TCAPS Montessori Weekly Reader:

Dear TCAPS Montessori Families and Friends,

What a great first week back to school! It is wonderful to see students engaged and excited to reconnect with their learning and friends.

If you have not already done so, in your child’s folder/backpack, please check for an important Intent to Enroll Form. This form will help us plan for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. As a current TCAPS Montessori Preschool through 7th-grade student, you have the first right to return to our school before opening enrollment to others. Please return this form to your child’s teacher or our office by January 24, 2025.

TCAPS will announce registration dates soon for the 2025-26 school year. Our school will offer the following Parent Information Nights to help support your decision-making when selecting programs for your child:

• Current Toddler Families - If you are interested in moving from our Toddler, Montessori Day Care Based Program to our Preschool/Kindergarten Montessori School-Based Program, you will want to attend a coffee conversation hour on Wednesday, January 29 from 3:30 to 4:30. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet with current toddler staff, CASA (Preschool/K) staff, myself and current parents to learn more about what our school program offers. There is a separate registration process for toddlers to preschoolers. Questions regarding enrollment can be directed to Kelly Gignilliat at (231) 933-1759 If you cannot attend in person, you may join virtually with the following Google Meet Link: Toddler to CASA Information Hour

• Casa Information Night will take place on Wednesday, February 12, from 5:30 to 6:30 for families interested in enrolling in our preschool - kindergarten. Please help us spread the word if you know of interested families.

• AC (Adolescent Community) Parent/Student Information Night will be held on Thursday, February 6, from 5:30-6:30 (Inclement weather date 2/10/25).

Finally, a shout-out to our Bricks for Brains Lego League Team, heading to the state championship this weekend. We wish them all the best - Good Luck, Timberwolves!

Stay Warm,

Tracy

• This is a friendly reminder that our school has partnered with SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers to offer an after-school program at TCAPS Montessori!

  They are finishing up enrollment for this wonderful opportunity and spaces are still available. SEEDS has received a grant this year to get the program off and running at a fantastic price of $5 to $10 per day/per student.

  The afterschool program will run four days a week for 2.5 to 3 hours a day (exact pricing and times will be established soon). Please stop by our office to pick up an enrollment packet. These will be due this Monday, January 13. The program hopes to start the week of January 27, 2025.

• Yearbook Ordering Information: ENJOY 10% OFF your order! CODE: F202410OFF EXPIRES: July 31, 2025 Redeem Now. Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card! More about the Smilesafe program here

1. Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Families, We are pleased to share a free and confidential website for parents and families, ParentGuidance.org. This site was developed by licensed therapists and provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their child. Parents can find answers to a wide range of mental health questions, including anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicide ideation, family challenges, and more. Popular courses you might consider exploring include:

• January 8 - 29 - NWEA Winter Testing Window
• January 20 - End of First Semester, Half Day, Dismissal at 11:22
• January 21 - TBA Student Run Credit Union, Deposit Day
• January 28 - PTO Meeting
• February 3 - Early Release Day , Dismissal at 1:12 PM
• February 6 - Adolescent Community Family Information Night
• February 10 - March 12, Safety Around Water for all 3rd Graders
• Februrary 12 - Count Day!
• February 12 - 14 - CASA & LE Music Informances
• February 12 - CASA Parent Information Night
• February 13 - West Middle School Registration night (incoming 6th graders) at 6:30-7:30
• February 14 - 100 Day of School!
• February 15 - PTO Winterfest
• February 17 - East Middle School registration Night (incoming 6th graders) at 5:00-5:30
• February 18 - TBA Student Run Credit Union, Deposit Day
• February 21, Builidng Bridges Music Assembly for Grades 4 - 6
• February 24, PTO Read-A-Thon Begins
• February 25, PTO Meeting
• February 28, PTO Movie Night (last one of the school year)

1. Ala Cart items are available for UE & AC (grades 4-8 students) to purchase daily. These items will be an extra main entree option. The prices are as follows: Additional First Choice Entree $2.85 - Soy Milk $2.50 - Dairy Milk - $0.50 - Extra Bosco Sticks (2 sticks w/ sauce) $3.00 - Extra Slice of Pizza $2.50

2. If students with packed lunch would like to purchase milk, they must have money on their account. Dairy milk is $0.50.

3. To put money on a students account you may send cash or check (made payable to TCAPS) in a marked envelope - LUNCH MONEY - in your child's folder.

-Mark your calendars...Winterfest will be on February 15. More Details coming soon!

-A new round of Lunch Buddies is starting soon and running through March 19, 2025. Please use this link if you are interested in volunteering.

-Read-a-thon Cmte needs some more help. More info and sign-up links available in the PTO Update.

TCAPS Montessori PTO Newletter and Updates

Dear AC Families,

Please use this link to access news and events from the AC community. The drive will be updated on a monthly basis.

Spanish Class News & Notes (Click Here)

(parents look next to the Spanish class Google classroom link to look at the top row for their student's level (CASA, LOWER, UPPER, AC)

In this photo, students form the Buckeye room are doing a student-led speaking activity. They answered basic conversation questions like what is your name and how are you. Based on their answers in Spanish (1 word, 1 sentence or more than 1 sentence), they earned stamps and demonstrated speaking proficiency in Spanish. OLE!

• TCAPS District Website
• TCAPS Elementary Student/Parent Handbook]
• TCAPS Secondary Student/Parent Handbook
• TCAPS PowerSchool Parent Portal FAQ
• PowerSchool Parent Portal Log-in
• TCAPS Student Support Network
• TCAPS Student Health Center
• Montessori Parenting.org

CASA - 8th Grade:

Start Time: 8:15

End Time: 3:12

Half-Day Dismissal: 11:22

Early Release Dismissal: 1:12

Toddler Program:

Start Time: 7:50-8:30

End Time: 2:30-3:00

Morning Session End Time: 11:00

Afternoon Session Start Time: 12:00

Half-Day Dismissal: 11:00

Early Release Dismissal: 1:00

Email: ruckertr@tcaps.net
Website: https://www.tcaps.net/schools/elementary-schools/montessori/
Location: TCAPS Montessori School, Franke Road, Traverse City, MI, USA
Phone: 231-933-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/TCAPSMontessori

YouTube: TCAPS Montessori YouTube Channel
X: @TRuckerTCAPSmo