Westwoods Newsletter

Dear Westwoods Elementary Parents,

I'm writing to share how pleased we are with the turnout and engagement during our first night of parent-teacher conferences last night! It was wonderful connecting with so many of you.

We are really looking forward to seeing everyone scheduled to attend their conferences next week. Your participation is a vital part of your child's success, and we appreciate you taking the time to meet with our dedicated staff.

As the weather turns colder, please ensure your child is prepared with appropriate outdoor clothing each day. This includes coats, hats, and gloves/mittens, as students will continue to have outdoor recess time.

Thank you again for your partnership and support. We can't wait for a successful week of conferences ahead!

Sincerely,

Toby Tisdale

Principal

• When dropping students off before school, parents are not to enter the building. Please drop off students at the exterior doors.

  
  

• All visitors to the building must check in at the office first.

• Please make sure kids are keeping their toys, Pokémon cards, etc. at home to avoid loss, damage or other issues.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this fall on November 6, 11 and 13, from 4:30-7:30 each evening. Our goal is for teachers to meet with the parents/guardians of every student, so we encourage you to click the link below, select your child's teacher and sign up for a 15 minute conference time.

https://signup.com/go/SQCqwHM

Conferences are held in person. If you need to make other arrangements for your conference, please reach out to your child's teacher personally.

Specials Teachers

Specials teachers (art and music) are available for drop-in conferences on the evenings listed below. If you'd like to speak with them about your student(s), feel free to stop by their classrooms while you are here.

Mrs. Gang - Art: November 6 & 13

Mrs. Burnell - Music: November 11

Mrs. Harrod-Burch - Music: November 6

If your child was absent, or if you would like to have your child's photos taken again, Lifetouch will return to Westwoods on November 10. Please notify your child's teacher if they will need to be photographed on Monday.

Send the original set of pictures to school with your child, as they must be turned in to Lifetouch at the time of retakes. If you did not already order pictures, retake picture order forms are available in the office - let us know if you need one. You can also order online using the Picture Day ID EVTJRHQWS.

Yearbooks can now be ordered online at ybpay.com. Our yearbook ID code is 15176226.

Flyers will be sent home this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are looking for help with Thanksgiving Lunch service on Thursday 11/20/2025. Please see the sign-up link! https://signup.com/go/cipDMhZ

If you haven't already, be sure to fill out the TCAPS online volunteer application form.

Interested in hanging new student art around the school at your leisure?

Email gangta@tcaps.net to set up a time!

Art Room Donation Requests:

• Clean brown paper bags
• Cereal box front and backs
• Old buttons or beads

Thank you!

We're updating our pickup procedure. Going forward, if someone not on your child's Emergency Contact/School Pickup List will be picking them up, you must notify us in writing.

Please send an email to both Jamie Roster and Kelly Niskanen with the name of the person authorized to pick up your child. This helps us confirm the identity of anyone who is not a familiar face.

To add a new person to your child's permanent Emergency Contact/School Pickup List, you can also do so by email or in person. We can no longer accept these changes over the phone.

Thank you for your cooperation!

We've had a nice start to the year, but wanted to take a minute to make sure everyone is aware of the procedure for drop off and pick up of students. Please review this document and map for details.

Crystal Mountain Ski Program is starting up soon!

The program runs Jan 6- Feb 12, 2026 for all students ages 7 & up. Tuesday will be Westwoods night to ski again this year.

All registration will be online this year, on the Crystal Mountain website. All registrations are due by NOV 25, 2025

*Please be sure to check the box to release contact info to the school advisor so that you can be contacted with the most up to date information! (Must provide own transportation to ski hill)

Anyone interested in more information about the Crystal Mountain Ski Program can reach out to Westwoods advisor Andrea Loomis at 313-468-2944.

*Upcoming Ski Swaps*

Crystal Mountain - Held in James Bay, lower level of the Crystal Center
Sale Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 9am - 2pm

Grand Traverse Ski Club - Held at West Middle School

Sale Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 9am - 1pm

November 10 Picture Retake Day

November 11 & 13 Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 25 Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 3 3rd grade Winter Music Concert

December 11 Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

December 15-19 Holiday Spirit Week

December 22-January 2 No School - Holiday Break

January 19 Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

January 23 Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

January 23 End of 1st Semester

April 22 4th & 5th grade Spring Music Concert

From November 17 to November 21, please join us in bringing in items that we need to stock up our school!

Let's work together as a community to stock up on items to help our fellow Wings in need.

Specific Needs are:

Pants, sizes 4T through 14/16 Kids. Joggers/sweatpants are preferred.

