Meet Keefer Lanham
Before TMS I was: alone and afraid..., but seriously, I was a counselor at LHS, Summitstone, and a whole bunch of scrambled other stuff.
Favorite color: Cornflower blue
What I like to do in my free time: Free? Oh, I pay for it. But I love to read, watch football, play guitar, carve wood, and a thousand other hobbies.
I am good at: Working with teens and adolescents.(Batman's trauma keeps him in that age bracket as well)
TMS Counseling Department - November Notes & News:
Inclusion Club has been able to do 2 service learning projects this year. The first one was at the end of October, collecting and sorting food donations at House of Neighborly Service in Loveland to help support families experiencing food insecurity. Their second service learning project will focus on National Hispanic Heritage month, by volunteering at the Day of the Dead celebration at the Loveland Library on November 2, where they will be helping with kids’ crafts and the snack table.
From November 11-13, 6th grade students will be learning about suicide prevention through the district-approved Signs of Suicide curriculum in their PRO classes. 7th and 8th graders will receive a similar presentation later this school year.
On October 29, 18 of our 8th grade students who indicated they are interested in healthcare took a field trip to Front Range Community College and the Thompson Career Campus. They got to hear about potential future careers in the medical profession. They also had a chance to try out some hands-on activities.
Attention 8th grade parents/guardians: Families wishing to enroll in a Thompson School District school for the next school year that is NOT their boundary school, should apply during the first round of Choice Enrollment for priority consideration. Applications received by December 20, 2024 are included in a lottery for available spaces. Choice Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year opens on November 1, 2024. Please call our registrar with any questions at 970-613-7406.
We have started 8th grade groups. If your child was interested in participating in a group, you should have received an email from us with more information on the group they want to participate in. The group topics this quarter are Stress, Anxiety, and Anger Management and Family Support. During the second semester, we will be running small groups with 6th and 7th grades.
If you’re worried about your child or would like them to receive any extra support at school - for any reason - please contact Andrea Wallace (all 6th grade; 8th grade last names A-L) or Keefer Lanham (all 7th grade; 8th grade last names M-Z).
Sources of Strength came on strong, stayed long, talked loud, and walked proud! We introduced ourselves to the school in a presentation followed by our first campaign: Trusted Adults. A trusted adult/mentor is a person that your student identifies as someone they feel comfortable sharing difficulties with, seeking guidance, or someone who they feel will just listen. Having a strong connection with Trusted Adults is a significant protective factor in the life of a young person. One of the primary outcomes of Sources of Strength is increasing trust towards adults.
We were invited to present Sources of Strength to the Thompson Board of Education at Berthoud High School on October 16th. Three of our students stood up to give a brief introduction of what the group is about, why it is student driven, and the campaigns we drive to raise awareness of self care and coping strategies. Then they had the board members participate in an activity identifying who their trusted adults are and challenged them to reach out to them to let them know how much they are appreciated. Our students were awesome! We're so proud of their achievements.
In addition to our two school counselors, Ms. Andrea and Mr. Keefer, Turner also has two staff members who specifically support students with staying emotionally regulated and ready to learn at school. Ms. Nguyen is our Social Emotional Learning Specialist and Mrs. Gosch is our Student Success Paraprofessional. They support students with things like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision making, and relationship skills. This can look like working with students one-on-one or in small groups. It can also involve checking in with students throughout the day and supporting them as they use various strategies for staying calm, organized, and focused. Since the start of the school year, Ms. Nguyen and Mrs. Gosch have also been hard at work planning and setting up the Regulation Room. This is a quiet space at Turner that is available for students to use tools and strategies ranging from kinetic sand to mindful breathing in order to become more grounded during the school day.
6th grade
Greetings from 6th Grade! It was great to meet so many parents at conferences; thanks to all who were able to attend! As we roll through Autumn, we have just a couple of things to keep in mind for you and your 6th grade students:
First, please replenish your child’s pencil supply whenever you have a chance! We have so many kiddos that are completely out of pencils, and teachers are running through their spare pencils like water. It may also be a good idea to check with your kids and see if they need any notebooks, etc that they may have already used up. Second, if your child has not already brought in tissues from their school supply list at the beginning of the year, please send some boxes with your child to bring to their A Block class - with the fall sicknesses rolling in we’re going through tissues extremely fast and are running low.
