The Eastern Star Family Newsletter

As we look toward the final stretch of the school year, we invite you to sign up for our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. These meetings are an opportunity for us to celebrate your child’s academic and social growth, address any challenges, and collaborate on a clear plan for the remainder of the year. Your partnership is vital to your child's success, and we look forward to discussing how we can best support their progress together. Please use the links below to select a time slot that works for your schedule.

#shinebrighttogether

• February 18, 3:20-3:40: TBA Student Run Credit Union Deposit Day
• February 19: Early Release Day; Dismissal at 1:57
• February 20: No School; Teacher Work Day
• February 26, 3:00-3:45: 1st Grade Talent Show
• February 27: Popcorn Friday
• TCAPS 25-26 Calendar

Eastern’s winter parent-teacher conferences are March 3, 5, and 11. Sign up at the links below. Please remember the following:

• Conferences are limited to 15 minutes, so please make sure you are on time.

• Consider scheduling a break between conferences if you have multiple children; that will allow you to be on time for your conferences and stay the full amount of time.

• If you have a child in 4th or 5th grade, only sign up with your child’s homeroom teacher.

Preschool: Mrs. Feaster Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Preschool: Mrs. Roeder Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Junior Kindergarten: Mrs. Odette Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Ms. Edwardson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Mrs. Ferguson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Ms. Freeman Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

1st Grade: Mrs. Brott Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

1st Grade: Dr. Chaprnka Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up (Please note that Dr. Chaprnka's conference dates are March 16, 17, and 18).

1st Grade: Ms. Ross Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. Fak Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. Hites Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. LaBarre Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Ms. Stoudt Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. LaBlanc Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. Norton Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. Shembarger Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Ms. Lutes Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Mrs. Nelson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Mrs. Stout Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mrs. Annelin Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mr. Cooper Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mrs. Kearney Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Social Work: Ms. Markey Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Principal: Mr. Swegles Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Please help us feed our teachers during conferences on Tuesday March 3rd. We are having a Soup and Slider night. Sign up to bring food items or supplies. All items should be delivered to the office or staff lounge by 3:45 pm because dinner starts at promptly 4pm. Contact Shanna Girrbach if you have any questions segirrbach@hotmail.com or 231-944-4048.

Parent-Teacher Conference Meal Sign Up

I would like to share that Mrs. Bui will be out through Spring Break. In her absence, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Ryan Lewis, who will be stepping in to lead the classroom. Mr. Lewis is already a familiar face in our TCAPS community, having recently completed a successful long-term substitute position at TCAPS Montessori. We are confident his experience and familiarity with our music program and curriculum will ensure a smooth and productive transition as we head into the final months of the school year.

Mark Your Calendars and Stay Tuned…

The Artemis Books Book Fair is coming to Eastern this March just in time for March is Reading Month!

The book fair is held in the lobby and will be open during these times:

• Tuesday, March 10th- 8:45am-4:30pm

• Wednesday, March 11th- 8:45am-8pm (through Parent-Teacher Conferences)

• Thursday, March 12th- 8:45am-2:30pm (Early Release Day)

• Friday, March 13th- 8:45am-9:10am (before packing up)

Artemis Books is a new local bookseller. A portion of the proceeds will support our Eastern library.

Just a few drop off and pick up reminders:

• 3 options for dropoff: 1) car line 2) north parking lot and walk up 3) south parking lot and walk up
• pull all the way up in the car line when space is present
• use left lane to exit

Specified drop off locations exist to ensure the safety of students, family members, and staff.

Reminders to avoid:

• dropping off in the back parking lot that is staff only
• using the handicap spaces to drop child off and then leaving. We do have volunteers at Eastern who use and need those spaces

Our young authors in Grades JK–5 have been pouring their hearts and creativity into their writing this year and we are excited to invite you to our 4th Annual Writers’ Celebrations from February 25–27.

This event is a special milestone where students showcase their progress, share their unique voices, and celebrate the art of writing various genres with our school community.

While students will be exploring the showcase throughout the school week, we have reserved three specific windows for families to come and admire the work:

• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 4:00-6:00
• Thursday, Feb. 26, 4:00-6:00
• Friday, Feb. 27, 8:30-9:30

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to everyone who signed up to be an Eastern volunteer through DOGS/MOMS. We are changing the way we coordinate volunteers through this program. Each Friday we will include sign ups for classrooms/school areas that need extra support.

We will also reach out to those who have signed up with DOGS/MOMS. If you would like to be on that list, please fill out the Watch DOGS/MOMS Sign Up.

Volunteer Areas:

Ms. Ross, 1st Grade

Mrs. LaBarre, 2nd Grade

Mrs. Stout, 4th Grade

Mrs. Annelin, 5th Grade

Early Release Support, Office

Lunchroom Help

Recess Help

Many thanks Mr. Vanderkolk for organizing a group of Eastern dads to clear a few walkable spaces on our campus Thursday afternoon making it safer for our foot traffic!

Lights! Camera! Become a Sponsor!

We are thrilled to announce the Eastern Elementary Spring Auction Fundraiser, and this year, we’re celebrating Hollywood Through the Ages: From Hollywood Legends to Modern Day Icons.

Save the Date

• When: April 25th, 2026

• Where: The Peninsula Room

More details to come!

We are officially calling all sponsors to join our cast! See this flyer for additional information:

Proposals

We will be pausing proposal applications until after our Spring Auction on April 25th. A brief pause will allow us to host the event and calculate final proceeds to ensure a strong, sustainable fund to support Fall 2026 staff startup and student field trips. Thanks for understanding!

PTO Links:

BUDGET: 25/26 PTO approved budget.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: Any staff member or parent may submit a proposal. We love hearing from you and want your ideas! PTO Proposal Form

PENDING / GRANTED PROPOSALS: Log of what has been submitted or accepted for the 25/26 school year

MONDAY

plain donut

yogurt, fruit and milk

TUESDAY

cereal

cheese, fruit and milk

WEDNESDAY

mini pancakes

yogurt

fruit & milk

THURSDAY

Cereal

cheese stick, fruit & milk

FRIDAY

NO SCHOOL

LUNCH

MONDAY

1st choice: Cheeseburger with fries

2nd choice: Sunbutter & Jelly with cheese stick and Crackers

TUESDAY

1st choice: beef walking tacos

2nd choice: meatless walking tacos

3rd choice: sunbutter & jelly with crackers & cheese stick

WEDNESDAY

1st choice: Grilled Cheese with tomato soup

2nd choice Mini Pepperoni calzones

3rd choice: Sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and graham crackers

THURSDAY

1st choice: chicken tenders basket with emojis, dinner roll

2nd choice:sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and crackers

No 3rd choice

FRIDAY

NO SCHOOL

Elementary Handbook

LEAP Website

School Menus

TCAPS Volunteer Form

TCAPS Volunteer Standards of Conduct

WATCH D.O.G.S. Sign Up

WATCH D.O.G.S. Calendar (see where D.O.G.S. have already signed up)