Safety Day

The Thompson community took part in our spring safety drills today. Students and staff practiced their identified plans and behaviors in the event of crisis situations such as fires, tornados, or lock downs. We reviewed all of these drills while following social distancing protocols. We are intentional about the words we use with students and the clarity with which we communicate during every safety drill.

Please have a conversation about the safety drills with your child this weekend. By taking proactive measures to prepare for each of these emergency situations and by having follow up conversations at home, we help ensure that our Thompson students are as safe as possible at all times.

Upcoming Internet Safety Presentations

Next Wednesday, Thompson students will have the privilege of hearing an internet safety presentation. This virtual event will be facilitated by Chief Judge Hull and Circuit Judge Boles. The presentation will address the increasing problem of cyber bullying, electronic harassment, and a variety of topics youth are faced with today. The students will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk. A public thank you goes out to Chief Judge Hull and Circuit Judge Boles!

Have a great weekend!

Steve

Our Student Council is sponsoring spirit week! Join in the fun and show your school spirit!

Monday, March 21 - Comfy day

• Wear Pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal

Tuesday, March 22 - Athlete Vs. Mathlete

• Are you on the smarter side or brawnier side?

Wednesday, March 23 - Celebrity Day

• Dress as a famous person

Thursday, March 24 - East vs. North

• Wear Spirit wear from the high school you will be attending. Who will win?

Friday, March 25 - Color Wars

• 6th Grade - Gold/Yellow
• 7th Grade - Blue
• 8th Grade - White

All Thompson students will be taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) on April 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 11th. They will complete one assessment each morning and then run a modified schedule that will allow your child to attend every class each day. Please see the letter below from Mr. Dave Chiszar, the D303 Director of Assessment and Accountability.

IAR Letter from the Director of Assessment and Accountability

Please make sure your child is well rested, has a good breakfast, and is on time to school on these dates. This will help set them up for success as they take these assessments. They will also need to bring the following items to school with them each day:

• Chromebook FULLY charged and ready to go

• Earbuds - (check to ensure they are working, please)

• Book to read (Hard Copy)

• Writing Utensil

If you have questions regarding IAR testing, please feel free to contact David Chiszar, Director of Assessment & Accountability, at (331) 228-4911 or your child’s grade level counselor. Please click here to access the Thompson Middle School counselor contact information.

In the fall of this school year students in grades 3-12 completed a universal screening tool to assess their social and emotional learning skills. In the spring students in grades 3-12 will complete a follow up survey. The use of universal screening allows us to refine and strengthen our efforts to help all students achieve success by taking positive and preventative measures as early as possible. This also provides us with the opportunity to assist students who may need additional support with social and emotional learning.

Please see the attached letter in regards to the upcoming Panorama Survey Assessment. Parents will be notified of results.

Our lost and found area is filling up! Please encourage your child to check tables by the cafeteria to see if anything belongs to him/her! We will be donating these items over Spring Break.

Attention 8th Grade Parents/Guardians: We will be giving the Illinois Science Assessment on Thursday, March 24th during 1st, 3rd, and 4th periods. Makeups will be offered on Friday, March 25th. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Fedyski, 8th grade counselor. Thank you.

As part of the District’s equity audit, parent 1-hour focus groups will be held across the District via Zoom during April to allow families to share their thoughts on our District’s strengths, areas of need, and long-term opportunities for providing the best educational experience for all students. Our partners will construct and lead focus groups in the equity audit process- the Consortium for Educational Change (CEC). There will be morning and evening focus groups available for parents. Every school’s goal is to have 15 families agree to participate in a focus group. During the week of March 21, a member of our school staff will begin calling parents from a document with families’ names listed in random order to invite prospective participants to be part of a focus group and at that time will share specific dates and times. All parents are welcome to email your written responses to the focus group questions to CEC should you not be selected to participate in a focus group but desire to share your opinions (A list of the focus group questions and a place for submitting your answers to them will be posted on the District website beginning April 4). We thank you for your commitment to equity in education, and we are excited about this next step in gathering the voices of our District to create a comprehensive plan for moving forward. If you have any questions regarding the focus group process, please contact our Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Dr. Tracy Taylor, at tracy.taylor@d303.org.

As part of the District’s equity audit, student 1-hour focus groups will be held across the District via Zoom during April to allow students to share their thoughts on our District’s strengths, areas of need, and long-term opportunities for providing the best educational experience for all students. Our partners will construct and lead focus groups in the equity audit process- the Consortium for Educational Change (CEC). Student focus groups will be held during the school day. Every school’s goal is to have 20 students agree to participate in a focus group. During the week of March 21, a school staff member will begin emailing students from a document with their names listed in random order to invite prospective participants to be part of a focus group. All students are welcome to email their written responses to the focus group questions to CEC should you not be selected to participate in a focus group but desire to share your opinions (A list of the focus group questions and a place for submitting your answers to them will be posted on the District website beginning April 4). We are excited about this next step in gathering the student voices of our District so that we can create a solid plan for moving forward. If you have any questions regarding the focus group process, please contact our Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Dr. Taylor, at tracy.taylor@d303.org.

Join Kayla’s Hope Foundation (kaylashope.org) for a FULL WEEK of love, kindness & mental health awareness!

Beginning April 4th, we have your daily dose of fun with a silent auction, Masters golf raffle and mental health prompts! Jump in on Kayla’s Kindness Rock Garden launch party on April 5th and get your tickets to our BIG Hope Blooms celebration on April 9th.

To learn more or get involved, go to:
one.bidpal.net/KaylasHope2022
on facebook: KaylasHope03
on Instagram: @kaylashopefoundation
on twitter: @kaylashope2022

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

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.

• Friday, March 18 - 3rd Quarter Grades Posted in HAC
  
• Wednesday, March 23 - Early Release Day
• Monday, March 28 - Spring Break Begins
• Monday, April 4 - School Resumes

• Tuesday, April 5 - Monday, April 11 - Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) at Thompson

• Wednesday, April 6 - PTO Meeting (Virtual) - 9:00 - 10:00 am
• Friday, April 15 - School Improvement Day (No School for Students)
• Wednesday, April 27 - Early Release Day
• Wednesday, May 2 - PTO Meeting (Virtual) - 9:00 - 10:00 am