Special Edition TMS Newsletter

Dear Parents,

With Curriclum Nights this week and next, we wanted to share essential information on the proactive supports that TMS offers students with regarding for grading and PowerSchool and Behavior.

We have created the video linked HERE for you that highlights all of the PowerSchool and grading essentials. Please take a few minutes to watch this video and connect with your child about this information. Feel free to reach out to TMS staff if you have any questions.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Curriculum Nights.

• 6th Curriculum Night - 9/2/26

• 7th & 8th Curriculum Night - 9/9/26

Thank you,

Lori Naumowicz, Principal (Epsilon & Alpha)

Greg Keadle, Associate Principal (Zeta & Beta)

Allie Yoder, Associate Principal & Student Services Coordinator

Kyle Mengarelli, Associate Principal (Gamma & Delta)

The TMS attendance reporting system is available 24/7 in PowerSchool.

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another reason, please report the absence by 8:00 AM using one of the following methods:

• TMS Online Attendance Reporting Link – This will take you directly to the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

• Watch: How to Submit Attendance on PowerSchool

• Need Help? If you don’t yet have a Parent PowerSchool username and password, please complete this request form.

How to Report an Absence

Step 1: Click the green “REPORT AN ABSENCE – Late Arrival – Early Dismissal” button on the TMS website or in the TMS Community Newsletter.

You can also navigate directly to the PowerSchool Parent Portal or bookmark the site.

Step 2: Scroll down and click the Attendance Monitor icon on the left.

If you have multiple students at TMS, select the correct student’s name first (top left corner of the screen).

Step 3: On the Report Absence tab, complete the Create Attendance Report form with:

• Absent date(s)

• Reason for absence

• Whole or partial day

• Explanation

Step 4: Click Submit to finalize your report.

Tips

• Parents/guardians can report absences for one child at a time. Repeat the process for each child if needed.

• You can report future absences as soon as you know the dates.

Late Arrival / Early Dismissal

• Students should arrive between 7:30 AM to allow time to visit their locker and be seated in their class by 7:50 AM. Students arriving late will be marked unexcused unless a parent or guardian calls to report the reason. Note: Oversleeping and traffic delays are not considered excused reasons.
• Students arriving to school after 7:50 AM are required to sign in at the office upon arrival.Students leaving school before 2:45 PM are required to sign out.
• If your child needs to leave early for a doctor’s appointment or another valid reason, please notify the TMS office by either: completing the Online Attendance Form, or calling 847-398-4260 and pressing 1 for the Attendance Line.

Making Up or Checking for Missed Work

If your child misses class, they should:

1. Check Schoology for assignments and class materials. Students can show parents their Schoology accounts. Parents can gain parent access to Schoology. Click HERE to request specific log in information.

2. Attend Homework Club or Office Hours after school for extra help.

3. Meet with teachers after school—we recommend one to two days of follow-up for each day missed.

Please remind your student to contact teachers directly with questions or for clarification on missed content.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Thomas Middle School Office or ThomasTech@sd25.org

Across District 25, our schools are committed to creating safe, respectful, and supportive learning environments for every student. To help ensure consistency across all of our buildings, District 25 uses a common framework to define and respond to student behaviors, including tools that help distinguish between minor and major behaviors.

Grounded in our shared expectations to Be Safe, Be Ready, Be Mindful, this approach focuses on clearly teaching expectations, helping students reflect on their actions, their impact on others, and providing opportunities to continue to grow. While each situation and student is unique, using common tools and processes across District 25 helps create a consistent approach for students, staff, and families.

Families can learn more about District 25's approach, including the:

• Elementary School Framework
• Middle School Framework
• Safe25.