Save The Date
* New *
- March 2, Friday Visit by author Jessica Garrett; All Grade Levels.
- March 2, Friday 6 PM to 8 PM – Game Night
- March 8, Thursday 6 PM to 7 PM, Arlington EATS Community Dinner
- March 14, Wednesday 7 PM to 9 PM PTO Meeting (Parents Only)
- March 16, Friday, 8.30 AM All School Spring Concert
- March 17, Saturday 11 AM to 3 PM – Science EXPLO
- 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,
I hope you had a wonderful week and were able to enjoy some of the gorgeous weather we had! My boys and I went to the Cape Codder in Hyannis for a couple of days where it was rainy and cool outside, but the water park and arcade inside were warm and toasty. Of course, those were the days where it was 70 and sunny back in Arlington! C’est la vie! All in all, it was a nice change of pace for our family, and I hope it was for yours as well.
I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the horrific event that occurred in Parkland, Florida just before vacation. Like many of you, this shakes me to the core as both a parent and a school principal. Every day, the safety of our children is of the utmost of importance to Thompson Faculty and Staff. While we are always conscientious of not propping doors open, being aware of our surroundings, and student/staff/parent well being, I am asking for your assistance in these areas as well. Please encourage one another to be mindful of signing in at the main office, putting on a Visitor Badge, waiting for the door to close behind you as you enter, etc. We are always practicing, discussing, and re-evaluating our protocols, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
I’ve seen quite a barrage of political discussions, cartoons, etc. on social media this week, and while I don’t typically engage in such discussions or postings, I feel very strongly about my responsibility to keep our Staff and Students safe. I firmly believe that having personal connections with each other, building a positive culture, and supporting each student emotionally, socially, and academically is paramount in keeping each other safe.
Please keep the families, staff, and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in your thoughts and prayers.
Karen
Thompson News & Events
Winter Party Feedback Request
The Winter Party in January was a huge success! Thanks to YOU, our amazing Thompson community, for coming out and making it a super fun night. Gorgeous space, great conversations, lots of dancing, and even a $1,300 profit for the PTO Enrichment Fund! We are one of the few schools that puts on an parents-only social event like this, and we hope to continue this tradition for years to come. So that we can do that, kindly give us your feedback on the event at tinyurl.com/WinterParty2018Survey
Congrats again to our Raffle Winners!
- Jaime Viteri: Original Cyanotype Artwork #1 by Sri Thumati
- Yael Beals: Original Cyanotype Artwork #2 by Sri Thumati
- Susan Zwick: Scutra dining certificate
- Kristen Fritsch: 3 moths of Wine of the Month Club at Menotomy Beer and Wine
- Sarah Mowbray: In-Home Dinner Party for 6 with JuliaCooks!
- Kobie Cook: Kids cooking class with “Chopped Jr” Champion Charlotte Kilroy
- Christy Murphy: Tennis Lesson with Jagat Adihya
Financial Assistance Available
The PTO would like to continue to support families who need assistance for the remainder of the 2017- 2018 school year. To help with this process, if your child/children would like financial assistance for any PTO related programs, please print and fill out the form found here and return it to Ms. Vicki or Karen Donato. All information provided will be kept confidential. It is the mission of the Thomson PTO to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate alongside their peers in all Thompson events and initiatives. By filling out this form, you are helping the PTO make this possible.
Game Night is back!
Friday, March 2, 6 – 8 pm
Come with the kids and join the fun!
Local game company GAMEWRIGHT lends us demo games to try out and families are welcome to bring a favorite board game from home, set up a table, and teach a group of friends how to play it.
Plan to feed the kids before coming or bring a picnic style dinner to eat in the cafeteria. Additionally, we will have healthy snacks, baked treats, apple cider and hot cocoa.
We will have new GAMEWRIGHT games and used games donated by Thompson families for sale. All profits go to the PTO. Consider buying a game from your teachers’ wish lists.
Come prepared to sit and play board games with the children, this is not a drop off event. If you are planning on attending, please consider helping us to make it a successful one, by collaborating in one of many ways.
Sign-up to Volunteer and/or donate snack items here: https://tinyurl.com/ThompsonGameNight
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.
Enrichment – 5th grade
The Museum of Science visited the 5th graders on Monday to discuss “States of Matter.” The presenter used liquid nitrogen and various other materials to demonstrate how physical matter transforms from solid to liquid to gas and back. The kids saw metal melt in water, and glycerin, water, and air become solid. They even saw super-heated water cause paper to burn.
Community
AHS Building Project News
Planning for the future rebuilt/renovated Arlington High School is underway and the AHS Building Committee invites the community to participate in the conversation.
Community Forums
Each forum will provide an opportunity for community feedback.
- March 5, 7pm, AHS: tours of the building, discussion of design patterns for the future school
- April 4, 7pm, Town Hall: update from HMFH Architects on potential building concepts
Resources
Web Site: updates, detailed information, events, blog
Facebook: updates, events
e-Bulletin: sign up to receive occasional email updates
Email the building committee with questions or feedback
The Town of Arlington has been invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process for the renovation/construction of Arlington High School. Acceptance to the MSBA program does not guarantee state funding. The MSBA approval process must be completed successfully for the state, via the MSBA, to provide significant financial assistance to the project. Local funding must also be assured through passage of a debt exclusion.
The AHS Building Committee
Upcoming School Committee Chats
When: 11 am to 12 noon on Saturday, on the first Saturday of each month
Why: Stop by and say hi to two School Committee members (look for the sign) to answer questions, collect concerns, listen to your ideas, and generally talk about the Arlington Public Schools.
Where:
- March 3 at Whole Foods
- April 7 at Caffe Nero
- May 5 at Whole Foods
- June 2 at Caffe NeroNo appointment necessary, simply stop by!
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
Game Night – Friday March 2nd
Game Night is this Friday March 2nd! In addition to needing volunteers for Game Night itself – we need donated baked items and healthy snacks to sell as concessions. Take a look at the sign-up genius and let us know if you can help!
https://tinyurl.com/ThompsonGameNight
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
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
Join the Community Card Team!
Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning for the 2018-19 Community Card! The new card doesn’t come out until September, but here is our Early Spring plan:
- get contracts signed
- confirm our advertising plans
- start planning for Town Day and beginning of new school year sales
We are looking for:
- task-rabbits
- brainstormers
- AND a 3rd Co-Chair (shadow for a year and poise themselves to take over for Gaggi in 2020)
Whether you’re totally ready to take something on, or are just curious about what’s involved before committing to anything – please join us at the:
Spring Community Card Info Meeting
Thursday March 8th
8:30AM
Thompson School Cafeteria
FREE Coffee!
Can’t make it?
Need more info?
Get involved!
Send an email to Co-Chairs Ashley Lorenz (K,3,5) at ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com or Gaggi DeStefanis (3) gaggi@rcn.com.
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.