Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, TCAPS has been able to offer meals at no cost to all children 18 or younger (or adults with disabilities under 26). This service will continue through the summer months. In addition to offering two distribution sites for in-person meal pickup, TCAPS will also offer a summer delivery option for families who are unable to utilize the pickup sites.

Meals will be available for in-person pickup at Central High School (main entrance, 1150 Milliken Dr.) and West Middle School (main entrance, 3950 Silver Lake Rd.) from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th. Beginning June 21st, meals will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Service will continue through September 3rd. Meals will include breakfast and lunch for a three day period.

A weekly Friday meal delivery option will be available beginning Friday, June 18th. Deliveries will include food for breakfast and lunch for a seven day period. In order to start receiving delivery service, families must be signed up no later than 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the scheduled delivery date. New requests made after the deadline will begin receiving deliveries the following Friday. PLEASE NOTE: Someone must be available to accept the meal delivery. We are unable to leave meals at the door. If you miss your delivery time, service will be offered the following week. To sign up, please complete the summer meal delivery request form. You will be contacted with specific delivery time and location information. You will remain on the weekly delivery list until you request to be removed or the summer delivery program ends on August 27th. To end service at any time, please call 231.933.1933.

For additional information, please visit www.tcaps.net/menus.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has partnered with the Michigan Department of Educations (MDE) by creating the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Program which provides supplemental food assistance benefits to students who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be months when your student’s attendance was different from what the school reported. In that case, you may be able to have your student’s benefit level reconsidered. Your request to be reconsidered must be submitted by June 30, 2021. Parents or guardians of students eligible for Free and Reduced Meals are encouraged to visit www.tcaps.net/menus to learn more about this opportunity and review school-specific P-EBT information.

Enrollment for the TCAPS Summer Academy program is now open. Summer Academy is open to all incoming 9th-12th grade students. No residency is required. The program is a great opportunity for students needing to recover credits, wanting to accelerate, or looking to free up an hour for electives next school year. The Academy is a hybrid model of an online platform with in-person teacher support and/or workspace. Sessions are open July 7th through August 4th. Learn more about available courses and how to register at: www.tcaps.net/summeracademy.

TCAPS offers many exciting summer learning and camp opportunities for children of all ages including Summer Explorers Clubs, Summer Academy, and multiple athletic and music camps. All programs are available to children living in the Traverse area region as well as those visiting the area for the summer. Learn more at: www.tcaps.net/summerprograms.

TCAPS’ 2020-2021 District Art Show is up and ready to view online at: tcapsk12artshow.weebly.com. Individual classroom galleries are on display and the artworks featured on the home page of the show’s website were chosen by teachers as exemplary representations of creative thought and expression and are considered to be “Best in Show.”

The onset of the pandemic brought the immediate creation of UpNorth Virtual - Live and On Demand. Core content classes were taught remotely by TCAPS teachers. Electives for elementary students (K-5) were taken in person at the school building or virtually with UPNV Live TCAPS teachers. Secondary (6-12) electives were taken virtually through Edgenuity (6-12) or taken in person at the school building. A local Learning Lab provided access to school libraries and support from a teacher or mentor. Teachers found creative ways to celebrate student work and learning throughout the school year.

In the 2020-2021 school year, 280 elementary students took advantage of UpNorth Virtual Live programming and 330 secondary students also chose to use this learning option. The response we received from UpNorth Virtual Live participants was overwhelmingly positive:

“I just want to take a minute and tell you how much we appreciate the UpNorth Virtual Live learning option this year. We have a child in 1st grade, learning Live, with Mrs. Jessica Deering. She has been a joy. She is so supportive and encouraging. This has been a tough year, and while a 6 year old in front of a computer for classes is not ideal, I only have to manage one of them, not try to keep them all engaged. She does a terrific job of trying to keep everyone on task and interested in what she is teaching. She is funny, kind and I can tell she cares about her kiddos! We're so thankful to her and to TCAPS for having this option this year.” A. Young

