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Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter - Special Edition - 10/11/2020
HYBRID PARTNERSHIP
Dear Thomas Middle School Community,
With our STEP 3/Hybrid model beginning this week, we have some important information to share regarding the partnership that we are about to enter into together. While we normally send the Community Newsletter on the 1st and 15th of the month, this essential information will help us all be more prepared to manage both remote and in-person learning.
The success of our return to in-person learning will only be as strong as our ability to be partners in our commitment to taking the daily SELF-SCREENER seriously and ensuring that we are caring for ourselves and each other.
First, we want to be clear about the PRIORITIES & VALUES of our partnership with all of you as we make this transition together into hybrid learning:
- #1 SAFETY ~ The well-being of our students & staff will be our top priority! We will carefully evaluate the practices and protocols and let you know about any adjustments needed.
- #2 CONNECTION ~ We will focus on strengthening our connections with the students and helping the students foster connections with one another. We PROMISE we will do our best to continue to include and support our Remote Only students. We recognize that due to health conditions, we have students and a few staff members that must remain in the remote setting. We will make an extra effort to be sensitive to this.
- #3 INSTRUCTION ~ Over the next few weeks, the instruction will look different as teachers adjust the pacing and rigor of teaching simultaneously to both online and in-person learners. PLEASE be patient with your children and with our staff as we develop new practices and routines to best support ALL of the students.
- A NOTE ABOUT COMMUNICATION ~ One thing that the staff has noticed is an incredible increase in the volume of emails we are getting each day. This is to be expected given the remote situation. While we welcome student and parent communication, we kindly ask for patience as we work to return all emails as timely as we can.
Second, here are some important reminders...
- Monday, 10/12/20 - NEW SCHEDULE - Thrively Monday Schedule starts!
- Tuesday, 10/13/20 - Friday, 10/16/20: 6th GRADE STARTS! (A-K on T/R and L-Z on W/F)
- Thomas Hybrid Procedures - PLEASE be sure to review this!
- District 25 STEP 3 document linked here - note the language change to page 18 on travel.
- TMS Admin Hybrid Q & A session
- See below for Drop-off & Pick-up Instructions & Assign Entrances Locations, Thrively Monday Information, Jason Reynolds Article, Bus, Masks & Student Supplies Information.
Lastly, as always, please know that we are grateful for your support. Thank you for trusting us with your children as we EMBRACE THIS JOURNEY together. Check out our 2 F*R*I*E*N*D*S videos highlighting the return to school protocols that were shared in the announcements with students this past week.
After months of preparation, we are excited to be with students in-person and online this week!
LET'S GO!
WE GOT THIS!
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO HARD THINGS!
The TMS Admin Team
~ Lori, Greg, & Nick
Thrively Mondays - STARTS Monday, October 12th
- A tool to help students build self-awareness and develop student skills.
- A tool to explore their passions and strengths.
- A tool to help prepare them for their future careers.
During Thrively Mondays, students will self-select activities from a Thrively playlist: Effective Remote Learning - Thomas MS, and complete these activities at their own pace.
The purpose of this playlist is to help students learn strategies and tips to help prepare for a successful learning experience in a distance learning environment. By asynchronously completing these lessons, students learn how to develop the following skills:
- time management
- decision making
- prioritization
- critical thinking
- organization
At this point, students and staff have taken a Strengths Assessment, and have determined their top 5 strengths. Have your child show you the results of their individual Strengths Assessment. Below are graphs of the staff and the students' results.
We are so proud of our students for demonstrating FLEXIBILITY, RESILIENCE, ASSERTIVENESS & our staff for being CREATIVE THINKERS who are FLEXIBLE & FOCUSED! These are valuable strengths to posses during these challenging times in the midst of a pandemic.
Great article on REMOTE LEARNING
Please take a moment to read this excellent article from one of our favorite author's Jason Reynolds: Grab the Mic October Newsletter.
In this article, Jason shares five things learners should know as they continue on this strange journey of distance learning. He says, "This isn’t awesome for anyone, so be easy on yourself." His #6 at the bottom is an awesome message that all students should hear!
Morning Drop-Off & After School Pick-Up
- 6th Graders should be dropped off in the parking lot off of Thomas Street and Arlington Heights Road.
- 7th & 8th graders should be dropped off in the drop off zone on Belmont Street.
- The buses will drop students off in the Belmont Street parking lot and students will walk to their assigned entrance.
After School Pick-Up: 2:45 PM
- Pick-up for all students 6th-8th grade only occurs on Belmont Street.
