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Thompson School News : June 25, 2018

Save The Date

* New *

  • June 25, Monday – Last Day of School, 11:30 AM Dismissal
  • Sept 4, Tuesday – First Day of School
  • Sept 4, Tuesday – Open House Kindergarten
  • Sept 5, Wednesday – 1/2 of Kindergarten Class all Day
  • Sept 6, Thursday – 1/2 of Kindergarten Class all Day
  • Sept 7, Friday – All School, including Kindergarten, Full Day of School
  • Sept 7, Friday – Welcome Back Breakfast | Coffee
  • Sept 11, Tuesday – PTO Meeting
  • Sept 15, Saturday – Town Day

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 here for a printable version of this month’s calendar.

The Arlington Public School Calendar is @ http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/calendar/pdfs/18-19calendar.pdf.

Principal’s Update

Dear Thompson Families,

Believe it or not, here we are – the end of the 2017-2018 School Year! Congratulations to all of us – We Made It!

People often ask me what am I looking forward to this summer and if I get vacation time, etc. My answer always includes how happy I am that I don’t have to do the “crazy mom thing” in the morning – get everybody up & out, without losing it on my kids as I drop off at Dallin and Ottoson, and screech in to Thompson!

The other answer is, that for the most part, I will be working during the summer – the best days to stop by if you need anything are Tuesday-Thursday, and Vicki and/or I will be there between 9:00-2:00.

I would also like to say a huge THANK YOU to our staff, students, parents, PTO, after school programs, and the many, many people involved that make Thompson School such an amazing place! While we say farewell to our 80+ fifth graders, we welcome over 100 new students in K-5 for the 2018-2019 school year. Now that our addition is complete, and the modulars will be removed, I look forward to the Fall when we will be “just us” and settle in to our new normal.

As we head out for the summer I wanted to share a few staffing updates with you:

Ms. Daley will be moving from 5th Grade to 4th Grade
TBD in Grade 5

We bid a fond farewell and say thank you to:

Ms. Makrianis, who has resigned her position as Library TA.
Ms. Becker, who has resigned her position as Music Teacher and Chorus Instructor

We also say a big thank you and goodbye to the following Teaching Assistants:
Mr. Ryan, Ms. Jie Jie, Ms. Quarrell, Ms. Richa, Ms. Blais, and Ms. T.

Students will be coming home with their Progress Reports and supply lists for their next year’s grade. Please note that Teacher Assignments will be mailed home in early August, with a welcome letter from the teacher, and more specific list if necessary.

I continue to reflect on how grateful I am to be a part of the Thompson School Community. We have SO much to be proud of, and have really had an impact not only at our school, but in the way the District is approaching and addressing topics of great importance. I am thankful to have such a dedicated, supportive staff and parent community.

I hope each and every family spends some quality time doing things that bring you joy this summer! Take the time to enjoy the sunshine, the sounds of the season, and each other.

See you around town,

Karen

PTO Update

Here we are at the end of another successful school year with the last newsletter for 2017-2018. The final three months of the school year feel like a marathon at sprinting speed. For the PTO, April through June are among the busiest times of the year with 18 enrichment programs, 2 all-school programs, and 8 community events!

Expenditure 2017 - 2018For the 2017-2018, the PTO’s approximately $60,000 budget helped fund 28 grade-level field trips, 2 author visits, 4 all-school enrichment programs, and 20 community events. With a larger budget, we were able to bring in several new enrichment programs including a trip to the Farrington Nature Linc for 2nd Grade, a Wampanoag Cultural workshop and presentation to 3rd Grade, and field trips for 4th Grade to the Museum of Fine Arts and Habitat. All school programs highlights included a cultural presentation called Arabiqa, author workshops by Jessica Garrett and Nora Dooley, an anti-bullying program by Improv Boston, a Hip Hop presentation by Illstyle and Peace, and the “One Day’ Community Sing at the School Picnic.

Community event highlights included the Welcome Back Breakfast in fall, followed by the Book Fair, Literacy Night, Holiday Drive, and Winter Parent’s Party in winter, Game Night and the Science EXPLO in early spring, and the beloved year-end Family picnic.

As the cliché goes, many hands make light work, and that certainly holds true for all the PTO was able to do this year. None of the events would have been possible without the leadership, enthusiasm, and help of the multitude of parents who volunteered their time and skills. Thank you to the PTO board, the fundraising team, the enrichment committee, communications team, room parents, event co-chairs and volunteers who helped with tasks big and small. We want to give a special shout out to Maf Terry, enrichment lead extraordinaire and director of many Thompson Drama plays, who after 9 years as a PTO member, will be “graduating” from Thompson. Maf, we will miss your energy, creativity, and can-and-will-do attitude!