“To the amazing Middle School UNLV teachers (UpNorth Virtual Live) that pivoted on a dime a few weeks before the start of school and made synchronous on-line classes just like being in person - thank you. We are so grateful for your flexibility, hard work, engaging teaching skills, and dedication. We would especially like to thank Melanie Rizzo who has gone above and beyond with our child and is the bright spot in her day. Marci Perthes and Jeff Culver have also been incredibly helpful and flexible with her virtual learning.” - J. Arnold

“We have kids in UpNorth Virtual Live in 9th grade, 8th grade, and 1st grade. I just want to share my appreciation for all teachers who took on this big task in order to make this synchronous option available to our kids. High School and Middle School teachers and specialists please know I see you and am so thankful for you, but I especially want to call out Ms. Deering in 1st grade. She has killed it this year on the virtual platform! Watching her engage her 1st graders is like watching a wizard at work. My daughter has grown academically, but has also become a very independent learner who can navigate the computer like a pro. We are definitely fortunate to be in TCAPS with teachers who were able to pivot so many different times in such a turbulent school year and a half. Thank you!” S. Tschirhart-Baldwin

"Ms. Deering, 1st grade UpNorth Virtual Live teacher, came to watch my daughter, Olivia, play t-ball yesterday. It was the first time they met in person. It was very sweet of her. My daughter exclaimed "She even wrote it down!" when Ms. Deering agreed to come. We could not have asked for a better virtual experience for our first grader this year. Ms. Deering did such a great job! It was certainly a sweet moment and a teacher going above and beyond in a crazy school year."

TCAPS is incredibly grateful to all of the staff that worked together to provide this virtual learning experience for students. Thank you and congratulations to all UpNorth Virtual students on a successful school year. [TCAPS offering fully virtual instruction with TCAPS teachers - Traverse City Record-Eagle Article August 21, 2020]

Traverse City West Senior High School seniors, Madelynn Johnson and Reegan Graham, were awarded the Governor's Traffic Safety Advisory Commission's (GTSAC) Student Award. The award was presented May 27, 2021, during the Michigan Traffic Safety Awards Virtual Ceremony. The Student Award recognizes a high school or college student for their work on promoting traffic safety. Reegan and Madelynn were nominated by State Trooper David Prichard for their leadership and involvement in the Drug Awareness Program basketball game and Students Together Against Negative Decisions (S.T.A.N.D.).

The leading cause of death among teenagers is traffic crashes. As members of Traverse City West Senior High School’s S.T.A.N.D. program, Johnson and Graham were pivotal in bringing awareness, education and resources to both student and adult populations regarding illicit drug use, mental health stigma and counseling available in their community. More than 2,000 people attended the “Drug Awareness Basketball Game,” where information tables included professionals from Families Against Narcotics, Hope Not Handcuffs and local addiction treatment services. In nominating the two seniors, Tpr. Prichard said, “Madelynn and Reegan did an outstanding job at utilizing area resources and professionals to make their event a huge success. They partnered with multiple substance use disorder professionals, wellness educators, recovery coaches and law enforcement.” The students also sought monetary and in-kind donations from local businesses to hold the event, conducted live interviews during the event, and compiled a press release to inform local media.

The GTSAC was formed by an Executive Order of the Governor in 2002 to provide leadership in the identification of state and local traffic safety issues and promote recommended strategies to address them.

Student journalists from TC Central High School, TC West Senior High School and TC East Middle School have received honors as part of this year’s Michigan Interscholastic Press Association Awards. In addition to the awards listed below, the East Middle School Trojan TV received a Gold Rating for the critique contest. The following students and publication staff received awards:

Traverse City Central High School

• Henry Huschke, 1st Place, Anchor, Video Talent and Airchecks, Front & Central
• Bella Mast & Betsy Julian, 1st Place, Human Interest Feature, Front & Central
• Bella Mast & Betsy Julian, 2nd Place, Localized News Analysis, Front & Central

