Thompson Friday Forecast

September 15, 2023

From the Principal...Matt Clark

Good afternoon and welcome to the weekend parents and guardians! I hope that everyone had a great week. It’s hard to believe that we’re more than halfway through Quarter 1 already. Time seems to really be flying by…


One question that may come up as you scrabble to pick up your children from an early release or determine what they will do all day on staff institute days, is, “what are the Thompson staff doing on all these days?” I could go into detail regarding the professional learning and activities we are engaged in, but simply put, we’re working to become more responsive to your childrens’ needs. We use this time to apply the district’s strategic plan and work in professional learning communities to better service the students at Thompson.

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High School Football Game Expectations

-Gates will open at 3:45 pm.

-Tailgating is not permitted.

-No backpacks, bags or outside food or beverages are allowed. Bags no larger than 8x6 are acceptable. All bags are subject to search.

-All students under high school age must be supervised by a parent or guardian inside the stadium.

-No re-entry into the stadium is allowed.

-Use of profanity, taunting, including racial remarks of any kind, throwing objects, and possessing objects that block the view of other spectators are PROHIBITED.


Tickets will be sold at the gate. Prices are as follows:

-General Admission-$5.00

-Students & Seniors 65+-$2.00

-Visitors w/Student ID-$2.00

-D303 MS/HS Students and Staff w/ID-FREE

North Stars Helping Thunder

North Stars Helping Thunder is an afterschool tutoring program that is offered at Thompson Middle School. Students from St. Charles North come over to help TMS students with homework, studying, and any assignments and projects. NSHT is on most Tuesdays and Thursdays in the LRC from 3:45-4:30. There is no need to sign up, just come when you can.

Behind the Scenes Theater Crew

If you are interested in being on the Crew for the upcoming School House Rock, Live! musical please complete the Crew Interest form by Wednesday, September 20th! We are looking for responsible, self-motivated students who want to learn the ways of the stage! We have House Crew, Backstage Crew, and Tech Crew positions available! Information and dates are listed in the Crew Interest form.

School Photo Re-take September 26th

School photo retakes are scheduled for Tuesday, September 26th. Students wishing to retake their photo should bring the photo packet to school that day to return. Students who were unable to attend during material pick-up, should plan on taking their photos that morning as well.


Photos can be viewed and ordered online through HR Imaging. Please select Thompson Middle School and sign in or create an account. Student photos can be viewed by using the student school ID number.

Big Hearts of Fox Valley

For the 10th year in a row, D303 is again partnering with Big Hearts of Fox Valley, which supports families in need during the holiday season. Big Hearts of Fox Valley Holiday Giving Program's purpose is to provide holiday gifts for D303 students and their younger siblings whose families face significant financial hardship. Through Big Hearts, members of the D303 community anonymously shop for wish list items. D303 social workers will review applicants. If you are struggling and facing significant financial hardship and would like assistance providing holiday gifts to your children, click here. If you would like to help Big Hearts by "adopting" a child this Holiday season, click here. You can visit the Big Hearts of Fox Valley website for more information.

Pre-Arranged Absence

Students planning to be absent from school should complete a pre-arranged absence form, with parent and teacher signatures, at least two days prior to the date of absence. Students receive five excused pre-arranged days per school year, additional days beyond that are considered to be unexcused. Times that a pre-arragned absence should be completed include but are not limited to:


  • Participation in regional or national contest/award
  • Family vacation
  • Special religious event
In support of Cal's Angels, a pediatric cancer foundation that is near and dear to our hearts, we'd like to "Go Gold" this year on September 26th. We'd love to give back to them by purchasing shirts for $10 to help spread awareness and raise money for kids with cancer. All donations will go directly to Cal's Angels. Please stop by the cafeteria during lunch for a shirt or contact Chris Fedyski or Jamie McElroy.

St. Charles North Home Football Game

St. Charles North is looking forward to our second home football game of the season this Friday vs. Batavia! The sophomore game starts at 4:30pm followed by the varsity at 7:00pm. This Friday our school community is going GOLD in support of Cal's Angels, a local non-profit organization raising money and awareness for Pediatric Cancer research.


Please contact our athletic office at 331-228-6258 with any questions related to this event.


Come out and support our North Stars this Friday Night!

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Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

The Pick-A-Time portal for conferences will open on September 22nd at 8:30 am and will close on October 2nd at midnight. Once the portal closes, parents will not be able to schedule a time for these conference dates.



Conferences will be held in person and each conference will be eight minutes long with a four minute transition. Directions:

  1. Login to your HAC (HOME ACCESS CENTER) Account

  2. Click on the link for "Parent-Teacher Conference Scheduler"

  3. Be sure to ONLY choose Q1 teachers!


A few notes about sign-up:

  1. Parents should not feel obligated to sign-up for conferences. If your child is doing well at school, both academically and socially, then you might choose not to have a conference. If your child is struggling, we would suggest that you do come to conferences.

  2. You might only feel the need to meet one or a few teachers. There is no obligation to meet every teacher.

  3. If you wish to visit the explore teachers, please sign-up to visit your child’s first-quarter explore teacher.

  4. You can sign-up for a conference with a teacher only one time. Our student services team (counselors, social workers) will be available for conferences as well.

  5. In some cases, a teacher may contact you in advance to set-up a conference time. That means we want to guarantee you a time to meet with your child’s teacher or entire team.

