Throughout my travels in and out of classrooms, I am seeing engaged students/teachers, and compliant people working hard to adhere to social distancing protocols. I am really proud of the efforts by both students and staff to make this “work!” With that being said, the first quarter is flying by and will conclude on October 16th. Students have three weeks to put the finishing touches on their first quarter of learning. It is so very important that they are up to date with projects, assignments, and work expectations. Staying current with classroom requirements will lead to accurate grades reflecting effort and ability. Please consider this reminder about the end of the quarter as an opportunity to encourage your middle schooler of the importance of staying focused on learning both at school and while engaged in “school” at home.

Students have school work to complete every weekday whether they are at school or not. Please talk with your children and check in with them in regards to the work they are being assigned on the days they are not meeting with their teachers synchronously.

Another way to ensure students are up to date on all of their work is by checking Home Access Center (HAC) regularly. Consider making this a nightly routine by sitting down with your child to check both Home Access Center and Google Classroom / Schoology for each of your child’s classes.

Beyond the classroom, earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending our first cross-country race of the year. It was such a breath of fresh air to actually see an actual live sporting event. Our Thunder athletes represented well and more importantly, were able to experience some degree of normalcy through our athletics. Although tired, I saw many happy faces on our runners.

It looks like we are in store for a great “early fall” weekend weather-wise. I hope you and yours are able to enjoy it!

Steve

Please join us for our next PTO meeting of this school year on Thursday, October 1st from 9:00 - 10:00 am. All are welcome! If you would like to attend, please email Nicole Snopko or Kim Walters for a link to the virtual meeting.

Attention all students who LOVE solving challenging problems and would like to expand their appreciation of mathematics. Join Math Club! At Math Club we work on our problem solving abilities, compete against other schools, and have fun with math. Please join Mr. Meseke in room 219 next week after school on either Monday, September 28th, OR Thursday, October 1st, from 3:40 to 4:30. Remote students should email Mr. Meseke at john.meseke@d303.org and share their interest in joining and then they will join the meetings virtually. Hope to see you there!

District 303 offers all students enrolled in 8th grade, 7th grade AVID, and Infinity to take the PSAT 8/9 in the fall. This PSAT is a part of the SAT series of assessments that help guide students through academic measures of college and career readiness ending with the SAT taken in their junior year. The SAT can be used with most colleges as a part of the admission process.

Your son/daughter will be participating in the PSAT test on either Wednesday, October 21st (A day) or Thursday, October 22nd (B day). Like any other day, attendance is important. If students arrive late to school, they will be held in the main office until the window for one of the tests has closed.

If you are a remote student, you will be getting a separate email regarding testing and the location from the Department of Assessment and Accountability.

Below are some helpful tips to help your child as they prepare for testing day:

• Get a good night sleep

• Eat a healthy breakfast

• Be sure to charge your child’s chromebook overnight

If you have specific questions about the assessment please contact David Chiszar (david.chiszar@d303.org) You can also find additional assessment information at https://district.d303.org/departments/assessment.

Thank you-

Please encourage your middle schooler to get involved with school activities away from the classroom to truly take advantage of all that middle school has to offer! Click here to see our long list of clubs/activities.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to run the after school activity bus this year due to COVID.

Sports fees will be billed in PushCoin at the conclusion of the season. The products are not available for purchase through the webstore.

If you have any questions about clubs or sports, please call the Thompson Main Office at (331) 228-3100 and we would be happy to assist you!

LifeTouch has returned pictures/proofs and students should be bringing these home this week. Full remote learners are welcome to stop by the Thompson main office between 7:30am - 4:00pm to pick up your pictures.

Picture retake days are scheduled for Wednesday, October 14th and Thursday, October 15th. Students that need to have their picture retaken will need to bring their proof package with them. Pictures will be taken in Room 253 during PE.

