TCAPS will administer the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) in February for all current 3rd grade students interested in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program next school year. Students identified through the process are invited to attend the TAG magnet school located at Central Grade School. The registration deadline is Thursday, January 23, 2020. TCAPS’ TAG program provides a learning community where each student is surrounded by a peer group of academically talented and gifted learners throughout the day. The TAG program provides essential peer stimuli allowing children to learn and share their ideas as well as enhance their emotional growth. Admission to TAG is based on CogAT test scores and NWEA scores, in addition to teacher input. CogAT testing will take place at each elementary school from February 3rd - February 14th, 2020. To register and view an informational video, please visit: www.tcaps.net/TAG. You will receive separate communication from your homeschool with information regarding testing dates and times. CogAT testing for Non-TCAPS 3rd grade students will take place at the location of your choice. To register a 3rd grade non-TCAPS student for testing, contact Kimberly Bails in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at 231.933.1779.

Eastern Elementary School will host its annual “Eastern All-Star Carnival” on Friday, January 31, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the school (1600 Eastern Avenue). The all-school event is a fundraiser to benefit the annual fifth grade end-of-the-year field trip and the Eastern Elementary PTO. The event will include a bounce house, carnival games and hair salon. The purchase of a wristband buys unlimited access to all carnival games and activities. 1-2 wristbands ($10 each), 3-4 wristbands ($9 each), or $40 per family. Food and concessions will also be available for purchase. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The event is open to the public and the community is welcome to attend.

Students from Traverse City East Middle School interviewed their fellow students as part of a new exhibit by local photographer, Alan Newton, called “The Other Traverse City: Vaping…the New Addiction.” East Middle School students provided their perspectives about vaping for the exhibit, which explores questions such as “What are the risks of vaping?” and “Why is vaping more dangerous for school age youth?” The exhibit will be on display at City Opera House (106 E. Front Street) from January 6-31, 2020, and is available for public viewing Monday-Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

TCAPS is pleased to announce the opportunity for families to enroll in the Young Fives kindergarten program at Courtade Elementary School, Eastern Elementary School, Long Lake Elementary School and Silver Lake Elementary School for the 2020-21 school year. The Young Fives program is for young learners turning five years old with late birth dates (between July 1 and December 1). The program is designed to provide younger children additional time to develop their abilities and skills prior to entering kindergarten the following year. Young Fives is a five day, full day program and is provided at no cost. Students are eligible for transportation if they live within the boundary area of the school they are attending. Students will receive math, reading and writing instruction daily and science and social studies instruction regularly. Music, art, and physical education are also a part of the program. Curriculum materials are different than what will be used in kindergarten, but follow Michigan kindergarten standards. Teachers spend additional time teaching lessons and focus on supporting the developmental needs of each child to help prepare students for success the following school year. In addition, time for play is also built into the program. A minimum of 20 students are required to be enrolled at the individual site on or before August 1, 2020, in order to be able to run the program at the school. For more information, visit www.tcaps.net/kindergarten.

The early online registration period for TCAPS’ 2020-2021 tuition-based preschool programs runs February 3, 2020, through March 31, 2020. All interested families are invited to sign up during this time. Families who register during the early registration period and have completed all required forms will be notified in early April of their approval/placement status. Families interested in enrolling in TCAPS’ Montessori program should contact the school directly at 231.933.6420 during the early registration period to enroll their child. For more information, visit www.tcaps.net/preschool. 

TCAPS’ Summer Explorers Clubs are designed to engage preschool through fifth grade learners during the summer months. Clubs run Monday through Friday, June 22 - August 28, 2020. Each week features different theme-based activities, field trips and/or special guests. An Information Fair will be held on Saturday, February 8th, at Eastern Elementary School (1600 Eastern Ave.), from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., for families who have questions or need additional assistance with the enrollment process. Translation services are available by appointment. Please contact Kelly Gignilliat (231.933.1759) to schedule. Children are welcome. Families are not required to attend the event in order to enroll in the program. For more information about TCAPS’ Summer Explorers Club and/or the registration process, please visit www.tcaps.net/explorers.

