News Item

Hawthorn Happenings - November 2007

November 28, 2007

Thanks for the Dictionaries, Rotary Club!
Thank you to the members of the Mundelein-Vernon Hills Rotary Club, who once again gave every Hawthorn third grader a dictionary. Scott Davis and his crew of Rotarians visited our schools beginning November 27. By the time they were done, they distributed more than 360 dictionaries. Thank you, Rotary Club, for supporting our schools!

County Honors Three Schools for Attendance
The Lake County Board of Education has recognized three Hawthorn schools for high attendance during this fall’s Attendance Week. Elementary South, Townline and Middle Middle North all landed on the top ten list. Representatives of each school are invited to a November 30 award lunch at the CLC. Hawthorn is grateful for the support of our families who understand the value of school attendance.

Elementary South Drops Everything to Read
Students at Hawthorn Elementary South will drop everything to read for 2008 seconds on Friday December 7. Everyone will enjoy cookies and milk, thanks to the generosity of the Hawthorn PTO. Students and teachers are also encouraged to wear pajamas or other comfy clothes to make for a snuggly reading experience. What a great way to get ready for 2008!

Middle North Student Council Gets Charged Up to Lead
On December 5, Hawthorn Middle North Student Council members will take part in a leadership development workshop with noted educator and team builder Chuck Roach. Mr. Roach specializes in high-energy activities designed to help students develop teamwork, communication and collaboration skills. For more information, visit www.challengeleadership.com.

Elementary South 5th Graders Perform for Kindergarten Friends
Students in Katie Lardo's fifth grade class at Hawthorn Elementary South recently produced a rollicking version of the play, "The Little Old Lady That Wasn't Afraid of Anything." Students did it all, from acting and directing, to creating the sets, to planning the performances. The school's Kindergarten students gave the show rave reviews.

Children's Musical Master Jim Gill to Visit Hawthorn PreK
Award-winning children’s musician Jim Gill will visit Hawthorn's PreK program on December 17. Mr. Gill is a stand-out in the world of children's music, having earned awards from both the American Library Association and Parent's Choice Foundation. Drawing from his experience as a child development specialist, he encourages an active "concert" experience, where adults and children engage in active play driven by his original songs. For information, visit www.jimgill.com.

Middle South Offers Thanks for Outdoor Ed Trip
The sixth grade students of Hawthorn Middle South extend their thanks to the many people who gave time and talent so the students could learn, enjoy and experience the once-in-a-lifetime Outdoor Education Trip, which was held before Thanksgiving at Camp Edwards. Special thanks to the following: Group leaders: Sharon Heinz, Wayne Lange, Amanda Monico, Joseph Thomas, Laura Murray, Bob Echales, Angelo Gaimari, Valbona Kokoshi, Neil McCain, Renee Ullberg, Adele Ennis, Kip Coco, Brian Van, Scott Laneman, Lisa Wilgus and Geri Silver. Activity Leaders: Dan Yablonski, Brenda Henricksen, Rachal Serlin, Michelle Vazquez, PJ Larson, Matt Cameron, John Ostrander, Dennis Matuch, Ellie Lindl and Jim Cicewia. Thanks, also, to the Administrators, Collette Frazier, Adele Odom, Nurse Deb Sorkin, Mari Kuehl, Sandra Cruickshank, Ward Feger and the rest of the Middle South Staff. The students extend special thanks to the Board of Education for supporting the program, and to parents and families for allowing their children to experience this rare opportunity.

Forest Preserve Experts Explain Local Endangered Species
The sixth grade classrooms of Kathy Ford and Brenda Henriksen at Middle North recently welcomed Lake County Forest Preserve experts, who presented very interesting lessons about endangered species right here in Lake County. Students had the opportunity to examine the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, a Blanding Turtle shell, a Red-Shouldered Hawk, and a River Otter pelt. Students learned that Lake County has the highest number of endangered species in Illinois (126), and that through public education and forest preserve management we should be able to take some of these species off the endangered list.

Middle South Conducts Coat Drive
Students at Hawthorn Middle South are collecting new or gently used coats, hats and gloves to help keep our community warm this winter. Items can be dropped off at the school, located on Aspen Drive just south of Route 60, until December 13. If you have questions, please contact Mary Castellano at 847-816-8317 or castellanom@hawthorn73.org. Thank you for your generosity.

