D73 Digest

The Key to 73 Golf Outing is just around the corner, and there’s still time to join the fun! Every registration directly supports programs and opportunities that help D73 students and families thrive through the district’s whole child approach. Gather some friends and help make this event a success for our students.

Not a golfer? You can still support D73 students through the Key to 73 Silent Auction, happening now! Bid on exciting items and experiences while helping fund programs that support students and families across Hawthorn District 73. Every bid directly supports our school community.

• 🐔 Raising Cane’s $100 Gift Basket

• 🍽️ Perry’s Gift Card

• 🏊 Vernon Hills Park District Gift Basket featuring Family Pool Passes

• 🎁 And so much more!

Parents and guardians are invited to a virtual Educate & Empower Lunch & Learn hosted by SEL Integrations on Tuesday, May 19, from 11:30 AM–12:30 PM via Google Meet. This session, “How to Talk to Your Teen About Sensitive Topics,” will provide practical strategies for navigating important conversations with confidence and care. Families who missed the recent in-person event are encouraged to join this virtual opportunity.

Important Dates & Information:

• Pre-K and K-7 Bus Riders: Please return your child's bus tag to their classroom teacher or the front office by Tuesday, June 2nd.
• 8th Grade Bus Riders: Bus tags will be collected at school on May 28th and 29th.

Drivers will manually log students as they board and exit the bus during the last few days of school. Your cooperation in returning bus tags is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth start to the new school year.

Do you have a child who will be between the ages of 3–5 during the 2026–2027 school year? Hawthorn District 73’s Lincoln Early Learning Center offers a variety of preschool programs designed to support early learning through play-based instruction aligned to the Illinois Early Learning Development Standards. Upcoming preschool screening dates for the 2026–2027 school year are:

• June 5, 2026
• September 18, 2026
• November 11, 2026
• December 2, 2026
• January 15, 2027
• April 7, 2027

Programs at Lincoln include blended preschool, bilingual preschool, and specialized early childhood programs for students with developmental needs. All preschool programs are held at Lincoln Early Learning Center, 200 W. Maple Ave., Mundelein. If you are interested in setting up an appointment for your child for screening, please contact Principal Secretary America Lanuza at 847-949-2720.

Congratulations to Yianet Garcia (DL), Sarah Greenwood (TL), and Kathleen VanDerMeulen (EN) for being recognized at the Lake County Regional Office of Education Educator of the Year Awards! We are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible work happening in Hawthorn District 73 and throughout the region.

Hawthorn District 73 proudly celebrated students and staff at the inaugural Hawthorn Student Honors & Hawthorn Honors Banquet on May 11 at Middle School North. The evening recognized outstanding student growth and leadership through the Dr. Joe Most Improved Awards and Eagles of Excellence Awards, while also celebrating staff achievements including ISBE and Lake County educator recognitions, years of service milestones, and retirements. The event highlighted the dedication, perseverance, and positive impact that make the Hawthorn community so special. Congratulations to all of our honorees!

Congratulations to Hawthorn School for Young Learners for reaching 100% registration by May 1 and taking home this year’s Registration Trophy! Thank you to all Hawthorn families who completed registration and helped us prepare for the upcoming school year. If you have not yet registered your student for the 2026–2027 school year, please do so as soon as possible to support classroom placement, staffing, and transportation planning.

Thank you to everyone who submitted thoughtful and creative name ideas for Hawthorn’s community resource hub. We are excited to officially announce that the Hawthorn food pantry will now be known as The Nest!

More than just a food pantry, The Nest represents a place of care, comfort, and support for Hawthorn families, providing food, household essentials, seasonal clothing, activity support, and other resources when needed. Congratulations and thank you to Isabel Montoya, Middle South Secretary, for submitting the winning name!

The Nest will remain open throughout the summer to support D73 families with food, resources, and community support. Families are welcome to stop by on June 3, July 8, and August 12 from 3:30–5:30 PM at Middle School North, Door 20. Parking is available in the Dual Language lot. Because community doesn’t take the summer off.

Hawthorn District 73 is excited to offer a FREE Summer Breakfast Program through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during summer school. All children in the community are welcome to participate!

• Serving Dates: June 8 – June 26 (No meals served on Friday, June 19)
• Time: 7:45–8:15 AM
• Location: Dual Language School | 810 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills

Families can enjoy healthy, convenient grab-and-go breakfasts that meet USDA nutrition guidelines. Meals are free for all children 18 and under, and no registration is required—just stop by and start your morning strong!

• May 21, 2026
• June 18, 2026

Thank you to everyone in the Hawthorn community who participated in the Key to 73 logo vote! After reviewing community feedback, the Hawthorn District 73 Education Foundation officially selected a new logo that reflects the Foundation’s mission of supporting students, families, and opportunities across the district. The refreshed design will begin appearing on Foundation communications, events, and fundraising materials moving forward. Thank you for helping shape the future look of Key to 73!

