Hawthorn Middle Schools

Middle School Promotion Ceremony DVD's are ready for pick up at the Vernon Hills High School main office. VHHS summer hours are 8:00-3:30 Mon-Thurs and 8:00-12:30 Fri. DVD's will be available for pick-up until August 1st. If you are unable to pick up your DVD within this time frame, please contact Patrick Galligan at patrick.galligan@d128.org or (847) 932-2132 to make alternate arrangements.

May/June

MSN Reading list for grades 6-8
MSS Reading list for grades 6-8

New 8th Grade Awards Night - (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

Due to snow closings, the end of year schedule has been adjusted. 8th Grade Awards Night was rescheduled from May 28 to Monday, June 2.

Location: Middle North and Middle South

Hawthorn School District 73
Hawthorn Middle School South
600 Aspen Drive • Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
Phone (847) 816-8317 • Fax (847) 816-9259
www.middleschools.hawthorn73.org

Joy Mullaney Renee Ullberg
Principal Assistant Principal

Hawthorn Promotion Dance is around the corner!!
(Distributed May 28, 2008)

The Promotion Dance is this Friday, May 30, 2008! We anticipate a positive age-appropriate event for all of our eighth graders. In an attempt to structure the dance so that all students are comfortable and appropriately engaged in this social activity, we are asking parents to carefully read and follow through with our dance dress/behavior expectations.

DRESS:

• Boys – Shirt, tie, dress pants and shoes are required.
• Girls – Informal dresses/skirts are appropriate. Formal gowns (prom-like) are not allowed. Strapless, backless, halter or low-cut are not allowed. Spaghetti straps are permissible.
• NO gym shoes, please.

BEHAVIOR:

• Behavior and dancing must be appropriate. Students/parents should understand that “dirty dancing,” “mosh-pit dancing,” etc., are not appropriate for the school setting and will be considered a disruption to the school environment
• Eighth graders/parents are reminded that the Promotion Dance is a school event and all school expectations/consequences will be in effect.
• Students are not allowed to arrive in a limousine, as this is not age-appropriate.

Students who dress or behave inappropriately will be escorted to the office and will be excluded from the dance. In the unlikely and unfortunate event that your son or daughter exhibits improper dress or behavior, you as a parent will be called with the expectation to pick your son or daughter from the office.

It’s hard to believe that we are drawing near to the end of the school year! As we look forward this month and next, please know that we take the last weeks of school seriously. There is still a lot of learning to happen in May and June! We hope that learning will continue through the summer as well. Parents can take this on as a project. With the help of parents, students can build background knowledge, which is a reading comprehension necessity, as families visit different sites. Whether you go to the museums in Chicago, or learn new vocabulary through a fishing trip, new experiences will broaden your child’s background. With more outside field experiences, students are able to retrieve their experiences and connect to their reading material or classroom lessons. This helps them construct meaning from reading.

Language Arts teachers are in the process of selecting summer reading for all of our students. Incoming sixth graders and current sixth and seventh graders are expected to read over the summer. Teachers will follow up in the fall with activities related to the books. We will be sending home the required reading list for all of our students shortly. Students will have choices with reading and Lexile levels provided, so that appropriate selections will be made by the student and parent.

Transition plans are underway for current fifth graders who are anxiously awaiting their middle school transition. Parents had their middle school visit in April where they met the administration, learned about the “typical” day in the life of a sixth grader, and toured the middle school. Sixth grade teachers, social workers and administrators are scheduled to meet the fifth grade teachers to learn about our incoming students. Fifth graders will visit their middle school May 23, tour the building, meet the teachers and some of the kids. A special August “Eagle Flight” has been planned where students have the building to themselves with a planned orientation with their teachers and student leaders. Ice Breakers, schedules, lockers, snacks, clubs, and more will be experienced on August 19!

Career Day will be held in May for all students. Guest speakers include a dentist, fire fighter, landscape architect, technology facilitator, and many more are scheduled to talk to our kids about their careers in May. Thanks to all the parents/community who have volunteered to participate in our Career Fairs!

Yearbooks will be distributed in June. Parents, please talk to your children about taking care of their yearbook. Students should immediately put their name on the inside of the yearbook. In addition, please talk to your child about signing friends’ yearbooks with appropriate comments. Remind them that parents will be reading the comments that they write.

As we wrap up the year, we wish all the best to our eighth graders as they are promoted to ninth grade! It has been a pleasure to watch them grow and mature over the years, both academically and socially. Remember the eighth grade dance will be held at Middle School North on May 30 at 7:00. Promotion for all Hawthorn School District 73 eighth graders will be held at Vernon Hills High School Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00. Report cards for eighth graders will be mailed home.

