TMS Dragons
PRO: Perseverance, Respect, Ownership February 2026
From the Principal’s Desk
As we continue moving through the semester, I’m happy to share that things are going well in our classroom. Students are settling back into their routines, continuing to build skills, and showing growth each day.
Academically, I’ve been especially proud of the effort students are putting into their learning — asking thoughtful questions, participating in discussions, and showing increased confidence with new concepts.
I also want to sincerely thank all of the families who took the time to complete the recent communication survey. Your feedback was incredibly helpful and much appreciated. I am using your responses to work toward more consistent, clear, and accurate communication moving forward, with the goal of keeping families well informed and connected.
Please know that you are always welcome to email me if you have questions, concerns, or need support. Open communication between school and home is important to me, and I truly value our partnership in supporting your child.
Thank you for your continued support as we move through the remainder of the semester together.
It is a great day to be a dragon!
Adam Kohn
No School for Students
Monday, February 16, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Staff PD Day)
Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 3 & March 4 - more information coming soon!
Unpaid athletic fees are now posted to your student’s account.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our bookkeeper:
📞 970-613-7405
📧merri.hocker@tsd.org
Thank you for taking care of these balances promptly!
Upcoming in PRO classes:
Students will be doing Black History Month lessons, created by our Inclusion Club students.
There’s another Sources of Strength campaign starting soon about trusted adults.
Our LUC Club students helped make a slideshow about Kindness Week (last week of January).
Hello 6th grade parents! Students are running LOW on supplies. Please check in with your kids and see if they need a refresh on pencils, pens, etc. Sending tissues and pencils to their teachers are always appreciated as well. Thanks!!
In Literacy News:
What pets make the best therapy animals? What can we learn from animals? How do animals help humans? These are just a few of the many questions that students can explore as they learn to become information writers. Students will learn how to do research and make claims in preparation for writing an informational essay.
In Social Studies News:
In Social Studies, we are quickly wrapping up our unit on the Inca Empire. Next, students will be studying the “Age of Exploration.” This will include discussing the importance of looking at historical events through different perspectives. After the Age of Exploration, we will be learning about Hernan Cortez and the Spanish Conquistadors.
In Math News:
In Math, students are working their way into Algebra! We are working on setting up and solving equations, which will allow them to finally find the value of the variable. Please continue to check with your students and look at their grades on Infinite Campus. Your support is greatly appreciated!
In Science News:
Our 6th Grade scientists have been busy working on both air and water systems. Whether it was conducting a demo with lighting tea bags on fire to show air cycles or labs working with salinity content of water or pressure systems, our meteorologists have a good grasp on how energy moves through these systems. For the next month we will continue working on Earth’s Water and Atmosphere.
Math:
In 2.0 Math the 7th grade students will be starting Probability and Ratio. We just finished up Percent changes and how to calculate interest, discounts, and markups. So while you're out to eat with your child or out shopping help encourage your student to use Mathematics out in the real world. Students can solve percent off merchandise, calculate how much to leave for a tip, or how to make money if they buy something and resell it for more!
Math 2.5 is talking about Volume and Surface Area of solid figures! Please encourage students to look through and use their notes. If they need more practice on anything they are learning, encourage them to go on Big Ideas and look at the ebook for practice problems or email their teacher!
Social Studies:
In Social Studies students have been learning about different types of government, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. They have also discussed limited and unlimited governments and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in different governments. The last week of January they have their government final and next up we will be learning about Personal Finance and different economic systems.
Science:
7th grade science students just wrapped up an exciting exploration of the history of life on Earth! We are now launching into a new unit on plant and animal adaptations, where students will discover how organisms change over time to survive and thrive in their environments.
ELA:
In ELA, students are working on strengthening their reasoning and analysis skills in regards to their paragraphs and essays. Students will display these skills in an argumentative essay that answers the question, "Should we make home in space?" Students are now required to have an independent reading book to encourage deeper comprehension skills, so please ask your student about the book they are reading! We also encourage students to read for a minimum of twenty minutes a night!
