Thompson Friday Forecast

Good afternoon and TGIF Thompson families. Adolescence is a stretch of life where the brain is still wiring core systems for judgment, reasoning, and self-regulation. The amygdala, built for urgency and emotion, tends to fire first; the prefrontal cortex, built for logic and long-term thinking, tends to wander in a few beats late. That mismatch explains why students can ace a quiz at 10:15 and make a baffling decision at 10:17. It isn’t intentional chaos. It’s the natural turbulence of a brain under construction.

I see the same patterns in my own home with my 15-year-old and 12-year-old daughters, which means I get a front-row seat to the full spectrum of adolescent logic. One moment they’re debating future careers; the next they’re melting down because their sibling is breathing “too loudly” in their direction. It’s a daily reminder that the most complicated part of raising or educating a young adolescent is pretending any of us know what version of them we’re getting hour to hour.

The truth is, we’re all just trying to make it through the day, the week, the month. We're trying to do our part at school by providing structure, boundaries, and predictable routines, and you do yours by offering patience and perspective when the wheels wobble. It isn’t always smooth, but it’s normal. And as chaotic as this stretch can be, it’s also the window in which students grow faster (academically, socially, and neurologically) than at almost any other time in life.

So resist the urge to fast-forward through the hard stretches; meet the moments as they are, even the frustrating ones…because eventually, only memories will remain.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and Roll Thunder!

Dr. Matt Clark

Principal

Families who wish to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals or fee waivers can find information and application links on the District 303 website under Parents & Community.

• For Free and Reduced-Price Meals, visit: district.d303.org/foodservices
• For Fee Waivers, visit: district.d303.org/fee-waivers

Applications are available year-round for families whose household circumstances may have changed.

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.

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

Thompson Parents and Guardians,

We want to take a moment to thank our families and students for helping make morning arrival a smooth, safe, and efficient process. Over the past several weeks, our arrival team has noticed a significant decrease in morning tardies—a direct result of everyone’s cooperation and effort in keeping our front circle moving quickly and safely. We truly appreciate your partnership!

As we move into the colder months, we typically see an increase in the number of students being dropped off by car, which can slow down our arrival line. To keep things running efficiently, please help us by reviewing and following these friendly reminders:

✅ 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.

✅ 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).

✅ Stay in your car.

To ensure a steady flow of traffic, we ask that drivers remain in their vehicles while students exit on the passenger side (right side).

Be patient and courteous.

Our arrival team and safety patrol are there to help. Your cooperation helps keep everyone safe and on time!

Thank you again for your ongoing support and for modeling patience and positivity each morning. With your help, we’ll continue to keep our arrival process safe, efficient, and welcoming for all—even on those chilly mornings!

Warm regards,
The Thompson Middle School Administrative Team

Hello Parents/Guardians!

This is just a friendly reminder that we will be completing our i-Ready Winter Diagnostic for Math and Reading on Tuesday, December 2nd (MATH) and Thursday, December 4th(READING). 6th and 7th grade students will test with their 1st period teacher and 8th grade will test with their 2nd period teacher. Please note that for these two days, we will be running the following alternate schedule:

Period 1: 7:50-8:28

Testing:: 8:32-10:42

Period 4: 10:46-11:40

Period 5: 11:44-12:38

Period 6: 12:42-1:36

Period 2/7: 1:40-2:06 (students go to 2nd on Tuesday and 7th on Thursday)

Period 3/8: 2:10-2:50 (students go to 3rd on Tuesday and 8th on Thursday)

In preparation for this testing, please remind your child to bring their earbuds and fully charged chromebook to school. Please click here to access a letter from the Director of Assessment and Accountability, Mr. David Chiszar, that explains the I-Ready diagnostic. Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s counselor. Please click here to access the counselor information.

Sincerely,

Michelle Dague

Assistant Principal

On Tuesday, November 18 during 1st hour (7:50-8:36), 8th grade students will be attending presentations from North, East and Compass High School counselors. Counselors will review the course selection procedures and deadlines with the students. D303 High School Counselors will be visiting again in January to meet individually with students for course registration.

