From Mrs. Bowman: There are extra 2019-2020 grade school yearbooks available for purchase in the school office. The cost is $11.00. Please contact the office for more details.
Please remember that the deadline to turn in requires paperwork is quickly approaching. I know that this year has been very different from the past but the state is still requiring these things to attend school. There is a chart attached with the requirements and dates. These must be turned in to do in person learning. If you plan on doing in person learning at some point this school year we will need these for your child as well. Thank you and feel free to contact the nurse with any questions concerning these requirements. (October 8th for the physical including immunizations and eye exam)
Parents/Guardians: We are having issues with students submitting work on time or at all. Every posted assignment K-12 is due at 11:59 p.m. the day after it is assigned. For example, an assignment posted on Monday is not due until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
If you are having trouble getting an assignment completed, you MUST contact your child's teacher for an extension. If a teacher has not been contacted and work is not submitted by the due date, a zero will be assigned. It will be at the teacher's discretion if he or she will take late work. The administration is supporting the grading policies of the teachers.
We encourage parents and students to look at assignments and ask questions when work is posted. Communication with your child's teacher is critical to his or her success. Please do not hesitate to reach out. Teachers are available M-F from 7:50-3:15. Teachers are not contractually obligated to answer emails or phone calls outside of these hours. This is why it is important to look at the material the day it is assigned--so teachers can contact you the following school day.
We understand these are challenging times for everyone. Our teachers are doing a phenomenal job and we appreciate the support we have received from parents and the community!
Here are some great videos that may help students and parents with Google Classroom. As always, we are here to help. Please contact your student's teacher if you need assistance.
https://youtu.be/IgS-hoSIjnw
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--qr80pkCbJ7G0NjMP0Y2EJ_-a1iMH8U/view?usp=sharing
There will be no HS basketball open gyms until further notice.
Due to students testing positive of Covid-19, and several staff members having to quarantine, Thompsonville Schools will need to go back to full remote for the next two weeks. School will resume on October 5th, and we will continue to split the students for A/B days. Your student's attendance days will remain the same as now, on and after October 5th. Students are still expected to log into their google classroom to complete assignments and for attendance purposes. If you are needing meals delivered, please call the school and let the office know. If you can not get through to the school, you can email bharris@tvilleschools.org, kelly.darnell@tvilleschools.org, or jchiaventone@tvilleschools.org and let us know you need meals delivered. We are sorry for the inconvenience. However, we feel that right now we need to do what is best for our school and community. We will reevaluate the situation when we return on October 5th.
Remote Learners who purchased Tiger Pride t-shirts! These can be picked up beginning tomorrow in the school office. Please be sure to wear your mask when entering the building. Thank You!
Due to the development of cases with student(s) at Thompsonville Schools, we are needing to be extra vigilant in keeping our students and staff safe. As a result, all students who reside in the same home as someone under quarantine will not be allowed to attend in person learning until the household member is released from quarantine by Bi-County Health Department. Students should continue with Remote Learning. We understand this is hard for families. We are doing everything in our power to remain open for In Person learning. Please remember to be cautious. Social distance, wear PPE, and wash your hands often. Please help us to stay open.
The letter posted below details the current state of the COVID-19 virus in Thompsonville Schools. Please be aware that if cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in our schools, we may have no other choice than to temporarily close and return to full Remote Learning.
One of the many regulations put forth by ISBE/IDPH for schools to be open is the self-certification form. We are having an issue with students bringing this form in. Beginning tomorrow, students who do not have this form completed will not be allowed on the bus and will not be allowed to be dropped off. A copy of the form is posted on the school app and our Facebook page. Please make sure your student has this form. Again, the requirement of this form is mandated by ISBE and IDPH.
Here is a message from Galatia for anyone attending the baseball and softball games today.
“Galatia is practicing social distancing and wearing face masks when social distancing is not obtainable. We will not have bleachers available for spectators & the visiting crowd at both fields will sit along the 3rd base line.
There is not a concession stand at either field but there’s is a funnel cake/fair concession stand vendor set up at the boys fields.”
Parents/Guardians , please make sure your student has the self verification health form filled out and brought to school with them. Thank you,
Assignments are due the following day after they are assigned by 11:59pm. If teachers are marking off for those assignments that are turned in before that time, please contact the school. It was discussed having homework turned in by Sunday night as an option. We chose not to do that, in case there were technical issues and a student waited till the last minute to submit. We also felt that we wanted to make sure students are getting the content and not waiting until the week is over to show that, by that time the student is already a week behind. So we are turning in things throughout the week.
Just like most small communities in our area we struggle with internet. We are paying over $2500 dollars a month to give hotspots to students in our district that did not have internet access. We are hoping next week that each student will have their own Chromebook to use.
Yes, the administration of the school feels that students learn better digitally then with old fashion books. I do not remember a time when I walked into a place that had student age kids all reading a hard copy of a book. They are usually on their cell phones or tablets. Digital formats, once learned and bought into, will keep their attention longer than a book will. Most schools are going to all digital formats, because colleges and most careers are already doing that. Schools fighting the importance of digital learning will be doing a disservice to their students.
Our original plan was to not bring students back to school until October. We wanted to try it earlier. Over 30% of our school district has chosen full remote. Until this Covid issue is over, we will continue to turn homework in and do things digitally. We have many rules that we have to follow in order to be compliant with the Illinois Department of Public Health. We are still hoping to bring back all students 4 days a week in October.
This is not easy on anyone. If you have questions please call your teachers. If you are not liking what the teachers say please call the administration. If you do not like what they have to say then call the board members.
The school appreciates all of the parents/guardians that are doing everything they can for their students during this time. We will all get through this together, as long as we are together.
Seniors: Applications for the Horatio Alger Scholarship are now available. https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/66358-Horatio-Alger-Association.
Applications are due October 25. Please contact me with questions!
Please make sure your students have their self certification sheets each day when they come to school. Thank you
Progress reports will be sent home next week. Students with last names A-L will be bringing progress reports home on Monday (9/14) and students with last names M-Z will be bringing progress reports home on Tuesday (9/15). Remote learners will have progress reports mailed home on 9/14/2020.
From Mrs. Heern: Just a reminder for students bringing home lunches--please remember to refrigerate and reheat meals as necessary.
Open gym starts this evening at 5 pm for any high school boy wanting to play basketball.
• You must bring the signed parent consent form with you in order to participate. (These are available to pick up in the office.)
• Masks are required.
• Bring your own water.
As we are returning to school this week lots of paperwork will be sent home with your children to be filled out. Only fill out what is pertaining to them. Along with returning these please remember to turn in any physicals, eye exam, dental and shot records you may have for them. If you don’t have these yet please make sure to schedule these promptly(if required). If you have any questions about anything needed or received this week please feel free to contact the school.
Thompsonville Schools is thankful to have students back in our halls and classrooms today. We know this is a small step towards our goal of everyone being back in school. We feel this is a safe way for students and staff to get acclimated with all of the changes that we have to adhere too. Please continue to be patient with us as we move forward and get through each day. We have almost 1/3 of our students continuing with Full Remote Learning and we will always provide those students the best education that we can give them.
