The Eastern Star Family Newsletter

Happy March! Reading Month is here! We have a number of activities and events planned around this festive month centered around literacy and promoting the love of reading. Growing up in Linden, we had an awesome library that was in an old saw mill. I still love me a nice public library and many of my reads are obtained through TADL. The best way to foster a love of reading in our children is for them to see us reading.

#ShineBrightTogether

Linden Library

Linden, MI

• March 2: Read My Tee Day
• March 3, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 5, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 6: School Spirit Day
• March 10-12: Book Fair
• March 11, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 12: Early Release Day; Dismissal at 1:57
• March 18, 3:20-3:40: TBA SRCU Deposit Day
• March 20: Popcorn Friday
• March 27-April 3: Spring Break
• TCAPS 25-26 Calendar

"Outside! Outside! Outside, everybody! Outside!" ~Bubble Guppies

We know that sometimes we leave outdoor clothing at home or they get left in a different car. We do have some extras for these moments. That said, we have seen a little uptick in students showing up to school unprepared to go outside by what seems more a matter of choice than a moment of forgetfulness. No boots, no coat, no snowpants, etc. Please, make sure that your child is prepared to go outside for recess as that is the expectation. Unless a doctor's note is provided, students will go outside.

Please help us feed our teachers during conferences on Tuesday March 3rd. We are having a Soup and Slider night. Sign up to bring food items or supplies. All items should be delivered to the office or staff lounge by 3:45 pm because dinner starts at promptly 4pm. Contact Shanna Girrbach if you have any questions segirrbach@hotmail.com or 231-944-4048.

Parent-Teacher Conference Meal Sign Up

Thank you to everyone who signed up to be an Eastern volunteer through DOGS/MOMS. We are changing the way we coordinate volunteers through this program. Each Friday we will include sign ups for classrooms/school areas that need extra support.

We will also reach out to those who have signed up with DOGS/MOMS. If you would like to be on that list, please fill out the Watch DOGS/MOMS Sign Up.

Mrs. LaBarre, 2nd Grade

Mrs. Stout, 4th Grade

Mrs. Annelin, 5th Grade

Early Release Support, Office

Lunchroom Help

Recess Help

Eastern’s month-long celebration of reading kicks off this coming Monday with Read My Tee Day! Please take note of all the activities scheduled below to join in the fun of reading!

March 2 Read My Tee Day (Students and staff are encouraged to wear clothing with

school-appropriate words or phrases)

March 6 Eastern Loves to Read (Students and staff are encouraged to wear Eastern

spiritwear)

Design-A-Bookmark submissions are due

March 9-13 Eastern’s Artemis Books Book Fair

March 10 - 8:45am-4:30pm

March 11 - 8:45am-8pm

March 12 - 8:45am-2:30pm

March 13 - 8:45am-9:15am

March 13 Flashlight Friday (It’s Friday the 13th, classrooms will read by flashlight,

9:00-9:25am)

March 16-26 Eastern’s Student Book Swap, organized by Student Council

March 18 Wild About Books (Students and staff are encouraged to wear animal-print

clothing, ears, etc.)

March 20 Pop Open a Good Book (coincides with PTO’s Popcorn Friday)

March 24 Beach Read Around the Halls (Students and staff are encouraged to bring beach

towels, sunglasses and hats and read with their classrooms from 9:05-9:25am.)

Additional activities include:

Door Decorating Contest - One classroom will win a book and visit from a Star Reader

Buddy Reading Week - Teachers will dedicate one of their weekly March Buddy Times as a read-together time

Traverse City Pit Spitters 2026 Reading Club - Students completing Reading Bingo will earn one ticket to a Pit Spitters game on one of a number of designated dates; more info coming soon.

Classroom Reading Visits by TC Central Football

Classroom Reading Visits by Mr. Swegles

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Asiala, asialahe@tcaps.net

Student Council is hosting our annual a Book Swap! Please bring in gently used books to donate between March 2 and March 13.

All students will take turns coming down to browse donations and find new books to try starting March 16 and continuing until Spring Break.

Bring in one book or dozens! We hope everyone participates and discovers a new favorite book!

Going forward a mainstay of the family newsletter will contain the Family Eastern Staff Shoutout Form. You may see some QR codes pop up in the car line, at school community events, and around the building. Positive words of affirmation are good for both the receiver and the giver. We'll share them with staff as they come in.

Family Eastern Staff Shoutout Form

Eastern’s winter parent-teacher conferences are March 3, 5, and 11. Sign up at the links below. Please remember the following:

• Conferences are limited to 15 minutes, so please make sure you are on time.

• Consider scheduling a break between conferences if you have multiple children; that will allow you to be on time for your conferences and stay the full amount of time.

• If you have a child in 4th or 5th grade, only sign up with your child’s homeroom teacher.

Preschool: Mrs. Feaster Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Preschool: Mrs. Roeder Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Junior Kindergarten: Mrs. Odette Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Ms. Edwardson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Mrs. Ferguson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Kindergarten: Ms. Freeman Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

1st Grade: Mrs. Brott Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

1st Grade: Dr. Chaprnka Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up (Please note that Dr. Chaprnka's conference dates are March 16, 17, and 18).

