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Thompson Friday Forecast

July 15, 2022 - Summer Edition

ThompsonFriday ForecastJuly 15, 2022 - Summer Edition

From the Principal...Steve Morrill

Happy late summer! We are on the verge of the new school year, and on behalf of the entire Thompson Middle School community, welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We are eager to begin our partnership with all of the stakeholders in order to create the best possible experience for our middle schoolers and their families. Through this communication, we are providing information regarding “frequently asked middle school questions” and information about the start of this school year.


Each year, middle school scheduling seems to be a curiosity for many. Please know that much time and effort goes into building the most responsive and accurate schedule possible for each of our Thompson students. Class sizes and demographic considerations are significant pieces to our scheduling processes. Additionally, we strive to balance class sizes in order to create the most effective learning environment possible for each student. Schedules will be available in the Home Access Center (H.A.C.) on Tuesday, August 2nd by 9:00 am. Thank you for your patience!


Our Material Pick-Up Days are Tuesday, August 2nd and Wednesday, August 3rd from 2:00 - 7:00 pm each day. Please see the information further in this newsletter for more details about these days.


The first day of school is Wednesday, August 10th. Drop off begins at 8:00 am and classes will begin promptly at 8:40 am. School pictures will be taken during the school day (during PE periods) on Thursday, August 11th.


We look forward to partnering with you and appreciate your support of Thompson Middle School! If you have any questions, please call the main office at (331) 228-3100.


Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer!

~Steve

Food Services

The elementary and middle schools food service vendor will once again be OrganicLife. Breakfast and Lunch will be offered to students. Click here for more information, view menus (coming soon), and obtain a free or reduced lunch application. Students will not have to pre-order meals this year and there will be more choices offered for lunch. Lunch and breakfast will no longer be free for students; the prices are listed below.


Middle School Breakfast - $1.75
Reduced Breakfast - $0.30*

Middle School Lunch - $3.10
Reduced Lunch - $0.40*


Milk - $0.60 (when purchased separately from meals)
Other a la carte items (besides milk) - prices vary


Organic Life, the K-8 Food Service provider is looking for candidates to serve as Cashiers, Food Service Workers & Lunchroom Supervisors for the 2022-2023 school year in School District 303. Please contact Patricia Burton at 331-228-5242 or patricia.burton@d303.org for more information.

Material Pickup Days

Thompson material pick-up days are Tuesday, August 2nd and Wednesday, August 3rd from 2:00 - 7:00 pm each day. No sign up is necessary; come whenever you are available.


What can families do on material pick-up days?

  • Get a copy of their schedule with hall locker numbers assigned
  • Walk their schedule
  • Locate and put supplies in their lockers
  • Get answers to any scheduling questions
  • Meet, sign up to volunteer, and donate to the PTO


Students can also pick up locks, heart rate monitor straps, and calculators.

  • 6th graders and students new to D303 - 2 locks, heart rate monitor strap, and calculator - free
  • 7th & 8th grade students - Replacement items can be purchased through PushCoin and picked up in the main office


What won't we be doing on material pick-up days?
  • Taking student portraits and getting IDs made. This will be done during the school day on Thursday, August 11th.


Please call the main office if you have any questions at (331) 228-3100.

School Supplies

Our PTO has teamed up with School Tool Box to give you the option of purchasing pre-packaged school supplies. Place your order online and it will be delivered directly to your home address. You will have the option to customize your order by adding or removing items. Please use this link (https://schooltoolbox.com/school-supplies/) to place your order. Please see this flyer for more information.


School supply lists for this year can be found on the Thompson registration page by clicking here. Please call the main office if you have any questions at (331) 228-3100!

6th Grade Student WEB Orientation

WEB, which stands for "Where Everybody Belongs," is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders into their first year of middle school. The program trains mentors from the 8th grade class to be WEB leaders.


Incoming 6th grade students are invited to Thompson on August 5, 2022 for a 30 minute tour and team building activities. This optional orientation will provide 6th graders with the opportunity to meet other Thunder students and learn more about their new school.


Students should be dropped off in the front of the building and enter through Door #1. Parents/guardians can pick up their child in the south parking lot off of Indiana Street. Students will exit out Door #5.


The 30 minute sessions will take place on August 5th between 2:00 - 6:00 pm. No sign up is necessary. Students should arrive at either 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, or 5:30 pm.


This event is optional. There will be more fun WEB events throughout the school year.

i-Ready Diagnostics and PSAT

Fall i-Ready diagnostics are taken by students to gather baseline academic data in order for us to develop targeted instructional plans of action. A similar assessment will take place in the winter and again in the spring. Students will be taking their Fall i-Ready diagnostics on Tuesday, August 16th (Math) and Thursday, August 18th (Reading) from 8:40 - 10:40 am. Our bell schedule will be modified on both of these days. Makeups will take place on August 17th, 19th, 22nd, and 23rd.


Planning ahead...All 8th grade students and 7th graders enrolled in the AVID class will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 12th from 8:40 am - 12:25 pm. Please call the main office if you have any questions.