Thank you also to the teachers, Mrs. Donato, Vicki, and the staff for their continued support of the PTO.

As we look ahead to the next school year, the PTO has a few open board positions. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey and help us plan for 2018-2019.  https://goo.gl/forms/3vzVVhXWfMIE8lcE2

The fall is the time for the PTO’s two primary fundraisers. The 2018-2019 Arlington Community Card will be launched on Town Day on Saturday, September 15th, and the Direct Donation Drive will start in October. Both these drives accounted for approximately 73% of the PTO annual budget this year. Keep an eye out for additional details on how you can support these initiatives.

Last but not least, congratulations to all the 5th graders and their families as they set forth into middle school. We also look forward to welcoming the new kindergarten class, which is shaping up to be the largest incoming kindergarten class to date at Thompson!

Have a wonderful summer!
Diana and Nandana
(PTO Co-Presidents)

Thompson News & Events

A Message from the Library

As the school year draws to a close, I am aiming to get as many books returned as possible. Notices with specific titles for overdue books will go home in a couple of weeks, but until then, please check your homes for any extra library books! Getting everything back means the library will be organized and full for the next school year. Any questions or concerns can be directed to me, Miss Mak, at amakrianis@arlington.k12.ma.us. Best, and happy almost summer!

Thompson Trees Need You!

TreeWe need to fill the tree bags with water twice a week throughout the summer.  This is a team effort, and we need your help!  If you would like to learn more or get involved, please contact Phil Tedesco at  philip.tedesco@gmail.com

 

Incoming Kindergarteners

If you have an incoming Kindergartener at Thompson, join the Facebook group “Thompson Kindergarten 2018- 2019” to connect with other parents.

Summer Meet-ups

  • Sunday, July 15, 9:30am @ Waldo Park
  • Saturday, July 28, 4:00pm @ Waldo Park
  • Saturday, August 11, 9:30am @ Thompson Playground
  • Sunday, August 26, 4:00pm @ Spy Pond

Green Team News

Congratulations to our graduating awesome change makers!

Enjoy your summer in nature and with family!

I hope some of you will accept Ms. Dichter’s 2 graders’ challenge of having a Strawless Summer.  Don’t forget to visit our Green Team display in the Fox Library up through July 6th.

Please contact Elizabeth at egrocco@gmail.com if you want to attend a summer Green Team meeting or submit a Green Team Bikeway Haiku!
Please contact Fiona at fionaehring@gmail.com if your family wants to be involved with the garden this summer.

Message from Rachel Oliveri, Sustainability Coordinator

Thank you all for your good and hard work teaching, learning from, and inspiring our students to care for the planet!

If you have or know of any rising 5th and 6th graders who might be interested in the environmental camp Charlotte Milan and I are running from July 9-13th, please forward them this information:

Youth Environmental Leadership Program starts July 9

From July 9-13 EarthCore members will traverse Town, explore our waterways and natural areas. We’ll undertake experiments and service learning projects.
Under the supervision of the Recycling Coordinator and School Sustainability Coordinator, re-see your Town from the perspective of an environmentalist, a scientist, a designer, and a leader.

Find out more @ https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showdocument?id=43333

Register @ https://goo.gl/forms/gJerDTqZ6PvOeLPy1

Enjoy the summer and I look forward to working with your teams in the fall!

Best,
Rachel

SSummer Opportunities

Mark your calendars with these grant opportunities, workshops, conferences, and more!