  6. You are welcome to have your Thunder student with you during conferences! It is important that they hear what you hear. They are of the age when they are mature and responsible enough to be part of the conversation whether via Zoom or in-person.

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Book Fair - September 28- October 5

We are pleased to announce the Anderson Book Fair is coming to Thompson Middle School!


September 28- October 4 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM

October 5 8:15 AM - 8:00 PM (during Parent/Teacher Conferences)


Our Anderson Book Fair will have a wonderful selection of engaging books for every reading level.


Please consider signing up as a volunteer to help our fair run smoothly. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48A5AA28A7F94-tmsbook1
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Activity Bus

TMS Activity Bus is available to all students after school on Tuesdays and Thrusdays. The bus departs at 4:30 pm from the tennis courts and drops students at the elementary closest to home. No reservation is necessary. Please visit the TMS website or call the main office for more information.

Thompson Thunder 2023 Winter Sports


All athletes must have a physical on file to participate in any tryout, practice or game. Please turn in all forms to the front office prior to the start of the season and make copies for your records.


Current physical form - Physical Form | Thompson Middle School


Agreement to participate in interscholastic athletics form / emergency info sheet - Agreement to Participate in Interscholastic Athletics | Thompson Middle School


The athletic fee of $120 can be paid via PushCoin by selecting the product.


Please contact the coaches if you have any questions


Wrestling: An informational meeting will take place on October 16th. The first practice will be on Wednesday, October 18 from 3:45-5:15 in the Compass Academy building (Haines building). Meet the coaches by Door #6 (behind the gyms) and we will all walk over as a team.

Who can try out?

Any (6th, 7th, & 8th Grade) TMS student can join the team

No experience needed

Coaches: Andrew Head Andrew.Head@d303.org

Daniel Ballines Daniel.Ballines@d303.org


Basketball: Tryouts begin October 16th. Athletes must be present at each tryout date or communicate with the coaches prior to the start of tryouts if they are unable to attend.


7th Grade Boys Basketball: Monday, Oct 16 and Tuesday, Oct 17. 3:45-5:30 in the TMS Aux Gym

Coaches: Brandon Petersen Brandon.Petersen@d303.org

Justin Manny Justin.Manny@d303.org


8th Grade Boys Basketball: Monday, October 16 Tuesday, October 17 and Wednesday October 18. 3:45-5:15 in the TMS Main Gym

Coaches: Andy Cusack Andrew.Cusack@d303.org

Matt Mygrant Matthew.Mygrant@d303.org


Cheer: Practice begins on Wednesday, October 18th. 3:55-5:00 in the cafeteria

Coaches: Jamie McElroy Jamie.Harkins@d303.org

Donna Brooks Donna.Brooks@d303.org

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Thompson PTO

Check out the Thompson PTO website by clicking on the button above! Facebook: @ThompsonMiddleSchoolPTO

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Parent Education Sessions

District 303 is pleased to present its lineup of Parent Education sessions for the 2023-2024 school year.


The Parent Education series (formerly Parent University) includes informational meetings and workshops intended to empower parents and guardians to support their children’s academic, social and emotional needs. Become informed on specialized topics, engage in two-way dialogue with speakers and fellow parents, and become a support resource for others.


Sessions for this school year will focus on bullying prevention, addressing anxiety, and include film screenings and discussions about the impact of screen time and cultural awareness. The schedule also includes college preparation workshops hosted by our high schools. Sessions were selected based in part on feedback from District 303 parents.


Explore the full lineup of sessions here. Signup forms for each session will be made available closer to the session dates. New this year, you can also register for Parent Education notifications and receive alerts as new information and session recaps become available.


Serie de Educacion para Padres


El Distrito 303 se complace en presentar su línea de sesiones de Educación para Padres para el año escolar 2023-2024.


La serie de Educación para Padres (anteriormente Universidad para Padres) incluye reuniones informativas y talleres destinados a capacitar a los padres y tutores para apoyar las necesidades académicas, sociales y emocionales de sus hijos. Infórmese sobre temas especializados, participe en un diálogo bidireccional con los presentadores y otros padres, y conviértase en un recurso de apoyo para los demás.


Las sesiones de este año escolar se centrarán en la prevención del acoso escolar, cómo abordar la ansiedad, e incluirán proyecciones de películas y pláticas sobre el impacto del tiempo frente a la pantalla y la concienciación cultural. El programa también incluye talleres de preparación para la universidad organizados por nuestras escuelas preparatorias. Las sesiones fueron seleccionadas basándose en parte en los comentarios de los padres del Distrito 303.


Explore la lista completa de sesiones aquí. Los formularios de inscripción para cada sesión estarán disponibles cuando se acerquen las fechas de las sesiones. Nuevo este año, también puede registrarse para recibir notificaciones de Educación para Padres y recibir alertas cuando haya nueva información y resúmenes de las sesiones

Dates to Remember

  • Tuesday, September 26 - School Picture Re-takes
  • Wednesday, Septebmer 27 - Early Release for All Grades
  • Thursday, October 5 - Parent / Teacher conferences - no school for students
  • Friday, October 6 - Parent / Teacher conferences - no school for students
  • Monday, October 9 - Columbus / Indigenous People Day - school closed

Thompson Middle School

Dr. Matt Clark - Principal

Mrs. Michelle Dague - Assistant Principal

Ms. Sarah Frankiewicz - Assistant Principal

Mrs. Danielle Moeller - Student Support Coordinator

Mr. Sam Pasholk - Student Support Coordinator