Fall Sports

Fall sports will be starting the week of August 8th. Please click on Activities for information regarding specific sports. All athletes must have a current physical and an agreement to participate in interscholastic athletics form on file with the main office in order to tryout/practice for sports at Thompson. Forms can be found on this webpage.


The cost to participate in a fall sport is $120 and can be paid through PushCoin. We are looking forward to a great sports season!

Early Release Days

Early release days this year will be on Wednesdays and approximately once per month. Students will be dismissed from school at 2:52 pm. The following are the eight 2022-2023 Early Release Days for Middle School:

  • August 31
  • September 28
  • October 26
  • November 30
  • January 25
  • February 22
  • March 22
  • April 26


These dates can also be found on the Thompson calendar on our website.

Picture Day - Thursday, August 11th

Picture Day/School IDs are scheduled for Thursday, August 11th. Students will have their pictures taken during their PE classes. Picture retake day is Thursday, September 15th.


Pre-order pictures on-line to receive special offers:


Please note that the student name on the order should match your child's full first name. For example, if your child's first name is 'Mitchell', don't use 'Mitch' on the LifeTouch site, but instead use 'Mitchell'.

Incoming 6th Grade and New Student Physicals

A physical examination is required for entrance (first day of school) into preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade.


Please access District 303's Health Department's Web Page for specific grade level vaccine requirements (including meningococcal vaccine requirements for high school students) and State of Illinois forms. The health history portion of the physical examination form must be completed and signed by a parent in order for the physical to be valid. An appointment card must be submitted to the health office indicating that a physical exam or immunization is scheduled in the event a student's age makes them ineligible for a vaccine prior to the first day of school or the student is scheduled for a physical exam shortly after the first day of school.


The State of Illinois requires that all students entering school for the first time from out of state shall have/submit a physical examination/vaccine record within 30 days of enrollment in school.


All exams must be dated within one year prior to the date the student enters school.


Physical Examinations may be acquired through your primary medical provider. If you do not have a primary medical provider, you may contact Kane County Health Department for referrals to local health clinics that provide such services.


Completed exams and immunizations may be mailed to Thompson or dropped off at the school.

Fee Waivers

SCHOOL FEES WAIVER: The school fees waiver will ONLY be a PAPER application since there is financial documentation required for income verification. A family can only qualify for a free waiver of fees; there are no reduced fees. The application is on the district website. Questions regarding school fee waivers - Wendy Sedwick at 331-228-4927


FOOD WAIVER: Only one application needs to be completed for each household. Please include ALL family members that live in the household (even those not attending a school). Applications are posted on the district website. In addition, paper applications are available at the schools and the Administration Building as in years past. Unlike the school fees, families can qualify for Reduced. Questions regarding food waivers - Patti Townsend 331-228-6529


Families directly certified by the State of Illinois for the 2022-2023 school year will receive FREE FOOD and their FEES will be WAIVED. If your family is qualified by the state, do NOT need to complete either application. You should have received an approval letter in the mail in July.

Summer Athletic Camps

Thompson is holding sports camps this summer for all grade levels. Volleyball (7th grade), football, cross country, and cheer camps are running the week of August 1st. Sign up using PushCoin. Join us for these fun activities and make new friends!
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How long is the school day? Passing Periods? Lunch?

  1. The school day runs from 8:40 am - 3:40 pm. Students are expected to be in their 1st hour classes by the 8:35 am bell. There is a warning bell at 8:37 am. Passing periods are 4 minutes. Lunch is 27 minutes for all students.
  2. Students will not be admitted to Thompson prior to 8:00 am unless they have special permission from a teacher, coach, or club advisor.
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Where should students go on the first day of school?

Bus riders will be dropped off in the back of the building and enter through door 15. This entrance/exit is for bus students only.


Car riders dropped off in the front of the building will enter through door 3. Car riders dropped off on Indiana will enter through door 5. Walkers can enter through door 3 or door 5.


Students should not arrive to school until after 8:00 am. Those arriving between 8:00 - 8:30 am will go to the cafeteria where staff will be available for supervision and to answer questions. Students head to their 1st hour classes at 8:30 am.

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When/where will schedules be posted?

Students can view their schedule in the Home Access Center on Tuesday, August 2nd by 9:00am. We will have paper copies printed and available for students at Material Pickup Days, August 2nd and August 3rd from 2:00 - 7:00 pm.
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Can my child carry a backpack during the school day?

Students are assigned hall lockers and backpacks should be placed in there each morning. Students may choose to and are allowed to carry a sling bag during the school day.
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Will my child change clothes for PE?

Yes, D303 middle school students are expected to change into PE clothing and may not wear clothes that were worn to school. Students will be assigned a PE locker to store their belongings. Please make sure that you student locks this locker.
  • Athletic t-shirt (must have sleeves)
  • Athletic shorts/pants
  • Athletic tennis shoes


As the weather gets cooler sweatshirts, sweats, and leggings can be worn to keep warm outside.

