THORNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dear Thornton Families,

As we welcome the month of December, I want to begin by sharing my heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support of our school community. Your partnership—whether through volunteering, communication, or cheering on your students—makes such a meaningful difference in the experiences we are able to provide.

This month is filled with several special events and celebrations, and we’re excited to bring our community together in ways that highlight our students’ talents, cultures, and accomplishments. I encourage you to read through the entire newsletter, as it contains important details about these upcoming activities, as well as updates that will help you stay informed and connected.

I would also like to extend a sincere thank-you for your generous donations in support of Thornton families and students in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. Your kindness has had a real impact, and we are truly grateful for your willingness to lift one another up.

As we move through this busy season, I wish you and your families a joyful December. In case I don’t have the chance to see you before winter break, I hope your upcoming holidays are restful, safe, and filled with warmth.

With appreciation,

Sherry Strausbaugh

Principal

Wellness Week will be held December 8th - 12th. Students will participate in a Health & Wellness Faire on Thursday, Dec. 11th during lunch. The lunch period will be extended so that students will have enough time to participate in the various events/activities. More details regarding the activities of the week can be found below.

The Winter Social is scheduled for December 12th @ 7:00pm. This is our only evening social, and it is always very well attended. Students may NOT leave the social early. Students are expected to remain for the duration of the event. If your child is interested in attending, please make certain that they listen to the morning announcements regarding ticket sales and when/where to pick up as well as turn in their permission slips. Ticket sales/permission slip collection will occur Nov. 17th - 20th and Dec. 2nd & 3rd during lunch and for 15 minutes after school. Please note: Students who purchased a Socials Pass during MAZE for this school year are STILL REQUIRED to turn in a signed permission slip in order to be eligible to attend the social. The deadline to turn in the permission slip is the same for all student, regardless of whether a Socials Pass was purchased or a single Social ticket purchased. Permission slips are necessary for planning purposes and in order to get an accurate count of attendees. The deadline to turn in permission slips will not be extended for any reason. Please plan accordingly. NO PERMISSION SLIP & TICKET = NO ADMITTANCE

Ms. Denning's music classes will be performing on Wednesday, December 17th @ 6:30pm. More information will be provided to the performers regarding their responsibilities as it relates to the performance from Ms. Denning during their music classes. Please join us for this fun event! Students must be accompanied by an adult to attend the performance. A $5 donation is requested at the door to help offset the cost of student participation in upcoming music competitions.

We have a minimum day planned for Friday, Dec. 19th, and students will be released at 12:45pm. Please mark your calendars and make arrangements for student pickup as there will be no special AC Transit bus service for Thornton students that day. Additionally, the office will close at 2:00pm in preparation for winter break. The Wellness Center and Library will be closing at 1:30pm. Students will need to be off campus by 1:30pm unless they are attending an afterschool enrichment class.

We will be starting our spring enrichment classes in February. The spring catalog will be sent out in the next few weeks along with information on how to register. Students will be sent an email with a registration near the end of December. Registrations are on a first-come-first serve basis. Space is limited so please map out your class interest and be prepared for the release of the registration form.

During the winter break from school, we are grateful to everyone for helping to restore a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.

We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off during the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect to their peers and teachers.

We thank:

• Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.
• Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.
• Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.
• Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

We appreciate each one of you. May these days off be restful and healing.

• If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to their school counselor for help.
• We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on January 6, 2026.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Should you need to leave town before or after Winter Break, please apply for independent study. This ensures your student stays on top of their classwork while having their absences excused. The deadline to apply for independent study surrounding this year’s Winter Break is December 5th, 2025. For a complete list of the guidelines, please visit this link.

If you need to pick up your student early from school, we ask that you please send your student with a note to the office in the morning. The note can be simple and should include the student's name, the reason for early pick-up, and the time they will need to leave. Using this system we can minimize interruptions to teachers and classes. For any early pick-up, you MUST come to the office with a PHOTO ID. We will not release any student to someone who is not on the emergency contact list. If the student is not picked up within 10 minutes of the designated time, they will be sent back to class to wait. Please call and let us know if you will be late picking up your student.

***Students are not permitted to leave campus and walk home unsupervised during the school day. An adult who is listed in the emergency contact list must come pick the student up from the office.

The semester ends on December 19th. Second semester will begin at the return of winter break. ALL students will need to check their schedules in Aeries to verify the classes that they will attend when they return from winter break. Many students will have elective and PE class changes at the semester. ALL 6th graders will change their elective wheel to the quarter 3 class. You can review your schedules now to determine the class changes you may have when you return from break. Don't forget to print a new schedule and have it ready to go on January 6, 2026!

If students forget items such as their lunch or PE clothes, these items may be placed on the cart outside the office for your student to pick up. There is no need to check into the office. Students who have forgotten items should check the cart during brunch, lunch, or any passing period. Classes will not be interrupted to inform students of dropped-off items. In an effort to maintain a secure and safe environment for all students, please drop off the items and please do not hand items to the student directly. This creates a safety concern as adults may only enter any part of the campus upon checking into the office and receiving a visitors badge. Please be reminded that the lunch cart is unsupervised. Items are left at your own risk.

Just a reminder: California State law requires that all immunizations be up to date for your child to enter 7th grade. This includes the Tdap vaccine, which protects against whooping cough and is given around age 7 or older. To ensure a smooth transition into the 2026-2027 school year, please check with your child's physician to confirm that all vaccinations are current and turn in copy to Ms. McThorn the Registrar. Don’t wait—make sure your child is ready for the new school year!