Thompson Friday Forecast

Good afternoon, and Happy Halloween Eve, everyone!

This is one of my favorite weeks of the school year at Thompson Middle School! There is something special about the energy, excitement, and joy that fills our hallways this time of year, and this week certainly did not disappoint.

We kicked things off Wednesday with our annual Monster Bash, our first school-wide dance of the year. The turnout was fantastic, and the students had an absolute blast! A new addition this year was a variety of costume contests, which brought some friendly competition, creativity, and school spirit to an already exciting event. I cannot thank our PTO and staff enough for the time and effort they put into making this such a memorable experience for our students. A special shout-out to Christine Ellis, our Dean, for her leadership in overseeing the event!

Then came today's Halloween celebration! One of Thompson's longstanding traditions is encouraging students and staff to dress up and bring a little extra fun into the building. As I've talked with my own children and other area principals, I've come to appreciate just how unique this tradition is. Many schools don't allow costumes.

Not. Me.

Our students work hard every day, and I firmly believe that middle school should be about more than academics. It's about relationships, experiences, laughter, and creating memories along the way. We take learning seriously at Thompson, but that doesn't mean we have to take ourselves seriously all the time! If you need proof that we know how to have fun at TMS, just take a look at the picture below!

As we head into the weekend, I want to wish all our students and families a safe and happy Halloween tomorrow! Enjoy the festivities, and please help us by limiting the amount of Halloween candy your child brings to school on Monday. Any large, community-sized bags of candy may be considered a generous donation to the unofficial TMS Staff Sweet Tooth Club!

Finally, a quick scheduling reminder: We have school on Monday, November 2, no school on Tuesday, November 3, for Election Day, and return on Wednesday, November 4. And to our eligible voters, don't forget to exercise your right to vote!

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the Halloween festivities, and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Thompson Principal

At Thompson Middle School, student safety and well-being remain our top priorities. As part of our commitment to supporting students, we use Gaggle, a student safety and monitoring platform, on all school-issued Chromebooks to help identify potential safety concerns and promote responsible technology use.

Gaggle monitors student activity on school-managed technology, including internet searches, browsing activity, Google Drive content, and supported applications such as Google Docs. The system can flag potentially concerning content related to mental health, self-harm, threats, bullying, or other inappropriate or potentially unsafe activity. Please note, since these are school-issued devices, monitoring also occurs outside school hours and school buildings.

AT SCHOOL: After an alert, our administrative and Student Services (SST) teams review the information and determine appropriate next steps. This may include checking in with a student, providing additional support, communicating with parents or guardians, or taking further action when necessary. Our team dedicates significant time to reviewing these alerts and working collaboratively with students and families to ensure concerns are addressed thoughtfully.

It is important to understand that an alert does not automatically mean a student has done something wrong or is experiencing a crisis. Rather, it provides an opportunity to review the situation, understand the context, and determine whether support or intervention is needed.

AT HOME: We ask for your partnership in reinforcing responsible digital citizenship at home. Please talk with your child about using their school-issued Chromebook primarily for educational purposes, making appropriate online choices, and understanding that unexpected digital actions can lead to real-world consequences. Remind them that their online searches, documents, and other activities should reflect the same Respect, Responsibility, and Kindness we emphasize and expect at school.

Gaggle is more than a technology-monitoring tool. It is another layer of student safety and support that can help us recognize potential concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed. By working together, we can encourage healthy technology habits, promote responsible digital citizenship, and ensure our students know that trusted adults are available when they need help.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our TMS community safe, supportive, and responsible—both online and offline!

ROLL THUNDER!

-TMS Admin Team

** If you believe your student's name is missing from this list, please be aware that names are removed from the published Honor Roll to remain compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If you wish to verify your student's placement on the Honor Roll or to change your FERPA preferences, please contact our main office.

Thompson has been invited to be a part of the St. Charles Electric Light Parade on Saturday, November 28th but we need your help! The size and creativity of our parade entry will depend on the number of adults who are willing and able to help with planning, designing, decorating, and building. With enough volunteers, we could create something really special!

Please check out our sign-up genius here. We will have a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 5th.

