Dear Class of 2025 Students and Families,

As we enter the final week of the middle school journey, we want to take a moment to share how proud we are of the TMS Class of 2025! This is such an exciting time—filled with celebration, reflection, and anticipation for what lies ahead. Over the next 4 school days, the students will have opportunities to enjoy special events, make lasting memories with classmates, and honor the hard work completed in middle school. We are hopeful that the 8th graders will enjoy each moment, and continue to show the kindness, leadership, and spirit that make this class truly special.

Please review the essential information in this newsletter with your 8th grader to ensure that you and your child have a clear understanding of the details around the Great America field trip, 8th Grade Party, and the 8th Grade Graduation milestone.

New Information 5/28/25:

• Entrances for Graduation Event: 8th graders will enter door #32 at Forest View Educational Center at 7:00 PM for Graduation on June 3rd. All guests can begin arriving at 7:05 PM and will enter doors #33& #34.
• Accessing Forest View Educational Center: We recommend using Seegers Raod via Arlington Heights Road to Goebbert Road or Algonquin Road to Goebbert Road as Golf road tends to get congested
• SomeThing Blue Photography: See below for details on photography services that will be provided at the 8th Grade Party (cell phone free event) and at Graduation. A link for the photos will be sent on June 4th.
• Class of 2025 T-Shirts: T-shirts were distributed today in homeroom for students who purchased these shirts.
• Baby Photo Wall: Great work! The wall is up and students are enjoying seeing each other's baby photos.
• Graduation Celebration Party Planning Committee: Many thanks to Andrea Patrick and Tiffany Groner, along with the many 8th student volunteers, for all their work meeting and planning for our end-of-the-year celebration events. We appreciate your efforts!
• Information on Dance hosted by TMS 8th Grade Parent Group: Click HERE or see below!

8th Grade Celebration Volunteer Sign-Up: The 8th Grade Celebration will take place on Tuesday, June 3, from 12:45 until 2:45 pm. The PTA is still seeks a few more items of support. Please sign up HERE to bring in donations, gift cards and/or volunteer your time during the event.

Newsletter Summary:

This newsletter contains essential information about these special events, along with details on the graduation milestone as we celebrate the Thomas Middle School Timberwolves Class of 2025. Be sure to read through this newsletter so you have all of the details.

• Graduation Gown Distribution - Week of 3/31-4/4
• 8th Grade Expectations Letter & Expectations Assembly Presentation
• 8th Grade Great America Field Trip - Monday, 6/2/25 departs school @ 9 AM & returns @ 6 PM
• Yearbooks - Distributed on 6/3/25 @ TMS
• Graduation Rehearsal - Tuesday, 6/3/25 during periods 1-3 @ TMS
• Graduation Party/Celebration - Tuesday, 6/3/25 from 12:45-2:45 PM @ TMS
• Graduation Ceremony - Tuesday, 6/3/25 @ 7:30 PM @ Forest View Educational Center

On behalf of the entire TMS staff, we look forward celebrating the TMS Class of 2025!

Thank you,

Lori Naumowicz, Principal

Greg Keadle, Associate Principal

Jeremy Fischer, Associate Principal & Teacher

Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & Student Services Coordinator

Many thanks to the TMS PTA for their assistance in funding Something Blue Photographer for the 8th grade celebration party event as well as the graduation ceremony. Families will be able to download photographs from the photographer for both events. A link will be sent out on June 4th following these events. Something Blue hopes you love the photos and share them with your friends and family.

This information is being shared per request of the 8th grade TMS parents below who organized a dance for the 8th grade students. Click HERE for details.

While the event is open to all 8th grade TMS students, all planning, supervision, and communication regarding the dance is being handled by the parent organizers. This event is not sponsored by Thomas Middle School, nor is it affiliated with our PTA.

If you have questions about the event, please reach out directly to the parent organizers.

Contact Person: Miriam Tovar, 847-224-2034, itsmiriamt@gmail.com along with:

• Gina Groberski
• Anne McGrath
• Talicia Bashford
• Melanie Varrato
• Mary Beth Canty
• Sheraleen Thompson

TMS Graduation Ceremony ~ Tuesday, June 3, 2025 @ 7:30 PM at Forest View Educational Center - 2121 South Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights

GRADUATION ARRIVAL TIME:

• The 8th grade students should arrive at 7:00 PM, enter door #32, and report to the gym with their gowns.
• Guest can arrive at 7:05 PM. Guests should enter doors #33 and #34. The doors will NOT OPEN until 7:05 PM. Please DO NOT arrive early as the South Middle School graduation event is at 4:30 PM that same day and time is needed for guests to exit the parking lot from the SMS graduation.
• While we believe there is ample seating for each graduate to bring 4 guests, we ask that families please be mindful that this event will be recorded and posted to the TMS website following graduation.
• TICKETS NOT NEEDED! Immediate family members and special guests are welcome!
• This is an indoor event so a rain date is not needed.
• This venue does NOT have air conditioning. Please dress accordingly as it will likely be warm inside the Field House.
• Handicap seating will be available on the floor and in the first row of the bleachers.
• The walk from the parking lot to the Field House is lengthly and seating in the field house may require walking up stairs.
• All children 17 and under must be with an adult.
• Balloons and noise makers are not permitted in the field house.
• Respectful behavior is required by all guests and participants to ensure each graduate can enjoy this special event.

