Thompson Friday Forecast

Good afternoon Thompson parents and guardians. It has been a fantastic first week back from spring break. Our students returned with great energy, and it has been wonderful to see classrooms quickly settle back into productive routines. As we turn the corner into the final stretch of the school year, there is a clear sense of focus and momentum building throughout the building. This time of year always brings a lot of excitement, and we are looking forward to making the most of these final weeks together.

I know I mentioned this in my video today, but I want to take a moment to recognize our students and families for a strong IAR testing experience. Thank you for ensuring students were present, prepared, and putting forth their best effort each day. That consistency makes a real difference, and we appreciate your partnership.

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Planning for Thompson’s 100-year celebration is well underway, and it is shaping up to be a fantastic event. The celebration will take place on May 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There is no cost for admission, and we will have food trucks, ice cream, obstacle courses, backyard games, and even a rock band featuring two current Thompson students. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us for what promises to be a great evening together. T-shirts are available for purchase to commemorate the event and milestone. Images of the shirt and payment information is below.

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Lastly, thank you to everyone who uses the circle drive for morning drop-off and helps keep things running as smoothly as possible. As the weather improves, we ask that students exit the vehicle and head to Door 4 near the gym if you arrive before 7:35. When cars remain parked and students wait inside, it can slow down the entire process. A quick “drop and fly” with a fast goodbye helps keep traffic moving for everyone.

Thank you again for your continued support of Thompson Middle School. We are grateful to partner with you as we head into the home stretch of the school year. Have a wonderful weekend, and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Thompson Principal

Reminder about Food/Drink at TMS

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.

2. We WILL NOT accept or sign for delivered lunches for students
If there is an emergency situation and you need to send something for your student, please get in touch with the main office with details so they don't turn away the delivery driver. 331-228-3100

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

Congratulations once again to our talented TMS writers! We are proud to share that several of our students earned awards and Honorable Mentions in the 47th Annual AAUW Creative Writing Contest. Held each spring, this contest showcases the work of 7th and 8th grade students from public, private, and homeschool settings across the Tri-Cities area.

Thompson Middle School continues its strong tradition of nurturing exceptional writers, and we are thrilled to celebrate these students for their outstanding achievements.

Award recipients were also invited to a special recognition ceremony on April 9th, where they were honored for their work and had the opportunity to hear from D303’s own author, Kim Van Sickle. Please join us in congratulating these talented students!

IAR ELA make-ups will begin on Friday, April 10th and will conclude early next week, and IAR Math make-ups will begin early next week and conclude by Thursday, April 16th. Please ensure your child's Chromebook is charged for any of the assessments. Thank you for your support!

Summer is just around the corner and we are busy planning our summer athletic camps. Our camps will offer a variety of opportunities for students to improve their skills and have fun in six different sports! All summer athletic camps will be facilitated by Thompson Middle School coaches. Students will participate in a variety of skill-building activities and will be introduced to the same plays and philosophies that they will use when participating in middle school athletics. The philosophy of our camps is simple: have fun, improve skills, and learn good sportsmanship!

School Physical and Immunization Requirements

Attention parents of incoming Kindergarten, 6th and 9th grade students! Per Illinois school code, your student will need a school physical and a complete record of immunizations prior to the first day of school next year, which is August 12, 2026. Make your appointments today-these appointments fill up quickly! Please contact your school nurse prior to May 27, 2026 if you need a copy of your child's immunizations. Please note-a sport physical is not the same as a school physical! You may turn the required forms into your school nurse anytime- please remember to make a copy for your own records!

Also, current 6th grade parents: This is a reminder that all dental exams are due by May 15, 2026. Please submit your child's form if you have not done so.

Go for the Gold...

We are not meant to be ordinary, WE ARE MEANT TO BE EXTRAORDINARY!

Do not listen to what others define as extraordinary. Embrace the person you are inside and share this with the world. Be kind, be bold, and be imperfectly beautiful! Build your dream and CHASE it! Be your own ordinary which makes you EXTRAORDINARY! We were not meant to sit back…WE WERE MEANT TO MOVE MOUNTAINS!

After a week of IAR testing, I feel we could all use some positive vibes! Take a moment to be proud of the effort you gave this week and remember that growth happens in every challenge you face. Now it’s time to reset, refocus, and carry that same determination into everything we do next as we continue to learn, grow, and move forward together.

***Shout-out to our students who gave their best effort this week and worked to overcome challenges. Your perseverance, focus, and determination stood out. Keep up the hard work!

Math tip: Use what you know to solve what you don’t know. Start with easier facts and build up from that.

CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Bemer’s 8th hour class for winning the Homework Challenge!

Thursday, April 16th will be the last day to donate Birthday Party Supplies for a local food pantry. Our 6th grade Service Learning class is requesting party supplies, such as streamers, signs, banners, wall decorations, candles, plates/napkins/cups as well as non-perishable cake/cookie/brownie mixes, flour, and frosting. Collection boxes are located in the 6th grade pods and outside of the front office. Please see the attached flyer for info. Thanks for your support in ensuring that every child is able to celebrate their special day!

Board Nominations NOW OPEN

Our PTO is made up of elected Board members, dozens of committee chairs, Thompson administration, teachers, staff, and many dedicated volunteers—all working together to support our school community. Board positions are open to parents, guardians, and staff, and we encourage anyone interested in getting more involved to consider this opportunity.

Whether you would like to serve or know someone who would be a great fit, we invite you to submit a nomination.

A member of the Nominations Committee will follow up with all nominees to confirm their interest and answer any questions about the role.

Important Dates:

• Nomination Deadline: April 13, 2026

• Election Day: May 12, 2026

(Held during the final PTO meeting of the year – attend in person or via Zoom)

Nominee Requirements:

• Must be in good standing with the D303 school district

• Must adhere to PTO bylaws

Submit nominations HERE

Questions: Please contact Jaclyn Vazquez (jaclynvasquez@yahoo.com or 815-343-7489)

Thank you for helping us continue to build
a strong and supportive PTO community!

SLAY this Spring with TMS Spirit Wear!

Check out the SPRING SPIRIT WEAR SALE for Thompson! All orders must be in by April 15th.

NO LATE ORDERS will be accepted.

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!

The St. Charles Park District is excited to extend a fun, local fundraiser that offers our students and families great pricing for Otter Cove Aquatic Park or Swanson Pool admission.

During the month of April (April 1-30), you can pre-purchase day passes at the resident rate, $13 per visit. The Park District is offering the same rate to all families (Park District resident and nonresident) during this program in honor of our cooperative partnership with D303.

$1 from every day pass sold will come back to Thompson PTO.

During check out, you can choose whether the passes will be delivered to your student at school or available to pick up at Pottawatomie Community Center. Passes will be valid for this summer only and non-replaceable (so should be treated like cash). Passes will be available for pick up at PCC and distributed to schools around May 15th.

Sales begin on April 1.

https://www.ottercove.org/d303fun/

Information about Returning Student Registration (RSR) is now available on the District 303 website. The registration link will go live April 20. Please complete the Returning Student Registration process between April 20-May 18. Thank you!

Registration Support Week returns April 20–24! D303 staff will be available all week to assist any family who needs support completing online registration for the 2026–27 school year. Do you need language support, reliable internet or computer access or just guidance through the process? We're here to help!

Summer is just around the corner and Camp registrations are under way. Don't miss out on these wonderful opportunities! Check out all the summer school and camp offerings on the District 303 website.

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.

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!