Dressing for winter~

As cooler weather is taking hold, we are beginning to see more students wearing heavier coats and other students actually wearing coats, which is a good thing. Please know that although we would love to be able to utilize Thompson lockers to store these items, the current pandemic does not allow our school or district to do so. Assigning lockers would create a situation that would lead to students congregating in tight spaces, less than six feet apart. Students are encouraged to wear appropriate outer clothing to school. Once they are here and safely inside, they will be asked to “hang” their jackets over the back of the chair they are using throughout the day. We know this is certainly not ideal, but another adjustment that we need to make to keep our students as safe as possible.

Thank you to our PTO!

One of the many initiatives of our fabulous PTO is to support our teachers by providing grants. The group is very deliberate in their decision making when awarding grants. Our Builders Club will be providing sack lunches to Lazarus House once a month and the PTO is providing the resources to make this happen. A ‘win’ for our club and the community! Thank you!

Grades are posted in the Home Access Center (HAC)

Just a reminder that first quarter grades are now posted in the Home Access Center. As we continue through the second quarter, I would like to take this time to remind our parent community to continue to monitor your child’s academic progress using HAC. If you have any questions about school work, please contact your child’s teachers.

Enjoy the Fall weekend!

~ Steve

D303 has clear expectations that all middle school students wear their IDs at all times. If a student does not have an ID, they will need to purchase a new one for $5 in the LRC. The $5 will be charged to your child's PushCoin account. This can add up very quickly if a student does not have their ID several times. Please talk to your child about showing responsibility by wearing his/her ID/lanyard at all times, and understand the financial implications of having to buy replacement ID/lanyards.

• Students received 1 ID and can get 1 additional ID for free.
• Students received 1 lanyard and can get 1 additional lanyard for free.

It’s time for the Global Read Aloud! The two GRA books this year are Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park.

Students are invited to hear from the authors virtually, read the book, and join D303 students for a roundtable discussion. Information to join the author presentation and the discussion can be found below.

Stamped by Jason Reynolds (Recommended by School Library Journal for grades 7 and up)

• October 9- Meet the author live

• November 5- Participate in a 6-12 roundtable discussion

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park (Recommended by School Library Journal for grades 5-8)

• October 30- Meet the author live

• November 18- Participate in a 6-8 roundtable discussion

We hope students will join in the reading fun!

Parent University was developed in response to the need for programming to address the social and emotional needs of students in District 303. Over the last decade, the district has strived to provide information on topics that are relevant, timely, and beneficial for all parents and guardians.

October 29, 2020
Parenting The New Teen In The Age of Anxiety
Virtual
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Dr. John Duffy, a nationally recognized expert in parenting for nearly twenty-five years, wrote this book as a guide for parents raising children who are growing up too quickly and, as a result, dealing with unresolved adolescent issues that can lead to anxiety and depression. Please indicate your interest in getting a copy of the book and event by filling out this form.

November 2, 2020
Technology Talk
Sessions will be organized as follows:
7:00-7:30-Seesaw
7:30-8:00-Google Classroom
8:00-8:30-Schoology
In this upcoming Parent University session, families will familiarize themselves with the 3 digital platforms teachers may use in the district: Seesaw, Google Classroom, and Schoology. Each digital platform will have its own 30-minute session. During these sessions, families will learn how best to support their children with their classwork. They will see where assignments are posted, how teachers communicate and collaborate with their child, where students turn in their work, and the many ways teachers can utilize the platform. Please fill out this form to indicate which session you are interested in attending.

Welcome to remote learning! Remember that remote students have classes every day. Below are resources for our full remote learners:

• Remote Academy Calendar (and Bell Schedule)

• Overview and Expectations

• Teachers and Resources

You can check the attendance for any of your students at any time by logging into the Home Access Center and clicking on the attendance tab to view. Toggle between students using the arrow in the upper right hand corner.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the main office at (331) 228-3100! We are here to help!

Our TMS and WMS Middle School Counselors will be offering office hours for Remote Students only. These office hours are intended to provide students academic support, time management skills, organizational skills and stress/anxiety coping strategies. The ZOOM link to meet with the counselor during the scheduled hours can be found on the Remote Academy website page.

Office Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

9:00 am - 10:00 am & 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

STARTING Tuesday, October 20, 2020

• Friday, October 23 - Grades posted in the Home Access Center (HAC)
  
• Thursday, October 29 - Parent University "Parenting The New Teen In The Age of Anxiety"
• Monday, November 2 - Parent University "Technology Talks"
• Tuesday, November 3 - Election Day Holiday (Schools are Closed)
• Monday, November 9 - Remote Learning Planning Day (No School for Students)