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TCAPS Horizons

11th Annual TC Patriot Game Set for October 21st - Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets to the 11th Annual TC Patriot Game, set for October 21, are available at gofan.co. Tickets will also be available at the gate on game day beginning at 5:30 p.m. All Veterans, active duty and first responders receive free entry to the game and can enter Thirlby Field at the 13th Street rolling gate or through the 14th Street main entry.

The TC Patriot Game takes the annual football clash between the TC West Titans and TC Central Trojans and combines a focus to honor Veterans, first responders, active-duty military, and area heroes who have sacrificed their lives while serving our country. Each year, Student Senate members from both schools determine a beneficiary of the event. Proceeds from this year's t-shirt sales will support Mid-Michigan Honor Flight whose mission is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their sacrifices.

This year, Trojan supporters will wear red shirts while supporters of the Titans will wear navy blue. The minimum shirt donation is $10. Shirts were sold at the high schools this week and any remaining commemorative t-shirts will be sold at the game.

TCAPS highly recommends purchasing tickets in advance at www.GoFan.co. On game day, there will be three separate lines on the 13th and 14th St. entrances; one for pre-purchased through GoFan, one for those paying in cash, and one for those paying by card.

For more information, visit www.tcaps.net/tcpatriotgame or contact the TC Central Athletic Office at 231.933.6575.

Teen Driver Parental Toolkit

Traffic safety advocates across the country are working to encourage parents and their teens to talk about the importance of safe driving during National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16-22, 2022. This week, and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and even as a passenger. With the help of involved parents, teens can become safer, smarter drivers. Teen drivers with actively involved parents are half as likely to be involved in a crash. To help parents manage their teens’ driving and keep them safe, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) has created a Parent Toolkit and video. Please review this material with your teen driver.

Inclement Weather Alerts & School Closures

Inclement Weather

Winter is coming! Families of TCAPS students will be notified of inclement weather school closures through news media, email, and if opted-in, a district text message. Announcements will also be posted to the TCAPS website, social media, and bus hotline. The determination is typically made by 5:00 a.m., if possible, and by 6:00 a.m. at the latest.

If you do not already receive texts, you can opt-in at any time by texting the word YES to 87569, using the phone number that is already on file with the school. If your cell phone number is not on file with the school and added to your child's account, you will not be able to receive text messages. Texting is limited to contact numbers tied to the district’s staff and student databases, and therefore is not available to the general public. At any time, families may also call the Bus Hotline at 231.933.1955 to hear a daily message with information about school closures or transportation delays. For additional information about inclement weather closures, alerts, and snow day FAQs, visit www.tcaps.net/alerts.

TCAPS Food Service Reminders

Did you know?

  • TCAPS Food and Nutrition Services offers a meatless meal option everyday in every building.
  • Every lunch comes with a salad bar with multiple fruit and vegetable offerings. Our high schools also offer a hot vegetable bar.
  • TCAPS offers breakfast at every building. This is to ensure children are fed a nutritious breakfast each morning so they can focus on their learning.
  • TCAPS has rolled the prices back to the 2019-20 school year prices to keep the meal cost down and help parents with their family finances.
Please join us for a healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch everyday! To learn more about TCAPS Food and Nutrition Services or to view the daily school menus, click here.

Media Center Content Readers

TCAPS is seeking six applicants for volunteer positions for elementary (2), middle school (2), and high school (2) to serve with TCAPS Media Centers as content readers. This position may require extensive independent reading, content evaluation, and group study analysis. In-person meetings will be held at the TCAPS Administration Building. Applicants must be a parent of a current TCAPS student and able to read all levels and length Pre K - Adult. Book topics may include sensitive or controversial topics with or without an academic scope. If more applicants apply than space allows, a lottery drawing will be held. Applicants should submit a letter of interest to Kirsten Morgan at morganki@tcaps.net by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2022. Please include your name and contact information in your letter.

TCAPSLoop

Tech Tip of the Month for Parents from the TCAPS EdTech Loop

Advertisers are able to track your every move through your most personal possession: your phone. For example, the calculator app probably doesn’t need access to your location or photo album! You may not realize it, but many apps like this have access to your personal information. Why? Because your data is an asset for these companies; they can sell it, use it to market to you, or abuse it if they are cyber criminals.

Here is how to find out who is monitoring you with tips to secure the information on your phone. Top 10 iPhone Privacy Settings You Should Enable Right Now.

Share this information with your family to enable these privacy settings on their devices as well.

For more tips on Parenting Digital Kids, check out our Parenting Digital Kids Guide. We are here to share tools and resources to support you in whatever decisions you make about the role of digital devices in your home.

