Long Lake Newsletter

Dear Families,

Just a reminder that tomorrow, October 13th is an Early Release Day for TCAPS. Long Lake dismisses at 2:02 p.m. Our students will also have the opportunity to learn about Indigenous Peoples Day tomorrow! Our October PTO Meeting is this Thursday, October 16th at 6:30 p.m. You can also join virtually here.

Let's make it a great week Panthers!

Warmly,

Kate Burwinkel

VISION & HEARING SCREENINGS: The Grand Traverse County Health Department will again be providing free screening services for students. Screenings for all students will take place on campus next week. All students will be screened unless otherwise indicated. Parents/guardians will be notified of any results which meet MDHHS referral criteria. Families wishing to decline their child's participation are asked to complete a screening waiver, available from the school office. (Waivers apply to the current school year and site only.) Free student screenings are also available by appointment during Health Department clinics -- call 231-620-3697 to schedule.

VISION: Any student with prescription lenses is asked to have them available on the screening dates.

HEARING: Any student with an implanted medical device (shunt, cochlear implants, insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor, etc.) will NOT be screened for hearing due to potential effects on device settings. Please be sure that your child’s teacher is aware of any implanted medical device.

The MDHHS routine screening schedule is outlined below.

Preschool, GSRP - vision and hearing

Kindergarten - hearing

1st Grade - vision

2nd Grade - hearing

3rd Grade - vision

4th Grade - hearing

5th Grade - vision

LL HALLOWEEN PARADE October 31st: Long Lake will be hosting a Halloween Parade on Friday, October 31st at 9:20 a.m. at our outdoor track. Students should come to school wearing their costumes and bring a change of clothes. Parents can join the parade by walking around the side of the building and stand on the inside of the track. Our parade will move inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Please see the flyer below for information about how to participate and costumes that day. Flyer Here

OCTOBER HOUSE ASSEMBLY: Our first House Assembly is scheduled for Friday October 24th at 9:30 a.m. Families are welcome to join us and be a part of this celebration if interested! Just sign in at the office upon arrival. We will highlight one student per class and recognize classes for attendance and for following our lifelong guidelines!

VETERAN ASSEMBLY AND TRICK OR TREAT FOR TROOPS: We invite all Veterans and Active Duty Military to join us for our annual Veterans Assembly (in honor of Veterans Day) on November 10th @ 9:30 AM. Know a Veteran who would be interested in joining us for this honorary celebration? Please invite anyone who may be interested! We'll also be collecting Halloween Candy and Personal Care Items to send to troops overseas. See the flyers below for more information!

Fall Festival Thank YOU! Thanks to all who came out for the Fall Festival on October 9th! We had a tremendous turnout! Thanks to all those who purchased fall items and made donations at the event. Because of your efforts, we have $600 to use towards Yearbook Scholarships in the spring!

PTO MEETING: Please join us on Thursday October 16th in the library at 6:30p.m. or you can join us virtually by clicking the link here.

CRAFT SHOW COMMITTEE: The PTO is looking for anyone who may be interested in joining a new committee to help coordinate our annual Craft Show in future years. This committee would be responsible for managing vendors, marketing/announcements, event setup and more. Please email longlakepto1@gmail.com for more information. All candidates will be considered at a future PTO meeting.

PANTHER PUMPKIN PROJECT: We’d love for you to join us in creating a pumpkin for our Panther Pumpkin Project! It runs from October 20th thru October 23rd. Students can decorate (not carve) a pumpkin based upon the chosen theme of "Houses" for this year. Then bring the pumpkin to school to be judged by all the other students. There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes from Horizon Books.

MONSTER MASH DANCE: Save the date for our annual Monster Mash dance on Friday, October 24th. Dig out your favorite Halloween costume and join us for a family friendly Monster Mash dance party! This event is free but we take donations to cover the cost of the DJ and decorations. This event is for current Long Lake students and their families only. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Pizza will be available for purchase for $2 a slice.

Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ACAC29A0FBCF8-59360367-monster

Snacks: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ACAC29A0FBCF8-59358190-monster

LONG LAKE PTO FUNDRAISER: We did it! Thank you again to all of the families and Friends for all of your support! We will get to celebrate our overall goal prize...Staff House Members will run a lap around the gym in a fun blow up costume AND Ms. Casey will have a few volunteers to help cut her beautiful hair to be donated and made into a wig to a child in need!! This will be part of an assembly on October 17th. It will be so much fun!

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR VETERANS: Traverse City Area Public Schools is honored to offer veterans the opportunity to receive their high school diploma and be part of the 2026 graduation ceremonies! Under Michigan's Public Act 181 of 2001 and Public Act 55 of 2014, the TCAPS Board of Education is authorized to award diplomas to veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

Eligibility Details:

WWII Veterans: Must have left high school between December 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946.
Korean War Veterans: Must have left high school between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955.
Vietnam Era Veterans: Must have been drafted or enlisted between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, and must have attended a TCAPS high school.

This opportunity is for veterans who did not subsequently receive a high school degree. Family members are welcome to apply on behalf of a living or deceased veteran.

For more information, please call 231.933.1722.

Temporary Relocation for TAG Program The Board of Education is looking at a temporary and long-term school location(s) for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program. This is happening, in part, because of the renovation planned for Central Grade School, which will be a multi-year project starting after the 2025-2026 school year. At this week's Board Curriculum Committee meeting, Superintendent VanWagoner discussed the idea of moving the program to two locations: Silver Lake Elementary on the west side and Eastern Elementary on the east side. The Board of Education will be discussing this further at its regular board meeting on Monday, October 13, to determine the best locations for the program.

BOARD OFFICE HOURS: The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” at the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) in the McGuire Room, 610 Woodmere Avenue, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 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.

Central High School Production: Mark your November calendar! Central High School's production of "Urinetown" takes the stage on Nov. 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 7 P.M. Matinees are available on Sunday, Nov. 16 and 23 at 2 P.M. Standard tickets are only $20. Be sure to purchase your tickets now at tcaps.booktix.com !