Montessori Newsletter
April 4th, 2025
Head of School News and Notes
Welcome back to a brand new school year! We are so excited to welcome our Timberwolves back to campus and kick off the 2026–2027 school year together.
Our open house is right around the corner, and we can’t wait to see you there:
Open House Schedule & Highlights
AC Orientation & Open House (grades 7-8) - Monday, August 31, from 1:00 to 3:00. Students should arrive sometime within the 2-hour window. Lifetouch school photos will be taken for purchase, students’ IDs, and the yearbook. Guides will be available with handouts and information. Paperwork will be available for the Sept. 15-17 Interlochen State Park Camping trip.
September 1, 2026
CASA (PreSchool, JK, K) Open House: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
LE, UE and TAG (Grades 1-6) Open House: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Pro-Tip for Returning Families: Please consider coming during the last half hour of your time slot so our new students and families have dedicated time to get to know their teachers!
What to Check Out During Open House:
Front Hall: Visit several community tables packed with great local information.
Classroom Visits: Stop by to pick up your packet, tour the space, and say hello to your teachers.
Playground: Head outside for some community connection, PTO picnic, and fun!
PTO Welcome Back Family Picnic
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Details: Bring your own picnic dinner if you’d like! An ice cream truck will also be on-site for a sweet treat.
Class Placement & Packets
Welcome Emails: Lead teachers will send a "Welcome to Class" email on Tuesday, September 1st, around 12:00 PM. Our placement team takes a great deal of time to create engaging, balanced classrooms where all of our Timberwolves can learn and grow.
Missed Open House? If you cannot attend, packets will be available in the main office Wednesday, Sept. 2–Friday, Sept. 4, or will be sent home with your student on the first day of school.
We look forward to an amazing year of growth and learning!
Tracy
Head of School, TCAPS Montessori
Updates & Reminders
The Brick 4 Brains TCAPS Montessori Robotics Team is excited to kick off another incredible season of learning, teamwork, creativity, and innovation.
If your child is interested in Robotics, we invite you and your child to join the 2026-2027 Robotics Team Kickoff on:
📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 TCAPS Montessori Maker Space & Outdoor Learning Area
Please RSVP to Heather Sauer via text (810-397-9153) or email (heathersauer@outlook.com) if your child plans to attend.
2. AC Picture Day is coming on Monday, August 31! You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT6T9KMT. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping! Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online at mylifetouch.com. Student Data Safety and Security: As the only SOC 3 compliant partner in school photography, Lifetouch delivers unmatched protection for student and staff information - backed by third‑party verification and trusted by schools nationwide. Learn More.
3. Medication at School: ALL medication – including over-the-counter medications must have proper authorization prior to being disbursed to your child by the school office. A Medication Authorization Form must be on file whenever medication is brought to school. The form includes written instructions from the child’s health care provider, specific information about the medication, and a parent's signature. This policy applies to prescription and over-the-counter medications. The forms are available online, in all school offices, and in many physicians’ offices. For any other questions about this form, please send an email to Liisa Szarapski (<SzarapskLi@tcaps.net>) TCAPS district nurse. Please do not send medication with your child in a plastic bag or backpack, and ask that the office give the medicine to your child. State Law mandates that proper procedures be in place for your child’s safety. We cannot deviate from the law! If your child needs short-term meds, such as an antibiotic, and the dose is three times per day, the office will not administer the middle dose. This would need to be done from home. Cough drops WITHOUT active ingredients or time interval suggestions are acceptable at school.
4. SEEDS Afterschool Program: Please see the PDF link below if you are interested in learning more about our afterschool program through SEEDS. Spaces are filling up fast and are limited.
1. Volunteers: Volunteers are asked to review the Volunteer Page on the district's website and read the Volunteer Standards of Conduct. Volunteers are asked to complete the online volunteer application form. Once the form has been completed, volunteers can expect to hear back in 1-2 business days, after submission, from TCAPS Human Resources Department.
2. SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE HOURS: September 16, 2025, 5:00-6:00 p.m., and will be a virtual meeting: join using this link: meet.google.com/cpo-wwwz-qat or you can join by phone:
(US) +1 475-549-0438 PIN: 961 104 679#
3. BOARD OFFICE HOURS: August 28, 2025, 6:00-7:00 p.m., with Vice President Moon Mohr, this month is an in-person meeting at the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) in the McGuire Room, 610 Woodmere Avenue.
4. DISTRICT NEWS LETTER: The August 2025 edition of TCAPS' District News is now live! Read about all the great things happening in TCAPS:
View the mobile version here: https://5il.co/3nulo
View the desktop/print version here: https://5il.co/3nulu
5. Volunteer Members Needed for TCAPS PA 226, Sex Education Advisory Board: The TCAPS Sex Education Advisory Board meets five to eight times per year to review sex education curriculum, materials, and methods of instruction. The meetings are typically scheduled from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month.Selection of members will be based on three criteria – expressed interest, ability to attend meetings as required, and that you meet one of the following categories:
Parent of a student attending TCAPS
Student in the school district (age-appropriate)
Educator
Local clergy
Community health professional
Other interested citizens residing in the district.
According to the committee bylaws, 50% of the membership shall be the parents of current TCAPS students. If there are more volunteers than there are openings, a lottery system will be used to select members.If you are interested, please apply on or before September 29, 2025, using the 25-26 TCAPS Sex Education Advisory Board Application. Any questions can be directed to Dan McGee, TCAPS Sex Education Coordinator at mcgeeda@tcaps.net.
August - October
August 31 - AC Orientation & Open House
September 1 - Open House - CASA, LE, UE & TAG
September 8 - First Day of School
September 11 - Early Release Day, Dismissal @ 1:12 pm (1 of 7)
September 14- October 2- NWEA Assessment Window
September 15 - 17 - AC Camping Trip - Interlochen State Park
September 21 - International Day of Peace
September 23, 25, 30; October 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, & 23 - YMCA 3rd Grade Safety Around Water Program
September 15- PTO Meeting, 3:30, Front Hall
October 7 - Count Day & Move-a-Thon
October 12 - Early Release Day, Dismissal @ 1:12 pm (2 of 7)
October 15 - PTO's Jacob's Farm Fall Fest - 5:00 to 7:00 pm
October 19 - Picture Day (Toddler through 6th grade)
October 20 - PTO Meeting, Front Hall, 3:30
October 30 - Literacy & Halloween Classroom Celebrations
Like us on: TCAPS Montessori Facebook
School Hours: 8:00 am to 3:12 pm
Full Day Dismissal: 3:12 pm
Half Day Dismissal: 11:22 am
Early Release Dismissal: 1:12 pm