  • June 27 – Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) Webinar: Indoor Air Quality and Green Cleaning. This workshop explores indoor air quality hazards for school building occupants such as cleaning chemicals, varnishes, maintenance issues, and improper storage of art/science/voc tech chemicals and discusses how green cleaning practices can significantly improve school health.
  • June 28 – Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom presents “Family-Owned Dairy Farms – the History, the Satisfaction, and the Challenges.” Learn about what it is like to grow up on a dairy farm, what careers are available, and whether you can incorporate dairy lessons into your curriculum.
  • July 8-21 – Sustainable Development & Social Entrepreneurship Session at the Yale Young Global Scholars Program. This program is focused on exploring innovative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the international community today, and aims to prepare students to tackle problems related to particular areas of interest, including global health, international development, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.
  • July 9-13 – Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) Summer Professional Development Institute for the Cape Cod Region (middle and high school educators), MetroWest Region (for grades 3-8 educators), Berkshire Region (for grades 3-8 educators), and Central Region (for grades 3-8 educators).
  • July 15 – Captain Planet Foundation: ecoSolution Grants
    The Captain Planet Foundation supports educational programs that enable youth to understand and appreciate our world by getting involved in hands-on projects to improve the environment. The Foundation provides ecoSolution Grants to innovative programs that inspire youth to participate in community service through environmental stewardship activities. Public schools and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants of $500 to $2,500. Priority is given to projects with matching funds or in-kind support. The final application deadline for 2018 is July 15. Online application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.
  • July 16-20 – Museum Institute for Teaching Science Summer Professional Development Institute for the North Shore Region (for grades 3-8 educators) and Southeast Region (for grades 3-8 educators).
  • July 17 – Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom presents “Growing for Others and Improving Your Garden.” Learn about field trip opportunities for your class, hands-on gardening activities, and food issues and hunger in Massachusetts.

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.

Town Day Community Card Sales – Saturday Sept 15th

Town Day is where we launch, and sell the majority of, our Community Cards each year. Current town day record = 1000 cards! We will need ~75 volunteers throughout the day in 1 hour shifts between 8:00 AM and 4:00PM. No ‘sales’ experience necessary! If you can work a cash box or carry a sign, you are good to go. This is a great way to get to know other parents, and kids are welcome to join you during your shift if they are capable – nobody can resist those cute faces.

The signup is ready, get your preferred time slot today! https://tinyurl/townday2018

For more about the card, visit www.arlingtoncommunitycard.org.

Help Throughout the Year

To check all current volunteer opportunities: http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers

Community

Attention 5th Grade Parents!

GO-PTO, the parent-school partnership for the Gibbs and Ottoson Middle Schools, seeks new board members to serve in the 2018/19 school year. Parents of rising 6th graders are especially needed; no previous PTO experience is necessary. The board generally meets once a month, and related duties can take up a few hours a month; there are also other volunteer opportunities for non-board members.

This is a great way to get to know the principals and teachers and stay involved in your child’s education. Anyone who is interested should contact GO-PTO via e-mail at dearGO.PTO@gmail.com.

Summer Public Speaking Program

Smart Kid Looking for a Challenge? This summer, the Lumos Young Speakers Program is running a public speaking and debate program for students grade 4-6. This program will take place in July and will run 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday (1-week) in Lexington, MA.

Your child will love Lumos’s friendly instructors and fun activities as they learn about:

  • Speaking Confidence
  • Impromptu Speaking
  • Debate Basics
  • Argumentation and Reasoning

Right now you can use the code COMMUNITY to get $125 off. Email zephchang@lumosdebate.com or call 617-901-4564 with any questions. To register, go to lumosdebate.com/1-week-public-speaking-program

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.

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Thompson School News : June 4, 2018

Save The Date

* New *

  • June 4, Monday, 7-9 PM – AHS Building Project Forum, Town Hall
  • June 5, Tuesday, 8:40 AM to 9:20 AM – One Day Community Sing Rehearsal
  • June 6 & 7 – Field Trip, 2nd Grade
  • June 6, 7, 12, & 13 – Field Trip, 3rd Grade
  • June 7, Thursday 5 PM to 8 PM – Thompson Picnic
  • June 12, Tuesday or June 15, Friday – Kindergarten Screening 20 min appointments
  • June 13, Wednesday – 5th Grade Enrichment, Wingmasters
  • June 13, Wednesday – All-School Enrichment Illstyle & Peace Productions
  • June 13, Wednesday, 7-9 PM – Last PTO Meeting of 2017-2018 school year
  • June 14, Thursday – Field Day (Rain date June 21st)
  • June 18, Monday – Colonial Day Activities, 3rd Grade
  • June 19, Tuesday – Celebration of Learning, 5th Grade
  • June 20, Wednesday – Field Trip, 5th Grade
  • June 25, Monday – Last Day of School, 11:30 AM Dismissal

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 here for a printable version of this month’s calendar.

Highlight of the Month

PicnicSave the date! The annual school picnic is coming!

Thursday June 7th from 5-8pm. (Rain date Friday, June 8th)

New this year the PTO is adding a Playspace by Knucklebones! There will still be the traditional favorites: Cake Walk, Dunk Tank and Bouncy Houses as well. And this year’s even will include a special Community Sing of the song “One Day.”

What’s for dinner? This year you can pre-order a picnic dinner from the Fuller Cup, purchase pizza at the picnic or plan to bring your own food.

