By Judi Vitito

This school year our theme is,”Hawthorne Rocks!” In August, staff members identified qualities that make Hawthorne Elementary a special place, and they are worth sharing:

Our students

Each morning we are greeted with fist bumps, high fives, smiles, stories and students who do their best to, “Make it a Hawthorne CARES kind of day.” Because of these kids, we look forward to the important work we call school.

Our staff

Our staff is one big family.  From our office staff to custodians to paraprofessionals to teachers, each and every one of these folks goes above and beyond to make Hawthorne feel like home. Friendly greetings, high levels of teaching and learning, and connecting with kids makes each day at Hawthorne worth telling.

Our PTO

Our parent-teacher organization works tirelessly to provide students and staff with the extras — like additional classroom books, field trips and class parties. The most recent projects include the Hawthorne picnic and Walk-a-Thon. These events take much planning and preparation, in addition to busy work and family schedules. All are welcome at our monthly meetings.

Our community

Generous donations of time, money or items support events such as Dental Day and Muffin Morning. Dental Day is in its third year and promotes healthy dental hygiene habits for over 80 children. Muffin Morning — another event supported by our community — invites families to enjoy breakfast at Hawthorne to build connections with staff and students.

As a newcomer to Albert Lea Schools, I believe our school district — and the community it serves — rocks. The administrative team led by Dr. Funk supports high levels of teaching and learning by providing a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all elementary-age students, strives for smaller class sizes, integrates technology, supports professional learning communities in our schools, and always expects the best.

Judi Vitito is the principal of Hawthorne Elementary School.