Important Calendar Dates

  • November 1: No school, Regional Training Day
  • November 8: Two hour early release (Virtual learning day for Montessori, Traverse Heights, Westwoods, and Long Lake Elementary Schools)
  • November 23: No school, teacher work day
  • November 24-25: No school, holiday

Superintendent Office Hours

Held Monthly, Open to the Community
Traverse City Area Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. John VanWagoner, will have monthly “office hours”, alternating each month between in person and virtual meetings. In person office hours will be held at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 on the second floor (mezzanine level). Virtual office hours will be held via Google Meet and can be accessed here or by calling +1 707-785-6547‬ and entering PIN: ‪692 435 167‬#. All meetings begin at 5:00 pm. The alternating schedule will be as follows:

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 - Google Meet
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 - Google Meet
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - Google Meet
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 - Google Meet

TCAPS Board of Education Monthly Office Hours - October 27, 2022

The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” in person on October 27, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. The meetings will be located on the mezzanine level (second floor) of the bookstore. TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with the opportunity to talk to a school board trustee. This month, Secretary Josey Ballenger will be attending. Visit www.tcaps.net/board for additional information or to view the full Board schedule.

Upcoming Events:

Fall Music Concerts
Fall band, orchestra, choir, and ensemble concerts are coming up! Check the school calendars below for more information.
Athletics
Cheer on your favorite teams! See the school athletic calendars below for more information.

TCAPS Hiring

Upcoming TCAPS Open Interview Dates

Thursday, October 27, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
(Boardman Administration Building, 412 Webster St.)

TCAPSMedia

TCAPS Media: In Case You Missed It

With so many amazing TCAPS events and performances happening, it's hard to catch them all! So, please enjoy these impressive performances again, if you’ve already seen them, and for the first time, in case you missed it…

Want to see more amazing TCAPS performances, events, and videos? Check out TCAPS Media on YouTube!

This Just In…

Congratulations to TCAPS Montessori toddler program, which received a $1,000 Classroom Improvement Grant from TBA Credit Union!

Montessori Toddler Donation


The Detroit Red Wings recently visited students at Traverse Heights Elementary School while in town for the NHL Prospects Tournament and Red Wings Training Camp.

Red Wings Visit


Congratulations to Traverse City West Middle School's Boys & Girls Cross Country Teams. Both teams are undefeated for the third year in a row!

West Middle School Cross Country


Students from Long Lake Elementary School met their fundraising goal of $20,000 over the last month during their Olympic fundraiser event. On September 29, each class participated in 15 different Olympic events to celebrate their success.

Long Lake Olympics


Students at Eastern Elementary School enjoyed a “Donuts with Grown-ups” event with over 250 parents and grandparents in attendance.

Donuts with Grownups


Traverse City Transportation Association supported students with a personal hygiene product drive!

Bus Drivers supported students


Four Vocal Performance students from MSU visited CHS and WSH with Professor of Voice Mark Rucker and vocal accompanist Sadie Rucker on Monday, October 10 to present their "Cabaret." This is an outreach program from MSU's School of Music meant to inspire high school students to continue to study music in college. After the performance there was time for TCAPS students to sing with the MSU students and ask questions.

MSU Vocal Visit


Student Support Network

Marco’s Pizza Making an Impact
We're so thankful Marco's Pizza selected Central Grade School, Silver Lake Elementary School, and Willow Hill Elementary School to receive support, encouragement, and coupons for free pizza! They've committed to sharing coupons and helping local families! You can share your thanks to our local Marco's Pizza (916 N U.S. 31 S) using #marcosmoments.

Marco's Supporting Schools


Tradehome Shoes Donates to Students in Need
Many, many thanks to Tradehome Shoes General Manager, Joe Wray for surprising TCAPS with 55 pairs of Under Armour tennis shoes for our students in need. Over two days, Tradehome Shoes donated nearly 6,000 pairs of shoes to students across the country. WOW! We are so grateful for this community support.

Tradehome Shoes Donation


Munson Logistics Surprises TCAPS with School Supply Donation
What a lovely surprise it was to meet Diana from Munson Medical Center Logistics! She stopped by with this incredible donation of school supplies, band-aids, tissue, and more! We are so grateful for our community partners that invest in our students! Thank you!

Munson Donation


Old Navy Gives Back
Thank you to Old Navy Traverse City for this wonderful donation of pants, jeans, leggings, and school supplies to TCAPS Student Support Network! We are so grateful to General Manager Sarah Tallent and her entire team for this community support!