Our Community
May 2016 |
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TCAPS Families, Staff and Friends,
In the last few days I have had the chance to attend:
I also received wonderful news about the preliminary results of the work that our teachers and staff have done this year to raise student achievement at Blair Elementary School. It was in strong partnership with our community that the district was able to provide the tools that the school needed to help every child reach their potential. At the end of the day, providing each of these opportunities requires resources. Our district provides nationally recognized, high quality education to our students and families, while receiving funding well below state and national averages for public schools. It is because of this that I, along with our Board of Education, continue to advocate for resources and look for creative opportunities to leverage our resources to their fullest potential in support of our children and classrooms. There are many more celebrations to come in the next few weeks and exciting times to share with family and friends. I hope that you savor these moments and hold them dear. I also hope that you will take a few moments to read about the many accomplishments of our students, staff and schools in this newsletter. We get so much enjoyment out of sharing them with you. Sincerely, Paul A. Soma |
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High Schools Honored on The Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” List Traverse City Central High School (#25) and Traverse City West Senior High School (#30) have been named among “America’s Most Challenging Schools” by The Washington Post. The list ranks schools by taking the number of challenging, college level tests given at a school each year, including Advanced Placement exams, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. The Washington Post’s rankings were announced following the release of the U.S. News and World Report’s “Best High Schools” list that again put Traverse City Central High School and Traverse City West Senior High School among the top 5% of schools in the state. More information about The Washington Post’s Michigan rankings can be viewed here.
Westwoods Elementary Students Help Beautify Downtown Traverse City
Westwoods students bring their murals to life with the help of local artists.
Students in Kathryn McNitt’s 2nd grade class and Renae Deplaunty’s 4th grade class researched ideas and then got sketching. The students drew what would become murals that would be painted on dumpsters for a downtown alley as part of a project that connected classroom curriculum to a hands-on project. The effort brings students and community together to beautify downtown Traverse City. It is the second phase of a partnership between American Waste, the DTCA, local businesses, artists and TCAPS. Local artists, Jean Larsen, Chase Hunt and Savannah Burke took the students' designs that were drafted on 8.5” by 11” paper and outlined them in a much bigger scale on the face of dumpsters for the students to paint. Last weekend, students got the chance to bring their designs to life. Using vibrant colors and a little help from their artist mentors, the dumpsters have become works of art. The dumpsters’ official unveiling in the alleyway between Cass St. and Park Rd. downtown is expected to take place in mid-June.
Central High School Students Provide “Birthday Bags” for Father Fred
CHS students learn to be responsible with their money and to give back to their community.
Students in Becky Harvey’s Personal Finance class at Traverse City Central High School took more than 100 "birthday bags,” filled with donated cake mix, frosting and candles, to the Father Fred Foundation. The bags will be given to families to help them celebrate a loved one's birthday, which is often something families cannot provide when they are experiencing difficult financial times. The class teaches students about more than how to be personally responsible with one’s money, it teaches them to be empathetic citizens and to do something good for those in need.
Eastern Elementary School Cutting Food Waste
Eastern Elementary School students learn about food waste and environmental stewardship.
Over the last six weeks, students from Eastern Elementary School have been working with Food Rescue and Carter's Compost to learn about food waste and environmental stewardship. Students have met 1-2 times per week to learn about where food waste goes, how it affects the environment, ways to cut food waste, and how to compost at home and at school. The project began in early April with 4th and 5th grade students conducting a study during the lunch hour to see how much waste Eastern Elementary School was producing. Results showed that the Eastern community threw away a total of 96.4 pounds of food during one lunch hour. After five weeks of food waste and stewardship education, students measured what was thrown away during the lunch hour again and tallied a total of 67 pounds, a decrease of over 30%. An amazing achievement and proof that the more we learn, the more we can do.