A Preschool Information Fair will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Eastern Elementary School (1600 Eastern Ave.), from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., for families who have questions or need additional assistance with the preschool enrollment process. Translation services are available by appointment. Please contact Kelly Gignilliat (231.933.1759) to schedule. Children are welcome. Families are not required to attend the event in order to enroll in a preschool program. For more information about TCAPS’ preschool programs and/or the registration process, please visit www.tcaps.net/preschool.

Traverse City Central High School senior, Mitchell Stachnik, was selected to receive the 2019 Student Award from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission (GTSAC). The award recognizes a high school or college student engaged in a traffic safety program. Stachnik was nominated by Trooper David Prichard of the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post for his role in creating and implementing a schoolwide educational awareness week about the dangers of drinking and driving. Stachnik, along with the school’s Student Senate and members of the Grand Traverse County Drug-Free Coalition’s Students Together Against Negative Decisions (STAND) committee, created a publicity campaign, complete with posters, statistical information, and wristbands with the word “sober” written on them, which were handed out to students who committed to make good decisions during prom and the school year. Stachnik has been invited to attend the GTSAC Traffic Safety Awards Luncheon in East Lansing, Mich. in March where he will be recognized. In addition, he received a special challenge coin from Trooper Prichard for his efforts to improve traffic safety awareness. Learn more about GTSAC here.

TCAPS is pleased to announce that Central High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Trojan Athletic Program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award recognizes schools that prioritize keeping young athletes safe and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment. To apply, schools complete an in-depth questionnaire that assesses adherence to best practice standards and recommendations. In addition to this year’s NATA award, Amy Ream, Central High School’s athletic trainer, was also named the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society in 2019.

Students and their chaperones from Koka, Shiga, Japan visited Traverse City January 10-17, 2020, as part of a student exchange program between the two sister cities. Six Japanese middle school students stayed with host families from both West Middle School and East Middle School. The exchange students attended classes with their host student and participated in activities including meeting Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers, visiting downtown, touring the Grand Traverse Commons, exploring NMC, snow sports, and visiting other area attractions. Students from Traverse City will visit Japan in late February. See the UpNorthLive story about the visit.

Seventeen students were named to all-state bands and honors choirs, and three educators participated as a conductor/accompanist team and as a session presenter at the 2020 Michigan Music Conference (MMC).

Every year, music educators from across the state of Michigan attend the Michigan Music Conference. MMC features school ensemble concerts, performances by Honors Choirs, All-State Bands, and Orchestras, professional development clinics, and hands-on workshops. The conference is attended by approximately 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, and speakers annually.

Congratulations to the following students and staff who participated in the 2020 Michigan Music Conference which was held January 16-18, 2020, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place Convention Center Auditoriums in Grand Rapids, Mich. The students and ensembles listed were selected to participate in the MMC through an extensive, competitive audition process.

All-State for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA):

High School All-State Band
Sam Hicks, 9th grade, percussion, WSH
David Oosse, 10th grade, percussion, WSH
Daniel Peacock, 12th grade, oboe, WSH
Michael Riccobono, 12th grade, trumpet, WSH

State Honors Choirs for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA):

All-State Jazz Choir
Jack Kernan, 11th grade, bass, CHS
Henry Parvel, 12th grade, bass, CHS
Noah Manning, 12th grade, tenor, CHS

6-7-8-9 SA Honors Choir
Katie Brazee, 8th grade, soprano, WMS
Will Collins, 6th grade, alto, WMS
David Dee, 6th grade, alto, WMS
Piper Dee, 8th grade, soprano, WMS
Lily LaFaive, 8th grade, alto, WMS
Avery Verschaeve, 8th grade, soprano, WMS

6-7-8-9 TTB Honors Choir
Van Collins, 8th grade, bass, WMS
Liam Hoxsie, 9th grade, tenor, WSH
Caleb Mienk, 8th grade, bass, WMS
Coby Sipple, 9th grade, tenor, WSH

Erich Wangeman, conductor and Emerick Dee, accompanist led the 6-7-8-9 TTB Honors Choir during the MSVMA 6-7-8-9 Honors Choir Concert. Wangeman was selected to conduct the 2020 TTB Honors Choir by MSVMA. Both Wangeman and Dee are choral directors at West Middle School.

