Our Community
April 2016 |
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TCAPS Families, Staff and Friends,
It is an honor that highlights the excellence of our high schools at offering rigorous, college level coursework to a wide variety of our students. The recognition is a reflection of our staff who deliver outstanding instruction from the first day a student enters our district, and it is a testament to the amazing work of our entire school system. We also announced this week that East Middle School mathematics teacher, Jane Porath, received an invitation from the President to attend the Teacher of the Year event at the White House. The event recognizes the National Teacher of the Year, State Teachers of the Year and great educators from across the country. She will deservingly be honored on May 3rd, along with our country’s top teachers. These recognitions are national confirmation of what we already know locally; we have fantastic people who make up Traverse City Area Public Schools. The best schools are built by a team of teachers and staff who work tirelessly to impact the lives of students. When great schools and staff are supported by a great community, it’s a combination that cannot be beat. After such impressive achievements by our staff, it seems very fitting that Staff Appreciation Week is just around the corner. The TCAPS Board of Education designates the first week of May each year as a time dedicated to expressing appreciation to our staff for all that they do for our students, families, and the greater community. This year, to help us celebrate, we are asking you to film a short video, 15-seconds or less, starting with the phrase “TCAPS staff are the best because...” Upload your video as a private message to the TCAPS Facebook page and we will use your submissions to create video montages that will be shared with staff and families throughout the week. I filmed a short video as a way to kick-off the Staff Appreciation Week video campaign. You can view it here.
I encourage you to take a few moments to let our staff know why you think they are the best! Sincerely, Paul A. Soma |
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Traverse Heights Elementary School Hosts Earth Day Solar Panel Celebration
Traverse Heights officially cuts ribbon on solar panel project.
TCAPS partnered with representatives from the Michigan Environmental Council and the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities to place solar panels on the roof of Traverse Heights Elementary School. The data collected from the solar panel array, which was installed late last year, will be used in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons. The pilot project was funded entirely through grants from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Traverse City Light and Power, the Hammersley Foundation and the Groundwork Center’s Jenny Payne Solar on Schools Memorial Fund. Additional support was provided by Cornerstone Architects and Nealis Engineering through in-kind contributions.
TCAPS Receives 5th Consecutive 100% Passing Bus Inspection Rating
Each year, the Michigan State Police inspects and rates school buses across the state. For the 5th consecutive year, TCAPS buses have received a 100% passing rating on its bus inspections. The annual inspection ensures that the TCAPS bus fleet is ready to safely transport students to and from school.
TCAPS and the Traverse City Police Department Launch “Lunch with Law Enforcement” Program
Willow Hill Elementary School students enjoy their first lunch with law enforcement.
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) and the Traverse City Police Department (TCPD) have launched a new program called “Lunch with Law Enforcement.” Uniformed officers from the TCPD will visit TCAPS elementary schools to meet and eat lunch with students. The program is designed to help students learn that police officers are approachable and are there to be a friend and resource. The first “Lunch with Law Enforcement” took place at Willow Hill Elementary School on Friday, April 8th. Other TCAPS elementary schools located within the City of Traverse City will also be participating in the program, including: Central Grade School, Eastern Elementary School, TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis, and Traverse Heights Elementary School.
April is Social Host Awareness Month
On March 21, 2016, the TCAPS Board of Education approved a resolution to recognize the month of April as Social Host Awareness Month. Social host awareness is about educating parents and the community about the dangers of hosting activities that allow for underage drinking.
Enrolling Now for TCAPS Summer Adventure Day Camps
TCAPS Summer Adventure Day Camps are available to children ages 3 – 12. The camps offer flexible scheduling options for parents with busy summer schedules. Financial assistance may be available through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for qualifying families. Examples of weekly field trips include: Centre Ice, bowling, beach trips, canoeing, State Theatre, Old Town Playhouse, and more.
To enroll today, visit: www.tcaps.net//summeradventure.
TCAPS Alumni Network Crosstown Campus 10K/5K Run—May 7th
The 3rd annual TCAPS Alumni Association Crosstown Campus Run will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. This year's event includes a 10K run and a new a 5K run/walk. The 10K course will begin at Traverse City West Senior High School (5376 N. Long Lake Rd.) and the 5K run/walk will begin at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis (1009 Oak St.). The Crosstown Campus is a great opportunity for TCAPS alumni, staff, families and the community to come together to enjoy a fun event. You can participate as a runner, volunteer or event sponsor. All proceeds will benefit TCAPS’ Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP), which helps hundreds of area students each year who lack fixed, regular and adequate housing.
