Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter 9/2/2019
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy Labor Day! We hope everyone is having a wonderful extended weekend with family and friends! At the start of the school year, there is so much information to share. We hope you'll take some time to read this newsletter and as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us!
Key items in this newsletter:
- Traffic Safety Information
- PTA Meeting and Extracurricular Enrichment Festival 9/10/19, Volunteer Survey, Spirit Wear
- IESA Eligibility Guidelines for Student-Athletes
- Ways to help your child with organization skills and coping with anxiety
- Student Absence Reporting
SAFETY DRILLS
At TMS we are having a blast getting to know your children. Our staff is impressed with how respectful, kind, and considerate your middle schoolers are. For example, this week during our SAFETY DRILLS the students were very cooperative as we practiced the SOFT & HARD LOCKDOWN DRILLS, SHELTER IN PLACE DRILL, FIRE DRILL, & the RELOCATION DRILL. The Arlington Heights Police and Fire officers commented on how well our students' demonstrated self-control by listening and being quiet during our drills. We are so proud of our T-Wolves! Well done parents! Thank you for all the work you've done to instill these critical life skills in your children.
HOMEWORK CLUB & 11th HOUR
When we return to school on Tuesday, 9/3/19 the TMS after school HOMEWORK & 11th Hour clubs will begin. If your child is a bus rider, the Activity Bus will pick-up the students near the main entrance at 3:30 and depart at 3:35. We hope your children will join us for these opportunities to enrich their academics and obtain additional support.
HOMEROOM ADVISORY 9/5/19 with Buffalo Grove ELEVATE STUDENTS
This Thursday during homeroom advisory the Elevate student leaders from Buffalo Grove High School will be leading lessons for our students. The 6th graders will learn about values & principles, and the Thomas DEN Club. The 7th graders will engage in a lesson on mood & mindset. The 8th graders will interact in a lesson on the Illinois Human Performance Project.
CURRICULUM NIGHTS
This past week we welcomed all the parents of our 6th graders for Curriculum Night. On Thursday, September 12th we will host a Curriculum Night for all of the 7th and 8th grade parents and guardians from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. We will start the night with an optional "MEET THE PRINCIPALS" event in the large gym at 6:45 pm.
UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS:
This week we will begin our fall assessments. The 2019-2020 assessment calendar is below.
FASTBRIDGE - All students will take the FASTBRIDGE universal screening assessments which will be administered in Math and English Language Arts classes.
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) - On Thursdays, September 12th & 19th all 6th graders and select 7th & 8th graders who scored below the 40%tile on MAP in the Spring will be administered the MAP assessment. The MAP assessment will be given to students in intervention classes, resource classes, and during homeroom for those who do not have an intervention or resource class. Please contact your child's homeroom, ELA, or math teacher for additional information. TMS will run a modified daily schedule on Thursdays, September 12th & 19th.
Have a happy and safe holiday!
Greg, Nick, & Lori
Mr. Vito...
Mr. Vito...
Mr. Vito...
TMS TRAFFIC PATTERNS and EXPECTATIONS FOR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
PLEASE review the TMS traffic patterns and expectations for the start and end of each school day.
- We ask that you PLEASE follow these expectations as they are in place for safety reasons.
- We encourage you to PLEASE think about what YOUR ACTIONS SAY to your child when you are not following the expectations.
- We recommend that you PLEASE allow for extra time so that you do not feel rushed and tempted to make an unsafe decision compromising the safety of those around you.
- PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF OR PICK UP YOUR CHILD ON THOMAS STREET! This is extremely dangerous for your child and disruptive to our traffic flow.
Traffic Pattern: Here is a link to the TMS MAP highlighting our traffic patterns for morning drop off.
Arrival Before School
6th Grade Entrance: All 6th graders will enter TMS using the 6th grade entrance located on the Thomas Street side of the building. 6th graders can be dropped off in the parking lot near Arlington Heights Road and Thomas Street.
7th & 8th Grade Entrance: All 7th and 8th graders will enter TMS using the main entrance. The 8th graders will proceed up the main stairwell in the foyer and the 7th graders will either turn left at the Gamma hallway or proceed to the north stairwell to enter the second floor.
Dismissal After School
How do students exit the building? At 2:45, the end of the school day, students are expected to make their way to their after school activities by 3:00 pm or they can choose to exit the building for the day. Students walking or biking home may select to utilize any exit at the end of the school day.
