Tiger's Tale
February 12, 2021
Message From The Principal
Hello Thompson Parents!
Please remember we do not have school this upcoming Monday. Enjoy your President's Day extended weekend!
Also, next week starts Phase II learning. I will include the schedule here:
In-Person: Groups A (A-K) & B (L-Z)
I'm very excited to get more of our students in the building for a longer school day! Kids have done just a wonderful job following all the new COVID guidelines here at school. Please give them a special thank you from me! You should be very proud of all their hard work and attention to detail.
Follow us at Twitter handle: @thompson308
FB: facebook.com/thompsonjuniorhighschool
As always, please reach out to schedule a virtual meeting with me or to call with any questions.
Direct ph# (630)636-2610
Stay safe and healthy!
Principal DeFeo
Important Dates
- Sunday, February 14, Valentine's Day
- Monday, February 15, NO SCHOOL, President's Day (District Closed)
- Tuesday, February 16, Begin Phase 2 Hybrid Schedule
JUNIOR HIGH
Sample Schedule
In-Person Attendance: 8:05am-1:05pm
Student Support Time: 2:15pm-3:00pm
Students are designated in three groups (all follow the same schedule):
Monday and Tuesday - In Person Group A, (A-K)
Wednesday - Remote for All GO LIVE, Groups A, B, C
Thursday and Friday - In Person Group B (L-Z)
Group C (Remote by Choice)
Group D In Person M, T, TR, FR, GO LIVE on W
Outstanding Tiger Nomination
Student Council - Spirit Week February 16-19
Next Week:
- Monday (no school)
- Tuesday and Thursday (PJ Day)
- Remote Wednesday - (Crazy Hair Day)
- Friday (Spirit Day, Tiger Stripes and/or Thompson Colors)
AVID
A fun AVID Inquiry strategy that some teachers do with their students is called Socratic Seminar. According to readwritethink.org, "Socratic seminars are named for their embodiment of Socrates’ belief in the power of asking questions, prize inquiry over information and discussion over debate." These seminars are typically based off a reading where students generate questions about the text and engage in conversation with their classmates. AVID states, "A good text raises important questions in the participants’ minds—questions to which there are no right or wrong answers. At the end of a successful Socratic Seminar, participants can often leave with more questions than they brought." Students sit in a circle, and the leader poses a question about the text. Then the students will use the text to construct their responses. This is a great way for students to manipulate and analyze texts for a deeper understanding, as well as to develop their higher-level questioning skills.
Phase 2 Reopening Plan Schedules
The next phase of our Reopening Plan begins on Feb.16. Schedule information can be found on the district website.
Nurse's Nook
ATTENTION PARENTS:
ALL 6TH GRADERS
NEW STUDENTS TO THE DISTRICT
Please send in your updated physicals and updated immunizations, if you have not already done so. If your child will be doing the Group C Remote for the rest of the year you still need to get the medical forms into the nurse. When we start the next school year the students who have not given the nurse the updated medical forms, will not be allowed in the building until the nurse has the form.
Fun Fact: Caterpillars have 12 eyes (6 pairs)!!
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Struve, Building Nurse
Phone: (630)636-2602
Fax: (630)636-2697
Email: Kstruve@sd308.org
Get to Know ... Laura Zeno
Hello, Thompson Families! My name is Laura Zeno and I teach 6th grade ELA here at Thompson. This is my first year teaching at Thompson and I love being part of the Tiger community! I have always had a passion for reading and writing, which has led to a career in English. In my free time I love taking adventures, hiking, and exploring new places! I look forward to working with my students here at Thompson.
Get to Know ... Dan Harrison
My name is Dan Harrison and I am in my 30th year of teaching and 24th as band director at Thompson Junior High. I received my undergraduate degree in music education from Northern Illinois University, and Master of Music degree in conducting from Eastern Illinois University. Before Thompson, I taught in Olney and West Chicago, IL.
My wife, Sherri, and I have been married for 24 years (she used to be a band director and we met on a band trip in Europe!) and we have two daughters. I have too many interests and hobbies: woodworking, baking, and going for really long bike rides. On my birthday this year, I rode my age in miles (over 50) and I completed a century ride this past summer (100 miles in one day).
Some Sweet Information
- The first hearts were invented in 1866 by Daniel Chase, brother of Necco founder Oliver Chase. They were called “Motto Hearts.” Necco was founded 14 years earlier, and the acronym stands for “New England Confectionery Company.” It’s one of the country’s oldest candy companies.
- To satisfy demand for Sweethearts for Valentine’s Day, production for the next year starts right after the holiday in February and continues until mid-January. More than 7 billion candy hearts are made each year.
- The “Marry Me” heart is the most requested, Aimee Scott, Necco’s marketing director told Smithsonian.
- Original mottos from the candy’s earliest days still in production include “Be Mine,” “Be True” and “Kiss Me.”
- For each piece, 5 letters fit on the top line, and 4 fit on the bottom line. If a “W” is used, then there can only be 4 letters on the top line or 3 lines on the bottom.
- When you’re sick of snacking on sugary hearts, there’s a fun experiment you can try. If you put your candy hearts in a glass of carbonated soda, they’ll float to the bottom only to rise back up again, only to sink again and so on. This is because the hearts are denser than soda.
