In This Issue
- Save the Date | School Calendar
- PTO Update
- Thompson News and Events
- Community
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Connect with Us
Save The Date
* New *
- January 4, Thursday, and January 5, Friday – Thompson Drama Auditions
- January 4, Thursday, 7 – 9PM – AHS Building Project Kick-off Community Forum, Arlington Town Hall
- January 10, Wednesday, 7 – 9 PM – PTO Meeting, Library, Parents Only
- January 11, Thursday, 6PM – Arlington EATS Community Dinner
- January 15, Monday – No School
- January 26, Friday – Spirit Day, Color by Grade: K- purple, 1- green, 2- blue, 3- yellow, 4- red, 5- Rainbow-ALL the colors!
- January 27 – Thompson Winter Parents Party
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.
PTO Update
Dear Families, Teachers, and Staff,
Diana and Nandana
PTO Co-presidents
Thompson News & Events
Thompson Drama Auditions This Week!!!
Calling all parents of actors in grades 3-5!
Auditions for the Thompson Drama Project are after school this Thursday, January 4 and Friday, January 5. There are still audition spots available, so sign up your child here.
Then sign up to volunteer to help at auditions here. Follow the links to officially register your actor and read over the TDP Ground Rules.
Questions? Contact Lise White and Karen Roth LoRusso at thompsondramaproject1@
Thank you! See you on the stage!
Thompson Winter Parents’ Party! – Saturday January 27th
The annual Thompson Winter Parents’ Party is coming up!
Held at Arlington’s beautiful and historic Town Hall, there will be a DJ, dancing, cash bar, social lounge for chilling out and recharging tired feet, and even some raffle items! Advance purchase tickets available for $15 ($17 at the door). No kids. No agenda. Book a sitter and shine up your dancing shoes. We hope to see you there!
To purchase tickets in advance: https://tinyurl.com/
To lend a hand with set-up and overall party preparation: https://tinyurl.
Enrichment News
On January 8th and 10th, the 4th grade will travel to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to study Greek literature and art. Greek allusions are taught during the 4th grade’s traditional lit unit and this field trip will enhance the students’ understandings of ancient Greek life and the ways stories were passed on over the years.
On January 12th, Kindergarteners will enjoy Kidstock’s “Jingle the Jester” at school, a live audience interactive theater program on tolerance and diversity.
On January 22nd, the Discovery Museum will bring its Traveling Science Workshop on weather to our 1st graders. Students will become meteorologists who investigate and forecast the weather.
PTO Meeting – Wednesday, January 10, 7 – 9 pm, Library
All Thompson parents are welcome and encouraged to attend our monthly planning meetings. This month we will be making decisions regarding the Winter Parents Party (1/27), Game Night (3/3) and the Science Explo (3/17).
Community
Arlington High School Building Project
As many of you know, the town is beginning the process with the state to rebuild/renovate Arlington High School (AHS). One of the AHS Building Committee’s top goals is open communication and they have created numerous ways for residents to learn about the project and get engaged during this lengthy and complex process.
Thursday, January 4 AHS Building Project Kick-off Community Forum
This winter is the beginning of the AHS building project Feasibility Phase, and there are several ways the community can take part. First an initial forum to discuss the project schedule and study process. Representatives from HMFH and Skanska will be present. Following a half-hour presentation about the Feasibility process, there will be small group brainstorming discussions, and an opportunity to share the ideas developed in discussions with the whole group. This Community Kick-off event will be held:
Date: Thursday, January 4
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Place: Arlington Town Hall
Educational Visioning Committee Members Sought
The community is also invited to apply to be part of the Educational Visioning Committee that will focus on the courses and programs offered at the high school, and the vision for the future. Deadline to apply is January 7th. Please read additional details here.
Save the Dates for Future AHS Project Community Forums
The kick-off event will be followed by three more interactive Community Forums, addressing various aspects of the Feasibility Phase:
February 7, March 5, and April 4, 7:00-9:00 pm, Arlington Town Hall
If you cannot attend any of the forums, you will be able to provide your input in other ways, including electronically. To learn more about the project and to receive updates via email sign up here, or follow project updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance, January 15, 2018
Light refreshments at 6:45 pm, Program at 7:30 pm, Robbins Memorial Town Hall • Arlington, MA
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Debora Jackson, Director of Lifelong Learning, Yale Divinity School
Special Performance by: Paul White & the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Chorus
Admission is free. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to donate.
Presented by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance Committee
Arlington EATS
Join us at the table on Thursday, January 11, 6PM @ Thompson
- To get food assistance: info@arlington-
eats.org - To learn more: www.arlington-eats.org
- To donate: www.arlington-eats.
org/giving/ - To volunteer: www.arlington-eats.
org/volunteer/ - To follow along: www.facebook.com/
Arlington.EATS - To contact: sarah@arlington-eats.
org
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.
Winter Parent’s Party – Jan 27th
There are many things (both large and small) that the planning committee needs help with, from running errands for supplies in the weeks approaching, to helping set up and break down on the day of the event. Interested in helping?
Winter Party sign-up: https://tinyurl.com/
Contact: Kate Murphy at thompsonschoolvolunteers@
Calling All Science Enthusiasts: Science Explo March 17th
Are you a professional in a scientific field or just a lover of all things science related? We need volunteers to set up and run interactive tables at the Explo in March! Let us know if you’re interested. Contact: Yael Beals at yael.beals@gmail.com.
Amazon Coordinator
The PTO needs someone to help promote the PTO/Amazon fundraising link. Thompson School earns 4-10% back on purchases made through the Thompson/Amazon page but shoppers must use the link on the PTO website.
Interested in helping get the word out? Contact: Kate Murphy at thompsonschoolvolunteers@
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.