Anyone who spends time around middle school students quickly learns one universal truth: what is in today might be completely out by next Tuesday. One week it might be perfecting Fortnite dance emotes, talking about the latest Roblox experience, or comparing AI-generated avatars. The next week, something new takes center stage. These changing interests can feel fast and sometimes unpredictable, but they often serve an important purpose.

While these fads often come and go quickly, they actually serve a bigger purpose. Middle school is a time when students experiment with interests, friendships, and identities. Trying something new, even if it only lasts a few weeks, is often part of how adolescents figure out where they belong and what matters to them. What may look like sudden changes in opinion or interests is usually development in action as students grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

At Thompson, our goal is to provide steady guardrails and guidance as students gradually build independence from 6th to 7th to 8th grade. We want students to have opportunities to explore interests, connect with peers, and develop confidence, while also helping them learn how to make thoughtful choices, manage challenges, and stay grounded in strong values.

As a parent of a middle schooler myself, I can assure you that keeping up with trends, hormones, and the ever-developing adolescent brain can feel like a lot. I certainly do not have all — or what sometimes feels like any — of the answers. What I continue to learn, both as a parent and an educator, is that embracing this time of change and uncertainty is far more productive than trying to slow it down. The consistency of supportive adults, clear expectations, and open conversations often matters far more than fully understanding the latest trend or app.

A few simple reminders can help support students during these rapidly changing years:

Stay curious about your child’s interests, even when they change quickly.
Keep communication open and judgment-free so students feel comfortable sharing.
Reinforce values like kindness, responsibility, and respect, which remain steady even when trends do not.
Remember that growth during middle school is often uneven, but it is almost always meaningful.

Middle school is a unique and important chapter. Students are beginning to discover who they are, who they want to be, and how they fit into the world around them. While the music, memes, and must-have items will continue to evolve, the relationships and guidance surrounding them make the biggest difference.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we help students navigate these exciting, unpredictable, and incredibly important years.

Have a wonderful weekend and Roll Thunder!

🚗 Morning Arrival / Afternoon Pick-Up Update 🚗

Thank you for your ongoing support and for modeling patience and positivity each morning/afternoon. With your help, we’ll continue to keep our arrival/departure process safe, efficient, and welcoming for all!

Please help us by reviewing and following these friendly reminders at TMS:

✅ 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. In inclement weather, students may enter Door 5 to await the official entry time.

✅ 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).

✅ Drop off should only occur in the circle drive next to the curb

Students should not exit a vehicle from 7th Street, Route 64, or as soon as they enter the circle drive. Students must exit next to the curb out of the passenger side of the car.

✅ Drop off in the parking lot by the Gym is off limits

Please DO NOT park or pick up your child near door 5 in the marked out areas. Use Indiana Street to drop off or pick up your child. Thank you for your cooperation!

On Thursday, February 12 at 7:15 AM in classroom 237, Kane County Judge Keith Johnson will be presenting at the Thompson Middle School’s Builders Club meeting. Judge Johnson will speak to students about the judicial system and answer questions. If you are a Thompson student interested in learning more about law and the judicial system, please join Builders Club for this meeting. Thompson parents, you are welcome to join with your child, too! If attending, and you are not already a member of Builders Club, please email Mr. Simone prior to the meeting date at the following email address: david.simone@d303.org. Builders Club looks forward to sharing this learning opportunity with you!

Super Bowl Sunday…

Did you know the Super Bowl began as a championship game between two rival football leagues, the NFL and the AFL? Actually, the very first Super Bowl game was played on January 15, 1967. Now we’re gearing up for the 60th Super Bowl and I feel the excitement of the game here at school. I can’t wait to hear about the exciting problem-solving and strategies each team uses during the game. Just listen for all the real-world connections and possible answers these topics!

Multiples of 7 and how touchdowns affect the score

Different equations that can create the same total score
How number lines, yard lines, and hash marks help track the game
Converting yards to feet for first downs
And even comparing the cost of a Super Bowl commercial to everyday items—like candy bars!

Who knew one football game could spark so many great discussions? 😊

***Shout-out to our students for asking questions, solving problems, and thinking strategically with each step. We also love seeing students apply math to real-life events!

Math Tip for Test Day: Fractions show parts of a whole, which means their values are always between 0 and 1. This big idea helps students make sense of fraction sizes and build strong number sense.

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!

Future Saints Families

Click here for information the high school has shared with us for you.

Future North Stars Families

Click here for information the high school has shared with us for you.

Thompson

Activities and clubs information

Homework Help

NHS Honors students help our Thunder students with their homework 2:55 - 3:40 pm every Tuesday and Thursday in the LRC

Referral GPS

An anonymous, easy-to-use, secure website to locate mental health and substance use treatment resources

Thompson Middle School

Dr. Matt Clark - Principal

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/