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Thomas Community Newsletter
September 15, 2023
Dear TMS Community,
With four weeks of school behind us, next Friday, 9/22/23 marks the midterm of 1st quarter. The building is buzzing and the school year is off to a fantastic start! The students are engaging in learning and many are staying after school to participate in our wide range of extracurricular activities and clubs. Please view the TMS Daily Announcements or the TMS calendar for more information on our events.
This week we held our first PTA meeting of the year and it was extremely well attended. At this time, 575 of the TMS families are members of the TMS PTA and have access to the TMS Directory Spot and will be getting one complimentary yearbook with their membership. Click here to become a member today!
ABC25 was also represented at the PTA meeting and shared that TMS is about halfway to our goal of having 25% of TMS family members in ABC25. Once we reach the 25% goal, TMS will be granted an additional $2,500 in funding to purchase items that inspire innovation, creativity, and excellence for District 25 children. Click here to become a member today!
In this newsletter you'll find new information for:
- TMS Behavior Management Updates
- District 25 Superintendent Search
- Safe2Help Illinois
- ABC25 Information
- Link Together Coalition Information
Upcoming Events & Important Dates:
- TMS Student Council Lemons of Love - 9/23/23
- Tree Planting @ TMS - 10/24/23
- PTA Spirit Wear Sale Ends - 9/19/23 @ midnight
- Midterm Alert - 9/22/23
- Photo Retakses - Monday, 10/2/23
- 6th Grade Parent ACTION ITEM: Physicals Needed by 10/15/23
- PTA Activity Night - Friday 10/27/23
Take care,
Lori, Nick, & Greg
TMS Administrative Team
Midterms 9/22/23 & Academic Support
PowerSchool access and logins for Parents
This is an ideal time to check in with your child and review PowerSchool and Schoology information. If you need assistance with your login information for these platforms, please click here to request the access codes and a member of the Thomas Tech team will email you. Click here for a link to the Thomas Parent Tech Resouces which includes videos on PowerSchool and Schoology.
IS ACADEMIC SUPPORT NEEDED? TMS offers Office Hours and Homework Club after school on most days. Please ask your child about these resources and reach out to your team leader if you have any questions. All students are welcome to utilize these resources for support.
6th Grade Parent ACTION ITEM!!!!
ATTENTION 6TH GRADE FAMILIES!
WHAT: Illinois physical and required vaccines (TDap and Meningococcal)
We have shared several reminders that your student's state of Illinois physical and required vaccines (TDap and Meningococcal) are due BEFORE OCTOBER 15, 2023 to avoid school exclusion.
The physical must be on the State of Illinois form and be dated AFTER August 17, 2022.
Please contact the TMS Health Office if you have any questions:
Laura Toussaint - ltoussaint@sd25.org
Stephanie Musolf - smusolf@sd25.org
Updates to TMS Behavior Management process:
At TMS we strive to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and friendly environment for all TMS students and staff. To support this, we updated our behavior management process.
Here are some details:
- Click here to view the clear and consistent expectations outlined for classrooms, hallways & lockers, lunchroom, bathrooms, buses, after-school events & extra-curricular activities, restrooms, bus, arrival and dismissal, Chromebook usage, and PE & locker room. The focus is on the WHY behind each of these expectations.
- Teachers will be recording “minors” or “majors” if students are not meeting the TMS expectations. Minor behaviors are teacher-managed and major behaviors are office-managed.
- If a student receives 3 “minors” they will be required to stay after school for a remediation session.
- During the remediation session, the teacher and student will discuss the 3 incidents and together complete a reflection form.
- The student will also write an email to parents explaining the behaviors and a plan for moving forward. The teacher will forward this email to the parents.
- Any “major” incidents will result in the student being sent to the office and parents will be contacted by an administrator.
District 25 Superintendent Search
The search for the District’s next Superintendent is under way and our Board of Education needs your help. The following are opportunities for you, our parents/guardians, to give your feedback to be considered in the selection process of the District's next Superintendent.
Online Survey: This survey will be available from September 11 - October 2. The link to the survey will be emailed to you, and it will be available on the Superintendent Search Page on our website (www.sd25.org/SuptSearch).
If you are not able to attend the focus group, you are invited to attend the community-wide focus groups linked here. For all things Superintendent Search, visit www.sd25.org/SuptSearch.
