Long Lake Newsletter

Dear Long Lake Families,

Just a reminder, students do not have school tomorrow, November 2nd. They return on Tuesday. Hopefully you turned back your clocks and were able to enjoy some extra time this weekend!

This Wednesday is Picture Retake Day! Wednesday is also the start of our Parent Teacher Conferences. If you haven't signed up for a time yet, please use the link below to partner with school staff. We have times available on November 4th, 10th and 12th. You can sign up for conference times here Scroll down to your teacher's name. Parents can request any format (virtual or in person) on any of the evenings. Virtual links can be found here. We look forward to connecting to share all of the progress your child has made this year!

Conference Meals: Our amazing PTO organizes meals for our teachers during Conference Nights Conferences are long days for our amazing LL staff. Please consider helping fuel them through conference nights! Conference Meal Donations Thank you for your consideration!

Let's make it a great week of learning!

Kate Burwinkel
Long Lake Elementary Principal

Life Touch will be on campus on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 for picture retakes. Students who were absent on picture day and students who need retakes will have their pictures taken. If your child needs retakes, please return their original pictures to school before November 4. If you would like to order pictures, there are two ways to order. Orders can be placed online at mylifetouch.com using ID number EVTGZZQJW. Picture envelopes are available in the office if you would prefer to pay with cash or check. Orders after picture day must be placed online at mylifetouch.com.

Yearbooks can also be ordered if you have not already done so. Yearbook orders are placed online at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The Long Lake yearbook ID code is 15170527.

The Prasad family purchased and donated some soccer nets for our field for students to enjoy during recesses! The were installed this weekend and we can't wait to try them out on Tuesday!

We are excited to share that the TCAPS Mobile Health Clinic will be visiting Long Lake Elementary on November 19th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.! In partnership with Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc. (NMHSI), this "Curbside Care" Center provides convenient and affordable primary care and behavioral health services to TCAPS students. Whether serving as your child’s sole primary care provider or as supplemental care for urgent needs and injuries, they can help reduce transportation barriers and ensure every student has access to supports they need.

Services Provided

• Medical & Clinical Care: Basic well-child visits, sick visits, basic vision and hearing screenings, medication reviews, and referrals to dental and vision services.
• Behavioral & Specialized Care: Behavioral health supports and services.
• Community & Family Support: Care coordination and community referrals.
• Language Support: Spanish-speaking staff members are available on site.

How to Access Care

To schedule an appointment on November 19th, please call 231-642-5291. More information can also be found at https://www.tcaps.net/page/student-health-center

Veterans Assembly November 10th: We invite all Veterans and Active Duty Military to join us for our annual Veterans Assembly (in honor of Veterans Day) on November 10th @ 9:30 AM. Know a Veteran who would be interested in joining us for this honorary celebration? Please invite anyone who may be interested!

Photos of Family: As we prepare for our Veterans Celebration on November 10th, we would love to continue to honor the veterans and active service members who are connected to our school community. Please email a photo of the family member who has served or is currently serving to burwinkeka@tcaps.net if you haven't shared in past years. Their photo will be added to our Veterans Assembly slideshow!

It has become tradition at Long Lake to collect donations of Halloween candy and supplies for military members stationed overseas. This year, Adopt a Soldier will be sending care packages to Coast Guardsmen in Bahrain. Long Lake Panthers are typically very generous, last year we collected 125 pounds of candy! If you would like to donate, please follow this specific list for requested items: Halloween candy, Cliff bars, trail mix, gum, chapstick, cough drops, Tums, Uno type card games, crossword/word search books, Sudoku. Boxes will be set up near the main entrance for donations. Donations must be received by November 5th.

We would love to see you and your kids at Crystal Mountain! Students must be 7 years or older by January 1. Membership includes 1 lesson/week, skiing all evening Thursdays, and for an additional fee on Sundays. Discounted Thursday night passes for adults too! Click here for more information!

We are excited to continue a resource available to our Long Lake families, the Abound Parenting App! Learning to read is a gradual process that builds important skills over time. A strong foundation in vocabulary plays a critical role in reading success. The Abound Parenting App makes it easy for families to support this growth at home!

Each day, the app prompts parents to ask their child just two questions. These questions spark meaningful conversations, build vocabulary, and strengthen the skills that support reading comprehension. There are also additional resources including Read Aloud Books and a Check In survey to learn more about your child’s reading needs.

Thanks to grant funding, this app is completely free for all our families. You are also encouraged to share access with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other caregivers who spend time talking and learning with your child.

Get started by signing up: Go to the App Store or Google Play, download & open the Abound Parenting App. Enter account info (e.g. your email, and create a password including a symbol, number, upper and lowercase letter). Enter your INVITE CODE, LLE2026 An informational flyer can be found here.