The end of this semester is close! There are only three weeks until Thanksgiving Break, and only three weeks of class between that break and Winter Break. That’s not a whole lot of school days, so please help your students stay on track to get all of their work completed before the end of the semester. Here are a couple of tools to keep students on track:
Google Classroom--all teachers post assignments to their Google Classroom so kids can access them at any time. Have them show you how to find their assignments!
Paper Agenda--each student was given an agenda when they started school and they are expected to fill out their work for each class each day. It’s another great way to see your students’ daily work and homework assignments.
Science - Pressure . . . Pressure! Air Pressure that is. Our scientists have just finished working on proper Scientific Lab Write ups and are now deep into the mechanics of what causes Earth’s winds and ocean currents. We have had some homework, watch what has happened with our last two Hurricanes that have devastated the south and eastern States. Our scientists are finding that weather is not only fascinating but can also be destructive.
ELA Last month, students worked hard to finish their short stories. This month, we are starting our new unit called “Animal Allies”. Students will be learning and reading about Jane Goodall and Hachiko. Through our exploration of animal friendship students will write creative narratives from the POV of a critter.
Math- Students are finally settling into math and getting familiar with the curriculum and routines! We are finished reviewing basic skills and are jumping into new concepts involving ratios and unit rates. Check your student’s notes packets to see what they are working on!
Social Studies- We will be continuing to study early Mesoamerican civilizations. We are starting the Aztecs and will move onto the Inca after. We have learned about the Mayan ball game and hope to play our version of this the next nice day!
7th grade Encounters
As we kick off Quarter 2, our seventh-grade students have been hard at work. Here’s an update on what’s happening in each class:
Mrs. Krakel’s Science Classes:
Students have been engaged in a comprehensive exploration of cellular biology and organisms as systems, ending with a hands-on frog dissection! Following this, we are jumping into our Genetics Unit. Throughout this unit, students will gain an understanding of how genetic material carries information about their observable traits. They will be able to show how traits are passed down from one generation to the next. We will learn about Punnett squares, DNA, mutations, and much more.
Ms. G’s Social Studies Classes:
In Social Studies, we’re currently diving into our second unit, exploring the building blocks of civilization. Students are working on their first five-paragraph essay, focusing on how the Nile River influenced the development of Ancient Egypt. Soon, we’ll begin studying Ancient China.
Ms. Strauss’s ELA Classes:
We are starting poetry in ELA! In this part of the "Generations" unit, students are taught to annotate and analyze various forms of poetry. They will also be writing their own free-verse poems. Their final assessment for this unit will be to write a personal narrative that answers the question, "How can generations learn from one another?”
Mrs. Mayr’s ELA Classes:
Just a Friendly Reminder: 7th grade ELA students have Spelling/Vocabulary tests every Friday! Ask your kids which words they are learning each week and discuss how and when you would use the word in writing or conversation. You could challenge each other to come up with creative sentences using each word, or casually quiz them on the correct spellings and definitions while riding in the car, walking the dog, or whenever you have a couple of spare minutes. *All students should have their words recorded in their ELA notebooks, but if those don't come home, the weekly words are always available in their Google Classrooms. Happy Spelling!
Mr. Kline & Ms. Perez’s Math Classes:
The Seventh graders in 2.0 math are starting algebra and the combinations of expressions. Also, as a reminder to all parents, math does not assign homework. Ms. Perez and Mr. Kline both give the students ample time in class to finish their assignments, if they don’t finish them in class, then it is homework.
8th grade Adventures
As the school year progresses, we are excited to share information with you about a significant milestone in your child's academic journey—the transition to high school. Our 8th graders are about to embark on a new and exciting chapter in their lives, and the Turner 8th grade teachers, administrators, and counselors will collaborate with the Berthoud High School counseling department to assist your child with this process.
High school registration is an important process that ensures a smooth transition for our 8th graders. Here are some important dates to add to your calendar so you and your child have the information needed to register for high school.
Nov 1 - Dec 20- Choice Enrollment Round 1:
For students who want to go to a school outside of their attendance boundary for the 2025-2026 school year. Current TMS students who live outside of the BHS attendance boundary must apply for Choice Enrollment if they want to attend BHS.
Nov 19, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at BHS- Open House and STEM Night:
This is for students/families who might choose to Choice Enroll at BHS, are interested in the STEM Program, and/or are BHS newbies. There will be school tours and presentations about departments, clubs, and athletics.
Dec date TBD - during A, B, and C Block Language Arts Classes at TMS- Spartan 101:
BHS counselors present information about activities, clubs, elective classes, graduation requirements, and credits. There will be a Q & A session with BHS students.