Middle North Launches Third Annual Adopt-a-Family Project
Students at Hawthorn Middle North are involved in the school's third annual Adopt-a-Family project. Student teams are working to fill the holiday wish lists for nine area families, collecting donations and items for things like winter coats, books, toys and other requests. Gifts will be distributed at a celebration on December 20 at Vernon Hills High School, which will include a dinner, choral concert and more. If the community is interested in supporting this effort, please contact Marilyn Ring at 847-990-4423 or ringm@hawthorn73.org. Gently used winter coats and bikes are always appreciated.

Reminder on Electronics at School
With the holiday gift-giving season rapidly approaching, we remind students and parents of Hawthorn’s policy regarding small electronic devices, such as cell phones, pagers and iPods. While such devices are allowed on campus, access during the school day is restricted. In addition, these devices are susceptible to loss and theft. While Hawthorn is not responsible for any personal items broken, stolen, lost or damaged while on school property, we would hate to see a student’s joy turn to dismay if a problem arises. We encourage students to leave these devices at home. More specific guidelines are outlined on pages 33 and 34 of the 2007-2008 Student/Parent Handbook.

Kindergarten Info Meeting is January 31
Looking way ahead, parents of next year's Kindergarten students should mark their calendars for the Kindergarten Information Meeting, set for 7 p.m. on January 31 at Middle School North. Representatives from all four of our elementary buildings will be on hand to talk about their schools. This will also be the first day to pick up Kindergarten registration packets.

Tech Survey Takes Less than Two Minutes
Hawthorn has launched a brief online survey to learn about our use of technology, as well as our expectations for technology within our schools. Please take a minute or two to complete the online survey. To request a paper copy, contact your school or call the District Office at 847-990-4200. Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback!

Hawthorn Schedule
Wednesday, December 12 is an early release day, with no school for Kindergarten. Winter Break runs from December 24 to January 4. An updated calendar is available online.


November 19, 2007

Please Take the Tech Survey
Hawthorn has launched a brief online survey to learn about our use of technology, as well as our expectations for technology within our schools. Please take a minute or two to complete the survey. To request a paper copy, contact your school or call the District Office at 847-990-4200. Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback!

"Fastest Math Mind" Shares Techniques with Elementary South
On November 19, 4th and 5th grade students and parents at Hawthorn Elementary South learned how to improve their minds and memory with the help of Mike Byster. Mr. Byster has been called a human calculator, thanks to his techniques for quickly solving complex math problems in his head. This Chicago-area man volunteers to visit schools around the nation, teaching students how to improve their minds and memory. He has been featured on 20/20 and numerous other programs. For more information, visit www.mikesmath.com. You can also view a profile presented on September 7, 2007 on ABC's 20/20 news magazine program.

Rotary Club Gives Dictionaries to All Third Graders!
Thank you to the members of the Mundelein-Vernon Hills Rotary Club, who will again give every Hawthorn third grader a dictionary. Scott Davis and his crew of Rotarians will be in the schools beginning November 27. By the time they are done, they will have distributed more than 360 dictionaries. Thank you, Rotary Club, for supporting our schools!

Townline Eagle Chorus Presents Holiday Musical
Students in Alice Grubb's Townline Eagle Chorus are putting the finishing touches on their musical production entitled "December In Our Town." Students will perform this multi-cultural homage to the holidays for several audiences, including their classmates and the residents of Hawthorn Lakes and Sedgebrook retirement communities. The chorus is made up of 5th graders, including Max Anagnostopoulos, Adam Baittie, Karina Beird, Nikki Bautista, Jack Brandl, Justin Braun, Shale Brenner, Nicole Claus, Lauren Cotton, Jessica Cullah, Taryn Derfus, Megan Dorsey, Cassidy Fortman, Katie Frantz, Allison Georgeson, Lynette Huerta, Fayth Kim, Jen Ko, Kourtney Kurps, Daniel Lebovitz, Haesu Lee, Jasmine Lowe, Andrea Lum, Natasha Molina, Jessica Ni, Olivia Paczek, Sara Power, Jamilla Prince, Danny Ogra, Kenzie Renihan, Daniella Ravdales, Shreya Kathuria, Kiara Schuh, Tori Smith, Jessica Wallach, Lauren Wood, Julie Yoon and Angie Zamora.