Full remote learners that need their pictures retaken are welcome to come to Thompson between 3:45 - 4:30pm on October 14th or October 15th. Enter through Door 5 off of the south parking lot and exit through Door 6. Staff will be assisting students. Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

If you have any questions, please call the Main Office (331) 228-3100.

Middle school conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 8th from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm and Friday, October 9th from 8:00 am - 12:00pm. Sign-up for conferences via the Pick-A-Time conference scheduler through October 6th. All conferences will be virtual this year via Zoom.

Sign-up Directions:

1. Login to your HAC Account

2. Click on the link for ‘Parent-Teacher Conference Scheduler’ (Click here for directions)

3. Only choose Q1 teachers

A few notes about sign-up:

1. Most conferences will be 8 minutes long with an individual teacher.

2. 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 participate in conferences. If your child is struggling, we would suggest that you attend conferences!

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

4. If you wish to meet with the explore teachers, please sign-up to visit your child’s first quarter explore teacher(s).

5. 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 too.

6. 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(s).

7. We would like for you to have your Thunder student with you during conferences! It is important that they hear what you hear.

We are looking forward to our time collaborating together. If you have any questions, please call the Thompson main office at (331) 228-3100.

Parent University was developed in response to the need for programming to address the social and emotional needs of students in District 303. Over the last decade, the district has strived to provide information on topics that are relevant, timely, and beneficial for all parents and guardians.

October 29, 2020
Parenting The New Teen In The Age of Anxiety
Virtual
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Dr. John Duffy, a nationally recognized expert in parenting for nearly twenty-five years, wrote this book as a guide for parents raising children who are growing up too quickly and, as a result, dealing with unresolved adolescent issues that can lead to anxiety and depression. Please indicate your interest in getting a copy of the book and event by filling out this form.

Welcome to remote learning! Remember that remote students have classes every day. Below are resources for our full remote learners:

• Remote Academy Calendar (and Bell Schedule)

• Overview and Expectations

• Teachers and Resources

You can check the attendance for any of your students at any time by logging into the Home Access Center and clicking on the attendance tab to view. Toggle between students using the arrow in the upper right hand corner.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the main office at (331) 228-3100! We are here to help!

Students can continue to pick up lunches at Thompson on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:45 - 9:15am. If Monday or Thursday is a non-attendance day, the pick up will be available on the next attendance day.

Also, buses will be at two locations from 11:00 am until noon every Monday and Thursday (except holidays and no attendance days). The two locations are Saint Charles Place (pick up is Indiana and 15th street) and Cumberland Green Cooperative (pick up is by the office lot near court #1). At the current time all of these lunches, whether remote only, daily A/B, and A/B next day, are being fully subsidized.

Students must apply for the privilege of using pre-arranged absence days through the

Principal/Assistant Principal’s office when an absence is anticipated in advance. Pre-arranged absence forms must be completed and signed by each teacher and turned in two (2) school days prior to the date of the prearranged absence.

The building principal or designee has the authority to grant up to five (5) days of excused absence per year for the following types of absences:

❖ Career Education Visits

❖ Participation in regional and/or national contests or awards

❖ Family Vacation-qualified by the phrase “accompanied by a parent”

❖ Special Religious Events

Any date which is in excess of these five days is considered to be unexcused.

TMS Pre Arranged Absence Form

• Thursday, October 1 - PTO Meeting from 9:00 - 10:00 am
  
• Tuesday, October 6 - Pick-a-Time Conference Scheduler Closes
• Thursday, October 8 - Conferences from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm (No School for Students)
• Friday, October 9 - Conferences from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm (No School for Students)
• Monday, October 12 - Columbus Day Holiday
• Wednesday, October 14 - Picture Retake Day
  
• Thursday, October 15 - Picture Retake Day
• Wednesday, October 21 - PSAT for 8th Grade 'A' & 7th Grade AVID 'A' Students
• Thursday, October 22 - PSAT for 8th Grade 'B' & 7th Grade AVID 'B' Students
• Thursday, October 29 - Parent University "Parenting The New Teen In The Age of Anxiety"