School Information

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Contact Information

810 North Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 | Map
PH: 847.990.4901
FAX: 847.990.4999
Report an Absence: 847.990.4914 or 847.990.4915

School Hours

Grades K-5: 8:50a-3:05p

Background Information:
In the fall of 2003, faced with increasing enrollment projections and increasingly overcrowded schools, the Hawthorn community came up with the creative decision to form a unique Hawthorn school that would house children for six years in the same building. Townline Elementary School opened its doors for the first time in the fall of 2005. Since then, the Townline faculty and staff has worked hard to continue effectively serving a culturally diverse population grades kindergarten through fifth.

Number of Students: approximately 870 students, with capacity for 900

Facility Highlights:
Flexible design allows for easy reconfiguration, should future enrollment require it
43 classroom spaces, including space for art and music
Library media center offers 4150 square feet of resource space, as well as administrative areas
Combination cafeteria/all purpose room features a performance-lighted stage
Outdoor ampitheater looks into the cafeteria, to facilitate large-group learning
Two full-sized gymnasiums offer dedicated entrances for after-school community use
Historical Classroom Museum: Hawthorn Townline Elementary was built upon the property of the original Hawthorn School building. The Hawthorn Preservation Committee identified and saved historical artifacts deemed valuable, before the original school building was demolished to make way for the new building. Room 106 at Townline is a functional classroom museum housing the artifacts and other documents of historical district significance.

During demolition, the school district rediscovered a national treasure in the original school. Covered up by ceiling tiles and half painted over during a redecoration project, a mural, entitled “Children’s Stories” and commissioned in 1937 from the Illinois Art Project of the WPA, was identified. The art includes subjects from various famous fairy tales. The committee felt that the WPA painting would be the showcase of the museum. The mural has been restored at this time and is on display in the historical museum.

Townline Brochure

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Get the general impression of Townline School here ==> Townline Brochure

Artful Learning Brochure

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Download this PDF for the history and latest information about Artful Learning at Townline.

Artful Learning at Townline

Townline Artful Learning Masterworks

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2014-2015

  1. Concept: Connections
  2. Significant Questions:
    • What types of connections do we make at home?
    • What types of connections do we make at school?
    • What types of connections do we make in the community?
    • What types of connections do we make in the world around us?
  3. Masterwork:  Golden Gate Bridge

 

2013-2014

  • Concept:  Relationships
  • Significant Questions:
  • Does who you are determine your relationships?
  • Will you follow the crowd or march to your “own beat”?
  • Masterwork:  Djembe Drums from West Africa

2012-2013

  • Concept:  Connections Golden Gate Bridge
  • Significant Question: What types of connections do we make at home, school, the community and the world around us?
  • Masterwork:  Golden Gate Bridge

2012-2013

2011-2012

2010-2011

2009-2010

2008-2009

2007-2008

Artful Learning Basics

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SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY: Leonard Bernstein’s Artful Learning Model Townline Elementary School is guided by an Artful Learning Model using inquiry and the arts as vehicles for learning across the curriculum. It provides an opportunity for learners to construct meaning principally through concept-driven inquiry. Through the universal concepts studied with artful learning, students extend their appreciation of the broader world while developing a respect and understanding for other cultures. Leonard Bernstein’s Artful Learning Model was developed at Townline from 1992 to 1995. It was field-tested beginning in the 1995-96 school year and began full implementation the following year. This comprehensive school reform model and professional development prepared teachers to:

  • Utilize the arts and the artistic process to reinforce teaching and learning in all subjects.
  • Develop interdisciplinary units for students aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Understanding by Design (UbD).
  • Motivate all students to form a lifelong love of learning.

The Artful Learning Model underscores what good teachers know about teaching-learning springs from engaging experiences.  As a result, test scores in Artful Learning schools already prove the validity of this theory. The model is concept-based, inquiry-based, and interdisciplinary. Teachers are trained to center their core curriculum instruction in the model’s four components:

  • Experience- Students are introduced to a “masterwork”  exposing them to rigorous and important ideas and classic works, thus creating an engaging experience.
  • Inquire- Students are interested when they are invited to inquire, ask questions and deepen their understanding.
  • Create- Students start to love learning when they actually create something. They enjoy active, hands-on involvement in producing something of value.
  • Reflect- Students learn more and can apply it when they reflect thoughtfully through deepening questions on what they understand.

bernstein model

Kindy Playdate Canceled!!!

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Unfortunately, due to the weather, tonight’s kindergarten play date is cancelled.
Thank you.

Kindy Playdate!

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Welcome to Townline!
Join us for a Kindergarten Playdate at the Townline Playground on August 21st from 6:00-7:00PM to meet other Kindergarten students and families. Treats will be provided! Dr. Kieffer, Townline Principal, will be there too!
Come out and have fun before school starts!

ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT DR. KIEFFER AT KIEFFERV@HAWTHORN73.ORG

Flyer to print: KindyPlaydate