May 20, 2020
ALMOST END OF YEAR UPDATE
Remaining school meal pick-up dates: Tuesday, May 26th and Monday, June 1
Elementary
High School
Seniors
o -All textbooks, supplies, and technology must be returned to the high school gym. The gym will be set up with tables for each of their teachers. Please put items to be returned on the table or fees will be assessed for non-returned items. Diplomas and transcripts will not be released until fees are paid.
o -All assignments must be turned in by May 27th. Seniors must pass all required classes to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Freshman – Juniors
Other reminders
May 19th, 2020
RE: COMMENCEMENT - THOMPSON FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
The Board of Trustees will allow a graduation ceremony at Previs Field for the Class of 2020, Social distancing (a minimum of six feet) between participants, spectators, and staff/volunteers must be maintained before, during, and after the ceremony. The use of masks by everyone in attendance is strongly encouraged. It will not be possible to move the ceremony indoors, so please prepare for the weather.
Graduates will be allowed to invite two people to attend the ceremony on the football field. Any additional guests will be required to remain in a vehicle parked on the track.
Please be respectful of the established rules as they are intended to keep the graduates, families, staff, and community safe.
SCHEDULE/LOGISTICS Senior Check-Out: May 26th or 27th - 8:00-10:00am and 1:00-3:00pm
-All textbooks, supplies, and technology must be returned. Fees will be assessed for non-returned items. Diplomas and transcripts will not be released until fees are paid.
-All assignments must be turned in by May 27th. Seniors must pass all required classes to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Graduation Practice: May 27th - 9:00am - 11:00am
-Students should meet in the high school parking lot. Remember that social distancing applies and masks are encouraged. A pick-up lunch from Minnie's will be available for graduates at the conclusion of the practice. Attendance is required in order to participate in the ceremony.
Commencement Ceremony: May 31st - 3:00pm
-A number will be assigned to each graduate by a random lottery drawing during graduation practice. The number will correspond to the designated parking space for the guest vehicle and the assigned seating area.
-Graduates should arrive between 2:00-2:30 pm at the lower gate to the football field in the same vehicle as the two guests that will be seated on the football field. Parking for these vehicles will be on the practice field. Please avoid the flags/cones as they mark sprinkler heads.
-Two guests may be seated in the assigned area for the graduate (chairs will be provided; volunteers will let you know when to take your seats in the assigned space).
-All other spectators must arrive and remain in the guest vehicle. Guest vehicles should arrive between 2:15-2:45 pm. Only one guest vehicle per graduate is allowed.
-At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates and their seated guests will return to their vehicle for a procession led by Officer Robert Thornhill. Please turn on your headlights and hazard lights (flashing) and follow the car in front of you. Guest vehicles must remain parked until all graduate vehicles have left the field.
-Staff/volunteers will be on-site to direct traffic and maintain social distancing during the ceremony. Please follow their guidance.
Diploma/Final Transcript: June 1st-9:00am to noon
-Graduates will need to return graduation gowns, stoles, and NHS collars to the high school between 9:00 am and noon. Graduates may keep their caps, tassels, and honor cords. They will receive their diploma and final transcript at that time.
We have made every effort to make sure that our graduating class has a memorable ceremony while following local and national COVID-19 guidelines. Thank you for understanding. If you have questions about the logistics of the ceremony, please contact the high school office at 827-3561 on or before May 26th to discuss the issue. No exceptions to the ceremony guidelines will be made on the day of the ceremony.
Respectfully,
Rich Ferris, Principal
Keeping an open and honest dialogue between our school district and the community is very important to us and a necessity to ensure the continued success of Thompson Falls Schools. The goal of our "Heard Around Town" page is to respond to misconceptions in the community about our school district. If you have heard something about Thompson Falls Schools that you would like to clarify or need more information about, click HERE to submit and an answer will be provided below. This page will be updated as often as possible with new submissions being added to the top.
Heard Around Town: Has a new High School Principal been hired?
Response: Mr. Dan Schrock was chosen as the High School Principal at the School Board Meeting on Monday, April 28.
Heard Around Town: Will Thompson Falls Schools re-open for on-site learning this school year?
Response: The school board is currently seeking input from parents, staff and community members and will vote on the matter of re-opening at an emergency meeting on Tuesday, April 28th. Update: School will remain closed, with off-site learning, through the rest of the school year.
