Thompson Friday Forecast

Good afternoon Thompson families. This past week has been a heavy one, with tragedy and difficult headlines filling the news. It’s a reminder that the world our students are growing up in is very different from the one many of us experienced in our own school days.

When I first started working in schools nearly two decades ago, safety drills were just beginning to expand beyond fire drills. Lockdown drills became part of our reality after tragedies like Columbine, and since then, schools across the country have continued to evolve their safety protocols to meet the challenges of the times.

On Wednesday, we held our Safety Day at Thompson, where students and staff practiced a bus evacuation drill, an evacuation drill, an A.L.I.C.E./lockdown drill, and a severe weather/shelter-in-place drill. I know that, as parents, hearing that your child participates in these drills can stir up a mix of emotions—from reassurance to fear. Please know, I feel the same way both as an educator and as a parent.

District 303 is the third district I have been part of that has adopted A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) as our critical incident response protocol. What I value most about A.L.I.C.E. is that it empowers students and staff to be aware of their surroundings and make decisions based on the situation at hand. While the premise of this program comes from heartbreaking tragedies, its strength lies in teaching students to think flexibly, consider alternatives, and make the best choices to stay safe.

Though times have changed and the need for these drills can feel sobering, I take comfort in the preparation and confidence these practices provide. At the end of the day, our goal is the same as yours: to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and cared for here at Thompson.

Enjoy the weekend and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Principal

TARDY POLICY UPDATES

Tardy to School (after 7:50 a.m.)

Any student who arrives late to school will report to the main office and complete the Tardy Attendance Google Form at the front entrance upon arrival.
On their 3rd Tardy: Warning issued; notification sent home
4th & 5th Tardy: Detention (before or after school), assigned by the Student Support Coordinator
After 5th Tardy: Parent problem-solving meeting with administration

Note: All tardy counts reset at the end of each quarter.

Picture RETAKE Day will be September 17th.

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

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 THE FORM BELOW. This is the only opportunity this form will be opened this school year.

The Parent/Guardian Resource Form is now open for the 2025-26 school year. Families can complete this form to request support, such as Big Hearts of Fox Valley holiday programming or Thanksgiving meals. The form will close on September 12th.

El Formulario de Recursos para Padres/Tutores ya está disponible para el año escolar 2025-26. Las familias pueden llenar este formulario para solicitar apoyo como los programas navideños de Big Hearts of Fox Valley o comidas para el Día de Acción de Gracias. El formulario estará abierto hasta el 12 de septiembre.

Real Learning in Action

This week during our problem-solving time, something truly exciting happened in class. I decided to do something a little differently. Insteaqd of modeling each step correctly, I made a multiplication mistake on purpose. My goal in doing this was to see who was truly engaging with the material and who was thinking critically.

While many students follow along with the teacher just assuming that a teacher does not make mistakes, this time, one brave student spoke up and respectfully challenged my work. She corrected the multiplication error which change the entire answer from the problem that we were solving. What followed was an energizing class discussion, and the best part? My student was absolutely right! She explained her reasoning clearly and proved her answer mathematically. It was a powerful moment of learning, not just for her, but for the entire class.

This is what problem-solving is really about. It’s not just about getting the correct answer. It’s about thinking deeply, asking questions, and being able to explain your reasoning. These are essential life skills that go far beyond the classroom.

Thank you for supporting this journey of learning and growth. Moments like this remind us how capable and curious our children truly are.

So, keep asking questions.
Keep thinking on your toes.
Make mistakes.
Challenge yourself and others.
And above all, NEVER give up!

Volunteers Needed: Crochet Club

Calling all parents and grandparents! We are looking for volunteers who know how to crochet to help our students who are just beginning to learn! Can you make a simple chain? That’s all it takes! We provide the yarn and hooks --- Our crochet club meets once a month, and we have more than 50 students excited and eager to learn. If you are interested in volunteering at one or more of our Friday afternoon meetings, please reach out to Annie.Leppin@d303.org for more information.

🍦 Thompson PTO Fundraiser at Oberweis! 🍦

Wed, Sept 24 | 11am – 9pm | 1790 W. Main St, St. Charles

20% of your order supports Thompson PTO!

When ordering, you MUST tell the cashier that you are with the Thompson PTO fundraiser.

No mention = no donation ❌ | Mention = support our students ✅

Treat yourself AND give back!

Stay Connected with the Thompson PTO

Sign up to receive updates about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and important PTO news.

Sign up here to join our Communications List

There are no dues or fees to be part of the PTO—all Thompson families and staff are welcome and encouraged to get involved.

Stay informed, stay connected, and help us build a strong school community.

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!

D303 Community,

St. Charles North is excited to host our Homecoming football game of the season on Friday, September 12, against Geneva! Our Blue Fan Group Theme for this week is BLUE OUT!

Sophomore game: 4:30 p.m.
Varsity game: 7:00 p.m.

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all fans, please review these important reminders:

Gates open at 3:45 p.m.
Tailgating is not permitted.
Backpacks, bags, or outside food and drinks are not allowed. Small bags up to 8" x 6" are permitted and subject to search.
Students younger than high school age must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
No re-entry into the stadium.
The following are strictly prohibited: profanity, taunting (including racial or discriminatory remarks), throwing objects, or using items that block the view of others.
Linked here are Game Day Reminders & our Parking Map

Ticket Information (available at the gate or via GoFan). Buy a Booster Pass and skip the lines for all SCN Home Games!

General Admission – $5.00
Students & Seniors 65+ – $2.00
Visiting Students (with school ID) – $2.00
D303 Middle/High School Students & Staff (with ID) – FREE

If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Office at 331-228-6258.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night as we come together to cheer on our North Stars!

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!