Thompson Friday Forecast

Good afternoon and happy winter break middle school families. Welcome to a slightly different kind of message—Between Two Schools—a shared note from your two middle school principals. Think of this as less “formal memo” and more “casual conversation we’d have if we ran into you at Target.”

With high school course selection due today and middle school elective selection coming quickly once we return from break, now is a perfect moment to pause, take a breath, and lean into a fantastic resource created just for this stage of the journey: the District Academic Planning Guide.

This guide includes clear, helpful middle school guidance that supports thoughtful decision-making and long-term planning—without requiring a crystal ball. It’s designed to help students and families make informed choices while keeping options open, interests explored, and stress levels (mostly) reasonable.

As you review it together, we encourage conversations that focus less on “What should I take?” and more on “What am I curious about?” Middle school is about exploration, growth, and discovering strengths—sometimes by trying something new, sometimes by realizing what’s not your thing. Both count as wins.

Finally, as we head into the next two weeks, we want to encourage something that doesn’t appear in any course catalog: unplugging. Power down the devices, power up the people around you. Read a book. Play board games. Get outside. Tackle that project you’ve been saying you’ll get to “when there’s time.” The next two weeks are that time.

We hope this break brings rest, laughter, connection, and moments with the people you cherish most. Thank you for partnering with us, trusting us, and supporting your middle schoolers as they learn, grow, and occasionally forget where they put their Chromebook.

Enjoy the break, happy holidays, and we’ll see you soon—refreshed and ready for what’s next.

Dr. Matt Clark

Thompson Principal

Mrs. Francesca Favero

Wredling Principal

Families who wish to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals or fee waivers can find information and application links on the District 303 website under Parents & Community.

• For Free and Reduced-Price Meals, visit: district.d303.org/foodservices
• For Fee Waivers, visit: district.d303.org/fee-waivers

Applications are available year-round for families whose household circumstances may have changed.

🚗 Morning Arrival Update 🚗

Thompson Parents and Guardians,

Please DO NOT drop your child off in the parking lot near door 5 (off of Indiana Avenue). There are buses that drop off students in the parking lot, and they need to be able to enter and exit in a timely manner. You are welcome to drop off or pick up your child along the sidewalk near door 5.

Thank you,

The Thompson Middle School Administrative Team

The TMS PTO holiday cookie boxes are a STAFF FAVORITE. This year did not disappoint! Thank you for your generous donation of baking time, boxing time, and financial contributions to put the TMS staff in the holiday spirit with these yummy treats!!

D303 Discipline Advisory Committee

The D303 Discipline Advisory Committee is currently seeking participation from interested parents/guardians. The committee is structured to include representation from across the District, including community members, staff, and Administration.

The primary outcome of the committee is to review and update the District's discipline procedures. This work includes: Reviewing current discipline guidelines to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements. Aligning the District's student discipline procedures and student handbooks with current state legislation and policy updates.

The 2025-26 Meeting Schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday, March 4
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, April 8

The committee meets from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Lincoln Professional Development Center, Room 106. Interested participants should complete this form to express interest. The deadline for participation requests is Friday, January 23, 2026.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we have completed the Fall i-Ready Diagnostic, please click on the links below for how to access your student’s results.

How to login to see your child’s scores

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor.

Thank you.

The Snow Ball is rolling back into TMS February 6th!

$15 all-inclusive wristbands go on sale January 8
Save those holiday outfits and get ready for a DJ, igloo photo booths, candy bar, icy tattoos, and pizza!

Hey Parents! As we head into winter break, remember that this is the perfect time to encourage a little extra reading at home. Without the usual pressure of homework, after-school activities, and those cold early-morning wake-ups, your teen may actually say they’re “bored” and have nothing to do! If that’s the case, before they hop on video games or head out with friends to shop at Geneva Commons, consider encouraging 30 minutes of reading each day. Yes… they may complain at first, but research shows that being tech-free and focusing on a relaxing activity—like reading for pleasure—is truly good for their brains.

And… don’t forget — books make fantastic Christmas gifts, too! When I was growing up, my parents always gave me a book for Christmas, and I’ve continued that tradition with my own daughters. Check out popular middle school reads at Barnes & Noble or Amazon, or explore award-winning choices like those on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award lists (books voted on by Illinois students in grades 4–8). And don’t forget the Saint Charles Public Library! The books there are free, the librarians always have awesome recommendations, and there are plenty of fun activities planned for no-school days over the break.

