Calendar:
Mar 13-21: Theater Week, Upper El and Junior High
Mar 21: Theater Week Performance, Upper El and Junior High, 2 p.m., All school assembly, parents welcome! details here
Mar 22: Spirit Friday!
Mar 22: Coffee with Britny Tollstam: Growing Up in Public: Milestones of Growing Up in the Digital Age, details here
Mar 25-29: Spring Break, Campuses Closed
Apr 3: CHiPA with special guest: Scott Schuh, Northwest Ed School Psychologist, 8:30 a.m., in the Community room or via Zoom, see below
Apr 4: Food Rescue presentation for Kindergarteners
Apr 4: Junior High at the Dennos for Grupo Folklorico Xochiquetzal
Apr 5: Spirit Friday!
Apr 11: Junior High Parent Visiting Day, 10:30-11:30 a.m., students leave with parents at 11:30 a.m.
Apr 11: Staff Training, school closes at 11:30
Apr 12: Spirit Friday!
Apr 12: School Sing-Along, 10:30am, all-school student assembly
Apr 15: Raising Resilient Children with Sheri Glucoft Wong and Olaf Ole Jorgenson, 7:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom, registration is required
Apr 19: Bright Futures Gala, 6:00-10:00 p.m. at The Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park, see below
Look further ahead…
In the Know:
New! Thank you to the Beers Family
All four elementary classes ventured out to the Beers' Family Farm to experience the Maple syrup production process from beginning to end. The students began with a hayride out to the tapped trees and had a lesson on why the maple trees make sap and the process the tree goes through every day. Then they were able to experience how to tap a tree. Next, the students had the opportunity to see and learn about the boiling process. They were able to taste the maple syrup throughout the process in its different iterations and finally, they received a bottle of syrup to take home and enjoy. All four classes had a wonderful day learning about all that goes into that delicious syrup we know and love. Thank you, Mindy, Chad, and Leland Beers!
New! Maple Classroom Can Drive Fundraiser for School Solar Panels
We would like to do a can drive to raise money for solar panels. It will help the planet by using energy from the sun instead of fossil fuels. We have been talking about this is November 14, Ruby Bridges’ Walk to School Day. Please rinse out your cans so they are not stinky and sticky. Please bring in your cans from Monday the 18th to Wednesday the 20th at morning carline and afternoon carline.
From, Sloane, Louisa, Sawyer and the Maple Classroom
New! Products added: Priorlife Tote and Hydroflask Water Bottle
We have some new branded merchandise available for purchase! Priorlife LLC is a sustainable bag company that creates promotional and retail products from up-cycled banners and other leftover materials. Priorlife bags are durable, water resistant, eco-friendly and ethically made in Traverse City, Michigan. We also have custom engraved 32 oz Hydroflask water bottles! Both items feature The Children's House and Compass Montessori Junior High logos. The Dance of the Cosmos screen-printed poster commemorates our beautiful community celebration that takes place on the last day of school. Limited quantities available, make your purchase today!
CHiPA with special guest: Scott Schuh, Northwest Ed School Psychologist
Wednesday, April 3 at 8:30 a.m., in the Community room or via Zoom
In response to a great conversation about neuro-diversity during a recent CHiPA meeting, Scott Schuh, a school psychologist with Northwest Education Services, will be presenting on the topic during our April CHiPA meeting. All are welcome, in person or online! The team at Northwest Ed works with our school to evaluate students and actively provide services when needed. Scott's presentation will help families understand these services, the process they follow, and how they partner with our school. For information on joining CHiPA via Zoom, visit our Get Involved webpage.
Works By Lisa Wilkins Schulte
On March 2, 2020, Lisa Schulte hung her stunningly beautiful, large-scale paintings in our lobby for our school community to enjoy. This exhibit has come to an end, but you could take them home! Lisa is a Children's House alumni parent and is donating a portion of the proceeds to The Children's House. A big thank you to Lisa Schulte for her generosity and for sharing her artwork with us over the past four years! View the paintings and purchase here.
