D73 Digest!

Wishing all our families a relaxing and joyful winter break! Thank you for reading the D73 Digest and for your continued support this school year. We look forward to keeping you informed and engaged in the new year. Enjoy the break!

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our incredible community! Thanks to your support, our holiday gift drive was a huge success, bringing joy and cheer to so many families this season. Your kindness and contributions make a real difference, and we are so grateful to be part of such a caring and supportive community. Thank you for making this holiday season so special!

The 6th Grade Dance is scheduled and ready to go! All 6th graders from Hawthorn Middle North and Middle South are invited to join us for a night of fun on Friday, January 17th from 6:30-8:30 PM. The evening will feature a DJ, glow items, and snacks for the students.

Register now: https://services.hawthornpto.org/dance

Don’t miss out on this exciting event! 🎶✨

This is a reminder that Hawthorn School District 73 uses Securly to ensure students stay safe while using school-issued devices. With students being at home for the next two weeks, we wanted to send a reminder to help you monitor your child’s device use while at home. Please see the Securly Home Letter for more information.

• $1 off EVERYTHING in the store, no code necessary

• Up to $5 off $50, Code: HAWTHORN550

• Up to $10 off $100, Code: HAWTHORN10100

Note from PTO: The PTO fundraises $2.00 or less on the majority of each item purchased. Because we are already taking $1.00 each item, some purchases may not have a full $5.00 or $10.00 to reduce the cost of the items. The store will take off the maximum amount of savings possible for you!

The December Family Liaison newsletter is here! It’s packed with fun updates, including the latest adventures of Sam the Eagle in our community. It's a great way to stay informed and connected with all the amazing work happening around us.

Please mark your calendar for next summer’s program dates!

Hawthorn Summer Program offerings include Hawthorn Enrichment Institute (HEI), Hawthorn Music Camp, Extended School Year (ESY), Summer Scholars, and Early Start Kindergarten. More information about program offerings and registration will be shared after winter break.

Summer Program Dates: Monday, June 9 - Tuesday, July 2.

• Session 1: June 9 - June 18 (HEI, ESY, Summer Scholars, and Early Start Kindergarten)

• Session 2: June 23-July 2 (HEI, Music Camp, ESY, Summer Scholars, and Early Start Kindergarten)

No School: Thursday 6/19, Thursday 7/3, all Fridays

Lincoln Early Learning Center ESY Dates: Wed, June 4th - Tues, July 1st

No School: Thursday, June 19, all Fridays

*If all of Hawthorn’s Emergency Days are used dates will shift to June 5th - July 2nd*

Join D73’s volunteer program, Hawthorn Helpers, and be a part of a dedicated team of caring parents and vibrant community members! We are welcoming new volunteers for our new school year! To learn more click on the following link: Hawthorn Helper Information. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Family Liaison Gabriela Cervantes at cervantesg@hawthorn73.org.

Visit our LINQ Connect page to discover all the features, how-to guides, and essential eligibility information you need to manage your child's school meal experience seamlessly. LINQ Connect provides a comprehensive suite of tools that allows you to access your account safely, whether through our app or online. Enjoy features such as automatic payments, low balance notifications, and detailed real-time transaction reports. With a unified dashboard, you can effortlessly manage funds and monitor meal activities for all the district students in your household. Experience convenience at your fingertips with LINQ Connect!

We are excited to announce that our district has access to ReferralGPS, a valuable resource designed to connect families with a Care Navigator. Whether you have insurance or not, ReferralGPS will help you find the right therapist or provider for your needs. This program is funded by a grant through the Regional Office of Education (ROE).

Site: https://referralgps.com/find-help/hawthorn73

Missed the December 18 board meeting? Check out the highlights here.

Discover tips, resources, and a glimpse of SEL activities happening around our district. Strengthen the home-school connection and nurture well-rounded, resilient kids!

Softball is open for kids K-11th grade, and Baseball is open for kids Pre-K-8th grade! Don’t miss out—Early Bird Registration is available until 12/31/24.

For questions or more information, contact:

• Baseball: Emily Cadwell at community_baseball@vhcbs.com
• Softball: Marc Sender or Jen Nolan at community_softball@vhcbs.com

Sign up now and get ready for an exciting season! ⚾🥎

Looking for a fun and engaging activity over winter break? Vernon Hills High School is hosting STEM and Soccer Camps for students in grades 1-5 from January 2nd to 4th. Choose one camp or join both for a full afternoon of excitement!

• Option 1: STEM Camp ($60)

  • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Room 0200)
  • Create and program your own 3D-printed car!
  • Learn from talented high school Computer Science and Engineering students.

• Option 2: Soccer Camp ($60)

  • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Field House)
  • Master soccer skills with Varsity players and VH alumni Nikita Stepanov, D1 Defender at EIU!

• Option 3: Both Camps ($100)

  • Includes a snack!

Where: Vernon Hills High School
Sign up here: bit.ly/XP-camp

All proceeds benefit The Kit Outreach 501(c)(3) and XPerience 501(c)(3), supporting community programs and essential needs. Don’t miss out—register today!

The Vernon Hills Park District has some exciting news to share! Their recent newsletter introduces their new Executive Director and announces the release of the Winter/Spring Program Guide. Explore a variety of programs and activities for the upcoming seasons and get to know the leadership guiding the Park District forward.

Check out the newsletter for all the details and start planning your winter and spring fun!

We’re thrilled to share that the Vernon Hills Park District has been awarded a $600,000 OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) Grant to fund significant upgrades at Grosse Pointe Park. These improvements will include renovated ballfields, a new picnic shelter for large gatherings, a basketball court, and a ninja course. Additional enhancements will feature upgraded restrooms, parking lot improvements, retaining wall reconstruction, and walking paths with integrated fitness stations. Construction is set to begin in 2025, offering even more opportunities for our community to enjoy outdoor activities.

Congressman Brad Schneider's initiative to inspire young readers! From now until February 1st, students in grades K-5 are encouraged to read 10 books, with the help of family members, and log their progress. Once completed, simply fill out the online form on the Congressman’s website.

Students who complete the program will be invited to a special ceremony with Congressman Schneider to celebrate their achievement! They’ll also have the chance to participate in a bookmark design contest, with the winning design shared with other readers. Let’s get reading!

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of parenting? You’re not alone. Join a virtual parent support group, meeting Mondays at 7 PM, where you can connect with others who understand. Sessions are $35 for 12 weeks. Drop in when available. Sign up at: info@touchstonetherapycenter.com.

Are you passionate about education and looking for a flexible way to contribute to our community? Hawthorn District 73 is on the lookout for enthusiastic and dedicated substitute teachers to join our team! Whether you’re looking to inspire young minds occasionally or more frequently, we have opportunities that fit your schedule. Learn more about how you can make a difference and check out the perks of becoming a "Super Sub" by visiting our substitute teacher page at Hawthorn Substitute Careers. Join us in shaping futures—one class at a time!

Stay up-to-date with Hawthorn District 73 events! Tap the calendar icon to access our District calendar webpage, where you can discover all the upcoming activities across our nine schools. Don’t miss out on any important dates – visit now to plan ahead!

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