Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter - August 10, 2021
Dear TMS Parents & Guardians,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are beyond excited to welcome all of our students for 5 days of in-person learning! We hope that summer provided each family with time for rest, relaxation, and reading! The TMS summer reading theme and 2021-2022 school year theme is BRAVE ENOUGH!
Bravery is a big topic for us this year. While pandemic is still part of our lives we choose to focus on the rainbows after the storm and find ways it has helped us grow and become stronger and better. We take with us the many lessons learned from last year and recognize that we must continue to be flexible and adaptable this year. We are confident and determined that with your partnership we can make this year our best year yet! We'll never forget how awesome the students were last year when they showed up, masks and all, ready to learn. The gratitude they expressed for the opportunities provided was so impressive!
As always, we place top priority on safety and focus on how CONNECTION will enhance academics. We hired more staff to help us achieve these goals and we can’t wait to impact your children in positive ways. The TMS staff is ready to embrace the 2021-2022 school year with a renewed sense of excitement for teaching and learning! Thank you for taking this journey with us...The adventure has begun!
Yesterday several new certified staff members had their first day in D25 and we are confident that they will help us grow even stronger! Today we welcome many 7th & 8th grade student leaders to TMS for a DEN Club Leadership Workshop. Student leaders play a key role in providing support to the TMS school community. This Thursday night we look forward to an entertaining outdoor band concert with our dedicated summer band camp musicians.
This year we plan to run all our clubs, activities, and sports teams. Speaking of sports, Cross Country practice started this week and is open to all students 6th - 8th grade. So far, over 100+ brave student athletes showed up. Please be on the lookout for Timberwolves running in packs throughout school neighborhoods. Click here for Cross Country information. It's not too late to sign up.
This Friday we will open our doors for 6th Grade Orientation in the morning and 7th & 8th Grade Locker Set-Up from noon - 4 PM. We can’t wait to hear the laughter of children in our hallways and feel their energy and enthusiasm.
Our staff has been resting and recovering this summer. Many have been in and out of the building, taking classes and PD workshops, collaborating with one another, reading books, and studying research. We are planning impactful instruction and working to create inviting and nurturing classrooms that set the stage for optimal learning to occur.
Your continued partnership and support allow us to help your child succeed in middle school. We appreciate your input and feedback and look forward to an enriching and engaging school year!
Take care and be well,
~ Lori, Greg, & Nick
Important Dates 2021-2022:
- TMS Cross Country - Monday, 8/9/21 - Practice Begins
- Voluntary Submission COVID-19 Vaccination - Tuesday, 8/10/21 from 7AM - 1PM @ TMS
- 6th Grade Orientation - Friday, 8/13/21 @ 8 AM -11 AM
- 7th & 8th Grade Homeroom, Team, Locker Assignment Parent Email - Thursday, 8/12/21
- 7th & 8th Grade Locker Set-Up - Friday, 8/13/21 @ noon-4:00 PM (6th Graders DO NOT ATTEND AS THEY WILL SET-UP LOCKERS IN LATE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER)
- Parent Virtual Ruler Presentation with Marc Brackett - Tuesday, 8/17/21 @ 7:30 PM
- First Day of School & Safety Drills - Thursday, 8/19/21
- Back to School Night Schedule Walk - Thursday, 8/19/21 @ 5-8 PM
- Picture Day - Tuesday, 8/24/21
- 6th Grade Curriculum Night -Tuesday, 8/31/21 @ 7-9 PM
- 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night - Thursday, 9/9/21 @ 7-9 PM
7th & 8th Grade Locker Set-Up: Friday, 8/13/21 from noon - 4 PM
- 7th & 8th grade students can come alone - walk, ride bikes, or get dropped off for this event. If bringing a parent, just one parent, please.
- Everyone inside the building must wear a mask at all times.
- We ask that people maintain 3 feet distancing from each other while in the building.
- Please limit your time in the building to 15 minutes or less.