Dear Families,

Earlier this school year, we shared in our PTO Newsletter that the PTO-sponsored end-of-year parties at our six elementary schools would transition to school-sponsored Field Days.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback and perspectives on this change. Through conversations with families, staff, and PTO volunteers, it became clear that the party experience varied widely between schools and created ongoing challenges related to safety, logistics, and coordination. Field Day provides students with a fun, structured, and consistent end-of-year celebration across all buildings, while still offering parents volunteer opportunities during the school day.

We also want to emphasize that this decision was not financially driven. The PTO will continue partnering with the District on student celebrations and is exploring additional opportunities for future family events. If you're interested in being part of the planning process, please don't hesitate to reach out!

As always, thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community.

~ Your D73 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

On May 20, our 8th grade students will participate in the Illinois Youth Survey.

This anonymous survey is given every other year to 8th grade students across Illinois. It helps schools and communities better understand important topics such as student health, school climate, bullying, nutrition, physical activity, and perceptions around substance use.

Please review the attached parent notification letter and opt out form. Paper copies are available in the school office.

Parent Notification and Opt-Out Letter - English

Carta de notificación y opción de exclusión para padres - Español

For more information about this survey, visit the Illinois Youth Survey Website.

To learn more about the social-emotional screening tools and programs at Hawthorn, click here!

Don’t forget to note the updated tentative last day of school—now scheduled for June 2, 2026.

Hawthorn schools use Share Tables in the cafeteria to help reduce food waste and support students. A Share Table is a place where students can leave unopened or unused school-provided food items they do not want, and other students can take them if they are still hungry or would like a snack for later.

This simple system helps ensure good food doesn’t go to waste, supports students who may need a little extra during the day, and promotes a caring school community. For safety, only items like unopened packages, whole fruit (with a peel), and juice boxes may be shared—items from home or opened food are not permitted.

School meals are designed to be well-balanced—for example, lunches include fruits/vegetables and multiple food groups to support student nutrition.

Hawthorn District 73 follows a Local Wellness Policy to support students’ health, well-being, and success in school. This policy outlines how the district provides nutritious meals, promotes physical activity, and supports social-emotional wellness for all students. It also ensures our schools meet state and federal guidelines for school nutrition programs and wellness practices.

Families can review the full Wellness Policy to learn more about how Hawthorn supports healthy habits both in and out of the classroom.

We’re launching a new shoutouts campaign to celebrate our incredible educators — and we want your help! Families are invited to submit a short video of their child thanking their teacher or staff member and sharing something special about them.

Selected videos may be featured on our district social media channels and in future newsletters.

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!

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

The Vernon Hills Park District is launching Power Prep: Teen Strength Training, a new fitness program inspired by feedback from Hawthorn middle school students! Designed for ages 13–15, the program helps students build confidence in the weight room while learning proper lifting technique, safe movement patterns, and healthy fitness habits. Sessions will run throughout June and July with both morning and evening options available. This program is a great opportunity for students who are new to strength training or want to feel more prepared before entering high school athletics and fitness programs.

The Kirk Players are offering free summer theater workshops for children ages 7–12 this summer. Workshops will give students the opportunity to explore acting, theater games, creativity, and performance skills in a fun and supportive environment. Families can view the attached flyer for workshop schedules, locations, and registration details.

Vernon Hills High School is offering several hands-on Summer STEM Camps for students entering grades 1–8. Camps will run Monday–Thursday from 1:30–3:30 PM and give students the opportunity to explore robotics, artificial intelligence, engineering, coding, and problem-solving through fun, interactive activities.

Camp offerings include:

• LEGO Robotics Camp (June 15–18)
• Create with AI (June 22–25)
• STEM Olympics Camp (June 29–July 2)

The cost is $36 per camp with staff discount ($72 regular price). Families can view the attached flyer or register online for more information.

The Illinois to America: Stories That Shape Us Essay Contest is now open in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary.

• Submit your essay by May 31
• Winners will be recognized by the Lt. Governor, with their work displayed in Chicago and Springfield offices—and more!

This is a great opportunity for students to share their voice and be part of a statewide celebration.

Learn more and enter.

In partnership with the Village of Vernon Hills, families can meet with a social services clinician to get connected to resources like housing, food assistance, and mental health support.

📍 Aspen Drive Library (Study Room E)
🕑 Fridays, May 1 & June 5 | 2–5 PM
🚶‍♀️ Drop-in, first come–first served

Starting kindergarten or 1st grade this fall? Kick off the journey with Get Ready with Girl Scouts™—a fun summer program designed for girls new to Girl Scouts! From activity books delivered to your home to summer activities and community events, it’s the perfect way to make friends and start your adventure.

🗓️ Sign up between April 1 – July 31

Looking for a fun and meaningful way for your K–5th child to learn, grow, and make friends?

Join Cub Scout Pack 273 — where adventure, character-building, and lifelong memories begin!

This spring's lineup of fun, hands-on activities include:

• Quiver Fest (archery)

• Yeti Quest

• Police Dept Field Trip

• Winter Cabin Camping

• Pinewood Derby Races

• Community Service

… and so much more!

Give your child the chance to explore, lead, and thrive — all while having a blast.

Come be part of the Pack 273 family! Scan the QR code on the flyer or click this link to find out how your child can join the fun with Pack 273!