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Thomas Community Newsletter
April 15, 2024
Dear TMS Community,
With the beautiful weather today, TMS hosted Safety Drills. Special thanks to the Arlington Heights Police Department for assisting as we practiced a lockdown and an evacuation drill. Last week the students participated in a Bus Evacuation drill. Please take a few minutes to check in with your child regarding these drills.
This week Tuesday, 4/16/24, and Thursday, 4/18/24 the students will participate in Spring MAP Testing. We will run the Modified Daily Schedules below on testing days.
In this newsletter you'll find new information for:
TMS Pack The Place - Wednesday, 4/17 Boys Volleyball
TMS Partners in Athletics Club - Wednesday, 4/17 Event
TMS Drama Production - 4/26 & 4/27
Congratulations to the TMS All Stars!
Best wishes at State TMS Science Olympiad Team!
TMS FORK FARM update
8th Grade Update - Great America Field Trip Permission Form *Forms & payment are due 5/8/24
Glenbard Parent Series Virtual Event - And Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Surviving Middle School - 5/1 @ noon *Join Mrs. Naumowicz as she introduces Guest Speaker Judith Warner
Pride of the Wolf Pack Golf Outing - SAVE THE DATE - 7/26/24
Advanced Placement Information (added to this newsletter 4/16/24)
Take care,
Lori, Nick, & Greg
TMS Administrative Team
Thank you for your help, Mrs. Voss!
Students setting up the TMS Fork Farm!
We are grateful to our Master Gardener, Mrs. Vliet!
TMS Partners in Athletics Club (PAC)
PAC club at Thomas is in its 17th year running. It only runs one time a month and members are not required to attend every meeting. PAC (Partners in Athletics Club), This is a club that is offered to all students 6-8th grades to participate in after school activities, both at Thomas and off campus. The purpose is for peers of all abilities to get to know each other through physical activities. It is also to offer an opportunity for typical peers to get to know those with special needs better and offer help when needed while having fun. The information for the next event is on the PAC Schoology Group. The access code is: W7TK-843G-6BHFS Here are the details on the next event:
WHAT: Trampoline Park
WHEN: Wednesday, April 17th
TIME: 3:15-4:30
WHERE: Get Air, 723 W. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, (847) 232-8599
*Have your student sign up for the PAC Schoology Group to learn more about this trip!
**Student provide their own transportation to and from these events.
Advanced Placement Process
The advanced placement process will occur in May after the school year's testing windows have closed. Percentiles on the most recent CogAT and the highest of three MAP scores will be converted to a standard score (or z-score) before averaging, which provides a standardized way to compare data. The district will also calculate local percentiles for both assessments at this time. Families will receive placement information in mid-May. Only families of students who are new qualifiers to Advanced Math (grades 4-7) and Advanced Language Arts (grades 6-8) will receive letters. If a student is enrolled in an advanced course this school year, they will automatically be enrolled for next year. Please review the FAQ document for answers to more specific questions regarding the placement process. If you still have questions after reviewing, please contact Katie Paulson at kpaulson@sd25.org.
Thanks,
Katie Paulson
Advanced Learning, Library Media Centers, & Creative Arts Coordinator
Arlington Heights School District 25
Together Today 2 Transform Tomorrow
p: (847) 758.4894
Glenbard Parent Series
District 25 is a partner in the Link Together Coalition which gives our community access to the Glenbard Parent Series. Please check out the various Glenbard Parent Series presentations that work to engage top experts, parents and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal to strengthen our communities. Programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.
NEW PROCEDURE for Cashless Lunch Lines
Attention Thomas Middle School Families
Starting on Monday, April 1st, 2024, the Food & Nutrition Services Department will no longer accept cash or checks to pay for meals or snacks DURING lunch service. We ask that students have money loaded onto their Mealtime account to purchase food prior to lunch time. Parents can pay online at www.mymealtime.com or students can bring cash or check and drop it off in the Lunch Account Deposit Box located in the school foyer. Money will be collected daily by 10 am to be deposited on students' accounts. For more information about paying for school lunches, please visit our website. Thank you!
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL SCHEDULES - Mark your calendars!
The last day of school for 8th grade students is Graduation Day - Thursday, May 23rd with dismissal at 2:45 PM.
The last day of school for 6th & 7th grade students is scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024. There will be adjusted dismissal times District-wide. Those times are as follows:
- Middle School dismissal at 1:50 pm
- Elementary School dismissal at 2:35 pm
Daily School Attendance Matters!
Daily attendance at school 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, 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.
District 25 Pre-Registration is now OPEN
Pre-Registration is NOW open to families with incoming new and kindergarten students for next year, 2024-2025! Please begin the registration process by visiting www.sd25.org/Registration and clicking on the 2024-2025 Pre-Registration drop down.
TMS PTA INFORMATION
Join the TMS PTA and help support the TMS community! Check out the TMS PTA Website.
The PTA is seeking Executive Board Members for 2024-2025:
- President Elect
- Vice President
TMS PTA meetings are held in the TMS LMC at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend! Our last meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, May 7.
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
Summer U
- Summer U 2024 June 6 - June 27, 2024 at Thomas Middle School *Dates subject to change pending review of winter weather emergency days.
- Registration will begin on March 4, 2024 at 9 am and end on April 26, 2024, at 3 pm.
- Please visit www.sd25.org/summeru for a full list of courses and times.
- If you have any questions about Summer U, please email summeru@sd25.org for assistance.
IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
- 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.
- Dental Forms are due by May 15th, 2024 must be dated after November 15th, 2022.
Please contact the TMS Health Office if you have any questions:
Laura Toussaint - ltoussaint@sd25.org
Stephanie Musolf - smusolf@sd25.org
Bus Information
- All students need to show their bus pass in order to ride the bus!
- Click here for the Bus Safety Guidelines and Rule as well as details on lost items on the bus.
- Bus Company Questions: Contact Cook Co. School Bus Company at 847- 439-0923
- Please direct bus transportation questions to the District 25 Transportation Specialist: Laura Comastro as she can answer your questions and resolve issues.
School Resource Officers
Social media concerns, incidents that occur after school hours/on the weekends, or outside of school can be reported to the SRO or you can contact the Arlington Heights Police by calling 911 or the non-emergency phone number (847) 368-5300. You can also go directly to the Police Department located at 200 E Sigwalt Street in Arlington Heights. It is open 24 hours. The SROs can be contacted as well:
- SRO: John O'Leary joleary@vah.com Cell Phone: (847) 344-2330
- SRO: Chris Seebacher cseebacher@vah.com Cell Phone (847) 368-5393
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. Video for Middle School Students
The TMS Office will have modified hours over winter break and will be closed on 12/26 & 1/2.
Please be sure to call before coming into the office.