Traverse City West Senior High School

• Ashley McFadden & Meg Holm, 2nd Place, News Design and InfoGraphics - Story Package, Occidentalist
• Wave Spence, 2nd Place, News Writing - Review, Occidentalist
• Charlotte Noller, 2nd Place, Art and Illustration - Editorial Cartoon, Occidentalist
• Tess Crowley, 3rd Place, News Photography - Sports Feature Photo, Occidentalist
• Will Stanton & Meg Holm, 4th Place, News Writing - Diversity Coverage, Occidentalist
• Hope Thompson, Honorable Mention, News Design and InfoGraphics, Front Page - Newspaper Style, Occidentalist
• Anna Sperry, Honorable Mention, News Design and InfoGraphics, Front Page - Newspaper Style, Occidentalist
• Sammy Schaub, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Sports News Story, Occidentalist
• Tess Crowley, Honorable Mention, News Photography - Photo Story, Occidentalist
• Sofia Molby, Honorable Mention, News Writing - Sports Feature Story, Occidentalist
• Hope Thompson, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Alternative Story Form, Occidentalist
• Anna Sperry, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Environmental, Health or Science, Occidentalist
• Alyssa Masiewicz, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Personal Narrative, Occidentalist
• Arielle Jean & Shep Slack, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Pro-Con Opinion Columns, Occidentalist
• Blase Gapinski, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Review, Occidentalist
• Will Stanton, Honorable Mention, News Writing, Human Interest Feature, Occidentalist
• Ava Nelson, Honorable Mention, Art and Illustration, Illustration, Occidentalist
• Ashley McFadden, Honorable Mention, News Writing, In-Depth Feature, Occidentalist
• Douglas Spence, 1st Place, Yearbook, Club or Performance Photo, Odyssey
• Staff, 1st Place, Yearbook, Visual and Verbal, Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman, 1st Place, Yearbook, Division Page, Odyssey
• Michael Farkas, Cambell Laskey, & Jack Wright, Yearbook, Caption Writing, Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman, Cambell Laskey, & Macie Bixby, 2nd Place, Yearbook, Colophon, Odyssey
• Madeline Henry & Cambell Laskey, 2nd Place, Yearbook, Opening and Closing, Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman, Cambell Laskey, & Macie Bixby, 2nd Place, Yearbook, Endsheet, Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman, Cambell Laskey, & Macie Bixby, 3rd Place, Yearbook, Cover, Odyssey
• Staff, 3rd Place, Yearbook, Business Advertisements, Staff Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Organization Spread, Odyssey
• Macie Bixby, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Proud Parent Advertisements, Odyssey
• Arianna Bowman & Macie Bixby, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, People Spread, Odyssey
• Anna Curry & Grace Geiger, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Academic Spread, Odyssey
• Cambell Laskey, Jack Wright & Michael Farkas, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Student Life Spread, Odyssey
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Headline Writing, Odyssey
• Kaylee Kuhr & Maya Thomas, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Sidebar Coverage, Odyssey
• Karylee Kuhr & Kara Sickle, Honorable Mention, Yearbook, Personality Profile, Odyssey

