This week students have been completing math IAR Assessments (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) at Thompson. Students have been incredibly focused and putting forth a tremendous effort. Thank you, families, for having your students at school on time and ready to test. Students will finish with language arts assessments on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Makeups for these assessments will begin on Thursday, April 13th. IAR results are just one data point that is used as we work to support, challenge, and encourage your child’s academic growth. In addition to the information we glean from IAR results, we integrate many other indicators of student development including summative assessments, teacher observations, and student surveys. These numerous data points help us as we develop a more complex and evolving understanding of your child’s progress.

Safety Day

The Thompson community will participate in spring safety drills next Thursday, April 13th. Students and staff will practice their identified behaviors in the event of crisis situations such as fires or lock down/holds. We are intentional about the words we use with students and the clarity with which we communicate during every safety drill.

Please have a conversation about the safety drills with your child. By taking proactive measures to prepare for each of these emergency situations and by having follow up conversations at home, we help ensure that our Thompson students are as safe as possible at all times.

Have a great weekend!

Michelle Dague

Interim Principal

• May 9th & 10th - Clinics after school until 5:00pm (you must be at clinics in order to try out)

• May 11th - Tryouts after school until your tryout is finished.

• You must wear athletic clothing/shoes, hair must be pulled back and NO JEWELRY.

• You must have a CURRENT SPORTS PHYSICAL ON FILE AT TMS to participate. Please check with the office if you are unsure whether or not your physical is current. Walk-in physicals are available at CVS/Walgreens.

• Please be aware that we are NOT having a second tryout for basketball season. This will be your ONLY opportunity to try out and we will not be taking anyone who does not make it to tryouts. If you make the team, you will be committing to BOTH football and basketball seasons.

• Please refer to the TMS CHEER WEBSITE or contact Coach McElroy (Room 253) or Coach Brooks if you have specific questions or concerns.

We are excited to announce that we are currently working with our PTO to plan our 8th-grade end-of-year celebrations. We have three fun events planned!

Thompson 8th Grade: Let’s Glow Crazy!

On Friday, May 19th, the 8th grade class of 2023 will be invited to celebrate together from: 7 - 9pm at Thompson Middle School. We have already begun planning and hope you will sign up to help with donating time, food/drinks, or decorations (links below). Tickets for $10 will be available for purchase on PushCoin. Any questions contact Heather Trask htrask@comcast.net.

Click to help! Volunteer here. Supplies here. Donations here.

Recognition Ceremony

On Friday, May 26th in the morning, we will hold an 8th-grade recognition ceremony in the main gymnasium where students will celebrate their 8th grade class.

Picnic Lunch/Yearbook Signing/Outdoor Games

On Friday, May 26th students will have the option to order a BBQ lunch from our food vendor, OrganicLife. The PTO will provide desserts in conjunction with yearbook signing and outdoor games. Sign-up to help here.

Builders Club is a club focused on community service. They need 34 volunteers to serve at the Northern Illinois Food Bank on Thursday, April 27th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. They need at least ten students each with a parent, guardian, or older sibling, to volunteer. You do not need to be a member of Builders Club to volunteer. This is a great opportunity for parents and students to spend time with one another while at the same time serving the community.

Please click here for more detailed information and email Dave Simone, one of the club advisors, with any questions.

Every year, the Yearbook Club publishes 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 a Thompson 22-23 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 July 1, 2022. Also, we have a list of all students who will be receiving a yearbook posted on the wall by the cafeteria. Contact Kim Walters (kimberly.walters@d303.org or 331-228-6410) if you have any questions or need financial assistance.

State legislation requires that all Illinois children in sixth grade will have a dental examination. A licensed dentist must perform the examination, and he or she shall sign the form. Dental offices should have the form available, but it is also available online at www.d303.org under Departments, then Health Services, then “Health Documents and Forms”. Each 6th grade student must present proof of a dental examination by a dentist prior to May 15, 2023. The exam must be dated within 18 months prior to May 15, 2023. If your child has had an exam already, you can ask your dentist to complete the form for the exam.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a waiver for children who show undue burden or lack of access to a dentist. Parents or legal guardians who object to the dental examinations on religious grounds shall present to the school a signed, detailed statement of the objection.

The deadline is quickly approaching! Please submit this if you have not already done so. If you have any questions, please contact the TMS nurses:

Diane Isbrandt RN, Certified School Nurse

Amy Kashuba, RN

Megan Maple, RN

Laura Welker RN

Thompson Middle School

331-228-3104

The SCN Athletic Department is excited to offer a wide variety of summer camps to the community. Information and programming can be found in their 2023 SCN Summer Camp Brochure. Please contact their Athletic Office at 331-228-6258 with questions.

• Friday, April 7 - School Improvement Day - No School for Students
• Tuesday, April 11 - Illinois Assessment for Readiness - AM, Alternative Schedule
• Wednesday, April 12 - Illinois Assessment for Readiness - AM, Alternative Schedule
• Wednesday, April 26 - MS Early Release Day - Students are dismissed at 2:52 pm
• Tuesday, May 2 - Spring i-Ready Math Diagnostic - 8:40 - 10:40 am
• Wednesday, May 3 - PTO Meeting (virtual) - 9:00 - 10:00 am
• Thursday, May 4 - Spring i-Ready Reading Diagnostic - 8:40 - 10:40 am
• Wednesday, May 24 - 5th Grade Open House - 6:00 - 7:00 pm
• Friday, May 26 - Last Day of School