Thomas Community Newsletter
August 5, 2026
Dear TMS Community,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We hope your family has enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories.
The excitement is building at Thomas Middle School as we prepare to welcome more than 1,000 Timberwolf staff and students back through our doors! From the finishing touches on our beautiful new kitchen serving area to welcoming several outstanding new staff members to the Wolfpack, our building is buzzing with anticipation. We cannot wait to fill the hallways with smiling faces, reconnect with returning families, and welcome those who are joining the TMS community for the very first time.
Our theme for the 2026–2027 school year is Strength in Numbers. It is a reminder that when students, families, and staff work together, we can accomplish incredible things. We are looking forward to a year filled with engaging learning, personal growth, meaningful friendships, and unforgettable experiences!
One of the greatest strengths of the Wolfpack is the incredible support of the TMS PTA. We are grateful for the longstanding tradition of generous volunteers and engaged families who help make Thomas such a special place. This year, we need your support! Please click HERE and HERE to explore volunteer opportunities and consider getting involved. Every helping hand makes a difference.
We also ask that you set aside a few minutes to read through our first Community Newsletter of the school year. Clear and consistent communication is one of the keys to a successful partnership between home and school. The TMS Community Newsletter is our primary source of communication and is sent on or around the 1st and 15th of each month. We intentionally consolidate important announcements, upcoming events, and school information into these newsletters to help families stay informed without overwhelming your inbox. All newsletters are also archived on the TMS Website for easy reference throughout the year.
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, D25 families will receive a placement email with their child's TEAM, PACK, and LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS. Please note that student schedules and placements will not be finalized until August 13, and families must complete the student registration process before placement information can be released.
This newsletter contains information on:
Administrator & Office Team
PACK & Team Teachers
The NEWEST Members of the TMS Staff
TMS In's & Out's
Locker Set Up & PE Uniform Pick-Up & Purchase Event - Friday, 8/14/25 from 11:15 AM - 3:00 PM *By LAST NAME!
6th Grade Orientation - Friday, 8/14/26 from 9-11 AM
Orientation for Families New to District 25 - Tuesday, 8/18/26 @ 6 PM
- First Day of School - Thursday, 8/20/26 [Students should arrive at 7:30 AM]
Back to School Schedule Walk & Locker Set Up Evening Event - Thursday, 8/20/26 from 4-6 PM
6th Grade Pool Party - Saturday, 8/22/26 from 7:30-9 PM Woodland Trails Pool
Picture Day - Monday, 8/24/26 [During PE/Health Classes]
Cross Country - Practice starts on Monday, 8/10/26
Choir
School Supplies List 2026-2027
Bus Transportation - Emailed just before school starts
TMS Traffic Instructions for Arrival & Dismissal
Summer Reading Information - Strength In Numbers
6th Grade Curriculum Night - Wednesday, 9/2/26 @ 6:00 PM
7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night - Wednesday, 9/9/26 @ 6:00 PM
PTA Exec Board Member Needed
ABC25 Memberships
District 25 Parent/Student Handbook
Thank you for sharing your children with us!
With gratitude,
The TMS Administrative Team
Lori Naumowicz, Principal
Greg Keadle, Associate Principal
Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & TMS Student Services Coordinator
Kyle Mengarelli, Associate Principal
We want to take a moment to introduce the TMS office team. We are here to support all our students and families. We hope to connect with our families throughout the year at the school and at different events. If you have any questions you can always contact the school office, 847-398-4260 or email us directly.
Allstar Administrative Assistants:
- Anna DiStaola - adistaola@sd25.org
- Ryan George - rgeorge@sd25.org
- Lauren Chaharbakhshi - lchaharbakhshi@sd25.org
Heroes in the Health Office:
- Laura Toussaint, RN - ltoussaint@s25.org
- Shelly Grossman, RN - sgrossman@sd25.org
Administrator Team:
- Lori Naumowicz, Principal - lnaumowicz@sd25.org - Admin Liaison for Epsilon & Alpha Teams
- Greg Keadle, Associate Principal - gkeadle@sd25.org - Admin Liaison for Zeta & Beta Teams
- Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & TMS Student Services Coordinator - ayoder@sd25.org -Administrator Liaison for Special Education
- Kyle Mengarelli, Associate Principal - kmengarelli@sd25.org - Admin Liaison for Gamma & Delta Teams
While the In's & Out's document is lengthly, it contains a great deal of information about TMS that is extremely useful for ALL members of the TMS Community. These procedures and protocols create clarity for our staff, students, and parents and give great insights into keeping the school culture and climate at TMS enjoyable, safe, dependable, and consistent across all of our learning spaces and during all of our activities.
