Thompson Friday Forecast

This week I have decided to include a potpourri of odds and ends ranging from important events to acknowledgements of our great staff.

Teacher Appreciation

Our Thompson teachers are fabulous! In my eyes, every week is teacher appreciation week. During a “normal” school year, they set the standard of excellence for public educators and given the circumstances this spring, they have simply shined while ensuring that their students continued to have access to powerful learning activities. If you haven't thanked a teacher yet this week, there is still time! Thanks Thompson Staff!

A special thank you also goes out to our wonderful PTO for the generous Town House Books and Cafe certificates that were mailed to the staff in recognition of teacher appreciation week. Included in our week was School Nurse Day. Our nurses, Mrs. Isbrandt, Mrs. Esposito, and Mrs. Vogl are fabulous at their jobs. They take care of students and staff, with what appears to be effortless excellence, when in fact, they just make it look easy. Their jobs are very difficult and very serious. Thank you for keeping us healthy!

End of the School Year

We are coming down the academic home stretch of the year as remote learners. Two weeks to go! This is the time in the year that students should be finishing up learning activities, checking in regarding assignments, and making sure that learning expectations have been met. And I’m quite certain that no one could have anticipated our year ending this way.

Be on the lookout! We are working on a plan for locker cleanout and will be sharing the details and process through a ParentLink message soon.

If you have not done so already, please provide us with your feedback on remote learning in D303 by filling out this remote learning survey.

Incoming 6th grade families, be on the lookout for a ParentLink message from me that includes my middle school presentation for soon to be middle school families.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day weekend!

Steve

Soon to be 6th grade families...Be on the lookout for a recorded Thompson Middle School Presentation that will be sent to you, via ParentLink, by Mr. Steve Morrill. Middle School is just around the corner!

Please take a moment to tour your new school here. You can find directions for viewing and narration here. We are looking forward to welcoming our newest Thunder students!

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) launched the Pandemic EBT application for families on May 1 at https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/. P-EBT is a new special benefit that can help families buy food for their school age children who would normally receive National School Lunch Program (NSLP) free or reduced-priced meals when schools are in session. All families with school age children who attend schools approved for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) are eligible for the benefits as they receive NSLP meals at no charge.

Families that currently receive SNAP benefits do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. These additional P-EBT benefits will be loaded into Illinois LINK EBT accounts along with regular SNAP benefits. Families who do not currently receive SNAP benefits but do have children who receive NSLP free or reduced-priced meals will need to apply directly with IDHS. The fastest way for families to receive benefits is to complete the application for P-EBT available online (Click “Apply for Benefits” at the link.) A paper application in English and Spanish is also available and can be submitted by email to DHS.FCS.PEBT@illinois.gov. IDHS created a flyer to help families with the application process. We are asking NSLP sponsors to share this flyer with their families.

ISBE is working in partnership with IDHS to ensure that this validation is available for all NSLP sponsors, both public and non-public. Thank you to all the schools that participate in the NSLP for submitting data by the April 17 deadline. We are asking that you please continue to verify that count, so that all families who are eligible can access the additional financial support provided by P-EBT. Instructions for this crucial verification can be found online.

If NSLP sponsors need assistance with the data submission/update, please email the ISBE Nutrition Department at cnp@isbe.net. If families need technical assistance with the application, please direct them to email IDHS at DHS.FCS.PEBT@illinois.gov.

Nutrition Department, Illinois State Board of Education
100 N. First St., Springfield, IL 62777
cnp@isbe.net, www.isbe.net/nutrition

This week’s SEL lesson focuses on relationship skills and their development through communicating effectively. Make sure to check out the information and resources highlighted for parents. This week's competency is:

• Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

The challenges and uncertainty facing families and children are impactful on overall mental health and well being. We are hopeful the resources shared will be a support to parents/guardians and children. If you have any questions on the information provided or are seeking additional support for yourself or child, please contact Patti Palagi, Director Instructional Interventions (patti.palagi@d303.org or 331-228-6457).

