Thompson Elementary Newsletter

Thank you to our amazing parents and guardians for your ongoing support! We rely on volunteer helpers to make our school activities engaging and memorable for our students.

ALL prospective volunteers must submit a completed Volunteer Information Form and Waiver of Liability prior to volunteering.

Ways to Get Involved:

• Chaperoning field trips

• Reading as a classroom Mystery Reader

• Helping out during Field Day

• Assisting with seasonal events

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Please compete this form if you plan on volunteering at Thompson this year. The form must be completed each school year. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to making great memories together!

As we kick off a great new school year, please take a few minutes to review our Student Handbook with your child. It contains important details regarding school policies, attendance guidelines, dress codes, safety procedures, and student expectations designed to keep our school running smoothly and safely for everyone.

Reviewing the handbook together ensures that you and your student know what to expect and helps set everyone up for a successful year.

Click here for a copy

Thank you for your partnership in fostering a positive, safe, and supportive environment for all our students!

At Thompson School, bullying of any kind, by any person, is unacceptable. All students should be free from worries about being bullied. Students who bully others must be taught other, appropriate ways of interacting with peers. We want to provide you with information concerning the School District’s anti-bullying program and to encourage you to help us identify students who are being bullied.

The School Board policy on bullying begins with this goals statement:

Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors is an important District goal.

Bullying is defined as follows:

Bullying means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.

2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.

3. Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance.

4. Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Bullying, intimidation, and/or harassment may take various forms, including without limitation: threats, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.

We ask for your active partnership in keeping Thompson School a safe, supportive space for every child. If you ever suspect or become aware that your child—or another student—is experiencing bullying, please report it to a school staff member, teacher, or administrator immediately. By working together to identify concerns early, we can address behaviors, support affected students, and ensure a positive learning environment where all children feel valued and secure.

We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. The Report a Concern form offers students and parents a confidential way to report any issues or concerns. Submissions are reviewed by the appropriate school staff, who will investigate and respond as needed.

This process helps ensure all reports are taken seriously, documented properly, and addressed promptly. It also allows the school to identify behavior patterns and take preventive action when necessary.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority. In accordance with the Illinois School Safety Drill Act, we conduct safety drills throughout the school year to ensure everyone is prepared for emergency situations.

To help our students and staff build familiarity with our safety procedures, we will be conducting several required drills during the first two weeks of school, with additional drills scheduled throughout the remainder of the academic year. These include:

• Fire Drills: Practice for safely and quickly evacuating the building.

• Bus Evacuation Drills: Instruction and practice for safely exiting school buses.

• Severe Weather/Shelter-in-Place Drills: Training on how to respond to severe weather, such as tornadoes.

• Law Enforcement/Lockdown Drills: Procedures to follow in the event of an active threat.

Please be assured that we approach these drills with great care. Lockdown drills are always announced to staff and students in advance. If you would like your child(ren) to opt-out of the lockdown drill, please complete this form by Friday, August 21st.

Please be sure to check out the approved 2026-2027 school calendar here!

Attendance in elementary school is essential for academic success, skill development, and socialization. Regular attendance ensures children do not miss critical lessons, helping them perform better academically and develop foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. It also fosters social skills and friendships, establishes routine and discipline, and provides access to necessary support systems. Consistent attendance also encourages parental involvement and sets the stage for long-term educational and career success. Your children need to be at Thompson School all day, every day!

To report an absence, please call the attendance line at 847-245-8398 and leave a detailed reason for the absence.

Registration Fees must be paid in full by 8/31 to avoid an increase on 9/1.

For more information click here

At Thompson Elementary School, we believe that strong partnerships between parents, teachers, and school leaders create the best learning environment for our students. That’s why we’re excited to invite you to be part of our new Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)!

What is the Parent Advisory Committee?

The PAC is a group of parents and guardians who work closely with the school administration to provide input, share ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that benefit our students and school community. This committee serves as a bridge between families and the school, ensuring that parent voices are heard and valued.

Why Join the PAC?

• Have a Say – Share your thoughts on school practices, programs, and initiatives.

• Stay Informed – Get updates on school events, curriculum, and upcoming decisions.

• Build Community – Connect with other parents and school staff to support student success.

• Make a Difference – Help shape the future of our school and create a positive learning environment.

How Can You Get Involved?

Please contact Mrs. Rhodes if you are interested in serving on the PAC.

Dates: September 28, January 11, and May 17

Thank you for being a vital part of our school community!

District 41 puts students and staff first. Our goal is always to have students at school, when we can do so safely. Therefore, the district considers several factors when determining whether to close schools due to extreme weather, including data provided by the National Weather Service, including the temperature, windchill, and warnings. Although we strive each and every time to make the best decision regarding in-person or remote learning, oftentimes, no perfect decision exists. If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school. Additionally, parents/guardians may choose to drop off/pick up their child from school.

The following are some criteria that are used when making school closure decisions. Invariably, there will be situations that do not fit into these guidelines, in which case the administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible.

COLD DAYS - The National Weather Service predicts wind chills below -30 degrees, with other conditions considered.

SNOW DAYS - Heavy snow or icy conditions overnight or that worsen during the day.

E-LEARNING DAYS - An E-Learning Day may be an alternative to being fully closed. These days do not need to be made up at the end of the year. Students and staff would be notified before the end of the preceding day to bring their Chromebooks home. The e-Learning Plan is available on the District website under ‘Parents and Guardians Resources.’