No later than January 17- Choice Enrollment Round 1 Notification:
Families will be notified via email and must accept a spot in the Scribbles Family Dashboard within five business days.
Feb 4, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at BHS- BHS Registration Night:
For all incoming freshmen who plan to attend BHS for the 2025-2026 school year. Registration forms will be distributed and counselors will go over the registration process.
Feb 11 during A, B, and C Block Math Classes at TMS- BHS Registration Forms Due: BHS Counselors will meet with each student for approximately 5 minutes to ensure all steps in the registration process have been completed.
We look forward to partnering with you as we prepare our 8th graders for the next exciting chapter in their academic journey. Your involvement and support are invaluable as we work together to help your child thrive in high school.
Everyone loves Electives
Elective classes are learning skills to become better active listeners. Here’s what else is happening in elective classes this month:
PE- We will be finishing up our Health Units and get the chance to have some guest speakers in the classroom from UCHealth Healthy Hearts Program and the Larimer County SAVA Center. We will play Volleyball and Floor Hockey, and begin to test our Physical Fitness Levels to see if all the hard work we’ve been doing in class has paid off! We are still looking for donations of travel-size deodorant.
Band, Choir and Orchestra had their fall concert in October. We are learning new music for the December concerts. Band will be held on December 3rd. The Choir and Orchestra will be performing on December 4th.
FACS- All Grades: Turkey Homework Bingo- Due Nov. 22nd
6th: *Basic Kitchen Safety: Knives, Ovens, and Cooktops
*Foods & Nutrition: Alternatives to Junk Food
*Interpersonal Relationships
7th: *Food Science & Nutrition: Taki’s, Energy Drinks, Candy… What’s Really In Them?
*Housing & Interior Design: On a Budget
8th:*Consumerism: Log of Purchases
*Early Childhood Education: Rice Babies
Plus 1 class is learning about simple machines and putting them together to create a Rube Goldberg Machine. We are also using the Innovation Lab to learn about health and wellness, robotics, rocketry, blood typing, suturing, and flight.
Industrial Tech: Students will be working on self-selected projects following the Design Process. We are exploring rocketry, woodworking, and still continuing with 3D design.
ART: 6th Graders will be learning about Color Theory and mixing paint into values, texture, and the color wheel using Watercolor Paints and also creating pet portraits over the next two weeks.
7th Graders are continuing learning about Simple Shapes to Complex Forms now graduating out of Drawing and starting to work with Acrylic Painting and Still life objects.
8th Graders Period 3 are continuing learning about Simple Shapes to Complex Forms now graduating out of Drawing and starting to work with Acrylic Painting and Still life objects.
8th Graders Period 5 are starting a Ceramics Lesson Plan starting with Pinch Pots, then handbuilding and then working on the wheel.
Spanish: 7th grade finished a unit project for "El Calendario". Students learned days, months, seasons, weather terms, and numbers. They researched the weather in a Spanish-speaking city. We talked about opposite seasons south of the equator. The students are learning to read and write in Spanish. They presented their projects for a speaking grade. Students are proud of their work! See photos.
There is a new group of 6th grade students learning the basics of the Spanish language with greetings, colors and numbers.
The 8th grade classes are studying Chapter 4, “Comida es Cultura” (“Food is Culture”), practicing food vocabulary and looking at its cultural importance.
Club news
Math Counts meets on Mondays from 4:15 - 5:00pm
Chess Club meets on Mondays from 4:15 - 5:00pm
Dragons of Drama Club meets on Mondays and Wednesday from 4:15 - 5:45pm
Robotics meets Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 4:15 - 5:45pm
Spelling Bee meets on Tuesdays from 4:15 - 5:00pm
Inclusion Club meets before school on Thursdays 8:00 - 8:45am
Battle of the books meets during lunch
LUC club- Nov 1st & Nov 22 before school 8:15 - 8:45am
PRO Class
PRO is our connections/advisory class. Each student is in a same grade group and each grade level group belongs to a castle. There are 8 castles: time, wind, energy, rock, water, metal, ice, and fire. PRO class meets twice a week. Sources of Strength, Character Strong, and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports are part of the lesson development.
During October we are launching our Sources of Strength Trusted Adult Campaign, discussing bullying and bystanders, understanding Día De Los Muertos, and participating in Castle Competitions.
TMS PTO
TMS parent teacher organization (PTO) meets at Turner Middle School.
