The TU Tribune

This 180 Seconds (or less) of Learning Podcast is your chance to learn about amazing things happening in the world of education and at Troy Union!

The podcast will be quick optimizing your time while giving you a chance to connect and learn with us. Our stories, will highlight the positive happening in education but we also hope some topics inspire you to do a 180 and possibly think about something differently. Either way, sit back and enjoy the next 180 seconds of learning.

The Troy Union Tribune, which is published on the first and third Thursday or Friday of each month. In addition, we will continue to send email updates as needed to keep you informed of important news.

We are thrilled to welcome you to Troy Union’s Curriculum Night, taking place Wednesday, September 2nd, from 6:00–7:00 PM.

Your child’s teacher will be (or has already been) reaching out with important classroom-specific details, including the “nuts and bolts” to help set your family up for a successful school year.

Please see the section below for more information about our Specials Program and Specialist Staff.

🔹 Curriculum Night Highlights

• Who: Troy Union Students and Families
  🧊 Popsicles will be provided (1 per child) until supplies run out—thank you to the PTO!
• What: Curriculum Night — an Open House event to explore your child’s learning environment.
• Where: Troy Union Elementary
  Students must stay with their families. Please do not allow children to walk the building unattended.

📍 Grades 3–5: Enter through the main doors
📍 Grades K–2: Enter through the K–2 wing doors
(Both entrances will open at 6:00 PM)

• When:
• Doors open at 6:00 PM
• Scavenger Hunt Checklists will either be brought by students or picked up in their classrooms — check with your child’s teacher if you’re unsure.
• Please arrive no later than 6:40 PM to allow time to complete the scavenger hunt.
• Classroom doors will close at 7:00 PM — please plan to exit the building at that time so our staff can return home to their families.
• Parking: Parking will be limited. We encourage walking or carpooling if possible. Nearby subdivision streets may be used, but please do not park on grassy areas.

We can’t wait to see you there for a fun and informative evening!

On behalf of myself and the PTO, it is time for us to show our TU Pride at the Fun Run 💙🦅💚! The Troy Union Fun Run is back—and it’s more than a fundraiser, it’s a celebration of our Troy Union CULTURE that makes our school special. Each student will complete one lap around our 1-mile track in the back of the school, showing the teamwork, unity, and the unstoppable energy that defines our community.

We all know the economy has impacted families everywhere. With increased costs all around us, we need you more than ever. The TU PTO is committed to being fiscally responsible while continuing to support our community. This year, our budget is focused on making sure the essentials—like Class Celebrations, Family Events (Fun Fair, Trunk or Treat, Makers Challenge), and school equipment—are fully funded.

Every dollar raised stays right here at Troy Union, ensuring these programs and experiences remain strong for our students and families.

How it works:

Students collect donations from friends and family, then run their one-mile lap while we cheer them on. It’s fun, it’s healthy, and it teaches our children that living an active lifestyle and giving back go hand-in-hand.

• Schoolwide Goal: $30,000
• Student Goal: $75 each
• Superstar Goal: $125 for those who want to go above and beyond!

We Need All Parents and Guardians to Complete 3 Easy Steps!

1. Register for the fundraiser or login to your parent dashboard here. You can also use this simple easy QR code.
2. On the parent dashboard, make sure your child has been successfully added to our fundraising event.
3. Share, easily send at least 10 text messages and/or E-mails, plus post on Facebook or Twitter

Dear 4th and 5th Grade Families:

Tomorrow, current 4th and 5th grade students will receive your child’s Michigan State Summative Assessment results from the spring of 2026. Students in grades 3-5 took part in the M-STEP assessment in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics. In addition, 5th grade students took part in the M-STEP assessment in the areas of Science and Social Studies. These assessments were developed to measure Michigan students’ achievement on the Michigan Academic Standards and requires students to demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which our instructional approach already supports.

Results from the M-STEP provide data the district can use to analyze curricular alignment to Michigan’s Academic Standards, to inform educational program evaluation, and to inform curricular and continuous improvement decisions at the school and/or district level.

M-STEP individual student data provides a snapshot of what a student knows and is able to do based on Michigan’s Academic Standards. Student level M-STEP data should also be used cautiously and in combination with local formative, benchmark, and summative assessment data to develop a complete picture of what the student knows and is able to do. The Troy School District uses a variety of literacy and math benchmark assessments to measure your child’s individual progress throughout the year. In addition, all students participate in other formative and summative assessments.