Our 7th graders are gathering canned goods and shelf stable foods for our Food Drive benefitting Veterans for Hope! Please see the letter here for instructions on donating. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

On Tuesday, November 17 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 17, 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 Synergy

4. Turn blue/orange registration form into the Thompson Student Services Office as soon as completed.

Specific curricular questions should be directed to the high school counselors. Reach out to our 8th grade TMS counselors Mrs. McElroy or Mrs. Gary with any questions.

***Sale ends November 23rd. NO LATE ORDERS ACCEPTED.

Orders distributed at the school by Dec 8th.

As we practiced solving percentage problems, one student wondered, “When will I ever pull out a piece of paper to find a percent? And why do I have to show my work? I’m never doing that when I’m older!”

Fair questions! 😂

While we may not carry scratch paper in our pockets, we WILL use percentages to calculate discounts, tips, and sales tax, and to answer the all-important shopping question: “Which is the better deal?” The goal is to build automaticity, so multiplication, division, and other math skills become quick, accurate, and easier to use without stopping to think through every step!

And why show our work? Showing our work helps us understand how math works before we learn to solve problems in our heads!

We practice on paper today so we can do the math in our heads tomorrow. Who knows? Someday, that student might calculate a 25% discount faster than they can find their phone calculator! That would be a BIG WIN!

**Shout-out to students who ask “WHY?” and challenge us to think deeper! Asking questions is an important part of learning. Keep those questions coming! 🙌

The PTO is teaming up with Big Hearts of Fox Valley for their 2026 Holiday Toy Drive, and we need your help to make this season brighter for local families.

What: NEW, unwrapped toys and gifts for young children and teens

Where: Collection box in the TMS lobby

When: October 19 – November 11

Every item collected goes to struggling families right here in our own School District 303. Whether it’s a puzzle, a board game, a art set, or a gift card for a teen, it will mean the world to a kid this holiday season.

We're excited to share our first volunteer opportunities of the school year. Please take a look at the committees and opportunities Thompson PTO runs and supports throughout the school year. We’d love to have you join us!

A quick note about these opportunities:

Many of the opportunities listed here are for planning and organizing roles that help make out PTO events and programs possible. These are ongoing committee opportunities rather than day-of event volunteer shifts.

There will also be opportunities to volunteer on the day of certain events, such as our dances. Those sign-ups will be shared closer to each event date.

Time commitments are our best estimates and may vary depending on the committee and event. Whether you have a little time to give or would like to take on a bigger role, there’s a place for you! Grab a friend and sign up to help—or jump in and lead a committee of your own.

Click HERE for 2026-2027 Thompson PTO Committee & Volunteer Opportunities

If you have questions about any of our current volunteer opportunities, please reach out to us. And, as always, we welcome your ideas! If there’s something you’d like to see the PTO do, please let us know. We’d love to hear your ideas and find ways to make them happen.

Board@ThompsonPTO.org

• October 28, 2026 - Monster Bash (Halloween dance)

• December 15, 2026 - Holiday Cookie Exchange (as gifts for Staff)

• February 5, 2027 - Snow Ball (winter dance)

• May 14, 2027 - 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration Dance

• May 26, 2027 - 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration Picnic

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!

Future high school families: You are invited to the Compass Academy Fall Festival (Open House & Student Showcase) Wednesday, November 4th, from 4-7 pm. If you've ever been curious about what learning looks like at Compass, this is your chance to drop in, see student work on display, and explore our learning spaces during this fun, family-friendly event. For more information, check out the attached flyer.

Compass Academy is an D303 CHOICE high school program at the Haines Center. Key features of the Academy include flexible scheduling, project-based learning, interdisciplinary courses, competency-based education, and more. Any District 303 student entering grades 9-12 is eligible to enroll at the Academy. From the Compass webpage: "Choosing Compass is a student-driven decision, reflecting our belief that students are most successful when they take ownership of their educational journey."

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 Woodring - Assistant Principal

Mr. Ryan Wood - Assistant Principal

Mr. Sam Pasholk - Dean of Students

Ms. Christine Ellis - Dean of Students

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/

*please note the use of generative AI images are not the product of the author but the decisions of contributors to this publication