Parent Pick-Up Line: ALL 6th, 7th & 8th graders can get picked up on the carpool line which is on Belmont Avenue. Please be sure to form a single line along Belmont Street and remain in your car until your student arrives. It is extremely dangerous to drop off or pick-up students on Thomas Street. PLEASE do not do this!
Bussing: Students taking the bus should exit out the LMC doors, as the busses will line up in the Arlington Heights side parking lot. Cars are not permitted to enter this lot after school.
The doors to TMS open at 7:40 each morning for all students. Students are expected to be seated in homeroom by 7:50. Prompt arrival at school each morning will help your child start each day on a successful note.
PTA Meeting & TMS Extracurricular Enrichment Festival
Please join us for the first PTA meeting of the school year on Tuesday, 9/10/19 @7p.m.
Come an hour early and check out our
Thomas Middle School Extracurricular Enrichment Festival on Tuesday, 9/10/19 @6p.m.
The Extracurricular Enrichment Festival will feature information on TMS teams, clubs, and fun opportunities that TMS will offer this year. Students and families can ask questions and learn about the various enrichment opportunities TMS offers.
PTA Parent Volunteer Survey
IESA Eligibility Guidelines
Ways to help your child with organization....
PHONE & ONLINE Absence Reporting
PHONE CALL TO REPORT AN ABSENCE:
1) Call the Thomas School phone number at 847-398-4260.
2) The auto-attendant will prompt you with these options:
- Press 1 to report an absence
- Press 2 to contact the school nurse
- Press 0 to remain on the line for the office.
3) Press 1 and report your child's absence.
ONLINE REPORTING via TMS Homepage:
Click the ONLINE ABSENCE REPORTING BUTTON located on the TMS homepage and complete the details on your child's absence.
Absent & Upcoming Absences? Want to request homework?
You will no longer need to call the office to request work that has been missed. Instead, you can stay up-to-date by logging into Schoology. We do not expect your child to complete the work while they are absent because we anticipate they are sick and that is the reason they are home. When they are feeling better and ready to begin making up the work it will be available on Schoology. If you are not confident that the work is available on Schoology please email the teacher directly to inquire about what homework specifically needs to be made up.
Thank you!
ATTENDANCE & TARDY
At the end of each quarter, we will also send home a letter notifying parents of students who have missed more than 5% of the school year or have been tardy for more than 5% of the school year.
"By as early as sixth grade, high truancy rates become a distinct predictor of whether or not a student will graduate from high school."
For this reason, we think it is critical to notify all families that attending school and attending on time is critical to your child's success.
Physical Forms Required for ALL 6th Graders:
ACTION ITEM - Chromebook Usage Form
7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night
7th & 8th Curriculum Night: Thursday, 9/12/19 @ 7p.m.
**At 6:45 there will be a MEET THE PRINCIPALS event in the Gym. All are welcome to attend!
If you have not already done so it is a good idea to have PowerSchool and Schoology downloaded on your phone for easy access to your child's schedule. We will provide you with a paper copy of your child's schedule when you arrive in homeroom. Another good idea is to take a picture of your child's schedule and keep it on your phone to reference throughout the night. You can also copy down your child's schedule on the schedule linked here and attached below.
Please wear a comfortable pair of shoes as you will be walking the entire 10-period schedule. We will have student leaders located in the hallway if you need assistance getting from one room to another. The TMS staff is excited to strengthen our partnerships with each of you at this event as we work together to support your child!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - Important Dates
*7th & 8th Curriculum Night: Thursday, 9/12/19 @ 7 p.m.
*TMS Extracurricular Enrichment Festival: Tuesday, 9/10/19 @ 6 p.m.
*TMS PTA Meeting: Tuesday, 9/10/19 @7 p.m.
*Parent-Teacher Conference: Thursday & Friday, 10/24/19 & 10/25/19
*Additional information on these events will be provided in future emails.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness dates have been determined and reflected on the District 25 Assessment calendar. The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) window will be March 11th - 20th. Please visit the district website to view the assessment calendar in greater detail.
Illinois State Report Card - Thomas
Thomas Middle School
Email: tmsadmin@sd25.org
Website: https://www.sd25.org/Domain/9
Location: 1430 N Belmont Ave, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
Phone: 847.398.4260
Twitter: @AHSD25Thomas