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Traverse City Area Public Schools Maintains Strong AA- Bond Rating
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings has maintained TCAPS’ “AA-” long-term rating, with a “stable” outlook. The “AA-” rating means that S&P believes that TCAPS’ capacity to meet its financial commitment is “very strong.” TCAPS has secured a AA- or higher bond rating for more than a decade. It is independent and objective confirmation and validation that the district’s strategic business approach, which includes consideration of traditional constraints as well as TCAPS’ creative approach to finding new revenues and solving problems, is working. The strong bond rating also allowed the district to secure a lower than expected interest rate in a recent bond sale, allowing taxpayers get more for their money and the district to better serve its students and families.
TCAPS Days of Design
Building off of the Global Day of Design, the TCAPS Day of Design is a day when a classroom is dedicated to innovation. Anytime between May 23rd and June 3rd, classrooms across the district will be participating in a science, technology, engineering and math—STEM—design challenge that encourages them to be innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Each design challenge will put students through a process called the Launch Cycle. Each challenge starts with a problem that the students need to solve. They will create, make, produce, and revise their project until they come to a solution that works for them. Failure (and how to recover from it to build something better) is a big theme in these challenges. Get innovating!
TC Central High School Teacher Selected to Study in Spain
Traverse City Central High School Spanish and French teacher, Bryn Lynch, has been selected to participate in professional development in Spain this summer. She was one of four teachers picked from a field of more than 90 applicants to participate in the program, which will teach integrating the use of an iPad into world language classes. The Mester Scholarship is paid for by the Spanish government and covers the expenses for a week of classes in Salamanca, Spain.
TCAPS Alumni Network Crosstown Campus 10K/5K Run Raises $3,000+ for STEP
Jami Grant, Central High School French teacher and winner of her division of the Crosstown Campus 10K poses with friends from the TC Track Club Racing team, including Jill Burden and Jessie Hernden who are both TC Central alumni.
The 3rd annual TCAPS Alumni Association’s Crosstown Campus 10K/5K Run was held on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The premier annual event hosted by the TCAPS Alumni Network raises funds to support TCAPS’ Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP), which helps hundreds of area students each year who lack fixed, regular and adequate housing. This year’s event is expected to have raised more than $3,000. Thanks to all who participated and we hope to see you again next year!
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
Camp Invention and Invention Project Offer Fun Summer Learning
Educators are always looking for ways to get youth excited about learning. At Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS), Camp Invention makes summer learning fun. TCAPS offers Camp Invention for students at the elementary level and Invention Project, a more advanced program, for students in middle school (grades 6-8). The programs connect students with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning. Camp Invention and Invention Project utilize STEM principles to help students solve real world challenges both independently and collaboratively. Throughout the course of the week, campers learn skills that help prepare them for the careers and fields of tomorrow. Learn more about Camp Invention and Invention Project and sign up today at: www.tcaps.net/summerprograms.
Traverse City Central High School Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees Selected
The Traverse City Central High School Hall of Fame Committee has selected its class of 2016 Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s honorees are:
The TC Central Hall of Fame Committee invites the community to celebrate these exceptional Trojan alumni at the 2016 Induction Ceremony being held on Friday, June 3, 2016. The event will include an ice cream social beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the high school's main atrium with the ceremony following in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Please join us in celebrating these Trojan graduates who are making a positive impact on their local community and the world.
May Local Harvest of the Month: Radishes
Radishes are members of the mustard family. They are a great northern Michigan crop to plant in early spring, with many varieties growing in as few as three weeks. Learn more about the different types of radishes and different ways to cook and eat them here.
TCAPS Calendar Reminders
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Acclaimed National Author Kevin Henkes Visits Willow Hill Elementary
National bestselling children’s book author, Kevin Henkes, created an original display for Willow Hill Elementary School.
TCAPS welcomed national bestselling and critically-acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator, Kevin Henkes, to Willow Hill Elementary School. Henkes has penned nearly 50 children’s picture books, beginning readers and novels. His more than 30 year career includes receiving the Caldecott Honor for the book Owen in 1994, a Caldecott Medal in 2005 for the book Kitten’s First Full Moon, a Newbery Honor in 2004 for the novel Olive’s Ocean, a Newbery Honor in 2014 for the novel The Year of Billy Miller, and a Caldecott Honor in 2016 for the book Waiting. Willow Hill Elementary School entered the HarperCollins Publishers national Kevin Henkes Display Contest last fall. The school’s librarian, Martha Topol, and a team of seven library volunteers spent a total of 40 hours designing and creating a window display version of Henkes’ book Waiting. Entries were judged based on presentation, visual appeal, and originality. As grand prize winners, Willow Hill Elementary School received an appearance by Henkes and a custom display board.
