Thompson Friday Forecast

From the Principal... Matt Clark

I honestly cannot remember a school year in my time in education when we have had this many student attendance days before Labor Day. At this point, there is no question about it: we are officially into the 2026-27 school year!

As we move beyond the routines and rhythms of the first few weeks, students are beginning to get deeper into their content and, with that, they will face challenges. There will be assignments that are difficult, concepts that don't immediately make sense, and moments when the answer doesn't come easily. As I have shared before, productive struggle is an important part of both academic and social-emotional growth. Learning to work through something difficult is a skill that students will carry far beyond middle school.

Our Assistant Principal, Ryan Wood, frequently asks students who are facing adversity a simple but powerful question: "So what, now what?” I encourage you to ask your child similar questions when they are struggling. Rather than immediately solving the problem for them, help them think through their next step. What have you tried? What could you try differently? Who could help? What's the plan? So what, now what?

Overcoming obstacles is just as habit-forming as quitting. The first time you push through something difficult, it can feel like a big deal. But the more you practice perseverance, the more natural it becomes. That's part of the story we want to help our students write this year: not a story without challenges, but a story about how they respond when challenges come their way.

There is no school on Monday as the nation celebrates Labor Day. This day is celebrated annually on the first Monday of September and honors the contributions and achievements of American workers. Please take a moment this weekend to celebrate and recognize the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of the people who help make our communities and country stronger.

Enjoy the long weekend, get some rest, and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Thompson Principal

Notes from the Office...

TMS Student Absences Process

Meet the TMS Counselors

Hello All! We wanted to take a moment to welcome you to Thompson Middle School. Starting a new school year can be very overwhelming and exciting. We want each student to know that we are here to support them. Since we haven’t had the opportunity to meet, we thought we would introduce ourselves and provide some general information.

Students may reach out to us by completing the Student Service check-in form that is listed on the Thompson website, under the students tab. This form is monitored and prioritized by Student Services staff during school hours only. Once the form is completed a Student Services staff member will follow up in a timely manner.

We hope the year is starting out well for you and your student. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us! Counselors have been assigned to students based on grade level and their last name. Please see the photo below to determine your child’s counselor.

El equipo de consejeros de la Escuela Secundaria Thompson

¡Hola a todos! Queremos tomar un momento para darles la bienvenida al Instituto Thompson. Empezar un nuevo curso escolar puede resultar abrumador y emocionante a la vez. Queremos que cada estudiante sepa que estamos aquí para apoyarle. Como aún no hemos tenido la oportunidad de conocernos, hemos pensado en presentarnos y ofrecerles información general.

Los estudiantes pueden ponerse en contacto con nosotros rellenando el formulario de contacto de Servicios al Estudiante que aparece en la página web de Thompson, en la pestaña «Estudiantes». El personal de Servicios al Estudiante revisa y da prioridad a este formulario únicamente en horario escolar. Una vez rellenado el formulario, un miembro del personal de Servicios al Estudiante se pondrá en contacto con el estudiante a la mayor brevedad posible.

Esperamos que el año haya empezado bien para ustedes y para sus hijos. Si tienen alguna pregunta, ¡no duden en ponerse en contacto con nosotros! Se han asignado tutores a los estudiantes en función de su curso y su apellido. Consulten la foto que aparece a continuación para saber quién es el tutor de su hijo.

D303 Referendum

The St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 Board of Education voted on August 10, 2026, to place a ballot initiative on the November 3 ballot asking the community whether the District should issue bonds to fund maintenance needs and educational facility improvements. Read the full press release here.

La Junta Educativa del Distrito Escolar de la Unidad Comunitaria 303 de St. Charles votó el 10 de agosto de 2026 a favor de incluir una iniciativa en la papeleta electoral del 3 de noviembre en la que se pregunta a la comunidad si el distrito debería emitir bonos para financiar las necesidades de mantenimiento y las mejoras de las instalaciones educativas. Lee aquí el comunicado de prensa completo.

