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Long Lake Newsletter

Long Lake Newsletter
Long LakeNewsletter

10.4.26 LL News: Olympics Day! 10.4.26 LL News: Olympics Day!

Dear Long Lake Families,

Thank you for the amazing support with our Olympic Fundraiser! We are excited to celebrate our efforts during our Olympics Day this Friday, October 9th! Please consider joining us for the Opening Ceremonies with all classes and/or your child's event time.

October 9th, 2026 Schedule


  • 9:25-9:40 Opening Ceremonies
  • 9:40-10:35 1st/4th Grade
  • 10:35-11:40 3rd/5th Grade
  • 11:40-12:10 Lunch Break for Volunteers (Student lunch times are the same)
  • 12:10-1:05 2nd Grade
  • 1:05-2:00 PreK/JrK/K



Speaking of our Olympics Day, we are in need of volunteers for the events that day to help out with the olympic event stations. We are hoping to secure at least 6 volunteers for each session. Any questions? Contact Jodi Kline klinejo@tcaps.net Thank you in advance!

Sign Up to Volunteer Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044BA9AA2BA64-65858324-olympics For more information click here


Let's have a strong week of learning Panthers!

Kate Burwinkel
Long Lake Elementary Principal

Photo Highlights Photo Highlights

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Other Panther News Other Panther News

Ski Club 2027

We would love to see you and your kids at Crystal Mountain! Students must be 7 years or older by January 1. Membership includes 1 lesson/week, skiing all evening Thursdays, and for an additional fee on Sundays. Discounted Thursday night passes for adults too! Click here for more information!

Halloween Parade

We will be continuing the Long Lake tradition with our Halloween Parade scheduled for October 30th at 9:20 a.m. Moree information can be found on our Halloween Parade Flyer

Photo of students in the Orchard Harvesters House performing their Cheer.  The House logo is in the center.
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House Updates

House Assembly: Families are invited to join our next House Assembly on Friday October 23rd at 9:20 a.m. We will share in community and build house spirit!


New Students: Each new student to Long Lake Elementary this year will receive a free house shirt c/o PTO! We will distribute Prek, Jr K and K shirts once they come in!

Photos of each of the House Logos: Lighthouse Keepers in Yellow, Inland Navigators in Blue, Dune Climbers in Orange, Orchard Harvesters in Red, Woodland Explorers in Gree, and Rock Hunters in Purple
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PTO Updates PTO Updates

Fall Festival

The Long Lake Elementary Fall Festival will take place on Monday, October 5, 2026 from 4:05 pm until 6:00 pm. You won't want to miss this fun annual event! Festivities take place outside near the bus loop/library and will include music and photo opportunities. Donuts, cider, pumpkins and gourds will be available to purchase for a small fee. All proceeds are used to supplement the cost of yearbooks.

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Long Lake Olympic Fundraiser

The Long Lake Olympics fundraiser event is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the PTO. The students get to celebrate with the annual Long Lake Olympics field day on October 9th, 2026. If the goal of $20,000 is met, this will be the only fundraiser of the school year! The money from this fundraiser provides reading programs, supplies for teachers and students, monthly family friendly events, supplies and learning materials for each classroom and overall teacher appreciation. In addition, the money helps pay for an all-school field trip, assist in purchasing supplies for the happy feet program, as well as provide exciting school community events throughout the school year. We will start accepting donations Wednesday September 16th and will close at 11:59PM on Wednesday October 7th. Students are welcome to accept cash and check (made out to Long Lake PTO) donations along with online. Cash or checks may be dropped off in the front office, Please include your students name and classroom. See more information on the Long Lake Olympics Flyer and below.

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Panther Pumpkin Project

We’d love for you to join us in creating a pumpkin for our Panther Pumpkin Project! It runs from October 19th thru October 22nd. Students can decorate (not carve) a pumpkin based upon the chosen theme of "Farming" 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.

Decorate a pumpkin for a chance to win a gift certificate from Horizon Books Theme: farming entry: 10/19-10/22 Student voting: 10/22 1st Place: $100 2nd Place: $75 3rd Place: $50
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Monster Mash Dance

Save the date for our annual Monster Mash dance on Friday, October 23rd. 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 provided by Long Lake Grocery will be available for purchase for $2 a slice. We are looking for volunteers to make this event a success. You can volunteer by signing up here: Monster Mash Volunteer Sign Up. We also ask families to donate snacks for the event here: Monster Mash Snack Donation Sign Up

Monster Mash Flyer Information detailed in the description above
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Popcorn Poppers

Thank you to our volunteers that signed up for our first popcorn Friday of this school year! We could not do this without your help! Our PTO provides popcorn to students as an extra treat once a month! However, we need volunteers to make this possible. Bring your friends and meet some new people for a fun night out for the kids. You don't need to have previous experience to help out! Volunteer positions for this include a pro-popper (someone that knows how to use the popcorn machine) and additional volunteers to help bag the popcorn. Please consider volunteering: Popcorn Popper Sign Up Link

Popcorn Sponsors

Thank you to Boats Up North, Beers and Lints Family Dentistry, Food For Thought, Steve & Renee Gallagher, New Heights Roofing, Bannister Plumbing and Home Services, The Pumping Service, Underground Toys, Pintail Home Improvements, and Hall Farms for sponsoring all of the popcorn Fridays for this year! We appreciate your generosity and the kiddos will get popcorn Friday once a month!
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Happy Feet

Happy Feet is back this fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays! This is a fun extra that is made possible by our parents! Happy Feet allows students to run/walk on the track during lunch recess to earn foot tokens. Our students absolutely LOVE this opportunity and we’re excited to get it back up and running this fall! Happy Feet will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 22nd through October 29th! Find out more about the Happy Feet Program and consider signing up to punch running cards at the track. Please sign up using the Volunteer Sign Up Link This is a fun extra that is made possible by YOU! Thanks for considering!

