Westwoods Newsletter

Dear Westwoods Families,

We certainly saw a lot of rain this week! All that wet weather meant our students had a lot of indoor recess, so don't be surprised if your children have a little extra energy to burn off this weekend. They are definitely ready to get outside and run around!

I also want to send a huge thank you to our Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Kindergarten classes for hosting our very first "Westwoods Wake Up" this morning. It was a wonderful event! Our PTO partnered with Mundos to provide coffee and treats for sale, and it was great to see so many of you enjoying a treat at drop-off and helping us build a stronger school community.

We look forward to more community-building events like this in the future!

Have a wonderful and restful weekend.

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.

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!

School pictures are ready!

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. (Reach out to the office if you need your student's ID.) Please do not send order envelopes to school after picture day, as we have no way of getting them to Lifetouch.

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program is available here.

If your child was absent, or you would like to have retakes done, Lifetouch will return to Westwoods on November 10. 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.

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 4 No School - Election Day

November 10 Picture Retake Day

November 6, 11 & 13 Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 25 Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

December 3 3rd grade Winter Music Concert

November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 22-January 2 No School - Holiday Break

April 22 4th & 5th grade Spring Music Concert

As we wrap up Safe Schools Week, we want to thank our entire community for being our partners in safety. This week has been a powerful reminder that a safe school environment is a shared responsibility, built on the strong partnership between our district, staff, and families.
Throughout the week, we’ve highlighted a range of topics, from on-the-road safety and school security to mental wellness and secure firearm storage. Our schools are kept secure through regular safety checks and drills, and we encourage drivers to remain cautious around buses and school buildings.

We also highlighted that safety extends to our homes. The TCAPS Board of Education adopted the BE SMART Gun Safety Resolution on November 14, 2022, which focuses on the importance of secure firearm storage. We encourage families to visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) website for more information on secure storage, including the new state law that went into effect in February 2024.
To assist with this secure storage effort, a limited number of free gun locks, provided by the Michigan State Police, are available for free pickup on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pickup Information:
TCAPS Administration Building
1009 S. Oak Street, Traverse City, MI 49685
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Free of charge

Finally, we want to remind everyone that a safe school is a place where students feel supported. Please check in with your children and remind them that help is always available, including the confidential OK2SAY tip line.

By working together, we can ensure our schools remain safe places for all students to learn, grow, and thrive.

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#.

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 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.

Traverse City Area Public Schools is excited to announce the adoption of the Amplify CKLA PreK-5 reading program, which aligns with our mission to provide a high-quality learning experience for all students. This program helps students develop essential skills to read, write, communicate, and problem-solve with clarity.

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