Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter 10/1/2019
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are officially at the mid-term point of the first quarter, please take time to talk with your child about how the school year is going. You are welcome to visit Schoology and the Parent Portal in PowerSchool, to get a deeper look into your child's schoolwork. Touching base at the midterm of the quarter is important because there is either much to celebrate or there is time for your child to improve their grade for the first quarter.
PowerSchool grade reports show us that over 90% of ALL TMS students are passing all of their classes. We are so proud of our students for working hard and demonstrating pride in their academics!
If there are concerns with your child's grades, please talk with your child about the expectations you have for academic success and the strategies they are using. Encourage your child to:
Utilize the TMS resources such as Homework Club, 11th Hour, or “Office Hours” on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school.
Clean out the lockers, folders, and backpack. Reviewing the materials in your child's backpack and the organizational systems they utilize may be helpful.
Guiding Questions to ask:
How are you feeling about school? What’s your favorite part and what is the most challenging?
How many hours of sleep are you getting? Is that enough for you to wake up feeling good?
How are you tracking your daily assignments?
When and where do you do your homework?
Do you need additional help with your homework?
Are you checking Schoology and PowerSchool?
Who at school can help you? Do you need teacher help or help from a social worker?
Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any additional questions. Let us know if there are additional ways in which we can support your child. Keep in mind that we will be hosting parent-teacher conferences this month on October 24 & 25.
Thank you for your strong home-school partnership ~ we are grateful for your support!
Thank you!
Lori, Greg, & Nick
TMS Cross Country & Basketball Updates...
The TMS Girls Basketball teams are off and running for the year. After four home games, they head out on a big road trip, coming back home for a game on Friday October 18th. This Thursday, they travel to the Cardinals Nest at South for a rematch of their crosstown rivalry. #WeTheNorth
PTA Fall Activity Night - Friday, October 11th from 7-9 PM at TMS
We’ve got a party to plan! Our Fall Festival is on Friday, October 11th from 7-9 pm. I am looking for 4 Party Division Heads: (1) Marketing & Ticket Sales, (2) Decorations & Set-Up (3) Games & Activities and (4) Food & Beverage. For this, you only need to commit to two-90 minute meetings as well as be present on Friday, Oct. 11 to ensure your plan plays out.
Wanna jump in? Please contact: Judi Schuch at schuch1606@comcast.net or (312) 287-6393.
Thank you!
EVENT DETAILS: The Fall Fun Festival will be a harvest theme with dancing and festive games/activities like last year: nerf wars, hula hooping, bags, pumpkin bowling, etc. and a costume contest with prizes.
Costume categories: scariest, funniest, cutest, best group under 5 people, best partner group (ie: Earnie & Bert) and most creative.
Allergy-safe refreshments will be served as well, along with candies, ice waters and plenty of popcorn.
Tickets are $5 and all proceeds will raise money for a group in need.
Physical Forms Required for ALL 6th Graders:
All 6th grade students need a physical form completed by October 15, 2019.
Please plan accordingly to ensure that your child is in compliance with this as it could impact school attendance.
525 Foundation Drug Prevention Assembly & Parent Coffee Session
Please join us for a Drug Prevention presentation from Becky Savage of the 525 Foundation.
We are grateful to our PTA and the Link Together Coalition for sponsoring this event.
We welcome you to attend the assembly (8:30-9:20 a.m. in the large gym) and then join the TMS Admin Team after for a coffee and discussion session (9:30-10:15 a.m. in the Commons).
Seating is limited ~ PLEASE RSVP below for this event!
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2019, 08:30 AM
Thomas Middle School, North Belmont Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL, USA
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - Important Dates
*NO SCHOOL - Monday, October 14th: School Improvement Day and non-attendance day for students.
*Parent-Teacher Conference: Thursday & Friday, 10/24/19 & 10/25/19
PHONE & ONLINE Absence Reporting
PHONE CALL TO REPORT AN ABSENCE:
1) Call the Thomas School phone number at 847-398-4260.
