Long Lake Newsletter

Dear Families,

Some of us thought that winter was winding down. I admit, I was way wrong! I’m hoping you are staying warm and safe during this winter weather! We have two weeks ahead of spring break and these weeks are busy on campus!

We have our March House Assembly this Friday! Families are always welcome to join us as we celebrate our focus of gratitude for the month of March! The assembly starts at 9:30!

We hope that you had the chance to connect with teachers during conferences the last two weeks. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you didn’t get the opportunity.

We also have a PTO Meeting, this Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. You can join in person in our library or virtually using the PTO Meeting Google Meeting Link.

Let's have a great week of learning!

Warmly,

Kate Burwinkel

Long Lake Elementary Principal

Photos of the musical performance and students at recess enjoying the warm weather

4 Photos of students on the playground. A group of boys are playing basketball, 4 girls are smiling in the sunshine, a group of 4 students are sitting at the top of the slide, a group of three girls have their arms around each other in friendship.

Lost and Found:

Please be sure to stop by our lost and found station outside of the library. All items left at the end of the school day on March 26th will be donated. As a reminder, it is a great idea to label your student's items. Thank you for helping us get these items back to you!

Crooked Tree Art Exhibit:

The following students have been selected to participate in the 2026 Crooked Tree Art Center Youth Art Exhibit. The exhibit will be at 322 Sixth Street in Traverse City, and will run from March 10-April 11, 2026. There will be a reception and awards presentation on Sunday March 15th from 1-3pm. Awards will be announced at 1:30 and will start with elementary school students.

Congratulations to the following students for their artistic efforts!

JK–Charlotte Sleder

K Schluentz– Madelyn Warner

K McCall–Ike Zenner

K DeLonge–Nora Harrelson

1 Kroese–Brantley Marsh

1 Luecke–Ruby Becker

2 Guggemos– Evelyn Fetters

2 Guggemos–Jack Jencka-Roche

2 Guggemos–Margot Kipke

2 Mackenzie–Sloan Wood

3rd Jayne— Elaina Laford

3rd Dzierwa–Merrielle Lahti

3 Key– Josey Gedman

3 Key– Vayda Leonard

4 Carlson–Molly Rykse

4 Schopieray– Gia Stremlow

4 Schoperiay–Clara Harrelson

5 Vincent– Lincoln Knysz

5 Peterson- Jaxon Rademaker

5 Peterson- Owen Chichester

Yearbooks for Purchase:

Yearbooks are available to purchase online and the deadline to order is April 17, 2026. To order, visit the following website: www.ybpay.lifetouch.com. You will need the Long Lake yearbook ID Code which is 15170526. The cost is $12 per yearbook. We do have funds available to help families in need. If your family would benefit from a scholarship for a yearbook, please complete the request scholarship for yearbooks form or contact the school office to let us know.

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

House Assembly:

Our next House Assembly is Friday, March 20th @ 9:30 a.m. Families are welcome to join us and be a part of this celebration! 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!

PTO Meeting This Week

Join us this Thursday, March 19th at 6:30pm in the library for our next PTO meeting. You can also join virtually if interested: https://meet.google.com/fxd-mvaf-iic We hope to see you there!

Princess Dance Thank You

A BIG thank you to everyone that attended and volunteered their time at The Knight to Remember! If you would like a digital copy from the Photo Booth, please email the PTO and we will gladly send you a copy. Make sure to include your name and your daughter’s name. Longlakepto1@gmail.com

Save the Date: Bro Glow for Parents and Sons

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 18th, for a fun-filled Glow Night at Long Lake! Look for more details in next week’s message.

Long Lake New House 2025-26 Logo and House Tees

We are excited to announce that our online store is now open through March 30th! Simply place your orders online, and items will be sent home in your child’s backpack once they are printed. If your order is a gift, please email the PTO or call the school to make alternative pickup arrangements.
House Tees Store Link (Access Code: 2026)

PTO Logo Tees Store Link (Access Code: 2026)

Popcorn Poppers

PTO is happy to provide the entire school popcorn once a month and volunteers are needed. Bring the kids with you for extra helping hands and it is a fun way to meet new friends! Below is the sign up genius to help pop popcorn for students. Please consider helping out. Popcorn Sign Up Link on Sign Up Genius.