GRADUATION PRACTICE/REHEARSAL:

This will be held on the morning of Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at TMS during periods 1-3 with homerooms Unless otherwise specified, this rehearsal is mandatory for all students attending the graduation ceremony.

GRADUATION GUEST SEATING & HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY:

• The doors to the field house will open at 7:05 PM and seating will be first come, first serve.
• The ceremony will be open seating with wheelchair accessible seats.
• The first row of the bleachers on both sides of the Field House are reserved for handicap seating only.

• Parking will be available in the lot directly in front of Forest View Educational Center accessible from Goebbert Road.
• There are several parking lots for convenient parking at the Forrest View Educational Center.

GRADUATION GOWNS:

Gowns were ordered for those who needed then and will be distributed to the students the week of 3/31/25-4/4/25. TMS students do not wear caps, just the green graduation gown. Please store the gown careful to ensure it's ready for graduation day, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

GRADUATION ATTIRE:

Students should be dressed in appropriate school attire including shoes that will be comfortable and safe for walking up and down stairs and across the stage. Please note that for safety reasons high-heeled shoes should not be worn by graduates or guests.

GRADUATION MATERIALS - DIPLOMAS, RIBBONS, CORDS & AWARDS:

• Graduation Cords will be distributed at the end of the school day on Graduation Day.

• Diplomas, ribbons, and academic awards will be distributed during the graduation ceremony.

GRADUATION PHOTOGRAPHER:

Many thanks to the TMS PTA for their assistance in funding a photographer for the 8th grade celebration party event as well as our graduation ceremony. Families can select to download photographs from the photographer for both events. A link to the 2025 photos will be shared following these events.

WHERE TO MEET YOUR CHILD AT THE END OF THE GRADUATION CEREMONY:

• It will be very important that each family establishes spot outside in front of the Forest View Educational Center where you can meet your child once the graduation ceremony is over.
• The recessional lines will take the graduates outside to the front of the Forest View Educational Center at the end of the ceremony.

EXPECTATIONS AT GRADUATION:

The TMS 8th graders have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this graduation milestone and we are eager to provide all TMS families with an exceptional graduation experience. Please be respectful of one another and follow these expectations:

• Plan to arrive between 7:05-7:25 PM - Guests that arrive after 7:30 PM may need to wait to enter the Field House so not to disturb the graduation processional.
• Please remain seated during the entire graduation ceremony. We have a professional photographer that will be taking photos during the event and the event is also being recorded.
• Please do not bring balloons, airhorns, or noise makers.
• Please follow the TMS tradition of one clap following each child's name and then a round of applause at the end of each homeroom.
• Please do not sit in the first/front row of the bleachers as these seats are reserved for handicap guests.

• Yearbooks will be distributed on the last day of school ~ Graduation Day.
• A small number of surplus year books are for sale for $25. Please contact
  thomasmiddleschoolyearbook@gmail.com
• TMS does not typically provide time for students to sign each other's yearbook. However, if students wish to do that, it is important to note that TMS is not responsible for yearbooks that are damaged or lost, and parents must sign the permission slip shared by the team leaders.
• The TMS PTA manages yearbook sales and has information on all yearbook orders. Please contact the PTA if you have any questions about a yearbook order:
  thomasmiddleschoolyearbook@gmail.com

Additionally, as your student prepares to transition from District 25, please take time at home to download any important files from their District 25 Google account. Student access to their Google account will be disabled one week after graduation. To help with this process, families may use Google Takeout to easily transfer and save files.

Para este aviso en español, haga clic aquí.

First, you are asked to make a decision regarding your student’s remaining lunch account balance. The options are as follows:

1. Have the remaining balance transferred to a younger sibling’s account.

2. Donate to District 25’s Bernice Gliege Angel Fund*.

3. Request a check to be mailed to your home with the remaining balance.

*The Bernice Gliege Angel Fund was created to support children in need in AHSD 25. The Fund provides for field trips, materials, food supplies, lessons, and other needs identified by staff that will benefit the children served in AHSD 25.*

In order to choose one of the options listed above, please complete the form linked below no later than Friday, May 30, 2025. If you do not fill out the linked form, the remaining balance in your student’s account will automatically be donated to the Bernice Gliege Angel Fund as of June 30, 2025.

Please call our Department of Food & Nutrition Services at (847) 758-4883 with any questions or concerns.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

The Student ID for <<First Name>> <<Last Name>> is: <<Student ID>

*note- checks will be mailed out in July 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact our Department of Food & Nutrition Services at (847) 758-4883.

Spring is a time of celebration with your families!

We want all the D214 high school and feeder area communities to honor these life events and be safe!

Please review THIS LETTER regarding "Social Host" laws in our communities.