http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headlines/news en brandll@hawthorn73.org Copyright 2012 2012-05-10T22:25:32+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/police_announcement_suspicious_subject/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/police_announcement_suspicious_subject/#When:22:25:32Z May 10, 2012  The Vernon Hills Police provide the following alert:  The Lincolnshire Police Department is currently attempting to identify a suspicious subject that recently approached a 12 year old child near an area school.  The subject approached the child in a yellow Subaru with tinted windows and a rear spoiler.  The subject is described as a M/W or M/H, 30-40 years old, clean shaven with black or brown “spiked” hair.  The subject attempted to stop and speak with the child but the child fled into the school.  There have been no reported incidents of this nature in Vernon Hills to date, however, we are releasing this information so parents can speak with their children and pay extra special attention in the residential neighborhoods.  The Vernon Hills Police Department and District 73 are working together on this issue. 2012-05-10T22:25:32+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/happenings_-_may_2012/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/happenings_-_may_2012/#When:19:32:10Z Please read on for news about Hawthorn students, staff and schools… Happenings - May 16, 2012 Backpack Note: Police Alert - May 11, 2012 Happenings - May 9, 2012 Winning Entries from 3rd Annual First Amendment Cartoon Contest – featuring the artwork of Middle North’s Emily Komessar, Jenna Joyce and Sinead Prentiss. Click on the name to view the cartoon. Happenings - May 2, 2012 Backpack Note: Registration Reminder - May 1, 2012 To review previous issues of Hawthorn Happenings, please visit the Archives Page and check for the month-by-month reports. 2012-05-01T19:32:10+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/early_childhood_developmental_screenings_schedule_by_may_21/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/early_childhood_developmental_screenings_schedule_by_may_21/#When:16:55:44Z Hawthorn School District 73 is conducting developmental screenings of three- to five-year-old children. The screenings are free to participating children and their families who live within Hawthorn District 73 boundaries and will identify eligible children for enrollment into free local early childhood programs. The screenings will examine each child’s speech, language, cognitive, social and motor skill development. For more information and to schedule an appointment, please call 847-990-4243 by Monday, May 21. Screenings will be held on May 29, 30 and 31 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the HELPs wing of Aspen Elementary, located at 500 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. 2012-05-01T16:55:44+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/summer_reading_assignments_and_suggestions/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/summer_reading_assignments_and_suggestions/#When:17:54:45Z Reading is a powerful way to keep students’ minds sharp during the summer months. Students who will be in middle school next year (future 6th, 7th and 8th graders) have a reading assignment to complete during the summer. Our librarians have also put together book suggestions for all of the grades. Please read on for more information… Summer 2012 Reading Assignments - Middle School Students entering grades 6, 7 and 8 are required to select and read one book from the provided book list and complete the assignment, which is due by Friday, September 7, 2012. Books are available from the local public library as well as through the PTO order form, which appears at the end of each of the downloadable documents below. Incoming 6th Grade Incoming 7th Grade Incoming 8th Grade Summer 2012 Reading Suggestions - Grades 1-5 Reading (and reading together) is a powerful way to keep children’s minds sharp over summer break and to prepare them for the new school year in the fall. To assist in this effort, Hawthorn’s library media specialists have developed these suggestions.  (Lexile is a measurement of a child’s reading abilities based on the Lexile Framework for Reading. Student scores are provided in your final report card. Most books receive a Lexile rating to help you match up your child with material. More information about Lexile is available from http://www.lexile.com/findabook/ or on our Hawthorn Student Resources website.) Reading Ideas for Students Entering Grades 1-5 Summer 2012 Read-Together Suggestions - Kindergarten Reading together is also a way to help your child feel more comfortable about coming to kindergarten in the fall. Here is a list of books that talk about that very topic. Incoming Kindergartener Reading Suggestions       2012-04-30T17:54:45+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/hawthorn_again_earns_schoolsearch_2012_bright_red_apple_award/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/hawthorn_again_earns_schoolsearch_2012_bright_red_apple_award/#When:19:22:49Z Hawthorn schools have again earned the Bright Red Apple Award for educational excellence from SchooSearch, an educational research and consulting firm that publishes rankings of school systems. The award is based on five key factors: academic performance, pupil/teacher ratio, expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers, and average teacher salary. Hawthorn District 73 has once again been ranked as strong in all five of those family-friendly categories. 