Stephanie Schall-Brazee is a general music specialist at Willow Hill Elementary School and Eastern Elementary School. Brazee presented with the Michigan Music Education Association headliner, Dr. John Feierabend.

Come support TC Central Choirs with their Meals for Musicians campaign. On Wednesday, January 29, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the Filling Station (624 Railroad Place) will host an open mic and pizza night and will generously donate 25% of select pizza sales to support the choir program! Takeout orders are included!

In addition, The Boathouse (14039 Peninsula Drive) will host a fabulous three course meal on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. The evening will also include a raffle and entertainment provided by the TC Central Choral-Aires. The menu includes smoked whitefish pate, a Boathouse salad, sliced beef tenderloin and 4 oz Maine Lobster Tail with fingerling potatoes, parsnip puree, asparagus, tomato jam, lemon caper and beurre blanc, and for dessert a vanilla bean creme brulee caramelized sugar and fruit compote.

We are happy to announce our newest Partner In Education, Arby’s, owned by Shawn Zipser of Zeez Management Services, Inc. Shawn reached out asking how he could help our schools just about the same time we were looking for someone to sponsor new backboards and rims at Traverse City Central High School. The existing equipment was very dated and becoming unsafe for student use. “We feel that this is a chance to give back to a school that has graduated three of my children and currently houses my fourth,” said Zipser. Thank you to the entire team at Arby’s for your generosity in helping us give our students the best.

Boots for Kids provides winter boots and more for children in need. Since 2001 they have disbursed over 15,000 pairs of new boots to over 30 different area organizations. This year, 241 TCAPS students were recipients of the lovingly packaged boxes filled with not only new boots, but also with hats, mittens, toothbrushes, toothpaste and more. The snow came early this year so from October through the holiday break, Boots For Kids was busy warming feet, and hearts, all over the Grand Traverse area. Thank you to Don Schmuckal for his leadership and genuine interest in making sure that no child has cold, wet feet throughout the winter. If you are interested in supporting Boots For Kids, visit www.bootsforkids-tc.org.

As part of their 30 Days of Giving, a $500 Green grant from Cherry Republic has been awarded to the Traverse City Central High School’s Students for Environmental Advocacy Club (SEA Club). The club has been working on bringing mixed recycling to the school. Previously, the school only had the opportunity to recycle paper and cardboard boxes. The grant from Cherry Republic will allow the school to include plastic, tin, and metal. The funds will also cover changing out the dumpster and getting new containers for the building. Thank you, Cherry Republic, for your support of our students.

The Traverse City Track Club (TCTC) has awarded the Traverse City Central High School Track Program a community grant of $15,420. The grant was awarded as part of a total $78,827.87 in community grants that were presented three area non-profit organizations to support projects that align with the TCTC mission to encourage running and walking as a means to promote health, enhanced fitness, family recreation and competition for all. Profits from the TCTC Bayshore Marathon each May fund the grant program. The funds will be used by the Trojan Track team to support the purchase of hurdles for their home track facility. For more information, go to www.tctrackclub.com.

Norte, was recently awarded a $130,000 grant from Rotary Charities to support the Traverse City Safe Routes To School System Acceleration Project. The project will implement a variety of innovative policies, communications, instruction, and planning interventions to improve school accessibility and neighborhood connections across Traverse City. TCAPS beneficiary schools include: Central Grade School, Eastern Elementary School, TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis, Traverse Heights Elementary School, Willow Hill Elementary School, and West Middle School.

Ty Schmidt, executive director of Norte, presents Eastern Elementary School with a check for $5,000 as part of the Safe Routes to School program.