Weekend Inventor and Forensic Science Classes here at Hawthorn!

AWE thumbnailHawthorn District 73 is offering a unique learning opportunity for academically talented students in grades 5 through 8. In collaboration with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, The Accelerated Weekend Experience (AWE) program provides challenging, hands-on, in-depth exploration for those passionate about the subjects of technology and science.

 

The two-day AWE courses will be held at Hawthorn Middle School North, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on January 24 and 25, 2015, both Saturday and Sunday.  MIT APP Inventor is for students in grades 5 and 6, and Forensic Science is for grades 7 and 8.

Get the Flyer >>> AWE Flyer VH Jan 24-25 2015

Support PTO at Corner Bakery, 11-24

Take your children to dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 and Tuesday, Nov. 25  at Corner Bakery, Vernon Hills, and help support the PTO with your order. The PTO raised over $1,000 from past restaurant nights. Download the flyer:  Click this to download the flyer.

New Teachers Prepped for Parent Teacher Conferences

New Teachers Prepped for Parent Teacher Conferences

PTConf1600Hawthorn has been preparing its new teachers to make the parent teacher conference experience as seamless as possible. Recently parents and seasoned teachers highlighted what teachers should expect during the 15-minute meetings and how to make sure it is a positive experience for both parents and new staff.

Here are Tips & Tactics suggested by parents and seasoned teachers for Hawthorn’s 38 new staff members:

  • Be prepared for the Meeting. Parents and teachers only have 15 minutes to discuss a child’s progress.
  • Create a Happy Sandwich – Start and end the conversation with positive information about their child.
  • Stay positive throughout the meeting.
  • Keep conversations “student-centered” and “learning-centered.”
  • Parents want to know if there is a problem with their child whether it is social, emotional or academic. Be honest.
  • Parent teacher conferences should not be the first time parents hear of a problem or concern with their child.
  • Parents don’t want teachers to go over everything in a child’s portfolio; give them the highlights and send parents home with their child’s homework and projects.
  • Make sure the classroom teacher and the child’s specials teachers – math, speech, etc. – are sending the same messages to parents.
  • Give parents time to ask questions.
  • If you realize you are running out of time, reschedule the conversation for a later time.
  • If parents get off topic refer them or their child to experts who can help them with matters that are not classroom/school related.
  • Provide resources or takeaways that parents can take away with them regarding concerns you raised.

New TL Phone Number 12-1

TLnewPhone

Book Fair is Coming!!

The PTO Book Fair is coming!!  Fair dates are November 24th and 25th during conferences.  If you can’t make it to the fair, you can shop the online fair that runs from November 16-December 6.  This is the perfect time to get some great gifts for family and friends or perhaps  your child’s homeroom teacher.  Visit  http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hawthorntownlineelemschool
for more information.
Hope to see you there!

November Newsletter

Click here to download the PDF version of the November Newsletter ==> TL November Newsletter

Tips for Parent/Teacher Conferences

Here are some good talking points that you may like to bring up at conferences:

Conference Tips for Parents