Thompson News & Notes
December 2024
Dear Thompson Community:
Seasons Greetings! It’s hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the school year. These past several months in Thompson School District have featured terrific achievements by our students and staff, both in and out of the classroom. As we prepare to say goodbye to 2024, I want to take a few minutes to spotlight some key accomplishments from the past year, and also look forward a bit into the new and bright future that we have here in TSD.
Celebrations
-As we announced earlier, Thompson School District is celebrating its highest rating since 2016 on the Colorado District Performance Framework, which was when the state began using this tool to rate school districts. TSD achieved many gains in student growth and achievement across the district, with four of our schools receiving a performance rating at or above 74 points – some of the highest ratings for schools in the state. In addition, the number of schools that received the highly desirable rating of “Performance” increased this year to 24 schools, up from 19 last year.
-Our graduation rate in the district continues to climb, with a 2023 rate of 91.1%. The rate has increased each year for the past six years and has grown 11% in that time.
-2024 was a remarkable year for our students on the fields of competition, including state championships in football, volleyball, cross country, and girls flag football.
-This week, we were honored to partner with The Matthews House as they hosted a grand opening ceremony for The Landing, northern Colorado’s new regional youth shelter. The new facility will address the immediate needs of unaccompanied youth, including care to support their mental health, assistance to help them stay in school and graduate, and enrichment activities to build a more inclusive community.
-At the end of this month, Turner Middle School instructor Jessica May will wrap up her reign as the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year. Jessica has done a remarkable job representing TSD and the world of education on the state and national stages.
Looking Ahead
-A special “thank you” goes out to all in the community who supported the district’s bond and special levy ballot items and evaluation processes. Moving forward, the Board of Education is currently considering several options and additional information will be communicated soon.
-Next fall, we will be launching a new student career pathway at our Thompson Career Campus. The Emergency Medical Technician pathway will provide students with an amazing opportunity to study and train to be an EMT and to become job-ready. Construction at the new pathway space at the campus is starting soon.
-Planning is underway for our upcoming summer school session, which will provide students with an opportunity to engage in fantastic educational opportunities during the summer weeks. Additional details on this year’s class schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
-We are excited to announce that we are piloting a new curriculum for literacy during the second semester in grades K-5. The district has established a Literacy Task Force to represent each student group and all grade levels to look for the best literacy curriculum for our elementary students. This group has been created to provide transparency in the adoption process and to ensure that all voices are heard and represented throughout each part of the planning. More details on this exciting work will be released soon.
As you can see, as exciting as 2024 was, 2025 is shaping up to be yet another transformative year here in Thompson School District. Of course, none of the district’s success would be possible without the support we receive each day from our entire community. THANK YOU for all that you continue to do for our students and families! I wish you all the best this holiday season as we enter the New Year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District
TEF Scholarship Application Opening Soon
More information can be found here: https://www.thompsontef.org/scholarships
TSD SPORTS NIGHTS WITH THE DENVER NUGGETS AND COLORADO AVALANCHE
TEF GIVE35 Fundraising Campaign
The KidsPak food drive is February 28-March 2. KidsPak volunteers will be collecting food at the Loveland King Soopers, Safeways, Walmarts and Hays Market in Berthoud. KidsPak will be seeking student and educator volunteers to support their efforts. This is a perfect opportunity for student involvement, volunteer hours, clubs and student programs.
Please look for volunteer sign-up opportunities for both students and educators the last week of January. Club sponsors can e-mail: bezzie76@yahoo.com
Students younger than 14 need to be accompanied by a parent or school sponsor. All students need to provide their own transportation. All volunteers will need to sign up individually.
In recognition of their accomplishment, graduating students will be allowed to keep their Tech4All district-issued Chromebooks (blue stickers only). Strive 2025 aims to support students’ future success by ensuring digital access and equity. Keeping these devices will help graduates as they transition to higher education, enter the workforce, or pursue other opportunities, providing them with essential digital tools.
Devices not claimed by students will be repurposed within the district for repairs, as loaners, or other uses as determined by the district.
How to Claim Your Chromebook:
Check Eligibility: Ensure there are no fines or fees on your student account in Infinite Campus. Fees and fines must be paid before eligibility will begin.
Submit a Request: Follow the process on this website to claim your Chromebook. This form will be open through May 23rd.
Finalize the Process: When the form has been processed, sign into the device with a personal Google account. Forms will be processed for:
- December grads on December 20, 2024
- May grads on May 14, 2025
School accounts will be deactivated post-graduation. Please transfer any important files from your school drive to your personal account. For assistance, refer to our guide on transferring your data.
We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to continue their digital learning journey. We are proud of our graduates and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.
Congratulations!
TSD Principals, I.T.S. and Learning Services
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
