Tiger's Tale
February 05, 2021
Message From The Principal
Thompson Families,
We are excited to announce our new Chromebooks are here and will be distributed next week! Please make sure to bring your district-owned device back to school to turn in. New devices will be handed out on the corresponding Group A and Group B days.
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
- Wednesday, February 03 - 5Essentials Parent Survey Opens https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/
- Sunday, February 07 - Super Bowl Sunday
- Monday, February 08 - Hybrid (Group A)
- Tuesday, February 09 - Hybrid (Group A) - Chromebook Distribution to Group A
- Wednesday, February 10 - Google Check-In
- Thursday, February 11, Hybrid (Group B) - Chromebook Distribution to Group B
- Friday, February 12, REMOTE FOR ALL, NO IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE (3.5 Hour SIP Day)
- Monday, February 15, NO SCHOOL, President's Day (District Closed)
REVISED SCHEDULE (Friday, February 12th)
1st Period 8:00 - 8:20
2nd Period 8:24 - 8:43
3rd Period 8:47 - 9:07
4th Period 9:11 - 9:30
5th Period 9:34 - 9:54
6th Period 9:58 - 10:18
7th Period 10:22 - 10:42
8th Period 10:46 - 11:06
9th Period 11:10 - 11:30
Outstanding Tiger Nomination
Student Council
AVID
Take a look at this article about asking questions. "One study by the Harvard Business Review exposed a startling truth about the nature of inquisitiveness: on average, children ask 300 questions a day; by middle school, this number decreases to practically none." How do we make our students more comfortable asking questions? We need to give them the opportunity to feel safe not knowing the material and give them chances to explore the unknown. If we don't ask questions, how will we learn?
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.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
Nurse's Nook
ATTENTION PARENTS:
ALL 6TH GRADERS
NEW STUDENTS TO THE DISTRICT
6TH GRADE STUDENTS COMING INTO THE
AND STUDENTS DOING THE HYBRID SCHEDULE.
YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE BUILDING UNTIL WE HAVE THEIR
UPDATED PHYSICALS AND UPDATED IMMUNIZATIONS. IF YOU HAVE
ALREADY SUBMITTED THE FORMS YOUR CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ORIENTATION AND HYBRID SCHEDULE.
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 ... Jodi Hart
Hello Tigers! My name is Jodi Hart and I am the Principal's Secretary here at Thompson. I have been a Tiger since October 2013 and prior to that worked in the district as Principal's Secretary at Bednarcik Junior High and as a Teaching Assistant at Wolf's Crossing Elementary. I spent two years as the Thompson Cheer Coach and really miss those days!
My husband, Scott Hart, is also a valued member of our Tiger family. Scott is our daytime custodian and keeps our school safe and tidy during the day hours!
Together we have four children. Hunter is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and currently pursing career as an Illinois State Police Officer. Emily is a History/Social Science major and a Redbird Cheerleader in her senior year at Illinois State University. Evan is a Finance major and also holding down two jobs in his sophmore year at Illinois State University. Owen is a junior at Oswego East and spends every free minute playing baseball or working out! Despite working a full twelve months in the school, we do manage to have a little fun. During our time away from the building, we spend most all summer at the baseball field or enjoying time in our back yard sitting on the patio with our family listening to some good 'ole country music!
Get to Know ... Krista Neitzel
Fun Fact
At first, it sounds like one of the silliest laws ever: in Switzerland, you're not allowed to own just one guinea pig or parrot. The reason for this is that they're social species, and they are considered victims of abuse if they aren't able to regularly interact with others of their species.
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 - Today, Feb. 05, 2021
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