THOMPSON NEWS & NOTES
September 2026
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Bret Heller
Welcome to September! The school year is off to a strong start across Thompson School District. The energy, focus, and dedication of our teachers, support personnel, and school leaders has been inspiring. Combined with the relief of cooler fall temperatures arriving, there is a renewed momentum in our classrooms and communities.
This school year marks an exciting chapter as we prepare to launch The Thompson Horizon Strategic Plan. Our plan centers on the idea of collectively steering toward our future as The Destination School District by intentionally designing great places for students to learn, staff to work, and every individual to succeed. We are focused on three core destinations that interconnect to build a culture of continuous organizational growth:
Great Places to Learn: Putting students first in every decision by creating welcoming, well-managed classrooms focused on academic rigor, belonging, and robust support.
Great Places to Work: Supporting our educators and staff through collaboration, safe workplaces, competitive compensation, and professional development.
Great Places to Succeed: Practicing fiscal stewardship, modernizing our facilities, and ensuring transparency to build public trust and maximize resources directly into the classroom.
At its heart, this plan is about people. We want to serve our students, support our staff, and partner with our families and community to ensure everyone has the foundation they need to thrive.
We extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has already shared their feedback through our earlier survey opportunities. Your thoughtful insights have been invaluable in shaping this vision.
To continue this dialogue and ensure our goals reflect the ongoing needs of our community, we are hosting two upcoming town hall opportunities before the Board of Education is asked to consider approval of the plan:
Town Hall 1: Monday, September 28 at 6:00 PM | Berthoud High School (850 Spartan Avenue, Berthoud)
Town Hall 2: Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 PM | District Administration Building (Board Room) (800 S. Taft Avenue, Loveland)
These sessions will provide an overview of the roadmap and offer dedicated time for feedback and questions. You can review the draft in detail on our website by visiting The Thompson Horizon Strategic Plan Draft.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, dedication, and shared commitment to our students. Together, we are building a bright future for Thompson School District.
Dr. Bret Heller
Superintendent of Schools
Thompson School District
TSD Preschool is a fun and engaging place to learn and grow!
FREE for qualifying families with three- and four-year-olds
Convenient preschool classrooms across the district
Licensed Early Childhood teachers
Healthy food provided daily
Head Start, Universal Preschool, special education, and tuition-based
TEF Has Openings for Board Members!
TEF's Board of Directors provides leadership and guidance to help the foundation achieve its mission of providing exceptional educational experiences. If this sounds like a good fit for you, please considering applying for a TEF board position: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKeKatOT_1MDSC6gXyuP7I_apaS7deLxynPhBdm1i1EdgcaQ/viewform
TEF and Colorado Gives Day
Early giving begins on November 1.
www.coloradogives.org/organization/Thompson-R2-J-Education-Foundation
TEF Denver Sports Nights Are Back!
Get your tickets here: https://www.thompsontef.org/denver-sports-games
Fall brings many good things! Among them is Read Aloud Day, a day in which volunteers read a book to kindergarten through 5th grade students to promote literacy.
This year's event will be on Tuesday, November 17. It is a great opportunity to not only encourage students to read, but also involve parents and community members in our schools. Volunteers will sign up for a 30 minute time slot to fill teachers' requests at various schools in the district.
A link to sign up online will be sent to all registered volunteers on October 8th.
