Thompson Friday Forecast
January 17, 2019 (Thursday Edition)
From the Principal...Steve Morrill
UPCOMING NON-ATTENDANCE DAYS
Students will not have school tomorrow, January 18th due to a Teachers’ Work Day. Schools will be closed on Monday, January 21st in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
THIRD QUARTER BEGINS ON TUESDAY
Today officially marks the end of our first semester. As we begin the second semester of our school year, I would like to take this time to remind our parent community to continue to monitor your student’s academic progress on the Home Access Center. If you have any questions about school work, please contact your student’s teachers.
Tuesday starts the third quarter of the year and the M4 health rotation. Schedules are available in HAC. If you need assistance, please stop by Student Services or the Main Office. We are looking forward to a great start to the second half of the school year!
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 19-20
On Monday night, the Board of Education approved the school calendar for 2019-2020. It is attached to today’s Friday Forecast. Please note that the first day of school will be August 14, 2019.
PRINCIPAL COFFEE
Wednesday, January 30th, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, will be the next Principal Coffee at the 7/8 center. This time is structured so that I can be available to speak with parents and answer any questions that might be presented. I look forward to meeting with Thompson Parents!
Enjoy your long weekend!
~Steve
We Need Your Help!! Parent Satisfaction Survey
Every year, District 303 conducts a satisfaction survey eliciting feedback from our students, teachers, and parents. This year, as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), we will now be participating in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. As a parent or guardian, this survey will provide you with the opportunity to share your thoughts on important elements of school effectiveness about your child’s school.
We value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your suggestions for improvement! Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. To take the parent survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey. For more information, please see the letter attached to today's Friday Forecast.
Coding Club
Would you like the opportunity to take part in creating technology that’s changing our world? Join the Thompson Coding Club! The goal of this club is to increase confidence when using computers, instill courage to try new things, and grow perseverance when tackling difficult problems. All by improving your understanding, engagement, and attitude toward computer science.
The first meeting is Tuesday, January 29th at 3:40 pm in the 7/8 Campus LRC. No previous experience is necessary. Coding Club is open to all students 6th through 8th grade. Pick up a permission form in the LRC or use the form attached to today's Friday Forecast.
Vision and Hearing Screenings
The annual vision and hearing screenings mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health will be completed January 23 through January 25 at TMS for 6th graders, and January 28 through February 1 for 7th and 8th graders. All 8th grade students, those in special education programs, those students new to D303, and those whose teachers have requested will be screened. If your child has glasses, please remind them to bring them on those days. Please contact Diane Isbrandt, RN at 331-228-3404 for questions or concerns.
Thunder 'Superfan' Spirit Club
Come and join the Thunder ‘Superfan’ Spirit Club to support the 2019 Girls Basketball teams. Please attend the informational meeting next Tuesday, January 22nd after school in the 7/8th grade cafeteria. All are welcome! Gentlemen, we need your voices as well.
High School Counselor Visits
On January 23rd and January 24th your 8th grade student will meet with his/her HS counselor at Thompson Middle school to register for courses next year. It is important that your student reviews their orange (East HS) or blue (North HS) sheet with their registration information with you and then enter his/her course selections into Career Cruising prior to their counselor meeting. Although your student will not be able to "submit" the form this is an important step because this is what will be reviewed and submitted in the meeting. Have your student come to Student Services with questions about the process if needed.
Also, please make sure your 8th grader comes to school on those days with their Chromebook charged! Thank you for your continued support!
Free Screening of “Angst” at Batavia Fine Arts Centre
In October, over 200 members of our school community viewed the movie Angst, which documents the struggles teens and young adults have with anxiety, and the ways they overcome them with support. District 303 families have asked that we bring Angst back for an additional showing. We are pleased to announce that our colleagues in Batavia District 101 have invited us to attend their showing of Angst on January 23. Below you will find information about their screening, as well as a link to the sign up sheet. We want to thank the Batavia community for extending this invitation to our families in District 303 and hope you can attend.
On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., Batavia Public School District 101 will hold a special screening of the IndieFlix documentary “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety” at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre (located within Batavia High School) to open up a dialogue on the important topic between families, community leaders, and experts. Suggested for ages 10 and up, this free event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion with special guests in the mental health care field. All community members in the Fox Valley area are welcome. Click here to reserve your seats.
8th Grade Advanced Placement Information
For all interested eighth graders and their parents, the Social Studies Honor Society at East High School is hosting an 'AP Night' to give incoming freshmen more information about the Advanced Placement social studies courses that freshmen can take at East. The event will feature the opportunity to hear from parents, students, and teachers regarding the commitment required by AP classes. It will be on Thursday, January 24th, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Enter through the main entrance (door 1). Email
neil.currie@d303.org with any questions.
Soup for the Superbowl!
The 6th grade center is organizing a food drive for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Each 6th grade team will compete against each other to collect the most canned soup to donate to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Our soup drive will continue throughout the playoffs! Team Leaders will have a box in their classrooms.
