For all information related to the Thoreau Middle School PTA, please visit our website.

In this Issue:  

• 2024 CrossTown Hoops Info & Reminders
• Call for volunteers to help plan the 8th Grade End of Year Event
• Looking for 2024-2025 Thoreau PTA Officers
• Rising Freshmen - Activities Fair on March 15th & Fall 2024 Sports Reminder
• Welcome to our Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors:  Sun Radia & Navy Federal Credit Union
• Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors - Support extended through 2024-2025 school year
• News from our local high schools - Info for Rising Freshmen,  Madison Bridges Program and Summer Sports Camps 

Lots of great info - check it out!

Thoreau Families - We Appreciate YOU! Thank you for supporting our Dining for Dollars events so far this year - every dollar that Thoreau earns is used to support programs that benefit our school and your students.

CrossTown Hoops Reminders:

Concessions & Schedule

The 2024 CrossTown Hoops event is only one week away!  Our Thoreau basketball teams will square off against Kilmer next Wednesday, March 13th at James Madison High School.  Please see the following for important information you will need for the event.

CONCESSIONS:

Concessions at the CrossTown Hoops game will be CASH ONLY.  There will be water, pretzels, cookies and candy bars for sale so make sure your student brings cash.

TICKET CHECK-IN:

Barcode with original e-mail confirmation is required for check-in at the game.  No tickets will be sold at the door and tickets purchased on the Kilmer MS Crosstown Hoops link will not be valid for Thoreau students.

Looking for 8th Grade End of Year Event Planning Committee We are looking for volunteers to help plan this year's 8th grade End of Year event.  This planning committee will be working with Thoreau administration to put together a fun and exciting event to help our 8th graders celebrate the end of their middle school adventure. You will have plenty of support from the administration, the PTA, as well as amazing notes and information from last year's committee.   Please join us as we prepare to send our 8th graders off to high school! E-mail Gayle Schlueter (gschlueter5@gmail.com) if you are interested!

Call for 2024-2025 PTA Officers We are looking for parents who would be interested in serving on the Thoreau PTA Board for the 2024-2025 school year in the following positions: President Vice President Secretary Treasurer This is a wonderful opportunity to work with Thoreau administration and help support our amazing students, families, and Thoreau community.  The outgoing board will provide plenty of support to help make the transition as easy as possible for our new board members.   If you are interested and/or would like to learn more about the available board positions, please e-mail Melanie Nunez (melanie.a.nunez@gmail.com).

Rising Freshmen - Activity Fair Information

Our 8^th graders will be going to Madison, Marshall and Oakton High Schools on Friday, March 15^th, for their annual activity fair. Almost all 8^th grade teachers and counselors will be assigned as chaperones for the trip. Students will be bused over to the high schools around 9:45am.

• Madison students (around 375 students) will return to Thoreau around 11:45am, eat lunch, and then be sent to 9th period
• Oakton students (around 200) will return to Thoreau around 11:45am, eat lunch, and then be sent to 9^th period
• Marshall students (around 25) will return around 12:45pm and will be sent directly to their 9^th period class because they will have already eaten lunch while visiting Marshall

All of this information & more can be found on the student field trip permission slips that were handed out to students last week (February 14th) in their science classes. Parents/guardians please be on the lookout for these permission slips because they are due back to your child’s science teacher no later than Friday March 8^th. If a student fails to hand in their signed permission slip, they will not be allowed to attend the field trip.

If your child is scheduled to attend a high school other than Madison, Marshall or Oakton, please reach out to your child’s counselor!

More Info for Rising Freshmen - Fall 2024 Sports Tryouts For those rising freshmen interested in participating in Fall Sports at your high school, please know that tryouts will take place during the first week of August, and practices start right afterwards.  This means, plan your vacations for June and July, just to be safe! Your students will get more information at their respective Activities Fairs on March 15th.  We just wanted to give you a heads up!

Welcome Sun Radia and Navy Federal Credit Union as Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors

We would like to recognize both Sun Radia (http://www.sunradia.com/) and Navy Federal Credit Union (https://www.navyfederal.org/) as our new Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors!  Thank you for your support!

You can link to their businesses by clicking on their logos at the end of this newsletter.