5Essentials Survey
Beginning February 3, students and teachers across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the ninth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environments
- Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and 4th through 12th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May 2021 and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, SD308 has chosen to provide the optional Parent Supplement survey. If at least 20 percent of parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted February 3, 2021 through April 2, 2021. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu or Tammi Craven at tcraven@sd308.org for questions related to our District use.
2020-2021 Yearbook Sales Are Now Open
Our online yearbook store is OPEN! Click on this link to order your 2020-2021 Yearbook!
https://www.balfour.com/illinois/oswego/thompson-junior-high-school
Yearbooks are $20 and will be ready in May! The store closes February 28th, 2021.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Mary Engfer at mengfer@sd308.org.
Do you have cool pictures of how you have been remote learning? Send them to Mary for approval and submission into the yearbook! Thanks for your help in making this year memorable!
Student Services
Counselors
Email: ashaw@sd308.org
Phone: (630)636-2614
Appt. Booking: https://ashaw-sd308.youcanbook.me
Ashley Gilbert (M-Z)
Email: agilbert@sd308.org
Phone: (630)636-2615
Appt. Booking: https://agilbert-sd308.youcanbook.me
Social Workers
Cassie Jackson (A-L & STARS)
Email: cjackson@sd308.org
Phone: (630)636-2620
Appt. Booking: https://cjackson-sd308.youcanbook.me
Chelsea Bailey (M-Z & SPED Resource)
Email: cbailey@sd308.org
Phone: (630)636-2615
Appt. Booking: https://cbailey-sd308.youcanbook.me
School Psychologist
Dr. Judy Wilson
Email: mailto:jwilson@sd308.org
Phone: (630)636-2604
Community Information - Food Pantry Distribution Dates and New Location
The Oswego Satellite location of the Kendall County Community Food Pantry will be open from 6:00pm - 8:00pm the first Friday of each month.
The food pantry has moved to a NEW location to accommodate demand: Old Traughber, 61 Franklin Street. The next food pantry distribution is Friday, January 08 from 6-7:30 p.m. Due to Tier 3 mitigation strategies, volunteers will be adults only this month, with a modified distribution plan.
If you have visited the Oswego Food Pantry, or are registered at the Yorkville location, please bring your Food Pantry ID#, as this will speed up the check in process. If you do not have your Food Pantry ID # or are visiting us for the first time, please bring an ID or other piece of mail that has your name and address showing a zip code in the SD308 boundaries or within Kendall County.
2020 Dates: 10/22, 11/06, 12/04
2021 Dates: 01/08*, 02/05, 03/05, 04/02, 05/07, 06/04
*denotes a date change from the 1st Friday
Kendall County Food Pantry Flyer - English and Spanish (updated 12.03.2020)
How to Check Out a Book from the LRC
Students are able to check out books from the Thompson LRC while we are remote learning. Students can log into the online Destiny catalog and put up to three (3) books on hold.
During LRC Orientation this fall, students practiced logging into Destiny and putting a book on hold. Please click the following link if students need help logging into Destiny:
Care Closet
The Care Closet is ready to help if you are in need.
If your family is experiencing any hardships, we would love to provide some relief with food, clothing, basic hygiene supplies, school supplies, etc?
This is a FREE resource and the use of the Care Closet is confidential and anonymous.
Simply scan the QR code to the right! You will then fill out a Google Form using your child’s student ID #. Your items will be available for pick up in the Main Office the following day! We are also happy to set up appointments for you to shop in the Care Closet before or after school!
For more information about the care closet and details on how to use it please click on the link.
Please call – Counselor (A-L), Amy Shaw, at (630)636-2614 or Counselor (M-Z), Ashley Gilbert, at (630)636-2615 if you have any questions or to set up an appointment in the Care Closet.
From the Front Office
Attendance
- Report a student absence by calling the Attendance Line at (630)636-2601.
- Student absence reporting during Remote Learning is still required. Please call the attendance line if your child will not be present in class for any reason (ex: doctor, dentist, technology problems, etc). We will be able to update the appropriate attendance code in Tyler.
- Important: Please remind your student(s) to complete the google doc each and every Wednesday by noon. - This helps the front office to track attendance on a timely basis. Please call (630)636-2600 if you have any questions regarding this process.
Technology Links
Tyler SIS Helpline
Having trouble with Tyler SIS?Please email the Tyler helpline at TylerHelp@sd308.org
Tyler SIS Parent/Student Portal
https://www.sd308.org/domain/2589
Student Password Reset
HELP Desk for Technology Questions
Parents and students, please submit any technology questions on this form. It will create a ticket in the new HELP ticket system.
HELP Desk
The new HELP ticket system is LIVE! Please click on the links below for a preview.
Link to the video tutorial - https://youtu.be/n2UihWCSKWo
Link to HELP - http://sd308.link/help (Please bookmark this link!)
Thompson Junior High School
Website: www.sd308.org/thompson
Location: 440 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego, IL, USA
Phone: (630)636-2600
Facebook: facebook.com/thompsonjuinorhighschool
Twitter: @thompson308