Hello Thunder Families!

Today marks the end of the 1st Quarter of the 2022-23 school year. Please be sure to take a moment to review Home Access Center(HAC) with your child and take some time to talk about their 1st quarter experience. This is a wonderful time for students to reflect and set goals for the 2nd Quarter which begins on Monday, October 17th. As you review grades, you can also review any explore class changes for Q2 so your child knows what class they have for this second rotation.

This week we had the opportunity to participate in the “National Walk to School Day” event on Wednesday, October 12th. Staff and students joined together in celebration of this nationwide event. It was a rainy start to the day but in the end we had a ray of sunshine that popped up to conclude our event. Thank you to everyone who walked with us. We would like to extend a huge thank you to St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek who joined us for this event.

While we have concluded our conferences, we are still looking to gather feedback regarding your experience. If you attended a parent/teacher conference last week, please consider providing us information regarding your conference experience by clicking here to share your feedback.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Thompson Middle School and have a wonderful weekend!

This year we will be celebrating Veterans Day on Friday, November 11th. Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor American veterans of all wars. Many of us know or have known men and women in our families or friends who have served in the armed forces to defend our country. This year we would like to take time to honor these individuals by acknowledging their time served and to honor them at an assembly beginning at 9:00 am on that day.

If your child has someone in your family, or a friend of your family, who they would like to invite to attend our assembly and introduce to the Thompson community, please fill out the google form below by November 2nd. Veteran's families members are also welcome to attend the celebration. A light breakfast will be provided after the program for Veterans, family members, and students introducing their Veteran.

Veterans Day Form

• Attention all those interested in WRESTLING. We will have an informational meeting next Monday, October 17th, after school in Room 253 (next to the fitness center). We will then have conditioning practice on Wednesday and Friday. You must have a physical on file to participate. Join the Wrestling Schoology Course: TJJ9-XNZ8-TNJGG

• 8th grade boys basketball: We will have tryouts next Monday and Tuesday from 3:45-5:45 for anyone interested. You must have a current sports physical on file with the office to try out. See Coach Cusack or Coach Mygrant if you have any questions.

• Attention all 7th grade boys interested in playing basketball this season, tryouts will be on Monday and Tuesday of next week from after school until 5:20. If you want to play on this year’s Thunder b-ball team, you must be at tryouts! Be sure you have a sports physical on file with the office. See Mr. Petersen or Mr. Manny if you have any questions.

Please encourage your student to bring in a NEW unwrapped toy or board game during this week to school to show your support for D303 kids in need. Each District school will be collecting these items for the annual Big Hearts Toy Drive. We also encourage you to wear RED next Friday, October 14th to help raise awareness for Big Hearts of Fox Valley.

Big Hearts of Fox Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization making a difference in our own community by brightening the lives of D303 children affected by financial hardship at Christmas time and throughout the school year.

To learn more about Big Hearts of Fox Valley and to make a much needed donation visit their website at bigheartsfv.org. Thank you for helping to make the holiday season brighter, winters warmer and every day easier for kids in need in D303.

All TMS students are invited to submit an entry to our wall mural design contest.

*Designs will be voted on by the school!

**The mural will be painted in the stairwell by the Explore Hallway by Art Club.

Here are the details:

1. Draw your design on an 8x11 piece of paper.

2. Submit your entry to the LRC by Monday, October 31st.

3. Your design should represent COMMUNITY at Thompson Middle School. Please include either:

• A/ WORDS- be here, be you, belong, and/or
  
• B/ Represent concepts of school community (be you, belong)
  

**Hints: Think big, bright, bold colors, patterns, school clubs, sports, diversity, kindness, the Thunder Way, etc.

'North Stars Helping Thunder' is an after school tutoring program where St. Charles North High School Honors students help our Thunder students with their homework. This program started last week and runs from 3:45 - 4:30 pm every Tuesday and Thursday in the LRC. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Romano (Sarah.romano@d303.org) or Diane Pollilo (Louise.polillo@d303.org), Thompson Staff Facilitators. Please consider encouraging your child to take advantage of these resources!

• Thursday, October 20 - Fall Musical - 7:30 pm

• Friday, October 21 - Fall Musical - 7:30 pm
• Saturday, October 22 - Fall Musical - 2:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 26 - Early Release Day - Students are dismissed at 2:52 pm
  
• Wednesday, October 26 - PSAT for 7th & 8th Grade AVID Students - 8:40 am - 12:25 pm
• Monday, November 7 - School Improvement Day - No School for Students
• Tuesday, November 8 - Election Day Holiday
• Monday, November 21 - Wednesday, November 23 - Non Attendance Days
• Thursday, November 24 - Friday, November 25 - Thanksgiving Break
• Wednesday, November 30 - Early Release Day - Students are dismissed at 2:52 pm