Mystery Reader Alert! 🕵️♂️
Courtade Elementary had a special surprise earlier this month! Superintendent VanWagoner joined the school as a Mystery Reader to read to students and celebrate the joy of literacy. 📖✨
We are having a great time celebrating March is Reading Month. A big thank you to Superintendent VanWagoner for taking the time to inspire our young readers!
This week, high fives go out to:
1. Our Courtade Elementary students who have been busy spreading warmth following this past week’s winter storm! Students spent time creating handcrafted “Thank You” cards for the famous “ROAR Runner” plow and the entire crew of dedicated drivers who worked endlessly to keep our roads safe. These special deliveries are on their way to the crews who braved the elements for our community. We are so proud of our students for recognizing the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. 💌🙌
2. Our Westwoods Elementary students who traded their books for tool belts during a special craft day for their March Read-a-thon. This incredible event, brought together by PTO volunteers and experts from Home Depot to help students bring their creativity to life. Our young makers built and decorated unique crafts to take home. A huge thank you to everyone who helped our students build something special! 📏👍
3. Our West Middle School students who had an incredible day of discovery as National Park Service Rangers visited to lead an immersive study on the Great Lakes! Inside a high-tech interactive dome, students explored the hidden world of our local ecosystems and the serious impact of invasive species. A massive thank you to our Park Rangers for inspiring our students to be informed, responsible stewards of our environment, and to the WMS Outdoors Club for making this unforgettable experience possible! 🐟🌲
4. Our Silver Lake Elementary students who took part in a school-wide Read-In to celebrate March is Reading Month! From cozy spots to favorite bookmarks, the energy was focused and full of imagination. Events like these remind us that reading isn’t just a skill—it’s an adventure. Whether they were diving into a new graphic novel or revisiting a favorite picture book, students proved that there’s no better way to spend the day than lost in a story. 📖🥳
5. Long Lake Elementary students who have the potential to lead with kindness and confidence! With the guidance of their amazing school social worker, Mrs. Andrea Martin, students across the building are learning the tools they need to navigate challenges, build strong friendships, and show up as their "best selves" every single day. We are so proud of the resilience and character our Long Lake students display in every classroom and on every playground. 🌟👏
#GreatCommunityGreatSchools #High5Friday
Students currently enrolled in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual-Enrolled classes should follow the specific direction of their instructors for those programs.
For more information, please visit www.tcaps.net.
Meet TCAPS Compass Winner: Stephanie Havens, Kitchen Leader, Willow Hill Elementary🏆
Her nomination highlights her overall dedication and teamwork in the kitchen and beyond.
A sincere appreciation to Stephanie, who went above and beyond to support our students during the Downtown Traverse City Light Parade. Alongside her husband, Barry (our fantastic bus driver), Stephanie was a key part of the team that made the night so special.
From helping decorate the bus with festive lights to wearing her own glowing gear and ensuring the kids had an absolute blast, her energy was contagious! She even stuck around until the very end to help with the cleanup. Thank you, Stephanie, for your incredible heart and for making it a night our students will never forget! ⭐👏
This recognition is well-deserved! The Compass Award celebrates employees who contribute to the District's Strategic Plan through their daily work. Review the full Strategic Plan here: www.tcaps.net/strategicplan.
School is Closed: All TCAPS schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, visit www.tcaps.net.
Learn more at www.tcaps.net/jobs
#GreatCommunityGreatSchools
Update: The TCAPS Administration at Glenn Loomis Building will open at 11 AM. Staff who usually report on a school closure day should report at 11 AM.
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All TCAPS buildings will open at 11 AM on Monday, March 16, 2026. No TCAPS staff should report prior to 11 AM.