2) The auto-attendant will prompt you with these options:
- Press 1 to report an absence
- Press 2 to contact the school nurse
- Press 0 to remain on the line for the office.
3) Press 1 and report your child's absence.
ONLINE REPORTING via TMS Homepage:
Click the ONLINE ABSENCE REPORTING BUTTON located on the TMS homepage and complete the details on your child's absence.
Absent & Upcoming Absences? Want to request homework?
You will no longer need to call the office to request work that has been missed. Instead, you can stay up-to-date by logging into Schoology. We do not expect your child to complete the work while they are absent because we anticipate they are sick and that is the reason they are home. When they are feeling better and ready to begin making up the work it will be available on Schoology. If you are not confident that the work is available on Schoology please email the teacher directly to inquire about what homework specifically needs to be made up.
Thank you!
ATTENDANCE & TARDY
At the end of each quarter, we will also send home a letter notifying parents of students who have missed more than 5% of the school year or have been tardy for more than 5% of the school year.
"By as early as sixth grade, high truancy rates become a distinct predictor of whether or not a student will graduate from high school."
For this reason, we think it is critical to notify all families that attending school and attending on time is critical to your child's success.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness dates have been determined and reflected on the District 25 Assessment calendar. The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) window will be March 11th - 20th. Please visit the district website to view the assessment calendar in greater detail.
*Spring 2019 Illinois Assessment of Readiness reports will be sent home via backpacks on 10/18/19.
*Fall 2019 MAP reports for students who took the fall MAP assessment (All 6th graders and select 7th & 8th graders) will be sent home via backpack on 10/11/19.
District 214- Future Ready Parent Series!
Parents and Guardians:
District 214 is excited to again bring you the Future Ready Parent Series this school year!
The Future Ready Parent series will consist of free classes/events throughout the 2019-2020 school year that provides the community with relevant topics affecting today’s youth. Registration is required for some classes.
Upcoming classes/events include:
Directions Fair: College and Career Fair 2019
This program is open to parents and students with special needs. Representatives from colleges and postsecondary institutions will be available to distribute literature and discuss programs, certificates and college opportunities.
Forest View Educational Center, Door 1
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 6 - 8pm
Registration not required.
College and Career Ready! Night
This program is open to all grade levels, including eighth graders and is designed to give an introductory understanding of District 214’s career pathways. Sessions will include D214 curriculum overview, postsecondary engagement and student voice experience for each pathway.
Forest View Educational Center, Door 1
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 from 4:30 - 8:30pm
Registration not required.
UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me-World
Bestselling author Michele Borba, Ed.D offers a nine-step program to help parents cultivate empathy in children from birth to young adulthood and explains why developing a healthy sense of empathy is a key predictor of which kids will thrive and succeed in the future. In our hyper-connected, social media-saturated society, many of us are so obsessed with snapping “selfies” and living a virtual life online that we’re forgetting how to care for the people right in front of us IRL (that’s “in real life”). The resulting Selfie Syndrome is leading to an empathy crisis among today’s youth – teens today are 40 percent less empathetic than they were just a generation ago and narcissism has increased 58 percent during that same period. But there is a solution: Studies show the antidote to Selfie Syndrome is empathy. And the good news is empathy can actually be cultivated in children, starting even before they can talk.
Forest View Educational Center - Theater, Door 1
Wednesday, December 4, 2019 from 7 - 8:30pm
Space limited; registration required.
Class #1445
Register at ce.d214.org or 847-718-7700.
To register or learn more, call 847-718-7700 or visit http://bit.ly/parentready.
This series is sponsored by District 214 Community Education and District 214’s Professional Learning and Student Services Department.
Illinois State Report Card - Thomas
Thomas Middle School
Email: tmsadmin@sd25.org
Website: https://www.sd25.org/Domain/9
Location: 1430 N Belmont Ave, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
Phone: 847.398.4260
Twitter: @AHSD25Thomas