Upcoming Non Attendance Day

Students will not attend school next Monday, January 18th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. When we return, Tuesday, January 19th will be a ‘B’ Day. And looking ahead, school will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2021 in observance of the Presidents’ Day Holiday!

Snow Days

For now, in the event of a snow day, hybrid students that were supposed to report to school on that day will meet with teachers virtually. We will ‘run’ the normal bell schedule from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.

Teachers will provide links to students for Google Meet or Zoom prior to 8:30 am. Teachers will provide a lesson at the start of the class period and then allow for independent work so that the students are not on their computers all day. Students will not be attending their tutorials.

Full remote students will continue learning as they normally would by meeting with their ‘odd’ or ‘even’ classes depending on whether it is an ‘A’ day or a ‘B’ day.

Get Involved!

With the start of the new year, this is a great time to revisit conversations with your middle schooler about getting involved at Thompson “beyond the school day” by participating in a club or activity. We have many, many opportunities available for in-person and remote students! Hopefully your son / daughter can find one that fits for them. You can find more information about any of our clubs on the Thompson website.

A shout out to our on-line Chess club run by Mr. Otterby! The chess club members have played matches with teams from Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Parents, the PTO is actively seeking individuals who would be interested in chairing a committee or taking over several of the officer positions for next year. I am fortunate to be able to attend their monthly meetings. I know, first hand, that this is an energetic, positive, forward thinking group focused on helping the entire Thompson community. We are lucky to be supported by this terrific organization!

Enjoy your long weekend!

Steve

Beginning on January 25, and all following Mondays for the remainder of this school year, middle school students will have an early release that ends their school day at 2:42 PM. Our middle school teachers will have the opportunity to work together in their Professional Learning Communities (PLC) when we implement early release days at both Thompson and Wredling Middle Schools. Both the elementary and high school teachers are afforded weekly collaboration time in their hybrid learning schedules and it was not embedded in the middle school schedule.

We recognize and appreciate the need to maximize instructional time for middle school students. During the Monday afternoon PLC time, teachers will be actively collaborating to answer these key questions:

• What are the essential learning target(s) in this unit and how will we adjust plans to make them the priority?
• What common assessments can we create and implement to gauge student progress and give us data across the entire grade level?
• From common assessment results (and i-Ready scores), what reteaching, support and interventions can be put in place for students who are struggling?
• From common assessment results (and i-Ready scores) what enrichment and extension activities can be used to help students who already know the standard grow?

Middle School Early Release Bell Schedule

We are excited for this opportunity as our teachers work to improve their instruction and raise student achievement! And as always, thank you for your continued support as we partner with you during your middle schoolers educational experience.

St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 strives to provide all students with the best opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally in school. As part of this commitment, District 303 is enhancing our Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) across the district for the 2020-2021 school year.

This year, students in grades 2-5 and students in 6-12 will be completing a universal screening tool to assess their academic, social, and emotional learning skills. 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 academic, social, and emotional learning.

One of the universal screening tools used by the District is the ECRA SEL Survey, which focuses on the following areas:

• Responsible Decision Making

• Self-Regulation

• Social/Relationships

The ECRA SEL Survey will be completed three times this school year. The first one was completed in the fall. Students will complete the mid year check between January 18 and January 29. The third check will be April 26 through May 7. If a screening shows that a student will benefit from additional skill development, parents will be contacted and will work in collaboration with school staff to problem-solve and determine next steps.

The Saint's tutoring Thunder (STT) club provides students with an opportunity to receive help on homework, projects, and/or comprehension of material that they are learning in classes. The Saint's tutoring Thunder (STT) club is available for both students attending in-person or remotely. This club meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Parents can sign their child up for this tutoring and/or students can sign up themselves!

STT allows students to meet virtually with a Thompson club supervisor and a St. Charles East Sophomore tutor from 4:15 until 5:00 pm. The Thompson club supervisor will facilitate the after school support while supervising the high school students tutoring our students.

Sign-ups are available Thursday-Monday for the following week. This ensures that we have the correct amount of tutors for our students. You can click here to sign up for Saint's tutoring Thunder club. Once your student has been signed up, they will receive an invite link in their email.

​Families who wish to submit a Middle School Transfer request may do so beginning February 1, 2021. Families must complete a separate form for each student they want to be transferred. Requests are granted based on space available. This means that siblings are not guaranteed placement. A written decision will be communicated to families before spring break.

Once the request is approved, a student may remain at that middle school throughout his or her middle school career, as long as the student resides in District 303.

Families of students granted permission to attend a school outside of their assigned attendance area are responsible for their own transportation. Students will return to their assigned attendance area high school regardless of the middle school attended.

