Thomas Community Newsletter

Dear TMS Community,

We hope you had a restful and joyous winter break. As we dive into the new year, we’re excited to embrace 2025 with renewed energy and a shared commitment to excellence in education. Tuesday, January 7th the students will return to school. The weather forecast is calling for cold temperatures in the days ahead, please allow extra time transporting students to and from school and encourage your children to dress for the cold.

On Monday, January 6, before welcoming students back, the dedicated D25 staff participated in a day of professional development, collaboration, and learning. These school improvement days are vital opportunities for us to refine our instructional practices and enhance our ability to foster student growth. Here is an overview of today's learning:

• All the members of the Students Services Team attended a full day of sessions through Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO).
• The Creative Arts, World Language, Physical Education/Health teachers and LMC Directors engaged in Professional Learning Partnership Sessions with staff at High School District 214 and neighboring Elementary School Districts 21,23,26,57, and 59.
• English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers along with the Instructional Coach and Advanced Learning Specialist took a deep dive into refining our IAR test preparations.
• Staff engaged in sessions on Reflecting on Grading Practices, Supporting Newcomers in the General Education Setting, and Exploring Artificial Intelligence and investigating how AI can be leveraged as a tool to enhance teaching and learning.

NEW Information in this Newsletter:

Winter MAP Testing Dates - Wednesdays, 1/8/25 & 1/15/25 ~ TMS will run Modified Daily Schedules on these dates.

Repeat Newsletter Announcements:

• Parent Academy
• 2025-2026 Calendar & Save the Dates
• PowerSchool for Parents
• Attendance Information
• Link Together Coalition Information & Glenbard Parent Series
• After-School Academic Support
• PTA Information
• School Resource Office Information
  
• Safe2Help Illinois
  
• Care Solace Community Resource
• Bus Information

As we settle back into our routines, we are eager to continue building on the foundation laid during the first half of the school year. We look forward to celebrating our students' accomplishments and tackling new challenges. Thank you for your continued partnership in making Thomas Middle School a place where students thrive. Let’s make 2025 a fantastic year together!

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

We are asking for your help in ensuring that your child feels confident and prepared to do their best. While the staff has been working hard to support the students academically, your role at home the evening before testing is just as vital. Here are some simple but effective ways to help your child be ready for testing days:

• Establish a Relaxing Routine: Encourage your child to wind down the evening before testing with quiet activities such as reading or listening to calming music. Limiting screen time before bed can help promote better sleep quality.
• Set a Consistent Bedtime: A good night’s rest is crucial for focus and performance. Aim for at least 8-10 hours of sleep to ensure your child wakes up refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
• Prepare Supplies Ahead of Time: Make sure your child has all the materials they need for the test, such as a charged Chromebook. This can help reduce morning stress.
• Provide a Nutritious Breakfast: A healthy breakfast fuels the brain and improves concentration. Consider whole grains, protein, and fruits to give your child sustained energy throughout the morning. TMS also offers a hot and cold breakfast items each day at 7:30 a.m.
• Offer Words of Encouragement: Let your child know you believe in their abilities. A simple, “Do your best—I’m proud of you!” can go a long way in boosting their confidence.

By working together, we can create a supportive environment that allows every student to perform to the best of their abilities. Thank you for partnering with us in this important effort!

2025-2026 Calendar_PDF or by visiting our website: www.sd25.org/Calendar.

Mark your calendars for these important TMS dates:

• 6th Grade Orientation - Friday, 8/15/25
• Locker Set Up Day - Friday, 8/15/25
• First Day of School - Thursday, 8/21/25
• TMS Back to School Event - Thursday, 8/21/25 from 4-7 PM
• Parent Teacher Conferences - Thursday & Friday, 10/23/25-10/24/25
• Parent Teacher Conferences - Monday, 2/16/26

Please CLICK HERE to read more about our Parent Academy - a partnership between parents and District 25, in which parents are invited to join our community of learners.

• PowerSchool can be a helpful tool for parents to support their middle schooler by viewing grades and attendance.
• Starting in late January of 2025, TMS parents will have the ability to report Daily Attendance directly in PowerSchool. In order to do this, parents will need to log into their PowerSchool accounts.
• To request parent codes for PowerSchool and/or Schoology, please fill out this form.

• Every student's attendance every day increases their opportunities to learn, grow, and be an integral, contributing member of their classroom community.
• With just three weeks (15 school days) until winter break, let's continue to work together to promote daily attendance.
• Parents and families are essential partners in supporting students' health and well-being and in creating positive habits and routines for attendance.
• Parents have the bottom-line responsibility for making sure their children get to school every day. Just as we focus on how children are performing academically, we have a responsibility to set expectations for good attendance and monitor absences so that missed days don’t add up to academic and social-emotional concerns.
• Upon return to school, TMS will host an all-school "Attendance Rally" and students will track their school attendance in their assignment notebooks.
• TMS homeroom teachers, social workers, and administrators will also talk with students who meet truancy status for tardy arrivals to school and/or absences that exceed 10% or more of the school year. We continue to implement support plans for students and families to ensure that every child can learn and grow at TMS.
• Thank you for your support. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns we can assist with.

TMS After School Support by Team is available to ALL students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays!

• 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.

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, 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

Incidents that occur after school hours/on the weekends, or outside of school such as social media concerns or safety concerns should be reported to the Arlington Heights Police Department by calling 911. You can also go directly to the Police Department located at 200 E Sigwalt Street in Arlington Heights. It is open 24 hours.

School Resource Officers can be contacted by calling 911 or the non-emergency phone number (847) 368-5300. The SROs can be contacted directly as well by typically work during school hours:

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

Care Solace for North Cook ISC students, staff, and their families is a free, confidential 24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service. Call 888-515-0595 or go to caresolace.com/site/northcook to complete a brief screening to be matched with a provider. Note that this is available to staff and their families as well as students - feel free to include this information in an upcoming staff newsletter or email as well as in family communication.

• 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

• Principal - Lori Naumowicz (Alpha & Delta Teams)
• Associate Principal - Greg Keadle (Beta, Gamma & Zeta Teams)
• Associate Principal & Student Services Coordinator - Allie Yoder (All things related to Special Education Services)
• Associate Principal & Teacher - Jeremy Fischer (Epsilon Team)