Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, Thursday, April 16.

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.

10 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Early release promotional graphic
Westwoods PTO arranged for Clark Lewis to perform for the students. They had a fantastic time.
2 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
A person stands on a platform holding two hula hoops inside a gym with wooden floors.
A group of children are in a school gym. Some are sitting on bleachers, others are standing.
Mr. Stave's and Mrs. Carter's classes are cleaning up for Earth Day.
3 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Many children pose in a field with a large memorial behind them. Trees and a building are in the background.
Westwoods Presents! Family Bike Night!!
Friday May 1st 5pm-7pm at Westwoods Elementary
Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy some biking!!
We will have bike decorating, safety checks, trail riding and more!!
Don't have a bike!
Norte will have a small selection of bikes and helments to borrow.
For questions about borrowing from Norte's Bike Library,
donating a child's bike to the library, or to learn more about
Westside Adventure Mountain Bike Club, Please contact Tyler at
231-883-2471
https://www.norteyouthcycling.org/youthbikeprograms
Please note Helemets are required
If you need Assisanance with a helmet please reach out to the PTO;
westwoodselementarypto@gmail.com
3 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Event flyer for Family Bike Night. A colorful graphic includes a helmet, bicycles, and kids. Text reads "Friday May 1st, 5-7 pm at Westwood Elementary."
Teacher Appreciation Week.
Recess Volunteers Needed
See the sign-up to help!
3 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
A poster with a playset in a park. Text reads "Teacher Appreciation Week" and "Recess Volunteers Needed." See the sign up to help!Bees in the corners.
Mrs. Gang's fifth-grade art class was weaving outside on a beautiful Earth Day.
3 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Group of children sitting and standing on grass, holding books, posing for a photo in front of a building.
The top readers of the Read-a-Thon voted on a prize, and they chose to tape Mr. Tisdale to the wall.
9 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
A Mr. Tisdale wearing glasses taped to the wall covered by red, white, and black plastic strips. Behind him is a brick wall.
This week in Science, the 5th graders continued their study of the circulatory system with a hands-on sheep heart dissection . This engaging activity allowed the students to explore the structure of the heart in a real, meaningful way, helping them better understand how it functions and connects to what they learned in class.
9 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Three kids wearing gloves work on a project at a table, with papers and a blue tray.
A girl in a purple shirt and gloves examines a fish on a blue tray at a desk.
Three children wearing gloves, examining objects in a blue tray on a table. A plant in a pot on the windowsill.
The 2026 State of the District video is now live! Stay up to date with TCAPS’ initiatives and see how we are educating, engaging, and supporting all learners to maximize individual excellence.

Watch the video here: https://itl.ink/TCAPSStateoftheDistrict26
10 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
A blue logo displays "TCAPS" with "Traverse City Area Public Schools" written underneath in smaller text.
Westwoods Wake Up Friday April 17th 8:30-9:30
Westwoods families! Another community event is upon us!
We’ll be by the flagpole with coffee and pastries for sale, with all proceeds supporting each grade’s field trip fund.

April beneficiary
3rd Grade

Payment options: Cash, check, or Venmo
Minimum donation: $3 each for coffee and pastries

Thank you to Espresso Bay and Northwoods Soda Co. for sponsoring April’s event.

We can’t wait to share a cup of coffee with you.
We want to reiterate that Coffee stand items are intended for adults only- thank you for understanding

Event Designed for you by Westwoods PTO!
10 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Flyer with coffee beans on the top stating: Westwoods Wake up Friday April 17th 8:30-9:30Westwoods families! Another community event is upon us! We’ll be by the flagpole with coffee and pastries for sale, with all proceeds supporting each grade’s field trip fund. April beneficiary 3rd Grade Payment options: Cash, check, or Venmo Minimum donation: $3 each for coffee and pastries Thank you to Espresso Bay and Northwoods Soda Co. for sponsoring April’s event. We can’t wait to share a cup of coffee with you. We want to reiterate that Coffee stand items are intended for adults only- thank you for understanding. Even Designed for you by Westwoods PTO!

TCAPS Transportation and Safety Update

Our TCAPS Administrative team spent the day working closely with Grand Traverse County to evaluate road conditions and finalize bus routing. While families whose students have been rerouted have already been notified, we ask for your patience tomorrow,  as there will likely be delays in both morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off times. School administrators are aware of these delays and are prepared to assist students as they arrive.

To stay updated on your student’s transportation status, please utilize the MyRide K-12 app. You can access Account Setup Instructions and Routing Information online to view real-time routing details at https://www.tcaps.net/page/transportation. The Grand Traverse County Road Commission asks that you plan ahead for the next few days and give yourself extra time. Please use extra caution when traveling and slow down immediately if you encounter areas with standing water.

