Save The Date
* New *
- March 8, Thursday, Community Card Planning Meeting
- March 8, Thursday 6 PM to 7 PM, Arlington EATS Community Dinner
- March 10, Saturday, Kindergarten Registration Begins
- March 12, Monday, Science Week Kick Off, Dress for Science
- March 15, Thursday 7-9pm PTO Meeting (Parents Only) NOTE: Date changed
- March 16, Friday, 8.30 AM All School Spring Concert
- March 16, Friday, Spirit Day – Dress to Impress
- March 17, Saturday 11 AM to 3 PM – Science EXPLO
- March 19, Monday, Fit Girls Starts, grades 4-5
- March 26, Monday – Grade 3 -5 Enrichment, ImprovBoston Anti-Bullying Workshop
School Calendar
Click http://tinyurl.com/ndp8spb for Thompson’s Google Calendar to get school holidays, early release days, and PTO events on your own calendar. Click http://tinyurl.com/y7u5k2on for a printable version of this month’s calendar.
Principal’s Update
Dear Thompson Families,
As Spring quickly approaches, so will State Mandated testing for our students in Grades 3 through 5. Please find the schedule for Thompson below. This year, students in grades 4 and 5 will take the MCAS Online using Chromebooks. Our 3rd graders will take the MCAS via Paper Based Testing. It’s important that students are in school on time each day, get a good night’s rest, and have breakfast at home and/or at school those mornings. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you, Karen
- Grade 3 ELA- April 3 & 5
- Grade 4 ELA- April 9 & 11
- Grade 5 ELA – April 10 & 12
- Grade 5 Math- May 7 & 9
- Grade 4 Math- May 8 & 10
- Grade 3 Math- May 15 & 17
- Grade 5 Science- May 21 & 22
Highlight
SCIENCE EXPLO Saturday, March 17th, 11 am – 3 pm
The biennial Thompson Science EXPLO is back! Join us on March 17th as the Thompson school is transformed into a space filled with scientific explorations and hands-on learning. More than 50 exhibitors from the Thompson community will present interactive demonstrations to engage, enthrall and entertain students.
Besides the engaging exhibits, there will be a science-based scavenger hunt, raffle baskets, a bake sale and lunch options at the Brain Fuel Cafe.
As one of the showcase events of the year, the Science EXPLO is well attended and the perfect time to volunteer while your children are exploring and learning; please sign up to volunteer https://tinyurl.com/scienceexplo18
Science Week
The Science EXPLO will mark the culmination of Thompson’s first Science week (March 12th –March 17th); a week of celebrating science at school. Morning announcements will include fun scientific facts and music, the library will showcase science-themed books, and parents are encouraged to present a science topic to their child’s class.
We will kick off Science week with Dress for Science day on March 12th. Be inspired and dress up as your favorite scientist, science professional, a scientific concept, element, or object. Be creative and have fun!
Raffle Baskets
Each grade is sponsoring a basket to be raffled off at the end of the event as an easy and fun way to raise funds for school enrichment. Please consider helping even in a small way. Please bring all donations to school by Wednesday, March 14th.
- Astronomy/Kindergarten: https://tinyurl.com/ExploAstronomy
- Biology/1st Grade: https://tinyurl.com/Explo18Biology
- Chemistry/2nd Grade: https://tinyurl.com/ExploChemistry
- Geology & Earth Science/3rd Grade: https://tinyurl.com/ExploGeology
- Physics/4th Grade: https://tinyurl.com/ExploPhysics
- Programming/Coding/5thGrade: https://tinyurl.com/ExploProgramming
Ecofest Trashformations
Ecofest Trashformations “Ecosystem Superheroes” will focus on “The Decomposers, Nature’s Recyclers!” Thompson classrooms and families are encouraged to submit a 100% non-recyclable trash sculpture of their “Ecosytem Decomposer Superhero” at the Science Explo. Students can include a comic strip about their superhero’s super power to recycle nature’s waste into food and energy for the food chain.
Trash-straws, toothbrushes, non-recyclable plastic including silverware, mix material trash. Trashformation entries less than 5″ x 5″ x 5″. Comic strips- on 8.5 x 11″ paper (on back of reused paper).
Information about trash, ecosystems and decomposers: 1. Arlington recycling guide 2. Ecosystem video for young readers 3. Decomposer video 3. Worm video 4. Video on amazing fungi systems in forests 5. Gut microbiome 6. 15 min. Decomposers video for older students
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” – Carl Sagan
Thompson News & Events
Arlington EATS Community Meal
Thank you to all who contributed and volunteered for the February 8th Arlington EATS Community meal. It was a fun and successful evening of community building and service. The many volunteers (parents and kids) helped serve 
over 80 meals and helped with the pop-up pantry. Between donations from the community and PTO contributions, we donated $300 to Arlington EATS for the meal.
2018-19 Community Card Spring Info Meeting
All Are Welcome!
