Congratulations to WMS 8th Grader, Kavontaye Matthews, who is a recent recipient of a Titan Ticket for his hard work in Mr. Klopcic’s science class.
Kavontaye’s favorite class at WMS is Choir with Mr. Dee. He says that it is a fun experience, namely that the students get to travel and sing.
Kavontaye’s favorite memory at WMS has been meeting all of his friends for the first time, and strengthening those friendships.
Outside of school, Kavontaye enjoys hanging out with family and friends, as well as playing video games.
Kavontaye would like to give a shout out to Mr. Dee and Mr. Mattson because they are ‘cool’ and they help him with a lot of things. Kavontaye (pictured Left) would also like to recognize his friend, Trevor Curtiss (pictured Right), because Trevor helps Kavontaye a lot and they’ve been friends since 6th Grade. Kavontaye also gives a shout out to his Mom and Dad for being his biggest supporters!
Way to go, Kavontaye! We are proud that you are a Titan!
Kavontaye’s favorite class at WMS is Choir with Mr. Dee. He says that it is a fun experience, namely that the students get to travel and sing.
Kavontaye’s favorite memory at WMS has been meeting all of his friends for the first time, and strengthening those friendships.
Outside of school, Kavontaye enjoys hanging out with family and friends, as well as playing video games.
Kavontaye would like to give a shout out to Mr. Dee and Mr. Mattson because they are ‘cool’ and they help him with a lot of things. Kavontaye (pictured Left) would also like to recognize his friend, Trevor Curtiss (pictured Right), because Trevor helps Kavontaye a lot and they’ve been friends since 6th Grade. Kavontaye also gives a shout out to his Mom and Dad for being his biggest supporters!
Way to go, Kavontaye! We are proud that you are a Titan!
This week’s Titan Stars were selected by our Art and Physical Education staff, who recognized these outstanding students for truly demonstrating the Path of a Titan each and every day! We are so proud of the positive example these students set for our school community! In celebration of their efforts, each Titan Star will be receiving a special gift from Jimmy John’s.
Congratulations to
6th: Carl Benson, Eleanor Traile and Logan Burtrum
7th: Rickey Raphael, John VanDalson and Zada Elston
8th: Jayce Carlson, Jacob Harrison and Geneva Whitman
Congratulations to West Middle School artists Kalen Fate, Jasmine Primeau, Nate McSparron, Sophia Angove and Lucy Cory! These artists had their photography pieces accepted into the Michigan Art Education Association K-12 State Exhibit.
Over 500 pieces of artwork were entered for adjudication and these artists stood out from the rest. Jasmine's photo was chosen as one of the Top 18 middle school works of art in Michigan while Nate, Sophia and Kalen represent the Top 100. Lucy's photograph was chosen to be on display at the Michigan Department of Education for an entire year.
This year both the MAEA K-12 Show as well as the Michigan Department of Education Show will be available to be viewed in person March 16-28 at the Hickman Gallery on Adrian College’s campus. Gallery hours are 9am-5pm Monday through Friday with a reception on Saturday, March 28th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Over 500 pieces of artwork were entered for adjudication and these artists stood out from the rest. Jasmine's photo was chosen as one of the Top 18 middle school works of art in Michigan while Nate, Sophia and Kalen represent the Top 100. Lucy's photograph was chosen to be on display at the Michigan Department of Education for an entire year.
This year both the MAEA K-12 Show as well as the Michigan Department of Education Show will be available to be viewed in person March 16-28 at the Hickman Gallery on Adrian College’s campus. Gallery hours are 9am-5pm Monday through Friday with a reception on Saturday, March 28th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, Thursday, February 19. 🔔
Note: There is no school for students tomorrow, Friday, Feb 20 (Teacher Work Day).
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
Huge shoutout to our amazing Math Club students! We are proud to share that we have the #1 team in the region, and they are headed to the State Competition in March!
Even more impressive, our team includes some of the top individual performers in the region:
#2 - Abe Blackburn
#3 - Colton Beaver
#4 -Graham O'Brien
#6 -Sadie Ambrosius
If you see these outstanding mathematicians around campus, be sure to congratulate them and Coach Rundio on this fantastic achievement. We are so proud of you!
Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day this Thursday, February 19. 🔔
Find start and dismissal times here: https://5il.co/3jfxa
View the academic calendar here: https://5il.co/3jfx6
For questions, contact your school directly.
We are incredibly grateful to our outstanding 8th grade volunteers , many of whom are pictured here , who generously gave their time last week to support our 5th into 6th grade registration nights.
These students were phenomenal representatives of WMS, greeting families with smiles, leading building tours and assisting with the registration process. WMS is a great place because of our great students, and this group made us especially proud. Thank you for making a difference!
These students were phenomenal representatives of WMS, greeting families with smiles, leading building tours and assisting with the registration process. WMS is a great place because of our great students, and this group made us especially proud. Thank you for making a difference!
