Dear TMS Community,
Happy Labor Day Weekend! We are off to a fantastic start to the school year. On Friday, we welcomed each student to TMS by hosting team assemblies to review the expectations for working together in making Our Learning Adventure a success. Please ask your child about their take-aways. The Admin Team experienced first hand why the TMS staff is buzzing about how polite, kind, and energetic the students are. Our staff is impressed with the statements of please and thank you and how can I help from the TMS Timberwolves. Well done parents! Your children are amazing middle schoolers and we are grateful for the opportunity to have a part in their Learning Adventure.
This newsletter contains a ton of information intended to ensure that our school community of 1000+ students and 140+ staff functions in a safe and organized manner. In this newsletter you'll find essential information on the following items:
- TMS PTA Spirit Wear Store is open! (Store closes on 9/15/24 @ midnight!)
- Absence Reporting
- School Picture Day - WEDNESDAY, 9/4/24 [during PE/Health Classes]
- 6th Grade Curriculum Night - THURSDAY, 9/5/24 @ 6 PM
- 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night - THURSDAY, 9/19/24 @ 6 PM
- Arrival & Dismissal Information & TMS Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures
- Fall Map Testing Dates - Thursday, 9/12 and Tuesday, 9/17
- SAVE THE DATE: 10/22/24 - Community Partner Glenbard Parent Series - Speaker on Teen Anxiety and School Anxiety (Free Event)
- Safety Drill Information
- TMS After-School Academic Support
- TMS After School Clubs/Activities
- TMS Activity Bus Schedule/Black Out Dates
- PE Uniform Shirt Information
Protocol for Students Contacting Home During the School Day
Medication Drop Off Reference Sheet
- PTA Meeting - Tuesday, September 10, 2024 @ 7 PM in TMS LMC
- ABC 25 Information
Standing Newsletter information includes:
- District 25 Food Services Information
- Health Office Information
- School Resource Office Information
- Safe2Help Illinois
- Bus Information
- TMS Administrator Team
Our Learning Adventure has begun and we are loving it!
The TMS Administrative Team
Lori Naumowicz, Principal
Greg Keadle, Associate Principal
Jeremy Fischer, Associate Principal & Epsilon Teacher
Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & TMS Student Services Coordinator
- 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 by 8 AM, the latest, on the day of the absences.
- All students are given the opportunity to take a school photo during PE/Health class.
- The TMS PTA partners with Stuart-Rogers for student photos.
- Stuart-Rogers sends the student proofs directly to families via email.
- All questions and concerns should be directly addressed with Stuart-Rogers.
- Photos are included in the TMS yearbook.
- Yearbook photo make-up day is Monday, 10/19/24 from 7:50 AM - 8:50 AM
Please take a few minutes to review this information to help us keep the everyone safe:
Ultimately the TMS drop-off and pick-up experience is heavily dependent upon adults taking the time to follow the proper procedures. We are urging all parents to please be considerate of each other. Read the expectations and procedures and be sure to share these protocols with any relatives or neighbors that pick up TMS students.
- TMS students have been trained on the drop-off and pick-up expectations. Be mindful of the example that you are setting and please support our students in following the guidelines put in place to ensure their safety. Do not comprise your child's safety by asking them to exit or enter your vehicle outside of the designated loading zones.
- Students must LOCK up their bikes and scooters.
- Student can ONLY cross the street at the cross walks.
Mark your calendars, fall MAP testing:
Testing will occur on Thursday, 9/12 and Tuesday, 9/17
TMS will run modified daily schedules on these testing days with testing occurring during an extended homeroom time and shortened classes during periods 2-10.
Please mark your calendars on these dates to ensure students get 8-10 hours of sleep the night before testing and that students eat breakfast the morning of testing.
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.
TMS After School Support by Team is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays! Students are invited to stay after school for academic support.
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.
Click here for more details on options for your child to get help from staff at TMS. The activity bus departs TMS at about 3:35 PM. Please see the Activity Bus Black Out Schedule below.
- All students are eligible to access after-school academic support.
- This will begin the week of 9/9/24.
- Click here to review the schedule for each Team.
Beginning the week of September 16th, our after school clubs will start. If your student is interested in joining a club, please have them check morning announcements for a meeting schedule. If they missed the morning announcements, they can always check on Schoology. Click here for the Daily TMS Morning Announcements. This link is also located on the TMS homepage.
- We ask that students do not use cell phones during the school day. Instead, students may ask permission to come to the office to contact home. This will help ensure that communication is effective in the event that there's confusion.