Traverse City East Middle School

• Wren Walker, 1st Place, Human Interest Feature, EMS Press, Orchestra in 2020
• Lucy Bongiorno, 1st Place, Bylined Opinion Article, EMS Press, Social Media & Its Effect on Teenagers
• Staff, 1st Place, Staff Editorial, EMS Press, Staff Editorial – Why Homework Should Be Banned
• Aubrie Friday, 1st Place, News-Feature Photograph, EMS Press, COVID-19 Vaccine Day For Staff
• Bridget Belden, 1st Place, Online Follow-Up News Coverage, EMS Press, Biden Reaches 290 Electoral Votes
• Bridget Belden, 2nd Place, Diversity Coverage, EMS Press, TCAPS Social Equity Task Force
• Bridget Belden, 2nd Place, Environmental, Health or Science, EMS Press, Raw Sewage & Its Effects On The Boardman River
• Bridget Belden, 2nd Place, Online Follow-Up News Coverage, EMS Press, Election Updates
• Abigail Houghton, 2nd Place, News Brief, EMS Press, Dr. Seuss Halts Publication For Racist Books
• Abigail Houghton, 3rd Place, Personal Narrative, EMS Press, Winning Last Place
• Lucy Bongiorno & Riley Scollard, 3rd Place, Review, EMS Press, Winter or Summer- The Ongoing Debate
• Riley Scollard, 3rd Place, Sports Feature Story, EMS Press, It’s a Powder Party
• Abigail Houghton, 3rd Place, Online Breaking News Coverage, EMS Press, TCAPS School Board Flips
• Bridget Belden, Honorable Mention, Personal Narrative, EMS Press, The August 2nd Storm of 2016
• Bridget Belden, CJ Enoksen & Thayer Yang, Honorable Mention, Multimedia Story Package, EMS Press, TCAPS Social Equity Task Force
• Lucy Bongiorno, Honorable Mention, News Story, EMS Press, High Alert for Inauguration Day
• Riley Scollard, Honorable Mention, Review, EMS Press, Fashion Trends of 2020
• Bridget Belden, Honorable Mention, Informative Feature, EMS Press, The Backstory of Thanksgiving
• Bridget Belden, Honorable Mention, Informative Feature, EMS Press, Christmas Origins
• Bridget Belden, Honorable Mention, Bylined Opinion Article, EMS Press, Cell Phone Situations
• Abigail Houghton, Honorable Mention, Human Interest Feature, EMS Press, EMS Student Tours The Country In RV
• Abigail Houghton, Honorable Mention, News Story, EMS Press, Protest Turns Violent & People Storm Capitol
• Bridget Belden, Honorable Mention, Online Breaking News Coverage, EMS Press, Senate Election Updates
• Annie Goldkuhle, 1st Place, Sports Action Photo, Flashback, Sports Action Photo
• Alexis Ball, Maddy Garrett & Staff, 2nd Place, Theme Development, Flashback, Limitless
• Alexis Ball, Maddy Garrett & Staff, 2nd Place, Division Page, Flashback, Limitless
• Alexis Ball, Maddy Garrett & Annie Goldkuhle, 2nd Place, Opening and Closing, Flashback, Limitless Alexis Ball & Maddy Garrett, 2nd Place, Endsheet, Flashback, Limitless
• Alexis Ball & Maddy Garrett, 2nd Place, Cover, Flashback, Limitless Staff, 2nd Place, Feature Presentation, Flashback
• Olivia Lemke, 2nd Place, Academic Photo, Flashback, Academic Photo
• Alexis Ball, 2nd Place, Portrait or Personality Photo, Flashback, Personality Photo
• Molly Wertenberger, 2nd Place, Sports Feature Photo, Flashback, Sports Feature Photo
• Staff, 2nd Place, Sports Spread, Flashback, Sports Spread
• Annabelle Lancaster, 3rd Place, School Spirit Photo, Flashback, School Spirit Photo
• Mia Tursman, 3rd Place, Club or Performance Photo, Flashback, Club Photo
• Cady Madion, 3rd Place, Academic Photo, Flashback, Academic Photo
• Audrey Williams, 3rd Place, Portrait or Personality Photo, Flashback, Personality Photo
• Staff, 3rd Place, Organization Spread, Flashback, Organization Spread
• Staff, 3rd Place, Student Life Spread, Flashback, Student Life Spread