2012-04-25T19:22:49+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/last_day_to_charge_meals_may_11/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/last_day_to_charge_meals_may_11/#When:19:19:11Z The last day for students to charge school meals is Friday, May 11. Families who owe money for meals are alerted to the charges via messages that are mailed as well as sent home with children. Parents can also monitor meal balances through http://www.lunchprepay.com. Please note that at the close of the school year, any outstanding meal balances will be sent to collections. The collection agency adds an additional 50 percent fee. To avoid collections, please pay all balances. If you have questions or are interested in setting up a payment plan, please contact the District Business Office at 847-990-4200. 2012-04-25T19:19:11+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/hawthorn_announces_reduction_in_force_impacting_31_assistants/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/hawthorn_announces_reduction_in_force_impacting_31_assistants/#When:15:14:05Z During the March 12 meeting of the Hawthorn Board of Education, members approved a reduction in force of 31 instructional assistants. This reduction was part of the administration’s recommendations to provide for a balanced budget for 2012-13. Those financial recommendations, which were presented on February 27, include a number of adjustments including a reduction in contracted cleaning hours/costs and provision of full-day tuition-based kindergarten. Those proposals required no board action at this time. However per union guidelines, a reduction in force requires board action as well as 45 day notice to those impacted by the reduction. Therefore, the 2012-13 budgeting/contracting cycle timing required the board to address the reduction at this time. Instructional assistants involved in this reduction in force are being notified on March 13. Decisions about who is impacted by the reduction are based on a seniority formula. The same formula will be used to fill any openings that arise, with these employees given first consideration. 2012-03-13T15:14:05+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/changes_to_hawthorns_administrative_team_for_next_year/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/changes_to_hawthorns_administrative_team_for_next_year/#When:14:21:36Z Several changes to next year’s Hawthorn administrative team were announced following the March 12 Hawthorn Board of Education Meeting. Hawthorn Middle North principal Tom Springborn has accepted a job as Superintendent with Prairie Du Rocher School District #134, located southeast of St. Louis. Mr. Springborn has served many roles at Hawthorn, starting in 2002 when he taught math and science at the Option Building. Robert Collins will be named Hawthorn Middle North’s new principal, starting July 1. Mr. Collins is currently the Hawthorn Elementary North principal. He has also served as assistant principal at Elementary South. Prior to coming to Hawthorn, Mr. Collins logged extensive experience with older students in his roles as the social studies and fine arts chair at Harvard High School. As further news, Katie Waggoner has been named Elementary North’s new principal, beginning this summer. Ms. Waggoner, who is a former Hawthorn student, has served the district in numerous of capacities, including classroom teacher, teaching & learning coach, enrichment teacher, and teacher mentor. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and in May will complete work toward a second master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. More information about administrative team changes for next year are outlined in the backpack letter sent home with all students on March 13. Thank you to all of these dedicated individuals for their efforts on behalf of our students, and best wishes in their new roles. 2012-03-13T14:21:36+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/financial_fatf_presentation_recommendations/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/financial_fatf_presentation_recommendations/#When:15:42:30Z During the February 27, 2012 meeting, the Hawthorn Board of Education was presented with financial recommendations. The presentation, which is also archived on the school board webpages (http://www.hawthorn73.org/schoolboard), reviewed the efficacy of changes made during the last budget cycle as well as offered suggestions for an additional $1 million in revenue generation and/or cost savings. Proposed changes include reducing the number of aides from 40:1 to 65:1, with part of that reduction coming from the proposed elimination of the aide-facilitated Spanish Enrichment class that is currently provided for 40 minutes each week in our elementary buildings. That time would then go to classroom learning as determined by the teacher. Other proposals include reducing contracted cleaning time/costs, and providing a full-day tuition-based kindergarten option. More details are outlined on the presentation. Additional information about District finances is available on the Finance webpage (http://www.hawthorn73.org/finance), on the Financial Advisory Task Force (FATF) work Wiki website, as well as by contacting Director of Finance and Business Operations Brad Goldstein (goldsteinb@hawthorn73.org or 847-990-4221) or Superintendent Sue Zook (zooks@hawthorn73.org or 847-990-4244). 2012-02-28T15:42:30+00:00 http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/2012-13_general_calendar_approved_by_state/ http://www.hawthorn73.org/index.php/headloines/2012-13_general_calendar_approved_by_state/#When:20:38:47Z The state board of education has approved the following general calendar dates for the 2012-13 school year. Note that next year’s calendar includes no short days for the first and last days of the year as the state no longer gives credit for shortened days. Finally, we do our best to plan this calendar in coordination with our local high school districts. 2012-01-24T20:38:47+00:00