301 Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills. Babysitting will be provided.

Elementary Parent University - Feb. 11

Parents of Hawthorn elementary students are invited to Parent University on Thursday, February 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Elementary North. The topic is "Writing the Right Way!" Parents will learn strategies to help work with their children at home as well as learn more about the Six Traits Writing Program used in Hawthorn classrooms. For information, check out the Reservation Form, which is also available in Spanish.

Looking for Solo/Ensemble Contest Volunteers

Hawthorn Middle South will host this year's Solo/Ensemble Music Contest on Saturday, February 20. We anticipate that more than 900 student musicians and their families will be on hand for this huge event. The music department is looking to Hawthorn for volunteers and support on a variety of tasks to make sure everything goes smoothly. Options include set-up, clean-up, room monitor, food service, results runners, information booth staffing, and even baking treats for the event. To learn more, visit the Middle South website or contact Nancy Kocal at kocaln@hawthorn73.org. Thank you for your support!

About Hawthorn Future Search...

Hawthorn District 73 will hold Future Search Conference, a community based long-range planning effort. The volunteer planning event, which is scheduled for February 25 through 27, is designed to create shared vision and action-oriented plans that benefit not only our schools but our entire community. Thank you to the many community members who have offer to take part in this important event. Please read on for more information... More»

2010-11 School Dates/Holidays

The core 2010-11 Hawthorn calendar has been approved by the State Board of Education. School will begin on August 25, 2010 with a 2-hour day for students in grades 1-8. The first full day for all students will be August 26. For details about the 2010-11 calendar as well as a look ahead to the 2011-12 calendar, please read on... More»

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