Middle South Gives Thanksgiving Dinners to 41 Families
Through the generosity of Middle South students, 41 area families received a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Proceeds from the school's Fall Fest combined with other donations to allow students to purchase the fixings for 41 meals, including 41 bags of potatoes, 41 bags of fruit and 36 turkeys. Why only 36 turkeys? Because Elly's Restaurant and the Mundelein Police Department generously donated five turkeys! Thank you, Elly's and MPD - and thank you, Middle South students and families.

Middle North Launches Third Annual Adopt-a-Family Project
Students at Hawthorn Middle North are involved in the school's third annual Adopt-a-Family project. Students are filling the holiday wish lists for nine area families by gathering such items as winter coats, books, toys and other requests. Students drive this project, collecting donations, shopping for items, wrapping presents and making greeting cards. Gifts will be distributed at a celebration on December 20 at Vernon Hills High School, which will include a dinner, choral concert and more. If the community is interested in supporting this effort, please contact Marilyn Ring at 847-990-4423 or ringm@hawthorn73.org. Gently used winter coats and bikes are always appreciated.

Lake County is Hot Spot for Endangered Species, Learns Middle North
Sixth grade science students at Hawthorn Middle North took part in an eye-opening in-school "field trip," supported by the Lake County Forest Preserve. According to the Forest Preserve experts, Lake County has more threatened and endangered species than any other county in the state. Students learned how rapid development has impacted nature, both here and around the world.

Middle South Conducting Coat Drive
Students at Hawthorn Middle South are collecting new or gently used coats, hats and gloves to help keep our community warm this winter. Items can be dropped off at the school, located on Aspen Drive just south of Route 60, until December 13. If you have questions or would like to help the effort, please contact Mary Castellano at 847-816-8317 or castellanom@hawthorn73.org. Thank you for your generosity.

Musical Master Jim Gill to Visit Hawthorn PreK
Award-winning children's musician Jim Gill will visit Hawthorn's PreK program on December 17. Mr. Gill is a stand-out in the world of children's music, having earned awards from both the American Library Association and Parent's Choice Foundation. Drawing from his experience as a child development specialist, he encourages an active "concert" experience, where adults and children engage in active play driven by his original songs. For information, visit www.jimgill.com.

Reminder on Electronics at School
With the holiday gift-giving season rapidly approaching, we would like to remind students and parents of Hawthorn's policy regarding small electronic devices, such as cell phones, pagers, iPods, etc. While such devices are allowed on campus, access during the school day is significantly restricted. In addition, these devices are susceptible to loss and theft. While Hawthorn is not responsible for any personal items broken, stolen, lost or damaged while on school property, we would certainly hate to see a student’s joy turn to dismay if their item becomes lost or stolen. For this reason, we strongly encourage students to leave these devices at home. More specific guidelines about use of electronics is outlined on pages 33 and 34 of the 2007-2008 Student/Parent Handbook.

Kindergarten Info Meeting is January 31
Looking way ahead, parents of next year’s Kindergarten students should mark their calendars for the Kindergarten Information Meeting, set for 7 p.m. on January 31 at Middle School North. Representatives from all four of our elementary buildings will be on hand to talk about their schools. This will also be the first day to pick up Kindergarten registration packets.

Hawthorn Schedule
All Hawthorn students take a break from classes from November 20 to 23, returning on Monday, November 26. First trimester report cards will go home with students on November 30. Wednesday, December 12 is an early release day, with no school for Kindergarten. Winter Break begins December 24 and runs through January 4. For more information, check the updated online calendar, found on the home page of this website.


November 15, 2007

Congratulations to Hawthorn Flag Contest Winners!
Congratulations to the winners of the Hawthorn Flag Contest. More than 75 students submitted wonderful designs. The grand prize goes to Edgar Nevarez, an 8th grader at Hawthorn Middle School North, for his Hawthorn Eagle surrounded by multicultural faces. Edgar has won a $100 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble bookstore, and his design will be made into an actual flag. Three designs were also selected for honorable mention awards. Congratulations to Tyler Schaefer, a 2nd grader at Elementary South, for his bright yellow flag with blue words and the Hawthorn Eagle. Jacqueline Luna, a 5th grader at Elementary South, earned honors for her detailed eagle and crest with the numeral "73." Jennifer Cheng, a 6th grader at Middle North, drew an eagle head surrounded by flags representing our students and families. All four artists will be recognized at the November 26 meeting of the Hawthorn Board of Education. Congratulations to all of our students for their tremendous efforts!