Second semester is going well for the 8th grade, and students are engaged in learning and preparing for their upcoming transition to high school in a variety of ways. In English Language Arts classes, students are studying a variety of texts to inform their consideration of the essential question, “In what different ways can people be intelligent?” In science, students are continuing a chemistry unit by discussing chemical reactions and their applications in daily life. 8th-grade math students are studying geometrical relationships; algebra students are comparing and contrasting exponential functions. And in social studies, students have been learning about U.S. industrialization and immigration in the 1800s.
As we progress further into 3rd quarter, here are some helpful suggestions/reminders to help support all students:
Charge Chromebooks nightly so they’re ready for each school day. (Setting a phone reminder can help!)
Restock school supplies--pencils, pens, notebooks, paper, tissue for classrooms--as needed and able. Please reach out to teachers with any needs.
Find and follow a system of organization that works. Keeping track of assignments to be completed and any upcoming due dates will help ensure that work is completed and turned in on time.
Check grades in Infinite Campus frequently. Reach out to teachers with questions and for additional help.
Get enough sleep. Current recommendations for teens from the American Academy of Pediatrics is 8-10 hours nightly.
Practice good work habits, do your best, and enjoy the experience of being an 8th grader; high school is just around the corner!
NEWS FROM ELECTIVE CLASSES
Spanish - Eighth Grade is currently working on a project designed to reinforce and apply the skills and concepts learned in Unit 5 (verbs and vocabulary). Sixth and seventh grade students are working on a project about Spanish-speaking countries. They are researching different countries, gathering key information, and presenting their findings to the class.
Band/Choir/Orchestra - Students are practicing their music for the end-of-year concerts. Students should check with their teacher on the concert dates.
FACS - Valentine’s Sugar Cookies: 6th/7th/8th graders.
6th graders: Kitchen and cooking safety, hand washing dishes; Toxic friends, toxic relationships 7th graders: Toxic friends, toxic relationships; Tiny houses.
8th graders: Toxic friends, toxic relationships; Consumerism.
7th & 8th grade Lifetime Sports is playing net sports. 6th grade will be playing hacky sack, deck ring tennis, pickleball, and bowling.
Art classes - Sixth grade will be working with Keith Haring drawings and Robert Indiana's “LOVE” Art Lesson. 7th-grade art students are working on developing their drawing skills and then creating pastel color drawings.
Multimedia Class: Students are creating black and white lineweight drawings in preparation for carving lino blocks to print.
PE classes are writing and working toward their fitness goals. All classes will be playing Team Handball, Pickleball, and Volleyball. We will end the month of February with our health units.
Technology, Engineering & Design - Students have been exploring Computer Aided Drafting and are now working on their first projects using SketchUp for Schools. Sixth grade is creating an ID Tag, seventh grade is making light switch covers, and eighth grade is making a folding key holder.
Plus 1 - Students will be using the Innovation Lab this month. Students will be learning to suture like a veterinarian, take vital statistics like blood pressure and temperature, discover the differences between acids and bases, use the flight simulator, create a raft that can hold maximum weight, and learn about plants and fermentation. Students will also be using Chromebook microscopes.
Gifted Education news
Congratulations to 8th grader Brandon Vignocci and 7th grade students Barrett Hansen, Roise O’Keefe, and Emma Walters for qualifying to the second round of the Thompson School District Spelling Bee.
Thompson School District’s Math Counts competition will be held on February 5th at TMS during school hours. All TMS students are invited to participate, even if they have not been attending Math Counts practice. Interested students should contact Mrs. Leonard.
There will be a Photography Workshop this spring. Dates are being finalized. This activity takes place during school hours. Students should listen to the announcements for more information.
Amazon wish list
Will you please help our TMS staff fulfill their Amazon Wish Lists:
Keep Your Chromebook Safe This Winter
STUDENTS: As winter sets in, a reminder: do not leave chromebooks in cold cars overnight. This can damage the battery and other functions of the computer, to the point where it may stop working, or even crack the screen! Students/Families are responsible for these damages, as insurance does not cover negligent acts such as this. Also, please remember to bring your fully charged chromebook when you return from break! Misplaced your cord? The most affordable replacement option is purchasing one yourself online: district recommended option
TSD Implements System to Support Students Online
I.T.S. offers software to help manage your student's device at home, whether they use an iPad or Chromebook. While we hope these tools are helpful, no filter or device restriction is perfect, and we encourage you to use other network management tools, such as parental controls built into your home router, if necessary.