Spring Fling Silent Auction Items:

We are looking for donations for our thrilling Silent Auction held at the end-of-year Spring Fling event in May! If you, your business, or someone you know may want to donate a gift certificate or auction item, please fill out the Silent Auction Donation form and we will reach out to you to gather the item. Thank you for your consideration!

TCAPS District News March 2026 Edition

The March edition of the District News is available. Check it out here: District Outreach Newsletter TCAPS March District Newsletter!

TCAPS Calendar Finalized for Next Year:

The 2026-27 TCAPS Academic Calendar has been approved by the Board of Education. View the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar here.

Title: Free Breakfast and Lunch Offered Daily

TCAPS is offering free breakfast and lunch meals at every building, every school day.
Free breakfast is served daily! TCAPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds parents and students that TCAPS offers free breakfast before the start of every school day at every building in the district. Secondary buildings offer breakfast in the cafeterias, and elementary buildings provide a convenient "Grab & Go" breakfast for students to enjoy in the classrooms or the cafeterias. TCAPS encourages every student to grab a free breakfast before the start of each school day to ensure they have the energy necessary to excel.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Superintendent Office Hours:

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 with be on March 10, 2026 and will be 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.

A promotional graphic for "Little Shop of Horrors" featuring a large, yellow carnivorous plant with sharp teeth and a human hand reaching out from its mouth. The plant sits in a pot labeled with the show's title in dripping red and yellow text. The scene is set against a green curtain background lit by two spotlights.

Traverse City West Senior High School Music Department Presents Little Shop of Horrors:

The Traverse City West Senior High Music Department presents Little Shop of Horrors. Join us for this classic musical featuring a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (

MTI).Performance Dates and Times:

Evening Shows (7:00 PM): March 13, 14, 20, and 21.
Matinee Shows (2:00 PM): March 15 and 22.

Tickets: Tickets range from $15 to $25, plus box office fees. Secure your seats today by visiting tcaps.booktix.com

Disney and Desserts: A Musical Treat!

Get ready for a magical afternoon! The TC Central High School Vocal Department invites you to Disney and Desserts on Saturday, March 14.

Join our talented students for a showcase of your favorite Disney characters and music, paired with delicious "sweet delights."

When: Saturday, March 14
Times: 11:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Where: TC Central High School Auditorium

Don't miss out on this "sweet" performance!

March 19th: PTO meeting at 6:30 p.m. https://meet.google.com/fxd-mvaf-iic

March 20th: Safety Around Water Field Trip for 3rd Graders

March 20th: Long Lake House Assembly @ 9:30 a.m. All families are welcome!

March 23rd: 5th Grade Visit to WMS 9:30-11:00 a.m.

March 26th: TCAPS Early Release Day: LL dismissal 2:02 p.m

March 27th-April 5th: No School Spring Break

April 6th: Welcome Back!

April 16th: TCAPS Early Release Day: LL dismissal 2:02 p.m

April 16th: PTO meeting at 6:30 p.m. https://meet.google.com/fxd-mvaf-iic

April 21st: MSTEP Testing Begins for 5th Graders

April 22nd: Music Informances 10:55-11:25 2nd Luecke

April 24th: Long Lake House Assembly @ 9:30 a.m. All families are welcome!

April 24th Music Informances 10:20-10:50 K Schlunentz 10:55-11:25 K Richardson

May 4th: MSTEP Testing Begins for 4th Graders

May 5th: MSTEP Testing Begins for 3rd Graders

May 15th: PTO Sponsored Spring Fling

May 18th-May 22nd: NWEA testing for K-5th Graders

May 22nd: Long Lake House Assembly @ 9:30 a.m. All families are welcome!

May 25th: No School Memorial Day

May 28th: Save the Date- Long Lake All School Field Trip to Boardman River Nature Center

May 28th: PTO meeting at 6:30 p.m. https://meet.google.com/fxd-mvaf-iic

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/