TCAPS Indigenous Education: Powwow Dance Group Practice

What: TCAPS Indigenous Education Powwow Dance Group Practice

When: Wednesdays in February

• Wednesday, February 5, 2025 (Traditional dance) (Special guest for Men's Traditional dance style)

• Wednesday, MARCH 5*, 2025 (Grass dance) (TCAPS Indigenous Ed students will help lead and mentor)

• Wednesday, February 19, 2025 (Jingle dance)

• Wednesday, February 26, 2025 (Fancy dance)

Each class will focus on a different dance style, discuss the background of each style, and practice introducing ourselves as if we were performing. Please feel free to attend all, a few, or one of interest.

Time: 6 pm to 7 pm

Where: West Middle School Weight Room, #505 (signage will be outside the door)

Door access: Athletic Door #3 or Door #5

What to bring: bottled water and be ready to dance!

What to wear: moccasins/shoes to dance in and clothes students can move in

* rescheduled

 👉🏻👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 Questions? Contact Summer Baldwin at (231) 933-5897 or email baldwinsu@tcaps.net

TCAPS Indigenous Education: Biboon (winter) book reviews!

• Who can submit?    TCAPS Indigenous Education Students

• What to submit?     Provide a book review. Submissions can be written, video, or audio.  (Check out the book list in this newsletter for some book ideas)

• When to submit? Winter 24/25

Multiple book reviews are welcomed and encouraged! 

An anonymous and fellow bookworm donor sponsored two $10 gift cards! 

Winners will be selected and notified on the first day of spring, March 20, 2025.

 👉🏻👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 For more information and to submit click here! 

Heard Museum Youth Art Show & Sale, Indian Fair & Market

The Heard Museum calls for artist submissions from students 7 - 12th grades for the Youth Art Show & Sale, Indian Fair Market. This is a fantastic opportunity for young artists to have original artwork judged by a professional panel, compete for ribbons, and earn over $10,000 in cash awards. Best of all, work will be displayed and available for sale to the public!

Registration Deadline: February 14, 2025

Artwork Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025

Event Dates: March 1-2, 2025

For more information and to submit click here! 👈

Recruiting Youth for OPEN's Youth Board

OPEN is recruiting passionate, diverse youth throughout Michigan who are interested in creating resources for teens and adolescents regarding opioid use, pain management, and substance use disorder.  

Requirements for the Youth Board are:

• High school age up to age 24

• Virtual collaboration

• Time commitment: 2 hours per month

• Compensation will be provided

 The first Youth Board last year and approximately six youth informed the information and resources for the OPEN TEEN initiative. Please check out the OPEN TEEN webpage to get an idea of what OPEN is hoping to continue to develop for youth substance use disorder prevention.

For more information about OPEN Youth Board click here! 👈

Click here to apply for the OPEN Youth Board.👈

American Indian College Fund - Scholarship Application Season Opens February 1, 2025

The American Indian College Fund’s (College Fund) scholarship application season for the 2025-26 academic year opens on February 1. There are hundreds of scholarship opportunities available for all fields of study, including special opportunities uniquely available for students enrolled in tribal colleges and universities. Any U.S. citizen who is an enrolled member or descendant of an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe may apply. Applicants must also have a minimum 2.0 grade point average and plan to enroll as a full-time student at a nonprofit, accredited college or university.

Visit the American Indian College Fund website.

Cobell Scholarship - Now Accepting Applications!

The Cobell Scholarship is now accepting applications for 2025/2026 Undergraduates. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025. 

Visit their website for additional information.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation - Scholarship Applications are Now Open!

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has over 50 unique scholarships available that support secondary education pursuits of graduating high school seniors, current college students, and vocational/trade school students from across the region. 

There are more than 40 scholarship opportunities available specifically for graduating seniors from Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, and Traverse City High School.

Invited to apply: Students from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau County and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Visit the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation website for more information.

Golden Apple Scholars Program  

The Golden Apple Scholars program in Michigan is a program for aspiring educators who have the determination and drive to be outstanding teachers in Michigan Pre-K-12th grade schools. They support and prepare future teachers for immediate and lasting success in the most challenging teaching environments. 

