D73 Digest

The D73 Digest is your go-to source for Hawthorn District news, updates, and events. Whether you're looking for important reminders, celebrations, or ways to stay involved, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Per Illinois law, all students entering preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, or new to Illinois schools must have a completed physical exam and updated immunization records on file. Forms must be signed by a physician and include a completed health history section by a parent/guardian.

🛑 Students not in compliance by October 15 will be excluded from school until all required documentation is submitted.

🏅 Planning to try out for a school sport? A current physical must be on file before tryouts or participation in any interscholastic team.

For full details, visit our School Health Forms page or contact your school nurse with any questions.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will be visiting us on October 17. If your child still needs immunizations or a physical exam, please contact Sol Cabachuela at (224) 370-2090 or cabachuelas@hawthorn73.org for more information.

South Campus families are invited to the first Parent Food Advisory Committee meeting! Parents will sample cafeteria food, hear updates from Quest, and share feedback on menus and nutrition education. [North Campus coming soon!]

• Middle School South Cafeteria
• Thursday, October 9 | 6:00–7:00 PM
• Space is limited to 20 parents — first come, first served!
• [Sign up here to participate!]

To support our commitment to student health and wellness, the Whole Child Wellness Committee has updated the snack list. Thank you for partnering with us to create a healthy learning environment for all students.

Get ready, middle schoolers—Snowflake Day is coming on Wednesday, October 1, 2025! This special event is an extension of our weekly Advisory program, where students build connections and grow social-emotional skills through lessons from Wayfinder.

During Snowflake Day, students will:
❄️ Participate in team-building activities and PE games
🎤 Attend a motivational assembly featuring Brad Hurtig, a nationally recognized speaker on perseverance

🍦 Enjoy extended lunch with a free dessert from Quest (ice cream cup or dairy-free fruit popsicle)

This is a day focused on belonging, resilience, and fun—we can't wait to celebrate with all our students!

Questions? Reach out to your school’s social worker.

9/26 - National HR Professionals Day

October - National Principal Month

10/2 - National Custodian Day (Non-attendance Day)

10/6 - National ‘Sports’ Coaches Day

At Hawthorn District 73, we are committed to supporting the growth of the whole child, including their social and emotional well-being. One way we do this is through benchmark screenings using the SAEBRS/MySAEBRS tool, administered three times per year to help identify and support student needs.

🔹 Kindergarten – Grade 5: Click here for more information
🔹 Grades 6 – 8: Click here for more information

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s development!

Hawthorn’s Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC) is looking for parents and guardians to get involved! MPAC supports the needs of Multilingual (ML) students and families, provides guidance on bilingual programming, and helps plan workshops and engagement opportunities throughout the year.

📅 First Meeting: October 6
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM at Hawthorn School for Young Learners
🍽️ Food, childcare, and translation support provided
📧 Questions? Contact Sol Cabachuela at cabachuleas@hawthorn73.org or call 224-370-2090

📄 Flyers available here: [English] / [Spanish]

All are welcome—come be a voice for our multilingual community!

All Hawthorn families are invited to join us for a special Día de los Muertos celebration on Wednesday, October 23, from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Hawthorn Dual Language building.

This district-wide event will be filled with culture, tradition, and community as we come together to honor and remember our loved ones.

Flyers available here: [English] / [Español]

Join D73’s volunteer program, Hawthorn Helpers, and be part of a caring and dedicated team of parents and community members who support our schools! We’re welcoming new volunteers for the 2025–2026 school year.

📌 Learn more here: Hawthorn Helper Information
📧 Questions? Contact Family Liaison Sol Cabachuela at cabachuleas@hawthorn73.org

Hawthorn District 73 is proud to partner with Youth and Family Counseling (YFC) to support student well-being through on-site therapy services. A licensed therapist will be available once a week at Hawthorn, with sessions taking place during the school day—making it a convenient option for families.

Families interested in enrolling can do so directly through YFC:
📞 847-748-0301
🌐 www.counselingforall.org

For questions, please reach out to:
Mrs. Megan Goldman
Director of Social, Emotional, Behavioral Learning
📧 goldmanm@hawthorn73.org | 📞 847-990-4269

Hawthorn District 73 is continuing its partnership with Lakeside Transportation to bring families the My Ride K-12 mobile app, designed to enhance your student’s transportation experience through real-time tracking and timely updates.

App Features Include:

• Real-time bus tracking for arrival and departure times

• Timely notifications when your child gets on or off the bus

• Bus tags for secure check-in/out using bus-mounted tablets

We encourage all families to download the free My Ride K-12 app to stay informed and connected.

Our food service provider, Quest, has launched a new and improved lunch portal—making it easier than ever for families to access menus, view nutritional information, and manage meal payments.

Families can use Google Chrome’s translation feature to view menus in their preferred language. Printable menus are still available on our district website. Bon appétit!

In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever for families to stay informed about their child’s online activity. With the Securly Home App, you can monitor your child’s internet use at home on their school-issued device and receive weekly email reports with a snapshot of their browsing habits.

This tool helps families support safe, responsible, and focused online behavior.

📲 See this Securly Letter for download instructions.
📧 For account questions, email help@securly.com

Hawthorn District 73 partners with ReferralGPS, a free and confidential service that connects families with mental health providers matched to their needs—regardless of insurance status. A Care Navigator will guide you through the process to ensure you find the right support. This service is made possible through a grant from the Regional Office of Education (ROE).

