Thomas Community Newsletter
August 8, 2022
Dear TMS Families,
Here we go! We are ready for the 2022-2023 school year! Is your middle schooler looking forward to an AWESOME school year? We hope so! We are ready to connect with your children and provide them with an outstanding middle school experience.
We'll kick things off this Wednesday, 8/10/22 when the team, homeroom, and locker emails will be sent to all families. Please remember that all students at each grade level will eat lunch together daily and share the hallways between classes. Homerooms and teams are just the starting point, the students will have opportunities to see each other throughout the school day.
This Friday, 8/12/22 from 10 AM - 11 AM we'll open the building for 6th-grade orientation. Following this event will be a locker set up event for all students from 11:15 AM - 3 PM. Please enter at the main entrance via the Belmont Avenue parking lot.
This week we are also welcoming several new staff members to TMS:
- Jackie Howard - Occupational Therapist
- Michael Kain - Zeta Resource Teacher
- Drew Martin - School Psychologist
Matt Majeski - Gamma Resource Teacher
Clare O'Neil - Teacher Assistant
Heather Rehm - Instructional Learning Program Special Education Teacher
Jacqueline Van Wyk - 8th Grade Spanish Teacher
We'll also have some familiar staff faces in new places:
- Sharyl Forsline - Teacher Assistant
- Kate Murray - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
- Ms. Conomikes - Chorus Club Instructor (also teaches music at Ivy Hill)
Here are the Social Work Assignments:
- Kristie Burmeister - 6th Grade
- Keaton El-Talabani - 7th Grade
- Taylor Lindsey - 8th Grade
- Jessica Jones - Instructional Learning & Extended Resource Programs
Next Monday and Tuesday, 8/15/22, and 8/16/22 are Institute Days and all staff will be back in the building preparing to meet your children on Wednesday, 8/17/22 for the first day of school. We'll run a Modified schedule on the first day of school and we'll end the day with a review of all of our safety drills. Then on Thursday and Friday, 8/18/22 & 8/19/22, we will run advisory schedules.
Please keep in mind, that the TMS lending library is still open and we hope your child will participate in the D25 Enjoy the Ride Summer Reading Program.
In addition, the PTA is still seeking a President-Elect: This position is open! Please contact thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com if you know someone who might be interested in filling this position!
New information in this newsletter is as follows:
- 2022-2023 Homeroom Teacher Assignments
- Daily TMS Schedule
- Lunch Menu & Paying for School Meals
- Bus Transportation Information
- Drop off and Pick up Expectations
- Band & Chorus Information
- Miss Candance Horton inducted into the American School Band Director's Association
This newsletter also contains reminders that were shared in the July newsletter. Please be sure to take the time to read through all of this information. We know it is lengthy, but we hope it will help create a smooth start to the school year.
Here's to a fantastic school year!
Thanks,
Lori, Nick, & Greg
TMS Admin Team
Nick Filipowski Associate Principal
Lori Naumowicz Principal
Greg Keadle Associate Principal
Lunch Money Payments
Bus Information
Individual student bus information with specific route start times and laminated bus passes were mailed out via the district office and should arrive this week at your homes.
All bus transportation questions should be directed to the District 25 Transportation Specialist:
Laura Comastro. Laura is the best person to answer your questions and resolve any issues.
847-758-4888
Additional bus information can be found at the transportation link on the District 25 website.
ACTION ITEMS for Student Chromebooks
Attention ALL TMS 6th Grade Parents and Parents of students NEW to District 25...
Please click this Chromebook Usage Form and complete this form for your 6th-grade student or new TMS student before the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, 8/17/22. Each student MUST have this form on file to get their Chromebook.
Before coming to school on the FIRST DAY, Wednesday, 8/17/22...
- PLEASE turn on your Chromebooks and connect to your home wi-fi please.
- PLEASE allow your Chromebook to charge.
This will ensure that your Chromebook has the latest date/time.
BAND & CHORUS AT THOMAS
Dear TMS Families,
The Thomas Band program is excited to get underway! If your child plays an instrument, now is the time to let us know they would like to participate in either one of the regular bands and/or the jazz band at TMS.
Thomas Band provides a safe space to build friendships, be a part of a team, have a means of expression and to give a creative outlet. Band is a place to grow in confidence and life skills, learn self-discipline and celebrate accomplishments.
Please complete the following form by Friday, August 19, to show interest in Band and/or Jazz Band. If you have more than one child interested in band, please fill out a separate form for each child.
After you have filled out the above-linked interest form, please direct your child to the Flipgrid Band Placements Hub. This is where your child will record selected portions of their Summer Practice Packet in order to be placed in which band is best suited to their experience. The deadline for submissions is 9:00pm on 8/23.
If you have any questions regarding band or band placements, please contact one of the band directors:
Mr. Berry - DBerry@sd25.org
Ms. Pucci - KPucci@sd25.org
Miss Horton - CHorton@sd25.org
CHOIR CLUB AT THOMAS
We are also very excited to announce that there will be Choir this year at Thomas. If you are interested in joining please fill out the Google Form below. You CAN be in both Band and Choir, but you do NOT have to.
If you have any questions regarding choir, please contact the choir director:
Ms. Conomikes - kconomikes@sd25.org
Congratulations to Candi Horton ~ Inducted into the ASBDA!
TMS is so excited to share the wonderful news that Candi Horton was nominated for, thoroughly vetted, and voted on in order to be inducted into the American School Band Director's Association in Denver this summer. We are so proud of Candi for earning this honor.
Below is a picture from the pinning ceremony at the convention held in June in Denver.
