Thompson Friday Forecast

What an incredible kickoff to the school year! The energy in our building was electric as students arrived—some for the very first time—ready to begin this exciting chapter. For many, it was a big step into a new school, and our staff at Thompson worked with care and intention to ensure every student felt seen, welcomed, and supported. I can relate on a personal level—both of my daughters started at new schools this week (6th and 9th grade)—and I understand how much those first impressions matter.

At Thompson, we know that trust is earned over time, through consistent, positive experiences. As both a principal and a parent, I want you to know that we are committed to earning that trust. Our team is dedicated to creating a school environment where your child feels safe, valued, and encouraged to grow.

This year, we’re especially focused on helping students live out what it means to be Respectful, Responsible, and Kind—values that not only shape our school culture but also prepare our students for success far beyond the classroom. We’re excited for the year ahead and honored to partner with you in supporting your child’s journey.

As a reminder, we’re holding our 6th Grade Social Kickoff next Thursday, August 21st from 3:30–5:00 PM. It’s a great chance for students to have fun, connect with classmates, and strengthen their sense of belonging at TMS.

Here’s to a great school year—Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Principal

PICTURE DAY UPDATE - Moved to Wed., August 20th

Due to iReady testing, we've moved Picture Day to Wednesday, August 20th. This is for any students who missed pictures over the summer at our Material Pick-Up Days

Important Attendance Reminder

District 303 attendance procedures were updated and approved at the June 9, 2025, Board Meeting. All district procedures are available in the CUSD 303 Student Handbook found in the Parent/Community tab in the Information column of the districtd303.org website.

Updates to the attendance procedures were made to bring consistency across all schools within the district and to clarify student attendance expectations. One example of an update is the removal of the pre-arranged absence procedure. This aligns with the definitions of excused and unexcused absences found in Section 2.2.

Families are encouraged to review the CUSD 303 Student Handbook to familiarize themselves with the districtwide procedures.

i-Ready - Please see attached letter for information regarding our Fall administration from our district Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, Dave Chiszar. The letter details:

What is i-Ready?
The purpose of our diagnostics
Subsequent instruction
Tips for preparing for the diagnostic
How to access score reports

Students should come to school well-rested, on time, and ready with a charged chromebook and wired earbuds.

6th Graders - come join us on Thursday August 21st for a Social Kick Off! Meet and mingle with fellow classmates. Enjoy food, music, yard games and inflatable obstacle courses. Event will be held near the football field from 3:30pm - 5pm.

Food is available for pre-purchase through our website. Limited food will be available for purchase on site at the event. Cash and card will be accepted at the event. Please note - ice cream is PRE ORDER ONLY. Orders due Tuesday 8/19.

Thompson PTO

Parents - we need your help! Please click the link below to see how you can volunteer to make this event a success!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044EADAE28ABFB6-57791480-6thgrade

Registration for Fall Sports is now LIVE on Snap!

Registration for all 2025-2026 athletics IS NOW OPEN! Note: Incoming 6th Graders are eligible to participate in Cross Country. Please register online (choose the registration tab). Please bring sports physicals to the front office or email to jamie.bedenbaugh@d303.org. ALL ATHLETES MUST BE REGISTERED AND HAVE A CURRENT SPORTS PHYSICAL IN ORDER TO TRYOUT FOR A TEAM! Parents will be billed separately through PushCoin once your student makes the athletic team.

Please find additional information for the start of the school year here.

Welcome Back to School!

Dear Thompson Middle School Families,

My name is Andrea Zitella, and I am excited to introduce myself as the Math Interventionist at Thompson Middle School. I am looking forward to working with you and your child throughout the school year.

In my role, I will be supporting students through targeted math intervention both inside and outside of the classroom. My goal is to help every student build confidence, strengthen their math skills, and reach their full potential.

I’m enthusiastic about beginning this new chapter and am committed to creating strong, positive relationships with both students and families. Together, we can make this a successful and rewarding year!

