LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thankful for community support at Thompson – newportri.com

Thankful for community support at Thompson

Tis the season to be...THANKFUL! And already this year, fifth grade teachers and students at Thompson Middle School have a lot to be grateful for. Our school year has gotten off to a terrific start and I'd like to thank a few people and organizations that were a big reason behind this.

First off I'd like to thank Bridget Kubis and Jess Bornstein, from Save the Bay, for making the Marine Science Cruises happen for our students. So many of them expressed it as being the "best day ever." It truly was a valuable, educational and FUN experience! It was amazing that you were able to get all eight of our classes out on the bay, and even Mother Nature cooperated, with her abundant sunshine and warm temperatures.

Next in line are the folks at Seamen's Institute. Thank you to Ann Souder and Tara Gnolfo for allowing us to visit the Discovery Deck and utilize space for our other stations as part of our field trip. One of our stations was a presentation with live lobsters done by Aimee Falso and her staff at Fish' N Tales. Thank you for sharing some fascinating facts about lobsters that none of us knew. Climbing aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry was a huge hit with our students and was made possible by Bob Glover and the crew. Thank you!

Clean Ocean Access, with Eva Touhey and Max Kraimer at the helm, provided our students with valuable information about how pollution enters our bay and other waterways. The watershed demonstration was an eye opener! Newport Harbor is so lucky to have a trash skimmer in its bay to help keep it and its creatures healthy. Special thank you to Clean Ocean Access as well for the materials to create our awesome compost signs that were on display at the Broadway Fair, and now adorn the lawns of many Aquidneck Island families. We look forward to continuing to grow our knowledge about composting with Lauren Dixon and COA this year.

Our Active Service and Veterans Day assembly was such a tribute to the families at TMS who sacrifice so much for our country. Thanks to all of our honored guests for attending, as well as Marvin Abney our speaker, and the TMS Advanced Band for the music. Special thanks to Allie Nekrasz and June McGreavy for putting together the wreaths. We truly appreciate the front page coverage of the Newport Daily News, as well as the shout out from Newport this Week. Celebrating the positive things that happen daily in Newport Public Schools is so important and your papers help us shine.

Thank you also to the TMS PTO for sponsoring the Chris Poulos assembly, as well as all of the other support and enrichment that they provide to the teachers and students at TMS. We are lucky to have so many families and businesses in Newport that help support students in our schools.

Last but not least, thank you to the entire fifth grade team of teachers for their flexibility and support to allow schedule changes to their day so that all of these worthwhile things can happen. Students in Newport are lucky to have you!

Melissa A. Turner, Newport

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thankful for community support at Thompson - newportri.com