As always we will need a number of volunteers to pull all of this off! Consider volunteering for a short shift selling concessions, helping with an activity or donating a cake.

You can sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPicnic18

Thompson News & Events

School Council 2018-2019

We are delighted to introduce the three parents who will join the Thompson School Council for the next school year. The school council comprises of the Principal, equal number of parents and teachers, and a community member. For the school year 2018-2019, Maureen McCarty, Kate Mayers, and Anthony Fernandez will serve as parent representatives. Here are their brief bios.

Maureen McCarty

I feel so fortunate that my family and I are a part of the Thompson community and would be excited and honored to serve on the Thompson School Council.

I have worked professionally as an elementary school teacher and as an art museum educator. I taught first grade at a diverse, neighborhood public school in Milton using a number of the same curriculums now taught at Thompson School, including Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop, TERC Investigations, Responsive Classroom, and Discovering Justice. As an art educator at several museums (including the MFA and the DeCordova), I worked with various groups of young children encouraging discussions inspired by works of art. I am now the mother of four – two who are currently at Thompson (Greta in 1st Grade and Julian in Kindergarten) and two future Thompson School students (Francis, 4 years old, and Edie, 1 year old). My family will have at least one of our kids in the Thompson School for the next decade!

I will bring all of my commitment to the continued success of Thompson School and my experience as a mom, teacher, and art educator to representing all of our families on the School Council.

Kate Mayers

My name is Kate Mayers and I have a Thompson kindergartner this year. I’m interested in serving on the School Council. I started my career as a high school English teacher and have also taught math, science and GED prep classes. I am now a social worker and I teach and do field advising at Simmons in the Masters of Social Work program. In my advising role, I visit Simmons students who are doing internships in the Arlington Public Schools – so I have had the opportunity to hear about the learning going on at Dallin, Brackett, Ottoson, and the high school. In addition, I see therapy clients in a group practice.

I’m a lifelong advocate for public education, and I have a deep understanding of the challenges that kids and families face. I know it can be difficult for schools to meet all kids where they are and help them reach their educational goals – and I love how committed the Thompson community is to helping all kids succeed. I will be on the lookout for ways that I can help support the community and the school, and I think that serving on the School Council might be a place where my skills could be useful.

Anthony Fernandez

As an educator, I am eager to be involved in the strategic planning process and the goal setting discussions that will impact the educational experience of all of our children. I have gained a perspective on the overall educational philosophy of the school having experienced it through my older son, who is getting ready for his transition to the Gibbs after 5 years at Thompson. In addition, I have developed an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist within the school, as well as the resources that currently exist (infrastructure, personnel, and parent engagement) and those needed to strengthen and enhance both the curricular and extracurricular opportunities for Thompson students. As the parent of a student who at times requires additional support, I value the emphasis of the school district on social and emotional learning and am interested in how this is incorporated into the daily learning experiences of the students. As such, I feel that I can make meaningful contributions to the School Council that draw upon all of these experiences.

I have been an involved member of the Thompson community for 5 years and I currently have two sons, Lucas (5th grade) and Toby (1st grade), at the school and in the after-school program. I have volunteered in many ways from helping in the library to leading students in science experiments in and out of the classroom. I am an Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Merrimack College and during my almost 18 years at the college have spent a great deal of time focusing not only on my discipline, but also on how pedagogy influences the educational experiences of students and how to effectively incorporate technology into the classroom. For the past year-and-a-half, I have also been working with the Arlington Vision 2020 Education Task Group to facilitate a dialogue about how success is defined in our educational system and what values should guide our district as priorities are set and resources are allocated.

For all of the reasons noted previously, I would be honored to be one of the parent members of the Thompson School Council.

A Message from the Library

As the school year draws to a close, I am aiming to get as many books returned as possible. Notices with specific titles for overdue books will go home in a couple of weeks, but until then, please check your homes for any extra library books! Getting everything back means the library will be organized and full for the next school year. Any questions or concerns can be directed to me, Miss Mak, at amakrianis@arlington.k12.ma.us. Best, and happy almost summer!

Green Team News

Green TeamThe MA Department of Environmental Protection has awarded Thompson School the “Environmental Eagles” Certificate of Recognition, 470 bookmarks about waste reduction, a gift certificate to a garden supply store for our school garden and classrooms awards for Ms. Caplin’s 1st grade, Ms. Dichter’s 2nd grade, Ms. Armstrong’s and Ms. Jette’s 4th grade classes for their participation in Green Team curriculum in preparation for Science Explo this winter. Their Green Team projects will be on display in the Fox Library this month.