WHO: All TMS students & 1 family member
WHAT: An opportunity to visit TMS to walk the hallways and set up lockers. This is an ideal time for students to demonstrate independence by opening their lockers and organizing their materials. Please note that students do not need school supplies on the first day of school.
WHERE: Thomas Middle School
TRANSPORTATION: Students are welcome to walk, ride bikes, or carpool to this event. Please note that crossing guards will not be available for this event.
DIRECTIONS: There could be over 900+ students attending this event. In response to feedback and suggestions to reduce hallway and parking congestion during this event, we ask that all students and 1 family member adhere to the scheduled times below and attend only during the assigned time by last name.
ASSIGNED TIMES:
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - LAST NAME STARTS WITH Letters A - D
12:30 - 1:30 PM - LAST NAME STARTS WITH Letters E - J
1:30 - 2:30 PM - LAST NAME STARTS WITH Letters K - P
2:30 - 3:30 PM - LAST NAME STARTS WITH Letters Q - Z
CAN'T MAKE IT? No worries! If You are welcome to come in on Thursday, 8/20/26 from 4-6 PM for our PTA Back to School Schedule Walk and Locker Set Up Event. Kona Ice will be there too!
QUESTIONS about what can go in or on the lockers? At TMS, our academic teams and extracurricular teams have a tradition our decorating the outside of the locker for students on their birthdays and in recognition of various things. We ask that you please avoid using tape, glue, and stickers in or on the lockers.
LOCKER CHALLENGES? Use the QR codes on the NEED LOCKER HELP SIGNS located throughout the building to fill out the LOCKER CHALLENGE FORM and a custodian will address the issue.
ORIENTATION
WHO: All 6th Grade Students *This is a student only event!*
WHAT: Orientation provides the 6th graders with an opportunity to further familiarize themselves with TMS, tour the building, meet peers in their PACK, and practice their locker combinations.
WHERE: Thomas Middle School - This event will start in the Large Gym. Students will enter the building by team based on the assignments below. Students will be dismissed to these locations at 11 AM.
WHEN: Friday, 8/14/26 from 9-11 AM
TRANSPORTATION: Students are welcome to walk, ride bikes, or carpool to this event. Please note that crossing guards will not be available for this event.
DIRECTIONS: There will be over 300+ students attending this event. In order to attempt to organize the drop-off and pick-up for this event, please note the following:
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP:
- ALPHA STUDENTS - Enter at the main entrance at the Belmont Avenue parking lot. Drop off & pick up should occur on Belmont Avenue.
- BETA STUDENTS - Enter door #8 by the LMC via the drop-off line accessible from the Arlington Heights/Thomas Street parking lot.
Students with last names starting with letters A-D, attending the LOCKER SET-UP EVENT immediately following ORIENTATION, will remain in the Large Gym. The parent of these students should park and plan to enter the Large Gym at 11:15 AM to meet their children for locker set up.
6th Grade HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
- This is a reminder that we need a completed state of Illinois physical and complete vaccine list (including TDap and Meningococcal MCV4) BEFORE October 15, 2026 to avoid school exclusion. Click HERE for a copy of the physical form for your doctor.
- The exam must be dated on or after August 20, 2025. This is a state of Illinois mandate.
- If you already have these forms, you can drop them off in our office over the summer!
- Make sure all of the questions on the form are filled out before you leave your provider's office.
- Please contact our school nurses with any questions or concerns. The nurses return to school on August 17, 2026. THANK YOU!
- WHO: All TMS Students & Parents & Family Members *Note, children elementary school age and younger are welcome to attend, but must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
- WHAT: A time to walk the student's schedule, set-up lockers, and become more familiar with TMS while enjoying some Kona Ice. This also serves as a fundraiser for the PTA.
