The Eastern Star Family Newsletter

Function over form. Important in architecture and Halloween costumes.

If I've shared this Halloween message previously, pardon my repetition, but I clearly recall a Halloween when I was a little tyke and dressed as gremlin for Halloween. Not the cute fuzzy kind either. What I also recall is tripping the entire night on my too long pants due in large part, because I could not see out of the high quality plastic mask. That resulted in spilling a large quantity of my candy leaving a disappointed kiddo at night's end.

I say all that to encourage consideration on a school costume that allows full participation in the day's activities and mitigates the risk of disappointment. We'll see you at the parade and follow up Halloween parties!

#shinebrighttogether

• October 28, 9:00-10:30: Picture retakes
• October 29, 3:20-3:45: TBA Student Run Credit Union Deposit Day
• October 31, 9:15-9:45: Halloween Parade
• November 4: No School
• November 6, 11, and 13, 4:30-7:30: Parent-Teacher Conferences (sign up below)
• November 11, 6:00-7:00: PTO Meeting
• November 19, 3:20-3:45: TBA Student Run Credit Union Deposit Day
• November 21: Popcorn Friday
• November 25: Early Release Day; Dismissal at 1:57 p.m.
• November 26-28: No School; Thanksgiving Break
• December 9, 6:00-7:00: PTO Meeting
• December 17, 3:20-3:45: TBA Student Run Credit Union Deposit Day
• December 22-January 2: Winter Break
• TCAPS 25-26 Calendar

Our school is participating in a creative fundraiser with Art to Remember that allows you to purchase keepsake products customized with your child's art. There are over 60 products and many are less than $20.

These make great gifts and a percentage of every purchase goes right back to our school. Click on the link below and search for your child's name to see their artwork. Then, have fun shopping!

All orders are due by November 17th.

Thanks for supporting the arts!

Mrs. Culik

https://arttoremember.com/school/UXVC89

Each year Eastern provides Thanksgiving meals for some of our families. If you would like to help purchase items for these dinners, please email Jim Cooley (james.cooley@und.edu).

The TCAPS Student Support Network is hosting the Winter Warm-Up Shop on Thursday, November 13th and Friday, November 14th. The Winter Warm-Up Shop offers FREE new and gently used winter outerwear and footwear for students currently enrolled in TCAPS. Shopping is by appointment only and items are available while supplies last. Please complete this form to request an appointment.

The Student Senate at Central High School is excited to invite you to our annual Haunted Hallway event, taking place on Wednesday, October 29th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

This spooky celebration will be held right here at Central High, and guests can enter through Door 5. Admission is $5 per person, and all proceeds will support future student-led initiatives and events.

We’d love for you to join us and experience the creativity and school spirit our students have poured into this project. It promises to be a fun and frightful evening for all ages!

Thank you for your continued support of our student community.

Warm regards, Student Senate Central High School

This Week Was Safe Schools Week!
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.

Thank you to everyone who signed up to be an Eastern volunteer through DOGS/MOMS. We are changing the way we coordinate volunteers through this program. Each Friday we will include sign ups for classrooms/school areas that need extra support.

We will also reach out to those who have signed up with DOGS/MOMS. If you would like to be on that list, please fill out THIS FORM.

Volunteer Areas:

Lunchroom Thanksgiving Meal

Lunchroom

Recess

Mrs. LaBarre

Mrs. Stout

Ms. Ross

Mrs. Annelin

Mrs Kearney

Eastern’s fall parent-teacher conferences are November 6, 11, and 13. 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

Preschool: Mrs. Roeder

Junior Kindergarten: Mrs. Odette

Kindergarten: Ms. Edwardson

Kindergarten: Mrs. Ferguson

Kindergarten: Ms. Freeman

1st Grade: Mrs. Brott

1st Grade: Dr. Chaprnka

1st Grade: Ms. Ross

2nd Grade: Mrs. Fak

2nd Grade: Mrs. Hites

2nd Grade: Mrs. LaBarre

2nd Grade: Ms. Myers

3rd Grade: Mrs. LaBlanc

3rd Grade: Mrs. Norton

3rd Grade: Mrs. Shembarger

4th Grade: Ms. Lutes

4th Grade: Mrs. Nelson

4th Grade: Mrs. Stout

5th Grade: Mrs. Annelin

5th Grade: Mr. Cooper

5th Grade: Mrs. Kearney

PTO provides dinners for two of the nights of parent-teacher conferences. For the other night, they ask parents to make a donation. Please SIGN UP HERE if you are able to help provide an item for the Taco Bar on November 11.

Thank you to PTO and Shanna Girrbach for organizing this!

Picture retakes for Eastern will be Tuesday, October 28, from 9:00-10:30. Order forms are in the office, or you can order online at mylifetouch.com -- use this Picture Day ID: EVTKVP99J.