Please feel free to join them for the next meeting on Friday, November 1 at 9:00am. This meeting sets up the opportunity to work together with the school to supplement and enrich our student's educational experience.
See TMS Website for contact information.
SAAC
Wrestling & Girls basketball starts in January. Girls basketball tryouts will begin on January 6 from 4:15-5:45 in the gym. Tryouts will be at the same time every day after school until coaches have decided they can place students on Varsity or Intramural.
Make sure you get your forms uploaded on BigTeams and pay through the School Store in Parent Portal. If you need BigTeams help, please contact our athletic secretary Kelly Sandoval (kelly.sandoval@tsd.org) REMINDER: physicals are only valid for 1 calendar year, so make sure yours is current.
NOCO Emergency Alert
Larimer County Fire Departments have asked us to share this information. This emergency alert will alert those who sign up for it with emergency notifications from Larimer county. Please text NOCOALERT to 888777.
Safety Drills
TMS practices emergency safety drills on a continuous basis throughout the year. The type of drill we practice and discuss with students is rotated. We help students to become familiar with the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which outline 5 situations and the actions that both the students and the adults do during an emergency.
School fees are due!
You can pay your student fees one of two ways:
1. You can drop off a check or cash at the school
2. Pay in Parent Portal with a credit card.
3. If you have previous years fees to pay, you must change the school year in the school year drop down menu.
If you have any questions, please contact the front office.
Thank you!
Tech4All
Welcome to Thompson’s Tech4All (1:1) program, a vital component of Thompson’s Strive 2025 Strategic plan. Tech4All equips students with the digital tools they need to enhance their learning and prepare for the future. We invite you to partner with us as we empower students to thrive in today's rapidly-evolving digital world.
Tech4All supports TSD’s strategic plan by providing digital tools that enable students to demonstrate their learning meaningfully and reach their fullest potential. Whether it's exploring interactive digital textbooks, collaborating with peers on projects, or engaging in immersive educational experiences, the possibilities are limitless.
Each student will receive a TSD digital learning device, ensuring equitable access to resources and enabling personalized learning experiences. All 6th grade students will receive a Chromebook that will serve as their digital learning tool throughout their time Turner Middle School. Each year, the device will transition with them to the next grade level and will be replaced when they move to high school as freshmen.
Students and families are responsible for the care and safety of their district device. Please see our Technology Agreement Form which includes a link to the JS - Responsible Use Policy for TSD. Instructions to accept the Tech Agreement Form are included in this How To Guide.
Students are expected to bring their device with them to class, charged and ready to use. All students will receive documentation on maintaining their device, keeping it safe, practicing digital citizenship and meeting any school-specific requirements for digital learning. To protect against potential damage, we offer an optional insurance plan.
In an effort to secure student data and teach students how to secure their own accounts, we are implementing a single-sign-on product called ClassLink.
We trust our students to be responsible for maintaining their own password for their device. Students will use their current password, once they log into ClassLink, they will be prompted to reset their password.
As we continue to secure our environment, students will set up their own security questions. This allows them to reset their password in the future and teaches them security processes to confirm their identity.
As a secondary method for protecting accounts, students will also be asked to set up a Personal Identification Number. This PIN will also be used to secure their TSD account.
Please remind your child that the PIN and security questions will help keep other people from accessing their account. Passwords, PINs, and security questions and answers should only be shared with trusted adults, like guardians.
Tech4All is not just a program; it's a commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering our students to thrive in the digital age which includes password management. We Trust You to take care of your device and use it to open up possibilities in your educational journey. Together, we will embark on a transformative educational experience that prepares our students for a future filled with innovation and opportunity.
For more details, including expectations, frequently asked questions and support for home use, please visit our website.
Turner Middle School
Mission:
We will provide a safe and inclusive environment and ensure a high level of learning for every student to become engaged citizens and lifelong learners.
Vision:
Cultivate Excellence, Celebrate Diversity, Connect with Community
Principal: Brandy Grieves
Assistant Principal: Adam Kohn
Dean: Lacey Scadden
Secretary: Merri Hocker
Attendance Secretary: Kelly Sandoval
Registrar: Brandii Wilson
School Nurse: Stephanie Roberts
School Health Office Aide: Pam Sargent
Website:https://tms.tsd.org/
Location: 950 Massachusetts Avenue, Berthoud, CO, USA
Phone: 970-613-7400
Email: Info.TMS@tsd.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurnerMSBerthoud
Twitter: @tmsdragons