Visit www.tcapsalumni.weebly.com to register, volunteer or review a course map.
Traverse City High School to Host the Maverick Minds All Arts Fair—May 11th
On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Traverse City High School (TCHS) will host the Maverick Minds All Arts Fair from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Circuit (225 W. Fourteenth Street). The event is open to students, friends, family, and community members and will feature various mediums of art. Light refreshments will be provided. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted at the door to benefit the TCHS food pantry. The event is a collaboration between TCHS and the 21st Century Community Learning Center.
April Local Harvest of the Month: Frozen Fruits
Local produce can be hard to find in April. Luckily, we have frozen options. The yogurt and fruit parfaits served in our school lunchrooms use locally sourced cherries, blueberries, and strawberries. These are available through Cherry Capital Foods and Goodwill Industries. Many local grocery stores carry Goodwill Industries’ “Farm to Freezer” foods, providing the opportunity to eat locally grown fruits and vegetables year-round. View a list of participating retailers here.
TCAPS Calendar Reminders
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TC West Honors Model United Nations Team Wins 11th Consecutive Best Prepared School
Traverse City West Senior High School Model UN team
Traverse City West Senior High School’s Honors Model United Nations Team won the “Best Prepared High School” Award for the 11th consecutive time at the Mid-American Model United Nations (MAMUN) Conference held on March 15-19, 2016, in Kalamazoo, Mich. The team also won numerous team and individual awards for their strong performance at the competition. A complete list of awards can be found here.
CHS EuroChorale Sings through Europe
Central High School EuroChorale on the way to the airport.
This spring break, students participating in the Central High School EuroChorale trip caroled their way through Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. You can follow along with how their journey unfolded and listen to exceptional music by our student vocalists through videos posted to their Facebook page.
Eastern Elementary School Begins Virtual Trip to Washington, D.C.
Eastern Elementary School students embrace the biking challenge.
Eastern Elementary School and Norte! Youth Cycling are teaming up to send students on a virtual walking/biking tour to Washington, D.C. Beginning on April 4, 2016, and running through the remainder of the school year, students and staff will be logging the number of miles they’ve walked, biked or rolled to school (or the bus stop). Each Friday, the week’s mileage to and from school will be tallied toward the goal of reaching 874 miles, or the length of a trip to Washington, D.C., via U.S. Bicycle Route 50. The goal of the virtual trip is to encourage walking/biking to school and to demonstrate that even walking a short distance to school can have a big impact when combined with the efforts of others. More information here.
TC West Alum Honored with U of M Heath System Distinguished Service Award
TC West alum Patrick Kiessling honored with Distinguished Service Award.
Traverse City West Senior High School graduate (Class of 2013), Patrick Kiessling, has received the University of Michigan Health System Volunteer Services Distinguished Service Award. "I love volunteering in the PICU at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. As one of the truly formative experiences in my undergraduate career, the Child Life Department has deeply impacted me and continues to do so every week during my shift," said Kiessling. Patrick’s achievements are a perfect example of the TCAPS learner outcomes of self-motivation, strong communication skills, being a community contributor and learning from experiences. Congratulations Patrick!
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Hosting an International Exchange Student
Hosting an exchange student provides a rewarding learning experience for all involved.
Have you ever thought it might be fun to be an ambassador for our region and country without ever leaving home? Have you ever wanted to share your family traditions, culture and language with someone from another country? Have you ever considered how your child’s ability to learn, adapt, live and work well in our global economy and society could be enhanced by having a global experience right here at home? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can join hundreds of members of our local community who have experienced just how rewarding providing a second home for a TCAPS international student can be. Being a host family allows you to broaden your horizons and become friends, parents and mentors of a student who grew up in a different country, speaks a different language, and has different cultural views and expectations. Community members who have opened their hearts and homes to students from all over the world can take pride in knowing that they have helpd these young men and women achieve their dreams. We hope that you will consider hosting a student too.
