West Senior High Updates
2024-25 Week of October 7th
Upcoming Dates
CALENDAR
- Oct 7 - Homecoming Week begins
- Oct 7 - Senior Parent Meeting (optional), 6pm, LMC
- Oct 7 - Marching Band Expo @ Thirlby Field (4:55-9:15pm, West at 8:30pm)
- Oct 9 - PSAT/NMSQT Testing (Special schedule, Seniors report at 12:30pm)
- Oct 11 - Homecoming Football Game & Pep Assembly - Special Schedule
- Oct 12 - Homecoming Dance (see details below)
- Oct 14 - Half Day of School, Indigenous Peoples' Day - last hour ends at 11:13am
- Oct 15 - Picture retake day
- Oct 15 - Senior Mtg: FAFSA & College Apps (2nd period)
- Oct 16 - School Safety Assemblies (3rd period)
- Oct 18 - Pink Out Night / Football Game
- Oct 22 - Fall Choir GOLD Concert
- Oct 24 - Fall Choir GREEN Concert
- Oct 25 - Patriot Game & Pep Assembly
- Oct 26 - WSH/WMS Orchestra Fall Frolic Concert
- Nov 18 - Musical Auditions Begin
Updates & Reminders
9th-11th grade students will take the PSAT (practice) test on the morning of October 9th. Students need to being a charged chromebook. The eleventh grade test is also used as the entry point into the National Merit Scholarship Competition for the Class of 2026. Seniors will have an asynchronous learning opportunity on the morning of October 9th and need to be on campus no later than 12:30 PM for classes.
School Pictures
- Lifetouch apologizes as our August school pictures had to be re-printed and have not been delivered yet. Any family can go to mylifetouch.com and use the Student ID option to see and order their child's picture from August.
- If parents want to order for retake day on 10/15/24, they can use the Picture Day ID EVT6WVMR8. Picture Day IDs expire on picture day so I always tell parents to order before picture day
Homecoming Week Details for October 7-12
Homecoming is the week of October 7th, featuring a variety of school day and evening activities. On Saturday, October 12th, WSH will host its annual Homecoming Dance and Activity Night, organized by the National Honor Society. Here are some important details regarding the dance/activity night:
Time: The Homecoming Dance will take place from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Activities: Multiple activities will be available, including:
Commons: Dancing
LMC: Games
Auditorium: Movie
Tickets: Students must purchase tickets in advance during lunches or at the main office starting September 30th for $10. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Students should have their ticket and TCAPS ID ready for quick check-in at the door, which will be through the main entrance on the West/Auditorium side.
Last year, over 1,200 students attended the dance/activity night. To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment, attendance is limited (guest sign up link available in the main office or at the ticket sales table):
The dance is exclusively for current WSH students and is not a public or community-wide event. WSH students must be in good standing to attend; those not demonstrating safe and respectful behavior during the school day may be denied entry.
Each WSH student may bring one pre-approved guest:
The guest must be actively enrolled in a high school and in good standing.
The guest pass process must be completed by October 8th, with WSH verifying the guest’s enrollment with their principal.
Registered guests must enter the dance with the WSH student who invited them and bring a form of photo ID.
Guests can be recent TCAPS graduates aged 19 or younger, provided they are pre-approved (using the guest form).
No additional guests can be registered at the door.
Students with an approved guest will receive a confirmation email.
Buy a ticket for your guest in advance.
Attire: Homecoming dance attire is typically semi-formal. Students are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for dancing; barefoot dancing is not recommended.
Personal Items: Please do not bring bags, backpacks, or other items into the dance, as there will be no coat check. Any items you bring must stay with you (e.g., phones).
Behavior: Students must dance respectfully at all times. Those who cannot adhere to this standard will be asked to leave.
Entry Policy: Students may enter the dance only once. If they leave, they may not re-enter.
Departure: The dance will end promptly at 10:00 PM, so please arrange for transportation to pick you up by that time.
Recognitions & Celebrations
WSH Students of the Week!
These Titans were recognized by staff for modeling the Portrait of a Graduate traits we strive to develop in all West students!
Academic Community Students of the Week!
Congrats to our Titans of the week within each of our Academic Communities! THE ARTS | STEM | GLOBAL
Titan Performance Training
Congrats to our Titan Performance Training Athletes of the Week!
Congrats to our Visual Arts Student of the Week!
Conference Championship
Congrats to Coach Griesinger and the Mens Soccer team on their 15th consecutive BNC Conference Championship!
College Board AP Honor Roll!
Congrats to our TC West students and staff on being recognized for high achievement on 2024 Advanced Placement Exams!
Congrats to Mr. Zenner, our West Senior High Staff Person of the Week!
Our student body selects the staff person of the week. Check your student e-mail for the ballot.
Global Travel Experiences
SPRING BREAK 2026 in Peru! Want to learn more? WSH students have the opportunity to travel to Machu Picchu, explore the Andes and learn about the culture of Peru during a 9 day arts, culture, service learning and archeology immersion tour during Spring Break in 2026. There's an informational meeting at WSH on October 15 at 6pm in room A102/103. Click the link or scan the QR code to RSVP to the meeting. Email Mrs. Clone or Mrs. Cole with questions.
June 2025 Global Service Trip: Mexico
Our yearly TCAPS Global Service trip is being planned for next June (pending BOE approval). Students will study Spanish at a language institute, do volunteer work at an orphanage and dog refuge, participate in an exchange with students learning English at our sister school, and take a deep dive into Mexican culture as they become global citizens.
Students who participate will earn .25 Global Competency credit on their transcripts, and can earn volunteer hours for NHS. Fundraising will be available to pay all costs.
The informational meeting will be held at 6:30 on Oct 16 in the LMC at WSH.
Athletic Department Updates
- WSH Fall '24 Sports Program
- 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 Parents, please log into Final Forms, click on the blue '2024-25 Registration' button and select the sports your child is considering playing this school year so you can receive communication from those coaches. If you have not signed up for 2024-25 sports in final forms you are missing communications from the coach.
Kinsey Voted Athlete of the Week!
TCAPS Updates
TCAPS Board of Education Monthly Office Hours
Superintendent Monthly Office Hours
Dr. John VanWagoner's monthly open office hours for community members will be held in person on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm 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.
Standing Items & Resources
Contact
Email: brunanta@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
Your Neighborhood Office can provide parent access codes