THOMPSON NEWS & NOTES
January 2025
Greetings, Thompson Community:
Here in Thompson School District, our mission is to provide an excellent education and a supportive environment for each student who attends our schools. We believe that each child is unique and that the educational support that they receive should reflect their strengths and nurture them as they grow. One of the ways that we support our district families is through our Exceptional Student Services program, featuring a staff team that is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where each student can achieve success.
Thompson School District provides Special Education services for students with qualifying disabilities who require specialized instruction as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. TSD offers a full continuum of services that are designed to meet the unique needs of each student. The IEP team, which includes the family, the general education teacher, the special education teacher, and can also include administrators, additional support services practitioners, and even sometimes the student, meets yearly to ensure that the student is provided the necessary support to receive a Free and Appropriate Education.
All district schools, including charter schools, have a Learning Center that is designed to support students with disabilities. For those requiring higher levels of support, Intensive Learning Centers (ILCs) are also available at many schools. If an ILC is not available at a student’s home school, services will then be provided at another site with a Center and transportation will be offered.
Additionally, TSD offers Affective Learning Centers (ALC) to support students with significant social and emotional needs. Similar to ILCs, ALC services are available at many schools and students without access to an ALC at their home school will receive services at a site with an ALC, with transportation provided. For students in grades 6-12 requiring more intensive support than ALCs can offer, TSD provides services through our partnership with Sierra School. In some cases, students may require placement in an out-of-district school or in a homebound hospital setting. All placement decisions are made by our IEP team, ensuring a collaborative approach to meet each student’s needs.
Transition plans are also included in an IEP starting in the eighth grade. Transition plans support the student as they consider what they want to pursue as they prepare for careers and life after graduation. Based on the transition needs of our students, we also offer two specialized programs called Project SEARCH and Community Connections.
Project SEARCH is a one-year, school-to-work program designed to prepare young adults with disabilities for competitive employment. Hosted at Banner Health McKee, this unique initiative helps participants gain hands-on experience in a real-world work setting while also building transferable, marketable job skills. Students enrolled in the program learn essential job skills, soft skills and even specific job tasks that are relevant to various departments within Banner Health McKee. Students participate in three rotations throughout different departments at Banner, including individualized support from job mentors and trainers, classroom instruction and career exploration, and even job placement assistance upon graduation. The program is open to all TSD students ages 18-21 who are currently receiving services through the district Exceptional Student Services department and who meet other eligibility criteria.
Meanwhile, TSD’s Community Connections is another transition program that is designed for students ages 18–21 who are receiving special education services. The program focuses on providing education and training to help students achieve their post-school goals. With an emphasis on functional skills, participants receive support in areas such as independent living, recreation and leisure, and vocational skills. This program is a vital step in preparing young adults for a successful transition to adulthood, fostering independence, and empowering them to reach their full potential.
It is an honor to work with each of our students and families in TSD and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to educate and support our children as they take these important steps. Thank you so much for your continued partnership – The future in Thompson School District is bright and we are proud to be with you on this journey.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District
Congrats to the 2024 TEF Great Idea Grant recipients!
TEF awards Great Idea Grants to TSD teachers and staff for the purpose of implementing an innovative project within education and instruction to enhance the student learning experience. See the awards recipients here: https://www.thompsontef.org/teacher-grants-1
TEF Scholarship Applications are Open!
TEF provides graduating TSD students with one scholarship application that gives access to over 35 different scholarship opportunities to help fund two- and four-year degree programs and technical certification programs. Don't delay, apply today: https://www.thompsontef.org/scholarships
It's Time to Recognize Greatness!
TEF Educator of the Year nominations are now open! Each year, TEF offers the opportunity for people in the community to nominate a teacher or Thompson School District staff person they feel exemplifies excellence in education. Nominations can be made here: https://www.thompsontef.org/educator-of-the-year-award-1
TEF 2025 Business Sponsorships
TEF partners with community businesses on a variety of events throughout the year that help increase support for our mission of providing exceptional educational experiences for students and teachers in Thompson School District. Sponsors enjoy an array of benefits and promotional opportunities through these partnerships. Explore TEF's sponsor opportunities here: https://www.flipsnack.com/FFFF7977C6F/2025-tef-sponsorship-opportunities/full-view.html
Denver Sports Nights
There's one more Colorado Avalanche game coming up that provides an opportunity to support Thompson Education Foundation! Get your tickets here: https://www.thompsontef.org/denver-sports-games
Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, disabilities, restricted access to participation in the democratic process. These are just some of the many manifestations of poverty.
Thompson School District's McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program works with homeless families to arrange transportation to and from a child’s school of origin, ensures that homeless students receive services, and identifies and eliminates barriers to school enrollment and attendance. TSD currently serves 505 students in the McKinney-Vento program. For more information, contact McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison, erica.wooldridge@tsd.org.
During periods of inclement weather, Thompson School District is occasionally faced with the difficult decision on whether or not to close schools. You can find more information about this process and how these announcements are communicated here:
https://www.tsd.org/departments/communications/school-closing-delayed-start
