Hawthorn Elementary School North in Vernon Hills, Illinois on DonorsChoose

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It might sound simple, but to our young learners, these items mean opportunity, creativity, and a better learning environment.\r\nFor many of our students, school is not just a place to learn academics; it is a safe, consistent, and encouraging space where they can explore, grow, and be themselves. Having the right tools helps make that environment even more supportive. Your donation removed barriers — some we didn't even realize were there — and replaced them with excitement, focus, and pride.\r\nOne moment that stands out happened the day we introduced the new art supplies you provided. We were working on a project where students drew their \"dream neighborhood,\" and with the new crayons and markers, the creativity exploded. One student, usually hesitant to participate in art, proudly held up her colorful drawing and said, \"I didn't know I could make it look like this!\" That confidence boost was made possible by your generosity.\r\nBeyond the supplies themselves, your act of kindness taught my students a valuable life lesson: that there are people in the world who care, who give without expecting anything in return, and who believe in the power of education. These are lessons that can't be found in a textbook, but they're just as important.\r\nPlease know that every item you gave is being put to good use — helping students write stories, solve math problems, create artwork, and stay healthy and comfortable during the school day. You've helped us build a classroom that is better stocked, more creative, and more welcoming. We are deeply grateful.\r\nOn behalf of myself, my students, and our entire school community, thank you for your support. Your generosity is a reminder of the good in the world, and it truly means more than words can fully express. If you ever find yourself near [School Name], we would love to have you visit and see the smiles you've helped create.\r\nWith deepest gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1755011291938,"projectUrl":"project/ms-ps-class/9193217/","projectTitle":"Ms. P’s Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pieper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9586069"},{"teacherId":9128361,"projectId":9021923,"letterContent":"Providing students with multiplication and division flashcards has had a significant impact on their learning and mathematical confidence. Mastering basic math facts is a foundational skill that supports higher-level problem-solving and overall academic success. With these flashcards, students have been able to practice and reinforce their fluency in multiplication and division, helping them solve problems more quickly and with greater accuracy. This hands-on learning tool has made studying more interactive and engaging, allowing students to build confidence and develop a strong number sense that will benefit them throughout their education.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, access to flashcards has created more opportunities for independent and peer learning. Students have been able to practice at their own pace, use the cards in fun and competitive classroom activities, and even bring them home for extra reinforcement. This has been especially beneficial for students who need additional support, as repeated exposure and practice have helped solidify their understanding. By providing these essential resources, we have set students up for success in math and beyond, ensuring they have the skills they need to tackle more complex concepts with ease. Thank you for supporting this initiative and for investing in our students' futures.","fullyFundedDate":1735638182479,"projectUrl":"project/multiplication-and-division-flash-cards/9021923/","projectTitle":"Multiplication and Division Flash Cards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hiltenbrand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9128361_orig.jpg?crop=654,654,x267,y237&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756432926839","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9128361"},{"teacherId":9128361,"projectId":8716972,"letterContent":"Providing headphone adapters for students' iPads at school has made a tremendous difference in their learning experience. Many educational resources, including interactive lessons, instructional videos, and language-learning programs, require audio for full engagement. Without the proper adapters, students who use wired headphones would have struggled to access these tools effectively. By ensuring that every student could use their preferred headphones, we removed a barrier to learning, allowing them to focus, engage, and retain information more effectively.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, the availability of headphone adapters has fostered a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. Not all students have access to expensive wireless headphones, and by providing adapters, we ensured that every student—regardless of their financial situation—could fully participate in digital learning. This small but significant support has enhanced classroom productivity, reduced distractions, and empowered students to take control of their education. The impact has been clear: more focused learners, improved comprehension, and a better overall educational experience. Thank you for recognizing the importance of this need and supporting our students' success.","fullyFundedDate":1735246234951,"projectUrl":"project/headphone-adapter-cords/8716972/","projectTitle":"Headphone Adapter Cords","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hiltenbrand","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9128361_orig.jpg?crop=654,654,x267,y237&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756432926839","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9128361"},{"teacherId":9107391,"projectId":8671060,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! My students and I really appreciate and have been using the materials. First, the students completed an animal research project and then created books about their animal. They used the big construction paper, crayons, and markers to create their books. We also used some of the National Geographic Kids books for our research. The kids loved making these books and reading them to 1st and 2nd graders. Another way we have been using the materials is to create posters. We have been using the poster board and giant sticky notes to create posters. During our geometry unit, students created posters about different quadrilaterals and their attributes using the poster board. I have also been using the laminating sheets to laminate materials for students to use in the classroom. For example, I made sorting activities for reading groups and laminated all of the pieces. During indoor recess or break times, the students love to play with the play-doh materials. It is one of their favorite activities and most of our play-doh was drying out, so they really appreciate having new play-doh. Lastly, we have loved the addition of new books to our classroom library. The students have been reading them when they finish work early. I have also read some of the Little Spot books aloud to the class during our social emotional learning lessons. 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About this school

Hawthorn Elementary School North is a suburban public school in Vernon Hills, Illinois that is part of Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 73. It serves 390 students in grades 1 - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 8.0:1. Its teachers have had 31 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades 1 - 5

390 Students

49 Teachers

301 W Hawthorn Pkwy

Vernon Hills, IL 60061 View local requests

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Hawthorn Elementary School North Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Hawthorn Elementary School North Demographics

25%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

45%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Hawthorn Elementary School North Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jan 12, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.