• Marin Wade, Devin Pryde & Alexis Ball, 3rd Place, Academic Spread, Flashback, ,
• Annabelle Lancaster, Honorable Mention, School Spirit Photo, Flashback, School Spirit Photo
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Club or Performance Photo, Flashback, Club Photo
• Molly Wertenberger, Honorable Mention, Sports Action Photo, Flashback, Sports Action Photo
• Staff, Honorable Mention, People Spread, Flashback, People Spread
• Staff, Honorable Mention, People Spread, Flashback, People Spread
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Organization Spread, Flashback, Organization Spread
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Academic Spread, Flashback, Academic Spread
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Sports Spread, Flashback, Sports Spread
• Staff, Honorable Mention, Student Life Spread, Flashback, Student life Spread
• Tayla Capser, 1st Place, Field Reporter, Trojan TV, Tayla Capser Field Reporter
• Staff, 1st Place, Studio Newscast, Trojan TV, Trojan TV February 5, 2021
• Cameron Biddinger & Zachary Chaussee, 1st Place, Informative Feature, Trojan TV, The District's Implementation of Brightspace
• Zachary Chaussee & Cameron Biddinger, 1st Place, Personality Profile Feature, Trojan TV, Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Sheridan
• Zachary Chaussee & Cameron Biddinger, 1st Place, Localized News Analysis, Trojan TV, The District's Approach to the Dr. Seuss Controversy
• Annie Goldkuhle, 1st Place, Humor, Trojan TV, COVID Funny: Top 5 Ways to Annoy Your Family
• Tayla Capser, 1st Place, Anchor, Trojan TV, Tayla Capser Anchor Reel
• Annie Goldkuhle & McKeiley Buron, 1st Place, Sports News Story or Package, Trojan TV, Girls Basketball Returns
• Ethan Rademacher & McKeiley Buron, 1st Place, Human Interest Feature, Trojan TV, Mrs. Justin's Amazing Talent
• Emma Dykstra & Tayla Capser, 1st Place, News Story or Package, Trojan TV, Honors Issues in TCAPS
• Thayer Yang & C.J Enoksen, 1st Place, Diversity Coverage, Trojan TV, The TCAPS Social Equity Task Force
• Emma VanWagoner, Brady Fiebing & Tayla Capser, 1st Place, Environmental, Health or Science, Trojan TV, Teachers Receive COVID-19 Vaccination
• Staff, 2nd Place, Remote Newscast, Trojan TV, Trojan TV December 4, 2020
• Zachary Chaussee, 2nd Place, Animated Opener, Trojan TV, Today in History Intro
• Ethan Rademacher, 2nd Place, Anchor, Trojan TV, Ethan Rademacher Anchor Reel
• Zachary Chaussee & Soren LaCourse, 2nd Place, Localized News Analysis, Trojan TV, What is the Electoral College?
• Annie Goldkuhle, 2nd Place, Field Reporter, Trojan TV, Annie Goldkuhle MIPA Field Report Submission
• Annie Goldkuhle & Soren LaCourse, 2nd Place, News Story or Package, Trojan TV, COVID-19 Lunch Plan Could be Here to Stay
• Annie Goldkule & Caleb Keller, 2nd Place, Sports News Story or Package, Trojan TV, Players are Masked Up Under COVID-19 Rules
• Ethan Rademacher & Geordie Richmond, 2nd Place, Informative Feature, Trojan TV, How Snow Days are Decided
• Riley Scollard & Lucy Bongiorno, 2nd Place, Personality Profile Feature, Trojan TV, 60 Second Stories: Kaitlyn MacNeil
• Nathaniel Powers & Geordie Richmond, 2nd Place, Human Interest Feature, Trojan TV, Things You Didn't Know About Your Teacher: Mr. Deneen
• Spencer Stallman & Eli Richardson, 2nd Place, Environmental, Health or Science, Trojan TV, Covid-19 Teacher Precautions
• Lucy Bongiorno & Riley Scollard, Honorable Mention, Audio Interview, Trojan TV, Trojan Talk: Social Media & Its Effects on Teens – Episode 2