Securly is a powerful safety tool that works in the background on all district-issued devices. It helps ensure that students stay safe and focused by filtering content on the browser, managing screen time, and keeping parents in the loop. Here’s what it offers:
Website Filtering
Inappropriate or unsafe sites are automatically blocked to help protect students from harmful content.
Weekly Email Activity Reports
Receive a summary of your child’s online activity directly in your inbox. Reports are sent to the email address you provided during the district’s Annual Family Check-in.
Custom Time Limits at Home
With the Securly Home App, you can set your own rules for when the Chrome browser is available outside of school hours—making it easy to manage screen time.
Learn more about the service by visiting the Securly Home App Set Up Guide
Did you order a yearbook yet??
February 20th is the final day to order a yearbook and guarantee your student will receive one when they arrive in May.
No extra books will be ordered this year.
Order today at jostens.com/yearbooks.
If you have already purchased a book—thank you!
Interested in Middle School Golf?
Season: March–May 2026 Thompson School District is excited to announce its Pilot Middle School Coed Golf Program for Spring 2026!
All practices and home competitions will take place at Cattail Creek. Away competitions will be held in Greeley or Windsor. District transportation will not be available for practices. Teams are limited to 16 players; all participants must attend tryouts and bring their own golf equipment. If equipment is needed, please reach out to your school AD. There is a $75 refundable registration fee for the tryout process and the season. Contact your School AD or click on the link for more information: Registration Link Registration deadline: February 13, 2026 English Flyer Spanish Flyer
~Submitted by Athletics & Activities Department
As we continue to foster a productive learning environment, we want to emphasize the importance of being on time to school ready to learn each day.
Students are expected to be in their seats by 8:50 AM each morning, and 9:50 AM on Wednesdays. Arriving on time helps ensure that all students can fully engage in their lessons and start their day positively.
As a reminder breakfast doors open at 8:30, 9:30 on Wednesdays. The bell rings to let students in at 8:45, 9:45 on Wednesday.
Your support in reinforcing this and setting your student up with good routines is valued!
Absence reporting
1. You can call the attendance line at 970-613-7490 and leave us a message.
2. Notify us of planned absences directly through the portal, ensuring a seamless and efficient communication process.
Access the How-To Guide HERE for further instructions.
TMS PTO
TMS parent teacher organization (PTO) meets at Turner Middle School.
Please feel free to join them for the next meeting on Friday, February 6 at 9:00am.
See TMS Website for contact information.
SAAC
Joint SAAC meeting will be held on Feb 4 at BHS 4:30 - 5:30pm.
If you are interested in being a part of our School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) committee, please contact Adam Kohn at adam.kohn@tsd.org.
NOCO Emergency Alert
Larimer County Fire Departments have asked us to share this information. This emergency alert will alert those who sign up for it with emergency notifications from Larimer county. Please text NOCOALERT to 888777.
Safety Drills
TMS practices emergency safety drills on a continuous basis throughout the year. The type of drill we practice and discuss with students is rotated. We help students to become familiar with the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which outline 5 situations and the actions that both the students and the adults do during an emergency.
How sick is too sick?
Please refer to the document, "How sick is too sick", from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) when deciding if students should stay home due to symptoms of illness. Reach out to the school health office with questions.
Turner Middle School
Mission:
We will provide a safe and inclusive environment and ensure a high level of learning for every student to become engaged citizens and lifelong learners.
Vision:
Cultivate Excellence, Celebrate Diversity, Connect with Community
Interim Principal: Adam Kohn
Interim Assistant Principal: Cassie Warwick
Dean: Lacey Scadden
Secretary: Merri Hocker
Attendance Secretary: Kelly Sandoval
Registrar: Brandii Wilson
School Nurse: Stephanie Roberts
School Health Office Aide: Pam Sargent
Website:https://tms.tsd.org/
Location: 950 Massachusetts Avenue, Berthoud, CO, USA
Phone: 970-613-7400
Email: Info.TMS@tsd.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurnerMSBerthoud
Twitter: @tmsdragons