Never miss an important date! You can subscribe to your school’s calendar and have events automatically sync to your personal device.

Visit our Calendars page, select your school, and click the RSS or iCal icon to add it to your preferred calendar app (Google, Outlook, Apple, etc.). It’s the easiest way to stay up to date on school events, holidays, and more!

We've added "Contact" and "Subscribe" buttons at the bottom of this newsletter for your convenience. Whether you have feedback, questions, suggestions, or compliments, reaching out to us is now just a click away. D73 Digest is exclusive to Hawthorn families, but if you know someone interested in joining our community and receiving updates, please share this issue with them and encourage them to subscribe. Let's keep the conversation going!

We’re excited to welcome families to our Educate & Empower series—designed to equip parents and guardians with valuable tools and strategies to support the whole child socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. When schools and families partner, students SOAR!

Hawthorn is proud to partner with the Stevenson High School consortium of feeder schools to host a special community event featuring Dr. Doug Bolton, author of Untethered: Creating Communities to Help Our Kids Feel More Connected, Less Anxious, and More Grounded.

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 6
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: West Auditorium, Stevenson High School

This evening will focus on how a teen’s community impacts wellness and academic success. All parents, guardians, and caregivers are welcome!

The Connection Corner is your go-to space for insights and resources that strengthen the home–school connection while supporting your child’s social, emotional, and behavioral growth.

Stay connected with all the exciting happenings, events, and opportunities from our amazing Hawthorn PTO! The latest edition of their newsletter is now live—don’t miss out on important updates and ways to get involved.

📬 Read it here: Hawthorn PTO Newsletter

Thank you to our PTO for their continued support of our students, staff, and school community!

Join us for a fun-filled evening at Hawthorn Hoptober Fest—a community event you won’t want to miss! Enjoy food, drinks, music, and more while supporting our schools.

Grab your tickets today and be part of the celebration!

We’re proud to share that one of our amazing 2nd graders, Lilley, is leading a Beanie Drive for a cause close to her heart. Lilley is kind, brave, and truly a superhero in our school community—and this is just one example of the many ways she inspires us.

If you’d like to support her efforts, please consider contributing a beanie through her Amazon Wish List:
Direct Link to Wishlist

Let’s help Lilley spread warmth and kindness—one beanie at a time!

• VHHS is planning to test 8th grade students who reside within their boundaries on Saturday, October 18, with a make-up on Saturday, October 25.

• Here is a Smore with information for families

• If you have questions, please reach out to Charlotte Eames, Director of Data and Assessment, charlotte.eames@d128.org or Shannon Garcia, Assistant Principal, VHHS, shannon.garcia@d128.org

The Vernon Hills Park District has released its Fall Special Events Newsletter, filled with fun and festive opportunities for families! From seasonal celebrations to community gatherings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

🍁 Check out the newsletter here: Fall Special Events

We’re excited to share a new tutoring opportunity for D73 middle school students, organized by Vernon Hills High School’s National Honor Society! This program is open to all students, including English learners, and will take place at the Aspen Drive Library. Students can drop in as needed, but are encouraged to fill out the interest form ahead of time.

📍 Location: Aspen Drive Library
🗓️ Drop-in format – flexible and welcoming

Parents/Guardians of 8th Graders: It’s never too early to start preparing for the transition to high school!

Wanderlight Pathways, founded by Golden Apple Award–winning educator Todd Katz, offers one-on-one and small group coaching for students in grades 9–11. This program focuses on executive functioning, leadership, and building confidence to help students thrive in high school.

Wanderlight complements the strong foundation built in middle school by empowering students with the tools they need to navigate increased independence.

🌐 Learn more at wanderlightpathways.com
📞 Contact: 224-255-3087

Mundelein High School is excited to invite families from our feeder schools to experience the energy and excitement of Friday Night Lights this fall! These community events are a great way for younger students to get a taste of Mustang spirit in a safe and family-friendly atmosphere.

🎉 Upcoming Highlights:

• October 10 – Marching Band Senior Night & Neon Theme

• October 17 – Community Night & White Out

⚽ Additional Community Nights:

• Boys Soccer – September 25 (with a community cookout!)

• Football – October 17

🎟️ Reminders for Game Day:

• K–8 students must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

• Clear bag policy in effect

• All tickets must be purchased via GoFan

Don’t forget to check out the Red Rage theme nights and matching t-shirt store to show your Mustang pride!

Go Mustangs! 🐴

Looking for a fun and meaningful way for your child to build confidence, make new friends, and learn valuable life skills? Cub Scout Pack 273 is welcoming boys and girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade—and it’s packed with adventure, teamwork, and hands-on activities.

From camping and hiking to STEM projects and community service, there's something for everyone!

Ready to learn more? Scan the QR code on the flyer or click this link to find out how your child can join the fun with Pack 273!

Let It Be Us, in partnership with The Children's Home, is seeking families who may be interested in providing a loving, stable home for children in foster care. There is a great need right here in our community, and even exploring the idea can make a meaningful difference in a child’s life.

If you’re curious or would like more information, please contact Sharlena Nofsinger at sharlenanofsinger@letitbeus.org. Thank you for considering this important opportunity to support children in need.