Thompson Friday Forecast

December 14, 2018

From the Principal...Steve Morrill

WINTER BREAK

Winter Break is right around the corner. We will still be focusing on the business of learning next week. There will be no school for students from Monday, December 24th through Friday, January 4th. School will resume on January 7th. Enjoy your winter break! The 7/8 office will be open December 26-28 and January 2-4.

5ESSENTIALS SURVEY INFORMATION

The D303 community has until February 15, 2019 to participate in the 5Essentials Survey (Parent Satisfaction Survey). If you have not done so already, please consider participating in this process by clicking on the following link https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/. Parents are encouraged to complete a survey for each of their children.

Students have also been asked to take this survey. Earlier this week, time at school was provided for students to take this survey and students were emailed the link and other necessary information. Unfortunately, the platform the state provided to support this activity did not work properly and some of the students were not able to access the site. Please have a conversation with your son or daughter to see if they were able to complete this survey and encourage them to do so.

Participation in this survey is important as the results will identify areas in which Thompson is doing well and areas where we need to improve. At the conclusion of this process, the tabulated results will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education website, www.ISBE.net. Thank you in advance for participating and providing your feedback!

FALL SPORTS

Fall sports are coming to an end. I would like to thank the athletes, parents, and coaches for their dedication and flexibility during this season. Congratulations to all of our student athletes!

Enjoy your weekend!

~Steve

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Spirit Week at Thompson

Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Week next week, December 17th – December 21st!

Monday - Comfy Day - Wear your sweats or PJs and have a comfy day!
Tuesday - Santa Day - Make yourself look like Santa Claus by wearing a Santa hat, a Santa sweater, or a white beard!
Wednesday - Crazy Day - The Team with the largest percentage of Crazy Day participants wins a prize. Wear your craziest hat, socks, or hair and make it a wacky Wednesday!
Thursday - Team Colors - If you are on a team that ends in a 1 or 2, you should wear RED. If you are on a team ending in 3, 4, or 5, you should wear GREEN.
Friday - Ugly Holiday Sweater - Keep the spirit alive and wear your ugliest holiday sweater. If you don’t own a sweater be creative and make your own by decorating a sweater or sweatshirt that you already have in your closet.

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PTO News

Hello Thompson Families!

Cookie Exchange

Our wonderful committee chairs for the staff cookie exchange have done an amazing job organizing all the holiday treats for our Thompson staff. We need just a few more spots covered for some homemade baked treats. Please sign up on the Sign Up Genius below. Thanks to all who have already signed up!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0444A5AC2AA3FF2-thompson1

Restaurant Nights!

Our Restaurant fundraiser is still going on with Chili's until December 21st! Drop in to grab a bite to eat or carry out dinner. Show the voucher and Thompson PTO will get 15% of your bill!

Grade Game Nights

The PTO will be sponsoring the Grade Game Nights again this year. The eighth grade game night is right around the corner on January 8th and the seventh grade game night is on January 10th. Sixth grade game night will be on February 19th. Be on the lookout for information soon.

The PTO has been excited to support several activities so far this year with many more coming in the future. We are thankful for all our Thompson families who help make all of it possible!

Our Next PTO meeting will be on January 10, 2019 at the 6th grade center!

High School Counselor Visits

Next Wednesday, December 19th, counselors from St. Charles East High School and St. Charles North High School will be meeting with our 8th graders. We will be running an alternate schedule on this day. 8th grade students will need to bring their Chromebook to these meetings. 8th graders should check the posters in the hallways for their counselor location and stop by student services with questions.

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Thompson Spiritwear Still Available

The PTO is keeping the store open to order Thompson Thunder Spiritwear! Click here to see the selections and prices. They are also discounting all sweatshirts and hoodies on the webstore by $5. Please contact the PTO Spiritwear Chairman if you have questions!

Go Thompson Thunder!!!

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Thompson 18-19 Yearbook

Every year, Thompson students publish a Thompson Yearbook. Students who decide to purchase a yearbook are given this keepsake at the end of the school year. Buying a yearbook is optional and not all students choose to own one. The price of the yearbook is $25.

Have you ordered your Thompson 18-19 Yearbook? You can check your PushCoin account to see if you have purchased one by going to 'transactions' and then adjusting the start date back to April 1, 2018. We are extending the due date for ordering books to Thursday, January 17, 2019. Contact Kim Walters (kimberly.walters@d303.org or 331-228-6410) if you have any questions or need financial assistance.

If you would like to order a yearbook, please view the PushCoin product listings by clicking here.

Kayla's Hope

The Lehmann family is very pleased to announce that Kayla's Hope Foundation is now formed. We are also pleased and humbled to announce that an anonymous donor has come forward with an offer to match every gift to the Kayla's Hope Foundation, dollar-for-dollar, through the end December 2018, up to $10,000. If you are able, please consider making a donation so we can receive the full blessing of this matching gift pledge. If you would like to see what Kayla's Hope Foundation is please click the following link.

https://www.communityfoundationfrv.org/…/kaylas-hope-found…/

We created this foundation to keep the memory of Kayla alive. We will never forget her and her goodness. She would want us to remember only the best of her and would be pleased that we are giving back to those in need and helping others who may be struggling as she was. Thank you for your support, your prayers and your love. Kayla's Hope is alive.

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Holiday Lights Recycling

Thompson is proud to be participating in the Holiday Lights Recycling program sponsored by America In Bloom - St. Charles, Elgin Recycling, and the City of St. Charles! Last year America in Bloom - St. Charles collected more than 1,000 lbs of lights, diverting them from a landfill to be recycled instead.

Drop off working or non-working Holiday Lights in bins in our main foyers. These include:

Traditional Holiday Lights
LED Holiday Lights
Italian Mini Holiday Lights
Rope Lights
Extension Cords

Please do not drop off prelit garland, wreaths, trees, or lighted lawn decorations or ornaments.

The City of St. Charles mascot recently stopped by the 7/8 center to promote this program and is pictured here with Grace, Mitch, Morgan, Spencer, and Mr. Morrill. Thank you for your support!

Upcoming Parent University Programs

January 24, 2019

Follow-Up ANGST Session #2

Wasco Elementary LRC - 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Click here to register for ANGST Session #2

January 30, 2019

Preventing and Addressing Bullying: Lessons Learned and Resources for Parents

Thompson 6th Grade Cafeteria - 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Faculty from the Psychology Department at Northern Illinois University will present practical information from their research and their work as part of a U.S. Department of Education training grant “Project Prevent and Address Bullying.” Thompson Middle School is partnering with NIU on this grant project, bringing resources that will be shared throughout the district. The faculty will present helpful knowledge, tips, and resources parents can use when navigating bullying situations.

Click here to register for this program.

February 20, 2019

Common Sense Approach to Managing Technology: Teaching Children How to Be Good Digital Citizens in the Age of Social Media, Gaming and Screen Time

Wredling Middle School – Cafeteria - 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Technology is a part of all our lives. From phones to laptops to video games, we are more “connected” or “plugged in” than ever. How do we help our children (and ourselves) find balance when it comes to the use of technology? During this Parent University we will share tools and strategies to help create balance and set boundaries. The night will feature a panel as well as opportunities for interactive discussion. Come “hang up and hang out”!

Click here to register for this program.

Please click here to view all of the planned Parent University Programs.

Thompson PTO

Check out the Thompson PTO website by clicking on the button above. You can support the Thompson PTO by volunteering your time and/or paying your 18-19 PTO dues.