Happy reading (and surviving the holiday craziness)!

—Mrs. Leppin (TMS Reading Specialist)
If all else fails… blame me for making your teen read over break! 😄📚

Special Thanks…

I want to share a big thank you to all of you, parents and students, for a wonderful semester. Watching my students’ growth, creativity, and effort each day has been truly amazing, and it brings me so much joy to be their teacher. I am so proud of all that my students have accomplished so far this year and cannot wait to see more success in the future. Enjoy winter break, relax, have fun, and come back ready for more great things!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Zitella

Math Tips for Everyday:

Shopping: Estimate totals, calculate discounts, and compare prices

Cooking: Measure ingredients and work with fractions
Time: Plan schedules and calculate elapsed time
Money: Budget spending and track savings
Games: Use strategy, logic, and number sense

***Shout-Out - Congratulations to Mrs. Bemer’s 8th hour class for having the most homework completion this month. Your hard work and dedication truly paid off!

🛍️ Glue Guns, Glue Sticks, & Paper Bags 🛍️

Mrs. Ray is seeking donations to support a hands-on TEK activity for 7th grade students this December and during team events in December and January.

She’s hoping to gather glue guns, glue sticks, and paper bags to ensure all students can fully participate. An Amazon Wish List is available for convenience (though purchases do not need to be from the list).

Donations would be most helpful if received by Friday, December 5. Items can be dropped off in the main office labeled for Mrs. Ray or delivered directly by students to Room 229 (Team 7-4). Thank you for considering and supporting this engaging learning experience!

Help Us Collect ONE MILLION Pop Tabs!

We’re on a mission to collect one million pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities, and we can’t do it without YOU (and your grandparents, cousins, neighbors, and carpool crew)!

Those tiny aluminum tabs from soda cans, soup lids, or sparkling water may seem small—but when we collect them together, they add up to real support for families with seriously ill children.

Here’s how to pitch in:

Save your pop tabs at home—and ask your grandparents, cousins, friends, and neighbors to do the same!
Bring them to school all year long.
Every tab brings us closer to our 1,000,000-tab goal!

Let's pull together and make a difference!

Dear 8th Grade Students & Parents,

We are excited to invite you to St. Charles North High School’s Future North Star Night on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This special event will start in our auditorium and is designed to give you and your child an opportunity to learn more about the academic programs and resources available at our school.

During the evening, you will have the chance to:

Meet and speak with department chairs and teachers from various courses.
Meet your student's counselor to learn more about academic, college/career, and social/emotional supports at North.
Explore our school’s offerings and ask any questions you may have about your upcoming Freshmen year.
Visit our school store, which will be open throughout the event.

We encourage you to attend this informative event and take full advantage of the opportunity to connect with our staff, ask questions, and get a glimpse of what it means to be a North Star!

We look forward to welcoming you to North Star Nation and can’t wait to see you January 15th!

Future Saints Families:

We are thrilled to invite you to Freshman AP Night on January 14th at 5:30 p.m. in the Norris Cultural Arts Center, a special event designed to introduce you to the exciting Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities available to your incoming freshman at St. Charles East High School.

Prior to the beginning of Future Saints Night, this session will provide valuable insights into:

The differences between AP World History and AP Human Geography—two dynamic options for freshman social studies.
The benefits of starting the AP journey early and how it prepares students for college and beyond.
The prestigious AP Capstone Diploma program and how your student can earn this distinguished recognition.

Our team will also answer common questions about the AP Program and share how these courses help students build skills for success.

Don’t miss this opportunity to help your student make an informed decision and start their high school journey on the right track!

For more details, please see the attached flyer. We look forward to meeting you at Freshman AP Night and helping your student unlock their full potential.

This awesome dance party is a public event and will take place in the small gymnasium at St. Charles North High School. The Project Dance proceeds support organizations within our district and our community that involve individuals with Special Needs. We provide a safe and comfortable environment where anyone and everyone is invited, no special attire is needed!

St. Charles Public Library

All students are eligible for a St. Charles Public Library card. Check out the FAQ to learn how to obtain a card for you child.

Donate to pay off Student Lunch Debt

District 303 has created a Pushcoin link to donate to student food accounts with negative balances. Please feel free to donate if you are able to do so! Every little bit helps!