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Thomas Community Newsletter
August 29, 2022
CONNECTION & CLARIFICATION
Dear TMS Families,
You'll hear this from us frequently, the school-home connection is an essential component of student success! Our CONNECTION with your children extends to you as parents as well. We find great value in sharing our learning expectations & clarifying our curriculum focus & instructional practices with you. A key way we are able to do this is through our curriculum night events. You'll have an opportunity to move class to class following your child's schedule and meeting the teachers. This Wednesday, 8/31 we'll host 6th Grade Curriculum Night from 6-8 PM. We look forward to sharing PowerSchool login information with 6th-grade parents during homeroom. The 7th & 8th Curriculum Night is on Thursday, September 8th from 6-8 PM. At both events, we will start with an optional Administrator Welcome at 5:45 PM in the Large Gym and parents will follow their child's schedule. We encourage you to print the schedule below and speak with your child about their schedule. Copies of each child's schedule will also be given to parents in homeroom the night of each event.
In this Newsletter, you'll find information on the following:
- TMS After School Support by Team - Click here for more details on options for your child to get help from staff at TMS on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The activity bus departs TMS at about 3:35 PM. Please see the Activity Bus Black Out Schedule below.
- Click the District 25 Covid-19 Information page to learn more about our procedures.
- Raising Cane's Fundraising Night - this Tuesday, 8/30 from 4-9 PM. Join us to support TMS by telling them that you're with TMS & 15% of the profits will be donated back to us.
- Student Variety Show Informational Meeting after school - Wed. 8/31
- Students NEW to District 25 Lunch Groups with the TMS Social Workers - Wed. 8/31
- Fall MAP Testing Modified Daily Schedule - 9/12 & 9/13
- Glenbard Parent Series Navigating Healthy Families, - Through our community partner, the Link Together Coalition, we have the opportunity to join other parents of high school and middle school students, and professionals to learn about issues facing today’s youth. The Glenbard Parent Series engages top experts, parents, and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal to strengthen our communities. Programs are free and open to the public. Click here to learn more. These events are so informative!
Reminder information:
- 6th Grade & New D25 New Students TMS Chromebook Usage Form - DUE ASAP!
- TMS Fundraising Event @ Raising Cane's: Tuesday, 8/30/22 from 4-9 PM
- 6th Grade Curriculum Night: Wednesday, 8/31/22 from 6-8 PM
- Labor Day No School: Monday, 9/5/22
- 8th Grade Virtual Parent Event for Candor Health Program - 9/6/22 @6:30 PM
- 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night: Thursday, 9/8/22 from 6-8 PM
- Fall MAP Testing - 9/12 & 9/13 Modified Daily Schedule (see below)
- PTA Meeting: Tuesday, 9/13/22 @ 7 PM
- Picture Day Retakes: Monday, 10/3/22 from 8-10:30 AM
- 6th Grade Physical Forms Due by Friday, 10/14/22
- Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences: 10/20/22-10/21/22
- 2022-2023 District 25 Calendar: linked here
Wishing all our families a safe and restful Labor Day Holiday!
Take care,
Lori, Nick, & Greg ~ The TMS Admin Team
Attention 8th Grade Parents & Guardians Virtual Parent Night Event for Candor Health Education Program
On August 24th all parents of eighth-grade students should have received an email from Dr. Bein about the upcoming virtual Candor Health Education Program parent event on September 6, 2022 at 6:30 PM. This event is for parents and guardians to learn more about the Candor Health Education program. Parents of eighth-grade students, please check your email if you are unaware of this event.
If you have any questions on this matter please call or email:
Melanie Zenisek
District Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education & Health Coordinator
847-758-4877
SAFETY REMINDERS WITH NEW ROUTINES:
- Unless the forgotten item is related to health and safety, please promote student responsibility and do not drop off items at school. (Students can always get a school lunch!)
- Unless the item is stored in the Health Office, items dropped off will be placed in the grade level bin located at our main entrance and distributed to students at lunch.
- There are over 1,000 people going in and out of TMS each day. Please recognize that arrival and dismissal are going to take some time. PLEASE BE PATIENT & PUT SAFETY 1st!
- Please read the TMS Drop Off & Pick Up Expectations linked below.
- Picked up does not need to occur at exactly 2:45 PM. Middle school students can cross at the crosswalks to meet you in a location that is not on Belmont Avenue or Thomas Street directly in front of TMS.
ID Lanyards & Badges Required for Adults Inside of D25 Buildings:
- NEW this year, District 25 requires all adults to wear an ID lanyard or AHSD badge clip with ID while inside district facilities.