Thompson Community Sing

Family Folk ChoraleChris Eastburn, the artistic director of the multigenerational Family Folk Chorale, will teach Thompson students and staff Matisyahu’s hopeful and uplifting song, “One Day,” on the mornings of May 29th and June 5th.

All parents are invited to attend the June 5th 8:40 AM to 9:30 AM rehearsal and join the Community Sing of “One Day” at the annual PTO picnic Thursday June 7th. Link to “One Day” is here.

Please contact Elizabeth Rocco at egrocco@gmail.com if you want to help with the Thompson Community Sing project.

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.

Picnic – June 7th

The Picnic is coming up this Thursday! We still need a lot of volunteer help to make it happen.   Consider volunteering for a short shift selling concessions, helping with an activity or donating a cake.

You can sign-up here : https://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPicnic18

Field Day – June 14th

The annual Field Day is set for Thursday June 14th this year! The whole school will get together to participate in traditional outdoor summer games. We will need parent volunteers to help Ms. Brayfield to set up, help the teachers to supervise the kids and keep them together eating their lunch outside while the teachers go inside the school to have lunch. If you have time to spare that day please sign up here:

https://tinyurl.com/ThompsonFieldDay18

Kindergarten Screenings – Tues. June 12th & Friday June 15th

Volunteers needed during the afternoon time slots to welcome and assist families when they arrive for their Kindergarten screening.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4da4af2da64-help1

Help Throughout the Year

To check all current volunteer opportunities: http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers

Community

Arlington EATS

Arlington EATSCommunity Meal Has Been Redesigned And Rescheduled

On June 14, many of our community members will be with their families and friends celebrating the end of Ramadan. Arlington EATS has made the decision not to hold a Community Dinner on June 14, in recognition of this.

Instead, we will hold a robust Pop-Up Pantry on Thursday, June 21, from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. The usual array of proteins, produce, eggs, milk and pantry items will be available, in addition to a number of other items that will help families get stocked up for the summer break.

Please remember to bring your reusable shopping bags.

We look forward to seeing you!

2018 FOX FESTIVAL

The 3rd annual Fox Festival Parade will kick off the Feast of the East in Capitol Square on Saturday, June 16 at noon. Please join us – this participatory parade was started to celebrate the Fox Library, community, creativity, and Arlington wildlife.

Make a mask, banner or puppet inspired by local birds and animals in a free workshop with artists Sara Peattie, Kari Percival and Greg Cook. Or make your own costume, flag, or signs inspired by the theme of nature and animals at home with family and friends.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Wednesdays At The Fox Library With Sara Peattie (With Pizza!)

  • Wednesday May 30, 3 to 6 pm
  • Wednesday June 6, 3 to 7 pm
  • Wednesday June 13, 3 to 6 pm
  • PLUS one Saturday at the Fox, June 9, 11;30 am to 2:30 pm
Porchfest Workshop Wtih Kari Percival And Greg Cook

Saturday, June 9, noon to 5 pm at Porchfest HQ – Whittemore Park in Arlington Center (where Pleasant Street intersects with Mass. Avenue)

PARADE SCHEDULE

Gather at 11:45 at the Fox Library, 175 Mass Avenue. The Parade starts at noon and will be led by the wonderful Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band!

Support North Union Playground!

Recess, before school, after school, weekends, summertime, meet-ups, play dates and more. We all use this playground, and it needs our help!

We are organizing a friends group to advocate for and work to improve the playground at North Union park adjacent to Thompson School. If you would like to get involved, share your ideas or learn more, please email Phil Tedesco at philip.tedesco@gmail.com.

5th Grade Social

Friday, June 8th
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ed Burns Arena, 422 Summer Street

Come celebrate with old friends and meet new friends!
Click HERE for details and to purchase tickets.

Arlington High School Building Project Forum : Design Feedback

Monday, June 4th, 7-9 PM, Arlington Town Hall

Get up to speed with the AHS Building Project and let the Building Committee know what you think.

The Building Committee will be submitting the Preferred Schematic Design Option for the new/rebuilt high school in July and is seeking community input.

At this Forum

  • HMFH Architects will present more details about the four design options
  • MSBA process and decisions to-date will be reviewed
  • The Building Committee will outline criteria for choosing the preferred design
  • Feedback will be gathered for future Building Committee decisions

Can’t attend? A forum recap and feedback form will be available by June 7th on the www.ahsbuilding.org web site.

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.