Update to Thoreau PTA Business Sponsorships - Your Support will be extended through 2025! This year, the Thoreau PTA is inviting local businesses to partner with the school to help create a welcoming and accessible community by offering programs, activities, and financial support.  We introduced Business Sponsorships for $250 for the 2023-2024 school year.  We would like to extend these Business Sponsorships through the 2024-2025 school year for the same price.  Now, Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors will be recognized for $250 from Fall 2023 through June 2025! As a TMS PTA Sponsor, businesses can showcase their support to families of more than 1200 students by having their company logo on the PTA website and in the PTA's e-mail newsletters distributed weekly throughout the school year. The Thoreau Middle School PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and 100% of sponsorship proceeds will directly benefit the students and staff of Thoreau Middle School. All donations are tax-deductible and letters for tax purposes will be sent out at the end of the calendar year. Your support matters! Together, we can create a strong and vibrant community that will make a difference in our children’s lives. Thank you for your consideration! Interested?  Click here to join us today in making a difference at Thoreau.

Get your Thoreau Spiritwear! Looking for Thoreau swag?  We have extra spiritwear items that you may purchase right now!  There are hoodies, long/short sleeve t-shirts, sweat pants, flannel pants, baseball caps, and beanies!  This is a great time to stock up! E-mail Nindy Gill (nindygill@gmail.com) for availability and purchase instructions.   Thank you for your support!

Thank you for your support! Thank you to everyone who has joined the PTA and also donated to our No-Fuss Fundraiser!  We are so appreciative of your generosity and support.  Thank you for supporting the PTA and our Thoreau community! It is not too late to join the PTA or contribute to our No-Fuss Fundraiser - see below!

How You Can Get Involved

We appreciate your support and dedication to our students, teachers, staff, and Thoreau community!  Please see below for how you can get involved and help support our Thoreau PTA.

Join the PTA Please consider joining our Thoreau PTA.  Memberships are $15 for one adult and $25 for a family membership for two adults. Anyone can be a member - teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.  Memberships are tax-deductible.

Volunteer to help with Events Are you interested in volunteering with the Thoreau PTA?  There are plenty of opportunities to help with staff appreciation events, social events such as Crosstown Hoops, our grade level events, and so much more.  Please fill out this form to let us know!

Support our NO FUSS Fundraiser During the pandemic, many Thoreau PTA events and programs were put on pause.  The budget remained stable despite minimal fundraising.  As a result, the Covid cushion is now almost gone, so please consider donating to our NO-FUSS Fundraiser!   We would appreciate a one-time donation of $50 per family, but are thrilled to receive any and all contributions. Donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of your contribution goes directly back to supporting our Thoreau Middle School students and staff.  Your donations will help the PTA support our community throughout the 2023-2024 school year.  Among other things, our Thoreau PTA: Organizes appreciation events for our teachers and staff regularly, such as pies at Thanksgiving and cookies before Winter Break Coordinates special events such as the 7th Grade Fall Social and 8th Grade End of Year Party Grants financial support to teachers and staff for classroom or program needs

Special Education Resources

Did you know that our PTA website has a page dedicated to Special Education resources?  Please visit our website for more information on offerings in our area. 

Madison High School News

Rising Freshman Information

JMHS Student Services has a Google site for students and families to access more information about Academic Advising, including curriculum overview, graduation requirements, summer school information, Dual Enrollment, and more. 

Use this link to access the Rising Freshman Curriculum Night 2024 slides.  

Madison Bridges Program for Rising Freshmen

The program will be held at Madison High School during two separate weeks:  July 22-26 and July 29-August 2.  The program will be from 8:30am- 11:30am each morning (lunch will not be provided).  Students should only sign up for one session.  The cost is $100.  Scholarships are available in cases of financial hardship (contact TJ Anderson directly to inquire at tanderson@fcps.edu). 

For more information and to register, please click here.  

JMHS Warhawk Summer Camps

James Madison High School is offering a variety of sports camps this summer.  For more information and how to register, please click here.  

Oakton High School News

Rising Freshman Information

You can find information about Oakton High School classes, explained by our teachers, through our course offerings website. Additional information can be found on our academic advising and course offerings page.  

Please click here for the Curriculum Night Presentation (held on January 3, 2024).  

The Oakton Pantry

The Oakton Pantry is available to any Oakton student or neighbor who is in need. We stock non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and household supplies. 

For assistance: ohsfood@gmail.com 

Volunteer/Questions: oaktonpantry@gmail.com

Donate via PayPal

Most needed items: website

Amazon Wish List 

Marshall High School News

Rising Freshmen Information

Please visit Marshall High School's Academics page for information about what is offered at Marshall.  

Thank You Thoreau PTA Business Sponsors

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