The Middle School Transfer request window will close at 4:00pm on February 26, 2021. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Marsan at 331-228-2397.

Dear Parents and Future North Stars-

SCN is a great place, but it’s also a big place. Peer Leadership (PL) hopes to make the transition to high school more comfortable and fun, while offering opportunities for growth.

The goals of Peer Leadership are to:

• Match incoming freshmen with selected upperclassmen mentors.

• Foster lasting friendships and bonds between the freshmen, their mentors, and the kids in their PL Groups.

• Improve freshmen self-confidence and self-advocacy.

• Prepare freshmen to become participants in clubs, sports, classes, and other activities at SCN.

• Prepare freshmen for future leadership roles.

PL Students meet together in groups every day. PL is formally added to student schedules and takes the place of lunch/ study hall. There are weekly themes that are educational, informative, supportive, and fun. PL also attends a day of teambuilding “Camp”, has several “all PL” activities during the year, and meets together in groups both formally and informally.

We would like to be able to offer PL to all interested incoming freshmen, but our numbers are limited. In order to start the selection process, interested students (or their parents) should fill out this Preliminary Interest Form before February 5th.

Contact Stephanie Stavropoulos @ stephanie.stavropoulos@d303.org with specific questions.

Peer Leadership... a great way to start high school!

Dear Parents of 8th Graders Attending East,

Peer Leadership is an extracurricular program that matches selected incoming freshmen with juniors and seniors who make the transition into high school fun and easy and mentor them throughout the year. Because this program meets during the school day, it has to be put into a student’s schedule when registering for next year’s classes. Although we would like to be able to offer this to all interested incoming freshmen, our numbers are limited by available classroom space and our budget. Therefore, in order to start the selection process, interested students should apply using the application found at the bottom of the Friday Forecast.

If your child is interested in the program, please fill out the application (also attached below) and e-mail it to Jim Reed, the Peer Leadership Coordinator (James.Reed@d303.org). Completed applications must be received no later than Tuesday, January 19, 2021. For more information about Peer Leadership, please attend Future Saints Night in January.

We hope to hear from you!

Attention 7th and 8th graders: Do you like to write? Do you have a story that you are really proud of? Or a poem that you wrote this past year? Maybe an essay or report that is awesome?

Then the 42nd Annual AAUW Creative Writing Contest could be for you! Please click on this link for more details. Entries are due by February 3, 2021.

Compass Academy is a new D303 program that will open in the Fall of 2021 at the Haines Center. Key features of the Academy include flexible scheduling, project-based learning, interdisciplinary courses, competency-based education, and more. Any District 303 student entering grades 9-12 is eligible to enroll at the Academy. There are no entrance criteria and all students are invited to apply. This program is designed to support all students, including those interested in early college courses and/or career pathway experiences.

The Compass Academy brochure is attached below for your review. More information can be found by viewing this presentation from a recent BOE meeting. Interested parents or students should contact Director Sharon Stanley at sharon.stanley@d303.org or via this form.

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.

February 2, 2021

Wake Up Call
Virtual
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Wake Up Call is a three-part drug and alcohol prevention presentation. The first part of the presentation focuses on current trends such as vaping, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills. Next, attendees will virtually walk through a life-size teen bedroom with more than 20 “red flags” that can signal drug or alcohol use. The bedroom identifies spots where drugs can be hidden, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. Lastly, attendees will learn practical prevention strategies to prevent substance abuse and where to go for help if they are concerned. Please fill out this form if you are interested in attending.

One of the more flexible positions available is that of a D303 Substitute. You can choose to work, or not work, as your schedule permits. Take a moment and read the Substitute Handbook to see what this job entails.

If you are interested and hold a:

• Bachelor's degree in any field you would qualify to apply for a substitute license with the state which allows you to sub for teachers or teacher assistants. You would apply using THIS link.
• Associate's degree you apply for a Paraprofessional license which only allows you to sub for Teaching assistants. You would apply using THIS link.
• High School diploma you have to take an aptitude test with the KANE ROE office. Once you pass that, you apply for a Paraprofessional license which only allows you to sub for Teaching assistants. You would apply using THIS link.

Contact Julie Wenger (julie.wenger@d303.org) with any questions.

• Monday, January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Schools are Closed
  

• Tuesday, January 19 - School Resumes - 'B' Day

• Monday, January 25 - First Early Release Monday

• Monday, February 1 - Early Release Monday

• Tuesday, February 2 - Parent University - Wake Up Call

• Monday, February 8 - Early Release Monday

• Thursday, February 11 - PTO Meeting (virtual) - 9:00 - 10:00 am

• Monday, February 15 - Presidents' Day Holiday - Schools are Closed