Thursday March 8th, 8:30AM, Thompson Cafeteria, **Free Coffee!!**
Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning for next year’s Community Card! This is the PTO’s 2nd most profitable annual fundraiser, bringing in a record $16,000+ this year for Thompson Student Enrichment. It’s a very satisfying fundraiser, but it’s no overnight task; we need to start signing contracts with the businesses and getting the advertising plans set up now, so that we can relax over the summer, and then hit the ground running in September with a successful Town Day (Sept 15th) and Fall Sales. Whether you are totally ready to jump on board, have some great ideas to suggest, or are simply curious about what’s involved – come to this meeting. You will get an overview of the program, and hear the long-term and short-term tasks needing attention over the next 6 months. There are plenty important jobs available for introverts and extroverts alike, both behind-the-scenes and face-to-face, and of varying time commitments.
Questions?
Can’t make it to this particular meeting, but want to get involved?
Reach out to Co-Chairs Ashley Lorenz (K,3,5) ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com or Gaggi DeStefanis (3) gaggi@rcn.com
Textile Recycling Bin
Support Thompson while donating your unwanted clothing, shoes, linens, stuffed animals, and more (in any condition as long as they are clean and dry). Bay State Textiles gives the schools a share of their profit from the sale of these materials. The more you donate, the more the school will receive! The bin is located on the Everett Street side of the school, near the loading driveway.
You can learn more about the Bay State Textiles program at http://www.baystatetextiles.com/schools-box-program
See the acceptable items and other participating schools in the AHS Textile Recycling 2018 Flyer.
Community
AHS Building Project Tours & Forum
March 5, 7-9pm @ Arlington High School
The public is invited to take a tour of the current AHS building and join the conversation about future design needs for the facility. The evening will begin with tours of the building followed by Q&A with the AHS principal and Superintendent. David Stephen from New Vista Design will facilitate the second half of the evening leading an interactive discussion about potential design patterns and ideas for the future facility. Tours start at 7:00 p.m. in the foyer of the main entrance of the high school. Snow date: March 12.
District leaders and representatives from HMFH Architects (project architect) and Skanska (Owner’s Project Manager) will be on hand to answer questions.
This is the third in a series of public forums to gather community input for the future renovated/rebuilt Arlington High School. The next forum will be held on April 4. Learn more about the project at www.ahsbuilding.org.
Beats for EATS
WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2018 – Doors at 7PM
WHERE: Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Avenue
WHY: All money raised will help feed kids in our community. AND, there will be dancing, hors d’oeuvres, fancy drinks, and an amazing Silent Auction!
Gibbs Parent Forum
March 14th, 2018, 7-9 pm, Stratton School Cafeteria
Kristen DeFrancisco, principal of the the Gibbs 6th Grade School, will be hosting a parent forum. On the agenda:
- Building a Social Emotional Responsible School
- Academics and Courses
- Schedule
- Busing
- PTO Plan
Thompson’s representative on the Gibbs Parent Advisory Committee is Juliet Moir (juliet.moir@gmail.com). Please reach out if you have any questions!
Volunteer Opportunities
The Thompson PTO has many volunteer needs both small and big. If you’re looking for a way to give back to Thompson, here’s a list of ways you can help.
Annual Picnic Organizers
Though it seems a long way off the planning for the annual June picnic is starting now. The PTO is seeking parent volunteers interested in taking an active role in planning to join the picnic organizing team.
Contact: Kate Murphy, thompsonschoolvoluntee
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Looking for a parent interested in helping with the Safe Routes to School program. This is the program that has organized the Walk/Bike to School Day among other projects. The current parents in charge have graduating 5 graders. If interested there is a March 8th meeting about Safe Routes to School you might be interested in attending.
Contact Kate Murphy: thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com
Science EXPLO – March 17th
One of the biggest PTO events of the year, the Science EXPLO requires many helping hands! The Explo runs from 11am-3pm, so it’s easy to both sign-up for an hour long volunteer shift and have time to enjoy the Explo too! Sign-up at the following link:
https://tinyurl.com/scienceexplo18
If you can’t give your time on March 17th – please consider giving to the Explo bake sale or one of the grade level raffle baskets:
Bake Sale: https://tinyurl.com/ExploBakeSale
Thompson Parent Handbook Volunteer
The PTO is looking for a parent volunteer to put together an updated electronic Parent Handbook. There is a paper version from a few years back that needs updating with current information. This will be the place where parents can find useful information such as drop-off and pick-up procedures, contact information for teachers, field trip information and all the things you wish you knew as a new parent to Thompson. If you’d like to volunteer from the comfort of your own home doing some typing and copying and pasting – this is the project for you.
Contact: Kate Murphy, thompsonschoolvoluntee
Help Throughout the Year
To check all current volunteer opportunities: http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers
Connect with Us
THOMPSON PTO BOARD
Nandana Mewada, Co-President
Diana Trudell, Co-President
Yael Beals, Vice-President
Danielle Gottesman, Communications Chair
If you have news to share with the community, please email ThompsonPTOevents@gmail.com by Thursday at 12 noon to be included in the next newsletter.
Please note that we will only include news from the Thompson School and Town of Arlington. Announcements of interest to the Thompson community from other non-profit organizations may be included at our discretion.