For New or Prospective Parents
THOMSON ELEMENTARY FROM A TO Z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Academics: Thomson has a very strong academic focus. We begin pre-literacy activities in Head Start and pre-kindergarten. We follow the DCPS standards for all grades and all subjects.
Accessibility: Thomson has elevators and is fully accessible for wheelchairs.
After School Program: Thomson participates in DCPS’ AfterSchool for All Program.
Art: Thomson has a full-time art teacher. Every child has art instruction at least once a week and some classes have it twice a week. Thomson has an ongoing partnership with the National Museum for Women in the Arts and is working on establishing programs with other museums as well.
Breakfast: Is free for all students and is available from 8:15-8:45 AM.
Business Partners: Thomson partners with more than a dozen businesses and organizations in our neighborhood. For example, one company provides math tutoring and has purchased winter coats for students in need.
Chinese Language Program: Chinese language instruction is offered for all children in pre-k through fourth grade. Our Chinese language instructors are native speakers.
Diversity: At Thomson, diversity is honored and celebrated. Among our yearly celebrations are Hispanic Heritage, Black History, and Asian Heritage. Our students and our faculty are both very diverse.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Children who are eating breakfast can be dropped off at the school at 8:15 AM. Other students can be dropped off at 8:30 AM. We encourage parents to use public transportation to bring their children to school as there is limited parking around the school.
Embassy Program: The sixth grade participates in the Embassy Adoption Program. In 2005-2006 Thomson was partnered with Norway; in 2006-2007 we partnered with The People’s Republic of China; in 2007-2008 we partnered with the Embassy of Turkey.
English-As-A-Second Language (ESL): About 60 percent of the students enrolled at Thomson do not speak English as their first language. These students receive special instruction in the English language and receive additional help learning to read with a specially trained ESL teacher. Thomson currently has an ESL instructor for each grade.
Everybody Wins Reading Program: Thomson is a regular participant in Everybody Wins, a program aimed at providing reading mentors to all students in grades two through six. Any student who is interested may participate in the program. Each student is assigned a mentor who reads with him or her during the student’s lunch hour one day a week.
Field Trips: Each class goes on at least two field trips a year. Teachers plan field trips for their class. Parents often are asked to contribute to cover the cost of the field trip. Parents are encouraged to go on field trips with their children. Permission slips are required for any child to attend a field trip.
Hours: School hours for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade are from 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.
International Baccalaureate Primary Year Program (IBPYP): Thomson is currently preparing to implement the IBPYP program. Teachers began training and planning for the program during the summers of 2006 and 2007. We are awaiting approval of our application to offer the IBPYP program.
Lunch: Your child may purchase or bring lunch. Lunch costs $1.35 and can be paid in advance. If your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, forms will be sent home at the beginning of the year. Lunch menus are sent home monthly and also may be obtained from the DCPS web site http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/home.html.
Music: Thomson has a full-time music teacher. Each child receives music instruction once or twice a week. Beginning in third grade students receive instruction on how to play the recorder and the keyboard in our Keyboard Lab (which has 12 electronic keyboards). Thomson also participates in Arts Access which brings performing artists to Thomson regularly. Thomson has a school chorus for students in grades 4 through 6. Fourth graders also participate in a special opera program each year with the Kennedy Center.
Out of Boundary Lottery: Students who are out-of-boundary for Thomson must apply to attend the school through the out-of-boundary process. Siblings of current students also must apply through the out-of-boundary process. Since many families apply to multiple schools, children who do not receive a space through the lottery at first may do so later if a selected family chooses not to attend. You should check back regularly to see if any spaces have opened up.
PTA Meetings: Thomson has an active PTA. Meetings are held every month. Meetings provide an opportunity for parents to learn about school issues and events.
Physical Education: Thomson has a full-time physical education teacher and a beautiful gym. When weather permits, students may have physical education on the rooftop play area.
Reading: Thomson has a full-time Literacy Coach who identifies struggling readers and works with classroom and ESL teachers to develop a plan so that each child can make consistent progress toward reading on grade level.
Recess: Weather permitting, students go outside for recess every day. Thomson has covered outdoor play areas throughout the school.
State of the Art: Each classroom has several Macs with internet access. Each teacher has a Mac laptop. Thomson also has a computer lab.
Teachers: The teachers at Thomson are highly qualified and work very hard to make sure that every student is reaching his or her potential.
Uniforms: Thomson’s uniform is a white shirt with gray pants, jumper or skirt. A burgundy sweater or tie is optional. There is no specific requirement for shoes, but no black-bottomed tennis shoes are allowed in the gym. Students are expected to wear their uniforms everyday.
Values: Thomson uses the Values First! Program. Students take a values pledge, promising to practice values including honesty, respect, tolerance and responsibility. Each month of the school year is dedicated to one of the values. Thomson students also pledge to never touch a gun or take drugs.
