A Message From Superintendent Dr. Marc Schaffer
One of the most important parts of building and maintaining success for any entity or organization is the ability to solicit and incorporate customer feedback. This aspect can be experienced in some form in our community in almost every business or organization’s front office that we enter. Listening to customers is the best way to learn how things are going, what expectations are being held, and how one can best build stronger relationships with the people they serve.
Unlike many other entities, Thompson School District is unique in that our customer base truly is the entire community. Although our primary relationship is with the students and families we work with each day, we also know that every member of our community ultimately has a stake in who we are and where we are going. This is why we are constantly looking for effective ways to engage with our community, whether it be through special meetings we host across the district, partnering with individuals on our committees and volunteer programs, and even through the publications that we send to our residents. Receiving this type of feedback from our students is especially critical as it guides us in maintaining the programs that are working well, while also providing us with the important information we need to seek out other opportunities and make critical adjustments. In this letter, I want to highlight a few key programs in particular that are assisting us in building these important relationships with our students.
Five years ago, we launched our Thompson Student Advisory Committees, which have been an extremely positive addition to our district. The committees are held at the elementary, middle school and high school levels with student representatives from each of our schools. They serve as a great opportunity for district staff members to speak with students about issues that matter to them and gather their opinions. For example, at our most recent sessions a few weeks ago, students spent part of the meetings doing some taste testing for our Nutrition Services department and providing us with important feedback that the district team will incorporate into their school meal program.
To further connect with our student community, we are also incorporating listening sessions with students to learn about their educational experiences and the district’s inclusive and supportive culture. The questions asked in a short survey focus on the teacher's professional development and the student's learning environment. Dr. Maria Gabriel and members of the district’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team have also led short focus groups when the student group meeting has had extended time. As of November 13, ten student organizations from our secondary schools have shared their perspectives, insights and personal experiences. The overall data will be compiled and utilized to determine next steps for professional learning for staff and other strategies to create positive learning environments for each TSD student.
Beyond those programs, we also fully encourage our students to share their thoughts with our staff members both at the school and district level. These important conversations and opportunities ultimately help to create the best outcomes not just for our students, but for our entire community as well.
I hope you all have a wonderful upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you, as always, for your partnership and trust.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Choice Enrollment Period Open Now
Thompson School District’s Choice Enrollment period for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year is open now!
This year’s period will extend through Friday, December 15. The process is designed for students who wish to attend a school outside of their attendance boundary.
Families are encouraged to submit their application at any time during the Choice Enrollment period - All eligible applications that are received will be entered into the district's lottery system.
More information is located at the following link:
Want to get involved? Have you heard of DAAC?
The District Advisory & Accountability Committee (DAAC) offers families, students, staff and community members the opportunity to become involved with the improvement of the educational system. DAAC submits recommendations for the district unified improvement plan (DUIP) and monitors progress, reviews charter applications, makes recommendations to the school board to consider for budget purposes, and supports family engagement in district committees and in schools.
Annually, the Board approves the DAAC membership roster. To the extent practicable, the school board must ensure that the stakeholders appointed reflect the student populations significantly represented within the district. This is why we are extending our DAAC membership timeline. We have representation from 17 of our district schools, but would like to see ALL schools represented.
DAAC meets once a month, August through April. Our meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 6:00-7:30 pm, in-person with a virtual option. Anyone can attend a DAAC meeting, but we do have voting members. Voting members are urged to participate regularly to ensure a quorum on important DAAC actions.
If you are interested in joining DAAC please email laura.copeland@tsd.org and she will send you more information. Thank you!
Parents Can Soon Log Student Absences Online
Starting January 4, 2024, parents and guardians can log in to their Infinite Campus Parent Portal site to notify school staff of an expected student absence. This will ensure the authenticity of reported absences, while also providing families with improved communication when a student misses class.
Click here to learn how to request an absence.
While families may continue to request absences by calling their school's attendance line, completing the process via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal is recommended for a faster experience.
For questions, please contact portal@tsd.org.
TEF Educator of the Year Nominations Are Open
Educator of the Year Application Process Explainer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bJvdksQKu5K3cfkkLX3yTB6fEWV6wQc4QVCWpHnJGzY/edit
Easy Ways to Give to Thompson Education Foundation
- Join TEF's Monthly Giving Program! Monthly Giving is convenient, flexible, self-directed and increases your support of TEF programs! Click here to learn more about Monthly Giving: https://www.thompsontef.org/monthly-giving
- Thompson Education Foundation is part of Colorado Gives Day! Colorado Gives Day is the largest day of giving in Colorado, and your donation makes a difference! Visit https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Thompson-R2-J-Education-Foundation
TEF Nuggets Night Coming Soon!
Inclement Weather Closures & Delays
During periods of inclement weather, Thompson School District is occasionally faced with the difficult decision on whether or not to close schools. For more information on these policies and how these announcements are communicated, click on the following link:
https://www.tsd.org/departments/communications/school-closing-delayed-start
