West Senior High Updates

Parents & Students:

I'm happy to say we completed a five day school week! We capped it off with a high engergy Snowcoming pep assembly. During the assembly we highlighted a few of our teams that often don't get enough credit and are worth repeating here: Girls cross country won the BNC and were regional champions, our wrestling team won the conference regular season crown for the first time in school history, and both our boys and girls alpine ski teams sit atop the BNC standings. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into this type of success. It starts with our athletic director Mr. Carmien and flows down through our coaching staff and to our players. Nicely done everyone!

Brian Guiney - Lead Principal

Feb 11 | Junior Class Meeting (Auditorium) 10:15am
Feb 11 | 8th into 9th grade parent meeting (Auditorium) 6pm
Feb 14 | WSH/WMS Local Band Festival - Lars Hockstad Auditorium 8am-2pm

Further down the Calendar

Feb 18 | Freshman Class Meeting (Auditorium) 1pm
Feb 19 | Early Release Day #7
Feb 20 | No School for Students - Teacher Work Day
Mar 5 | Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 pm
April 14 | SAT testing for juniors

WSH calendar | TCAPS Academic Calendar | WSH Link Tree

We had a blast celebrating our West Pride at the Friday Pep Assembly!

Tomorrow 2/7 - Snowcoming Dance 8 - 10 PM in the Commons. TCASP Students only

A flyer titled "SNOCO WEEK @ W" showcasing highlights from a school pep assembly. The flyer features four Polaroid-style photos set against a light blue background with white snowflakes and a megaphone icon that says "PEP ASSEMBLY FUN!" The four featured activities are: Human Bowling: Students on scooters sliding across a gymnasium floor toward a target. Pie in the Face Trivia: Students sitting at a table with whipped cream on their faces while others stand around them. Three Puck: Students in white jerseys playing a modified floor hockey game in a crowded gym. Tug-a-War (Staff vs Students): Two teams pulling on a long rope in the center of the basketball court.

As we launch in to the second semester, each of our core departments have instructional routines designed to support SAT skill development. For example, our social studies department consistently orients students to graphs and charts relevant to course content - a transferable skill that is called for in the SAT. Here are other options for preparation:

CollegeBoard Full-length Practice Tests: The full-length practice tests in Bluebook™
Khan Academy Official Digital SAT Prep: khanacademy.org/digital-sat
In-Person practice SAT test (juniors only): 3.7.26 @ WSH, 3.14.26 @ CHS. Practice test sign up form
Further details on spring state mandated testing

This newsletter has all the information you need regarding:

Important dates/special schedules
Graduation
Scholarships
Senior meetings
Transcripts

Class of 2026 Newsletter

Course Selection Guide

As we move into our student course scheduling process next week for next school year, you may want to review the TCAPS 2026-2027 Course Selection Guide. This guide lists the courses that have been approved at the district level to offer students. Please understand that the courses that ulitmately "run" are the based on a variety of variable, most importantly student requests and teacher certification.

Congrats to Adan Ranieri and Hailey Nickerson on earning the February Kiwanis Senior of the Month nominations!

This prestigious recognition highlights your excellence in the classroom, strong leadership skills, and commitment to making a difference through service. Great job!

An 'Artist of the Week' announcement from TC West featuring student Jane Griffith. On the left, a portrait of Jane is shown in a gold frame. On the right is her artwork: a painting of a classic computer desktop with several 'System Error' windows containing illustrations of eyes.

Any student in need of tutoring can drop into the library after school at 3:15 - 4:15 Monday - Thursday. WSH staff members will be there to support your student. Students will sign into the LMC. Pick up arrangements will need to be made for your student.

School Begins at 8:05am and ends at 3:02pm. Students can be in the academic wings of the school (A,B,C, Music, HPE Wings) from 7:40-3:30 on school days. Outside of those times, students must be in the Commons area unless supervised by staff. Students must have a plan to be off campus by 3:45pm on school days (unless in an afterschool activity).

Location: 5376 North Long Lake Road, Traverse City, MI, 49685

Athens Office: 231-933-7590

Mr. O'Berski
Athens Attendance: 231-933-7555

Sparta Office: 231-933-7503

Mrs.Meyers

Sparta Attendance: 231-933-7555

Olympia Office: 231-933-7707

Mr. Wares
Olympia Attendance: 231-933-7555

Main Office

Head Principal: Brian Guiney 933-7500
Lead Admin. Assistant Hannah Pohlman 933-7501
Admin. Assistant: Rebecca Seyferth 933-7507
Admin. Assistant: Molly Pahl 933-7505

Counseling Office

Jennifer Lee (student last names A-E): leeje@tcaps.net, 933-7715
Melissa Kamm (student last names F - Laf): kammme@tcaps.net, 933-7705
Tom Ford (student last names Lag - Rom): fordth@tcaps.net, 933-7706
Lauran Pinto (student last names Ron - Z): pintola@tcaps.net, 933-7544
Registrar: Pamela Jean 933-7702
Admin. Assistant: Jennifer Roy 933-7700

Athletic Office

Athletic Director: Jason Carmien, carmienja@tcaps.net, 933-7781
Admin. Assistant Amy Rickenbeam@tcaps.net, 933-7780

TC West Sports Schedules: https://tcwathletics.com/
Tickets & sports passes are available on GO FAN https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10300

Academic Eligibility (Fall 2025 eligibility is based on 2024-25 Semester 2 Grades)

Students who do not pass 66% of their class are ineligible for 60 school days and will miss fall sports (must pass a minimum of 4 of their 6 classes).
Students who passed 66% of their classes but fall under a 2.0 grade point average will be monitored on a grade card for the fall sports season.
Student athletes should be on track with graduation credits.

Ensure you are getting communication!

Parents should log in and select the 2025-26 MHSAA sports their child plans to participate in in our Final Forms system. If you have not signed up for 2025-26 sports in final forms you are likely missing communications from the coach.

WSH Academic Communities: Academic Communities are not courses. Rather, they are experiences students opt into that extend their learning in an area of interest.

Stay tuned for more information about Academic Communities at West (Global, The Arts, & STEM). Students who would like to join an Academic Community at WSH for the 2025-26 school year can do so here: t.ly/AvVR
Incoming freshman can sign up now if they are interested in the STEM community (Sci-Ma-Tech or Sci-Ma-Health). Incoming freshman can sign up for Global or the Arts after they have completed a semester at West Senior High.

Superintendent Monthly Office Hours: Open to the Community

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Superintendent, Dr. John VanWagoner, will have monthly “office hours”, alternating each month between in person and virtual meetings. In person office hours will be held at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 on the second floor (Mezzanine level). Virtual office hours will be held via Google Meet and can be accessed here or by calling +1 475-549-0438‬ and entering PIN: ‪961 104 679‬#. All meetings begin at 5:00 pm. The alternating schedule will be as follows:

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Google Meet
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - Horizon Books
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - Google Meet
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - Horizon Books

TCAPS Student Health Center

Through a partnership with Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc (NMHSI) the Student Health Center provides convenient and affordable primary care and behavioral health services to TCAPS students ages 3-21. Whether serving as your child’s sole primary care provider or as supplemental care for urgent needs and injuries, we look forward to helping students feel their best, right at school. The TCAPS Student Health Center is open year-round and is always accepting new patients. Health insurance or not, everyone is welcome here. Request an appointment | Available Services