Thompson Friday Forecast

As we head into Thanksgiving break, I want to share how genuinely grateful I am for this incredible Thompson community. Your partnership, encouragement, and trust make all the difference in the work we do each day. Thank you for supporting our students, our staff, and this building—and for giving me the privilege of leading a place full of heart, humor, and everyday magic. It never goes unnoticed, and it’s never taken for granted.

I hope the coming week brings your family time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the moments that matter most. When we return, we’ll be ready to take on the final three-week stretch of the semester with fresh energy and the same spirit that makes Thompson such a special place. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Principal

Families who wish to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals or fee waivers can find information and application links on the District 303 website under Parents & Community.

• For Free and Reduced-Price Meals, visit: district.d303.org/foodservices
• For Fee Waivers, visit: district.d303.org/fee-waivers

Applications are available year-round for families whose household circumstances may have changed.

1. Parents are welcome to drop off lunch only for their own child - not a group.

• Parent deliveries should be brought to the main office.
• Food and beverages may only be provided for your individual student. For example, a pizza cannot be purchased for a group of students. And students are not permitted to use apps to have food delivered during the school day.

Thank you for helping us ensure our school day runs smoothly and with little disruption!

Thompson Parents and Guardians,

We want to take a moment to thank our families and students for helping make morning arrival a smooth, safe, and efficient process. Over the past several weeks, our arrival team has noticed a significant decrease in morning tardies—a direct result of everyone’s cooperation and effort in keeping our front circle moving quickly and safely. We truly appreciate your partnership!

As we move into the colder months, we typically see an increase in the number of students being dropped off by car, which can slow down our arrival line. To keep things running efficiently, please help us by reviewing and following these friendly reminders:

✅ Drop-off begins at 7:30 AM.
Staff are on duty to welcome students at that time—early arrivals before 7:30 are not supervised.

✅ Doors 3, 4, and 5 close promptly at 7:48 AM.
Students arriving after this time will need to enter through the main office and will be marked tardy.

✅ Keep the line moving.
Please pull all the way forward towards the cone with the red flag, have backpacks ready, and remind your student to exit quickly and safely when you stop (think of it like an airport drop off).

✅ Stay in your car.

To ensure a steady flow of traffic, we ask that drivers remain in their vehicles while students exit on the passenger side (right side).

Be patient and courteous.

Our arrival team and safety patrol are there to help. Your cooperation helps keep everyone safe and on time!

Thank you again for your ongoing support and for modeling patience and positivity each morning. With your help, we’ll continue to keep our arrival process safe, efficient, and welcoming for all—even on those chilly mornings!

Warm regards,
The Thompson Middle School Administrative Team

Hello Parents/Guardians!

This is just a friendly reminder that we will be completing our i-Ready Winter Diagnostic for Math and Reading on Tuesday, December 2nd (MATH) and Thursday, December 4th(READING). 6th and 7th grade students will test with their 1st period teacher and 8th grade will test with their 2nd period teacher. Please note that for these two days, we will be running the following alternate schedule:

Period 1: 7:50-8:28

Testing:: 8:32-10:42

Period 4: 10:46-11:40

Period 5: 11:44-12:38

Period 6: 12:42-1:36

Period 2/7: 1:40-2:06 (students go to 2nd on Tuesday and 7th on Thursday)

Period 3/8: 2:10-2:50 (students go to 3rd on Tuesday and 8th on Thursday)

In preparation for this testing, please remind your child to bring their earbuds and fully charged chromebook to school. Please click here to access a letter from the Director of Assessment and Accountability, Mr. David Chiszar, that explains the I-Ready diagnostic. Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s counselor. Please click here to access the counselor information.

Sincerely,

Michelle Dague

Assistant Principal

Help make our staff at Thompson Middle School have a sweet treat this holiday season! Click here to sign-up to bake cookies or donate to the cause!

Drop off homemade goodies in a disposable container (container will not be returned), in the main office anytime on Monday, December 15th or up until 9:00am on the morning of the 16th of December. ****New this year for all the west side residents, you can also drop off to my residence if it makes your life easier, 3N995 Emily Dickinson Lane, on the dates previously listed. I will leave a cooler outside my front door, you can just leave them right in there.

Assembling of treat boxes will take place on Tuesday, December 16th from 10am to Noon in the Main Entrance hallway.

What can you bake? Anything your family loves! We ask that you donate in increments of 2 dozen, anything from cookies, brownies or any holiday sweet treat. These goodies will be boxed up and given to each staff member. If you make GLUTEN FREE treats, please label them that way BEFORE you drop them off! Also if possible, please no chocolate chip cookies. If you have any questions please contact aliciafulgencioflint@yahoo.com or 989-295-9037.

On Tuesday, November 18 during 1st hour (7:50-8:36), 8th grade students will be attending presentations from North, East and Compass High School counselors. Counselors will review the course selection procedures and deadlines with the students. D303 High School Counselors will be visiting again in January to meet individually with students for course registration.

Once students meet with the High School Counselors on Tuesday, November 18, here are the next steps students will need to follow. . .

1. Complete their blue/orange registration form

2. Have parent/guardian sign the form

3. Enter desired classes in HAC

4. Turn blue/orange registration form into the Thompson Student Services Office prior to winter break.

Specific curricular questions should be directed to the high school counselors. If your child has difficulty entering classes into HAC, they can reach out to either Mr. Cortina or Mrs. Gary,TMS School Counselors.

The DeKoyer Invitational is coming to Thompson Middle School on Saturday, December 6, 2025, and we need a strong crew of volunteers to help run the concession stand in the lobby outside the gym. This is a great opportunity to support our athletes and help raise funds for the Thompson Athletic Department.

We need 4 volunteers per time slot, and each shift is 2.5 hours. Feel free to sign up for more than one if you’re up for it!

Jump in & sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084AA5A82AA2FAC61-60699239-concessions

Your help truly makes these events possible—thank you!

Mrs. Ray is seeking donations to support a hands-on TEK activity for 7th grade students this December and during team events in December and January.

She’s hoping to gather glue guns, glue sticks, and paper bags to ensure all students can fully participate. An Amazon Wish List is available for convenience (though purchases do not need to be from the list).

Donations would be most helpful if received by Friday, December 5. Items can be dropped off in the main office labeled for Mrs. Ray or delivered directly by students to Room 229 (Team 7-4). Thank you for considering and supporting this engaging learning experience!

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!

We wanted to bring to your attention the City of St. Charles’s Bike Policy page. It outlines the rules, definitions, and expectations surrounding bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices within our community.

Key Updates to Note:

• Motorized bikes and scooters are not permitted on sidewalks, including in downtown and school areas.

• Class 3 e-bikes require riders to be 16 or older, and e-scooters require riders to be 18 or older.

• All riders must obey traffic laws, use proper signals, and ensure lights are used when riding at night.

These updates are designed to promote safety for the entire St. Charles community.

🔗Learn more: stcharlesil.gov/Resources/Getting-Around/Safety-Regulations-for-Bicycles-E-Bikes-and-Scooters

Join Random Acts Matter for our 2nd Annual Community Holiday Event on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Baker Community Center.

Enter the Contest: Build and show off your gingerbread creation — all ages and skill levels welcome!
Enjoy the Fun: Free admission, holiday music, sweet treats, and community voting for your favorite house.

Let’s spread kindness and kick off the holiday season together!

Help make Christmas brighter for local children by donating new, unwrapped toys. We will be collecting donations at TMS and around the community until Tuesday, December 9.

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/