Thomas Community Newsletter
March 1, 2026
Dear TMS Community,
As we begin the first week of March, we want to make our families aware of some important upcoming dates. Our 8th graders will participate in ISA testing on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week, and we will follow an Advisory schedule on those days. Next week, we will administer all-school IAR testing with modified daily schedules on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Parents can play an important role in helping students feel confident and prepared by ensuring they get adequate sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Consistent daily attendance is essential to student success, especially during testing season. We also invite families to get involved by volunteering this week to help sell tickets for our PTA Spring Activity Event or working this event which is taking place on Friday, March 6th. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Parent/Guardian ACTION ITEM: TMS currently only has an 8% PARENT response rate. We need a 20% parent response rate in order to receive a report. Please click HERE an take a moment to complete this survey.
In this newsletter, you'll find information on the following items:
- PTA Spring Activity Event - Friday, 3/6/26 - Volunteers and Donations Needed Please!
- 5Essentials Parent/Guardian Responses NEEDED to get to 20%
- ISA & IAR Testing Information & Headphones Reminder
- Congratulations Hearts of Gold Winner ~ TMS Staff Member Sandy Vliet
- ABC/25 Foundation Annual family-friendly event Fore Education Fundraiser
- Absence Reporting & On Time Arrival for School - Spring Break is Around the Corner
- PTA Spring Plant Sale
- PTA Yearbook Waitlist Form
- Theatre and Music in Our Schools Month in Arlington Heights
- Summer U
- March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month
Repeat Newsletter Information:
- ABC/25 Foundation - TMS needs just a few more families to sign up!
TMS Lost & Found Items
Standing Newsletter Information Includes:
PTA Information
- School Resource Office Information
- Safe2Help Illinois
TMS Administrator Team
Save the Dates:
Hexter 5 Begins - Monday, 3/2/26
PTA Activity Night - Friday, 3/6/26 after school
Girls Volleyball Regionals - Saturday, 3/7/26 @ TMS
Wrestling Sections - Saturday, 3/7/26
7th Grade Outdoor Education - Monday and Tuesday, 4/6/26 & 4/7/26
TMS Spring Musical: Performance - Friday & Saturday, April 24th & 25th
8th Grade Graduation - Tuesday, 6/2/26, 7:30 PM, Forrest View Educational Center
With gratitude for your partnerships and support,
The TMS Administrative Team
Lori Naumowicz, Principal
Greg Keadle, Associate Principal
Jeremy Fischer, Associate Principal
Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & TMS Student Services Coordinator
FLASH SALE! Headphones available through the Wolfmart will be on sale prior to the IAR testing dates! 10 tickets required! If your student already has headphones, please make sure they bring them the week of March 9th (testing dates are Monday, March 9, Wednesday, March 11 and Friday, March 13).
Dear District 25 Parents/Guardians,
The statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey is now open through March 13. This survey is an opportunity for parents/guardians, teachers/staff, and 4th through 12th grade students to share thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness, specifically about your/their school.
Parent Participation 🚨 WE NEED 20% Parent Participation! We only have 8% now!
To participate in this survey as a parent/guardian, click the following link or scan the QR code (above) in this email: CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
We are proud to share that our very own, Master Gardener, Sandy Vliet, was recognized today with the Kenneth M. Bonder Beautification Heart of Gold, for her work creating sustained visual enhancements to the Village through the TMS garden. This recognition celebrates Sandy's incredible passion for gardening the 300+ volunteer hours she's completed to grow “The Soil-Mates” Garden Club into one of our largest and most vibrant student activities we have. Her work has cultivated not only beautiful raised beds, sensory and pizza gardens, but it has also created a deep understanding of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community pride. Thanks to Sandy’s leadership and the support of the TMS staff, PTA, and ABC25, our garden—and our students—will continue to bloom for years to come. Way to BE THE GOOD, Mrs. Vliet! We are so proud of you and grateful for your service to TMS!
Should your child be sick or an unavoidable situation occur, please Click HERE to use the absence reporting on Power School to report the absence or early dismissal.
- ABSENCE REPORTING: Please be sure to report absences as soon as you become aware that your child will miss school.
- ON TIME ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL: Students are encouraged to arrive at TMS each morning at 7:30 AM. This allows for a successful start to the school day. Students can enjoy socializing with peers, having a warm breakfast, and having ample time to get their lockers and arrive in 1st period class before the 7:50 AM bell.
- The yearbook orders have closed for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Please click HERE to complete this form if you wish to have your chlid's name placed on the waitlist for a yearbook.
- We CANNOT guarantee that your child will get a yearbook, but should a yearbook become available we can sell them for $25. Parents will be contacted by the PTA in the order in which these requests were received.
- Please contact the TMS PTA at thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com if you have any questions about yearbook purchases.
We are please to announce the proclamation from the village of Arlington Heights, declaring March as Theatre and Music month in all schools. We will be highlighting the music and theater programs at Thomas throughout the month on the daily announcments.
Arlington Heights Fire Chief Lance Harris recently shared a letter reminding us that March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. TMS will practice our safety drills this month.
Below is helpful information to know and review:
- The Illinois Emergency Management urges everyone to develop a safety plan for use as home, workplace, school, vehicle, and outdoor activities.
- Be aware of severe weather safety rules.
- Planning ahead and knowing what do might save lives.
- More information can be found by visiting the Illinois Emergency Management Agency website: https://ready.illinois.gov/
Our Lost and Found is currently overflowing with PE shirts, shoes, sweatshirts, hats, coats, water bottles, lunch containers, and more!
- We encourage students to take a few minutes this week to check for any missing items.
- Families may also want to remind students to look through the collection during the school day.
- Any unclaimed items will be donated at spring break, so please encourage your child to stop by and claim anything that belongs to them.
The TMS PTA has a lot to offer this year! We are excited for all the activities we have planned!
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026
President - Jim Moncada
President Elect - Kym Battista
Vice President - Ian Silverman
Treasurer - Sara Hess
Secretary - Joslyn Katz
TMS PTA Memberships - Have you joined the PTA? Your membership gives you exclusive access to the Thomas Middle School Directory through Directory Spot. Not a member? No problem! You can join by visiting the AH25 Webstore to purchase online or by emailing us at thomasmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com.
Social media concerns, incidents that occur after school hours/on the weekends, or outside of school can be reported to the SRO or you can contact the Arlington Heights Police by calling 911 or the non-emergency phone number (847) 368-5300. You can also go directly to the Police Department located at 200 E Sigwalt Street in Arlington Heights. It is open 24 hours. The SROs can be contacted as well:
SRO: John O'Leary joleary@vah.com Cell Phone: (847) 344-2330
SRO: Chris Seebacher cseebacher@vah.com Cell Phone (847) 878-2949
Station Number: 847-368-5393
Safe2Help Illinois is a 24/7 program where students can use a free app, text/phone, and website (safe2helpil.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with local district and school officials and/or local 911 call center, depending on the nature of the information shared. Safe2Help Illinois is a long-term initiative to change the school culture in Illinois by helping students reach out when they have concerns. To learn further about Safe2Help Illinois, please see the videos below. More information can also be found on their website at safe2helpil.com. Video for Middle School Students
Please click HERE for the latest newsletter from Link Together Coalition. This newsletter contains updates on the coalition's latest efforts and events, education for parents and educators, and great resources.
- Principal - Lori Naumowicz
- Associate Principal - Greg Keadle (Delta, Epsilon, & Zeta Teams)
- Associate Principal & Student Services Coordinator - Allie Yoder
- Associate Principal & Teacher - Jeremy Fischer (Alpha, Beta, Gamma Teams)