Each week, I will be posting updates for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade general math classes. These updates will include key strategies students are learning in class, along with helpful information to support their progress.

One message will remain constant: with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

If you have any questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at andrea.zitella@d303.org.

Stay Connected with the Thompson PTO

Sign up to receive updates about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and important PTO news.

Sign up here to join our Communications List

There are no dues or fees to be part of the PTO—all Thompson families and staff are welcome and encouraged to get involved.

Stay informed, stay connected, and help us build a strong school community.

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!

This updated version of the musical includes both the classic Disney cartoon characters as well as modern music and elements from the live-action version! Audition packets will be available the first week of school from the Choir room or the LRC or by clicking this link for the "Alice In Wonderland, Jr." Audition Packet, contact Mrs. Rybski for more information!

Thompson Middle School is looking for students to commit to being a part of a community service club known as Builders Club.

What is Builders Club?

Builders Club is a middle school community service club that is part of Kiwanis International. The high school club is called Key Club and both East and North High Schools have a Key Club. Builders Club empowers students to work together to improve the lives of others by completing acts of service. Builders club performs a variety of community service projects such as the following:

volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank…family members get to participate, too.
putting together lunches for Lazarus House in St. Charles.
recognizing military veterans on Veterans Day.

What are some of the benefits of serving the community?

Provides one with a sense of purpose.
Provides a sense of community.
Helps one meet new friends.
Increases social skills.
Improves self-esteem.
Lowers stress.
Brings fun into one’s life.
Beneficial for college and employment applications

When are the meetings?

First Informational Meeting will be Thursday, September 4th from 7:15-7:45 AM in room 237.
Most months there will be two meetings. NOTE: Sometimes an additional meeting will be added but not often.

Who are the advisors?

Mr. David Simone/8th grade language arts/Thompson Football
Joel Mulder: Kiwanis International Member
Warren Beeh: Kiwanis International Member
Clint Hull:Kiwanis International Member
Sue Liechti: Kiwanis International Member

Who should students/parents/guardians contact if interested in Builders Club?

Please contact David Simone at the following email: david.simone@d303.org

No backpacks, bags, or outside food or drinks are allowed. Only small bags (8x6 or smaller) will be permitted, and all bags are subject to search.
These games are official school events and are considered an extension of the school day, so behavior expectations still apply.
Middle school students must be with a parent or guardian at all times while inside the stadium.
There is no re-entry once someone leaves the stadium.
Not allowed: profanity, taunting (including racial or inappropriate remarks), throwing objects, or bringing anything that blocks the view of others.
If a student is asked by staff to provide their name and school, they are expected to respond honestly and respectfully. All workers—whether staff or event personnel—should be treated with respect at all times

We’re excited to share a fun and creative opportunity for our elementary and middle school students this summer!

In partnership with District 303, the St. Charles Business Alliance is hosting a Water Bottle Design Contest inviting students to design a label for a 100% recyclable aluminum water bottle. The winning design will be printed on over 1,600 bottles and handed out during the 40th Anniversary of Scarecrow Weekend in fall 2025!

Who can participate?

All D303 elementary and middle school students are welcome to submit a design.

What are the judges looking for?

Designs will be evaluated based on:

• Creativity – Is the design unique and visually appealing?

• Relevance – Does it reflect the 40th Anniversary of Scarecrow Weekend?

• Execution – Is the artwork clean, clear, and high quality?

How do students submit their design?

All details, including the downloadable template and the submission form, can be found here:

Water Bottle Design Contest Info & Submission Link

Deadline to submit: August 20th

Students are welcome to start their designs over the summer, and art teachers may also be sharing this opportunity during the first week of school for those who’d like to participate then.

We can’t wait to see what our creative students come up with!

Our Next Picture Day will be August 20th.

HR Imaging is the company we use. The link to order pictures is now live.

To contact HR Imaging with questions: https://shop.hrimaging.com/pws/contactus.aspx

RETAKE Day is September 17th

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!