Hawthorn Middle South Honors Local Veterans
Hawthorn Middle South marked Veteran's Day by honoring local veterans during a November 12 breakfast at the school. Sixteen residents took part in the student council-sponsored event, which offered students an opportunity to express their thanks and to learn from the experiences of these local heroes. Thank you to the following veterans for taking part in the event, and for their dedication to our country: William Butler, Donald Carter, Ed Danahy, Lee Goldberg, Doug Hallendorff, Jim Heier, Elmer Hoskins, Donald Kathan, Sheldon Ladin, Capt. Ralph Laedtke, Robert May, Dan McCormick, Steven Messner, James Mullaney, Stephen Patt and Harry Swanson.

Another Successful Outdoor Ed Program
During the week of November 12, Hawthorn 6th graders had the opportunity to travel to Camp Edwards in East Troy, Wisconsin, to experience the school's 31st annual Outdoor Education Program. This Hawthorn tradition offers a unique experience for students to immerse themselves in nature through specially created learning activities that draw upon the YMCA camp's resources. Students study weather, habitats, water quality, animal populations and so much more during the three-day stay. Thank you to everyone who puts in the extra effort for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Middle South Food Drive Approaching 1000-Can Mark
Students at Hawthorn Middle South have been collecting nonperishable food for our local pantries. The generosity of the students and their families is overwhelming, with the tally nearing 1000 items. Some students also donated money, which the food pantries can use to purchase additional items.

Middle School Instrumentalists Perform in VHHS Band Fest
On Thursday, November 15, our 7th and 8th grade middle school band students took part in the annual Vernon Hills High School Band Fest. More than 150 Hawthorn musicians rehearsed all day, then performed a 7 p.m. concert with their high school colleagues. Favorite selections included "Moscow, 1941" by Brian Balmages as well as "The Great Locomotive Chase" by Robert Smith.

Middle North Collects for UNICEF
Hundreds of students at Hawthorn Middle North went door-to-door on Halloween, but instead of a candy bag, they carried orange UNICEF collection boxes. Students raised $747.80 for this international organization that works to on issues related to children’s health, education and protection. For information, visit www.unicef.org.

First Graders Sing In the Thanksgiving Holiday
All seven 1st grade classes at Townline Elementary will join in song to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. The student sing-along will ring out on the afternoon of Friday, November 16, and is sure to put the entire building into the Thanksgiving spirit. Students will also enjoy "turkey"rific crafts and feastly food. First graders have also been busy "building" large versions of the Mayflower on their classroom bulletin boards, creating Pilgrims and the supplies needed for the trip to the New World.

Middle North Launches Third Annual Adopt-a-Family Project
Students at Hawthorn Middle North are involved in the school's third annual Adopt-a-Family project. Student teams are working to fill the holiday wish lists of nine area families, whose requests include things like winter coats, books, toys and boots. Students drive this project, collecting donations, shopping for items, wrapping presents and making greeting cards. Gifts will be distributed at a celebration on December 20 at Vernon Hills High School, which will include a dinner, choral concert and more. If the community is interested in supporting this effort, please contact Marilyn Ring at 847-990-4423 or ringm@hawthorn73.org. Gently used winter coats and bikes are always appreciated.

Giving Thanks with Ethnic Foods
Students in Linda Wallin's classes at Townline Elementary are preparing for their annual multicultural Thanksgiving Feast. Families contribute their student's favorite ethnic food. (Ms. Wallin's specialty is Swedish meatballs.)

Aspen Enjoys Thanksgiving Feasts
At Aspen Elementary, parents cook up a true feast for the students, including turkey and the trimmings. Second graders will feast on November 15. First graders will celebrate on November 16. In addition to the scrumptious meal, students will enjoy activities designed to help them better understand the history behind Thanksgiving.

