Westwoods Newsletter

Dear Westwoods Families,

Happy Valentine’s Day weekend! I hope you all have a wonderful few days filled with warmth, family, and perhaps a little extra chocolate.

In the spirit of kindness and recognizing the people who make our community so special, I am thrilled to launch a new appreciation initiative. We know our Westwoods staff goes above and beyond every day, and we want to give you a platform to share the love.

🌟Send a "Staff Shout-Out"

Do you have a teacher, custodian, office staff member, or paraprofessional who has made a difference for your child recently? We want to hear about it!

Please use the link below to submit a brief note of appreciation. Your kind words go a long way in brightening our team's day:

Westwoods Elementary Staff Shout-Out

What’s Next?

To keep the positivity flowing, we will be featuring these "Shout-Outs" in our upcoming Friday Focus editions. It is a wonderful way for our entire community to see the incredible impact our staff has on our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us make Westwoods such a supportive place to learn and grow.

Toby Tisdale

Principal

Westwood's food drive now till march 20th. Please drop off in the office vestibule anytime. Food donations will go to families in need, every donation of food can make a difference. We accept donations of non-perishable food. We recommend sauces, soups, bens, honey, pasta, flour, cereal, long life milk and noodles.

It may not seem like it, but it is time to start thinking about enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. If you or someone you know has a student that will be entering Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten in the fall and intends to enroll them at Westwoods, please complete this Westwoods Kindergarten/Junior Kindergarten Interest Survey - 2026-2027: https://forms.gle/ACYvM5t3PJKib5Zr5.

Enrollment is now all online, which you can access here: https://www.tcaps.net/page/enrollment

Please share this information and the interest survey link with families you know that are not current Westwoods families.

TCAPS communicates school closings through several channels, including the district website, social media, and local media outlets. In addition, direct text messages and emails are sent to staff and families to ensure they receive timely updates. This notification service is reserved for the phone numbers and email addresses currently registered in the TCAPS staff and student databases.

To read more information, view the Snow Day FAQs

Pictures Wanted: We want to showcase your child's interests outside of school on our TV slideshow for staff and students to enjoy. The slides will be updated each season: Fall (September-November), Winter (December-February), and Spring (March-May). Please send pictures to Kelly Niskanen at niskanenke@tcaps.net.

Yearbook Orders

Yearbooks can be ordered online at ybpay.com. Our yearbook ID code is 15176226.

If you are uncertain if you have ordered, Jamie or Kelly in the office can check and let you know.

A father in a blue suit carrying a briefcase and a young girl wearing a red top, green skirt and red hat carrying a backpack are pictured. The daughter's hand reaches back to touch the father's outstretched hand as she walks up the steps to a door with a sign above saying "School". In the upper left corner of the picture is the image of a bell ringing.

Morning Drop-Off Procedure

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.
If dropping off students at 9:00 or later, you must walk in with your student to sign them in at the office. Doors lock promptly at 9:00.

Updated Pickup Procedure

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!

Reminder - No Toys

Please make sure kids are keeping their toys, Pokémon cards, etc. at home to avoid loss, damage or other issues.

Lost & Found

Lost and found items can be see on this slideshow. If you recognize any of these items, you can stop by to pick up, or let the office know and we'll get it back to your child.

Please claim items before Spring Break. All unclaimed items will be donated after that time.

February 19 2-Hour Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

February 20 No School

March 3, 5, & 11 Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 12 2-Hour Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

March 26 2-Hour Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

March 27-April 3 No School - Spring Break

April 16 2-Hour Early Release Day: Dismiss at 1:57

April 22 4th & 5th grade Spring Music Concert

April 23 2nd grade Spring Music Concert

Image of coffee beans across the top of the page with the following text below: Westwoods Wake Up Friday, February 27th 8:30-9:30 am Westwoods Families! Another community event is upon us! We'll be by the flagpole with coffee and pastries for sale, with all proceeds supporting each grade's field trip fund. February's beneficiary: 4th grade. Payment options: Cash, check or Venmo. Minimum donation: $3 each for coffee and pastries. Thank you to 9 Bean Rows, Espresso Bay, and Northwoods Soda Co. for sponsoring February's event. We can't wait to share a cup of coffee with you. We want to reiterate that coffee stand items are intended for adults only - thank you for understanding. Event designed for you by Westoods PTO!

Popcorn Friday 2.13.26

Flavor: White Cheddar

Sponsor Message: The Shaffer Family

Popcorn Friday 2.27.26

Flavor: Garlic Parmesan

Sponsor Message: Happy Early 5th Birthday Hudson!

Winterfest Carnival at Central High School

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.

Photo of Dr. John VanWagoner, wearing a dark suit with a red tie

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’s meeting will be in person on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., and will be held at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 on the second floor (Mezzanine level).

2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Volunteer Application

Free & Reduced Meal Application

WW Drop-Off & Pick-Up Info & Map

Westwoods Newsletter