The Traverse City Tritons Rowing Team competed in the Scholastic Rowing Association of Michigan’s Division II State Championship Regatta on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was the team’s first race with more than four teams since the fall of 2019 and the first championship race since the spring of 2019. The Tritons advanced 7 of their 8 boats to the finals and ended the day as State Champions in the Women's Varsity Four, took 2nd place in the Women's Junior Varsity Four, 3rd place in the Women's Varsity Double, and 2nd place overall in the Women's Points Trophy.

Race Results:
Women's Varsity Double - 3rd place in the finals
Men's Varsity Double - 4th in their heat
Women's Novice Four - 5th place in the finals
Women's Varsity Four - 1st place in the finals (State Champions)
Women's Junior Varsity Four - 2nd place in the finals
Women's Varsity Single - 4th place in the finals
Men's Varsity Single - 4th place in the finals
Women's Freshman Four - 5th place in the finals
TC West Members: Abby Klepper, Ainsley Bielman, Alyssa Masiewicz, Emma Ellis, Isabelle Baumann, Lily LaFaive, Lydia Derks, Megan Lautner, Monica Templeton, Sam Lovy, Nola Raven
TC Central Members: Abby Rockwood, Izzy Smith, McLean Desmond, Sadie Smith, Joe Locricchio, Sam Thoma
Additional Members - Penelope Heiges (Home School), Fischer Piche (GTA), & Garrett Decker (Elk Rapids)
For more information on Triton Rowing go to: www.tctritonsrowing.org.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recently announced the recipients of the 2021 Breaking Traditions Awards which honors students who overcame obstacles and stereotypes to succeed in career and technical education (CTE) programs considered non-traditional for their gender. These students are ”breaking traditions” by pursuing careers in which fewer than 25 percent of persons working in that field are their gender.

“Michigan benefits from the Breaking Traditions Award recipients through an increasingly diverse workforce necessary to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy and to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice.

MDE’s Office of CTE oversees high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career cluster. Most programs offer early college credit opportunities to provide a seamless transition to post-secondary education. These programs support Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan guiding principle to provide students with access to high-quality instruction regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, economic status, native language, or physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities to close the student achievement and opportunity gaps that currently exist.

“The Breaking Traditions Awards extend beyond individual students. These awards also represent the quality of the school culture,” Dr. Brian Pyles, director of CTE at the Michigan Department of Education, said. “Clearly, these schools embrace an inclusive student focused instructional environment supported by staff, students and community.”

The following TCAPS students received a Certificate of Recognition and will receive a certificate and letter of recognition.

Michigan Breaking Traditions 2021 Certificate of Recognition:
Isobel Bowker
Traverse Bay Area ISD Career-Tech Center, Traverse City Central High School
Manufacturing Technology Academy Program

Elyse Wejrowski
Traverse Bay Area ISD Career-Tech Center, Traverse City Central High School
Welding & Fabrication Program

Traverse City Area Public Schools is pleased to announce the Traverse City West Middle School boys’ and girls’ track teams won the Big North Conference Championship on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. More than 100 West Middle School students participate on the teams. Team members include:

Olivia Bageris, Addysen Beaubien, Madeline Bildeaux, Jazlyn Bliss, Danica Bonter, Evelyn Burtt, Jordyn Cieslik, Violet Claar, Kathryn Clark, Leah Clark, Kyra Coles, Kellyn Creighton, Kaydence Culver, Adeline DeGood, Sophia Duncan, Gabrielle Edenburn, Sophia Fancher, Alyssa Fouchey, Kaylyn Habers, Meredith Hall, Georgia Hislop, Olivia Kandow, Emily Kelsey, Audrey Kohler, Emily Kozlowski, Ali LaBonte, Raegan LaCross, Kara Lahti, Ella Laureto, Adalyn Mathie, Keira Murphy, Sohpia Nowak, Elizabeth Palmer, Avery Plummer, Bridget Raven, Audrina Redmond, Addison Riemersma, Lainie Rintala, Daphne Royer, Katie Rueckert, Kaylee Schopieray, Maeve Schuck, Sarah Shapiro, Addyson Shark, Brooklynn Sherman, Marin Shirley, Bronwyn Shullick, Charley Sierzputowski, Brynn Smith, Irelyn Smith, Reese Smith, Allyanah Streit, Peyton Tucker, Abigayle Veit, Elizabeth Vollbrecht, Aubrey Wear, Bailey Wenzlick, Emily West, Daphne White, Ava Zeratsky, Jacob Banish, Caleb Butler, Ethan Butler, Elliot Dion, Noah Dumon, Dylan Dunklow, Drew Esper, Owen Ferrill, Peyton Fontenot, Cooper Gaines, Aiden Geetings, Dylan Gryglewski, Skyler Hall, Harrison Heller, Graham Hislop, Jackson Hochstetler, Benjamin Irwin, Cade Laurent, Jacob Lober, Ben Maki, Gage Marriott, Dean McKellar, Jacob Mertz, Lucas Mitchael, Brady Mohr, Kyle Naimola, Treyson Nyland, Duncan Robinson, Winslow Robinson, Alexander Scholl, Otto Selbig, Aidan Simrau, Silas Smith, Charlie Sowers, Aaryn Stallworth Brodie Stone, Caden Stoops, Joseph Sturtevant, Harrison Sutton, Bode Tokie, Reed Tupper, Payton Tyson, Brady Vaughan, Liam Wierzba, and Jacob Zenz.
Coaching Staff Pictured Left to Right: Libby Shutler/Boys Assistant, Daryl Stallworth/Boys Head Coach, Joe Esper/Boys Assistant, Jen Teeples/Girls Head Coach, Amy Six-King/Girls Assistant, Kelly Claar/Boys & Girls Throws Coach, and Lindsay Kandow/Girls Assistant. Not Pictured are Nick Wierzba - Boys Assistant and Tim Nance - Boys Assistant.