Back to School Night Schedule Walk: Thursday, 8/19/21 from 5-8 PM
MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED CLOSER TO THE EVENT.
Voluntary Submission of COVID-19 Vaccination Status
Who: Thomas Middle School & South Middle School students
What: Providing copy of COVID-19 vaccination card (Voluntary)
When: Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021 from 7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Thomas Middle School (1430 N. Belmont Avenue)
Why: To prevent quarantine if exposed to COVID-19
Can’t make it? Scan the vaccination card and email to Mindy Joyce (Certified School Nurse) at mjoyce@sd25.org.
TMS STAFF UPDATES
Please join us in welcoming the following new staff members to our Wolf Pack!
- Sabrina Argaez - Beta Science
- Richard Cardi - Special Education Extended Resource Teacher
- Theresa Caruso - Spanish Teacher
- Grace Gran - Special Education Extended Resource Teacher
- Lauren Hammer - Special Education Coordinator
- Jessica Jones - Social Worker
- Sureiya Peshek - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Science
Kaitlin Pucci - Band
Richard Chrzastowski - Night Custodian
Familiar faces in new places...
- Tracy Recklaus - Middle School Quarantine Teacher
- Cody Hauerrberg - Facilities Operations Manager
- Tom Kline - Mid-day TMS Custodian
- Arin Damico - Team Leader for Alpha Team
- Maureen. McDermott - Team Leader for Beta Team
- Kate Renno - Team Leader for Delta Team
- JJ Pearl - Beta PE Teacher
- Susan Williams - ELA Teacher Alpha Team
- Todd Slowinski - 8th Grade ALA Teacher & Epsilon ELA Teacher
- Michelle Gledhill - Epsilon ELA Teacher
- Jen Dewar - Alpha Special Education Teacher
- Hilary Nigro - Beta Special Education Teacher
- Caleigh O'Neil - Gamma Special Education Teacher
- Patty Zieleniewski - Delta Gamma Special Education Teacher
TMS 2021-2022 Homeroom Assignments
Information for 7th & 8th Grade Students Who Were FULLY Remote During the ENTIRE 2020-2021 School Year
- School Materials: If your child had items that were not picked up last year such as a PE uniform shirt or a yearbook, these items will be distributed via PE teachers who will hand out PE uniforms and homeroom teachers who will distribute 2020-2021 yearbooks.
- Special Locker Set-Up Time: You and your child are invited to come to the 7th & 8th Grade locker set-up starting at 11 AM on Friday, August 13th.
- Extra Emotional Support: If your child is feeling they could benefit from some extra TLC from a school social worker, homeroom teacher, or school administrator, please reach out to us. We can make arrangements to help with this transition.
PowerSchool & Schoology Access
PowerSchool: Student and parent PowerSchool access is currently turned off. Seventh and 8th-grade student homeroom, team, and locker assignments will be emailed out this Thursday, August 12th. Students will report to homeroom on Friday, August 19th and that's when they will get their entire school schedule.
Schoology: Schoology courses for academic classes are linked to PowerSchool and are currently turned off and will not be accessible until August 19th. Schoology Groups for activities such as DEN Club or Cross Country are currently accessible for all students.
PowerSchool and Schoology access will not resume until school starts, after August 19th. Any information viewed in PowerSchool prior to this date is not for release and may not be accurate.
TMS Communication Structure
For all of our new families, the TMS structure of communication is streamlined through these bi-monthly newsletters which we try to send around the 1st and 15th of each month. There's a Newsletter Button on the TMS website homepage where all of these newsletters are stored. In addition, team leaders may also send team updates. Information is also shared via the TMS Twitter - Tweets by @AHSD25Thomas
Students will view the Daily Announcements in homeroom each morning. This is a great way to learn about what's happening at TMS. Click the TMS homepage and scroll to Announcements and Links to view the Daily Announcements.
Your child's Homeroom Teacher, Team Leader, Grade level Social Worker, and the Associate Principal working with your child's team are excellent points of contact should you have any questions.
