Good afternoon and happy long weekend everyone!

This year, one of our focus areas at Thompson is being more intentional about helping students develop their academic language. Academic language is the language students use in school to learn and show what they know—reading, writing, listening, and speaking using both subject-specific vocabulary and more general academic terms.

You’ll see this in classrooms when students are asked to explain their thinking, use precise vocabulary, participate in discussions, or put their ideas into writing. These skills are closely connected to literacy and overall academic success, and they play a role in every class, not just language arts.

Families can support this work at home in some easy, low-pressure ways:

Model clear and specific language in everyday conversations.
Ask questions like, “Can you explain that a little more?” or “Why do you think that?”
If your child’s word choice isn’t quite right, try restating their idea using more accurate language rather than stopping them to correct it.
Encourage reading and short conversations about what they’re reading—no quizzes or essays required.

Reminder: Please be sure to submit your child’s Exploratory Course Selection Google Sheet by January 23rd. Thank you for your help with this important process.

We appreciate your continued partnership. Have a wonderful weekend—Bear Down! and Roll Thunder!

D303 Discipline Advisory Committee

The D303 Discipline Advisory Committee is currently seeking participation from interested parents/guardians. The committee is structured to include representation from across the District, including community members, staff, and Administration.

The primary outcome of the committee is to review and update the District's discipline procedures. This work includes: Reviewing current discipline guidelines to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements. Aligning the District's student discipline procedures and student handbooks with current state legislation and policy updates.

The 2025-26 Meeting Schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 18
Wednesday, March 4
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, April 8

The committee meets from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Lincoln Professional Development Center, Room 106. Interested participants should complete this form to express interest. The deadline for participation requests is Friday, January 23, 2026.

Wristbands ON SALE NOW!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Snow Ball

Friday, February 6th | 5:30-7:30 PM | Thompson Gyms

PRESALE WRISTBANDS AVAILABLE NOW! All presale wristband holders are automatically entered into a raffle for gift cards pulled multiple times an hour.

Volunteer lists and supply donation sign-ups now available!

Event Volunteers

Supply Donations

$15 all-inclusive wristband includes:

⛄ Polar Pizza & Drinks

⛄ Winter Wonder Scoops ice cream bar
⛄ Igloo photo booths with photo printing
⛄ Subzero Sound Stage feature DJ Jake
⛄ Glitter and Frost snowflake ink studio

⛄ Snowflake Scavenger Hunt with prizes

High School Counselor visits are right around the corner. East and Compass Counselors will be visiting on Tuesday, January 20 and North will visit on Thursday, January 22. Students will be meeting 1:1 with their respective counselors during each period throughout the day. If there are any questions please reach out to Mr. Cortina or Mrs. Gary, TMS Counselors.

StC North Peer Leadership

SCN is a great place, but it’s also a big place. Peer Leadership (PL) hopes to make the transition to high school more comfortable and fun, while offering opportunities for growth.

The goals of Peer Leadership are to:

Match incoming freshmen with selected upperclassmen mentors.
Foster lasting friendships and bonds between the freshmen, their mentors, and the kids in their PL Groups.
Improve freshmen self-confidence and self-advocacy.
Prepare freshmen to become participants in clubs, sports, classes, and other activities at SCN.
Prepare freshmen for future leadership roles.

PL Interest Form: St. Charles North

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!

The Power of Positivity…

Whether in a classroom, or in life, people tend to grow more when they are encouraged with positive reinforcement. Middle school is a time when students are just figuring out who they are and what they are capable of accomplishing. The messages they hear during this age not only matters, but these words are so important.

Positive reinforcement builds confidence. When students are recognized for effort, progress, and perseverance, they are more willing to try challenging problems, ask questions, and learn from mistakes. A mistake is not a failure. This is simply a step toward understanding and learning. When we focus on what students are doing well and how they are improving, we help them believe in their ability to succeed. This is true in all stages of learning both in and outside of the classroom.

Encouragement opens doors and helps students soar higher, do more, and push beyond measure. This applies to people of all ages.

By cultivating a positive environment inside and outside of school, we are teaching resilience, confidence, and the belief that growth is always possible. We are all growing! The sky is not the limit! Let’s go farther! We’ve got this!

***Shout-Out to our students who joined our math group by choice just to receive extra practice. Your commitment to learning is truly amazing!

Math Tip: If you get stuck understanding a fractional problem, break it into smaller parts and use a visual model to guide your thinking

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!

Interested in a new challenge?

St. Charles Aquatics Diving is a great opportunity for students to learn an exciting Olympic sport while building strength, confidence, and body control. Gymnasts, cheerleaders, and athletes of all kinds are perfect candidates to try out and join the team, but no prior diving experience is required — beginners are welcome! Athletes will learn proper technique in a safe, supportive environment led by experienced coaches. Diving is a fun way to stay active, make new friends, and develop skills that carry over to other sports.

Practices are at the Norris Recreation Center and St. Charles North High School based on the group. Spots for lessons, diving team and high school team are available! Registration is open through all of January, so make sure you get signed up by going to the St. Charles Aquatics Website or reaching out to Coach Andrew with questions.

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/