Please join us in celebrating our latest Titan Star recipients, proudly nominated by our Social Studies team. We are incredibly proud of these students who consistently go above and beyond to be safe, respectful, and responsible each and every day. Your positive choices and leadership help make our WMS school community stronger!
Congratulations to:
Fiona Kurth, Karson Flesher , AJ Cornelius, Heidi Raths, Adelyn Smits, Hannah Heethuis, Carter Slade, Lincoln Moore ,, Evelyn Makowski & Karissa Kitley
Congratulations to:
Fiona Kurth, Karson Flesher , AJ Cornelius, Heidi Raths, Adelyn Smits, Hannah Heethuis, Carter Slade, Lincoln Moore ,, Evelyn Makowski & Karissa Kitley
Our WMS students had a wonderful time during rec this week getting creative with Valentine’s Day crafts! From colorful cards to festive designs, their creativity and kindness were on full display. It's always great to see our students enjoying hands-on activities while sharing a little extra joy with others.
Our Culture Fair was a celebration of language, learning, and global connection! Ms. Donahue's EL students took the lead, using their authentic voices to practice reading, writing, and speaking English while engaging a live audience of peers.
Mrs. Taplin’s Seminar students rotated through seven interactive cultural stations, thoughtfully designed around the cultural content EL students shared in videos viewed ahead of the Culture Fair. EL students taught about traditions, perspectives, and experiences from around the world to their visitors.
To commemorate the experience, participants received a handmade beaded “String of Memories”—a bracelet or ring/keychain—crafted by our EL students as a meaningful keepsake of the day.
We are so proud of our students for their creativity, collaboration, and confidence, and grateful to everyone who helped make this event such a memorable celebration!
Mrs. Taplin’s Seminar students rotated through seven interactive cultural stations, thoughtfully designed around the cultural content EL students shared in videos viewed ahead of the Culture Fair. EL students taught about traditions, perspectives, and experiences from around the world to their visitors.
To commemorate the experience, participants received a handmade beaded “String of Memories”—a bracelet or ring/keychain—crafted by our EL students as a meaningful keepsake of the day.
We are so proud of our students for their creativity, collaboration, and confidence, and grateful to everyone who helped make this event such a memorable celebration!
We are so proud of our WMS Titan Star students who make our school a better place each and every day. These students consistently go above and beyond by showing leadership, kindness, and responsibility. This outstanding group was recognized by our English Language Arts teachers, support staff and administrators for the positive impact they have in our classrooms and throughout our school community.
Congratulations to the following:
Keyan Kouchnerkavich, Dayton McSauby, Susanna Dumon, James Nicol, Vann Cravey, Genesis Lopez, Khrystyna Narolska, Lauren Frick, Gunner Gorbea & Payten Holtcamp
Be sure to "paws" for this heartwarming boost for today!
Mrs. DeKett's 6th grade Art Unleashed class recently welcomed Cherryland Humane Society to learn about the incredible work they do providing refuge and medical care for homeless pets. Inspired to give back, our students launched a special service-learning project.
Students selected photos of adoptable animals and transformed them into stunning digital drawings. The best part? These masterpieces will be gifted by Cherryland to the families who give these animals their "furever" homes!
Check out these young artists using their skills to make a difference. These portrait examples were created by Maddy Bauer, Jesslynn Chorley, Quinn Lautner, Steven St. Germaine, Alice Bridges, Maggie Freeborn, Emma Kremer and Grayson Turland.
We loved welcoming Dr. Craig Hadley, Curator at the Dennos Museum, to WMS today!
Our 8th grade ELA students explored real-world applications of writing- learning how to synthesize information and ensure their writing is clear, meaningful, and accessible for all audiences. What a powerful connection between classroom skills and the world beyond school! A big thank you to Dr. Witt, Ms. Babiasz, Mr. Dedenbach, and Ms. Donahue for making this experience possible!
Our 8th grade ELA students explored real-world applications of writing- learning how to synthesize information and ensure their writing is clear, meaningful, and accessible for all audiences. What a powerful connection between classroom skills and the world beyond school! A big thank you to Dr. Witt, Ms. Babiasz, Mr. Dedenbach, and Ms. Donahue for making this experience possible!
Jack Williams, an eighth-grade student at Traverse City West Middle School, was named the District 13 and State of Michigan winner of the VFW Patriot Pen Youth Essay Competition. Selected from more than 60,000 students nationwide, he was formally recognized for his essay on patriotism and service at the 47th Annual Mid-Winter Conference of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. We are incredibly proud of Jack!
Congratulations to all of our Spelling Bee participants who studied hard and showed the courage to compete. We are so proud of you!
We are also proud to announce that Sadie Ambrosius is the 2026 West Middle School Spelling Bee Champion! After an impressive 14 rounds, 8th grader Finley Nolan earned runner-up honors, exiting the competition on a truly tough word. Our 3rd place finisher was 6th grader Leo Ruble, who will serve as the school alternate when Finley and Sadie head to the Regional Spelling Bee in March.
