🔔 Reminder: No School Dec 22 - Jan 2.

Enjoy the winter break! All TCAPS school offices and the TCAPS Administration Building at Glenn Loomis will be closed during this time.

Buildings and classes will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.

View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6

9 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Warm-toned photo with a silhouette of a person reading under a large tree and the TCAPS school logo

🔔 Reminder: No School Dec 22 - Jan 2.

Enjoy the winter break! All TCAPS school offices and the TCAPS Administration Building at Glenn Loomis will be closed during this time.

Buildings and classes will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.

View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6

10 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Warm-toned photo with a silhouette of a person reading under a large tree and the TCAPS school logo

SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Friday, December 19, 2025 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.

12 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
TCAPS ALERT Schools are closed due to inclement weather.

Congratulations to this week's Star Students! They all shine bright - examples of STAR behavior each and every one! Way to go!

18 days ago, Eastern Elementary School
Star student picture
4 Star students

🌟 Beyond Sounding Out: CKLA Knowledge Units Build Confident Readers! 📚

While learning to sound out words is essential, did you know that CKLA Knowledge Units teach your child about the world (like history and science) and grow their vocabulary by introducing important, academic words? This strong foundation of knowledge and words is how they move beyond simply sounding out letters to actually understanding the meaning of what they read, making them skilled and confident readers.

 CKLA Connected—check out the learning adventures happening right now!

 Kindergarten: Underdogs and Heroes: Stories 
First Grade: Common Threads: Different Lands, Similar Stories 
Second Grade: Legends and Heroes: Greek Myths
Third Grade: Rhythm and Rhyme: Poetry
Fourth Grade: Meaning and Metaphor: Poetry
Fifth Grade: Visions in Verse: Poetry

20 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Young girl using a pocket chart for a phonics lesson, placing a letter card under the 'Chaining' category.
Student learning what is inside the human body at school
Teachers and students in a classroom hold up cards with shapes (star, circle) and letters ('f', 'o', 'g') for a lesson.
Students learning in the classroom
Students with paper masks learning in the classroom
2nd Grade, Courtade:  Domain 2, “Ancient Greece” Display
Group of students smiling together in the classroom.

Ms. Hites' second grade class had "snow much fun" sledding on the hill the other day. Movement, fresh air and good times are great for the brain and the body! Way to go, snowy Stars!

20 days ago, Eastern Elementary School
Second grade girl on her sled in the snow
Two second graders sledding down a hill
One second grade boy sledding down the hill.
Four second grade girls with sleds
Second grade boys laying in the snow

'Tis the season and music fills the air! This morning during arrival, Maxton played the piano for students and staff. It was a warm, festive start to the day. We're looking forward to additional mornings of music from our star performers who've signed up. Thanks for starting us off, Maxton!

21 days ago, Eastern Elementary School
Maxton playing the piano in the Eastern school lobby
Today is National Butter Day - a day that honors butter's role in cooking and baking! It was a wonderful coincidence that today Mrs. Feaster's preschool baked pumpkin pie with real butter they made last week! The preschoolers had a hand in every step of the making of these delicious mini pumpkin pies learning from where cinnamon and vanilla come and even grating the ginger and nutmeg! Way to go Mrs. Feaster's class shining bright and sharing a seasonal treat - yum!
about 1 month ago, Eastern Elementary School
A preschooler cutting butter into flour
Two preschoolers putting pumpkin in a bowl
Two preschoolers putting pumpkin in a bowl
Preschoolers with the mini pumpkin pies they made!

It's America Recycles Day! Shout out to our Ecology Club, 4th graders who apply to be part of this hard-working group - learning recycling guidelines, educating staff and students, as well as handling our weekly school recycling. Thank you to club advisor Mrs. Nelson and the whole club for keeping our school green! (Not all members are pictured.)

about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Members of our 4th grade Ecology Club

Congratulations to our Star Students of the Week! They exhibited the Safe, Trustworthy, Attentive and Respectful qualities that make them shine! Way to go!

about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Five star students standing against a wall

It was Veteran's Day and Eastern celebrated with a special ceremony first thing this morning. Preschool through 5th grade students and staff gathered around the flagpole to recite the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Mr. Swegles and heard an address by veteran and Eastern dad, Josh Traeger. Mr. Traeger encouraged our Eastern community to honor veterans by thinking about the ideals of teamwork, gratitude and courage and by always trying to do the right thing even when it's hard. We ended with a flag waving salute to veterans and their families and by having all students and staff place a tribute flag in our entrance circle. We are also proud to recognize the veterans and active duty service members who are connected to the students and staff within our Eastern community on the bulletin boards in our lobby. Thank you for your service and our freedom!

about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Students and staff gathering for the veterans ceremony
Principal Swegles leading students in the Pledge of Allegiance
Students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance
Mr. Traeger talking about the ideals veterans model for our community
Young students with American flags
American flags in the ground of the school's front circle
Students placing American flags around the front circle.
The school's front circle lined with American flags
A school bulletin board recognizing veterans in the Eastern school community
A school bulletin board thanking veterans
Food Drive Time! Eastern’s Student Council is spearheading a Non-Perishable Food Drive to benefit Project Feed the Kids this month. Right now families are struggling more than ever and we are committed to helping our community. Please consider sending in non perishable goods between November 17th and 25th. The grades with the most donated items will win a fun prize after Thanksgiving Break.
about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
PROJECT: FEED THE KIDS LOGO, white letters on black background

This morning, our whole school enjoyed a concert from the All-City Choir, made up of TCAPS fifth graders - ten from Eastern! They delighted us with their beautiful voices, collaboration and musicianship!

about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Eastern students in the all city choir

Our second graders took a trip to Cognition Science & Discovery Center in Beulah! What a fun, hands-on learning experience for all! Thank you to the guides and staff of the center for hosting us in this interactive science playground!

about 2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Students surrounding furry creature
Boy holding bird on his hand
Student with snake around her shoulders
Student holding snake in hand

Here's the scoop! Making Principal Swegles into an ice cream sundae was a sweet treat for a group of randomly drawn Jog-a-thon winners! It was the cherry on top to a successful Jog-a-thon sponsored by our PTO and supported by our generous school community! Way to shine bright Mr. Swegles!

2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Students pouring syrup on principal
Students pouring ice cream on principal
Students pouring ice cream on principal

Congratulations to our 2026 National Cherry Festival Eastern Elementary Prince and Princess - Leo and Evelyn! Their names were randomly selected from a group of 1st grade applicants; look for them at the festival on Eastern's float and representing our school in the week's prince and princess activities. Shine cherry bright Leo and Evelyn!

2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Two first grade students side by side in library

Student work created in Art class with Ms. Culik keeps us all in the spirit of the season! Creativity, learning and some spooky fun can be found throughout our halls!

2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Ghost artwork in three frames on hallway wall
Three art pieces with chalk outlined bats
Bulletin board with bat artwork with a black night sky background
Fall and Halloween artwork on bulletin board
This week's students of the week. Shine on Stars.
2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
student and man standing in front of a brick wall
kids standing in front of a brick wall

Is your student missing a sweatshirt or a jacket? Come check out the growing lost and found area in our lobby. Thank you to 5th graders Keelin and Zayla, our accountability officers, who did an awesome job organizing items!

2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Two students standing in the lost and found area of the school

Congratulations to our Star Students of the Week! Way to shine bright!

2 months ago, Eastern Elementary School
Mr. Swegles with a star student
Star students standing against the school wall