The Eastern Star Family Newsletter

We are officially in the final stretch of February and sometimes the shortest month can feel like the longest. Looking back, it has been a fun-filled month of learning inside and out of the classroom. Our teachers have led some fantastic learning, many grade levels got out of the building on field trips, and we shared the love with classroom activities for St. Valentine's Day!

The days continue to get longer and that warm star in the sky peaks out more often letting us know that March is approaching, and we are building that momentum into Spring!

#shinebrighttogether

• February 25, 4:00-6:00: Writing Celebration Walk Through
• February 26, 3:00-3:45: 1st Grade Talent Show
• February 26, 4:00-6:00: Writing Celebration Walk Through
• February 27, 8:30-9:30: Writing Celebration Walk Through
• February 27: Popcorn Friday
• March 3, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 5, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 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

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

Please take note of these fun happenings and more information will be coming soon.

• 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)
• March 9-13 Eastern’s Artemis Books Book Fair
• March 13 Flashlight Friday (It’s Friday the 13th, classrooms will read by flashlight)
• 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.)

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

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

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

Mark Your Calendars and Stay Tuned…

The Artemis Books Book Fair is coming to Eastern this March just in time for March is Reading Month!

The book fair is held in the lobby and will be open during these times:

• Tuesday, March 10th- 8:45am-4:30pm

• Wednesday, March 11th- 8:45am-8pm (through Parent-Teacher Conferences)

• Thursday, March 12th- 8:45am-2:30pm (Early Release Day)

• Friday, March 13th- 8:45am-9:10am (before packing up)

Artemis Books is a new local bookseller. A portion of the proceeds will support our Eastern library.

Our young authors in Grades JK–5 have been pouring their hearts and creativity into their writing this year and we are excited to invite you to our 4th Annual Writers’ Celebrations from February 25–27.

This event is a special milestone where students showcase their progress, share their unique voices, and celebrate the art of writing various genres with our school community.

While students will be exploring the showcase throughout the school week, we have reserved three specific windows for families to come and admire the work:

• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 4:00-6:00
• Thursday, Feb. 26, 4:00-6:00
• Friday, Feb. 27, 8:30-9:30

We look forward to seeing you there!

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.

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

More details to come!

We are officially calling all sponsors to join our cast! See this flyer for additional information:

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

MONDAY

muffins

fruit and milk

TUESDAY

Cereal

fruit and milk

WEDNESDAY

mini bagel

fruit & milk

THURSDAY

Cereal

fruit & milk

FRIDAY

sweet bread

fruit & milk

LUNCH

MONDAY

1st choice: Bosco sticks

2nd choice: soft pretzel with cheese dip

3rd choice:Sunbutter & Jelly with yogurt and Crackers

TUESDAY

1st choice: beef fiestada pizza

2nd choice: Quesadilla

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

WEDNESDAY

1st choice:Chicken nuggets with dinner roll

2nd choice: pizza bento box

3rd choice:sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and crackers

THURSDAY

1st choice: Pancakes with sausage and hash browns

2nd choice Sunbutter & jelly with yogurt and graham crackers

No 3rd option

FRIDAY

1st choice Cheese Pizza

2nd choice: Pepperoni pizza

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

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

• This Month’s Trustee: Scott Hardy

• When: Thursday, 2.26, 5:30-6:30pm

• Where: Traverse Heights Elementary-933 Rose Street

TCAPS Sports Physicals will be held at the TCAPS Student Health Center, located at 3954 Silver Lake Rd, Traverse City, MI 49684, on Monday, February 23 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and Thursday, February 26 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The cost is only $35. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. To schedule your sports physical, please call 231.642.5291. Get cleared and ready for the season!

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)