Happy Friday, and hello weekend everyone! Why is it that sometimes shortened weeks seem longer than regular five-day weeks? For the TMS staff this week it could be from having two Curriculum Nights and 6th grade outdoor education field trips. I was fortunate enough to attend both those events this week and they were awesome! It was great to see so many of our parents and guardians in the building on Tuesday and Wednesday night learning about all the things that make Thompson a great place for students.

On Wednesday, prior to meeting with parents and guardians, I was at Camp Duncan in Ingleside with our Team 6-1 students and staff. This was an incredible experience for both students and staff. Students go through a variety of team building and problem solving activities throughout the day. The culmination of these activities for my group was a climbing wall at the end of the experience. I was amazed at how well some of the students scaled the wall with ease. That said, regardless of whether or not students made it to the top, or simply gave it a try (like their favorite middle school principal), it filled me with joy to see them encouraging each other to climb higher and do their best.

Students planning to be absent from school should complete a pre-arranged absence form, with parent and teacher signatures, at least two days prior to the date of absence. Students receive five excused pre-arranged days per school year, additional days beyond that are considered to be unexcused. Times that a pre-arragned absence should be completed include but are not limited to:

• Participation in regional or national contest/award
• Family vacation
• Special religious event

We are pleased to announce the Anderson Book Fair is coming to Thompson Middle School!

September 28- October 4 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM

October 5 8:15 AM - 8:00 PM (during Parent/Teacher Conferences)

Our Anderson Book Fair will have a wonderful selection of engaging books for every reading level.

District 303 is pleased to present its lineup of Parent Education sessions for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Parent Education series (formerly Parent University) includes informational meetings and workshops intended to empower parents and guardians to support their children’s academic, social and emotional needs. Become informed on specialized topics, engage in two-way dialogue with speakers and fellow parents, and become a support resource for others.

Sessions for this school year will focus on bullying prevention, addressing anxiety, and include film screenings and discussions about the impact of screen time and cultural awareness. The schedule also includes college preparation workshops hosted by our high schools. Sessions were selected based in part on feedback from District 303 parents.

Explore the full lineup of sessions here. Signup forms for each session will be made available closer to the session dates. New this year, you can also register for Parent Education notifications and receive alerts as new information and session recaps become available.

Serie de Educacion para Padres

El Distrito 303 se complace en presentar su línea de sesiones de Educación para Padres para el año escolar 2023-2024.

La serie de Educación para Padres (anteriormente Universidad para Padres) incluye reuniones informativas y talleres destinados a capacitar a los padres y tutores para apoyar las necesidades académicas, sociales y emocionales de sus hijos. Infórmese sobre temas especializados, participe en un diálogo bidireccional con los presentadores y otros padres, y conviértase en un recurso de apoyo para los demás.

Las sesiones de este año escolar se centrarán en la prevención del acoso escolar, cómo abordar la ansiedad, e incluirán proyecciones de películas y pláticas sobre el impacto del tiempo frente a la pantalla y la concienciación cultural. El programa también incluye talleres de preparación para la universidad organizados por nuestras escuelas preparatorias. Las sesiones fueron seleccionadas basándose en parte en los comentarios de los padres del Distrito 303.

• Tuesday, September 26 - School Picture Re-takes
• Wednesday, Septebmer 27 - Early Release for All Grades
• Thursday, October 5 - Parent / Teacher conferences - no school for students
• Friday, October 6 - Parent / Teacher conferences - no school for students
• Monday, October 9 - Columbus / Indigenous People Day - no school for students