- WHEN: First Day of School - Thursday, 8/20/26 from 4-6PM
- WHERE: TMS - All hallways will be open.
Students and families will have an opportunity to pick-up TMS PE uniform shirts on Friday, August 15th, during locker set-up. You can pick up items that were ordered online during registration or to pay cash or check for a PE uniform shirt.
- Need to Purchase a $5 PE Uniform Shirt? Stop by the PE uniform table during locker set-up on Friday, 8/14/26 between 11:15 AM - 3 PM and during our Back to School Schedule Walk & Locker Set Up Event on Thursday, 8/20/26 from 4-6 PM and pay cash or check for a uniform shirt. You will receive the uniform shirt that day!
- Online Uniform Shirt Purchases: Click here for a link to the online school store to purchase a $5 shirt. Students can purchase PE uniforms online all school year long.
All medical forms such as physicals can be turned in at the TMS office or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE they can participate in ANY practices.
Physicals are good for 13 months.
Physical exam MUST be turned in before try-outs.
IL Certificate of Child Health Exam or IHSA-Sports-Physical-Form.pdf
Students that are NEW to D25
1. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION And All required IMMUNIZATIONS
2. DENTAL EXAMINATION
3. EYE EXAMINATION
All medical forms such as physicals can be turned in at the TMS office or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
Please contact the TMS Health Office if you have any questions:
Laura Toussaint - ltoussaint@sd25.org
Shelly Grossman - sgrossman@sd25.org
- Bus information will be sent the week before school starts.
- Click here for the Bus Safety Guidelines and Rule as well as details on lost items on the bus.
- Please direct bus transportation questions and concerns to the District 25 Transportation Specialist: Laura Comastro: lcomastro@sd25.org. Phone: 847-758-4888
- Bus Company Questions: Contact Cook Co. School Bus Company at 847-439-0923
All students will have an opportunity to have their photo taken during their PE/Health period on Monday, 8/24/26. Photo order is done online directly with Stuart-Rodgers. Our photo make-up day is Wednesday, 9/30/26 during Advisory.
Dear Timberwolf Parents:
We are happy to invite your child to participate in the 2026 Thomas Cross Country season starting on Monday, August 10th, 2026.
Cross Country is a non-cut sport open to 6th- 8th graders. We practice daily, and except for a couple of Invitationals and the postseason, everyone participates in most of the meets. Cross Country is a great opportunity to enjoy a healthy, outdoor activity, meet new people, and represent your school as part of a team. We are extremely proud of our athletes and of this program. Our program has placed in the top 5 at the IESA State Finals repeatedly including our girls championship teams in 2023 & 2024, and our boys 2nd place team in 2023.
Please read this letter carefully as it contains everything you need to know for your child to successfully participate on the TMS Cross Country team.
REGISTRATION
- Please complete this form to register your child.
- Student login is d25(first name)(4 digit number)@student.sd25.org (this is the same as it was for your elementary school). Example: d25annabel1685@student.sd25.org
- This form MUST be completed before participating in practices.
PHYSICALS
- Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE they can participate in ANY practices.
- Physicals are good for 13 months, so “current” for the cross-country season means a physical dated after 9/15/25.
- A school nurse will be on hand to accept physicals from 7:00-7:15 AM on the first day of practice on Wednesday, August 6th, at Hasbrook Park.
- Physicals can be submitted to the TMS office before Monday, August 4th, or uploaded to the TMS Health Office form linked here.
SUMMER RUNNING
The goal of summer running is to build a strong aerobic base, stay healthy, and arrive at the start of the season ready to train and compete. Follow these tips and workouts to get started.
PRACTICE
- In order to best prepare for our season, all athletes are invited (but NOT required) to attend practices before school starts beginning Aug 10, 2026(see calendar below).
- Please note: our preseason practices will be at Hasbrook Park. Athletes should meet on the North side at the tennis courts. If an athlete cannot attend practices before school begins, that’s okay as we understand there may be scheduling conflicts.
CALENDAR
- 2026 Thomas XC calendar
- Please note that this calendar is currently a work in progress. Dates and times are subject to slight modifications, so we recommend checking back regularly for the latest updates.
JERSEY FEE
- Athletes new to the team should be prepared to purchase a $25 jersey.