Safe2Help Illinois
Safe2Help Illinois is a 24/7 program where students can use a free app, text/phone, and website (safe2helpil.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with local district and school officials and/or local 911 call center, depending on the nature of the information shared. Safe2Help Illinois is a long-term initiative to change the school culture in Illinois by helping students reach out when they have concerns. To learn further about Safe2Help Illinois, please see the videos below. More information can also be found on their website at safe2helpil.com.
ABC/25 Foundation
ABC/25 | Info Session at Arlington Ale House
The ABC/25 Foundation is excited to launch the 2023-24 school year! We have an array of thrilling developments in store, and it all begins with the unveiling of our fresh, redesigned logo and new slogan, "GRANTING INSPIRATION TO FORWARD EDUCATION"
If you're curious to learn more about the ABC/25 Foundation or are eager to get involved by volunteering on our committee, ABC/25 invites parents and community members to an adult-only information session at Arlington Ale House (3rd floor of the Metropolis) on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (this was a date change) from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Come to learn how your membership benefits the schools and students and become involved in our rebrand! This event is free to the community - not a fundraiser. Please RSVP here:
https://forms.gle/UY2zVaGcvKpF4Lsw6
Join us in our journey to support and enhance education in our community! Make sure to explore our revamped website www.abc25.org and follow ABC/25 or Facebook and Instagram for all of our latest updates!
Ursula Guran & Angie Thanopoulos
Monday, October 30th from 7-8 PM Information Session and Community Member Meeting @ Arlington Height Memorial Library.
Come learn how your membership benefits the schools and students and become involved in our rebrand! This is a free to the community event - not a fundraiser. RSVP here: https://forms.gle/6NTsr9zwr29a8MGS9
Wondering if you signed up to be an ABC/25 Foundation member back in May when you registered your child/children for the 2023-2024 school year? If, so please feel free to reach out directly to Thomas' ABC/25 Foundation representative - Bliss Hansen-Finnegan at eblisshansen@gmail.com and she will let you know.
PTA Fall Festival
WHAT: Fun activities
WHEN: Friday, October 27 from 4-5:30 PM
WHERE: TMS Large Gym & Commons
COST: $5 per student - Tickets will be sold the week of the event during lunch periods.
TMS PTA INFORMATION
Join the TMS PTA and help support the TMS community! Check out the TMS PTA Website.
TMS PTA meetings are held in the TMS LMC at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend!
- Wednesday, October 11
- Tuesday, March 5
- Wednesday, January 11
- Tuesday, May 7
Can't make it in person, join us online: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 816 7773 1434
Passcode: 340239
2023-2024 Executive Board Members
- President: Megan Puzen
- President-Elect: Kris Dugan
- Vice President: Nora Muenkel
- Treasurer: Diane Beardmore
- Secretary: Joclyn Katz
Are you willing to volunteer? Do you have a question for the PTA? Please contact the PTA at: thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
Student Health: Please continue to use the links and phone numbers on this page: https://www.sd25.org/Page/1451 to report your child’s absence. If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, you can notify the school nurse for guidance regarding how many days it is recommended to stay home (5 days with day 0 as the onset of symptoms or test day if asymptomatic) per Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Physical Forms: Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE they can participate in ANY practices. Physicals are good for 13 months. Physicals can be turned in at the TMS office or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
- 6th Grade Physical Requirement: All 6th grade physicals must be dated on or after 8/17/2022 and are due by 10/15/2023. The physical must be turned in by October 15th or the student will be excluded. 6th grade students participating in Cross Country will need to turn in their completed physical forms before the first day of Cross Country practice in early August.
- Dental Forms are due by May 15th, 2024 must be dated after November 15th, 2022.
Daily Attendance Information
Daily attendance is expected and essential to school success. Please work with us to ensure that your child is attending school each day. If support is needed in this area, please reach out to us.
- ABSENCE REPORTING: The TMS attendance reporting options are open 24 hours a day 7 days per week. If your child is sick or unable to attend school, the parent/guardian 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, the latest, on the day of the absences. Please be sure to report your child's absence so that we can account for all students each day. Advanced notification of absences is greatly appreciated.
- 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. Oversleeping and traffic are not considered excused absences. Students must sign in at 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.
Students who are absent from class are encouraged to check Schoology for assignment information. In addition, it may be helpful for students who are absent to attend Homework Club / Office Hours for a few days upon returning to school.