📷 School Pictures

Picture RETAKE Day will be September 18th

HR Imaging is the company we use. The link to order pictures is now live.

To contact HR Imaging with questions: https://shop.hrimaging.com/pws/contactus.aspx

Students who are interested in joining the production of the Wizard of Oz as a CREW member, please complete the Wizard of Oz Interest Survey by Friday, September 11 at 5 pm

🩺 From the Nurse

School Physical and Immunization Requirements:

Attention parents of incoming 6th grade students! Per Illinois school code, your student will need a school physical and a complete record of immunizations prior to the first day of school which is August 12, 2026. Please note - a sport physical is not the same as a school physical! You may turn the required forms into the main office or email a copy to TMSC-Nurses@d303.org . If you need resources or have an appointment scheduled after the first day of school, please contact the nurses at 331-228-3104. Thanks! Diane Isbrandt, Certified School Nurse TMS

🧶 Crochet Club Volunteers Needed!

The TMS Crochet Club is looking for parents, grandparents, and community volunteers to help students learn to crochet—from basic stitches to more complex projects! We always need more helping hands to make this club a success.

Volunteers meet with us in the LRC once a month. Drop-in volunteers are welcome—you do not need to commit to every month!

Interested in helping? Please contact Annie.Leppin@d303.org or Kathy.Schiltz@d303.org.

We would love to have you join us!

2026-2027 Parent Resource Form

In D303, we value the opportunity to provide a community of care and support to our families, especially those faced with financial hardship.

If your family is currently experiencing a significant financial need, our community partnerships have several supports available for families including: school clothes/shoes, winter coats/accessories, school supplies, toiletries, holiday meals, and/or holiday gifts. If you would like to be considered for any of these supports, please complete Family Resource Form by September 11, 2026.

En D303, valoramos la oportunidad de proveer una comunidad de cuidado y apoyo a nuestras familias, especialmente a aquellas que enfrentan dificultades financieras.

Si su familia está experimentando actualmente una necesidad financiera significativa, nuestras asociaciones comunitarias tienen varios apoyos disponibles para las familias, incluyendo: ropa/calzado para la escuela, abrigos/accesorios de invierno, materiales escolares, artículos de aseo personal, comidas para los días festivos, y/o regalos para navidad. Si desea que se le tenga en cuenta para cualquiera de estas ayudas, por favor, rellene este formulario. Para ser considerado, es fundamental que complete esta encuesta a más tardar el viernes 11 de septiembre.

🧮 Mrs. Zitella's Math Corner

This Week’s Strategy: Math Karaoke!

How do you enjoy your time in the car? Peaceful silence? The news? Your favorite music? Or, like me, do you turn your car into a full-blown karaoke stage? 😂

There’s just something about singing in the car! We hear a song over and over, and before long, we know the words by heart, without even trying to memorize them!

Learning math facts works the same way. Developing automaticity with math facts takes practice. The more students see, say, and use their facts, the more accurate, confident, and automatic their recall becomes. When basic facts are automatic, students can use their brainpower for more challenging math, such as understanding problems, choosing strategies, and solving multi-step problems.

Think of math facts as the “lyrics” to mathematics. The more we practice, the more naturally they come to us! So, keep practicing those facts! You never know when a little “Math Karaoke” might be just what your brain needs! 😊 You are the star!

Shout-out to students who showed effort, perseverance, and tried a new strategy this week! Let’s go!

Strategy Practice: Taped Math Problems

⚡ PTO Updates

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!

📣 High School Headquarters

Future Saints Families

Click here for information the high school has shared with us for you.

Future North Stars Families

Click here for information the high school has shared with us for you.

📆 Community Events

🏈 Heading to a High School Football Game this weekend? READ THIS

Important Rules to Remember while attending both North and East High School football games this fall:

1. All students must be with an adult.

2. They are not allowed to congregate in front of the concession stands or under the bleachers.

3. They need a school ID to enter.

4. Any behavior issues will be reported back to their home school administration for action.

2026-2027 Playgroups

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!