Information from the July Newsletter
Important Information / Dates in this Newsletter:
- Team, Homeroom, & Locker Information: An email will be sent to all registered families on the afternoon of August 10th indicating your child's team, homeroom, & locker information. Students will report to homeroom on the first day of school, 8/17/22, and that's when they'll get their entire schedule.
- TMS Cross Country Season: Practice starts today! We are happy to invite all TMS students to participate in Thomas Cross Country. This is a non-cut sport and everyone participates in most of the meets/competitions! As one of only two sports, Wrestling and Cross Country, in middle school that 6th graders are allowed to participate in, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a healthy outdoor activity and a great opportunity to meet new friends and represent TMS as part of a team.
- TMS 6th Grade Orientation: Friday, August 12th from 10 AM - 11 AM. This is a student-ONLY event and 6th grade students should arrive at TMS by 10 AM and will be finished with the orientation by 11 AM.
- Locker Set-Up: Friday, August 12th from 11:15 AM - 3 PM. ALL TMS students will be allowed to enter the building to set up their lockers. Students can have 1-2 family members join them for this or they can opt to set up their lockers independently. Can't make this event? No worries, your child can attend Back to School Night and set up their locker then.
- New to D25 Family Orientation: Tuesday, 8/16/22 from 7-8 PM we will welcome several new families to D25 and the TMS Wolf Pack. These new families can RSVP here for this event. (This event is not for families that attended D25 feeder schools.)
- First Day of School: Wednesday, 8/17/22 *Modified schedule
- Back to School Night: Wednesday, August 17th from 4-7 PM. The school is open for all students and family members to walk the hallways. Classrooms are locked and only TMS administrators are in the building. Kona Ice will be selling treats as well.
- Advisory Schedule: Thursday & Friday, 8/18/22 & 8/19/22 (And, all Mondays!)
- Picture Day: Tuesday, 8/23/22
- 6th Grade Curriculum Night: Wednesday, 8/31/22 from 6-8 PM
- 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night: Thursday, 9/8/22 from 6-8 PM
- 2022-2023 District 25 Calendar: linked here.
- 6th Grade Physical Forms Due: 10/15/22
6th Grade Orientation Information - Friday, August 12th from 10 AM - 11 AM
At TMS, we love working with our incoming families and take great pride in creating a transition process that supports our students and helps families become more comfortable with middle school. The next steps in the middle school transition process are the 6th Grade Orientation Events and the Back To School Night.
TMS sixth-grade orientation is Friday, August 12th from 10 AM - 11 AM. This is a student-ONLY event and students should arrive at TMS by 10 AM and will be finished with the orientation by 11 AM.
Drop Off:
6th graders can walk or ride bikes to TMS, however crossing guards will not be available. Bike racks are available near door #9. Students can also be dropped off and picked up using the Arlington Heights/Thomas Street parking lot which hosts the TMS 6th grade morning arrivals during the school year.
Pick-Up:
Please use the Belmont Street pick-up line and Belmont Street parking lot line to pick-up your 6th grader from this event. Please do not exit your car or park in the parking lot. We will try to help the pick-up line move quickly and ask that you be patient during the pick-up process.
Locker Set-Up:
For the 6th graders who bring locker materials to orientation at 10 AM, there will be a table where 6th-grade students can store their locker items during orientation and pick them up at the end of orientation at 11:00. The locker set-up time will begin at 11:15 AM.
Can't make orientation on Friday, 8/12?
No worries, all 6th grade students will have an 8th grade student partner to help them start their morning on the first day of school. They will walk the 6th grader's schedules, answer questions, and review locker information. In addition, part of the transition process includes time for students and parents to walk the building on the evening of the first day of school, Wednesday, 8/17 during Back to School Night from 4-7 PM.
IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
- Athletic Registration Form: This is for students that wish to participate in TMS athletics. If a student is participating in Cross Country we must have the physical by the first day of practice.
- PHYSICAL FORMS: All 6th graders will need a physical form. Physicals must be dated on or after 8/17/2021 and are due by 10/15/2022. We are unable to accept a doctor's note for a physical at a future date. The physical must be turned in by October 15th, 2022 or the student will be excluded from school.
- DENTAL FORMS: All dental forms are due by 5/15/23 and must be dated after 11/15/21.
- HEALTH OFFICE DOCUMENTS: Health Office documents can be turned into the TMS main office or can be uploaded to the TMS Health Office Form linked here.
AHSD25 School Resource Officers
School District 25 has a wonderful partnership with the Arlington Heights Police Department and we are very fortunate to have two outstanding School Resource Officers that support our schools. The SROs attend various TMS events throughout the school year as they are an essential part of our Wolf Pack.
Officer Danny Malik & Officer John O'Leary
School Resource Officer
Arlington Heights Police Department
dmalik@vah.com & joleary@vah.com
M: 847-878-2949
W: 847-368-5393
TMS PTA
MEETING DATES 2022-2023:
Tuesday - 9/13/2022
Wednesday - 10/12/2022
Tuesday - 11/15/22
Wednesday - 1/11/23
Tuesday - 2/7/2023
Wednesday - 3/15/2023
Wednesday - 4/5/2023
Congratulations to the 2022-2023 PTA Officers:
- President: Suzanne Krause
- President-Elect: **This position is open! Please contact thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com if you know someone who might be interested in filling this position!
- Vice President: Nora Muenkel *Welcome to the board!
- Treasurer: Kelly Spokas
- Secretary: Deborah Oiler
Do you have questions for the PTA? Email the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
TMS Office Information
Monday - Friday 7 AM - 3 PM
TMS Address:
1430 N. Belmont Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: 847-398-4260
Fax: 847-394-6843