The TCAPS Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” in person on Thursday, June 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Boardman Administration Center (412 Webster St., Conference Room B). TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with an opportunity to talk with a school board trustee. Visit the Board calendar to view the board schedule in its entirety, or visit: www.tcaps.net/board.

TCAPS will be making minor changes to the school start and end times for the upcoming school year. For several years, the district has been faced with bus driver shortages, which has been exacerbated this past year. We have been extremely fortunate that many employees in other positions throughout the district have stepped up to help drive school buses so that routes did not have to be cancelled like many school districts have done during the pandemic.

In order to maintain the level of service offered, while maintaining safe and efficient transportation to and from school, the district is making minor changes to school start and end times for the 2021-2022 school year. By changing the school times, the district will be able to start bus runs later in the morning for middle school and high school, and maximize a multi-tiered routing system, which will reduce the number of bus drivers needed on a daily basis. To help with these time adjustments, all elementary schools will offer both morning and afternoon extended day care (Program operation will be dictated by minimum enrollments being met.). View 2021-2022 School Start & Dismissal Times here.

Please note: As the district moves to a multi-tiered bus routing system, current bus routes and/or bus stops may change. In a May communication, all families were asked to submit a 2021-2022 transportation request form for each student stating whether they will or will not need transportation. See the article below for more information.

In preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, the district will be undergoing a complete overhaul of its bus routing system. This process will allow TCAPS to more efficiently serve the many students who require transportation services throughout the district’s 300-square mile boundary area. As part of this process, all students must officially request transportation and be assigned a bus route in order to receive services for the 2021-2022 school year. Every family is being asked to complete a transportation request form (one per student) stating either YES, we will need busing or NO, we will not need busing for the 2021-2022 school year.

Families are asked to complete the transportation request form online through the PowerSchool Public Portal. The PowerSchool Public Portal is a tool for parents to access real time attendance, online district forms and request transportation services. If you have more than one student, you will need to complete a transportation request form for each child. Please plan to complete all request forms no later than Wednesday, June 30th.

• Need to Activate Your Parent Portal Account?
  Click here for instructions on how to sign up for a PowerSchool Public Portal account. Once you have activated your account, you will be able to access and complete the Transportation Request Form. For technology assistance, email tech-info@tcaps.net or call 231.933.3328.
  
• Unsure if you Qualify for Transportation Services or How it Works?
  Click here to view the district's transportation policy to learn more about who qualifies and how transportation services work, including bus stop placement, pick-up and drop-off parameters, behavior expectations, and more.