Finally, let’s recognize four very special middle school educators as they do their own transition into retirement. They have devoted many years to the education of our middle schoolers to ensure that they receive an excellent education! Best wishes to all of you: Frances Palm (MSS, Spanish), Dan Schneider (MSS, Teaching/Learning Coach), PJ Larson (MSN, Physical Education), Sue Jersey (MSN, Sedol Educational Specialist).

As the weather changes from winter to spring we can expect our students to be less focused and more restless. Spring fever affects adolescents as well as adults. It is a good idea to allow students a limited amount of free time outdoors immediately after school before homework time. Vigorous activity stimulates the body and the mind allowing students to better concentrate on academic studies.

April in the middle schools is especially busy preparing students for the ECRA writing assessment the week of April 7. During language arts classes, students will be asked to write either a narrative or persuasive multi-paragraph essay following the Six–Traits rubric. The MyAccess program allows students to hone their writing skills from the convenience of their home computer. Parents can help at home by encouraging their student to revise their writing several times as part of the process. Having them read their essay aloud helps students discover mistakes and allows parents to give feedback.

Activities abound in April! Our first annual community Jazz concert will be held at Middle School North on April 3, featuring the combined Jazz bands of MSS, MSN, and VHHS. Also new this year is the Battle of the Books sponsored by the middle school libraries. Several teams of students from each building compete by demonstrating their comprehension of designated books. The final round of Battle of the Books will take place on April 8. Good luck to all teams! On April 9, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., PTO is sponsoring a presentation on Cyber Bullying for students and parents in grades 5-8 at MSS. Don’t miss this opportunity to get Cyber Savvy in a Snap!

While high school registration is well underway, parents of 6th and 7th grade students can expect to receive course selection letters at the end of April. Please return these letters with your preferences by the due dates. Our fine arts talents will shine with the production of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" at MSS and the play "OZ!" at MSN. The MSS production takes place on April 25 and MSN’s production debuts May 2 at 7:00 p.m. Additional special events on the morning of April 24 include a guest motivational speaker at MSS and the first annual celebration of ethnic cultures with the International Fair at MSN.

March Message

The Illinois Standards Achievement Tests, commonly referred to as the ISATS, are here! March 4 through March 12 is our testing window. Our goal is to have 100% participation, as we have had in the past. As always, please make an attempt to get your children to school each and every day! However, if a student must stay home due to an illness, we will schedule make-ups for your child. The following assessments will be administered:

6- Reading (3 sessions), Math (3 sessions), Writing (2 sessions)
7- Reading (3 sessions), Math (3 sessions), Science (2 sessions)
8- Reading (3 sessions), Math (3 sessions), Writing (2 sessions)

We are asking parents to make sure, as always, that students get a good night’s sleep, and a healthy breakfast. Snacks will be provided, during the ten-minute breaks between assessments.

Reading opportunities for students: Read across America will be , Battle of the books,

Do you really know who your young adolescent is chatting with online? Our PTO is sponsoring a very valuable session for parents and students of fifth through eighth graders, Wednesday April 9 from 7:00 – 8:30 at Middle School South. Please educate yourself and open the lines of communication with your kids. Find out what they are really doing on-line. Learn about the impact of cyber-socializing, and cyber-bullying! This is for parents and kids to attend together. Mark your calendars for this important informational session.

Family connection:
Tips:
Computer use should be supervised, in plain sight,
Have an honest and open relationship with your students. Connect with your son/daughter during meal times. Turn off the TV.
Watch out for cyber bullying (online bullying, intimidation, threatening communication). Talk to your kids about online communication.
What starts at home online (online conflicts), may end up in the school the next day.
Online gossip, making fun of their peers is considered a form of bullying.

February Focus

Dear Parents:

Academic rigor in the area of homework, study habits, and writing skills will continue to be the focus for students in the month of February. Parents can help their students prepare for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), at home by encouraging them to log on to Study Island, My Access, and Custom Typing. Additionally, the Illinois State Board of Education has sample ISAT tests available on their (ISBE) website. The week of March 4, through March 14, has been scheduled for ISAT testing.

Safety concerns will take center stage once again as building level crisis teams meet to review safety issues. Earlier in the school year, students were instructed in the proper safety procedures for lockdown drills, fire drills, and disaster drills. During the month of February, students and staff will review and practice severe weather related disaster procedures. As always, the safety of students and staff is a top priority.

The PTO sponsored book fair is scheduled for the first two weeks in February. The money raised from sales benefits our students and schools directly. Please continue to promote reading for pleasure at home or in the car whenever possible.