Heard Around Town: Has a new superintendent been hired?
Response: Mr. Bud Scully was chosen from among 3 interviewing candidates. He was offered a contract and has accepted. The Board of Trustees will vote on his official hiring at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 28th.
Heard Around Town: With other Montana schools starting to close, at what point is that something that may/may not occur here?
Response: The Governor has ordered all schools close from March 16th through March 27th. You can find more information under the SCHOOL CLOSURE notice at www.thompsonfalls.net
Heard Around Town: Has the District chosen a new interim Superintendent?
Response: Yes, Mr. Michael Magone has been chosen as an interim Superintendent for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Mr. Magone retired in 2017 after 20 years of Superintendent experience. He has also worked in a wide variety of other areas in education.
Heard Around Town: Did Superintendent Cain pass away?
Response: It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share with you the passing of our Superintendent William Cain. We are working to ensure the day-to-day business of the district continues to run smoothly.
We have started the process of finding an interim Superintendent and will be working with the Montana School Board Association to find a full-time Superintendent.
The School Board will be holding a meeting Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 6:00p.m.
Heard Around Town: What's going on with the football field?
Response: Over the summer we had to make some adjustments to our football stadium because of the dangerous condition of the recently removed bleachers. The bleachers were structurally unsound and needed to be removed. Replacement costs for new bleachers is very expensive, so we moved bleachers from the softball field over to the football field as a temporary replacement. There will be bleachers at the football field. There is electricity for the lights and outbuildings at the stadium as well. We could not continue to allow spectators in the stands, at the high school field, in the condition the bleachers were in. It presented an unnecessary safety risk to spectators.
Heard Around Town: Is it true that there will be some new teachers this year?
Response: Yes! There will be a few new staff members at Thompson Falls Schools for the 2019-20 school year. New staff include: Amber Yates - Kindergarten, Kimberly Milnor - 2nd Grade, Kim Lakko - 5th-8th Grade Special Education, Neil Harbel - 5th - 12th Music, Jessica Lewis - 6th Grade, Jeri Walker - High School English, Bill McGuire - High School Shop and Scott McKenzie - Technology Coordinator
Heard Around Town: Will some teachers be teaching different grade levels this year?
Response: Yes! Sierra Lilly will be teaching 3rd Grade, Cory Kump will be teaching 5th Grade, Jase Miller will be teaching 7th & 8th Grade Math and Danice Toyias will be teaching 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies. Doree Thilmony will be teaching science full time, which will include some classes for Junior High students.
The tragedy in Florida rekindled the national debate on gun laws and school safety. In 2013, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Thompson Falls School District’s School Board and administration established school safety as our number one goal and declared the environment our top priority. Some of the actions taken by the District since that time are shown below. These are a few of the items made possible with input from Thompson Falls School District staff, law enforcement, emergency services, and professional state organizations since 2013.
The safety and well-being of the people in our schools and community is everyone’s responsibility. This is our town, our school, and these are our challenges. School and community safety is a multifaceted issue that presents a variety of challenges including mental health, staff training, law enforcement, facility improvements, and emergency response personnel. Our greatest resource is the people in our school and community that work together to find solutions and be positive. We are thankful to all those who dedicate their time and talents to public service. Many opportunities exist in Thompson Falls including; ambulance, firefighters, and search and rescue. The schools are fortunate to have access to support personnel onsite including administrators, school counselors, CSCT therapists, school psychologist, and an S.R.O.
We encourage people to report potential concerns or suspicious behaviors to law enforcement and school officials. Information that is received is investigated in a professional manner. If you have an idea about school safety you would like to share please contact our school administration and/or S.R.O. The District will continue to work on school safety and providing a great environment for our students.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCHOOL TO REMAIN CLOSED BY SCHOOL BOARD DECISION
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 8th Grade Promotion Parade
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Handoff Day
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCHOOL TO REMAIN CLOSED BY SCHOOL BOARD DECISION
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Facilities Committee Meeting
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCHOOL TO REMAIN CLOSED BY SCHOOL BOARD DECISION
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Cancelled: SAT @ TFHS
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Cancelled: ACT @ TFHS
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM ACT @ TFHS
