Thompson Friday Forecast

Today, February 28th, is a Teacher Institute Day. Our teachers headed out to various locations in Kane County and beyond attending or presenting professional development sessions. This is a great opportunity that our county provides our educators to support their on-going learning. We value the time given to improve our craft and learn from experts in our fields which will ultimately benefit students.

Judges Return to Thompson

Next Wednesday, March 4th our students will have the privilege of hearing grade level internet safety presentations by several of our Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Judges. These presentations will include information on safe internet etiquette and safe-guards students should take when working with technology, social media, and the internet. The students will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the get together.

End of the Third Quarter

The end of the third quarter is two weeks away on Friday, March 13th. Please have a discussion with your child to make sure that this date is on his/her “radar.” It is important that students are aware of this date so that action can be taken to ensure that all assignments and activities are completed and turned in before the end of the quarter.

Safety at Thompson

After the school day ended on Monday, we conducted a search by K9 units from St. Charles/Kane County Police Department. This was an opportunity to provide a setting for the police to give additional training to their dogs while also ensuring that our school remains as safe as possible for all students. Because this search took place outside school the school day, student learning was not impacted.

Parental support is always very much appreciated with our efforts to maintain a safe environment. If you have any questions about any of our safety procedures, do not hesitate to call the main office at 331-228-3100.

Administrative Change at Thompson

Last week I reached out to families to share that Dr. Honnert, Thompson Middle School Associate Principal, will be retiring. Recently, family celebrations and challenges have presented for Dr. Honnert that requires her to move up her retirement from the end of this year to today, February 28th. Dr. Honnert has been a valued member of the St. Charles school community since 2001. During her tenure with the district she has served in many capacities including teacher, AVID director, Assistant Principal, and most recently Associate Principal at Thompson. She was also awarded Kane County Administrator of the Year in 2015. Please join me in celebrating her distinguished career and wishing her well in retirement. Moving forward, the entire Thompson staff will continue with our efforts to support and improve upon our great Thompson learning environment.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your student’s grade level administrator or me:

• Mr. Shane Darnell, 6th grade
• Mr. Grant Montgomery, 7th grade
• Mrs. Sarah Cann, 8th grade

And finally, good luck to our Thompson student chefs competing in Saturday’s D303 Middle School Culinary Competition at St. Charles East High School!

Enjoy your weekend!

~Steve

Information for 7th and 8th graders interested in participating on the Track and Field team this year can be found here. And this year’s track and field schedule is posted on the Thompson website. We are looking forward to a great season on our new track! Please contact one of the coaches if you have any questions!

Parents, please be advised that all medication (over the counter and prescription) administered during school hours requires a general Medication Authorization Form signed and dated by the student's health care provider and the parent/guardian. The medication must then be brought in to the nurse by a parent or adult. Students are not allowed to carry medication unless it is for emergent use (such as inhalers or epi pens) and there are self carry forms on file and reviewed by the nurse.

If a child forgets their medication at home, or needs a one time dose of a medication, the parent can bring the medication but must administer it to their own child. This is best facilitated by signing in at the office and coming into the health office to update the nurses and administer the medication. Medication cannot be sent in a child’s lunch or left in an envelope at the office. This ensures safety to all students at school.

Thanks!

Diane Isbrandt RN, PEL-CSN

Our lost and found is overflowing! Please encourage your child to check in the cafeteria or the locker rooms to see if anything belongs to him/her! We will be donating these items during Spring Break.

Plunge into Fitness is back again! Stop by the main gym, grab your fitness log, and earn a free admission to Raging Waves Waterpark any day in June. That’s a $35 value! Completed logs need to be returned to the P.E. Department by April 8th.

Attention all 6th graders! W.E.B. is holding an open gym and movie event after school on Friday, March 13th from 3:30 - 5:00 pm! Students can find the sign-up sheet on their tutorial Google Classroom. Thompson W.E.B. leaders are looking forward to this event. Sign up now!

