September 8, 2023
Welcome Back!
Important Information for the 23-24 School Year
For district provided PD (for example, PLCs, TCRs, departmental & site meetings) please use the PD Sign In/Out Form. For quick access to the form, save it to your bookmarks on your web browser. Questions? Contact Erika Lahti (LahtiEr@tcaps.net) or Maire Lajko (LajkoMa@tcaps.net).
Brightspace/Seesaw Information
Brightspace courses will appear with rosters by 8/29/23. Most courses are already populated and data is flowing. Technology is working out a few issues with a some secondary classes and rosters that are not importing/connecting with teachers. Technology is working with Brightspace and we expect to see this resolved shortly. Courses from the 22-23 school year will remain active until 12/1/23. Please make sure you copy any course material to the 23-24 courses as soon as possible.
Brightspace Resources
SeeSaw Resources
Please contact Danelle Brostrom (BrostromDa@tcaps.net) for K-5 SeeSaw & Brightspace Support and David Noller (NollerDa@tcaps.net) for 6-12 support.
Welcome Misti Warner & Amanda Smith
TCAPS has been fortunate to receive additional resources from Northwest Educational Services for a position to further support the students of our district .I am pleased to share with you that Misti Warner has accepted the Director of Whole-Child Systems position effective the 2023 / 2024 school year.
Misti earned a Bachelors degree in Social Work from Spring Arbor University and has a Masters degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University and an Educational Leadership / Special Education Endorsement from Grand Valley State University. Misti has served as a Social Worker with TCAPS since 2012.
We are also pleased to welcome Amanda Smith who will be transitioning into Misti’s Social Worker role beginning in mid-September.
Curriculum Leadership
We are excited to share with you the new curriculum leadership structure for the 23-24 school year. This new structure is in alignment with the TCAPS strategic plan and provides for increased curriculum alignment PK-12, opportunities for growing and empowering teacher leadership, vertical and horizontal alignment across the district and a laser focus on high-quality instructional and improving student achievement for each and every learner. WELCOME and THANK YOU to our teacher leaders!
Technology
Wireless Keyboards and Mice will now be available as a one-time checkout for TCAPS staff to use with their TCAPS Laptop. One Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo will be provided by the district if requested.
If you would like to check out a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo for school use, please fill out THIS FORM. This form will be available through Saturday, September 30th, 2023. If you decide you would like a wireless keyboard and mouse after September 30th, please put in a support ticket to request one.
Key Points of this Program:
By filling out this form, you are agreeing to check out both the keyboard and mouse as a combo.
It will be your responsibility to keep track of the keyboard and mouse until you turn in your laptop.
This keyboard and mouse are checked out to you individually and will move with you when you change rooms or buildings.
Student Support Network
The Student Support Network (SSN) provides free supportive education-related services and non-academic support to help all TCAPS students, ages 3-20, remove obstacles that may create barriers to learning.
Student Support Request Form
The SSN is ready to help all students be prepared for a successful 2023-24 school year. If students/families reach out to you for services or support, please complete the 2023-2024 Student Support Request Form. Once the form has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and SSN will work to fulfill the request.
Sunshine Bus
The TCAPS Sunshine Bus continues to deliver food and basic needs to all children until September 1st. Please visit tcaps.net/ssn for the schedule and locations.
McKinney-Vento Minute
Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are eligible for rights and services provided by the McKinney-Vento (M-V) Homeless Assistance Act. Rights and services include immediate enrollment, school placement and stability, clothing, and hygiene products, help with transportation, and more.
If you are aware of a student who does not have the same place (fixed) to go every night (regular) and that place is not safe for sleeping (adequate), that student may be eligible for M-V. Please contact the M-V Liaison, Katie Kubesh at kubeshca@tcaps.net.
Katie Kubesh
Student Support Network Coordinator, McKinney-Vento District Liaison, Regional Grant Coordinator, and Foster Care Liaison
KubeshCa@tcaps.net
office: 231.933.1789
Karyn Hertel
Student Support Network Assistant
HertelKa@tcaps.net
office: 231.933.1790
REMC2 Central
To help with your professional learning planning, we are excited to share our REMC Course schedule through July 2024. Learn from the convenience of your home and earn 10 FREE SCECHs. Take a look at all course offerings and register today! www.remc.org/remc-all-events/
Visit us for our Open House on Thursday, September 14th, from 5-7 pm. Play with some Educational Technology and experience Scholastic Esports. While you are here, enter to win one of our Rocketbook Bundle packs and other giveaways. You can find us in the Career Tech Building at 880 Parsons Rd.
Don't miss any of our events! You can use this link to see what Professional Learning experiences we have coming up. This will be a live calendar we update as we schedule events, so check back often!
This year, do you want help with lesson plans, assessments, and general communication? Here's your first AI tool for the school year. Magicschool.ai is free for teachers. This AI tool can help save you time. You can try the rubric generator as a starting point.
Staff Office Hours with Dr. VanWagoner
Dr. VanWagoner hosts bi-monthly virtual office hours to have informal conversations with TCAPS staff. Click here to access the Google Meet or call 1-631-538-0233 and use PIN 504 947 004# to access via phone. Please mark your calendar for the following dates to attend these virtual office hours for TCAPS staff:
Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The same Google Meet link and phone number will be used for all virtual office hour dates. These meetings are subject to change and will be communicated appropriately. Please contact Stacey Hozak at hozakst@tcaps.net or 231.933.1725 if you have any questions.
Community Curricular Connections
Please click HERE for information and opportunities in our community that may connect with your curriculum or classroom. New opportunities added often!
Photo Gallery
Please share items for future editions of the INFocus with Alex Crane (craneal@tcaps.net).
When including photos of students, please be sure the family has not opted out of "directory information."