Calendar:
Jan 6-23: Theater Intensive for Elementary, updates on our theater webpage
Jan 7-22: Junior High Shakespeare Theater Intermester with Interlochen Arts Academy faculty and students
Jan 17: Battle of the Books Teams Book Reveal (4th-5th), 10:50 - 11:50 at Woodmere Library, Carpooling and allowing extra time to arrive encouraged! There will be an opportunity to purchase all eight books there.
Jan 19: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 19: Navigators Girls Basketball AWAY Games, 6th at 5:30 p.m., 7th-8th at 6:30 p.m., at West Middle School (Small Gym)
Jan 20: First Battle of the Books Practice (4th-5th), at The Children’s House, 7:30-8:15 am, see schedule here
Jan 21: Montessori Up Close: Cosmic Education, 4 - 5:15 p.m. at The Children’s House, see below
Jan 21: Navigators Girls Basketball AWAY Game (6th), 4:30 p.m. at East Middle School (Small Gym)
Jan 21: Navigators Girls Basketball AWAY Game (7th-8th), 5:30 p.m. at West Middle School (Small Gym)
Jan 23: Registration for the Elementary Summer Program opens to the public at 12:00 p.m., see below
Jan 23: Theater Intensive Performances, 2 p.m. all-school assembly, 6 p.m. family performance, see below
Jan 23: “Chill Out” Fridays at Hickory Hills, 4-6 p.m., see below
Jan 29: Montessori Up Close: Exploring Upper El, 4 - 5:15 p.m. at The Children’s House, see below
Jan 30: Kindergarteners visit Compass Montessori Junior High
Feb 1: Tuition Assistance application opens
Feb 1-Feb 6: Junior High Trip to the South
Feb 4: CHiPA meeting, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., in the Community Room or via Zoom, details here
Feb 7: Sledding Party at Twin Lakes Park, 10 a.m. to Noon, details here
Feb 10: ISACS Webinar; 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People featuring David Yeager, 7:30–8:30 p.m. on Zoom, details here
Feb 12: Kindergarten Field Trip to Boardman River Nature Center
In The Know:
Reminder! Our Be SMART Pledge
As members of The Children’s House and Compass Junior High community, we must all do our part to keep children safe. The SMART framework emphasizes that it’s an adult responsibility to keep children from accessing guns and that every adult can play a role in keeping children and communities safer. Together we can protect children:
Secure all guns in our home and vehicles
Model responsible behavior around guns
Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
Recognize the risks of teen suicide
Tell our peers to be SMART
Read more about our commitment to Be SMART in our family handbook.
New! Theater Updates on the Website
The Cedar Classroom will release an issue of the Comets Gazette each week of the Theater Intensive, with updates from the students in each scene. Photos and short video clips will also be posted each week for a sneak peek into how the production is progressing.
New! Theater Intensive Performances, Friday, January 23
2:00 PM, all-school assembly
6:00 PM, family performance at The Children's House
Join us for a theater performance in the Barn involving every elementary student! This production is the result of a three-week curricular theater intensive. The Friday evening performance will be recorded.
New! Montessori Up Close: Cosmic Education, Wednesday, January 21, 4 - 5:15 p.m. at The Children’s House
For parents of current kindergartners
Elementary school at The Children's House is different from the traditional model most parents experienced growing up. This presentation will explore the prepared environment of our lower elementary classrooms and how the curriculum moves from concrete materials to more abstract thought processes while supporting social and emotional learning.
RSVP and reserve childcare by Monday, Jan 19
New! Montessori Up Close: Exploring Upper El, Thursday, January 29, 4 - 5:15 p.m. at The Children’s House
For parents of current 3rd-year students
This opportunity is for parents and caregivers of rising 4th-year students to meet our Upper El guides, learn how the curriculum continues through 6th grade, and tour the Cedar and Maple classrooms.
RSVP and reserve childcare by Monday, Jan 26
Bright Futures Fund: Thank you!Thanks to the generosity of our community—especially those who gave at year end—we’ve officially crossed the $100,000 mark toward our $275,000 Bright Futures Fund goal. We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed and helped us reach this exciting milestone. This year, the Bright Futures Fund is supporting several essential projects, including replacing our entire outdoor fence, installing a new water heater, and upgrading our kitchen classroom to better support daily learning. Thank you for helping us build a safe, vibrant, and inspiring environment for our students.
"Chill Out" Fridays at Hickory Hills, every Friday, January 16 through March 20 (weather-dependent), 4 to 6 p.m., at Hickory Hills
Tired of looking for activities during the winter for your kiddos? Want to get outside with other TCH families and enjoy the snow? This is a chance for your kiddos to ski or snowboard, connect with other TCH families, eat some food, and celebrate the end of the week. Super casual, come and go as you please!
Facebook Community
Did you know that our school has a private Facebook group? Join us online at The Children’s House Community to share ideas, ask for recommendations, alert families to special opportunities and events, and sell or give away items. Please invite other TCH parents.
Summer Enrollment is open for current families
The 2026 Children’s House Summer Program offers a rich and engaging summer experience for children, running from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday, June 15, through Friday, August 21, for a total of nine weeks. The school will be closed from July 3 to 10, 2026, for Independence Day and the Cherry Festival. Registration for all summer camps is now open to current and Fall 2026 school-year families only. Summer camp availability is first-come, first-served. Program minimums must be met before confirming registrations. Registration for the Elementary Summer Program opens to the public at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23, at 12 pm. A day camp embodying the values of respect, empowerment, challenge, authenticity, and joy. We hope you'll join us for Summer 2026.
Summer Program FAQ Register for Summer
Mind Up Take Home Lesson
Students K-6 receive MindUP lessons each Monday. Our learners are having fun learning about their brains and how they work. MindUP take home lessons are available to families on this Google Document. It will be updated weekly with new lessons and will always be accessible on our Learning Resources page.
Blog:
A Montessori Journey
By Jaime Janiszewski
As we closed out 2025, I found myself in a deeply reflective space. Looking back on the year felt natural, but my thoughts quickly moved beyond that and into reflection on my Montessori journey. When I walk into Willow Classroom, it feels like a second home—natural, cozy, and inspiring. Continue Reading...
New Faces:
Lizzy Filson
Extracurriculars:
Upcoming Registrations:
Coed Volleyball (4th-5th)
Registration deadline: January 23, 2026
Registration: LEAP
Learn More
Parent volunteers make student extracurricular experiences possible!
Please fill out this form if you are willing to coach or assist. We do not need expert coaches, just adults who would like to help, so that we can have these teams!
Community Bulletin:
Welcome to the Community Bulletin! This is your space to share activities, events, and extracurriculars that your family is involved in outside of school. To submit a message for the bulletin, email Arielle@traversechildrenshouse.org.
- Interlochen College for Creative Arts will be hosting a series of social (all ages) dance classes and baby/toddler & me dance classes this spring, learn more
- Electronics Recycling Event January 11-18, learn more
- MLK Day is free at Dennos! See their website for more educational events, learn more
- Fun and affordable winter events at Interlochen in February and March, learn more