Our Community
August 2015 |
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TCAPS Families, Staff and Friends,
The TCAPS Board of Education and school leaders make decisions that affect the entire region. Equally importantly, our students and schools achieve great things and those successes belong to each and every member of our community. The bottom line is that we all benefit when our community is engaged and knowledgeable about what is happening in our schools. To share information with the community, the district uses a number of communications tools and resources. Below is a list of several of our communications activities. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the many ways we work to communicate with you and to share your ideas and input with the district. District Communication:
I am looking forward to a great school year! Sincerely, Paul A. Soma |
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TCAPS Calendar Reminders
New This Year: School Safety Dog Pilot Program
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) will partner with Interquest Detection Canines to pilot an awareness and detection program using school safety dogs at TCAPS middle schools and high schools. The dogs are Labrador Retrievers that have been trained to detect items that are prohibited on school grounds, including alcohol. The program is part of TCAPS’ effort to take a proactive approach to safety, awareness and prevention.
Research shows that more frequent visits from school safety dogs can prevent prohibited items from being brought into schools, protecting students and minimizing the disruption that prohibited items can cause to the school day. The dogs will search communal areas, lockers, gym areas, parking lots, and school grounds for alcohol, drugs, firearms and some medications. The first visit from the school safety dogs will be announced at a kick off assembly, with additional unannounced visits to follow throughout the school year.
For more information about Interquest Detection Canines, visit: http://interquestk9.com.
Immunizations Reminder
SAT Testing Information for High School Families
In January 2015, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced that the SAT test would be the next state college entrance assessment for at least three years beginning in the spring of 2016. This newly overhauled SAT will replace the ACT test that Michigan 11th graders have taken since 2007. SAT & PSAT tests are developed by the College Board, which is the same company that produces Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
In order to help families navigate the change, TCAPS has created an SAT Transition 2015-16 website. The site includes tentative testing schedules for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades and will be updated as additional information is released by the state.
SAT Transition 2015-16 website: http://tinyurl.com/tcapssat.
September Local Harvest of the Month
FoodCorps and NW Michigan Farm to School will be featuring: cauliflower.
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Traverse City West Senior High School Violinists to Perform with Piano Guys at Interlochen
On August 25, 2015, violinists from Traverse City West Senior High School will perform with the Piano Guys at Interlochen Center for the Arts. The Piano Guys are a professional ensemble that creates arrangements of popular songs mixed with classical music, called a "mash-up." TCAPS students will be playing as part of a piece called "Beethoven's 5 Secrets.” It combines themes from Beethoven's Fifth symphony and the One Republic song "Secrets." The performance begins at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information are available here.
TCAPS Students Volunteer at the National Cherry Festival
A TCAPS student helps pick up trash at the National Cherry Festival.
The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City attracts thousands of people each year. But where there are a lot of people, often, there is a lot of trash. That is why students from Traverse City Area Public School’s (TCAPS) Pilot Program, participated in a beach clean-up initiative.
The Pilot Program provides opportunities for students with special needs to connect with others in their schools and their community. As part of “The Green Team” students collected trash and discarded items left by Cherry Festival attendees.
“This is a volunteer opportunity that allows us to give back to the local community. It also gets the kids outside in the summer and keeps them active,” said Erin Ryan, a special education teacher at East Middle School who accompanied students on their clean-up.
Students collected several bags of trash and recyclables. They said of all the items they collected, most were plastic water bottles. Thank you for giving back to the community!
Summer Programs Keep Students Active and Engaged During the Summer Months
A student programs a robot during one of the summer robotics camps.
This summer, roughly 2,000 students participated in one or more TCAPS summer program. The programs attracted both local and out of town students, who participated in 30 different types of programs including sports, arts, robotics, and academic camps.
Students participate in Camp Invention. |
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Traverse City West Senior High School Pilots “Adopt-a-Commissioner” Program
Beginning this fall, TC West Senior High School students taking AP Government and Civics classes will have the opportunity to “Adopt-a-Commissioner.” “Adopted” City of Traverse City Commissioners will invite students to attend meetings and students will invite their designated commissioners to attend events at the school. The program is designed to increase youth involvement and strengthen civic engagement in the community across all generations.
“We believe the ‘Adopt-a-Commissioner’ program is going to benefit both TCAPS students and the City of Traverse City,” said Tak Ready, civics and government teacher at Traverse City West Senior High School. “Our TCAPS students will develop more of an understanding of local issues, and will develop the leadership skills necessary to make a positive difference in their community. The City Commission will hear from young people - a group whose voice is not often heard in politics. Hearing from a diverse group of people helps any organization make good decisions.”
