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Thompson School News : March 12, 2018

Save The Date

* New *

  • 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, All School Spring Concert  K-2 9 am. 3 – 5 9:45 am Note: time change
  • 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.

Highlight

Science EXPLO Saturday, March 17th, 11 am – 3 pm

Science Explo 2018 aThe 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; 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.

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.

Ecofest Trashformations

EcoFest Transformations 2018 03 aEcofest 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).

EcoFest Transformations 2018 03 bInformation 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

Green Team

Green Team 2018 03 a
Green team first graders show off their soil bacteria trashformation. “There are more organisms in a teaspoon of dirt than there are people on Earth.”

For Science Week the Green Team challenges Thompson parents to go in the classroom and make a Trashformation of an Ecosystem Superhero Decomposer with our children this week!

Optional themes:

  • Kinders – worm super heroes
  • 1st graders – gut bacteria super heroes.
  • 2nd graders – fungi, moss, mold and lichen superheroes on a tree
  • 3rd graders – wood wide web; mycorrhiza fungi in forests
  • 4th graders – red wiggler worm super heroes, composting and plastic villains.
  • 5th graders – micro-organism super heroes

Picture: Green team first graders show off their soil bacteria trashformation. “There are more organisms in a teaspoon of dirt than there are people on Earth.”

Interactive Fun!

Science Explo 2018 Interactive Fun aOh Ick! Jessica Garrett, author of Oh Ick: 114 Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out, visited Thompson to build excitement for the upcoming EXPLO.

In 2 assemblies, she explained why we burp, and made a stinky burp factory before our very eyes-and noses. Pee ew! Students learned about the chemical reaction involved in making the ever popular slime, and the entire audience became a model for how a polymer is created on a molecular level! Student scientists performed a viscosity race to test the hypothesis that molasses is the slowest liquid in the kitchen. Mustard, ketchup, dish soap were the challengers. Which was the most viscous? Ask your student!

Norah Dooley

Science Explo 2018 Interactive Fun bStoryteller and author Norah Dooley, Everybody Cooks Rice, lead an interactive assembly with K-2 learners. Norah shared how telling stories became a pathway to becoming an author, and her first book was inspired by her neighbors in Central Square Cambridge. She then regaled the group with traditional tales from around the world. The students participated right along with her, bringing the story to life with sound effects and chants.

Second graders extended the learning with theater/storytelling workshops. Students worked with Norah to use their voices and their bodies to create character and to harness their imaginations to create a detailed driven adventure.

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

SEPAC Meeting Notice

In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A Section 20, notice is hereby given for the following meeting of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council on Tuesday, March 13 th , 8:30 a.m. at the Jefferson Cutter House.

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!

Annual Arlington Trivia Bee

JOIN or come cheer on school & community teams as they compete in the 23rd Annual Arlington Trivia Bee hosted by Arlington Education Foundation!

March 25th from 3-5pm at Town Hall

On March 25th, Arlington’s Town Hall will be abuzz with the friendly yet fierce team-based competition of the Arlington Trivia Bee. Live music, kids activities and the opportunity for audience participation help create the lively, family-friendly atmosphere that defines this annual town-wide event.

Calling all Thompson 5th graders! Form a team and join the competition, or stop by on the 25th and join in the fun! Find more information HERE.

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, thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com

Science EXPLO – March 17th

One of the biggest PTO events of the year, the Science EXPLO requires many helping hands! There are many ways to get involved – here’s the list:

We are in need of a few Cafe Coordinators to help run the Cafe on the day of the Explo. If you can help with this task please contact Yael Beals and/or Chris Pacheco at thompsonexplo2018@gmail.com or Kate Murphy at thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com

Explo Day-Of Volunteers

https://tinyurl.com/scienceexplo18

Bake Sale

https://tinyurl.com/ExploBakeSale

Raffle Items

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

Join the Community Card Team!

Believe it or not planning begins NOW for the 2018-19 Community Card! This is Thompson’s second biggest fundraiser each year, bringing in $16K+ annually for School Enrichment.

Whether you’re totally ready to take something on, have some good ideas to pass on, or are just curious about what’s involved before committing to anything, please email the co-chairs:

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.