The Library Media Center launched The Great Titan Read (February-May) and The Great Trojan Read (April-June) in order to build upon the reading culture at each middle school. Students and staff were encouraged to submit book tickets (plot summaries) for all books they read during the contest in order to earn points for their grade level team. Much reading took place between the two schools; 745 books were read and 322 individuals participated.

In the end, only one team could prevail! Congratulations to the Seventh Grade Team at West Middle School and the Sixth Grade Team at East Middle School. All students who submitted book tickets for the winning team were invited to attend the Winners Celebration. During this event, the reading trophy was formally presented and the Top Titan/Trojan Readers from each grade level were recognized (see below). Thanks to Brilliant Books, each of these readers was awarded a $20 gift card to help fund their summer reading purchases. The celebration was also enhanced by the generosity of other local businesses that donated prizes for the raffle: Moomers Homemade Ice Cream (ice cream cone vouchers), East Bay Dairy Queen (blizzard vouchers), Pirates Cove Adventure Park (golf vouchers) and Incredible Mo’s (arcade vouchers). We thank you for supporting this reading initiative and for generating much excitement during the celebration!

Congratulations to the 2021 TOP Titan/Trojan Readers:
West Middle: (6th) Ava Zeratsky (7th) Megan Dyke (8th) Korbin Johnson
East Middle: (6th) Sylvia Coulter (7th) Atreya Wilson (8th) Isla Falconer

To assist families in planning for next year, please review the finalized 2021-2022 school year calendars linked below. Dates to pay special attention to include: half days, early release days, winter and spring breaks, last day of school, and potential inclement weather make-up dates.

• 2021-2022 District School Year Calendar
• 2021-2022 Blair/Traverse Heights School Year Calendar

• Central Grade School 5th graders created food webs for the Living Systems unit.
• Mrs. Kaberle's third grade class at Westwoods participated in a live virtual meeting with Captain Gramzow as he navigated a freighter through the Soo Locks.
• Courtade students planted seedlings for their community garden project.
• Personal & Academic Student Success (P.A.S.S.) Program students took part in West Senior High’s annual "Beautification Day" led by Nick Jeffrey. Since 2017 these students have maintained the Peace Garden during Beautification Day.
• Willow Hill raised $1,953.53 for the American Cancer Society with Relay For Life. This is their 15th consecutive year of supporting the organization.
• The Traverse City Central High School marketing class, in partnership with Junior Achievement, started a new company called the Scenic Route Sweatshirt Company. They designed and sold some really sweet nature-themed sweatshirts and chose to donate proceeds of their sales to TART Trails.
• Courtade Cougars raised $7,400 and logged 64,790 minutes of reading in their spring Read-A-Thon.
• Both East and West Middle School students can participate in the Summer Reading Challenge (did someone say SELFIE?) led by Mrs. Baumann to inspire students to read June-August! The Summer Reading display awaits students with information regarding summer programs offered through the public library as well as digital resources that can be accessed all summer long.
• TCAPS Montessori Adolescent students did a study on plant cells and made models of the cells.
• Mrs. Walston's first grade class at Central Grade School celebrated the life cycle with a butterfly release.
• Thanks to Courtade Elementary School’s Mr. Q’s leadership in the gym, Courtade was able to submit a total donation of $5,538.58 from its recent Kids Heart Challenge (KHC)/American Heart Challenge event to the American Heart Association. Their efforts make a tremendous impact and help millions of Americans through increased awareness of cardiovascular disease, lifesaving scientific research and critically needed education efforts.

Families who lack reliable or affordable broadband access may be eligible for federal assistance through the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. As noted recently by the Michigan Public Service Commission, federal lawmakers have appropriated $3.2 billion to help low-income households pay for home broadband service and equipment, with eligible consumers able to receive a $50 monthly discount on their bills ($75 a month for eligible consumers living on qualifying tribal lands). The program also provides for a one-time device discount of up to $100 for a laptop or desktop computer or tablet purchased through an eligible provider. Consumers receiving the discount are required to make a co-payment of more than $10 and less than $50. For more information on requirements families must meet to qualify and how to apply for the program, visit the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website here.