Thompson Friday Forecast

From the Principal...Steve Morrill

IAR Testing at Thompson

This week students have been completing IAR assessments (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) at Thompson. Thank you, families, for having your students at school on time and ready to test. Students finish this assessment with one more test day on Monday. IAR results are just one data point that is used as we work to support, challenge, and encourage your child’s academic growth. In addition to the information we glean from IAR results, we integrate many other indicators of student development including summative assessments, teacher observations, and student surveys. These numerous data points help us as we develop a more complex and evolving understanding of your child’s progress.

Information from many areas on student progress guides both student growth and overall school growth. It enables us to acknowledge accomplishments and identify areas to focus on for improvement. As we reflect on these indicators as a school, we encourage you to do the same with your child. Please ask about your child’s testing experience. “What was challenging or surprising? Did your child feel confident about a specific subject or area? Did something learned last month appear in the tests?” These reflective discussions are valuable. They provide a great opportunity to emphasize your commitment to supporting your child’s continuing growth. . . IAR week or not.

Enjoy your weekend,

Steve

Vision and Hearing Screening Notice

Each year students receiving special education services, students new to the State of Illinois schools, and those in mandated grades have vision and hearing screening performed by our vision hearing screener or a Certified School Nurse. Thompson Middle School is scheduled for this routine screening April 12 - April 14th.

All 8th graders are mandated to have their vision screened. Students receiving special education services and those new to Thompson Middle School will have both vision and hearing screened. If you would like your child to be opted out of this, please send an email to diane.isbrandt@d303.org. Thank you!

8th Grade End of Year Events

We are excited to announce that we are currently working with our PTO to plan our 8th-grade end-of-year celebrations. We have three fun events planned!

Hooray for Hollywood, an 8th grade party!

On Friday, May 20th, the 8th grade class of 2022 will be invited to celebrate together from: 7 - 9pm at Thompson Middle School. The class voted on the fun theme of Hollywood for their celebration & can expect a VIP red-carpet entrance along with:

Raffle with great prizes
Pizza, snacks, popcorn, & desserts
DJ/Dance floor
Outdoor karaoke & hangout lounge
"Pirates of the Caribbean" screening in the LRC
Board game room
Many Tinsel Town inspired photo-op & selfie locations

We have already begun planning and hope you will sign up to help with donating time, prizes, food/drinks, or decorations (link below). Please be on the lookout for a permission slip that will be coming home soon. We will be charging $10 admission and will provide financial support if needed.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4AAEA62FA4F58-tms8th

Recognition Ceremony

On Wednesday, May 25th in the morning, we will hold an 8th-grade recognition ceremony (students only) in the main gymnasium where students will celebrate their 8th grade class.

Lunch/Yearbook Signing
On Wednesday, May 25th students will have the option to order a BBQ lunch from our food vendor, OrganicLife. The PTO will provide dessert in conjunction with yearbook signing.

Children's Book Drive

Are you spring cleaning? Please consider donating your gently used children’s books (ages birth- sixth grade) to Bernie’s Book Bank. Thompson Middle School will be collecting new and gently used children’s books throughout the week of April 25th - April 29th. You may begin dropping off books in the bins outside the main office and/or the LRC next week. Thank you for giving the gift of reading to local children!

Summer Athletic Camps

Thompson will be holding sports camps this summer for all grade levels. Volleyball camps for 5th, 6th, and 8th graders will begin on June 21st. Girls and boys basketball camps begin on July 11th. Volleyball (7th grade), football, cross country and cheer camps are running the week of August 1st. Sign up using PushCoin. Join us for these fun activities and make new friends!

A Reminder from the School Nurse

State legislation requires that all Illinois children in Sixth Grade will have a dental examination. A licensed dentist must perform the examination, and he or she shall sign the form. Dental offices should have the form available, but it is also available online at www.d303.org under Departments, then Health Services, then “Health Documents and Forms”. Each 6th grade student must present proof of a dental examination by a dentist prior to May 15, 2022. The exam must be dated within 18 months prior to May 15, 2022. If your child has had an exam already, you can ask your dentist to complete the form for the exam.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a waiver for children who show undue burden or lack of access to a dentist. Parents or legal guardians who object to the dental examinations on religious grounds shall present to the school a signed, detailed statement of the objection.

The deadline is quickly approaching! Please submit this if you have not already done so. If you have any questions, please contact the TMS nurses:

Diane Isbrandt RN, PEL-CSN

Sherri Esposito, RN

Amy Kashuba, RN

Thompson Middle School

331-228-3104

2022-2023 Thompson PTO Board Openings

The Thompson PTO is taking Board nominations! The PTO is composed of elected board positions, dozens of non-elected committee chairs, and numerous volunteers. Our Board positions are open to parents, guardians, and staff as well. If you are interested in running for a Thompson PTO Board Position for the 2022-2023 school year or know someone who would be a good fit, please complete this form.

Members of the current Board will reach out to anyone who is nominated to share what it is like to be a Board member and to answer questions.

For more information about the open positions, please contact any of the current PTO Officers: Shannon Puri (President), Laura Bouton (Vice President), Stephanie Chabura (Treasurer), and Kari Ann Harry (Secretary). You may also visit the PTO website at https://thompsonpto.com.