February parent/teacher conferences will be held on February 21, and 22, by teacher request. However, parents are welcome to schedule an appointment if they have educational concerns. Open communication is strongly encouraged.

College of Lake County Judicial Services

Peggy Miller and Lisa Daniels from College of Lake County Judicial Services and active members of the Lake County After School Coalition are pleased to announce a teen driving information forum for all interested parents and community members. This presentation will include a detailed discussion of topics relevant to teen driving, including the Alive at 25 teen and parent programs offered through the college as well as recent changes to the graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws in Illinois.

Mundelein High School, 1350 West Hawley Street, will host the event scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13. A question and answer session will follow the one-hour presentation given by representatives from the Secretary of State, the National Safety Council, and the College of Lake County.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is offering their summer program 2008. For more information about the program and the activities it offers, please visit:
Summer@IMSA

January Journal

A message from your Middle School Principals:

Anna Groh (MSN)
Joy Mullaney (MSS)

Welcome back ! We hope you all had a restful and peaceful winter break.
Expect middle of the year planning conferences to happen between now and the next official round of parent conferences to be held February 21-22. From March 4-14 students will take part in Illinois State Assessment Testing (ISAT) in reading/math. 7th graders will also be tested in Science and 6th and 8th graders also tested in writing. ISAT’s measure the extent to which students are meeting the Illinois Learning Standards.

Important Dates To Remember

January 14 MAP Testing - 8th graders
Late Winter Athletic
Early Winter Athletic Awards Night, Gym 7 p.m.
January 15 Middle of second trimester
January 21 No School Martin Luther King Day
January 23 Mid-terms sent home
February 21-22 Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 4-14 ISAT Testing 6th, 7th, 8th

Moment of Silence
The state of Illinois recently modified state law 105 ILCS20/1 relating to periods of silence for public schools. Hawthorn's procedure to comply with the state-mandated period of silence requirement is to include a brief silence (10 to 15 seconds) during morning announcements. The moment is announced with a generic statement such as, “We will now observe a moment of silence to start our day.”

Substitute Nurse Needed
Are you a registered nurse who might be interested in working on an as needed basis in our school, as a substitute nurse? For MSS, please call Joy Mullaney, Principal or Renee Ullberg, Assistant Principal for more details. For MSN, please call Anna Groh, Principal or Rob Natale, Assistant Principal for more details.

Parents of Eighth Graders
The promotion ceremony for both Middle School North and Middle School South is scheduled for Monday, June 2 at Vernon Hills High School.
Please watch for more information in the weeks to come related to the 8th grade promotion ceremony. This will include how to obtain tickets and accuracy of official names for the promotion certificates and programs. Be prepared, we must limit the amount of tickets given to each family due to capacity limitations at VHHS.
We are in the process of planning for the promotion dance, which will be held on Friday, May 30 at MSN.
Both schools are scheduled for measurement of promotion gowns on Wednesday, February 20.
8th grade Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28. This ceremony is by invitation only.

Promotion Dance Committee
We are asking MSN and MSS parents to help us by signing up for this years 8th grade promotion dance committee. We are looking for parents of both 7th and 8th grade students to be on the committee. The 8th grade promotion dance will be held on May 30 at Middle School North. Please call Mrs. Ullberg at 847-816-8317, ext. 305 or Mr. Natale at 847-990-4411 for more information.

Internet Safety (iSafe) is a MUST!
Parents, we are living in a cyber world where our students are more “tech. savvy” than most of us. Children and teens are at high risk even when they are in the safety of your home. Talk to your students about what they are doing online and educate yourself about the dangers before they become a victim. Cyber-Bullying and Sexual Solicitation are serious problems.
Cyber-Bullying Statistics from iSafe.org:
42% of kids have been bullied while online. One in 4 have had it happen more than once.
35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
Sexual Solicitation Statistics from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC):
34% of 10 -17 year old internet users were exposed to unwanted sexual material.
9% faced online harassment. One in 7 received online sexual solicitations. This doesn’t have to be your child, but what can you do?
Visit www.isafe.org and www.bully-stop.com to gain information that may be useful in helping your children protect themselves.
Consider making a tech. free night at home, turn off all electronics and read, play games or do something as a family.
Talk to your children about internet safety.
At Hawthorn MSS, we are educating students to “Practice the 4R’s”. You can reinforce this at home.
RECOGNIZE techniques used by online predators to deceive you.
REFUSE requests for personal information.
RESPOND assertively if you are ever in an uncomfortable situation while online. Exit the program, log off, or turn the computer off, tell a trusted adult, or call the police.
REPORT, to a trusted adult, any suspicious or dangerous contact that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Submitted by: Vikki Spiteri, MSS Library Media Specialist

November Notes/December Details!

