Greetings Thompson School District Community,
The concluding weeks of the 2019-2020 school year are upon us and it is hard to believe that a year that started off in many ways very typical, is concluding in the most unique and nontraditional of ways. However, despite these complex times, our district continues to persevere, thrive and serve students and the community in an uncompromisingly distinguished way. Our commitment to students is unwavering and we will continue to pursue excellence in education and educational opportunities to the very last day of this school year.
As we head into these closing weeks, plans are already underway for contemplating what the start of the next school year might look like. We recognize that we are faced with many unanswered questions and uncertainties. But that will not stop us from planning and preparing for this upcoming school year. Just as school has looked very different for us this year, I am convinced that school will continue to look very different next year. I want our community to be prepared for this.
The need for the health and safety of our students, staff and community will continue to transcend all decision making. We will continue to partner with and rely on our county health professionals and our state government for direction and guidance around how we will launch our 2020-2021 school year. The district leadership team is busily engaged in planning for contingencies and potential realities around teaching and learning. Building-level staff are part of the process to address the unique needs of the diverse learners in our system. We are developing plans that will range from traditional in-person learning to complete virtual learning, and for a hybrid model that blends in-person with virtual learning opportunities. This planning will take time and we are committed to keeping our community informed throughout the spring and summer months. Opportunities for feedback and input will be available as plans are more fully developed.
We recognize that we want to be able to resume “normal” operations with a return to in-person instruction. We know that our students want to play sports, perform in plays, sing in choir, participate in extracurricular activities, go to recess on our playgrounds, interact with friends and simply be in school. This is what school is all about — teaching, learning, social interaction and experiences, Our system is built on the foundation that human interaction is necessary and vital. We are hopeful that this day will return sooner rather than later. Until then, we will continue to develop our programs and instructional delivery models that will serve our students while also protecting their health, safety and welfare. I know this is very frustrating for all of us. But I am hopeful that as a community, you will stand in solidarity with us as we navigate these complex times. We are working hard and will be tenacious in our pursuit to serve each and every student.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District
Summer School Registration Now Open!
Summer school opportunities are now available for students in English Language Arts and Mathematics for grades K-12, as well as credit recovery in other content areas for high school students. Link2Learning is an online format that will be hosted four days a week (Monday through Thursday) from June 1 – 25. It is free of charge for TSD students. Registration, which is now available, will close on May 1.
Building Access To Retrieve Items
Schools are currently making plans and building schedules that will allow district families and staff members to retrieve personal items from district buildings. Due to guidance from county health officials, this process will need to be carefully structured to ensure that we are completing it in a manner that best protects visitors. Schools will be releasing more information about the individualized plans in the near future. This will also be the designated time for students to check district property back in on-site.
National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 – May 8 has been designated as 2020 National Teacher Appreciation Week. The commemorative week was created as an opportunity for students, families and community members to recognize educational professionals for their service and dedication. As part of the celebration this year, Thompson School District is inviting students and family members to submit a photo of a favorite teacher, along with a brief description of why that teaching professional means so much to them. To submit your photo and description, please email it to the following address: info@thompsonschools.org. Send your entry soon! A select number of the photos and stories that are submitted will be shared that week on the district’s Facebook page and Twitter account (@ThompsonR2J). We hope you will join us in thanking the teachers in your life who make a positive difference every day.
Student Access to Technology and Internet
April 28th is the last day for student device checkout at Mary Blair Elementary School. If you have problems accessing the internet, there are five alternatives:
- Comcast has offered two months of free internet to low income families who qualify. CenturyLink has a similar offer. After the free months, it is $9.95 per month.
- You can also try using a free Xfinity Hotspot near you.
- You can park your car in six of our parking lots that have been lit up with WiFi. They are the Loveland High School east side parking lot (920 W 29th St, Loveland), Berthoud High School parking lot (850 Spartan Ave, Berthoud), TSD Admin Building south parking lot (800 S. Taft Ave. Loveland), Monroe Elementary School (1500 Monroe Ave, Loveland), Laurene Edmondson Elementary School (307 W 49th St, Loveland), or Big Thompson Elementary School parking lot (7702 US-34, Loveland). We have extended WiFi into the parking lots so that you can use it without leaving your vehicle. Use the “TSD” for district devices or “GUEST” Wifi for all other devices. Your student’s Google account will work on the TSD WiFi on a TSD device. There is no password required for the GUEST WiFi.
- Use a cell phone as a hotspot. Many cell phone providers are offering free data plans and hotspots for students.
- The Thompson Education Foundation is funding the initial set up costs of cell phone provider hotspots of up to $40 for families to pay for equipment and set up charges. Contact the ITS Help Desk for more information.