Eastern yearbooks are on sale now! Each yearbook costs $12. You can order your yearbook HERE. Yearbooks are handed out at the end of each school year.

We’re making plans to honor the veterans in our Eastern school community on Veteran’s Day, Tuesday, November 11th. Are you a veteran? Do you have a family member who is a veteran? Or are you currently serving in our US military? Please take just a few minutes to fill out this form by October 30th and help us recognize these everyday heroes.

We’ll start the day with an all-school ceremony that will include the Pledge of Allegiance, a tribute to veterans and flag-placing by our students, staff and invited guests.

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

Eastern's annual Halloween Parade will be Friday, October 31, from 9:15-9:45. Weather permitting the parade will be outdoors. More information will be shared closer to Halloween.

As a reminder, costumes should be non-violent. No blood, weapons, pretend weapons, or gore is allowed. Adults in costume cannot have their faces covered or have a costume that makes them unrecognizable to staff.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a fun, safe environment for our students.

Please read THIS LETTER to find out more information about the Crystal Mountain Ski/Snowboard Program for Family and Friends of Eastern Elementary. All applications are due by November 18.

Trojan Coaching Staff & TCC Players will be teaching the fundamentals of basketball! To sign up for a clinic, follow THIS LINK and scroll to the bottom of the page.

An emphasis will be placed on developing skills while having fun and competing.

WHO: Boys 2nd- 8th GRADE & 2nd- 8th COACHES

WHERE: Traverse City Central High School Gymnasiums (bring: water bottle & dress accordingly)

WHEN: Saturday, October 25th

2nd- 3rd Grade @ 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

4th - 5th Grade @ 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

6th - 8th Grade @ 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

COST:

2nd - 5th grade: $30.00 per player

6th - 8th grade: $40.00 per player

Coaches we would love to include you in this clinic free of charge!

This clinic will address what fundamentals & concepts we want taught at each grade level within the LEAP elementary and middle school programs.

Specific questions? Please contact Coach Luke Johnson: johnsonlu@tcaps.net


NOTE: Payment is required at the time of registration. You may register online using a Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or ACH (via a checking or savings account) please register below. Registration is not complete until your course appears in your dashboard. You will also receive an email from Eleyo confirming your registration. If you need assistance please call the LEAP office (231.933.7480).

Lost and Found Growing

The next time you are in Eastern, please stop by the lost and found. We have many, many sweatshirts and coats that we know belong to our Stars! Any items not labeled will be donated at Thanksgiving. Encourage your child to look through lost and found, too -- and remember to label items. Thank you!

Shout-Out to Our Incredible PTO President, Jenn Comstock!

A huge thank you to our phenomenal PTO president, who is stepping down after volunteering two plus years of hard work and dedication to Eastern. Your leadership, organization, and countless hours of elevating PTO has made a lasting impact on our school community. You have set the bar high and have inspired us all. Thank you Jenn.

Jog-a-Thon News

Thank you again to all who helped make this year's Jog-a-Thon a huge success! We couldn’t have done it without the support from our AMAZING Eastern Community.

Now on to the Prize Winners!

Individual Prizes

Any student to get 5 or more donations were entered into a drawing to make Principal Swegles into a human sundae at the wrap up assembly! The assembly will be on Thursday, October 30th, at 3:15-3:45p. The 10 winners are:

1. Jack P.

2. Connor W.

3. Lucia H.

4. Brooke S.

5. Edie P.

6. Louis W.

7. Josie L.

8. Brady K.

9. Wright N.

10.Nora P.

Any student to get 3 or more donations were entered into a drawing to invent their own Moomers ice cream flavor. The one winner is:

1. Penelope C.

Important Dates

November 11th @ 6pm - PTO Meeting

MONDAY

plain donut

yogurt

TUESDAY

cereal

cheese stick

WEDNESDAY

cinni minis

yogurt

THURSDAY

Cereal

cheese stick

FRIDAY

sweet breads

cheese stick

LUNCH

MONDAY

1st choice: Louie's hotdogs with fries

2nd choice: Lasagna roll up with breadstick

3rd choice: sunbutter and jelly, cheese stick and crackers

TUESDAY

1st choice: cheese quesadilla

2nd choice: Turkey & cheese sub

3rd choice: Sunbutter & jelly with cheese stick and crackers

WEDNESDAY

1st choice: Pasta with meatballs with bread stick

2nd choice: sunbutter & jelly with yogurt & graham crackers

THURSDAY

1st choice:English muffin with egg, sausage and cheese

2nd choice: Baked Chicken patty sandwich

3rd choice: sunbutter & jelly with yogurt & crackers

FRIDAY

1st choice Cheese pizza

2nd choice: pepperoni pizza

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

NOTE: Caesar salad will be served on Fridays

The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” at the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) in the McGuire Room, 610 Woodmere Avenue, on Thursday, October 23, 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, Trustee Hardy 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 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#.

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)