- Buses will pick-up in Thomas Street and Arlington Heights Road parking lot.
*Drop-off or pick-up on Thomas Street is strictly prohibited as it is extremely dangerous for the students. Parents, please do not put your children in that dangerous position!
*Cars are not permitted in the Belmont Street parking lot during drop-off or pick-up unless there is a specialized pick-up arrangement.
*We ask that all students wear their masks during drop-off and pick-up.
STUDENT MORNING ARRIVAL LOCATIONS
BUS INFORMATION
- Bus information was mailed home on Monday, 10/5/20.
- Please direct all busing questions to the D25 Transportation Specialist:
- Laura Comastro - lcomastro@sd25.org
- PHONE: (847) 758-4888 | Fax: (847) 228-2078
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Students should bring...
- Lunch & a water bottle
- Headphones, device, and charger each day (devices should be charged at home)
- Any school supplies requested by the teachers - pencils, pens, and paper, etc.
- Outdoor weather gear - we will try to get outside for masks breaks, PE, and lunch daily. Students are welcome to bring a towel or a small blanket to sit on during lunch.
Teachers will...
- Tell students what classroom materials are needed for each class.
- Try to limit the sharing of classroom materials.
Teen Sexual Health 8th grade Parent Information
8th Grade Parents,
Below is a link to the Teen Sexual Health recorded webinar. Access will be available until October 30th, 2020.
https://candorhealthed.org/parent-information/watch-webinars/overviews-for-parents-webinars/#tsh
Password: TSH761
Questions? Please contact:
Melanie Zenisek
Science & Social Studies Coordinator
Grants Coordinator
Arlington Heights School District 25
1200 S. Dunton Ave.
Arlington Heights IL 60005
847-758-4877
EXTRA HELP IS AVAILABLE
If so, we want to help! Please encourage your child to attend Office Hours/11th Hour and to reach out to teachers for help.
PLEASE HELP! 6th Grade Physical Forms are due!
This Thursday, October 15th ALL 6th-grade students with missing physical forms
WILL BE excluded from remote and in-person learning if this is not addressed!
We have made several attempts to contact all parents of students missing these forms.
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!
Please fax, email, scan, drop-off this paperwork to the office as soon as possible.
All TMS student-athletes are required to have a physical on file as well.
TMS PTA
Do you have questions for the PTA? Email the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
2020-2021 PTA Officers:
*President: Lucy Block
*President-Elect: Amy Hoffman
*Vice President: Melissa Teuscher
*Treasurer: Suzanne Krause * Secretary: Lisa Ulyrich
MEETING THIS WEEK...
* Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 PM - PLEASE join us in the LMC or via Zoom. Please click here to RSVP on this form for the Zoom link or to let us know that you'll join us in the LMC.
Future Meeting Dates:
* November 17 * January 13
* February 17 * March 18 * April 20 * May 19
HELPFUL LINKS:
Link to the TMS PTA Website.
Link to order TMS Spiritwear Items. Please contact Stephanie Notaro - sgnotaro@sbcglobal.net or Stephanie Gries - sgries6@comcast.net for questions regarding Spiritwear.
Directory Spot: Shannon Hull is the TMS Directory Spot Chairperson. Please email ThomasPTADirectory@gmail.com for changes or access issues.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED FOR EACH CLASS!
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is taken each period. Click here for details on reporting absences.
Friends,
Gerry’s Cafe is excited to sponsor our first Virtual Art Show!
The show will spotlight the works of children and adults with developmental disabilities (our future workforce) as well as all other interested artists. How can you be involved?
We are looking for artists willing to donate their pieces. All work will be auctioned with 50% of the sale to go to the artist and 50% of the sale to benefit Gerry’s Cafe.
To participate, please email the attached Artist Agreement to Natalie Grin along with an artist bio and/or statement about the piece and a photograph (jpeg) of your artwork. The photograph will be used on our online auction site and will also be used to create notecards that will be available for purchase at a later date. The agreement, statement, and photographs should be sent to Natalie at Natalie@gerryscafe.org by November 1st.
The virtual art show will run from November 5 through November 15. Two-dimensional work should be ready for hanging (either framed or stretched canvas) and sculptures are welcome as well. Please carefully wrap and label your piece. Work can be dropped o by November 1st ℅ Mary Beth Delaney at 44 N. Vail Ave anytime between 7:00 am - 7:00 pm Monday through Friday or 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday or Sunday.
We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for your support,
Natalie and Amy
District 25 Calendar
TMS Office Information
Address: 1430 N. Belmont Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: 847-398-4260
Fax: 847-394-6843