Underwear, sizes 4T through 8 Kids

Menstrual pads (lite/thin)

Waterproof gloves/mittens

Boxed foods (mac and cheese cups, snacks, cereals, oatmeals, etc.)

All items should be brought to Miss Kelly and Miss Jamie in the office between Nov. 17 and Nov. 21.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been directed to temporarily pause the November payment of SNAP benefits (food assistance) due to an ongoing federal funding lapse. This situation affects approximately 1.4 million Michigan residents, placing many families with students at high risk of food insecurity. Key resources for families experiencing food insecurity are listed below.

Internal Resources for Families:

• Free Meals Continue: All eligible students should continue to eat free school breakfast and lunch without interruption.

• Get Help: Families needing assistance are strongly encouraged to reach out to their School Social Worker or Counselor for help with food and other essential needs.

External Resources for Families:

• For Immediate Food & Assistance Referrals: Call 2-1-1 or visit 2-1-1 Michigan.

• For Local Pantries: Visit the Northwest Food Coalition website to find food pantries near you.

For Benefit Updates: Check your local MDHHS office or MI Bridges for official information on benefit release.

The TCAPS Student Support Network is hosting the Winter Warm-Up Shop on Thursday, November 13th and Friday, November 14th. The Winter Warm-Up Shop offers FREE new and gently used winter outerwear and footwear for students currently enrolled in TCAPS. Shopping is by appointment only and items are available while supplies last. Please complete this form to request an appointment.

In conjunction with Rock Your Mocs week, which is nationally celebrated, we are hosting a spirit week, November 10-14. Themed days were thoughtfully selected by our program staff and students. Show your support, celebrate, and share your looks with us each day on social media or email (henionly@tcaps.net). Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TCAPSIE so we can feature your participation.

Themed Days:

• Monday, Nov. 10: Rock Your Braids - Hair is culturally significant to Indigenous people, back the braid, and wear your hair in braids.
• Tuesday, Nov. 11: Rock Blue or Red - Celebrate Veterans' Day and honor Ogichidaa (warriors). Click here to watch a YouTube video on how to say Ogichidaa.
• Wednesday, Nov. 12: Rock Red or Ribbon Skirt/Shirt - Support Indigenous resilience through fashion.
• Thursday, Nov. 13: Rock Kindness & Indigenous Bling - This World Kindness Day, wear Indigenous bling and tell someone they are Maamakaaj (awesome)! Click here to watch a YouTube video on how to pronounce.
• Friday, Nov. 14: Rock Your Mocs or Crocs - In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, wear your mocs, crocs or turquoise.

Michigan law requires TCAPS to share information with parents and caregivers about the safe storage of firearms. Here are the resources provided by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE): What is the Secure Storage Law in Michigan, and the Safe Storage Notice. Additional resources and information can be found on MDE’s Safe Storage Law webpage. Questions may be directed to MDE’s Office of Health and Safety at MDE-OHS@Michigan.gov.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Superintendent, Dr. John VanWagoner, will have monthly “office hours”, alternating each month between in person and virtual meetings. This month’s meeting will be virtual on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., Virtual office hours will be held via Google Meet and can be accessed here - https://meet.google.com/cpo-wwwz-qat?hs=122&authuser=0 , or by calling +1 475-549-0438‬ and entering PIN: ‪961 104 679‬#.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” as a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can use this link to join VM: (Google Meet)- meet.google.com/ten-gqes-pow or call 1.440.462.2802; PIN 243 200474#. TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with the opportunity to talk to a school board trustee. This month, Trustee Hardy is scheduled to attend.

Please complete your Free & Reduced Meal Application by October 1. Your application is crucial as it directly secures state and federal funding that benefits all TCAPS students and programs. Submit it today to provide essential support for our district!

By doing this, your application helps fund:

Reduced fees for programs like LEAP and other extracurricular activities

Equitable access to education by helping fund staffing and resources that benefit all students

Educational extensions such as field trips, enrichment opportunities, and after-school programs

Complete Your Application Now

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is honored to offer veterans from WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era the opportunity to receive their high school diploma and participate in the 2026 graduation ceremonies!

This recognition is authorized by Michigan law for veterans who left school early to serve and haven't yet received a diploma.

Who is Eligible?

Veterans who served during the specified eras (WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era).

Note: Vietnam Era veterans must have attended a TCAPS high school.

Family members can apply for a living or deceased veteran.

For details, call TCAPS at 231.933.1722.

We invite community members to share their time and talents with our students by becoming a volunteer in our schools and on field trips, etc. All adult (over 18 years of age) volunteers must go through a background check for the safety of all students.

• 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.

If there are any questions about the volunteer approval process, please contact Luke VanHouten at 231-933-1710 or vanhoutelu@tcaps.net