TCAPS Montessori Weekly Reader:

Dear TCAPS Montessori Families and Friends,

Mother Nature is giving us a run for our money this month! Please know we value your safety when getting to school. Doors will close promptly at 8:15; in Northern Michigan, during winter months, good practice is to give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destinations. As part of district procedures, you must come into the office with your student to sign in if you are late. We will send students to class ASAP to ensure instruction is preserved. We do start receiving kids at 7:55 am every morning. Doors open at 8:00 for school entry. Instruction begins at 8:15.

Shout out to our Lego League Robotic Team, which advanced to the State Tournament! The Bricks4Brains Lego League robotics team competed in Leland on Dec. 7 and brought home four of five possible trophies. Check them out in the trophy case! The team will now advance to the state championship in Mason on Jan. 11. Way to go, Timberwolves!

The adolescents are working on a project to contribute to the peace tree. Each student chose a word representing Montessori education, such as peace, cooperation, inclusivity, creativity, socialization, concentration, etc. Students painted and decorated ornaments following directions in Spanish and wrote their chosen Montessori words in English and Spanish. The 7th-grade ornaments are on display on the tree in the office, and the 8th-grade will finish theirs next Friday. Please enjoy some photos of this project below.

Our school is pleased to work with SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers to offer an after-school program to our kindergarten through fifth-grade students starting in late January. SEEDS has received a grant this year to get the program off and running at $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). Stop by our office for more information.

Stay warm and safe,

Tracy

• 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

• December 17, TBA Student Run CU Deposit Day
• December 18, 5 - 8 Band & Orchestra Holiday Concert @ 1:30
• December 23 - January 3 - Winter Recess
• January 6 - School Resumes
• January 8 - 29 - NWEA Winter Testing Window
• January 9 - Early Release Day, Dismissal at 1:12 PM
• 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

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.

Read the PTO Update for all the news from the PTO -- including how to purchase last minute Timberwolves gifts. (All spirit wear orders placed via the online store will be distributed and sent home on 12/19).

There are still several staff members in need of Staff Appreciation: Holiday Cheer Style. Sign-up to Adopt-a-Staff Member today! Please note: drop off all gifts to the Main Office before Thursday, Dec 19th.

Our Family Directory is a great way to connect with school friends for playdates during Christmas Break. If you haven't already done so this year, take a moment to register your family. [The family directory is completely voluntary; it is not a TCAPS-affiliated list]

1. TCAPS Board of Education Monthly Office Hours: The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education will host its next monthly “office hours” in person on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. The meeting will be located on the mezzanine level (second floor) of the bookstore. TCAPS Board office hours provide community members with the opportunity to talk to a school board trustee. This month, Trustee Newman-Bale is scheduled to attend.

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)

• 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