Way to go, Titans!
We are also proud to announce that Sadie Ambrosius is the 2026 West Middle School Spelling Bee Champion! After an impressive 14 rounds, 8th grader Finley Nolan earned runner-up honors, exiting the competition on a truly tough word. Our 3rd place finisher was 6th grader Leo Ruble, who will serve as the school alternate when Finley and Sadie head to the Regional Spelling Bee in March.
Way to go, Titans!
Ms. Wares’ class dove into lively debates on the ethics of genetics, challenging students to think critically, consider multiple perspectives and engage in meaningful academic conversations. Students stepped up as debate moderators, showing leadership and keeping discussions on track and even asked for sources to fact-check one another!
Critical thinking, student voice and leadership all in one classroom moment!
Critical thinking, student voice and leadership all in one classroom moment!
Our Lady Titans brought the energy this week! Across every grade level, these athletes showed incredible teamwork and a "never quit" attitude. Check out the highlights from a busy week on the hardwood:
7th Grade Green: A perfect week! These girls went 2-0 with fantastic performances against Gaylord and SEAS. Their chemistry on the court is soaring!
8th Grade Green: Resilience at its finest! After a hard-fought battle at Gaylord, the girls rallied together to earn a great WIN against SEAS.
7th Grade White: Showed great spirit on the road! They secured a hard-earned victory at Gaylord and played with total effort until the final whistle at Benzie.
7/8 Combo: Picked up an exciting win against East and showed amazing growth and determination in their matchup against Benzie.
Huge congratulations to our Boys and Girls Wrestling teams on their first meet of the season!
The Titans hit the mat with intensity on Thursday, earning a fantastic dual meet victory over Kingsley. It was a great display of skill and determination to kick off the year!
We are so proud of the sportsmanship and dedication these athletes show every time they represent WMS. Keep up the great work, Titans!
7th Grade Green: A perfect week! These girls went 2-0 with fantastic performances against Gaylord and SEAS. Their chemistry on the court is soaring!
8th Grade Green: Resilience at its finest! After a hard-fought battle at Gaylord, the girls rallied together to earn a great WIN against SEAS.
7th Grade White: Showed great spirit on the road! They secured a hard-earned victory at Gaylord and played with total effort until the final whistle at Benzie.
7/8 Combo: Picked up an exciting win against East and showed amazing growth and determination in their matchup against Benzie.
Huge congratulations to our Boys and Girls Wrestling teams on their first meet of the season!
The Titans hit the mat with intensity on Thursday, earning a fantastic dual meet victory over Kingsley. It was a great display of skill and determination to kick off the year!
We are so proud of the sportsmanship and dedication these athletes show every time they represent WMS. Keep up the great work, Titans!
The Great Titan Read Winners’ Celebration occurred yesterday Congratulations to the class of 2031 for winning the 6-week long reading competition! Honored at the event were seventh grade readers, who demonstrated the reading habit by submitting two or more book tickets, and each TOP TITAN grade level winner.
Thanks to the amazing generosity of the following businesses: Center I.C.E. Arena, Cherry Republic, Culver’s (Munson Avenue), ELEV8, Handz On Art, Incredible Mo’s, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches (Front Street & South Airport locations), Lake Ann Grocery, Moomers, Oaky’s Tavern, Papa J’s Pizzeria, POP-KIES and The Stone Oven every reader went home with an awesome prize! Thank you for your support and thank you to Ms. Baumann, Ms. G and Ms. Snowday for making this event possible for our students!
Top Grade Level Readers:
6th: Carl Benson, Maya Carlson, Madelyn Carney and Annelise Rutledge
7th: Roman Douglas
8th: Charlotte Heydlauff
Keep reading, Titans!
Thanks to the amazing generosity of the following businesses: Center I.C.E. Arena, Cherry Republic, Culver’s (Munson Avenue), ELEV8, Handz On Art, Incredible Mo’s, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches (Front Street & South Airport locations), Lake Ann Grocery, Moomers, Oaky’s Tavern, Papa J’s Pizzeria, POP-KIES and The Stone Oven every reader went home with an awesome prize! Thank you for your support and thank you to Ms. Baumann, Ms. G and Ms. Snowday for making this event possible for our students!
Top Grade Level Readers:
6th: Carl Benson, Maya Carlson, Madelyn Carney and Annelise Rutledge
7th: Roman Douglas
8th: Charlotte Heydlauff
Keep reading, Titans!
SCHOOL IS CLOSED: All TCAPS schools are closed today, Tuesday, January 27, 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.
All TCAPS schools are closed tomorrow, Friday, January 23, 2026, due to inclement weather. Students in Michigan Virtual, Acellus, or Dual Enrollment classes should follow the direction of the instructors for those programs.
Due to the inclement weather closure, we are moving the 2-hour early release to Thursday, March 26, 2026. Based on staff and community feedback, we want to prioritize full days of instructional time for this upcoming week.
Thank you for your flexibility as we work to maximize learning time for our students!
