Hawthorne Elementary School - Missoula, MT

August 2019 marked the 109th first day of school at Hawthorne Elementary. Throughout the years, the school community has grown and changed while the Tradition of Excellence remained strong. Due to the rural influence, nearby rivers and open spaces, the Hawthorne community has traditionally valued outdoor education and the sciences. Grade level teams partner with nearby farms and agencies to study local ecosystems. In addition, each grade level includes a minimum of two Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) units. Using the Engineering Design Process, students learn problem solving strategies and perseverance. Our goal is to teach content area standards while students make connections to real world situations.

There are two factors that have significantly impacted student achievement at Hawthorne. The first is the use of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) model of collaboration. PLCs use data to plan for instruction, intervention, and enrichment. Teachers study best practices and work together to use them effectively. The second factor is a focus on building community in classrooms, across grade levels, and throughout the school. Teachers explicitly model and teach our school expectations- Be Responsible, Respectful, Safe, and Kind. Positive and specific feedback is provided to students in class and in common areas. Using video announcements and a corps of Student Reporters, we showcase classroom and school activities. We also host monthly family events such as a Health Fair and STEAM night. As we help students build stamina for reading, writing, and problem solving, we promote achievement and Hawk Pride throughout the Hawthorne School community.