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Thompson Middle School welcomed students back from summer break and opened its doors for the official start to the school year on Aug. 8. (Reporter photos/Noah Wortham)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Thompson Middle School saw a variety of improvement over the summer that were completed in time for the arrival of students during a successful start to the 2024-2025 school year.

TMS welcomed students back from summer break and opened its doors for the official start to the school year on Aug. 8.

“The start of the school year is so exciting,” Principal Neely Woodley said. “I love being here with the kids. We missed them over the summer, and I’m so excited to be able to show off all the new things that we’ve been able to do to the building this summer.”

Woodley expressed her gratitude to the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers for the slew of improvements that TMS saw over the course of the summer which included a restriped parking lot, a new intercom and bill system and renovations to the Warrior Center.

“The Warrior Center is part of Thompson Middle School and they got complete renovations this summer (with) new ceiling tiles, new floor tiles, new paint and it looks beautiful.”

During the first day of school, teachers and staff assisted the newest members of the TMS family—the sixth graders—and helped to familiarize them with their new home and environment.

“The first day at middle school—you’re nervous and excited all at the same time,” Woodley said. “The students have to find their way around the building, find their classes but they’re also excited for the first day of school. So, they’ve done a great job today. Everybody is learning which way to go and finding their directions. It’s been a great day.”

In discussing the time the students spend at TMS, Woodley highlighted how middle school grants students an opportunity to try out a plethora of activities and experiences that the school offers.

“Middle school is an opportunity for students to grow and learn,” Woodley said. “One of our strengths is that we offer a variety of activities for our students and so, I want to help our students in any way that we can—academically, socially, emotionally—and want them to be involved in an extra club or activity outside of school.”

In order to ensure that students continue to develop and mature on their educational journey, the teachers at TMS have been engaging in various resources to improve their teaching skills.

“We had several trainings over the summer for all of our teachers, (including) planning days, getting their scope and sequence (and) making sure they had all their materials ready,” Woodley said

In speaking on the motivations of the teachers and staff through the school year, Woodley emphasized the school’s goal to make sure that each student’s time at TMS is a “meaningful experience.”

“We want everything we do at Thompson Middle School to be meaningful,” Woodley said. “We really want to pour into our students and make sure everything we’re doing for them is a meaningful experience.”

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