Thomas Timberwolves
School Community Newsletter 3/2/2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
March is here and we are loving the wonderful weather that it has brought! This past weekend was filled with championships for TMS extracurriculars. The wrestling team qualified 13 wrestlers for the Sectional meet next Saturday. The Science Olympiad team experienced great success at regionals and is moving on to the state tournament at the University of Illinois on April 18th. We have incredible students that are led by amazing teachers and coaches!
This newsletter contains information on:
- Upcoming standardized assessments
- Helpful social media tips for parents
- The Link Together Coalition Parent/Guardian Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WM5VH7H
Upcoming events and dates:
- TODAY - Monday, 3/2 Student Council Noodles Fundraiser 4:00 - 8:00 PM
- Tuesday, 3/3 - TMS Solo and Ensemble Festival 4:00pm - 8:00 PM
- Thursday, 3/5 - Spring Team and Club Pictures
- Tuesday, 3/10 - Pride of the Pack Assembly - Modified Daily Schedule
- Wednesday - Friday, 3/11-3/13 - Illinois Assessment of Readiness Testing - Modified Daily Schedules
- Monday, 3/16 - 8th Grade Illinois Science Assessment - Modified Daily Schedule
- Tuesday, 3/17 - NO SCHOOL - Election Day
- Monday, 3/18 - Track and Field begins! All 7th & 8th graders are welcome to join!
- Monday - Friday, 3/23-3/27 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
Thank you,
Lori, Greg, & Nick
Way to go Sophie Wytmar!
8th grader Sophie Wytmar, recently participated in a special opportunity. She was selected by the Northshore Concert Band to perform with this professional adult band at their Sunday, February 9 concert in Evanston. Each year, the NCB requests nominations from area middle school band directors for students to rehearse and perform with them on three songs. (This was a nominated honor - not quite the very much earned-big deal the AIJB honor band was for our kids being recognized at the next board meeting).
Testing and Modified Daily Schedules
IAR Testing
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness Test (IAR), an assessment for all students in Illinois, will be administered at TMS on Wednesday, March 11; Thursday, March 12; and Friday, March 13 from 8:05-11:05 AM.
ISA Testing: The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA), is for 8th grade students and will be given on Friday, March 13 and on Monday, March 16. The Illinois Science Assessment is a test designed to assess student mastery of the Next Generation Science Standards, which are part of the New Illinois Learning Standards. There are three components of the science assessment for this school year. Students will need to have a fully-charged Chromebook, and they need to bring their earbuds to school on testing days.
The best preparation for these assessments has been the quality instruction our teachers have provided this school year. However, there are things you can also do to promote your child’s success:
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.
- Provide your child with words of encouragement. While we don’t want our students to feel anxious about any assessment, we do want them to do their best.
- Please send earbuds/headphones to school by this Thursday, March 5, 2020. We will be using these for the English Language Arts Test as well as the Math Test. These items will be kept at school and returned at the end of testing.
- Encourage your child to have a book to read for when they are done with testing.
These are online assessment and students will be using their Chromebooks to complete these tests. Please make sure your child brings his or her Chromebook and charger to school on March 11th.
Modified Daily Schedules:
- The daily schedule will be adjusted on Wednesday - Friday, March 11-13 and on Monday, March 16 to accommodate testing.
- The daily schedule will be adjusted on Tuesday, March 10 for the PRIDE of the PACK Assembly.
Attention 7th Grade Parents... Lorado Taft Payments & Registation Forms are due!
- Payment and Health Record forms are due THIS FRIDAY - March 6th.
- Medication forms due April 17th
- All forms were distributed to the students but are available on the Thomas website if needed.
Social Media... What are TMS 6th graders saying?
We recently hosted internet safety lessons with our 6th grade students and what we learned was interesting. We asked the students to share responses to several questions regarding social media usage. While this research is not scientific, here's an estimate of what the TMS 6th graders shared...Just a little food for thought...
- About 78% of TMS 6th graders say that social media has helped them through a difficult time or bad day.
- About 50% of TMS 6th graders feel more connected with friends when they use social media.
- About 62% of TMS 6th graders say that they have made a joke about someone in a text, comment or post.
- About 50% of TMS 6th graders said they have posted or texted something that they would never say to someone's face.
