Thompson Friday Forecast

With the arrival of March also comes the beginning of testing season. At Thompson, students will be taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in the weeks surrounding spring break. Our English Language Arts assessments will take place the week before spring break, and Math assessments will take place the week after.

I recognize that the idea of standardized testing does not always bring warm and fuzzy feelings. That said, these assessments do play an important role for both students and our school. For students, IAR results help inform placement in future coursework, including course recommendations as students transition toward high school. They also provide insight into individual strengths and areas for growth in reading, writing, and mathematics.

For our school, the assessment provides valuable feedback about our instructional program. The data helps our team understand where our students are thriving and where we can strengthen our instruction. In many ways, it acts as a check-in on how well we are supporting students in building the skills outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards.

While we take the assessment seriously, we also work hard to keep it in perspective for students. Our message to them is simple: show what you know and give your best effort. Preparation at home can be simple as well. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive mindset go a long way toward helping students perform at their best.

Finally, I want to thank the many parents who were incredibly responsive this week and took a few minutes to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey after my email on Tuesday. Thanks to your quick response, we surpassed the 20% participation threshold, which I greatly appreciate. If you have not yet had a chance to complete the survey and would still like to share your feedback, the window remains open for one more week.

Have a wonderful weekend, and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Thompson Principal

The 5 Essentials survey is now open and awaiting your feedback. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.

This survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete!
Here is the link to the survey. It is in Spanish and English.

Please be sure to put in Kane County as our county so you can find Thompson. Also, please read the questions and possible answers carefully as they sometimes mix up the "importance" of the responses.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we begin to prepare for our standardized assessments in March and April, we wanted to share some dates with you so that you can plan accordingly. Please see below:

• IAR Reading will be Tuesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 26th

• IAR Math will be on Tuesday, April 7th - Thursday, April 9th

• Illinois Science Assessment for 8th graders will be on Tuesday, April 21st

Please note that we will be running building wide schedules on the IAR testing days. Please click here to access a letter from the Director of Assessment and Accountability. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor. Thank you.

WEB is an 8th grade leadership club that helps transition 6th graders and build connections in our building - check out this slideshow for more information. Now is the time for our 7th graders to apply to be WEB leaders. The application can be found here; they are due March 11.

On Thursday, March 12 and Thursday, April 30 Builders Club is scheduled to volunteer at the Northern Illinois Foodbank. The volunteer shifts are from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM. Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity for students and family members to make a difference in the community while spending time together. There are not many opportunities in which parents may participate with their child in a school activity.If you would like to attend any one of these opportunities, or both, with your Thompson student, please email David Simone at: david.simone@d303.org. In the past, there have been entire families that volunteered. Participants need to be eight years of age to volunteer at the foodbank. Builders Club looks forward to sharing this volunteer opportunity with our Thompson families.

There are many students who feel nervous before taking a test. Being a little bit nervous can sometimes help students focus, but oftentimes it can become more stressful making it more difficult for them to show what they know. When this happens, it is called test anxiety. Test anxiety can affect a child’s ability to concentrate, remember information, and feel confident during assessments.

Below are a few signs that students could be exhibiting test anxiety.

• Complaints of stomachaches, headaches, or not feeling well before a test

• Trouble focusing both studying and/or during the test

• Feeling overwhelmed or restless

• Thinking thoughts such as “I’m going to fail” or “I can’t do this”

To help reduce some of the anxiety your child may be experiencing, try having them study in smaller time increments rather than all at once. Spreading out the learning of new skills can reduce the pressure of feeling like they need to know everything at one time and can make studying feel more manageable.

• Encourage positive thinking: Remind your child that doing their best is most important.

• Practice calming strategies: Deep breathing, stretching, or taking a short break

• Maintain healthy habits: Make sure to get enough sleep, eat well-balanced meals, and stay active

• Offer support: Listen to their concerns, celebrate efforts, and progress (not only their scores)

With encouragement and support at home, students can learn ways to manage stress and feel more confident when taking tests. Working together, we can help children develop the skills they need to approach challenges with confidence. We got this!

***Shout-out to our students who show perseverance even when things are challenging.

Math Tip: Break problems into small steps. Instead of trying to solve the whole problem at once, focus on one step at a time.

Our 6th grade Service Learning class will be collecting supplies for children-themed birthday parties to be donated to a local food pantry. Items requested are party supplies, such as streamers, signs, banners, wall decorations, candles, plates/napkins/cups as well as non-perishable cake/cookie/brownie mixes, flour, and frosting. Collection boxes will be located in the 6th grade pods and outside of the front office. Please see the attached flyer for info. Thanks for your support in ensuring that every child is able to celebrate their special day!

Check out the SPRING SPIRIT WEAR SALE for Thompson! All orders must be in by April 15th.

NO LATE ORDERS will be accepted.

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!

D303 Facility Priorities: Community Input Needed D303 is gathering community input as part of a districtwide review of facility needs. Families and community members are invited to complete a short online questionnaire to share what you believe D303 should prioritize as we plan for the future of our schools. The questionnaire will remain open through March 6.

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.

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!

Mrs. Michelle Dague - Assistant Principal

Mr. Ryan Wood - Assistant Principal

Mr. Sam Pasholk - Student Support Coordinator

Ms. Christine Ellis - Student Support Coordinator

Email: katrina.michaelis@d303.org
Website: http://thompson.d303.org
Location: 705 West Main Street
Phone: (331) 228-3100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thompson-Middle-School-671638232903851/