Hawthorne Elementary School -

Another amazing Hawthorne staff member is Ms. Pedersen! We are so thankful for Ms.Pedersen!
"Hi! I'm Ms. Pedersen, and this is my 6th year of being a teacher! I spent 1 year teaching 3rd grade in St. Paul, Minnesota, before moving to Sioux Falls and I have been teaching 2nd grade at Hawthorne ever since. I love making the classroom FUN for students - I want them to be excited to come to school every day because they know school is a place they play, explore, learn, laugh, and feel safe. Some of my favorite times with my students are our "FUNday Fridays" where we get out tons of toys and craft supplies and have 30 minutes of playtime together!
In my free time, you can find me outside walking my dog downtown, going camping, reading books, and sewing! :) "

Big decisions, little voters! 🗳️ Our 2nd graders are putting democracy into action and learning that every voice matters! Students in 201 had the important job of voting for either Ms. Pedersen or Shoelace. Each candidate shared their promises, and our students listened, considered their choices, and cast their votes. What a fun way to learn about making decisions, using our voices, and being part of a community!

Please meet one of the amazing first grade teachers at Hawthorne! LeeAnna Rabine!

I am currently in my 22nd year of teaching at Hawthorne Elementary, where I spent 10 years teaching kindergarten before moving to first grade. Teaching has always been more than a career to me—it is my passion! I love building relationships with students, helping them discover the joy of learning, and reminding them that they can do hard things. In addition to teaching first grade, I have the privilege of teaching future educators at Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls. I feel incredibly blessed to do what I love each day and to be part of the Hawthorne family! Outside of being a teacher, I love to spend time going on little adventures with my husband and 2 daughters and volunteering at our church!

My name is Libby Nickerson! My husband, Max, and I have a six month old daughter. This is my fifth year teaching special education and my second year at Hawthorne. Fun fact: I actually student-taught at Hawthorne six years ago, so it’s exciting to be back!

Red Ribbon Week® is a reminder that prevention starts with us—schools, families, and communities working together to support safe, healthy, drug-free lives. #RedRibbon2026

Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.™ Join us for Red Ribbon Week® (October 23–31). #RedRibbonWeek #RedRibbon2026

Please meet one of the wonderful ESP, Christelle Van Heerden. "I am originally from South Africa and moved to the United States in March. I have three years of experience working in a school and love spending time with children and helping them learn and grow. I enjoy seeing their little victories and helping them feel confident in themselves. I’m so excited to be part of the Hawthorne family and look forward to making a difference in the students’ lives!"
Christelle Ubuntu!🌈

Ms. Pedersen’s second grade class had a great time doing their weekly flashlight reading today! During independent reading practice, students practice learning to love reading all by themselves.

Students in 201, Ms. Pedersen's class had a chance to use the art room cameras during our first ever Ubuntu Photo Club.  Take a look at some of the photos, all taken by second grade students, and see what recess looks like from our eyes. Great work on your photography skills 201!

📸 Ready to say “CHEESE!”? 🧀

Picture Day is Wednesday, October 7, 2026! 🎉

Please make sure students come ready to smile and have their picture taken! 😊

Haven’t had a chance to order pictures yet? No worries! Simply scan the QR code to place your order whenever you can.

We can’t wait to see those smiles! 📸✨

Hawthorne 5th graders served up some smiles at their first Ubuntu Cafe of the year. Thanks to Ms. Hansen and our 5th graders for all their hard work with the cafe so our students can have meaningful experiences that support our Hawthorne community!

Happy National Principal Appreciation Month! 🍎💙

We are so incredibly grateful for Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Greenfield, the two wonderful women who work tirelessly to support everyone at Hawthorne! They truly care about each and every student and staff member in our building, and their dedication, kindness, and compassion shine through in everything they do.

Their bright smiles, encouraging words, and constant support make Hawthorne a happier, stronger, and better place each and every day. They lead with heart, celebrate our successes, support us through our challenges, and always put our school community first.

Thank you, Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Greenfield, for all that you do for Hawthorne! We are so lucky to have you both leading and supporting our school. You are appreciated more than you know! 💙🍎✨

Pete, from Siouxland Libraries, came to talk to Hawthorne Huskies about Library Card Sign Up Month! Every student heard a story, sang a song, and got a cool library tattoo! Signing up for a public library card is FREE to all who live in Sioux Falls and have a valid ID. Stop by the Downtown Branch today to sign up for a library card! Emery approves this message. 📚👍🏻

Here is a link to sign up for a library card! https://www.siouxlandlib.org/services/cards-accounts

⚽️ Saturdays are for soccer, smiles, and making memories! 🌟

A big shout-out to the O’Gorman Boys Soccer Team for helping out! 👏⚽️

Picture day is coming up! Picture packets will be sent home on Monday September 21st. Please return packets to classroom teachers!

Thank you to the Sioux Falls Public Library for coming to Hawthorne today. Pete was able to share with kindergarten through fifth grade students about getting their library card and know what all happens at the Downtown Public Library!

A heartfelt thank you to Falls Community Health for the generous donation of school supplies! Your support helps our students start the school year prepared and ready to learn. We truly appreciate your kindness and commitment to our community!

Office of Indian Education Open House

Classroom preparations are underway for the 26-27 school year. Families need to update information, even if nothing has changed from previous years. Taking care of this now helps us ensure a smooth start to the school year for your child. This information allows us to get students assigned teachers, create schedules, and take care of simple things like having enough desks in each classroom!
https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/school-registration
Login to your Parent Portal to complete your child’s school registration as soon as possible.
If you need assistance, please contact the Student Records and Registration Office at 605-367-7952.

Thank you for helping us prepare for your student!