Middle North Paints Another Great Snowplow
Each year for the past several, Middle North has created a design and painted it on the face of a Vernon Hills village snowplow. This year’s design was done by Paige Kibbler, who worked with a team of artists from Marilyn Ring's Art Club, including Valerie Bezkhlebetskaya, Bruna Vieira, Angela Lee, Vivian Flores, Melanie Solheim and Shauna Hoag. Watch for their design, which features mugs of cocoa and winter themes. Students will also appear on the December edition of the Vernon Hills Update Show, which runs on Vernon Hills Cable Access Channel 4.

Middle South Creation Is a Group Effort
Students in Mary Benton's Art Club at Hawthorn Middle South turned in a true group effort to decorate a Vernon Hills snowplow. Teams of students designed and painted individual puzzle pieces, which combined to cover the entire face of the plow. Artists include Mirna Cervantes, Katie Oi, Kelsey Seal, Kelly Kalsch, Hunter Ruder, Karen Zyman, Kristen Whitney, Misato Kishi. Ann Ho, Yuliya Pomeranets, Melanie Chetverikova, Ally Cox, Jeanne Haight, Jamie Fisher, Suzie Chen, Katherine McCain, Jocelyn Gomez, Amanda Dougherty, Luz Pacillas, Lysette Gonzalez, Urid Pacillas, Nicole Curtis, Jenny Alvaro, Deaundre Tolber and Monica Gil. Students will also appear on the Vernon Hills Cable Access Channel 4 in December.

Please Take the Tech Survey
Hawthorn has launched a brief online survey to learn about our use of technology, as well as our expectations for technology within our schools. Please take a minute or two to complete the online survey. To request a paper copy, contact your school or call the District Office at 847-990-4200. Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback!

Free Diagnostic Screening for 3- and 4-Year Olds
District 73 residents who may have concerns about the developmental progress of their three- and four-year old children are invited to contact Hawthorn for a free diagnostic screening. The screening, which covers speech/language, motor skills, socialization and overall cognitive development, is by appointment only. Screenings will take place in the morning of December 5 and 6 at District Office, 841 West End Court. To schedule an appointment, please call Martha Skelley at 847-990-4243 by November 26.

PTO Gift Wrap Pick Up
Items ordered through this fall's PTO gift wrap sale should be picked up at Middle North on Friday, November 16 (from 2:30 to 7 p.m.) or Saturday, November 17 (from 8 a.m. to noon).

Kindergarten Info Meeting is January 31
Looking way ahead, parents of next year's Kindergarten students should mark their calendars for the Kindergarten Information Meeting, set for 7 p.m. on January 31 at Middle School North. Representatives from all four of our elementary buildings will be on hand to talk about their schools. This will also be the first day to pick up Kindergarten registration packets.

Hawthorn Schedule
There is no school at Hawthorn from November 20 to 23. Students return on Monday, November 26. First trimester report cards will go home on November 30. Wednesday, December 12 is an Early Release day, with no Kindergarten. For more information, download the complete school calendar.


November 8, 2007

Hawthorn Celebrates National Education Week
Hawthorn schools will celebrate National Education Week beginning on November 12. Check with your school for specific opportunities for parents to visit our classrooms.

Hawthorn Middle South Honors Local Veterans with Breakfast Project
Students at Hawthorn Middle School South will honor our local veterans by hosting a breakfast. "Take a Veteran to School Day" will take place on Monday, November 12 from 8 to 9 a.m. in conjunction with Veteran's Day. The student council-sponsored event offers an opportunity for students to express thanks to our veterans, as well as an opportunity to learn from these local heroes.

Middle School Musicians Head to VHHS Orchestra Fest
On Thursday, November 8, nearly 100 seventh and eighth grade orchestra students from both Hawthorn middle schools will take part in the annual Vernon Hills High School Orchestra Fest. Selections include an arrangement of Scheherazade, Waltz of the Wicked, Amadeus from Mozart's Symphony 25 and Westward Motion. The closing concert is set for 7 p.m. at the high school and will feature more than 200 student musicians.

Middle North Sends Two to IMEA Band Fest
Middle North's Natalie Hughes and Tori Calderone were invited to take part in the Illinois Music Education Association district band festival, held November 3 at Maine West High School. More than 400 local student musicians auditioned to take part in this ensemble. The two Hawthorn eighth graders were among a group of approximately 120 musicians to be accepted to the event, which included an all-day rehearsal with other local instrumentalists followed by an evening concert.