Below you will find links to the Michigan Department of Education’s Parent Guides for the state summative assessments.

• M-STEP Parent Guide Grade 3
  
• M-STEP Parent Guide Grade 4
  
• M-STEP Parent Guide Grade 5
  

Additional information about M-STEP and test results can be found on the Michigan Department of Education’s website. As always, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or school principal if you have questions about your child’s M-STEP results or your child’s progress overall. We look forward to helping your child have a successful school year.

Picture Day is Thursday, September 17th and will take place during school hours in the AM. Physical flyers were sent home with each student, or you may order online at kaiserstudio.com. Picture make up is on Friday, November 6th.

This is your direct ordering link: Click here to Preorder your Troy Union Elementary: 26/27 School Pictures from Kaiser Studio This is your school’s code: 26TRUNION27

Join us for the Fall Fun Fair on Wednesday, September 23rd on the playground and visit the Book Fair. It’s a great evening for families to come together and enjoy the festivities!

• Full Day: 8:39AM-3:37PM (Students should not be dropped off and released from families until 8:30 and they will enter the building at 8:33)
• Half Day: 8:39AM-12:29P (Students should not be dropped off and released from families until 8:30 and they will enter the building at 8:33)

Our Troy Union Leadership Shirts and Spirit Wear Store is now open! Click here to order.

We encourage you to get your orders in asap, as the store is only open through Friday, September 4th. This allows us to get our Leadership shirts before our Troy Union Fun Run.

When dropping off your child please only park in designated spaces.

Each school day over 400 students arrive and depart from Troy Union. Our arrival and dismissal procedures have been implemented and refined to ensure the safety of our students, staff and community. Please read the following very carefully as some procedures have been modified. We ask for your patience as we strive to create a safe and efficient environment for our students during arrival and dismissal.

To ensure the safety of all, students and families should not congregate outside the school and it is important that you do NOT drop your child off at school until 8:33 at the earliest. If you arrive early then families should stay in their car. Students should not lineup outside their entrance.

Please see the attached message about Appropriate vs Inappropriate language choices at school. We take school safety very seriously at Troy Union and a simple conversation at home on this topic can go a long way.

• Kaiser Picture Day: September 17, in the AM
• Scholastic Book Fair: Week of September 21
• PTO Fun Fair: September 23, 5-7pm
• Troy Union Fun Run: October 2, in the AM
• Parent Teacher Conferences (half days, both days): October 8 & 9
• 5th Grade Camp: October 12 & 13
• Halloween Parties & Parade: October 29
• Kaiser Picture Re-Take Day: November 6
• Classroom Holiday Parties: December 17
• Holiday Sing-A-Long (Students only event): December 18
• Annual Makers Challenge: May 14
• Field Day: May 27
• Fifth Grade Fun Day: May 28

All dates are tentative and could be adjusted.

As a Troy School District building leader, school safety is of the utmost importance to me. Extensive training affords me the opportunity to train members of our community to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from a violent critical incident if one were to occur at Troy Union. We hope an event never happens but being prepared to respond in an emergency situation is a priority. Additionally, Troy School District staff continues to go through extensive training as well and we will continue this learning throughout the school year.

We will be conducting several Security Drills over the course of the school year. Staff and students will be aware of all drills prior so nobody is caught off guard. When each drill is announced our classroom teachers will be reviewing school safety protocols as a classroom community.

• September 11th (tentative) will focus on stranger danger at school and home while further defining what Secure is. Furthermore, staff will reinforce that during an emergency it is important to listen to the teacher.

• September 16th (tentative) will focus on a Lockdown (inclusive of ALICE). Please see the attachment for more information about ALICE. Furthermore we will continue to reinforce that during an emergency, it is important to listen to the teacher to keep us safe.

We believe that we can teach children to be safe without scaring them. Our Troy School District protocols are designed to prepare students and staff for unsafe situations while taking their development into consideration. Please reach out if you have any thoughts, ideas, questions, or wonderings. Our goal is to always be prepared while reinforcing that school is incredibly safe.

Looking for a rewarding way to spend a few hours each day? Consider becoming a noon aide at Troy Union! This role offers you the chance to make a positive impact on our students during their lunchtime, while also becoming a valued member of the vibrant Troy Union staff.

Whether you're looking to contribute to the school's positive CULTURE or simply want to get more involved, this opportunity might be perfect for you.

Interested in learning more? Reach out to Mike at mcottone@troy.k12.mi.us for further details!