November & December, 2007

A message from Hawthorn Middle School principals:

Anna Groh
Joy Mullaney

Look for 2007 ISAT and Fall 2007 MAP results Thursday, November 1! ECRA fall writing assessment results may not be ready by then; we will keep you informed as soon as they arrive! On November 1, 8th graders will be taking placement tests for Mundelein High School and the ACT Explore Test for Vernon Hills/Libertyville and Stevenson High schools. There is no need to study for these assessments.

Outdoor Education for sixth graders is held the week of November 12 – 16, with Middle North attending Monday through Wednesday and Middle South attending Wednesday through Friday.

American Education week is also November 12 – 16. Traditionally the Hawthorn middle schools have invited parents to visit our schools during the school day during that week. As usual, all visitors must sign in at the front desk in the main office for security reasons.

Our Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held at all 6 Hawthorn Schools on Monday, November 19 and Tuesday, November 20. The Book Fair will be open on Monday from after school until 8:00 PM and on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 noon. The Book Fairs are open during parent/teacher conference time. This is an excellent source of income for the schools and a great shopping opportunity for parents and students alike!

PTO Gift Wrap pick up will be held at Middle School North November 16.

Hawthorn Middle North, in cooperation with Vernon Hills High School is proud to participate in their Adopt A Family program. Each of our academic teams has been given the names of a needy family. Each family member has filled out a wish list of three items. The teams are working hard to raise money and donations for their family. On Tuesday, December 18 our school will participate in a wrapping party. The gifts will be delivered to the high school in time for a huge Adopt A Family party on Thursday, December 20. Monetary donations as well as gifts will be very much appreciated. We are also accepting donations of used outer clothing in good condition and used bikes. Questions: See Mrs. Ring (847 990-4423)

All parents are requested to meet with their child’s teachers during the November Parent Conferences, which will be held Monday, November 19, 3:00 – 8:00 and Tuesday, November 20, 8:00 – 11:00. Parents, please contact your child’s teachers to set appointments to discuss academic progress.

First trimester ends November 19 and report cards go home November 30!

All that in one month! Happy Thanksgiving!

December is the month that the new trimester begins. Students should be setting goals for themselves and teachers will be continuing assessing teaching and learning strategies to promote challenging curriculum and student growth. Teachers are continuing to meet with our Teaching/Learning Coaches, Dan Schneider and Sheryl Kabak with a focus on formative and common assessments. We continue to study research-based, high-yield strategies for improving student learning and achievement! Parents can help students at home by encouraging them to summarize reading material and having them state objectives for what they are learning. To improve vocabulary and put new vocabulary in their long-term memory, encourage your children to not only define words, but draw pictures or diagrams to go with them. __________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
October Occurrences!

October 2007

A message from your Middle School Principals:

Anna Groh (MSN)
Joy Mullaney (MSS)

The month of September at the Middle Schools went smoothly. Students transitioned into a new school year making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Teachers had an opportunity to formally assess student abilities and plan challenging lessons.

In October teachers will continue to use assessment data to drive curricular decisions and set school goals as well as individual student goals. Parents can support these school initiatives at home by checking the assignment notebook nightly and by providing a quiet environment for homework and study. Midterm reports will go home on Friday, October 12, 2007. Additionally, parents can expect to see their student’s ISAT, MAP, and ECRA assessment data on November 1, 2007.

Parents should also be aware of several emergency practice drills that will be conducted during October in compliance with state mandates. Fire Drills, bus evacuation drills, weather related disaster drills, and a lockdown drill will be conducted with the help of the Vernon Hills Police and Fire Departments. These drills are intended to prepare students in case of an actual emergency situation. Crisis Team Personnel plan and review procedures on a regular basis.

The October 4th, Early Release Day will feature special activities to address students’ social, emotional, and academic needs. The 6th grade Outdoor Education informational parent meeting for both middle schools will be held on October 9, 2007 at MSN at 7:00 p.m. Group organizers and camp representatives will be on hand to present and answer questions.

This year Snowflake will be held at Oak Grove School in Green Oaks on Friday, October 12, 2007. Participating students will depart from the middle schools via bus at 2:15. Finally, we ask parents to make sure that Halloween costumes worn to school are fun rather than frightening. We look forward to another terrific month!