Also, please note that tomorrow is a scheduled early release day. You can view start and dismissal times athttps://5il.co/3jfxa and the full academic calendar athttps://5il.co/3jfx6. Thank you for your flexibility and for your partnership in keeping our students and drivers safe.

11 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Orange banner with a bell icon reads "TCAPS Update" against a blue background.

Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day on Thursday, April 16. 🔔

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.

12 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Early release promotional graphic
Spring Picture Day is coming on Monday, April 13!

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTN29DT7. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Monday, April 13. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

Only students that pre-ordered Spring photos will be photographed on Picture Day. All orders must be placed by Monday, April 13.
14 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
The "Spiral" Effect: Building Background Knowledge Experts!

Have you ever wondered how to build background knowledge for students? CKLA builds background knowledge for reading comprehension. In our Amplify CKLA curriculum, we use "spiraling"—revisiting big topics at a deeper level as students grow! For example, TCAPS 5th graders learned about Maya, Aztec and Inca this year, but this isn’t the first time students will be exposed to these ideas.

In 1st Grade (The Foundation): Students first "meet" these cultures. They listened to stories about maize, stepped into the floating gardens of Tenochtitlan, and learned basic geography. 🌽

In 5th Grade (The Deep Dive): Now, they are investigators. They aren’t just listening; they are analyzing primary sources, decoding Maya hieroglyphics, and comparing the sophisticated political systems of the three empires.

Connecting the Dots: This unit isn't just about the past, it’s a bridge! It sets the stage for future units on the Age of Exploration and the American Revolution by giving students the "big picture" of who was here first.

By revisiting these big ideas, our students aren’t just memorizing facts for a test—they are building a permanent library of knowledge that makes them better readers and critical thinkers for life.
18 days ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Five students pose in a classroom holding handmade tri-fold projects about Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations.
A student project with drawings and handwritten facts about Maya, Aztec, and Inca architecture and culture.
A student project displaying Maya numbers, Aztec war weapons, and the Inca quipu system with typed research paragraphs.
Students visited the Traverse Area District Library before spring break! They had a great time.
20 days ago, Westwoods Elementary
Students sitting on a colorful rug looking at a projection screen with the word welcome to the Traverse area district library. A teacher is standing watching them.

Reminder: There will be no school for students from Friday, March 27, through Friday, April 3. Additionally, all TCAPS school offices and the TCAPS Administration Building at Glenn Loomis will be closed to the public during this time.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, April 6.

Have a safe and relaxing spring recess!

about 1 month ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
A silhouette of a person sitting under a large tree and reading a book against a warm, golden sunset background. Centered in the frame is the white logo for "TCAPS" with the text "Traverse City Area Public Schools" written underneath it.

Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day today, Thursday, March 26.

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.

about 1 month ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Early release promotional graphic

Reminder: Spring Recess Ahead! ☀️🌸

There will be no school for students from Friday, March 27, through Friday, April 3. Additionally, all TCAPS school offices and the Administration Building at Glenn Loomis will be closed to the public. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, April 6. Have a safe and relaxing spring recess!

Academic Calendar: https://5il.co/3jfx6

about 1 month ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
A silhouette of a person sitting under a large tree and reading a book against a warm, golden sunset background. Centered in the frame is the white logo for "TCAPS" with the text "Traverse City Area Public Schools" written underneath it.

Reminder: TCAPS has an early release day on Thursday, March 26. 🔔

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.

about 1 month ago, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Early release promotional graphic

Westwoods PTO organized volunteers and Home Depot helpers to assist with craft activities for our Read-A-Thon. The students followed instructions to create their crafts, and it was a wonderful turnout. Each student was able to take home their finished craft. A big thank you to our PTO and the volunteers who dedicated their time to support the students.

about 1 month ago, Westwoods Elementary
Two students working at a table with a hammer and instrucations. They are weraring orange home depot smocks and building a pink owl box. Behind them is a red, blue, green, orange and purple rug.
Studentst sitting on the floor of an empty classroom, filled with boxes and bags, creating a craft. The students are wearing orange Home Depot smocks and looking at the camera holding their wooden craft project that they made. In the middle of the circle of student is a rubbermaid bin with markers. One student is coloring on his wooden air plane craft.
A student and a parent Volunteer working at a table, reading instrucations and building with a hammer, wood and nails. The adult is wearing a black hoodie that says fresh coast and a gray hat. He is using a hammer to nail into wood. The student is sitting next to him wearing a grey hoodie, orange home depot smock and holding a box with an orange home depot sticker on it. There is another students who is facing the adult and student on the other side of the table. We only see her hair and part of her glasses.