Greetings Thompson School District Community,
Welcome to March!
Strong family and community connections play a big role in the success of our students and are a top priority for TSD staff. With that in mind, we have increased our efforts to strengthen relationships, improve communication and identify and remove barriers for schools, staff, students and families. We are committed to providing flexible options for family and community engagement as well as pathways for families to request and receive support in these challenging times.
In response to the increasing challenges faced by TSD families this year, one of our biggest celebrations in the area of family and community engagement has been the opening of the TSD Family Center, located at the Early Childhood Center at Stansberry. The center is a welcoming and inclusive place where families can access technology, connect with district and community resources, participate in family workshops, visit the lending library or food and basic needs pantries, and receive support from friendly, bilingual district staff. Family Center staff can assist you in person, online or by telephone and we invite you to contact them today; call 970-613-6808, e-mail family-center@thompsonschools.org or schedule an appointment on their website.
With the support of TSD’s Family and Community Engagement team, schools across the district have also offered a variety of virtual engagement opportunities for families and other stakeholder groups to stay connected, such as online family events, community forums and district/school accountability teams. Perhaps you have joined in an evening of family fun through an online family engagement night at your child’s school, attended a virtual parent/teacher conference or participated in a virtual forum, such as our first-ever Spanish-Language Community Forum this fall. At TSD, we are committed to offering flexible, inclusive and supportive opportunities that meet the needs of each TSD family.
We are also very proud of the partnerships we have developed within our community to support TSD families. One shining example is our long-standing collaboration with Loveland Rotary KidsPak, which provided 165,000 meals to TSD families in 2020. KidsPak, in collaboration with TSD schools, provided 19,000 weekend food bags to TSD students in 2018-19, and nearly 27,000 in 2019-20. We anticipate that number has grown again this year and are so pleased to partner with them in support of TSD families in need. This year, the KidsPak team also provided nearly 300 holiday meals during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
To continue to learn and grow in the area of family engagement, all TSD licensed educators participate in specially designed staff development. These opportunities are focused on the important ways educators set the conditions for families to engage with schools and student learning, as well as research-based strategies to improve equitable communication and interaction with families, both in-person and online. This past November, we also launched the Thompson Climate and Culture Survey. The results of this is helping us to better understand and support the needs of every TSD family. We truly appreciate your input and want you to know that we hear you! About 27% of TSD families responded to the survey. Here are a few highlights from the results:
- 85% of TSD families responded favorably that they would recommend their child’s school or the district to a friend or colleague for their child.
- 73% of TSD families noted the district’s commitment to strong, ongoing two-way communication pathways for each TSD student and family.
- 68% of TSD families said they feel welcome, valued and respected at schools and in the district.
- All survey groups (students, families, staff, and community) rated school safety and the school/district climate favorably, as well as relationships between staff, students and leaders.
- Responses from students showed they would like support in improving their emotional regulation, perseverance and their sense of belonging at their schools. Families, meanwhile, indicated there is room for improvement in hiring, developing and retaining high-quality staff, establishing and maintaining community partnerships, and ongoing improvements to our physical facilities.
As we approach Spring Break, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of our district. By working together, we will ultimately serve the important needs of our number one priority — our students!
Regards,
Dr. Marc Schaffer
Superintendent
Thompson School District