SPRING BREAK

This afternoon marks the beginning of Spring Break. Please enjoy your children next week as they will be around more often. I encourage you to take some time to have conversations with your middle schooler about how things at school have gone so far. Hopefully, within that conversation, you will recognize successes and talk about setting 4th quarter goals with your student.

Have a safe and relaxing spring break!

ILLINOIS ASSESSMENT OF READINESS

The April State of Illinois standardized assessment is now called the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. The Illinois Assessment of Readiness is almost exactly the same this year as the assessment that students took last year, only slightly shorter. Neither the questions nor the rigor have changed. The test has changed in name only. At Thompson students will be taking one test per day on April 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17.

Most middle schools will only be taking five tests, but Thompson was randomly selected by the state to take an additional language arts ‘field’ test. The purpose of the field test is to try out new material and to replenish and expand the item pool for future tests.

INCOMING 6TH GRADERS

Beginning in early April, I will be visiting with the parents of our incoming 6th graders. I look forward to these meetings for several reasons. First, I enjoy getting to make connections with the new parent group. Second, I love having the opportunity to talk about all of the wonderful things middle school has to offer. If you know of a family of a soon to be middle schooler, please encourage them to attend the upcoming events.

Click here to view the transition opportunities for 5th grade students listed below and a t-shirt order form or see the attached flyers.

• Incoming 6th grade parents: You are invited to attend one of two “transition to middle school” nights in the Thompson LRC. These evenings are scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 11th from 6:30-7:30 pm. The evenings will provide an opportunity to learn more about your student’s transition to middle school and ask questions about the process. Please plan to attend one of these meetings.

• Incoming 6th grade parents and students: Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 24th. On this night, the 6th Grade Open House will take place at Thompson from 6:15-7:00 pm. Families will have the opportunity to meet the 6th grade faculty and tour our 6th grade center.

• 5th graders will be visiting Thompson with their schools on May 10th or May 17th.

Enjoy your Spring Break!

~Steve

Students from Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles schools recently submitted entries in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for the 40th Annual American Association of University Women (AAUW) Creative Writing Contest. We are pleased that three of our Thompson students received either a first place or an Honorable Mention.

• Riley Wilson, 1st place - 7th Grade Non-Fiction, The First Meet
• Sabreena Kapadia, 7th Grade Non-Fiction Honorable Mention, Lane 3
• Kara Claussner, 8th Grade Fiction Honorable Mention, Sic Semper Tyrannis

State legislation requires that all Illinois children in Sixth Grade 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 available online at www.d303.org under Departments, then Health Services, then “Health Documents and Forms”. Each child must present proof of a dental examination by a dentist prior to May 15, 2019. The exam must be dated within 18 months prior to May 15, 2019. 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:

Diane Isbrandt RN, PEL-CSN

Thompson Middle School

331-228-3404

331-228-3401 (fax)

Join us on April 16th to learn strategies to assist and respond to your child when they are feeling anxious. A representative from Tri-City Family Services, along with D303 staff will offer insight on how to help your child deal with anxiety. This session will take place in the Wild Rose LRC from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Please click here for more information.

Fiction on the Fox, an annual community writing event for middle school and high school students, is being held on May 17th at the Baker Community Center. If your child enjoys creative writing, please encourage them to submit their piece to be shared at this special event. Students should send pieces to FictionOnTheFox@d303.org. Please email Lizzy Vander Woude or Megan Keane with questions!

• Monday, March 25 - Spring Break through March 29
  
• Monday, April 1 - School Resumes
• Thursday, April 4 - Principal Coffee - 9:30 - 10:30 am
• Wednesday, April 10 - IAR Testing - April 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17
• Thursday, April 11 - PTO Meeting from 9:00 - 10:00 am at the 6th grade center
• Tuesday, April 16 - Parent University - Angst Follow-up #3 at Wild Rose - 6:30 - 8:00 pm
• Thursday, April 18 - Operation Snowflake at Wredling 4:00 - 7:00 pm
• Friday, April 19 - No school for students - School Improvement Day
• Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day Holiday
• Friday, June 7 - Last Day of School (if no more 'Emergency Days' are used)