Hosting an International Exchange Student
Addison, Katey, Lis, Nick and San Yeung Chan aka “Jack”
“When we were first asked to host an exchange student, we were definitely apprehensive,” said Lis Bank, TCAPS teacher and host parent. “After talking with Joe Thiel, we felt more assured. Meeting Jack, the student we are hosting, for the first time came with many emotions and questions. Luckily, we were quickly put at ease as we were introduced to the 6’3” young man that would be spending the next 10 months with us.”
Jack quickly became a member of the Bank family. They describe him as kind-hearted with a great sense of humor and sarcastic nature that made him a perfect fit for their family. He quickly became friends with the Bank’s son Addison, a junior, and daughter Katey, a freshman, at West Senior High School. The three of them are often heard engaged in animated conversations and laughter drifting from the family room.
According to Katey, “Hosting Jack isn’t like having someone simply stay at our house, he’s more a part of the family.” And, Addison says, “Hosting Jack is like having a friend always at my house.”
In Jack’s words, “When I first signed up for the exchange program I was very nervous. Everything here is different and I have to speak English all the time. I have come to realize that my English is better than I thought. I also discovered that I do not like black jelly beans, pickles, and olives. But I do like brussel sprouts, cherry pie, chicken pot pie, beef stroganoff, cheese burgers, chicken fajitas, green bean casserole, cheesy potato casserole, and pizza. Next year I look forward to playing varsity basketball. Ball is life.”
Jack has learned the family’s routines and helps with the family chores, much to his host siblings’ joy. He has adapted to northern Michigan living, and the family jokes about how he will be wearing shorts and winter hiking boots as he heads outside to play with the dogs or mess around with the other kids.
Adding one more person to the family at times may be challenging with the scheduling of an already busy family, but it is also very rewarding. The memories, experiences, and friendships families make outweigh the challenges or apprehensions of hosting a student.
“Having him here has given our family an extra bonus by bringing our children closer together. Although Jack will leave for the summer, we look forward to his return next year for his and Addison’s senior year,” said Bank. “This experience will leave an impression on all of us that will last a lifetime. If you’re questioning if you should host an exchange student, talk with us or Joe Thiel. You really shouldn’t pass up this opportunity.”
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Lids for Kids Event Provides Students with Bike Helmets
Lids for Kids provided hundreds of kids with free, properly fitted bike helmets.
The first Lids for Kids event in Traverse City was held on Saturday at F&M Park. Attendees were properly fitted with free bike helmets, were able to participate in a bike obstacle course, have minor adjustments made to bikes, entered into a bike giveaway and had a chance to meet local firefighters and tour a fire engine. The event was a huge success with hundreds of kids and adults alike leaving with properly fitted bike helmets, ready to ride their bikes safely. The event was sponsored by Agevix, the Sinas Dramis Law Firm, and the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, in partnership with McLain Cycle & Fitness, TCAPS, Norte Youth Cycling, WTCM NewsTalk 580, and Anytime Fitness Traverse City. More information: http://lidsforkidsmi.org/traverse-city.
Home Depot Supports West Senior High School Titan Food Pantry Shelving Project
The Titan Food Pantry is finished and ready to go.
Home Depot volunteers pitched in to help Traverse City West Senior High School Junior Class Council and Pilot Program students build shelves for the Titan Food Pantry. Home Depot donated $800 worth of materials including shelving, paint and a freezer to the school, so that the pantry can provide meat and other perishable items to students in need. The Titan Food Pantry was a project coordinated by the Junior Class Council under the leadership of teacher Kimberly Kramer. Special thanks to Sam’s Club for donating lunch for the entire group of students and volunteers.
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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Copyright (c) 2016
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Contact Us: info@tcaps.net