Good News from Schools

Day One at Hawthorne

Working from the premise that school climate can significantly impact educational environments either negatively or positively, Hawthorne Elementary School has chosen the latter and has made a commitment to continue to work as One BIG, Happy, Family!  For the second year, family members are dressing in red, white, and/or blue and khaki too!  That’s right!  We’ve witnessed first hand how dressing in uniforms each day can have a positive impact on school climate. Because of our pledge to strive for the Best, the first few days of the new school year were spent strategizing and putting together a plan that would make this school year one in which the continued focus would be geared towards positive results. 

Mind you, we only had a short time to prepare, but we were ready on the Big Day!  When Day One arrived, staff members and volunteers waited eagerly to welcome parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and students to the building.  There were cars and more cars. There were school buses, daycare buses, and just as many walkers as there were riders. Even though a record number had attended Meet and Greet Night, just as many seemed to come back for Day One. The majority of family members walked loved ones to their classrooms or to the cafeteria for breakfast.  All who came were greeted in a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment.

As students came and went in all directions, order and control permeated throughout the building on Day One.  All during the day, classes were seen walking in straight lines on the third square.  Students appeared excited and were focused on positive interactions with peers and adults.  They were genuinely excited about being back at school!   At the end of the day, procedures were in place to get the 950+ students home safely.  It was as if we had never left for summer vacation!  Processions of buses, cars, walkers and riders moved about in an orderly fashion.  What a tremendous sight to behold!  Several walkers summed it up with their hand signals to the Assistant Principal, Dr. Marcus Jackson, by giving him Hawthorne Thumbs-Up.

Yes, the Hawthorne Family is committed to promoting a school community where All members share a set of essential values, goals, and objectives.  If the research is correct, then having a positive school climate will help the family ensure that every Hawthorne student will lead in the forefront instead of being left behind.  If Day One is any indication, then Hawthorne Elementary will indeed be ready for whatever the year brings!