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How can I support my child academically at home this year?

You can work with your child to become familiar with the new learning platform, Schoology. Schoology is similar to Google Classroom. This tool is used to provide classroom information for students and families.


Parents/guardians can always check grades by going to the Home Access Center. We encourage you to do this with your child on a regular basis.

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When will we find out our bus schedule?

Bus schedules will be available through the Bus Routes e-Link which is found on the District website as well as through your HAC account on the School Links page. These will not be available until just prior to the start of school as our transportation department is working tirelessly to configure the routes.
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Can my child charge a Chromebook at school?

Our goal is that all students charge their Chromebooks every night at home. Students should not be bringing Chromebooks to school uncharged. These devices are used frequently throughout class periods, so students need them ready to go 1st hour. Please help your child get into a routine at night that involves charging their Chromebook.
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Does my child need to wear his/her ID during the day?

For safety and in order to purchase food in the cafeteria, all students and staff will wear IDs every day while at school. They will also receive a Thompson lanyard although they may wear one from home. If your child loses his/her ID, a replacement one can be picked up from the LRC. Two replacements are free; for additional cards, students will be charged $5 to their PushCoin accounts.
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How do I stay informed?

Thompson Middle School strives to be as transparent as possible with our parents and the community. Sign up here to receive the Daily Announcements by email.


The Friday Forecast is a weekly publication providing information and updates and will be emailed directly to parents/guardians through ParentLink. Check the Thompson website for more information and call the main office if you have any questions@ 331-228-3100.

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Who can I contact if I have a question or concern?

Contact your student's teacher for classroom information and procedures. Contact your student's team leader for team/grade level questions. Contact your grade level counselor for information related to schedules, academics, or concerns beyond the classroom.


Our administration team is here to provide support to students and families.

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What clubs can my child join?

All of our clubs will be listed with descriptions on our website here. Daily announcements include information on upcoming meetings. Parents can view daily announcements on our website or sign up to receive them in email. Students can join multiple clubs.
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Are cell phones allowed during the school day?

Our goal is to provide students with engaging learning experiences and opportunities for true connection with our community. Because cell phones have become a daily part of life, students are often distracted to check notifications, withdraw to different apps, or use them for other purposes when they are out and accessible. As a rule of thumb, we say "Off and away, during the day" which is a catchphrase that mirrors the district policy which says phones are not allowed out or on during the school day. Students should not be accessing their phones from 8:37 am - 3:40 pm. Phone use for parent communication is only permitted if there is a school-wide emergency.


Our electronics policy will be reviewed with students during the first week of school. If you need to communicate with your child, please contact the main office. If your child is feeling ill, we have nurses on site that will care for your student and can reach out to you as needed.

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Are outside food/beverages allowed during the school day?

If a student is having lunch dropped off by a family member, it must be done through the main office. Food and beverages may only be provided for the individual student. For example a pizza cannot be purchased for a group of students. And students are not permitted to use apps such as Door Dash or GrubHub to have food delivered during the school day.


Students will not be allowed to bring outside food/beverages into a classroom.

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Do you monitor what my child is doing on their Chromebook?

Teachers monitor student Chromebook use during class. We also have a program called Gaggle that screens all emails, documents, and web searches for inappropriate or concerning language and topics. Sometimes students receive an initial email from Gaggle stating that the content of one of their documents is inappropriate. However, if the concern is over safety or the content is highly inappropriate, a copy of the document or image is sent to building and district administrators in addition to students receiving the notification.
Thompson PTO
Check out the Thompson PTO website by clicking on the button above! Facebook: @ThompsonMiddleSchoolPTO

Dates to Remember

  • Tuesday, August 2 - Material Pickup Days 2:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday, August 3 - Material Pickup Days 2:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Friday, August 5 - 6th Grade Orientation - 30 minute sessions between 2:00 - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday, August 10 - First Day of School
  • Thursday, August 11 - Picture Day - Student pictures taken during the school day
  • Tuesday, August 16 - i-Ready Diagnostic (Math) - 8:40 - 10:40 am
  • Thursday, August 18 - i-Ready Diagnostic (Reading) - 8:40 - 10:40 am
  • Tuesday, August 30 - Curriculum Night - 7th and 8th grade parents/guardians
  • Wednesday, August 31 - Early Release Day - Students are dismissed at 2:52 pm
  • Wednesday, August 31 - Curriculum Night - 6th grade parents/guardians
  • Friday, September 2 - Institute Day - No school for students
  • Monday, September 5 - Labor Day - Schools are closed
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Thompson Middle School

Mr. Steve Morrill - Principal

Mrs. Michelle Dague - Assistant Principal

Ms. Lindsay Mortensen - Assistant Principal

Mrs. Danielle Moeller - Student Support Coordinator

Mr. Sam Pasholk - Student Support Coordinator

Let's Talk!

Email: kimberly.walters@d303.org
Website: http://thompson.d303.org
Location: 705 West Main Street
Phone: (331) 228-3100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thompson-Middle-School-671638232903851/