House Assembly: Families are invited to join our House Assembly on Friday November 20th at 9:20 a.m. We will share in community and build house spirit!

Please join us on Saturday November 14th from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Every room will have vendors. You will find our 3rd Graders in the main hallway hosting a baked sale by donation.

Our 5th Graders will be in the main hallway, serving Panther Coffee and Hot cocoa by donation. They will also be serving a pizza lunch in the cafeteria, also by donation. Funds collected will be used towards their trip to Mackinac Island in June. If you are a parent of a 5th grader and would like to help out, please check out the sign up below. Thank you!

Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up

Craft Show Donation Sign Up

Our online shop is now closed. Once Jen Tees has all of the orders printed (their estimate is about 2 weeks out) we will hand deliver to students at school. If you wish to pick them up in the office, please let us know via email longlakepto1@gmail.com. Thank You!

Our PTO provides popcorn to students as an extra treat once a month! However, we need volunteers to make this possible. Bring your friends and meet some new people for a fun night out for the kids. You don't need to have previous experience to help out! Volunteer positions for this include a pro-popper (someone that knows how to use the popcorn machine) and additional volunteers to help bag the popcorn. Please consider volunteering: Popcorn Popper Sign Up Link

Looking for a way to help out your child’s classroom? Click on the link below to find your Teachers name at the bottom of the spreadsheet and take a look at the items needed for their classroom. Make sure to mark off if you are able to purchase any items. Thank you! Teacher Wishlist Link

Join us for TCAPS Board Community Connections, an informal space for families and community members to discuss district-wide updates and TCAPS policy. This month’s meeting will be on November 4, 2026 at Silver Lake Elementary School from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Trustee Bageris is scheduled to attend. Note: For specific building-level or student concerns, please contact your school principal first for the most direct assistance.

College Coaches & Advisers (MCAN & AdviseMI): Help high school students navigate applications and financial aid starting Dec. 1. Earn a $20,000 living allowance plus benefits. Bachelor's degree required; paid training provided!

EcoSchool Site Coordinator (SEEDS): Lead outdoor activities, academic support, and summer camp at Traverse City Heights Elementary ($21.36/hr). Requires 1+ year of youth experience.

Check their websites to apply today!

Traverse City Area Public Schools is honored to offer veterans the opportunity to receive their high school diploma and participate in our 2027 graduation ceremonies!

Under Michigan's Public Act 181 of 2001 and Public Act 55 of 2014, the TCAPS Board of Education is authorized to award high school diplomas to veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

Eligibility Details:

• WWII Veterans: Must have left high school between December 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946.

• Korean War Veterans: Must have left high school between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955.

• Vietnam Era Veterans: Must have been drafted or enlisted between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, and attended a TCAPS high school.

This opportunity is available to eligible veterans who did not subsequently receive a high school diploma. Family members are welcome to apply on behalf of a living or deceased veteran.

For more information or to submit an application, please call 231.933.1722.

Don't miss the Traverse City Central High School Music Department’s Michigan premiere of Wonderland! Reserve your seats today at tcaps.booktix.com to support our talented students!

• Showtimes: Evening performances (7 p.m.) on Nov. 13, 14, 20, and 21; Matinees (2 p.m.) on Nov. 15 and 22.

• Tickets: $20 General Admission | $25 VIP

Our district is committed to protecting local water quality through our Stormwater Management Program in partnership with Arch Environmental Group. We encourage all staff, parents, and students to learn how we can work together to prevent pollution: Practice clean water habits every day. Download the Stormwater Educational Flyer for more practical tips. Share your feedback with Arch Environmental Group by taking the brief Watershed Survey to help guide community stormwater efforts.

November 2nd: No School for Students Regional Staff Development Day

November 4th: Picture Retake Day

November 4th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 4th-6th: Vision and Hearing Rescreening

November 5th: TCAPS All City Choir Performance

November 10th: Veterans Assembly @ 9:30 a.m.

November 10th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 12th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 14th: PTO Sponsored Craft Fair 9:00-3:00

November 19th: Mobile Health Unit Visit to Long Lake

November 19th:PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. in the library or you can join virtually @ https://meet.google.com/rqp-hqre-sds

November 24th: Early Release Day for Students

November 25th-27th Thanksgiving Break

TCAPS 2026-2027 Academic Calendar
TCAPS 2026-2027 Building Hours

Long Lake Website: https://www.tcaps.net/o/lles

Long Lake Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LongLakeElementarySchoolTCAPS

PTO Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Long-Lake-Elementary-PTO-305155839569856/