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Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter ~ 2/1/22
Safety~Connection~Instruction
Hello, Parents and Guardians,
Last Friday, 1/28/22, second-quarter report cards were posted with 28% of TMS students earning Honor Roll recognition. Last weekend TMS hosted the Jazz Jamboree and our T-Wolf musicians rocked the house. The TMS Poms Team recently won the "Best Technique" Award at the Lincoln invitational. Tonight both the 7th and 8th grade boys basketball teams competed in State Regional Playoff Games. This Friday we'll announce the January T-Wolf of the Month winners, highlighting students demonstrating kindness and service towards others, as well as those persevering through obstacles. Despite the challenging times we are currently experiencing, we are so proud of the work our students continue to do both inside and outside of our classrooms. We are grateful for the support of our dedicated staff and generous community.
While we are experiencing success and persevering in many areas, we recognize that mental health is being managed in a variety of ways. If your child is in need of social-emotional or academic assistance, please reach out to the team leader, homeroom teacher, social worker, or administrator.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY: This month the Student Council is sponsoring a Kindness Challenge and Valentine's Day Cheer. We'll also honor Black History Month via the daily announcements on each of the 18 school days in February. In addition, we'll host Student-Parent-Teacher Conference on the 17th & 18th with the sign-ups opening this afternoon.
TRAFFIC SAFETY ALERT: February has arrived with more snow flurries and continued traffic challenges surrounding morning drop-off and pick-up times. Please allow for extra time in the morning. Students can be dropped off as early as 7:30 AM and are welcome to come inside for a FREE hot breakfast. A helpful tip during pick-up is to have your child meet you closer to 2:55/3:00 (most students need a little time to get materials out of their lockers during dismissal anyways). This may be hard to believe, but the pick-up line is completely empty by that time. Also, If you have students that walk home or meet you on Olive or Douglas Streets, we are begging you to speak with them about using the crosswalks at either corner of Belmont Avenue. Lastly, please be respectful of the Belmont Avenue parking lot is only for cars with specialized pick-ups/in need of handicap access.
In this newsletter you'll find new highlights on the following items:
Student-Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-ups
ACTION ITEM: Parents should complete the 5 Essentials Survey:
8th Grade Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) on 2/7/22
8th Grade Illinois State Mandated Vision Screening Beginning 2/22/22
7th Grade Outdoor Education Field Trip
Upcoming Important Dates:
- Ski Club Trip to Wilmont- After school 2/4/21
- 8th Grade Gown Picture Make-Up/Retake Day - February 14
- Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences - No School - Thursday & Friday, February 17 & 18
- IAR Testing (& 8th Gr. ISA Testing ) - March 7, 8, 9
- Spring Break - No School - March 21-25
- Spring MAP Testing - April 4 & 5
We sincerely appreciate your continued partnership and support!
Thank you and take care,
Lori, Greg, & Nick
Parent Teacher Conferences
PARENT ACTION ITEM: Please take the Parent 5 Essentials Survey
All parents and guardians are asked to complete the 5 Essentials Survey. Click here: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/. This survey closes on 3/11/22.
The TMS students will also take the 5 Essentials student survey during their English Language Arts class before March 5th. If you wish to opt your child out of this survey, please contact thomastech@sd25.org and share your request.
Congratulations TMS Poms Team!
The TMS Poms Team won the "Best Technique" Award at the Lincoln invitational.
Here is the link to the performance from the Lincoln Invitational.
Congratulations to all of the participants!
A great big thank you to Coaches Porras & Wharton along with all of our supportive parents.
8th Grade Class of 2022 Information
Ordering Graduation Photo - The ordering is completed online.
Make-Up/Retake Day: Was your 8th grader absent on picture day? Or, does your 8th grader want to do a picture re-take? The morning of Monday, February 14, 2022, is the make-up/retake day.
8th Grade IYS (Illinois Youth Survey) on 2/7/22 during Advisory
The administration of the IYS has two major goals:
- To supply local data to schools and school districts throughout Illinois. During state-funded survey years (e.g., 2018, 2020, etc.), the survey is available to all eligible public and private schools in the state at no cost. Each participating school is eligible to receive a report specific to their own students' responses. These local reports provide critical information to school administrators, prevention professionals, and community members as they work to address substance abuse issues in their communities.
- To provide a scientific estimate of health and social indicators for the state of Illinois. The scientific estimate is based on drawing a random sample to represent the state population of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Illinois public schools.
Please click here for the IYS Parent Notification Letter and Opt-Out Form. For your convenience, click here for an online opt-out form. Hard copy opt-out forms should be turned into Lori Naumowicz at the TMS main office or emailed to lnaumwicz@sd25.org.
8th grade students ONLY - Illinois State Mandated Vision Screening Beginning 2/22/22
8th grade students will be screened by D25 nurses who are IDPH Certified Vision Screeners
*If your student wears glasses, please remind them to wear/bring them on this day as it replaces their screening.