Currently, the State of Illinois has not issued any information regarding changes in the school health requirements or their due dates for the upcoming school year. St. Charles CUSD 303 will continue to monitor and report any changes as they become available from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health/State of Illinois. We recognize that medical, optical, and dental appointments may not be readily available and that specific medical conditions may affect the scheduling of appointments. We recommend that families work with their primary care providers as social distancing practices evolve.

We want students to learn every day! Monday through Thursday our teachers will be providing lessons. Friday is a day to continue learning by completing lessons, catching-up on past or missing work, or doing enrichment lessons.

Please visit the website D303 Optional Remote Learning For Students to access enrichment lessons. In addition to the weekly SEL activity, the website houses a variety of optional learning experiences in the areas of math, digital citizenship, English Language Arts, college and career, and STEM. We encourage you to ask your child to engage in the SEL lessons before exploring the other choice options. Although these optional learning experiences were designed for use on Fridays, students are welcome to engage in the learning experiences on the website anytime.

As you know, Principal Morrill recently lost his wife Diane to cancer. Diane was a music/orchestra teacher for Addison District 4 for many years. A scholarship fund to support District 4 students who participate in orchestra has been established in Diane's name. If you are interested in contributing, please click on this link for more information.

Please keep Steve and his sons in your thoughts!

If your child has medication in the health office that you need to retrieve at this time, please email Diane Isbrandt RN, PEL-CSN at diane.isbrandt@d303.org for assistance. When guidance for public access to school settings is received from the Illinois Department of Public Health/CDC, details on a general medication pick up process/timeframe will be shared.

Thank you for your understanding and support at this time!

Returning Student Registration for 2020-2021 has moved to an online format that opened on Monday, April 27th. In years past, parents completed the necessary paperwork in paper format. This year, all acknowledgments and authorizations are contained in a single electronic, online registration form that will be easily accessible from most electronic devices (computer, Chromebook, and Smartphones).

Parents can sign into the Returning Student Online Registration form using their Home Access Center (HAC) credentials, select individual students, and complete their registration. The form is located in the Parents/Community menu of the District website and on Thompson’s website under Parents/Registration Materials.

Registration fees for elementary and middle school are available in PushCoin and billed to reflect the early bird discount of $10.00 if paid by May 22nd. High School fees will be available in June. For families who may qualify for a fee waiver, and are not directly certified by the state, a 2020-2021 district fee waiver application will be available on the District 303 website in July, accessible from the Parent/Community menu.

Please contact the main office if you have any questions at (331) 228-3100!

Although the administrators and office staff are following the governor’s stay-at-home order, we are still available to answer questions and assist you when needed. Please call the main office at (331) 228-3100 or email one of the administrators. We are here for you!

• 6th Grade Assistant Principal - Shane Darnell
• 7th Grade Assistant Principal - Grant Montgomery
• 8th Grade Assistant Principal - Sarah Cann
• Principal - Steve Morrill

Unfortunately, all field trips and track season are canceled for the remainder of the school year. If you paid in PushCoin the money was credited to your account. If you paid with a check or cash, a check from the school will be mailed to you. Please be patient as this will take a bit to issue these checks. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Walters.

Every year, Thompson students publish a Thompson Yearbook. Students who decide to purchase a yearbook are given this keepsake at the end of the school year. Buying a yearbook is optional and not all students choose to own one. The price of the yearbook is $25.

Have you ordered your Thompson 19-20 Yearbook? You can check your PushCoin account to see if you have purchased one by going to 'transactions' and then adjusting the start date back to April 1, 2019. Contact Kim Walters (kimberly.walters@d303.org or 331-228-6410) if you have any questions or need financial assistance.

• Friday, May 22 - Last day for Early Bird discount for 2020-2021 fees
  
• Friday, May 22 - Last Day of School
• Monday, June 1 - Grades posted in HAC

Mr. Steve Morrill - Principal

Mrs. Sarah Cann - Assistant Principal

Mr. Shane Darnell - Assistant Principal

Mr. Grant Montgomery - Assistant Principal

Let's Talk!

Email: kimberly.walters@d303.org
Website: http://thompson.d303.org
Location: 705 West Main Street
Phone: (331) 228-3100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thompson-Middle-School-671638232903851/