Good afternoon parents and guardians. I hope everyone’s had a great week and is looking forward to what looks to be a nice September weekend. As I’ve stated before, middle school is difficult. It can be challenging for parents, students and staff alike. So why do we do it?

For our students, they have to be here, or at least in school. However, there’s more to it than just that. The key to navigating these middle school years successfully is relationships.

Building strong, positive relationships is at the core of what we do here at Thompson. We want to create an environment where students feel safe, supported and valued. It is through these connections that we can help your children grow academically, socially and emotionally.

To answer the question above (so why do we do it), the Thompson staff are here because they are dedicated to fostering these relationships with students. They are here to guide, educate and mentor. Our staff work tirelessly to create a positive and inclusive learning environment.

So in the midst of challenges that middle school may bring, let’s remember that it’s all about the relationships we build. Together, as a community, we can help TMS students thrive during this critical stage in their education.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead!

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. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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.

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.

• 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