- Lanyards will be given out in the following colors:
Staff - Green Lanyards
Guest Teachers - Yellow Lanyards
Volunteers - Red Lanyards
PLEASE Demonstrate Patience & Grace During Drop-Off & Pick-Up
We are begging you to PLEASE be safe and recognize that drop-off and pick-up at a school as large as TMS is going to take some time. If you're short on time, please consider dropping your child off on Douglas Street or Olive Street. Please DO NOT park or drop off students north of Belmont Avenue and Thomas Street as that increases congestion. You can actually park on Thomas Street, just a couple of blocks east of Belmont Avenue. You are not permitted to drop off or pick up on Thomas Street between Arlington Heights Road and Belmont Avenue.
Students are asked to wait a bit longer, BEHIND THE YELLOW LINES, and cross in groups at both Belmont Avenue and Arlington Heights Road, and Thomas Street. Please discuss this with your child and remind them that they need to demonstrate patience and respect while waiting for the crossing guard behind the yellow line unit they are given permission to cross.
Many thanks to all the parents, students, and community members who demonstrate patience and grace while properly making their way through morning arrival and after-school dismissal.
Extra Help Is Available
Please encourage your child to attend Office Hours/11th Hour/Homework Club and to reach out to teachers if they need help or just want a place to work on their academics after school. This support is FREE and can be extremely helpful.
Click here for more details on options for your child to get help from staff at TMS. The activity bus departs TMS at about 3:35 PM. Please see the Activity Bus Black Out Schedule below.
Bus Information
All bus transportation questions should be directed to the District 25 Transportation Specialist:
Laura Comastro. Laura is the best person to answer your questions and resolve any issues.
847-758-4888
Additional bus information can be found at the transportation link on the District 25 website.
Daily Attendance Information
- ABSENCE REPORTING: If your child is sick or unable or attend school you MUST report this to the TMS office by filling out the Online Attendance Form OR calling the office at 847-398-4260 by 8 AM. Please be sure to report your child's absence so that we can account for all students each day.
- ARRIVAL TIME: Students should arrive at school between 7:30-7:40 AM so that they can stop at their locker and be seated in their homeroom class by 7:50 AM.
- LATE ARRIVAL/TARDIES: Students arriving late to school are unexcused unless a parent or guardian calls to report the reason for the late arrival. Students must sign in in the office upon arrival at school.
- EARLY DISMISSAL: If your child has a doctor's appointment and needs to leave school before dismissal at 2:45 PM, please be sure to report this to the TMS office by filling out the Online Attendance Form OR calling the office at 847-398-4260. Students must sign out in the office before leaving school early.
Chromebook Challenges? PowerSchool or Schoology Troubles?
The Tech Office is located in the LMC.
*Please note that login information for 6th graders will be shared with parents at Curriculum Night.
Lunch Money Payments & Lunch Account Spending
Please note that your middle schooler has the ability to independently make lunch purchases. It is difficult for staff to monitor what students are purchasing as we have several cashiers checking out students during lunch. Parents are encouraged to monitor their child's lunch account to ensure healthy choices are being made and personal daily spending expectations are not exceeded.
IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
- District 25 Covid-19 Information
- Athletic Registration Form: This is for students that wish to participate in TMS athletics. If a student is participating in Cross Country we must have the physical by the first day of practice.
- PHYSICAL FORMS: All 6th graders will need a physical form. Physicals must be dated on or after 8/17/2021 and are due by 10/15/2022. We are unable to accept a doctor's note for a physical at a future date. The physical must be turned in by October 15th, 2022 or the student will be excluded from school.
- DENTAL FORMS: All dental forms are due by 5/15/23 and must be dated after 11/15/21.
- HEALTH OFFICE DOCUMENTS: Health Office documents can be turned into the TMS main office or can be uploaded to the TMS Health Office Form linked here.
AHSD25 School Resource Officers
School District 25 has a wonderful partnership with the Arlington Heights Police Department and we are very fortunate to have two outstanding School Resource Officers that support our schools. The SROs attend various TMS events throughout the school year as they are an essential part of our Wolf Pack.
Officer Danny Malik & Officer John O'Leary
School Resource Officer
Arlington Heights Police Department
dmalik@vah.com & joleary@vah.com
M: 847-878-2949
W: 847-368-5393
TMS PTA
MEETING DATES 2022-2023:
Tuesday - 9/13/2022
Wednesday - 10/12/2022
Tuesday - 11/15/22
Wednesday - 1/11/23
Tuesday - 2/7/2023
Wednesday - 3/15/2023
Wednesday - 4/5/2023
Congratulations to the 2022-2023 PTA Officers:
- President: Suzanne Krause
- President-Elect: **This position is open! Please contact thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com if you know someone who might be interested in filling this position!
- Vice President: Nora Muenkel *Welcome to the board!
- Treasurer: Kelly Spokas
- Secretary: Deborah Oiler
Do you have questions for the PTA? Email the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
TMS Office Information
Monday - Friday 7 AM - 3 PM
Attendance Reporting:
Online Attendance Form: Click here to report your child's absence or late arrival or early dismissal. The other option is to call the TMS office at 847-398-4260 to report your child's attendance.
TMS Address:
1430 N. Belmont Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: 847-398-4260
Fax: 847-394-6843