Per Illinois Department of Public Health:
"Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months." (Section 27-8.1 of the School Code)
Thanks,
Laura Toussaint RN
7th Grade Outdoor Education Information
Dear 7th Grade Parents,
As you are aware, we had to cancel the 7th grade Lorado Taft field trip due to the pandemic. While this year continues to be challenging to find safe and enjoyable opportunities for our students, we have been fortunate to find an outdoor education experience for our 7th graders that will allow for a variety of safe activities and team-building exercises. This year our 7th grade students will take a day field trip to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center in Bartlett.
The Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center will provide our students with activities that connect to our curriculum across several subject areas, and allow for team building and bonding amongst our students. This association is connected with the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), which partners with AHSD25. As a result, there is no fee associated with attending Sunrise Lake for our students.
Each 7th grade team will go independent of each other, with the Gamma team attending on Thursday, March 31st, and the Delta team going on Friday, April 1st The trip will take place during school hours, with the students returning to Thomas Middle School by the end of the school day. Students will follow the regular pickup and drop-off times and procedures. Here is a link to the Permission Slip that ALL 7th grade families should complete.
Multiple TMS and Sunrise Lake staff will help lead activities. The ratio of students to staff will be similar to that of a classroom setting. Additionally, administrators and our Health Office staff will be present for both days. Masking will be required for indoor activities and lunch will be split into shifts to allow for social distancing. Additionally, the majority of activities will be held outside, weather permitting. More information will be forthcoming as the event nears.
Thank you,
TMS Administration
Staff SEL Professional Development with the Teaching Heart Institute
Tom will present to the 6th grade, Creative Arts, and World Language staff in the coming weeks. We are fortunate for the time he spent with us. Tom provided helpful insights on brain research and ways to strengthen connections with students.
Tom will also lead an opening activity at the TMS PTA Meeting on 2/15/22 @ 7 PM.
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
We recognize that the pandemic continues to impact our community in a variety of ways. Please reach out to the TMS nurse, Laura Toussaint, at ltoussaint@sd25.org to report your child's symptoms or if you have any questions or concerns. Here is the link for the TMS online student absence reporting form.
Mrs. Toussaint and the Health Office Team work tirelessly to support our community and will respond to your inquires as soon as they can. For now, we ask that if your child is symptomatic they remain at home. We continue to closely follow required masking and social distancing protocols as well as exclusion procedures.
We strive to send Academy letters for students in isolation before 8:15 a.m each morning. Thank you in advance for your patience as we intake cases from winter break.
Current 5th Grade... Incoming 6th Grade Information
World Language Selection
- The online registration will be open January 24-February 4
- Parents will receive more information about online registration on January 21 via email.
- World Language Frequently Asked Questions PDF
- Questions? Please contact Shab Poloz, World Language Coordinator, spolo@sd25.org
Stay tuned for more information on the 5th to 6th grade middle school transition process.
FREE Breakfast at TMS!
WHEN: Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM until 7:45 AM
WHERE: Students should enter the building and tell the door supervisors that they are going to breakfast in the Commons Extension.
Shield Testing Information
Shield Testing enrollment closes today, 2/1/22. Please click the links below and fill out the Shield form if you would like to enroll or unenroll your child.
At TMS, Shield Testing is conducted on Monday afternoons. TMS students enrolled in Shield Testing are responsible for going to the LMC during their homeroom's assigned time. A reminder for the testing schedule is posted in the Morning Announcements on Mondays. Students are not called down to test.
eLearning Information for TMS
- Students will be able to log into eLearning from any device as long as they use their first and last name.
Students will find “eLearning” folders on each of their teacher's Schoology pages.
Inside the “eLearning” folder will be the “eLearning Zoom Link” for that class period.
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.
TMS PTA - Meeting 2/15/22 @ 7 PM
All parents, guardians, and staff are welcome to be members of the PTA. As a member of the PTA, you are welcome to attend the monthly meetings, share suggestions, discuss events, and volunteer your time.
The Parent-Teacher-Association meets monthly on the following dates:
Tuesday, 2/15/22 - 7 PM - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP!
March - TBD
April 12
May - TBD
2021-2022 PTA Officers:
President: Amy Hoffman
President-Elect: Suzanne Krause
Vice President: Melissa Teuscher
Treasurer: Kelly Spokas
Secretary: Deborah Oiler
Do you have questions for the PTA? Email the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
Join the ABC/25 Foundation
Please consider joining the ABC/25 Foundation.
The link to join is: JOIN ABC/25.
The cost is $25 for staff members and $40 for families to join.
The ABC/25 Foundation provides powerful grants that schools can earn which can benefit all students.
If you have questions, please contact:
Ann Poyer
ABC/25 Foundation President
847-989-9802
GENERAL D25 BUS INFORMATION
If your child is a bus rider, the bus information and bus passes are sent to you by Laura Comastro from our transportation department.
Her contact information is:(847) 758-4888 or lcomastro@sd25.org
Please direct all transportation and bussing questions to Laura Comastro.
NOTE: Students are now required to show their bus pass each day.
Illinois State Report Card - Thomas
Thomas Middle School
Email: tmsadmin@sd25.org
Website: https://www.sd25.org/Domain/9
Location: 1430 N Belmont Ave, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
Phone: 847.398.4260
Twitter: @AHSD25Thomas