Commissioners will engage students on current issues and students will develop an individualized team project. The program is one way TCAPS is putting its mission into practice by inspiring students to achieve academic excellence and productive citizenship through active engagement in the local community.
TCAPS Counselors and Administrators Visit Local Manufacturing Facilities to Learn About Career Opportunities for Students
TCAPS counselors and administrators during their manufacturing tour.
Last week, TCAPS counselors and administrators teamed up with Northwestern Michigan College and six local manufacturers to take a guided tour of their facilities, explore their products and learn more about what it is like to work there. The goal was to help raise awareness about career opportunities that exist locally and to help develop pipeline of skilled employees for area manufacturers.
Participating manufacturing facilities included:
Next, students will have the opportunity to explore manufacturing as part of the 2015 Manufacturing Day. The event will take place on Friday, October 2, 2015. Approximately, 600 students from grades 8 through 12 are expected to attend.
Established in 2012, Manufacturing Day is an annual national event designed to showcase the career opportunities modern manufacturing technology offers and the industry’s value to the U.S. economy. The Traverse City event is one of more than 1,000 planned around the nation each year.
Learn more about Manufacturing Day: www.mfgday.com.
Local Family Travels to Dalian, China to See Former Host Students Graduate
Chinese teacher “Melanie” and Jackie Stegmann. Melanie was the Chinese students’ English teacher who traveled with them to Traverse City. She has since visited and stayed with the Stegmanns on several occasions.
Over two years ago, Dr. Kris and Jackie Stegmann and their son Christopher were part of the very first group of Traverse City families to host exchange students from China. They hosted two wonderful boys from China for the one month exchange and have kept in contact ever since. This past June, the Stegmanns traveled to Dalian, China to meet their students’ parents and attend their high school graduation. Both boys are now on their way to attending United States universities this fall. Kim will be at Temple University studying business and Jeff will be at UC-Santa Cruz studying engineering.
“Thank you again for introducing us to these great kids,” said Jackie Stegmann. “We thought other host families might like to see these children all grown up. It really was an amazing cultural experience. The school in Dalian was thrilled we were there.”
Group photo from the Stegmann's visit. |
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Rotarians and Volunteers Make 12th Annual Backpacks for Kids Event a Success
Volunteers prepare to begin assembling at the annual 12th annual Backpack for Kids stuffing event put on by TCAPS Partner in Education the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club.
Each year, the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club collects donations to purchase new backpacks and school supplies to give to students who may otherwise not have one. They then work with area schools and groups to ensure that all students have a chance to come to school with the supplies they need to get the year off to a great start! Thank you to the Rotarians and all of the volunteers who make this event such a success each year!
Local Manufacturers Support TCAPS Robotics Program
Mr. Leete stands next to newly installed shelves at TC West Senior High School.
Partner In Education Coordinator Karyn Hertel and Traverse City West Senior High School physics, math and robotics teacher recently attended the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council meeting to present the robotics program at TC West and the development of robotics programs at the elementary school level. After the meeting, Strata Design Inc. and Great Lakes Stainless Inc. offered to support Mr. Leete and his efforts to engage young minds through robotics!
Strata Design donated and installed black shelves for project robot storage to support Mr. Leete’s philosophy of "more students building more robots," as opposed to all students working on building just one robot. Strata also donated a countertop and shelves to create a Computer Robotics Lab, which will house advanced work stations for program and prototype development. Great Lakes Stainless Inc. has donated soldering stations for circuit design, mobile tool stations and a large stainless steel work bench.
New computer robotics lab area at TC West Senior High School.
"All of these things will allow us to be more adaptable to the changing needs of our program." said Leete. "We will now be able to accommodate many students and many projects. Strata and Great Lakes Stainless are helping build a space that can grow in the coming years."
"It's clear that manufacturing is strong in Traverse City and it's important that our schools have relationships with these companies, not only for donations, but for their knowledge." said Hertel. "To be able to have community professionals working side by side with our students is truly what our Great Community, Great Schools mantra is all about. We want our students to know our local employers and encourage them to seek internships or employment with them. We are so grateful for Strata and Great Lakes Manufacturing's donation to the TC West robotics program and know that they will indeed see the return on their investment."
If you are interested in hearing more about the robotics program and want to get involved, please contact Philip Leete at leeteph@tcaps.net.
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, electronically via our e-newsletter and new this year, the TCAPS Food Truck! Contact Karyn Hertel at 231-933-5654 / hertelka@tcaps.net or visit www.tcaps.net/PIE to learn more. |
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Great Community, Great Schools |
In This Issue
Partners in Education
Opportunities
Copyright (c) 2015
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Contact Us: info@tcaps.net