Aspen Updates December 16, 2016

Each holiday season, Aspen School adopts a few families from our own school that do not have what they need.  We have put up a “Giving Tree” in our lobby with both specific items as well as requests for gift cards on it.  If you are blessed enough to be able to help others, please come in and check out our tree.  The gifts and gift cards that are collected will benefit families right here at Aspen School.  We are asking that the items be brought in to the Aspen office by Monday, December 18.    Please consider helping us come along side of some of our families to help give them a great winter season.  Thanks for your generosity!

A birthday breakfast with Mr. Fredricksen for all students with December birthdays will be held on Friday, December 16 at 8:00 am.  If your child has a birthday in December, please RSVP by calling the office and telling us their breakfast choice.

Winter Break begins on Friday, December 23 until January 8, 2017.  School resumes on Monday, January 9.

On behalf of Mr. Fredricksen and the entire Aspen staff, we wish our Aspen families a wonderful holiday season and a relaxing and fun filled Winter Break! See you all in 2017!

EFMP Latest Update

Close to 200 residents who attended a special Hawthorn Board of Education meeting this week were presented with two options to help address enrollment capacity issues in District 73’s schools and provide upgraded facilities for the future of education at Hawthorn.

Both options call for constructing a kindergarten center onto the Sullivan Center, bringing the early childhood program back to the Hawthorn campus, purchasing 11 acres of land across from Elementary School South, and building facilities so students can explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

The Hawthorn Core Team, which spent thousands of hours researching solutions to space constraints, recommends an option that would include the construction of a new elementary school, adding additions to all the schools for STEM, building a wing onto the Sullivan Center for kindergarten, and building additions to schools where additional space is needed for PE classes, music and art programs.

According to Consulting Demographer John D. Kasarda, Ph.D., Hawthorn shows an increased enrollment by as much as 500 students in the next five years. Hawthorn has been experiencing space capacity challenges in its school buildings for several years resulting in specials programs being taught in mobile classrooms, on a movable cart, and in the cafeteria and hallways.

At 7 p.m. Monday, December 12, District Office, 841 West End Ct, Vernon Hills, the Board is expected to discuss the options further and anticipates making a decision on one of the options.

Detailed renderings of the facilities options can be found on the Educational Facilities Master Plan website page. En Español

 

Aspen Updates December 9, 2016

Congratulations to our new student council members.  They are:

President:  Kenan Cheung

Vice President:  Kristina Escobar

Secretary:  Charlotte Smith

Treasurer: Chris Elliott

We have quite a collection of lost and found items already.  It your child is missing a hoodie, coat, hat, gloves, etc., please come in and check out our lost and found.  It is especially helpful if the student’s name is written on the tags of coats, hats, etc.  We are then able to get the items back to students quickly.

Mr. Fredricksen is hosting a 1/2 birthday breakfast this Friday morning, 12/9, for all those students with a June birthday.  Please call the office to RSVP if your child has a June birthday and would like to be a part of that celebration.

On Friday, December 16, our December birthday students are invited to celebrate with Mr. Fredricksen at a birthday breakfast.

Mark your calendars!  Wednesday, December 14 is an early release day.  All students will have lunch, and then be dismissed at 11:25 a.m. to go home.

Parents, please remember that your students will be going out for recess unless it is less than 10 degrees (actual or wind-chill).  Please be sure students are dressed warm.  In order for students to be able to play in the snow, they must have their “5 points” (coat, hat, gloves, snow pants and snow boots) on.  If they do not have ALL of these items they will be limited to playing on the blacktop.

PTO Invites You to Participate in Drum Circle at the Winter Boutique

The Hawthorn PTO Family Programming is excited to bring back the Drum Circle this year during the Winter Boutique on Saturday, Dec. 10. Ed Gaus of Bongo Boy Music will lead us in a variety of empowering rhythms in a circle of 100 drums. No experience is necessary and drums will be provided.  This is an all ages and abilities event.  Join us at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Middle School South. Click here to register for the drum event.

Special Meeting on Facilities

Child care is being offered for a special Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 5 where residents will receive updated information about the proposed Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP).  The Core Team has analyzed data and feedback received from the community and will present two options culminating with a recommendation of one concept to the School Board. A Board decision is anticipated to take place on December 12 during the regularly scheduled Board of Education Business meeting.

Please make arrangements to attend this very important presentation and conversation at Hawthorn Middle School South at 7 p.m. Monday, December 5.  We look forward to seeing you there.  For more information on the Educational Facilities Master Plan, please visit the EFMP website. En Español.

Hawthorn Summer School

Save the date for Hawthorn Enrichment Institute, which begins in July 2017. Before and After Summer School Childcare is offered by the Vernon Hills Park District.

Revised Facilities Plan Revealed

The Board of Education will hold a special Board meeting on Monday, December 5 to receive updated information about the proposed Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP).  The Core Team has analyzed data and feedback received from the community and will present two options culminating with a recommendation of one concept to the School Board.  Following the presentation a time for public comment will be held.  A Board decision will take place onDecember 12 during the regularly scheduled Board of Education Business meeting.

Please make arrangements to attend this very important presentation and conversation at Hawthorn Middle School South at 7 p.m. Monday, December 5.  We look forward to seeing you there. For more information on the Educational Facilities Master Plan, please visit the EFMP website.

Aspen Buddies

The cafeteria has become a much calmer place for Aspen Elementary School kindergartners now that fifth graders are assisting them. With the Hawthorn district moving into full day kindergarten, helping kindergarteners through their lunch period has become a focus at Aspen.

“Our lunchroom supervisors noticed that there were more hands in the air than adults to assist children with opening fruit cups, handing out spoons, opening drinks,” said Aspen Principal Bill Fredricksen. Aspen has enlisted fifth grade buddies to help out, he said. “It has become a more calming environment during lunch now. Kindergarteners have older peers to talk to, help them get organized and as a result the cafeteria is a much more organized place,” he said.

Library Bookmark Contest

Many Hawthorn students were winners in the recent Cook Memorial Public Library District Design a Bookmark contest where there were close to 740 entries. Please click on this link to view the winners and their artwork.

AFPC Fall Conference Dinner

The AFPC is hosting an amazing dinner for our teachers on Fall Conference Night, Monday, November 21.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We are still in need of volunteers to provide food and items.  Please click here and sign up to donate an item!  It is greatly appreciated by our teachers!