- If you have one from XC 2025 or Track 2026- YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY A NEW ONE.
- If your family needs financial assistance, please let one of the coaches know. We will have these available to purchase during the week of August 10.
COMMUNICATION (Via the REMIND APP)
- We’ve started a NEW Remind group, and this is the primary method of communication with parents, so please sign up ASAP.
- Please download the Remind App and join the ThomasXC2026 (class code: 37d9h97).
- Students under 13 have restricted accounts and cannot send messages or receive direct messages; they can only receive class-wide/group-wide announcements.
HYDRATION
- Summer and Fall are warm and humid times and it is critical to hydrate before, during, and after running. Runners should bring plenty of water with them to every practice and meet.
- A 16-oz. water bottle is NOT enough on those hot and humid days.
- If we need to cancel practice during the school day, we will send an announcement on Remind, at lunch, and over the school PA at the end of the day.
Conflicting Sports for Girls
- SOFTBALL: Unfortunately, it will not be possible for girls to compete in both softball and cross country.
- BASKETBALL: For 7th and 8th grade girls, while the girls basketball season conflicts with cross country, IT IS POSSIBLE to do both as basketball starts later in our season. If you are interested in trying out for basketball, we would recommend joining cross country and then tryout for bball (September 15th-16th). If you make the team, you can then play basketball. A select few athletes may choose to continue with cross country and basketball. This will require some coordination with the coaches, but we are willing to make this work. We’ve had several athletes in the past do this with much success.
Thank you! We look forward to another successful cross-country season!
Todd Slowinski tslowinski@sd25.org
Becky Fahnoe rfahnoe@sd25.org
Sarah Dunn sdunn@sd25.org
Dear TMS Families,
The Thomas Choir is ready for another amazing year of singing! If your child loves to sing and make music with their friends, now is the time to sign up to join TMS Choir.
WHEN: The TMS Choir rehearses before school, on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, from 7:10am-7:45am in the TMS Commons. Our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, September 9. Regular attendance at rehearsals is very important and expected.
WHO: TMS Choir is open to ALL TMS students, no audition or experience necessary! If your child is in Band and is also interested in choir, they CAN participate in both ensembles if they would like to. Many students do so successfully every year.
HOW: The link for the sign-up can be found here: TMS Choir Sign-Up 26-27 Please complete the form as soon as possible, with Tuesday, September 1 being the final day to sign up.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please reach out to the choir director, Ms. Katie Conomikes, at kconomikes@sd25.org.
Thank you so much and take care,
Ms. Katie Conomikes
Our PTA is an amazing supporter of the TMS students and staff and we need your help to continue this strong tradition of
- MEMBERSHIP: Join the TMS PTA and help support the TMS community! Check out the TMS PTA Website Each membership includes 1 TMS yearbook
2026-2027 Executive Board Members
President - Kym Battista
President Elect - OPEN - Click HERE to complete the nomination form for yourself or another person.
Vice President - Ian Silverman
Treasurer - Sara Hess
Secretary - Joslyn Katz
PTA Meetings:
- Tuesday, September 15, 2026
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Friday, October 30, 2026 - FALL ACTIVITY NIGHT
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027
- Tuesday, February 9, 2027
- Tuesday, March 9, 2027
- Friday, March 12, 2027 - SPRING ACTIVITY NIGHT
- Tuesday, May 11, 2027
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.
ABC 25 Memberships - As well as providing teacher grants, each year, the ABC/25 Foundation grants $2,500.00 to all District 25 schools when 25% of the school's families become members. These funds may be used at the school’s discretion. Past Membership Incentive Grants include: lighting and sound system updates, playground equipment, app subscriptions, digital books, Chromebooks, Nooks and iPad minis. We invite you to join ABC/25 Foundation and make an impact on District 25 student learning. Your support ensures that we can continue to provide students with projects and programs that foster innovation, creativity and excellence. One membership counts towards all district schools your children attend.
Become an ABC/25 Foundation Member by donating a minimum of $40.00 per family. District staff may join at an educator’s rate of $25.00 or more.
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
- Principal - Lori Naumowicz
- Associate Principal - Greg Keadle
- Associate Principal & Student Services Coordinator - Allie Yoder
- Associate Principal - Kyle Mengarelli