D73 Severe Weather Response Plan

As we find ourselves approaching winter weather, Hawthorn District 73 would like to share our severe weather procedures in the event that school closures become necessary. While our primary goal is to keep our schools open, we must also prioritize the safety of our staff and the more than 3,500 students we serve, especially during the unpredictable Chicagoland winters. We would also like to remind all families to consider what kind of alternative childcare arrangements need to be made for their children should our schools be closed for inclement weather.

At Hawthorn District 73, we rely on multiple resources to make informed decisions, including up-to-date weather advisories and warnings from the National Weather Service (www.weather.gov), consultations with neighboring district superintendents, and discussions with our transportation providers when making closing decisions.

To help you prepare for various scenarios, our cold-weather guidelines are below. For more information, please visit our Emergency Closures and Delays website.

Wind Chill Warning

• A wind chill warning is typically issued when the wind chill will be -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, OR the actual air temperature is -15°F.
  

• All classes will be canceled. Hawthorn will not offer remote learning.

• Extracurricular activities will be suspended.

• All forms of notifications (robocall, email, and text) will be leveraged to communicate school cancellations to families.

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​In the event of a weather-related closure, state regulations require us to make up any missed days. Our school calendar includes five emergency days, typically added to the end of the school year if needed. The first make-up day is scheduled for the 2026-2027 school year is June 1, 2027.

Wind Chill Advisory

• A wind chill advisory is typically issued when the wind chill is -20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
  

• Schools will be open; however, all outside activities, including recess and outdoor physical education, will be suspended.

• Extracurricular activities may be suspended if conditions persist. Parents will receive an email and/or a text if after-school activities are canceled.

• All field trips will be canceled.

Early Release

If an early release is deemed necessary, we will utilize our Wednesday early release schedule and dismiss students 45 minutes early.

Winter Recess Reminder

If students want to play in the snow, on the playground, or on the woodchips, they must wear the WINTER 5:

1. Coat
2. Snow pants
3. Boots
4. Mittens or gloves
5. Hat

Communication – Sources of Information

If we do cancel school, we will robocall, email, and text Hawthorn families (parents/guardians and staff) by 6:30 am that day. Hawthorn often waits until the morning to make that call because the weather in the Chicagoland area is constantly changing, and again, our primary goal is to keep our schools open.

We've noticed some families are not receiving emails or text alerts due to full inboxes or not being opted in. To ensure you stay informed, please follow the steps below to update your contact preferences for Hawthorn District 73’s mass communication system:

• Emails: Add no-reply@hawthorn73.org to your contacts or safe senders list to prevent messages from going to spam.
• Phone Calls: Save 847-973-5958 in your contacts as "Hawthorn District 73" so you recognize important calls and they don’t show up as spam.
• Text Messages: To receive text alerts, text “Yes” to 79041 from your cell phone (must be listed in PowerSchool).

These simple steps help ensure you receive timely updates, emergency alerts, and key information throughout the school year. Thank you for staying connected!

On Tuesday, November 24, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Hawthorn District 73 will conduct a test of our emergency notification system. Families and their emergency contacts should receive a test robocall, email and text message. Please review the steps above to make sure your contact information and notification settings are ready.