- About 37% of TMS 6th graders said they have made a negative comment about someone they don't know well online.
- About 40% of TMS 6th graders shared that they have a fake or 2nd social media account. (When asked why or if their parents know about this, the answers shared were a bit eye-opening..."I have a fake account so I can post things without people knowing it's me. I have a second account because my parents monitor my regular account.")
- About 38% of TMS 6th graders responded TRUE to this question - How I present myself on social media is different than how I normally present myself.
Cellphone Reminders
As part of our school procedures, all student cellphones must remain in their lockers during the school day. Please do not text your child during school hours. If there is an emergency and you need to communicate with your child, please contact the school office and we will have your child get in touch with you.
ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge on April 25, 2020!
Audition now to perform the national anthem live at the ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge! D25 students may audition by sending a video recording of themselves or with one friend performing the national anthem "a capella" to abc25challenge@gmail.com. In your video, please state your name, grade, and school. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm, Sunday, March 15, 2020.
Register today for the 9th Annual ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge! Choose the 5k or 1 mile and walk or run with friends and neighbors who are coming together to support the ABC/25 Foundation. All proceeds from this event go directly back to SD25 classrooms through grants awarded to the teachers! Register by Friday 3/22/20 to receive early registration perks including a $5 discount on the entry fee, a guaranteed race t-shirt and the option to have your race packet delivered to your D25 school. Race day is Saturday, April 25, 2020! REGISTER NOW!
Not a runner? Nursing an injury? Looking for a different experience on race day? We are always in need of volunteers to make race day a success! Many options are available and most are flexible to enable you to volunteer and also participate in a race. Sign up here!
Don’t miss any race updates. Follow ABC25 Get Burbed Challenge on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
PHONE & ONLINE Absence Reporting
Absence Reporting & Requesting Homework
ONLINE REPORTING via TMS Homepage:
Click the ONLINE ABSENCE REPORTING BUTTON located on the TMS homepage and complete the details on your child's absence.
PHONE CALL TO REPORT AN ABSENCE:
1) Call the Thomas School phone number at 847-398-4260.
2) The auto-attendant will prompt you with these options:
- Press 1 to report an absence
- Press 2 to contact the school nurse
- Press 0 to remain on the line for the office.
3) Press 1 and report your child's absence.
Click here for important notes on attendance and requesting homework.
Join us for a PTA Meeting!
Wednesday, 3/11
Tuesday, 4/14
Tuesday, 5/12
Our Local Community Partners...
Link Together Coalition Meetings
All General Meetings 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- April 29th – General Meeting at River Trails Middle School
Omni Youth Services - Looking for support? Omni's mission is to partner with parents and the community to provide support services to children.
Link Together Coalition is conducting a Parent/Guardian Survey
The Link Together Coalition is conducting a Parent/Guardian Survey, in conjunction with the Illinois Youth Survey. Please use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WM5VH7H
All survey responses are anonymous and analyzed by a professional evaluator from Northern Illinois University. The results of this survey will provide insight into parent beliefs and behaviors and shape future coalition initiatives.
Link Together is your community coalition, working to empower youth to be drug and alcohol-free. Thank you so much for providing your input! Visit the website linktogethercoalition.org to learn more about your community coalition and find prevention resources.
If you have any questions, please contact Link Together staff.
Hanna Caselton, hcaselton@omniyouth.org<mailto:hcaselton@omniyouth.org>
Hannah Fiedler, hfiedler@omniyouth.org<mailto:hfiedler@omniyouth.org>
Jorie Ouimet, jouimet@omniyouth.org<mailto:jouimet@omniyouth.org>
Kris Zerfass, kzerfass@omniyouth.org<mailto:kzerfass@omniyouth.org>
Upcoming Local High School Happenings...
HERSEY High School:
Activity Night: Tuesday, March 31 at 7 PM
SAINT VIATOR High School:
Math Placement Test: March 31 & April 8
BUFFALO GROVE High School: No dates to report at this time.
*For the most accurate and up to date information, please visit the high school websites or call the high school directly.
Illinois State Report Card - Thomas
Thomas Middle School
Email: tmsadmin@sd25.org
Website: https://www.sd25.org/Domain/9
Location: 1430 N Belmont Ave, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
Phone: 847.398.4260
Twitter: @AHSD25Thomas