West Senior High Updates

• Jan 27 - Final performance of Advanced Theatre's The Curious Savage, 7pm Auditorium
• Jan 27 - Extended 2nd period schedule (for 25-26 course requests)
• Jan 27 - Senior Class Meeting, (2nd hour, Auditorium)
• Jan 31 - Extended 3rd period schedule (for 25-26 course requests)
• Feb 3 - Early Release Schedule
• Feb 5 - Sophomore Visit to Career Tech Center
• Feb 6 - 8th into 9th Grade Parent Meeting, 6pm
• Feb 12 - Junior Class Meeting (2nd period)
• Feb 19 - Freshman Class Meeting (5th period)

• IMPORTANT! The 2025-26 course enrollment process for current 9-11 grade students begins this week. It is critical you take a few minutes to review our Enrollment Timeline and Course Selection Process Letter.

• Odyssey Yearbook 411 - Updated 2025 Yearbook information.

• Official Final Grades for Semester 1 will be e-mailed to families in early February via an updated unofficial transcript.

• Choir Fundraiser: The Filling Station is sponsoring a fundraiser for WSH Choirs on Monday, January 27, between 4:00 - 8:00 pm. 15% of all sales will go back to the Choir Program. Come support the TCW Choirs on Monday!

Parents, please continue to stay informed on the trends and dangers of Vapes and THC pens. These national trends are prevalent in Traverse City.

1. Smart vaping devices are becoming more popular among young people. These smart vapes can look like a phone, with screens, games and interactive reminders that incentivize users to vape.

All 9th-11th grade students can begin preparing for the SAT or PSAT that they will take on April 9, 2025. Below are a few ways for students to prepare:

1. CollegeBoard Full-length Practice Tests: The full-length practice tests in Bluebook™ are the most accurate way to measure your skills for the actual test. They introduce you to the Bluebook app, used for both practice and test day. Students can access Bluebook by signing out of their school-issued Chromebook, selecting APPS in the lower left corner, and selecting BLUEBOOK. You will need to sign in with your College Board username and password. After completion of a practice test, your practice scores will be available in your College Board Account under My Practice.

2. Khan Academy Official Digital SAT Prep: Khan Academy is a free resource that allows students to gain access to thousands of practice questions, videos, lessons, helpful hints, and valuable test-taking tips and strategies. Every section of the digital SAT is expertly crafted by Khan Academy's team of math, reading, and writing experts. Students can access the Khan Academy SAT Prep using this link: khanacademy.org/digital-sat

3. In-Person Practice SAT (Juniors Only): WSH and CHS are working together to offer two opportunities for our juniors to take Practice Digital SAT Exams before taking the actual Digital SAT in April 2024. We will be hosting two opportunities:

1. Saturday, March 8, 2025, at West Senior High

2. Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Central High School

West Senior High will be hosting Career Day for all 9th-12th grade students on Wednesday, March 5. This is a great event for our students to learn more about various careers that are within our community! If you (or someone you know) would be interested in being a guest speaker, please share this Google Form with them or have them reach out to Kali Meyers (meyerska@tcaps.net) for more information. We are especially in need of guest speakers in the fields of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Architecture, Veterinary Medicine, Art & Design, and News & Journalism.

• https://secure.smore.com/n/bszmd Our next Senior Class Meeting is on Monday, January 27th at 9am in the Auditorium (bring chromebook). We will review the 2nd semester deadlines in the Senior Newsletter linked above.
• Yearbook update: Senior Congratulatory ads can be purchased to be in the Odyssey Yearbook. Ads could be a combination of baby/family photos, artwork, poetry, quotes, personalized writing, etc. Please see examples and additional information on the West Senior High Odyssey Yearbook’s website. Deadline to submit Senior Congratulatory Ads is Friday, February 28th, 2025. All three components (order form, writing/copy, photo(s)) must be submitted by February 28th, 2025, in order for the ad to be in the yearbook. Form Link Any questions? Please contact Laura Henion at henionla@tcapsstudent.net.

WSH Academic Communities: Academic Communities are not courses. Rather, they are experiences students opt into that extend their learning in an area of interest. Students that meet all of the requirements in a given community can earn a distinction on their diploma.

• Students that are interested in joining the Academic Communities at West (Global, The Arts & STEM), can learn more here: https://www.tcaps.net/programs/highschools/academic-communities/.

• Students who would like to join an Academic Community at WSH can indicate their interest here: t.ly/AvVR

Our student body selects the staff person of the week. Check your student e-mail for the ballot.

Afterschool SPEED TRAINING for all athletes runs Tuesday/Thursday immediately after 6th hour. Meet near the weight room (free).

• Athletic Event calendar: https://tcwestathletics.org/events
• Tickets & sports passes are available on GO FAN https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10300
• https://traversecity-mi.finalforms.com/parents/2281
  

• Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Superintendent, Dr. John VanWagoner, will have monthly “office hours”, alternating each month between in person and virtual meetings. In person office hours will be held at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 on the second floor (Mezzanine level). Virtual office hours will be held via Google Meet and can be accessed here or by calling +1 475-549-0438‬ and entering PIN: ‪961 104 679‬#. All meetings begin at 5:00 pm. The alternating schedule will be as follows:

  • Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - Horizon Books
  • Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Google Meet
  • Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - Horizon Books
  • Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Google Meet
  • Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - Horizon Books

The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” in person on Thursday, February 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Traverse Area District Library (McGuire Room). TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with the opportunity to talk to a school board trustee.

Email: pohlmanha@tcaps.net
Website: https://linktr.ee/tcwsh
Location: 5376 North Long Lake Road, Traverse City, MI, 49685
Phone: 2319337500
Facebook: facebook.com/TCWSH
Twitter: @tcwshtitans