TSD Weekly Newsletter

We are proud to announce that four Troy schools have been named Michigan State Schools of Character by Character.org! Each of these schools has demonstrated an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach to embedding character into all aspects of school life. They are among only 98 schools nationwide and seven schools in Michigan to receive this honor this school year and will now be considered for the National School of Character designation.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we highlight the character education taking place in each of these buildings!

This week marked Troy High's annual Activist Week! Students participated in a variety of fun activities, all with one goal: sending love to the Lichykaki family. Two years ago, the family courageously left Ukraine to build a safer and more secure future for their sons, Dima (a recent Troy High graduate) and Denys (a current Smith student). Tragically, the family recently experienced the unexpected loss of their father, Oleksii. Troy High students chose to honor the Lichykaki family for their resilience and their cherished role in the Troy community.

Students took part in a myriad of fundraising activities, including "Stuck for a Buck" where they paid to tape Troy High staff to the cafeteria wall, "Coin Stall" where students could donate to stall the start of class, a "Splash Bash" diving contest, and more! Smith Middle School even joined in, with Troy High students visiting to run a donut sale on Monday and Coin Stall on Friday.

During today's Pep Rally, it was announced that students have raised $71,554.73 (with more still to count) for the Lichykaki Family. Well done Troy High!

Athens Charity Week activities are underway and will ramp up next week as Athens raises funds for the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation. Today, students and staff participated in a belly flop contest, with more events continuing through the weekend. On Monday, students will enjoy a Comfy Spirit Day and Pancake Breakfast. Later in the week, highlights include a Carnival Night, Parent Cook-off, the Mr. Athens Pageant, and more! You can keep up with all the Charity Week Activities on the Athens Student Council Instagram.

While many events are not open to the general public, anyone interested in supporting Athens students can donate. Checks made payable to “Athens High School” can be mailed to:
Athens High School
Attn: S. DuFresne
4333 John R Rd.
Troy, MI 48085

Donations can also be made online at https://tinyurl.com/4988y5ny.

Congratulations to Troy High School Boys Tennis Coach Brian Miska! He’s been named an NHSACA Coach of the Year finalist and selected as the NFHS State & Section #4 Coach of the Year for Tennis. These prestigious honors recognize his incredible contributions to the sport, school, and community!

The Troy Chamber of Commerce proudly announced that Wass Elementary was the winner of the November Step Up to the Plate Challenge! For their efforts, Wass received a $1,000 check. Congratulations, Wass Wolves, and thank you to the Troy Chamber and Children's Hospital of Michigan for sponsoring this event.

The Troy School District is honored to be nominated for the Corewell Health Inspiring Tomorrow Award, part of the Troy Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

Voting begins today and runs through February 21 at 4 p.m., with the public vote accounting for 50% of the total. You can support our schools by voting as often as you'd like at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCBIZ25.

You can also find the lunch menus on the district website, under the Resources tab in the menu.

For more information on the Attendance Area Review process, please visit our website.

For a full list of participating businesses and colleges, click the image above or visit this website.

The Elevating Voices podcast takes a deep dive into courageous and candid conversations. In today's episode, we get up close and personal with the Black Student Union leadership at Athens High School. We invite you to settle in, listen with your heart, and embrace the moment.

Participate in the Michigan Brain Bee! Held March 8, 2025 at the Michigan Union. Open to High School students, the Brain Bee is a live Q & A showdown designed to spark your interest in neuroscience. This competition dives deep into the realms of stress, aging, sleep, and disorders such as addiction, Alzheimer's, and other neurological diseases.

The champion of the Michigan Brain Bee walks away with $250 and a $1600 travel stipend to represent the state at the National Brain Bee in April 2025. Second and third-place winners snag cash prizes of $150 and $50, respectively. There are also smaller prizes for second and third-round participants.

Success begins with preparation. Dive into the "Brain Facts" to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to conquer the competition. Additional resources, information, and the link to register are available on the Michigan Brain Bee Website. The deadline to register is March 1.

On February 1, the IA East Science Olympiad Team competed in their second invitational of the year, finishing third out of 41 teams. This was their final competition before regionals. To see the full results from this meet, visit the TSD Torch Blog. Their next competition is regionals on March 1—good luck, Olympians!

Thank you to Lakshya Matele, Student Guild Contributor, for covering the invitational.