Eligibility Requirements

Entry Points

• Michigan High School Senior (Class of 2025)

• Michigan College Freshman or Sophomore

General Requirements

• US Citizen, Eligible Non-Citizen, or DACAmented student

Academic Requirements

• Strong Academic Performance

• Every application receives a holistic review meaning all pieces of the application are considered to make a decision.

Completion Requirements

• Maintain a 2.5 GPA

• Participate in Golden Apple Scholar Institutes

• Comply with Scholars Code of Conduct

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in education from a Michigan university

• Earn a Michigan teaching licenses

• Teach for five years in a Michigan school-of-need within seven years of graduation

Application Deadline: April 1, 2025. 

Visit the Golden Apple Scholars Program website for more information and to apply!

Parent Guidance

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Families, We are pleased to share a free and confidential website for parents and families, ParentGuidance.org. This site was developed by licensed therapists and provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their child. Parents can find answers to a wide range of mental health questions, including anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicide ideation, family challenges, and more. Popular courses you might consider exploring include:

• Parenting with a Purpose"

• "Unlocking Your Inner Parent Superhero"

These courses, along with other resources on ParentGuidance.org, are designed to equip you with tools to strengthen the bond between you and your children.

Click the logo on our district website at www.tcaps.net/parents to access this resource at anytime.

TCAPS Student Health Center

Through a partnership with Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc (NMHSI) the Student Health Center provides convenient and affordable primary care and behavioral health services to TCAPS students ages 3-21. Whether serving as your child’s sole primary care provider or as supplemental care for urgent needs and injuries, we look forward to helping students feel their best, right at school. 

The TCAPS Student Health Center is open year-round and is always accepting new patients.   

Health insurance or not, everyone is welcome here. 

What Services Are Available?

Medical Services    

• Physical exams for school, sports and camp

• Comprehensive wellness exams – medical & behavioral health

• Well Child Visits

• Treatment for acute and chronic illness and injuries

• Vision/hearing screenings and follow-up

• Immunizations

• Basic laboratory services and tests

Behavioral Health Services    

• Crisis Intervention

• Risk Assessment

• Social and emotional health screenings

• Referrals for specialty services

• Substance use counseling and education

• Behavioral Health Assessment, diagnosing, and counseling

• Individual or group community education

Patient Support Services

• Health Insurance Enrollment and Sliding Fee Program

• Connection to Community Resources

• Health Education

• Interpreters / Translation

• Coordinated Care with Specialists

• Telehealth visits, if needed

Student Health Center Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

TEEN HOURS ONLY: Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Student Health Center Contacts:

3954 Silver Lake Rd

Located on the campus of West Middle School

Schedule an Appointment

 231.642.5291  

 Visit the TCAPS Student Health Center website for more information.

February Reads Themes: Love and Black Indigenous Authors in Celebration of Black History Month

📚 The Just Right Gift: A Story of Love by Katherena Vermette (Michif (Red River Métis))

• Reading Age: 3 -5

• Grade Level: Preschool 

📚  Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett (Cree/Trinidadian)

• Reading Age: 4 - 8

• Grade Level: Preschool - 3

📚  Circle of Love by Monique Gray Smith (Cree, Lakota and Scottish)

• Reading Age: 4 - 8

• Grade Level: Preschool - 3

📚  Coyote In Love With A Star by Marty Kreipe de Montano (Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe from Kansas)

• Reading Age: 7 -9

• Grade Level: 2 - 3

📚 Siha Tooskin Knows the Love of the Dance by Charlene Bearhead & Wilson Bearhead (Wilson -  Nakota Elder and Wabamun Lake First Nation member in Treaty 6 Territory)

• Reading Age: 9 - 12

• Grade Level: 4 -7

📚 Surviving the City (series) by Tasha Spillett (Cree/Trinidadian)

• Reading Age: 12+

• Grade Level: 7th +

Tribal Nations of authors are noted to showcase the diversity of Indigenous authors and for program participants that are interested in reading literature specific to a Tribal Nation, they are a part of or familiar with.