Once students meet with the High School Counselors on Tuesday, November 18, here are the next steps students will need to follow. . .

1. Complete their blue/orange registration form

2. Have parent/guardian sign the form

3. Enter desired classes in HAC

4. Turn blue/orange registration form into the Thompson Student Services Office no later than Wednesday, December 3.

Specific curricular questions should be directed to the high school counselors. If your child has difficulty entering classes into HAC, they can reach out to either Mr. Cortina or Mrs. Gary,TMS School Counselors.

This seems to be one of the most frequent questions asked about math. Why should we spend time learning facts when our world revolves around calculators and technology? Well, research is in, and it shows that strong math fact fluency builds the foundation for higher-level mathematical thinking.

We can make the analogy that math facts are similar to phonics. When students know the building blocks, they can continue to build on them. A student who knows phonics can now focus on comprehension; likewise, when a student knows math facts, they can focus on procedural understanding and problem-solving. One supports the other, creating confidence and fluency that allow students to tackle more complex ideas with ease.

Education may also be compared to building a house. If one doesn’t have the foundation of basic math facts, the rest of the structure, such as problem solving and reasoning, will eventually collapse. A strong foundation supports everything built upon it, and in math, that foundation begins with fluency in basic facts.

In conclusion, math facts are the essential building blocks that cannot be skipped. So, to answer the question above, YES! Students should spend more time learning their facts. Mastering these basics will set students up for future success in more complex problem-solving skills.

Math Tip: Show your work! Check every step!

***Shout-out to all of our math students who went the extra mile to ask for help, studied, and crushed their test! You ROCK!

See the grade level below to find out what we are studying in math class!

TMS PTO is excited to be partnering with Big Hearts of Fox Valley for their 2025 Holiday Toy Drive. We are collecting NEW and unwrapped items for young children and teens. All items collected help provide gifts to struggling families in our own School District 303. A collection box will be in the TMS lobby from October 20th – November 12th. Please help fill the box for kids in District 303 this holiday season.

For more information:
https://bigheartsfv.org/
https://bigheartsfv.org/holiday-toy-drive/

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!

We wanted to bring to your attention the City of St. Charles’s Bike Policy page. It outlines the rules, definitions, and expectations surrounding bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices within our community.

Key Updates to Note:

• Motorized bikes and scooters are not permitted on sidewalks, including in downtown and school areas.

• Class 3 e-bikes require riders to be 16 or older, and e-scooters require riders to be 18 or older.

• All riders must obey traffic laws, use proper signals, and ensure lights are used when riding at night.

These updates are designed to promote safety for the entire St. Charles community.

🔗Learn more: stcharlesil.gov/Resources/Getting-Around/Safety-Regulations-for-Bicycles-E-Bikes-and-Scooters

Join Random Acts Matter for our 2nd Annual Community Holiday Event on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Baker Community Center.

Enter the Contest: Build and show off your gingerbread creation — all ages and skill levels welcome!
Enjoy the Fun: Free admission, holiday music, sweet treats, and community voting for your favorite house.

Let’s spread kindness and kick off the holiday season together!

Join us for an engaging and practical three-part series designed to help parents navigate the growing challenges of anxiety and school avoidance. Led by Dr. Megan Schmitz of Vital Living Wellness Solutions, these sessions will give parents tools to:

• Recognize anxiety in their child and understand its impact on learning and growth.

• Learn strategies to balance empathy and compassion with boundaries and expectations.

• Gain concrete tools to support positive school attendance and resilience.

Where: St. Charles North High School Auditorium
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Dates: October 8 • October 22 • November 12

This series is designed to strengthen the partnership between families and schools, offering tools and strategies that foster belonging, perseverance, and achievement. Together, we can create the support and consistency children need to thrive. Please note: An interpreter/translator will be available for families who need language support.

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.

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!

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/