Applications are open for the 2025 Discovery Kitchen Cookoff! This contest is open to middle school students. The deadline to apply for the competition is Friday, February 21. You can download the application below, or you can pick up a copy in your school's kitchen. Applications should be returned to Nicole Gervais at ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us.

The Morse PTO hosted Astronomy Night on Wednesday! The event featured presenters from the Oakland Astronomy Club, who spoke about the current night sky and upcoming astronomical events. Although families were unable to view the night sky directly, they explored the skies virtually, and students had the chance to get up close with professional telescopes. The fun and interactive evening was topped off with hot chocolate and moon pies provided by the PTO.

Last week, we shared updates from two elementary robotics teams. We have since learned that the Cosmic Creators from Bemis Elementary took home the 1st Place Innovation Award at both the regional qualifier and the Michigan State Championship. Their creative solution for sustainable ocean cleanup has earned them a spot at the WPI Annual FLL Event in Massachusetts this June! Congrats to the Cosmic Creators!

What started as a simple idea has become a cherished Costello tradition—the Ball for All. This special night, hosted at the San Marino Club, features dinner, dancing, fancy clothes, and endless smiles. Costello shared this video to give everyone a glimpse into this memorable evening.

On Thursday, the Athens Red Hawk wrestlers won the Division I District meet. This was the first time winning the Division since 2008 - congratulations to both the wrestlers and coaches!!

On February 5, Troy High hosted a signing day for three of its football players committing to play in college. Jaielen Peacock committed to Saginaw Valley State University, while Noah Oury and Lucas Tic committed to play for Grand Valley State University. Congratulations to all!

The Lady Hawks JVB basketball team traveled to Troy High on February 3 and came out on top, defeating the Colts 50-21. This victory brought their record to an impressive 14-0—well done, girls!

The Athens Unified Basketball Team took on Seaholm at home this week.

On January 31, the Troy Unified Hockey Team took on Port Huron Unified at home. The team posted a decisive win, besting Port Huron 8-0. This was also their Senior Night game.

Thanks to Josh Collesano Photography and the Troy Unified team for sharing this great photo!

This past week, Athens Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis Coach, Andrew Shipp, was elected President of the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. Between this, and Coach Miska's awards, we know that tennis is in good hands in Troy!

Female athletes were celebrated during halftime at this week's Troy High boys basketball game in honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day!

Congratulations to Junior Daniel Kadiu on being nominated for the Detroit Free Press High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year! Winners for the award will be announced in June.

Athletic Links:

Athens Athletics: https://RedhawkAthletics.org

Troy High Athletics: https://TroyAthletics.org

Facebook Links:

Troy High: https://www.facebook.com/troyhighathleticboosters

Athens: https://www.facebook.com/AthensBoosters

Booster SignUpGenius Links:

Troy High: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BA4AC29A4F4CF8-troy#/

Enrollment for the GSRP Program opened on January 1, 2025. This is for children aged 4. To enroll, please visit https://www.miecc.org/MiECC/application/add/63.

Enrollment for the TSD Tuition-Based Preschool opens on March 3, 2025.

New Podcast Series for parents & teens on TYA “Talks” Parenting!

Join expert clinicians, Dr. Matthew LaCasse, D.O., and Marlene Joshi, MA, LPC, CAADC, from the Adolescent Addiction Recovery Center at Children's Hospital in Troy as they dive into the critical issues affecting teens today—vaping, substance use, and anxiety.

This three-part podcast series, presented by Troy Youth Assistance, offers parents and teens evidence-based insights, prevention strategies, and practical guidance for navigating adolescent challenges.

Episode 1: Vaping – Risks, Prevention & Support

Episode 2: Substance Use – Understanding & Breaking the Cycle

Episode 3: Anxiety – Coping Strategies for Teens

Scan the QR code on the flyer or click the link below to listen on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZYVvxgIUJgMKq2gUEtl5W?si=f8533f0a9a4a4795

On January 28, Troy High School graduate Jon Berti signed a one-year Major League contract with the Chicago Cubs. Way to go, Jon!

• Monday, February 17 - Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - No School - Midwinter Break
  
  
• Saturday, May 31, 2025 - Athens and Troy High Graduation at the O'rena on the campus of Oakland University
  
  
• Sunday, June 1, 2025, 4 p.m. - IAE Graduation at Pine Knob
  
  
• Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 6 p.m. - TCCHS Graduation at Troy High

If you are interested in employment in the Troy School District, click here to access our Frontline Recruiting and Hiring System.