Flyer with a description of all of the PTO school events.  LONG LAKE OLYMPICS The Long Lake Olympics fundraiser is our biggest fundraising event of the year. Students collect donations from family and friends, earning special prizes along the way. If our goal is met, this will be the only fundraiser of the school year. We then celebrate our earnings with an Olympics-style field day! The money raised goes toward reading programs, supplies for teachers and students, and teacher stipends (for supplies and learning materials for each classroom). In addition, the funds help pay for an all-school field trip, supplies for the Happy Feet program and golden ticket prizes. PANTHER PUMPKIN PROJECT Students can decorate a pumpkin like the chosen theme for a chance to win prizes! MONSTER MASH Dig out your favorite Halloween costume and join our Monster Mash dance party held in October! This family-friendly event is free but donations help to cover the cost of the DJ and decorations. Volunteers are needed for collecting donations, selling food tickets, serving food, restocking sweet treats and evening clean-up. CRAFT SHOW Join us in November to enjoy over 50 vendors offering unique and hand-made items at the annual Long Lake Elementary Craft Show. You can also support our students by purchasing delicious treats at the 3rd grade bake sale and a special lunch served by our 5th graders to raise money for their year-end trip. CRAFTS, COCOA & COOKIES Families are invited to this holiday craft night in December at Long Lake. Warm up with some hot cocoa and enjoy a sweet treat! FAMILY ACTIVITIES A couple times each school year, PTO organizes various activity nights for the whole family, both at and away from our school. These range from movie nights to sledding parties and more! Stay tuned as we work out the details. BRO GLOW Long Lake BOYS, round up your MOMS (or other significant family member) in February for a glow-filled evening of fun. We'll have music, snacks, games and activities, and LOTS of glow wear! Volunteers are needed for registration, food service, activity stations and evening clean-up. PRINCESS DANCE Long Lake GIRLS, spend an enchanted evening with your DADS (or other significant family member) in March at our annual Princess Dance. Volunteers are needed for registration, food service, craft stations and evening clean-up. CUK SPRING FLING Entertainment, food, games, silent auction, cake walks and more! There is so much to enjoy at our annual Spring Fling in May. To make this event a success, we need MANY volunteers, for ticket sales, food service, activity stations, auction registration, and evening clean-up. POPCORN FRIDAYS Each month we use our very own popcorn machine to send home this tasty snack with EVERY student! We need a handful of volunteers per popping session to make this happen. It's also a fun way to get to know other Lona Lake families!
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District Updates District Updates

Safe Storage of Firearms

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.

Annual Tribal Affiliation Data Collection

Per state requirements developed in collaboration with Michigan Tribal Nations, families have the option to annually report their student’s tribal affiliation. This optional data helps strengthen communication with Tribal Nations and allows our district to explore potential grant opportunities to support Indigenous students. All submitted information is strictly confidential and protected under privacy laws, including FERPA.

How to participate: If you choose to share your family's affiliation, please complete the 2026-27 Tribal Affiliation Questionnaire by September 30, 2026. To learn more, visit the Tribal Affiliation Data in Michigan Schools page.

Long Lake Events/Save the Dates Long Lake Events/Save the Dates

October 5th: Kindergarten Oral Health Assessments

October 5th: Fall Festival 4:05-6:00 p.m. at the outdoor picnic area by the library. All are welcome!

October 7th: Count Day

October 9th: Long Lake Olympics Day Schedule of Events

October 12th:Early Release Day for TCAPS Students. Long Lake Releases at 2:02 p.m.

October 15th: PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. in the library or you can join virtually @ https://meet.google.com/rqp-hqre-sds

October 23rd: House Assembly 9:20 a.m. All Families are welcome to join!

October 23rd: PTO Sponsored Monster Mash Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m.

October 30th: Halloween Parade @ 9:20 a.m.

November 2nd: No School for Students Regional Staff Development Day

November 4th: Picture Retake Day

November 4th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 4th-6th: Vision and Hearing Rescreening

November 10th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 12th: Parent Teacher Conferences

November 14th: PTO Sponsored Craft Fair 9:00-3:00

November 19th: Mobile Health Unit Visit to Long Lake

November 19th:PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. in the library or you can join virtually @ https://meet.google.com/rqp-hqre-sds

November 24th: Early Release Day for Students

November 25th-27th Thanksgiving Break

TCAPS 2026-2027 Academic Calendar
TCAPS 2026-2027 Building Hours

Stay Connected Stay Connected

Long Lake Website: https://www.tcaps.net/o/lles

Long Lake Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LongLakeElementarySchoolTCAPS

PTO Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Long-Lake-Elementary-PTO-305155839569856/

The graphic includes TCAPS strategic plan goals including Vision, Mission Statement, Values and Goal Areas
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Kate Burwinkel
Principal Long Lake Elementary
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