Game On for Middle South Canned Food Drive!
Each November, students at Hawthorn Middle South give generously to the school’s annual Canned Food Drive. Classes gather hundreds of containers of nonperishable foods as well as pet supplies, which are provided to area food pantries and organizations.

State Rep. Kathy Ryg to Share History with Elementary South
Second grade students at Elementary South will learn more about our community when Vernon Hills resident State Representative Kathy Ryg visits the school on November 26. The students are learning about their community and local history.

Middle North Hosts Exciting Conference Tournament
In late October, Hawthorn Middle North hosted the Suburban Middle School Conference 7th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament. Ten teams and more than 125 athletes participated in the four-day tourney, which took place at Townline. The championship game featured Hawthorn South versus Hawthorn North, with South pulling out the win during an extremely close and exciting game. In the end, Hawthorn South placed first, Hawthorn North finished a close second, and Barrington Prairie came in third. Congratulations to both Hawthorn teams for a tremendous effort!

Elementary South Honors Students
Elementary South honors the October Principal's Pride winners for outstanding academic effort: Shah Abdusamugov, Sana Akhter, Teddy Chen, Nicholas Cooper, Ania Dec, Ben Dobbertin, Andrew Lee, Gina Liu, Jack Miller, Matthew Nguyen, Riko Ono, Sarang Park, Mia Polisky, Heena Singh, Ally Spence, Aditi Sriram, Andreana Tangonan, Jackie Toledo, Grigoras Tornea, Corey Truger and Jennifer Wardrop. Soaring Eagle students have shown excellent behavior: Cecelia Abarca, Davion Brown, Gracie Darling, Matthew Gramins, Carter Himley, Chris Kahn, Issam Kahyr, Jamie Kelly, Nick Khaytin, Charlie Newberg, Jessica Nudelman, Matt Paszko, Anna Polisky, Vishal Pulugurtha, Ben Seim, Andrew Smith, Kevin Swanson, Brian Teresi, Giovanna Terry, Eric Tinoco, Samantha Torrey, Katie Wilkowski, Leah Wilkowski and Josie Withrow.

Middle North Names Eagle Winners
Middle North has named a new flock of Eagle Winners, who have shown superior achievement and effort in a particular class. Congratulations to Connie Dimick, Sami Freibrun, Ellie Goldberg, Danny Klema, Jarod Mandel, Omar Mojica, Brian Sher, Jimmy Stoll and Allison Winn.

Middle South Eagle Winners
Congratulations to the November 2 Middle South Eagle Winners, who have shown outstanding achievement or effort in a particular class.
French: Brianna Bahlmann, Amy Dolan, John Nam, Emily Swartz, Gabriela Vidal and Kevin Wang.
Spanish: Catherine Boulos, Christine Currie, Nicholas Escanilla, Marjorie Kirilenko, Anna Lebiedzinski, Christopher Manack, Eric Schnitzer and Graydon Skeoch.
Language Arts: Amy Ausdenmoore, Oleg Babin, Jessica Bao, Meredith Bennett-Swanson, Emma Brutman, Carly Bryan, David Caiolino, Mirna Cervantes, Yehryn Choi, Brandon Cohen, Grace Dobbertin, Lexi Flake, Shylee Garrett, Justin Guzman, Griselda Jaimes, Jessica Johnson, Kellie Johnston, William Joo, Kristen Kamman, Kimberly Kim, Katherine Koczwara, Michelle Kong, Elliot Kozil, Thomas Lee, Marli Levin, Aaron Lindauer, Jessica Lopez, Sarah Lopez, Jasmine Maldonado, Juan Marban, Jaqueline Martinez, Izzy Montelongo, Santos Montoya, Brittany Morin, Erin Munoz, Nicole Nathanson, My Nguyen, Stephanie Nikitenko, Justin Onozato, Abigail Palma, Dina Paykina, Angela Preston, Mia Rubin, Hunter Ruder, Kelly Schrems, Ami Schwartz, Alexandra Senycia, Brian Shin, Brooke Siegel, Becca Silbar, Paige Smith, Mona Sturino, Steven Tinetti, Matthew Torres, Rebecca Tran, Khrystyna Trinchuk, Courtney Umphress, Emily Watson, Lauren Webb and Jennifer Zavatsky.
Social Studies: Amy Ausdenmoore, Oleg Babin, Carly Bryan, Mirna Cervantes, Sarah Choi, Timothy Claussen, Brandon Cohen, Carly Feldman, Maxwell Fisher, Zachary Furlett, Cory Ginsberg, Inga Gurevich, Kelsey Hershenhouse, Ian Hough, Griselda Jaimes, Nicholas Johnson, Alan Juarez, Yasmeen Khayr, Kimberly Kim, Zak Kind, Cameron Kozak, Tamra Lang, Kathleen Lao, Linnea Lesch, Aaron Lindauer, Bonnie Linville, Michelle Liu, Samuel Liu, Sarah Lopez, Jasmine Maldonado, Izzy Montelongo, Katie Oi, Allen Riquelme, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Daniel Ruditskiy, Dustin Rusch, Alexandra Senycia, Brian Shin, Jacob Tancredi, Steven Tinetti, Andrew Tung, Nicole Wagner, Emily Watson, Daysha Wood and Dominykas Zeglaitis.

