The Eastern Star Family Newsletter

It is my hope that our Eastern families were to able to enjoy their extra time away from 1600 Eastern Avenue. We have a nice little stretch before winter break here to accomplish many things and continue to get 1% better each day so that we can start 2026 with momentum in our favor.

#shinebrighttogether

• December 9, 6:00-7:00: PTO Meeting
• December 12, 5:30-7:00: Eastern Movie Night
• December 17, 3:20-3:45: TBA Student Run Credit Union Deposit Day
• December 22-January 2: Winter Break
• TCAPS 25-26 Calendar

Join Student Council for our Holiday Movie Night next Friday, December 12th in the Eastern gym!! Doors open for concessions at 5:30pm and our feature, Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas, will start promptly at 6:00. Candy, popcorn and water will be available for purchase. Bring a blanket, pillows or chairs to get comfy!

As a reminder this is not a drop off event and students need to be accompanied by an adult.

If you are able to offer support for families who need extra support with groceries, please check out this sign up sheet. Directions for food drop off are below. Also, fill out this form if you would like to get future emails about how you can make a donation.

• All items need to be delivered to the office no later than 10:30 a.m. Monday. You can drop things off as early as Friday. We open each morning at 8:00, but I am typically here by 7:45.

• Be careful with expiration dates. Families will be asked to pick things up by Tuesday, so if you are purchasing milk/meat/fresh fruit, maybe wait to drop those off until Monday morning.

• We will always take extras of non-perishable food items and household supplies (toiletries, cleaning supplies). Extras will be added to the pantry and offered to families as needed.

• The recipes for the meal kits are linked in the spreadsheet. We will provide the families with these directions as well. If you have an idea for a meal kit, please feel free to share! We would like to rotate ideas throughout the year.

Eastern students are invited to participate in our Spirit Week, December 15-19.

December 15: Channel the Flannel

December 16: Grinch Day -- Dress like the Grinch or wear green

December 17: You're Such a Character -- Dress like your favorite Holiday Character

December 18: Ugly Holiday Sweater

December 19: PJ Day

Registration is officially open for the optional CogAT testing for the TAG Program (Grades 4-5)! Interested 3rd grade families are strongly encouraged to attend our optional informational virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the curriculum, testing, and new program locations (Eastern and Silver Lake Elementary). The testing registration deadline is January 21, 2026.

Here are some of the volunteer opportunities at Eastern in December. If you want to be contacted early about volunteer opportunities, please fill out THIS FORM.

Volunteer Areas:

Lunchroom

Recess

Ms. Ross: Kindergarten

Mrs. Myers: 2nd Grade

Mrs. Annelin: 5th Grade

Mrs. LaBarre: 2nd Grade

Mrs. Kearney: 5th Grade

Mrs. Stout: 4th Grade

Each year Eastern organizes wish lists for families in our school community who need extra support. We are always so thankful those who are able to make any level of a donation.

You can access the list here: Eastern Holiday Giving.

Please make sure all items are at the office no later than Friday, December 12. We ask that items be unwrapped and labeled. The gifts on the list are all labeled by family number.

From December 8-19 we are asking Eastern students to share their musical talents with us! We would love for you to greet students and staff with some holiday music right before school. You can SIGN UP HERE. You will need to arrive at school at 8:35 to get set up.

Join the CHS choir on December 11 to sing carols and eat cookies! Information is on the image below.

The Eastern PTO will create a scrapbook for the 2025-2026 school year. They are asking for families to upload photos to THIS SITE. Please note that 1) not all photos will be able to be used, and 2) some photos may appear in the yearbook instead of the scrapbook. Thank you for your help!

We do have a very limited supply of spare items for emergency/isolated instances, but unfortunately, we do not have enough to lend out gear for children who regularly forget their items.

Attendance Calls

Please remember to notify the office if your child will be absent or late to school. Automatic phone calls go out each day to anyone who has not notified the office by 9:45. You can call the attendance line at 933-5600 at any time to report an absence.

Where Do PTO Dollars Go?

We are temporarily unable to make changes to our PTO website. For important information regarding budget, creating a proposal or viewing submitted proposals PLEASE see these links below. We want you to stay informed and know how PTO is using funds. If you would ever like to comment on a proposal please reach out to us via email at easternelementaryschoolpto@gmail.com

BUDGET: Click here for the 25/26 approved budget.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: Any staff member or parent may submit a proposal. We love hearing from you and want your ideas! Click here and submit one today.

PENDING / GRANTED PROPOSALS: To view a log of what has been submitted or accepted for the 25/26 school year click here

MONDAY

plain donut

yogurt, fruit and milk

TUESDAY

cereal

cheese, fruit and milk

WEDNESDAY

mini pancakes

yogurt

fruit & milk

THURSDAY

Cereal

cheese stick, fruit & milk

FRIDAY

Assorted sweet breads

cheese stick, fruit & milk

LUNCH

MONDAY

1st choice: Hamburger with fries

2nd choice: Sunbutter & Jelly with cheese stick and Crackers

TUESDAY

1st choice: beef walking tacos

2nd choice: meatless walking tacos

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

WEDNESDAY

1st choice: Grilled Cheese with tomato soup

2nd choice Mini Pepperoni calzones

3rd choice: Sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and graham crackers

THURSDAY

1st choice: chicken tenders basket with emojis, dinner roll

2nd choice: Mac & cheese with dinner roll

3rd choice :sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and crackers

FRIDAY

1st choice Cheese Pizza

2nd choice: Pepperoni pizza

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

The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” in-person at the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) in the McGuire Room, 610 Woodmere Avenue, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with the opportunity to talk to a school board trustee. This month, Board President Newman-Bale is scheduled to attend.

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, December 9, 2025 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).

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)