Final can count will be conducted on Friday, February 1st. May the best team win!
D303 Middle School Culinary Competition
Do you have what it takes to be the D303 Middle School Top Culinary Champion? We want YOU to join our Thompson Thunder team! 15 students will be chosen to represent Thompson as we compete against Wredling on Saturday, March 2nd from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at St. Charles East High School. The theme this year is GREEN. All dishes must contain visible GREEN ingredients.
Please see the attached flyer for entry forms and more information. Entry forms & samples are due to Mrs. Schmidt in Room 121 of the 6th grade center during the week of January 28th and no later than Friday, February 1st. Please contact Mrs. Schmidt with questions.
Thompson 18-19 Yearbook
Every year, Thompson students publish a Thompson Yearbook. Students who decide to purchase a yearbook are given this keepsake at the end of the school year. Buying a yearbook is optional and not all students choose to own one. The price of the yearbook is $25.
Have you ordered your Thompson 18-19 Yearbook? You can check your PushCoin account to see if you have purchased one by going to 'transactions' and then adjusting the start date back to April 1, 2018. We are extending the due date for ordering books to Friday, February 1, 2019. Contact Kim Walters (kimberly.walters@d303.org or 331-228-6410) if you have any questions or need financial assistance.
If you would like to order a yearbook, please view the PushCoin product listings by clicking here.
Robotics Club
This year’s Robotics Club will see students design and construct robots in teams, so they can compete in different mini-games.
The club started on Tuesday, January 15th, but it is not too late to still join! The club is only for 7th and 8th graders and is limited to the first 40 students who turn in their permission slips to Mr. Coyle in Room 144 or the main office. Specific information regarding the club can be found at: https://sites.google.com/d303.org/robotics/home.
The club meetings will be held from 3:30- 4:30 pm in room 144. The club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so students can take the activity bus home if needed. Because participation in the club is limited, it is the expectation that students try to make most of the club’s meeting dates. There is no fee for participating in the club. Please contact Ed Coyle with any questions regarding the club and turn in the permission slip attached to this Friday Forecast.
Holiday Lights Recycling
Keep the holiday lights coming our way through January 31st!! Thompson is proud to be participating in the Holiday Lights Recycling program sponsored by America In Bloom - St. Charles, Elgin Recycling, and the City of St. Charles!
Drop off working or non-working Holiday Lights in bins in our main foyers. These include:
- Traditional Holiday Lights
- LED Holiday Lights
- Italian Mini Holiday Lights
- Rope Lights
- Extension Cords
Upcoming Parent University Programs
January 24, 2019
Follow-Up ANGST Session #2
Wasco Elementary LRC - 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Click here to register for ANGST Session #2
January 30, 2019
Preventing and Addressing Bullying: Lessons Learned and Resources for Parents
Thompson 6th Grade Cafeteria - 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Faculty from the Psychology Department at Northern Illinois University will present practical information from their research and their work as part of a U.S. Department of Education training grant “Project Prevent and Address Bullying.” Thompson Middle School is partnering with NIU on this grant project, bringing resources that will be shared throughout the district. The faculty will present helpful knowledge, tips, and resources parents can use when navigating bullying situations.
Click here to register for this program.
February 20, 2019
Common Sense Approach to Managing Technology: Teaching Children How to Be Good Digital Citizens in the Age of Social Media, Gaming and Screen Time
Wredling Middle School – Cafeteria - 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Technology is a part of all our lives. From phones to laptops to video games, we are more “connected” or “plugged in” than ever. How do we help our children (and ourselves) find balance when it comes to the use of technology? During this Parent University we will share tools and strategies to help create balance and set boundaries. The night will feature a panel as well as opportunities for interactive discussion. Come “hang up and hang out”!
Click here to register for this program.
Please click here to view all of the planned Parent University Programs.
Dates to Remember
- Thursday, January 17 - End of the 2nd Quarter
- Thursday, January 17 - End of the M3 Health Rotation
- Friday, January 18 - Teachers' Work Day - No School for Students
- Monday, January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Schools are Closed
- Tuesday, January 22 - Start of the 3rd Quarter and the M4 Health Rotation
- Wednesday, January 23 - "Angst" screening at Batavia Fine Arts Centre
- Wednesday, January 23 - PTO Fundraiser - Batavia Portillo's - 5 - 8 pm
- Thursday, January 24 - Parent University: "Angst" Follow-Up Session #2
- Wednesday, January 30 - Principal Coffee - 7/8 Building from 1:30 - 2:30 pm
- Wednesday, January 30 - Parent University: Preventing & Addressing Bullying
- Friday, February 1 - Yearbook Orders are due
Thompson Middle School
Mr. Steve Morrill - Principal
Mrs. Sarah Cann - Assistant Principal
Mr. Shane Darnell - Assistant Principal
Dr. Alicia Honnert - Assistant Principal
Mrs. Kristy McKnight - Assistant Principal