Thanks for Making Fall Fest a Success
The Hawthorn Middle South Student Council extends a huge "thank you" to all of the people who made the recent Fall Fest such a success. Thank you to our local businesses for providing raffle items, including Cold Stone, Starbucks and Buffalo Wild Wings. Special thanks to Mrs. Flores, Mrs. Brassfield, Mrs. Perez, Mrs. Moberg, Mrs. Ruder, Mrs. Ennis, Mrs. Amidei, Mrs. Tancredi, Mr. Kathan and Mr. Limer, as well as Hawthorn staffers Adele Odom, Mari Kuehl, Sandra Cruickshank, Nurse Deb Sorkin, Officer Ward Feger, Renee Ullberg, Michelle DiCarlo, Frances Palm, Jan Adelman, Lisa Wilgus, Tim Kuehl, Karen Janisch, Jo Munkvoid, Abby Currie, Charlotte Coffey, Laura Starr and Hamster Ball experts Lisa Kathan and Michelle Vasquez.

Townline Collects Food for Pantry
The Townline Student Council is sponsoring a Canned Food Drive. During the week of November 12, students will collect nonperishable food, which will be delivered to the local food pantry

Middle North Takes French Students on a Field Trip
Students in Valbona Kokoshi's French II class at Middle North took their language skills and their appetites on a quick field trip to Cafe Pyrenees in Libertyville.

Cheer Squad at Middle North
The Middle North Cheer Squad include Scarlett Conrad, April Fuhri, Valeria Martinez, Jenifer Monterrosa, Samantha Ramirez, Lindsey Rickard, Alejandra Rodac, Kara Sage, Nicole Tabor, Jessica Tombach, Sabrina Vasquez, Melanie Wolf and Kendall Zusman. Erin Roche is coach.

Free Diagnostic Screening for 3- and 4-Year Olds
District 73 residents who have concerns about the developmental progress of their three- and four-year old children are invited to contact Hawthorn for a free diagnostic screening. The screening, which covers speech/language, motor skills, socialization and overall cognitive development, is by appointment only. Screenings will be held December 5 and 6 at District Office, 841 West End Court. To make an appointment, call Martha Skelley at 847-990-4243 by November 26.

Hawthorn Schedule
There will be no Kindergarten on November 19 to accommodate Kindergarten Parent/Teacher Conferences. All Hawthorn students will take a break from classes from November 20 to 23. For more information, download the complete school calendar.


November 1, 2007

Hawthorn Celebrates National Education Week
Hawthorn schools will celebrate National Education Week beginning on November 12. Check with your school for specific opportunities for parents to visit our classrooms.

Daily Moment of Silence
Hawthorn’s procedure to comply with the state-mandated moment of silence requirement is to include a brief silence during each school’s morning announcements. The moment is announced with the statement such as, "We will now observe a moment of silence to start our day."

