Architect Contract Approved

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At its April meeting the Hawthorn Board of Education authorized an architectural contract for DLR Group, of Chicago.

DLR Group estimates a 12 to 14 week process to develop an Educational Facility Master Plan for Hawthorn School District 73. That process will include analyzing the facilities, meeting with stakeholders, and developing proposals. As part of the master plan, the architectural team, administration and board members will include valuable input from parents, staff, students, and community members. Please click here for more on the plan.

Personalized Learning

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Personalized learning takes off in Hawthorn District 73 as shown in this brief video.

Aspen Students Demonstrate Respect

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Each month throughout this year, Aspen school has been highlighting one of the seven Glasser Caring habits. This month’s spotlight habit is Respect. We will be spending the week of April 25-29 focusing on the importance of respecting others, ourselves and our property. Below is a video showcasing some of our Aspen students and how they demonstrate respect.

Process Continues on Facilities

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The Hawthorn Board of Education conducted a work session this week to set parameters for the scope and process of architectural work to resolve current and future space constraints on its six school buildings.

To deal with overcrowding, the Board of Education agreed to have its architect, DLR Group, of Chicago, consider new construction options and reconfiguring existing school space. Members agreed that the student teacher ratio goal should be 25:1 per classroom, which is the current number the district uses.

Board members felt strongly that curriculum and the use of technology should inform how teachers use space in schools. With that agreed upon, on Monday, April 25, the board is expected to review architectural costs for developing a Hawthorn Master Facility Plan. That 7 p.m. meeting will take place at Hawthorn Middle School North. Please click here to read more about the plan.

Aspen Family Bingo Night on April 29th

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Join us for Aspen’s last family event of the year on Friday, April 29 from 6:30-8:00p.m. Pizza will be served in the cafeteria from 6:30-7:00 and then we will move to the gym for Bingo from 7:00-8:00pm.   Aspen’s Student Council is partnering with VHHS to sell pizza for $3 per slice (or $5 for two slices if purchased in advance with registration by April 25th) with all profits going to benefit the COVE Alliance and help provide desks, chairs and classroom supplies for their Uganda school’s new 6th grade classroom. Please join us for a fun-filled evening! We urge you to register in advance for our planning purposes, but please feel free to attend and pay the $5 family registration fee at the door.
The AFPC NEEDS MANY VOLUNTEERS to make this night a success–please consider helping us in any of the following ways:  (1) Set-up from 4:30-6:30, (2) Event Helper from 6:30-8:00 (checking in families, overseeing students selling pizza, checking Bingo Cards, managing the prize table) and (3) Clean-up from 8:00-8:30.  Please email Nicole Carson at nc.longdon@gmail.com or call (847) 858-5602 if you are able to help in any way.  Thank you!!!

Download the Registration Form now!

 

Aspen Open House and Music Program

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At the beginning of May Aspen students will present two musical programs in recognition of our community of musicians.
Kindergarteners, first and second graders will perform on Tuesday evening, May 3.  The program will begin at 6:45 pm with a performance by Kindergarten students.  The 1st and 2nd grade classes will perform at approximately 7:15 pm.
The performance on Thursday, May 5 will feature 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students.  Third graders will begin at 6:30 pm followed by 4th graders at approximately 7:00 pm. The 5th grade students will close the evening beginning at about 7:30 pm.
More detailed information will be sent home approximately a week before these events. Please let your child’s music teacher know if you have any conflicts with this date as soon as possible.  If you have any questions please contact the school at 847-990-4300.

2016 Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

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Just over two more weeks until Aspen’s Staff Appreciation Week!  Do you have a special dish native to your culture or family?  We will be celebrating our Aspen family traditions with our staff on Wednesday, May 4th.  We still have opportunities for food and paper goods donations, as well as help with the decorations!  If you have not already visited the sign ups, please click on the following links to sign up.
Sign Up for food
Sign Up for decorations

Master Facility Planning Underway

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Architect DLR Group, of Chicago, has begun working with the Hawthorn School District 73 administrative team and Board of Education to determine space needs for student learning.

DLR Group’s goal is to “address capacity to house the students in an educationally effective manner, to identify and create opportunities to enhance the learning environments in support of District 73’s Vision, and to address capital improvements.”

The Board of Education and the DLR Group are meeting to discuss the process that they will use to develop a Master Facility Plan for Hawthorn. The firm’s experts will analyze and measure the current school buildings as they relate to current enrollment and future enrollment needs. This process will outline how to gain valuable input from members of the Board of Education, parents, staff, students, and community members.

Hawthorn has been experiencing space capacity challenges in its school buildings for several years. Hawthorn’s current enrollment of 4,264 in grades kindergarten through eighth jumped dramatically over last year’s number. This increase in enrollment puts additional stress on the space available in the buildings. The Board recognizes that class sizes are at or nearing capacity in some schools. Additionally, the Board recognizes that several of the schools are nearing enrollment capacity.

Over the last 30 years, the district’s enrollment has doubled to its current number. The district is expected to grow between 400 students and 800 students over the next 10 years, according to John D. Kasarda, Ph.D., Consulting Demographer.

Architect Begins Work

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Architect DLR Group, of Chicago, has begun working with the Hawthorn School District 73 administrative team and Board of Education to determine space needs for student learning. DLR Group was selected from among eight firms that submitted proposals.

DLR Group is considered the largest K-12 architectural firm in the country. The firm’s next step is to begin working on a master plan for the district to address the district’s space needs over the next several years.

Hawthorn has been experiencing space capacity challenges in its school buildings for several years. Hawthorn’s current enrollment of 4,264 in grades kindergarten through eighth jumped dramatically over last year’s number. This increase in enrollment puts additional stress on the space available in the buildings. Over the last 30 years, the district’s enrollment has doubled to its current number. The district is expected to grow between 400 students and 800 students over the next 10 years, according to John D. Kasarda, Ph.D., Consulting Demographer.

“Most schools are at their enrollment capacity and we need to consider using existing space more creatively or finding more space, if possible,” Superintendent Nick Brown said.

Aspen Updates April 1, 2016

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We have a large amount of lost and found.  If you are missing a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, etc., please come and claim your lost item!

Our Caring Habit for the month of April is Compassion.  Students will be talking about this in their classrooms as well as come together at a school wide assembly about compassion.