September, 2007

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS:

ANNA GROH (MSN)
JOY MULLANEY (MSS)

The August transition activities are well behind us now. Sixth graders now “get it,” lockers are easier to maneuver, the lunch line goes faster, and the buildings are no longer foreign! Attendance was high at the Thursday night (August 23) “Walk Your Schedule Night” especially considering the stormy weather surrounding us. Thanks, parents and students for making this evening a delight for all! During this month, we appreciate your patience as we balance classes and make a few changes for our students.

During the week of September 4, Principals, Social Workers, Library Media Resource Center Specialists, Teaching/Learning Coaches will be hosting “Team Talks” with each academic team of students and teachers. The focus of these meetings is to review goals and procedures of the buildings. Some of the topics of concern are: academic goals; safe and orderly goals; building security; internet safety; school pride; respect for self, others and property; the peer tutoring program; and our breakfast program. The Team Talks are intended to be a positive, proactive approach to build trusting relationships within the building.

September is an important month for all sixth through eighth graders at MSS and MSN, as they prepare for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. For those of you who are new to Hawthorn, MAP assessments measure our students in math and reading with web-based, computer adaptive assessments that measure student achievement and growth.
Administrators and teachers are able to pull up tailored reports with information to make informed decisions regarding your child’s learning and teacher instruction. MAP assessments in reading and math will take place during your child’s academic blocks from September 10 through September 20. Each student will be assessed on two different days, one day for reading and the other for math. Assessments are not timed, so students are allowed as many minutes as they need to complete the Northwest Evaluation Association’s assessment. Follow up assessments for eighth graders will be in January of 2008, and for 6th and 7th in May of 2008. Eighth grade assessment results will be used as one of the several pieces of data for high school placement. As with any assessment including day-to-day classroom assessment, encourage your child to take their time and put forth their best efforts!

Another important date for both MSS and MSN is PICTURE DAY!! Students and parents are reminded that individual pictures for purchase and for the yearbooks will be taken during the school day, Tuesday, September 11. Smile and don’t forget to do your hair!!!

CURRICULUM NIGHT for parents is also Tuesday. September 11 from 7:00 – 9:00. The principals will start the evening with a welcome to parents, introductions of the entire staff, and general announcements at 7:00 followed by a short presentation by the PTO, Social Workers and Physical Education (PE) teachers. Break-out sessions will be held by the academic teams; parents will meet in their child’s homeroom. Related Arts teachers will conclude the evening’s events with a presentation of their program. Detailed schedules with locations will be distributed to your child and be available at the door the evening of September 11. We will also post the CURRICULUM NIGHT schedule online.

Student Council elections for sixth graders will be held this month. Elected positions as well as “walk on” positions are available. 7TH/8TH elections took place last spring. Please encourage your child to get involved, if not in Student Council, in other activities. Research shows that middle school students who participate in extracurricular activities are more successful academically than students who are not involved out of school. In addition, getting involved in extracurricular clubs, sports, music, etc. encourages positive relationships with peers and other significant adults. Students become more invested in their school and take pride in it as well.

Finally, parents of 7th and 8th graders: Look for more information to come about the upcoming Snowflake event! Social workers are collaboratively planning for the October 12 event that will encourage healthy decision making. The Snowflake plans include activities for students and parents alike. This traditionally has filled to capacity, so take advantage of this planned opportunity quickly; fliers will go home in backpacks!

Health Procedures

Health

In addition to the dress code reminders, student behavior related to using computers and the Internet will be addressed as follows:

Hawthorn School District 73 provides access to its computer networks and the
Internet for educational purposes only. If students have any doubt about whether a contemplated use of the computer is educational, they should consult with an adult in the building.

In using the computer network and Internet, students should not reveal personal information such as your home address or telephone number. In addition, students should not:

• disclose or share your password with others;
• impersonate another user.
• download music for personal use
• download images for personal use

Students should delete media files from server folder when project is complete. If a student finds that other users are visiting offensive or harmful sites, he or she should report such use to an adult in the building.

As parents you are the most powerful influence when it comes to keeping teens away from alcohol. Teens that are monitored by their parents are less likely to use alcohol and engage in other risky behaviors. Help keep prom and graduation activities safe by asking questions about your teen's plans and talk to them about how to say no to alcohol while still having a good time.

• Visit the website below and follow the links to "Conversations for Parents" section to help initate an ongoing dialogue with your teen:
  http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/conversations-for-parents.asp
  Visit the website homepage, www.TheAntiDrug.com for information and tips.
• For signs, symptoms, and risks of underage alcohol use and the dangers of mixing alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs, please visit:
  http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_alcohol.asp
• Order free parent resources, including Navigating The Teen Years: A Parent's Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens, by calling the Clearinghouse @ (800) 788-2800

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