Wake Up Call is a three-part drug and alcohol prevention presentation. The first part of the presentation focuses on current trends such as vaping, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills. Next, attendees are walked through a life-size teen bedroom with more than 20 “red flags” that can signal drug or alcohol use. The bedroom identifies spots where drugs can be hidden, household items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. Lastly, attendees will learn practical prevention strategies to prevent substance abuse and where to go for help if they are concerned.

Wake Up Call will be held in the Haines Building Gym from 6:30 - 8:30 pm on Thursday, March 19th. Click here to register.

Parents are also invited to attend the resource fair from 6:00 - 6:30 pm before the presentation. Representatives from local counseling centers, the Kane County Health Department, and Northwestern Medicine will provide information about the health risks of vaping, cessation programs, and counseling options.

The PTO webstore to purchase Thunder spiritwear is now open until April 6th! Please click here to view the options provided by The Hairy Ant. Items will be delivered to Thompson by April 14th.

As we approach spring, the Thompson staff has already begun planning for your child’s transition to the next grade level. A big part of this involves the scheduling process. It begins by taking a look at the anticipated school population for next year. Based on these numbers, core teams are built and adjusted to take into consideration student needs. Next, the development of Exploratory and Physical Education rotations takes place, followed then by developing specific class period offerings. This is a complex process involving many variables, which is why this process begins during the winter.

To that end...parents of current 6th and 7th grade students, while we do not accept specific team requests, we do want your input regarding your child’s educational needs. If your child has a specific learning style need, placement issues, or social/emotional concerns that you want to share, please let your grade level counselor know so that we can find the best possible fit for your child as a learner. Please send this information on or before March 20, 2020.

This year’s 6th and 7th grade counselors:

• 6th Grade Counselor – Chris Fedyski (Christina.Fedyski@d303.org)

• 7th Grade Counselor – Leigh Gary (Leigh.Gary@d303.org)

Beginning next month, the St. Charles Public Library will be closed temporarily for an estimated three to four weeks while they move to their temporary location at 305 S. 9th Street. They will be there for the duration of the renovation, which is expected to take 12-14 months.

Continue to check their website, social media and newsletter, Discover Your Library, for information and updates during their move and renovation.

Our Thompson Thunder students have the opportunity to purchase breakfast when they arrive to school each day. OrganicLife offers breakfast beginning at 7:30 am. A breakfast ‘meal’ is $1.60. Click here for more information.

Families who wish to submit Middle School Transfer requests may do so beginning February 3rd. The request form will be available on the District 303 website through February 28th. Families must complete a separate form for each student they want transferred. Requests are granted based on space available so siblings are not guaranteed placement. A written decision will be communicated to families before spring break.

Once the request is approved, a student may remain at that middle school throughout his or her middle school career, as long as the student resides in District 303.

Families of students granted permission to attend a school outside of their assigned attendance area are responsible for their own transportation. Students will return to their assigned attendance area high school regardless of the middle school attended.

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 19-20 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, 2019. Contact Kim Walters (kimberly.walters@d303.org or 331-228-6410) if you have any questions or need financial assistance. Or stop in the main office during conferences!

Calling any Thompson Parents/Guardians! If you have an interest in expanding your daily experiences, we are in need of three additional crossing guards. Each position would support morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. The hours are 7:40 to 8:30 am and 3:15 to 4:00 pm at $35/day. This position is posted on the district website. If you have questions about the position, please contact the main office at (331) 228-3100.

• Friday, February 28 - No school for students - Teacher Institute Day
  

• Friday, February 28 - Middle School Transfer requests are due

• Thursday, March 12 - PTO Meeting from 10:00 - 11:00 am

• Friday, March 13 - End of the 3rd Quarter
• Monday, March 16 - Start of the 4th Quarter
• Friday, March 20 - 3rd Quarter Grades are posted in H.A.C.
• Monday, March 30 - Spring Break
• Monday, April 6 - School Resumes

Mr. Steve Morrill - Principal

Mrs. Sarah Cann - Assistant Principal

Mr. Shane Darnell - Assistant Principal

Dr. Alicia Honnert - Assistant Principal

Let's Talk!

Email: kimberly.walters@d303.org
Website: http://thompson.d303.org
Location: 705 West Main Street
Phone: (331) 228-3100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thompson-Middle-School-671638232903851/