6th Grade
- Social Worker - Keaton El-Talabani
- Alpha Team Leader - Arin Damico
- Beta Team Leader - Maureen McDermott
- Associate Principal working with 6th Grade Teams - Nick Filipowski
7th Grade
- Social Worker - Taylor Lindsey
- Gamma Team Leader - Jodi Cyr
- Associate Principal working with 7th Grade Gamma - Greg Keadle
- Delta Team Leader - Kate Renno
- Associate Principal working with 7th Grade Delta - Nick Filipowski
8th Grade
- Social Worker - Kristie Burmeister
- Epsilon Team Leader - Greg Stocco
- Zeta Team Leader - Anthony Kuch
- Associate Principal working with 8th Grade Teams - Greg Keadle
TMS PTA
Do you have questions for the PTA? Email the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
2021-2022 PTA Officers:
President: Amy Hoffman
President-Elect: Suzanne Krause
Vice President: Melissa Teuscher
Treasurer: Kelly Spokas
Secretary: Deborah Oiler
PTA Email for Spirit Wear
Questions about Spirit Wear? Contact thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
BREAKFAST & LUNCH INFORMATION
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all District 25 students for the entire school year. This program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.
BREAKFAST PROCESS
- The breakfast program will be a take-home bag given to the students twice a week containing food for the attendance days.
- Families will only need to sign up for this program by contacting breakfastorder@sd25.org.
- When contacting this email address families should list each child with first and last names, which school in the district they attend, and what grade they are in.
LUNCH PROCESS
- Lunch will be offered every day.
- The students will receive a bag with a fruit serving, two vegetable servings, and skim chocolate milk with the option to switch out to 1% white milk.
- Students can choose their entree for the day.
- The Middle School will have multiple hot and cold choices.
- There will be no ala carte food (snack items) or milk served separately from the meal at the start of the school year.
- Students who choose to pack a meal from home are invited to grab the bag of fruit, vegetables, and milk at no charge. All items will be wrapped and if a student chooses to not consume all items, they may be placed on a table in the eating area so they will not be wasted.
NEW THIS YEAR - Parent(s) can drop off a student lunch at TMS, but we are unable to accept food deliveries for students from outside vendors.
Due to supply chain disruption items listed on the menu may not be available to serve but there will always be a meal available for every student who would like to participate.
Applications to waive meal costs are not needed but we recommend that families should still complete an application if they feel they would qualify. Qualifying could reduce school fees and families would also be on file in the event that the USDA offers P-EBT benefits during the school year.
Apply in three easy steps:
- Download the application.
- Fill it out.
- Bring it to the Dunton Administration Building (1200 S. Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005)
OR bring it to your school
OR email it to eackermann@sd25.org
D25 Transportation Information
Please direct all questions regarding transportation to the D25 Transportation Specialist - Laura Comastro - lcomastro@sd25.org 847-758-4888.
- Bus routes will be determined based on registrations received by this deadline.
- Registrations received after June 1st will be subject to existing routes and processed after September 23rd. Registration after June 1 will be assessed a $25.00 processing fee.
- Students residing at least 1½ miles from the school or in an area that has been approved as a IDOT Safety Hazard qualify for free transportation. First priority is given to these students.
- Students residing less than 1½ miles from school (“paid riders”) will receive transportation ONLY if there is an existing bus route with space available in their area.
- Many routes have limited or NO availability for paid riders. It is likely that space may not be available.
- PLEASE make other arrangements now for your child’s transportation to/from school while waiting for decisions to be made regarding paid transportation.
Mental Health Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (call 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential support for people in distress and best practices for professionals)
- Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor)
- Call4Calm (text TALK or HABLAR to 552020 to get connected to a counselor in your area)
- Safe2Help Illinois (a 24/7 tip line that gives students a safe and confidential way to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence, or other threats to school safety).
TMS Office Information
TMS Address: 1430 N. Belmont Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: 847-398-4260
Fax: 847-394-6843