School and Afternoon Activities Canceled - Monday, March 16, 2026
All TCAPS schools are closed tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 2026, due to inclement weather. All afternoon activities are also canceled. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
It's High 5 Friday! 🙌🖐
This week, high fives go out to:
1. East Middle School Student Senate who collected and donated a mountain of supplies to the Cherryland Humane Society. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our students and families, they were able to help fill their shelves and provide vital support for animals in our community. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the drive. You are truly making a difference for our four-legged friends! 🐶👏
2. Members of the Traverse City Central High Football team and Coach Eric Schugars who visited Eastern Elementary to help celebrate Reading Month! Whether they were reading to a full class or sitting down in small groups, the energy was electric. Reading together was the highlight of the week for our elementary students. Thank you, Central Football, for being such incredible role models for our young students! 🏈📖
3. West Middle School’s 7th-grade Accelerated Math students who celebrated Pi Day a little early—and with a lot of flavor! Over the last few days, these students have been diving deep into the geometry of circles. They didn’t just memorize formulas; they became "mathematicians in the field," investigating the relationship between circumference, diameter, and that famous infinite number: 3.14. To wrap up their hard work, the class enjoyed some delicious slices of pie. Brain power + pie = a "well-rounded" success!📐💪
4. Traverse City High School who turned Family Night into a high-powered "Future Planning Hub." They hosted a comprehensive FAFSA and College Application Workshop, providing seniors and their families with expert guidance. It was an inspiring night of looking forward to the next chapter. We are so proud of these graduates for taking these proactive steps toward their legacy! 🎓✨
5. Traverse Heights Elementary students who were highly engaged in their lessons this week. In Mrs. Mullen’s class, students spent the morning immersed in the study of the American Revolution, exploring the events and figures that shaped our country. While Mrs. Varnum’s Kindergarten students were equally focused on practicing their daily vocabulary routines. We are so proud of the hard work and curiosity displayed by students this week! 📖🌟
#GreatCommunityGreatSchools #High5Friday
Free Meals at TCAPS! 🍎🥪
TCAPS is offering free breakfast and lunch meals at every building, every school day.
Free breakfast is served daily! TCAPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds parents and students that TCAPS offers free breakfast before the start of every school day at every building in the district.
Secondary buildings offer breakfast in the cafeterias, and elementary buildings offer a convenient "Grab & Go" breakfast for students to enjoy in the classrooms or the cafeterias. TCAPS encourages every student to grab a free breakfast to ensure they have the energy necessary to excel! 📚
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Ranking in the top 1% nationwide, these students represent the very best of TCAPS excellence. Congratulations on this prestigious honor! 🎓👏
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Friday, March 13, 2026 due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
For more information on snow days, including how they are communicated and how decisions are made, go to www.tcaps.net.
This Saturday! 🍦✨
Don't miss Disney and Desserts presented by the Traverse City Central High School Vocal Department. Join us for favorite characters, music, and sweet delights!
When: Saturday, March 14
Showtimes: 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Where: TC Central High School Auditorium, 1150 Milliken Drive, TC 49686
#GreatCommunityGreatSchools
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, Thursday, March 12. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, please contact your school directly.
More Than Just Rhymes: Why Poetry is a Powerhouse in CKLA!
Did you know that in our CKLA curriculum, poetry isn’t just a "fun break"? It is a foundational tool for building brilliant readers from Kindergarten all the way through 5th Grade.
Here’s how our students grow through the power of verse:
K–2 (The Sound of Language): Our youngest learners use nursery rhymes and basic poems to master Phonological Awareness. Rhyming helps them hear the "chunks" in words, making it a secret weapon for early decoding!
3rd Grade (The Bridge to Fluency): This is where it gets magical. Students focus on prosody: learning to read with expression, rhythm, and heart. Poetry teaches them that punctuation isn't just a dot, it's a breath.
4th & 5th Grade (The Depth of Knowledge): Upper elementary students dive into verbal reasoning. They deconstruct metaphors, personification, and imagery, turning "simple" stanzas into deep lessons in language comprehension.
Whether it’s a Mother Goose rhyme or an Amanda Gorman masterpiece, poetry helps our students weave the "Language Comprehension" and "Word Recognition" strands of the Reading Rope together.
Show week is finally here! The Traverse City West Senior High Music Department is proud to present Little Shop of Horrors. Join us for this classic musical featuring a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Performance Dates and Times:
Evening Shows (7:00 PM): March 13, 14, 20, and 21.
Matinee Shows (2:00 PM): March 15 and 22.
Tickets: Tickets range from $15 to $25, plus box office fees. Secure your seats today by visiting tcaps.booktix.com.
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day on Thursday, March 12. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, please contact your school directly.