- Please help our T-Wolves build strong skills in being responsible and independent. Only bring items to school in the event of an emergency. (We have water fountains and serve a variety of hot and cold lunches each day!)
- Please connect with your child before school to make arrangements for after school pick-up and information on Club or event they wish to attend.
- When a student falls ill during the school day, they should report to the Health Office. The TMS nurses will assess the students and contact home if needed. Students should not be contacting home via cell phones when they are feeling ill.
- Uniform Shirts will be distributed in PE/Health classes this week.
- Online Uniform Shirt Purchases: Click here for a link to the online school store to purchase a $4.50 shirt. Students can purchase PE uniforms online all school year long.
ABC 25 Memberships - As well as providing teacher grants, each year, the ABC/25 Foundation grants $2,500.00 to all District 25 schools when 25% of the school's families become members. These funds may be used at the school’s discretion. Past Membership Incentive Grants include: lighting and sound system updates, playground equipment, app subscriptions, digital books, Chromebooks, Nooks and iPad minis. We invite you to join ABC/25 Foundation and make an impact on District 25 student learning. Your support ensures that we can continue to provide students with projects and programs that foster innovation, creativity and excellence. One membership counts towards all district schools your children attend. *Come check out the new TMS canvas portraits hanging in the TMS hallways compliments of the generous funding from ABC25 Grants!
Become an ABC/25 Foundation Member by donating a minimum of $40.00 per family. District staff may join at an educator’s rate of $25.00 or more.
The TMS PTA has a lot to offer this year! We are excited for all the activities we have planned!
- MEMBERSHIP: Join the TMS PTA and help support the TMS community! Check out the TMS PTA Website Each membership includes 1 TMS yearbook.
- MEETINGS: If you are interested in getting involved in the PTA or simply checking out a meeting @ 7:00pm in the TMS Library. Everyone is welcome!
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024
- Wednesday, October 9, 2024
- Tuesday, January 14, 2025
- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- 2024-2025 Executive Board Members
- President: Kristen Dugan
- President-Elect: James Moncada
- Vice President: Sara Hess
- Treasurer: Diane Beardmore
- Secretary: Jocelyn Katz
- COMMITTEE POSITIONS: We do have a few committee positions open: Communications Chair, Buffalo Grove High School Liaison, Student Activities Committee member, and the Volunteer Coordinator. If interested, please email thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com
- VOLUNTEERING: If chairing a committee is not for you, we will have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year!
TMS PTA Memberships - Have you joined the PTA? Your membership gives you exclusive access to the Thomas Middle School Directory through Directory Spot. Not a member? No problem! You can join by visiting the AH25 Webstore to purchase online or by emailing us at thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com.
- Where can I find information on District 25 Food Services? Click here
- Where can I view the school lunch menu? Click Here
- How do I pay for my child’s meals? Click Here
- How do I apply for free & reduced meals? Click Here
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!
Student Athlete Physical Forms:
Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE they can participate in ANY practices. Physicals are good for 13 months. Physical exam MUST be turned in before try-outs.
IHSA-Sports-Physical-Form.pdf Physicals can be turned in at the TMS office or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
6th grade Health Requirements - 2 Items:
1. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION - exam must have taken place on or after AUGUST 29, 2023. The form is due NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2024 to avoid school exclusion.
REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS - PROOF of previously required immunizations and two new mandatory 6th grades immunizations:
Tdap
Meningococcal conjugate vaccination
Certificate of Child Health Examination-English
Certificado de Examen de Salud Infantil-Español
2. DENTAL EXAMINATION
Due by May 15, 2025. A dental exam dated from 11/15/23-5/15/25 is acceptable.
Students that are NEW to D25
1. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION And All required IMMUNIZATIONS
2. DENTAL EXAMINATION
3. EYE EXAMINATION
Physicals and documentation can be turned in at the TMS office or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
Please contact the TMS Health Office if you have any questions:
Laura Toussaint - ltoussaint@sd25.org
Stephanie Musolf - smusolf@sd25.org
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 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
- Bus information will be sent the week before school starts.
- Click here for the Bus Safety Guidelines and Rule as well as details on lost items on the bus.
- Please direct bus transportation questions to the District 25 Transportation Specialist: Laura Comastro as she can answer your questions and resolve issues. lcomastro@sd25.org. Phone: 847-758-4888
- Bus Company Questions: Contact Cook Co. School Bus Company at 847-439-0923