Other Considerations

Multiple conditions that may include blowing snow, winds greater than 20 mph, heavy snow accumulations during travel times, hazardous driving conditions, ice accumulation, the ability of buses to start due to extreme cold, and power or phone outages.

A district-wide alert will be sent out via phone and email as early as possible. Parents can also check the district’s website. If schools are open due to weather, parents may keep a child home. They will be marked as excused.

If schools are closed...

District 41 Administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible. District 41 will notify parents by 1:00 PM the previous school day of an e-Learning Day due to extreme weather. Parents will be notified with a target by 5:30 AM if schools need to close entirely for the day. The district makes every effort to inform parents as soon as possible. If schools are closed for the day, all after-school activities in the district, including sports and evening events, will be canceled unless otherwise communicated.

If schools are not closed…

If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school in a timely manner. If school is already in session and conditions begin to worsen, the district will decide by 1:00 PM whether after-school activities will be canceled for that afternoon.

How is the decision to cancel school made?

Superintendents from area districts start communicating with each other as soon as the weather reports start to look threatening. District 41 collaborates with the Millburn, Emmons, Grass Lake, Lakes High School, Woodland, Grayslake Elementary, Grayslake High School, Gavin, Big Hollow, Fox Lake, and Grant High School superintendents. The superintendents generally attempt to reach a consensus on school closures. When area school districts make various decisions, the full District 41 administrative team finalizes the decision.

Reminder that the District provides free and reduced meals for students who qualify.

To apply for Free/Reduced meals visit our website under Food Service.

Click here for information on how to create a meal account for food purchases.

Paid Lunch is $3.85 and reduced lunch is $.40.
Paid breakfast is $2.20 and reduced rate breakfast is $0.30.

Fueling our minds with healthy food supports student concentration, energy, and overall wellness throughout the school day.

District #41 has recently updated our approved list for classroom snacks. Please remember that this list applies specifically to snacks eaten in the classroom. Individual lunchbox choices remain up to your family.

Click here to see the latest approved classroom snack list

As a reminder-

No personal communication devices, including but not limited to cell phones, are allowed to be used during the school day. Smartwatches may be worn and used as watches. However, they may not be used as communication devices. At the middle school, communication devices should be off or disabled, and phones should be in lockers. At the elementary school, communication devices should be off or disabled, and phones should be in lockers or in backpacks. In addition, personal communication devices should not be used until students are outside of the school building at the end of the school day.

Imagine IM is a problem-based core curriculum designed to address content and practice standards to foster learning for all. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real-world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Teachers can shift their instruction and facilitate student learning with high-leverage routines to guide learners to understand and make connections between concepts and procedures.

Accessing the Family Support Hub:

Visit ilclassroom.com to access the Family Support Hub without logging in. Click the “Explore Curricula” button at the bottom of the screen and navigate to your student’s subject and grade!

Please click this link to access the Illustrative Mathematics Parent Information.

Sue Smart

847-265-2488 x 41001

Illinois State Health Requirements:

Early Childhood Health Requirements:

• Current Physical exam and up to date immunizations are due by OCTOBER 15TH, 2026

Kindergarten and Out-of-State Transfers Health Requirements:

• Current Physical exam and up to date immunizations are due by OCTOBER 15TH, 2026
• Dental exam dated 11/15/2025 to current
• Current Eye Exam (from Optometrist or Ophthalmologist)

2nd Grade Health Requirements:

• Dental exam dated 11/15/2025 to current

Medications:

• Please contact the Health Office if your student requires medication during the school day.

Hearing and Vision Screenings:

During the school year, vision and/or hearing screenings are conducted for students. Please see the student/parent handbook for further information. Thompson will have vision and hearing screenings on September 14th and 15th.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2026-2027 school music concerts!!! ALL Thompson Concerts will start at 6:00 PM!

See dates below:

5th Grade: Thursday, October 29th, 2026

4th Grade: Thursday, December 3rd, 2026

3rd Grade: Thursday, January 28th, 2027

2nd Grade: Thursday, February 25th, 2027

1st Grade: Thursday, March 11th, 2027

Kindergarten: Thursday, April 15th, 2027

At the beginning of each school year, school districts, charter schools, and non-public schools are required to notify parents and guardians of the availability of ISBE’s Resource Guide: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Faiths-Law-Resource-Guide.pdf

August 17 - Board of Education Meeting District Office 7:00 PM

August 18 - LASSO Curiosity Day 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

August 18 - Grades 1-5 Curiosity Day 2:45-3:45 PM

August 19- 1st Day of School Grades 1-5 (Half Day 11:15 AM Dismissal))

August 19-21 - Kindergarten Round-up

August 20 - 1st Day of School Early Childhood

August 21- Kindergarten Curiosity Day 2:00-3:00 PM

August 24 - 1st Day of school for Kindergarten

August 25 - September 11- Fall NWEA Window Opens K-5 (Mathematics & Reading)

August 25 - Curriculum Night Grades PreK-2 5:45-7:00 PM

August 27 - Curriculum Night Grades 3-5 5:45-7:00 PM

August 28 - Fall Picture Day

September 4 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

September 7 - Labor Day-No School

September 14 - Board of Education Meeting District Office 7:00 PM

September 28 - Board of Education Meeting District Office 7:00 PM

October 8 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 12:00-8:00 PM - No School

October 9 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 7:30AM-12:30 PM - No School

October 12 - Columbus Day - No School

November 3 - Non Attendance Day - No School