Middle South's 7th Grade Girls Basketball Team is Undefeated!
Congratulations to Hawthorn Middle South's 7th Grade Girls Basketball team, which went undefeated this season. They took first place in the Suburban Middle School Conference tournament, which was hosted by Middle North. Coach John Langelund reports that the girls tallied up 20 wins and no losses. This is the first championship for a Hawthorn 7th grade girls team -- and the first undefeated girls team ever! Congratulations to Brie Bahlmann, Meri Bennett-Swanson, Jessica Brown, Jen Claussen, Ashley Cohen, Vanessa DeSimone, Melissa Goldberg, Allie Knophoff, Alina Lehocky, Paige Powell, Tara Rooney, Caitlin Sernett, Sydney Smith and Lauren Webb.

Elementary North Welcomes Principal-for-a-Day, Kathy Ryg
Elementary North students are excited to welcome State Representative Kathy Ryg as their Principal for a Day on November 7. Thanks, Representative Ryg!

Sixth Graders Preparing for 31st Outdoor Ed Trip
Hawthorn 6th graders head off for their Outdoor Education session beginning on November 12. Students spend three days at the Camp Edwards YMCA facility in East Troy, Wisconsin, where all of their lessons take a hands-on feel. 2007 marks the 31st year for this Hawthorn tradition.

Elementary North 5th Graders Support PADS Shelter
In early October, students in Barb Rudolph's 5th grade class at Elementary North assembled more than 100 sack lunches, which were delivered to the local Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) facility. PADS provides food and emergency shelter to homeless individuals and families from October through April through a number of facilities, including St. Mary of Vernon Church.

Extended Day Kindergarten is Growing Flowers - and New Readers
Elementary North's Extended Day Kindergarteners recently planted a variety of spring flower bulbs outside their school. Students in Hillary Marchel's class use the flowers to remind themselves about their growing ability as readers. The students know that by practicing and working hard, they will all be readers when the flowers bloom!

Townline First Graders Visit Friends at Hawthorn Lakes
Townline first graders continued their tradition of visiting their friends at Hawthorn Lakes Retirement Community on Halloween. The students paraded through the facility in full costume. Thanks to Hawthorn Lakes for their hospitality and treats. Throughout the year, Townline first graders visit Hawthorn Lakes to make crafts and read stories. Residents also visit our classrooms, and have taken part in interviews with some of our older students, who document the many stories of the past.

It's Time for Middle South Canned Food Drive!
Each November, students at Hawthorn Middle South give generously to the school's annual Canned Food Drive. Classes are filling collection boxes with nonperishable food, which is delivered to area food pantries.

Middle South Sports Spectacular Pumpkins
In keeping with the Halloween season, Middle South held a pumpkin decorating contest. Congratulations to first place winner Brad Powers for his Skelator creation. Second place went to Jacyln Martinez for Mrs. Sparkles. Amy Dolan's spider web design took third. Thanks to all who participated.

Free Diagnostic Screening for 3- and 4-Year Olds
District 73 residents who may have concerns about the developmental progress of their three- and four-year old children are invited to contact Hawthorn for a free diagnostic screening. The screening, which covers speech/language, motor skills, socialization and overall cognitive development, is by appointment only. Screenings will take place in the morning of December 5 and 6 at District Office, 841 West End Court, Vernon Hills. To schedule an appointment, please call Martha Skelley at 847-990-4243 by November 26.

Thank You for Flag Designs
Thanks to all of the Hawthorn students who submitted designs for the Hawthorn Flag Contest. More than 80 took part, creating a wonderful selection of beautifully detailed entries. The judging team will look at all of the designs and explanations without knowing who created which piece. They will make their selections and announce honors on November 26 during the Board of Education meeting.

Check Out Online Learning Resources
Trying to locate an appropriate book for at-home reading? Want to learn to type? Looking for a fun way to review core learning concepts? Then visit this website's Learning@Hawthorn pages. Check the resources available through the "Online Learning" sidebar. Students received their login information from their schools. Assistance is also available via email.

Hawthorn Schedule
There will be no Kindergarten on November 19 to accommodate Kindergarten Parent/Teacher Conferences. All Hawthorn students will take a break from classes from November 20 to 23. For more information, download the complete school calendar.


Check out past accomplishments and activities by visiting the news archives and reading the "Hawthorn Happenings" for other months.

District News Archive