Contact Joe Thiel at 231-933-1766 or thieljo@tcaps.net to begin the application process, meet current students/families, or to request more information about this opportunity. Monthly reimbursements to help cover the costs associated with supporting an international student are also available.
Toddler Program at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis
The toddler program at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis provides a joyful environment for young learners.
The Montessori Method is an approach to help children become more independent and develop the ability to be helpful participants in their learning community.
The Toddler Montessori Program at Traverse City Area Public Schools is designed for children ages 18-36 months. As with any other Montessori classroom, it is a child-directed, child-centered environment. Activities in the toddler program are designed to nurture and empower each individual child.
“In a Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to choose their own activity. Even as young as 18 months, a Montessori student is free to make decisions with only the amount of help that they need to succeed,” said Linda Gilson, Toddler Directress at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis. “Children are encouraged to care for themselves and to make mistakes, as we humans tend to do, and to learn from those mistakes and try again.”
Learning materials are carefully selected to meet the individual needs of each child. Children are free to move around the classroom and select a particular activity that is of interest to them. It is expected that children will use the materials carefully and respectfully. In Montessori this is referred to as “freedom within limits,” which means that once children know what is expected of their behavior and have a set of guidelines, they are free to explore and use materials in an original and creative way.
“A Montessori toddler classroom is truly an amazing place. Toddlers are moving purposefully around the classroom, taking care of themselves and their environment, and making decisions about their day. In a Montessori school the toddler program is truly the place where it all begins,” said Gilson.
For more information on the Montessori Toddler Program at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis, please call 231-933-5608.
Traverse City High School Teacher Gives Back through Mighty Mac Swim
TCAPS alum and Traverse City High School teacher Shea Williams
Shea Williams, a teacher at Traverse City High School, is training for the “Mighty Mac” Swim. It is an open water race from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City that raises money for Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. Williams is a TCAPS alum who swam for the high school team for four years (2006-2010). She went on to swim in college and has spent the last six months getting back in the water to train for this race. Her goal is to raise $5,000. The event is scheduled for September 5, 2016, and is Habitat for Humanity of Michigan’s largest fundraiser, with the swim contributing over $431,000 last year alone. Learn more about her journey across the Straits of Mackinac here. More event information is available at: www.mightymacswim.com. |
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Milk Crate Basketball Helps Students Get a Leg Up
Milk Crate Basketball founder Rod Call is TCAPS' newest Partner In Education.
Let us introduce you to our newest Partner In Education, Milk Crate Basketball. Last year, founder Rod Call had an idea. Based on his childhood experiences, a personal desire to give back and learning of the growing need for athletic financial support, he wanted to create a way to support kids who may be experiencing hardships as he did. In October of 2015, Milk Crate Basketball was formed and is growing rapidly.
So what is it? Milk Crate Basketball is a local nonprofit organization that gives kids an “assist” with resources to play and enjoy the game of basketball. This past January, Rod approached TCAPS’ Learning, Enrichment, and Athletic Program (LEAP) Director Janna Deering to see how Milk Crate Basketball could support the program. Most of the basketball seasons had already finished, or were currently in-season, but there was still 2nd and 3rd grade boys' basketball which began this month.
“Of course, it's interesting how the universe works. As I think back to those days of playing milk crate basketball in that trailer park, I was probably about that same age. So it's only fitting that this is where it all begins,” said Call. “Janna and I put a process in place to identify kids who may need an assist. Anything from entry fees to equipment. Just last year, there were more than 70 boys in the 2nd and 3rd grade alone who qualified for lower participation fees based on their household situations. We’re just glad to help.”
For more information, visit www.milkcratebasketball.org or email Rod at Rod@milkcratebasketball.org.
TCAPS Partner In Education Program: An opportunity to support schools, teachers, programs, teams and clubs!
The TCAPS Partner In Education (PIE) program works to connect community members, businesses and organizations to our schools through sponsorships, financial contributions, in-kind donations or givebacks. Your sponsorship or donation can benefit the school, teacher, program, team or club of your choice. Sponsor space is available at all TCAPS schools, Thirlby Field stadium and electronically via our e-newsletter. Contact Karyn Hertel at 231.933.5654 | hertelka@tcaps.net or visit www.tcaps.net/PIE to learn more.
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In This Issue
Partner in Education
Opportunities
Copyright (c) 2016
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Contact Us: info@tcaps.net