Falcons Weekly News

Dear Willow Hill Families,

The Great Pumpkin Lighting is coming! This is an annual FREE event from our Parent Teacher Organization that takes place in Ashton Park after school hours. On Friday, October 16 students wanting to participate should bring a carved pumpkin to school (of a size they can carry independently). If possible include a flameless tea light candle inside. Throughout the day, classes will take their carved pumpkins to the park and place them in their designated spot. The more participants, the better the end result! For those who do not want their child walking to the park, please contact your child's teacher or the office by Wednesday.

The evening of October 16, from 5:30-6:30, it will be time for the Great Pumpkin Lighting! All families are invited to visit the park and look at the creative carvings. PTO will be on hand to provide refreshments (until they run out). PLEASE TAKE YOUR PUMPKIN HOME WHEN YOU LEAVE.

Parent networking note: This is a great event to attend and meet other parents from your child(ren)’s classrooms! Think about using the time not only to look at fun pumpkins, but to make introductions and connect with other parents.

Go Falcons!

Angela

October 12 Early Release Day, dismissal 1:57pm

October15 PTO Meeting, 6-7pm, childcare available

October 16 Great Pumpkin Lighting, 5:30-6:30pm, Ashton Park

October 26-29 GTHD Hearing/Vision Screening (see below)
October 30 Halloween Parade, 9:30am & Monster Mash

2026-27 TCAPS District Calendar

Hearing and vision screenings required by the State of Michigan under the Public Health Code and provided by the Grand Traverse County Health Department Hearing and Vision Technicians are scheduled for your school as follows:

WILLOW HILL ELEMENTARY
OCTOBER 26-29, 2026 and DECEMBER 2 & 3, 2026

Dates are subject to change in the event of an unexpected school cancellation, such as inclement weather.

The goal of Michigan’s hearing and vision screening program is to identify children who may have hearing or vision concerns and assist families in finding care. Early detection and treatment, when needed, can greatly support a child’s learning and success in school.

• All students who are present on the scheduled screening dates, including any change dates, will be screened according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) grade-level screening guidelines.

• If you have a concern regarding your child’s hearing or vision, please let your child’s teacher or the school office know before the first scheduled screening date.

• If your child is currently under the care of an optometrist, ophthalmologist, other eye-care specialist, or hearing specialist and has a current care plan in place, please review the under-care section of the waiver.

• If your child has a shunt or other medically implanted device, please review the waiver for additional information regarding hearing screenings.

• If you wish to decline screening services, please print and complete the waiver. Return the completed waiver to the school at least one school day before the first scheduled screening date.
  
  

For 75 years, Michigan Public Health has provided free hearing and vision screening services to children throughout the State. Since 1949, the programs have served over 50 million children through standardized screenings and a formal referral process. If your child meets the MDHSS referral guidelines based on their hearing or vision screening, initial referral paperwork will be sent home in your child’s backpack.

Sign up is happening now for Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Wednesday, November 4, 4:30-7:30pm

Tuesday, November 10, 4:30-7:30pm

Thursday, November 12, 4:30-7:30pm

In order to remain within each teacher’s schedule of appointments, we request that parents make one appointment per child.

To get to the Willow Hill Elementary Conference Scheduler, follow the link provided:

https://ptcfast.com/schools/Willow_Hill_Elementary

• Select the teacher(s) from the list that you need to conference with, then click submit.

• You will be prompted to provide a working email

• PTCfast will send you an email with a link to the teacher schedule(s) you requested.

• Select your conference time. If you choose more than one teacher, you can coordinate the conference times for each of your children.
  
  

Please schedule your child(ren)’s conference before Thursday, October 29.

Thank you in advance for helping us to achieve our school goal of holding a parent-teacher conference for 100% of our students. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or the office.

We will have our traditional all-school Halloween Parade, on 10/30/26 at 9:30 a.m.

• Spectators: Families are welcome to cheer on our students as we parade through Slabtown. Adults choosing to dress up are asked to keep their faces visible without masks.

• General costume guidelines for students include:

• No full face coverings

• Non-violent

• No weapons or gore

• Please have students come to school ready in their costumes with change of clothes for after the parade. Please check with your child’s teacher regarding specific classroom festivities.

Save the Date for the annual Willow Hill Pumpkin Lighting on Friday, October 16th from 5:30-6:30pm. Students are invited to bring a carved pumpkin (that they can carry) to school. Teachers will walk students to Ashton Park during the school day and families are invited to visit the spooky scene and enjoy cider and donuts in the evening.

Something spooky is stirring at school! Keep your eyes on your email and classroom mail for information about the Willow Hill Annual Fundraiser kicking off Friday, October 16. Our goal is to raise funds that will go directly toward enhancing student experiences, supporting classrooms, and providing fun opportunities for our school community. Shhh….don’t tell the little monsters but we will be celebrating all their hard work with a spooky Monster Mash during the school day on October 30!!!

THANK YOU to Mitten Glass Company/The Durga Family for sponsoring our new popcorn machine! Your generosity will keep popcorn popping and students smiling for years to come!

More LOST and not much FOUND! Items will be held till mid October and then donated.

It is helpful to label all of your child’s items. Parents are encouraged to stop in and take a look.

Willow Hill Library Volunteer sign up

Job description/shelving basics

TCAPS volunteer form

Lunch Menu

MONDAY

1st choice: breaded chicken drumstick
2nd choice: X

3rd choice: soy jammer with crackers & cheese stick

TUESDAY

1st choice: loaded beef nachos

2nd choice: cheese quesadilla

3rd choice: soy jammer with crackers & cheese stick

WEDNESDAY

1st choice: chicken patty sandwich

2nd choice: mozzarella stuffed breadsticks w/marinara

3rd choice: soy jammer with crackers & yogurt

THURSDAY

1st choice: chicken tenders

2nd choice: macaroni & cheese

3rd choice: soy jammer with crackers & yogurt

FRIDAY

1st choice: Cheese Pizza

2nd choice: Pepperoni Pizza

3rd choice: soy jammer with crackers & cheese stick

Salad bar with fruit and veggies are offered every day to all hot lunch students.

**Students who are bringing lunch from home are able to purchase milk for $0.75

Join us at Thirlby Field on Friday, Oct 23 as the Trojans and Titans come together to honor Veterans, active-duty military, and first responders! Gates open at 5:30 PM, with ceremonies starting at 6:35 PM and kickoff at 7:10 PM.

Tickets are $7 in advance on GoFan.co or 7–8 at the Thirteenth Street gate. Admission is FREE for all Veterans, active military, and first responders. Be sure to pick up commemorative apparel at either high school from Oct 12–23 (red for Trojans and blue for Titans) with all proceeds benefiting Reining Liberty Ranch.

Skip the lines and get full event details at www.tcaps.net/tcpatriotgame!

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Superintendent, Dr. John VanWagoner, monthly “office hours”, will be in person at Horizon Books, Second Floor Mezzanine level, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, on October 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.