1st Grade: Ms. Ross Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. Fak Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. Hites Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Mrs. LaBarre Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

2nd Grade: Ms. Stoudt Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. LaBlanc Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. Norton Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

3rd Grade: Mrs. Shembarger Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Ms. Lutes Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Mrs. Nelson Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

4th Grade: Mrs. Stout Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mrs. Annelin Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mr. Cooper Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

5th Grade: Mrs. Kearney Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Social Work: Ms. Markey Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Principal: Mr. Swegles Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Just a few drop off and pick up reminders:

• 3 options for dropoff: 1) car line 2) north parking lot and walk up 3) south parking lot and walk up
• pull all the way up in the car line when space is present
• use left lane to exit

Specified drop off locations exist to ensure the safety of students, family members, and staff.

Reminders to avoid:

• dropping off in the back parking lot that is staff only
• using the handicap spaces to drop child off and then leaving. We do have volunteers at Eastern who use and need those spaces

All TCAPS elementary students are invited to Traverse City Central High School’s Student Senate Winterfest Carnival hosted at Central High School, located at 1150 Milliken Drive, Traverse City, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There will be games, prizes, and snacks. Entry is FREE for TCAPS elementary students. The entrance fee is $5 for middle school and high school students and parents/guardians.

Car Line Family Name Signs

If you are a regular car line user, please make sure you have a bright yellow sign with your child's last name on it for your dashboard or visor. We will have extras in the lobby next week during parent-teacher conferences.

Lights! Camera! Become a Sponsor!

We are thrilled to announce the Eastern Elementary Spring Auction Fundraiser, and this year, we’re celebrating Hollywood Through the Ages: From Hollywood Legends to Modern Day Icons.

Save the Date

• When: April 25th, 2026

• Where: The Peninsula Room

• Adults Only

More details to come!

We are officially calling all sponsors to join our cast!

Would you like to see your company name in the spotlight? We invite you to be a sponsor! Your partnership will not only contribute to the success of this fundraiser, but it will also provide excellent visibility for your business within our school community. To make it even better, your sponsorship is tax deductible, as the Eastern Elementary PTO is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Your sponsorship will make a direct impact on Eastern Elementary with 100% of the net proceeds from the event going back to the school.

Email easternelementaryschoolpto@gmail.com to become a sponsor.

Red Carpet Sponsorship: $750

• Reserved Table at Event
• Eight (8) event tickets ($320 value)
• Company logo on the auction program, bidding cards, and displayed throughout the event
• Social media shoutouts

Leading Role Sponsorship: $500

• Six (6) event tickets ($240) value
• Company logo on the auction program, bidding cards, and displayed throughout the event
  
  

Rising Star Sponsorship: $250

• Two (2) event tickets ($80 value)
• Company logo on the auction program

Proposals

We will be pausing proposal applications until after our Spring Auction on April 25th. A brief pause will allow us to host the event and calculate final proceeds to ensure a strong, sustainable fund to support Fall 2026 staff startup and student field trips. Thanks for understanding!

PTO Links:

BUDGET: 25/26 PTO approved budget.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: Any staff member or parent may submit a proposal. We love hearing from you and want your ideas! PTO Proposal Form

PENDING / GRANTED PROPOSALS: Log of what has been submitted or accepted for the 25/26 school year

BREAKFAST 3/2

MONDAY

donut

fruit and milk

TUESDAY

cereal

fruit and milk

WEDNESDAY

mini pancakes

fruit and milk

THURSDAY

Cereal

fruit and milk

FRIDAY

sweet breads

fruit and milk

LUNCH MONDAY 3/2

1st choice: Louie's hotdogs with fries

2nd choice: Boneless chicken wings with fries (NEW)

3rd choice: sunbutter and jelly, cheese stick and crackers

TUESDAY

1st choice: quesadilla ( back to the cheese quesadillas)

2nd choice: Turkey & cheese sub

3rd choice: Sunbutter & jelly with cheese stick and crackers

WEDNESDAY

1st choice: Pasta with marinara & meatballs with bread stick

2nd choice: sunbutter & jelly with yogurt & graham crackers

No 3rd choice

THURSDAY

1st choice:English muffin with egg, sausage and cheese

2nd choice: sausage wrapped with a pancake on a stick

3rd choice: sunbutter & jelly with yogurt & crackers

FRIDAY

1st choice Cheese pizza

2nd choice: pepperoni pizza

3rd choice: sunbutter & jelly with cheese stick & crackers

Connect with the TCAPS Board
Join us for TCAPS Board Community Connections, an informal space for families and community members to discuss district-wide updates and TCAPS policy. To facilitate personal dialogue, one board member will host each month’s session.

• Featured Trustee: Sara Bageris (WSH) & Josey Ballenger (CHS)
• Date & Time: March 5, 2026, 5:30pm-6:30pm
• Location: West Senior High (WSH), 5376 North Long Lake Road & Central High School (CHS), 1150 Milliken Drive Traverse City

Note: For specific building-level or student concerns, please contact your school principal first for the most direct assistance.

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 will be on March 10, 2026 and will be Virtual. Office hours will be held via Google Meet and can be accessed here: Superintendent Office Hours Google Meet or by calling +1 475-549-0438‬ and entering PIN: ‪961 104 679‬#. All meetings begin at 5:00 pm.

Elementary Handbook

LEAP Website

School Menus

TCAPS Volunteer Form

TCAPS Volunteer Standards of Conduct

WATCH D.O.G.S. Sign Up

WATCH D.O.G.S. Calendar (see where D.O.G.S. have already signed up)