Parent + Child Classes
Our Parent + Child spring sessions (Prenatal, Newborn, and Infant) are now open for registration! We welcome you inside our thoughtfully curated Montessori environment to experience the joy of learning alongside your child. Come delight in several weeks of rotating materials, intentional discussions, and new friendships. Montessori Guide, Britny Tollstam, will facilitate the class. Learn more here!
Weekly Gratitude
“To all the guides: Thank you for all of the preparation you do for conferences! It is a busy week for you guys - tackling conferences on top of the day-to-day. We are grateful for everything you do and are looking forward to spending time with you!”
To share your gratitude, go to our Padlet and click on the + button in the lower right corner of the screen.
Our Bright Futures Fund supports our school - the people and the physical space - now and well into the future. This school year, our goal is for 100% of our families, staff, and board members to participate.
You can help us meet this goal by making your pledge today and then celebrating with us at our Bright Futures Gala, A Wish for the Future, at The Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park! Make your pledge today.
A Wish for the Future
Save the Date: Friday, April 19, 2024
Sponsor the event | Make reservations to attend | Give an item for a door prize
Being an event sponsor is a great way to support our school and gain awareness for your business. Check out the sponsors who are leading the way! When you frequent these businesses, please thank them for supporting our school. To become a sponsor, click here.
Events North, Brick & Corbett, Rembrandt Construction, iSee Communications, Lilies of the Alley, Brady’s Bar, Buster’s Blinds and Window Film, Cass Street ENT, Sandbox Alliance, Karen & Mark Lundmark, Brittany Lister, MD, NW Michigan Dermatology. Beers Family Dentistry, Down to Earth Landscaping, Gilchrist Farm, TBA Credit Union, The Beverage Company, Sustainable Landscape Design LLC, Smithy Works, Comfort Center, Traverse City Orthodontics, Dr. Madelyn Stumpos, Karen A Mueller MA, LPC, Trattoria Stella, Golden-Fowler, Adventure Golf & Sports, TVC Airport, BayWest Animal Clinic and 4Front Credit Union.
New Faces:
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Alisha Macnamara |
Extracurriculars:
Middle School Track (7th-8th years) - Register by March 15!
Middle School Track starts on April 1 and is open to 7th-8th graders. ALL Compass athletes MUST run at West Middle School due to our co-op with TCAPS. For more information and registration, visit the LEAP website.
Boys Basketball (2nd-3rd years)- Register by March 15!
This season will start in April. We will need a coach for this team. Please contact Julie Boss if interested. Learn more and register on the LEAP website.
Boys and Girls Track (4th-6th years)
Track is open to all 4th-6th graders. Practice will start during the week of 4/2. Meets will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School. Meets will start on 4/16 and end on 5/9. Please look for registration in early March. We will need coaches for track. Please reach out to Julie Boss (julie.boss@tchlearners.org; (248) 535-1713) if you are interested in coaching or assisting.
Athletics Afterschool Programs
Blog:
I've Got The Power
Betsy Bloomquist
Power struggles between children and caregivers are a common part of a toddler’s development. Early on they develop a strong sense of order, which helps them make sense of their world. They observe how things are to be done and this becomes their perceived reality. However, this reality does not always align with the adult's reality and often a power struggle ensues. Continue Reading...
Community Bulletin:
Bigs is currently recruiting for matches in the Grand Traverse region for community based mentoring and school based mentoring! You can volunteer individually, or you and another person can volunteer together through the Duo Program. Visit https://bigsupnorth.com/volunteer/#volunteer to learn more or reach out to bigs@bigsupnorth.com.
National Writers Series and Tilt Think are holding improv classes at the Alluvion for kids grades 5 - 8. For more info and to register visit nationalwritersseries.org.
Updated! Pit Spitters Reading Club - Because of our strong reading program, all of our learners K-8 qualify for the Pit Spitters Reading Club! The Pit Spitters are celebrating our learners' commitment to reading by offering two FREE tickets (one for the student and one for a parent). No need to sign up for the program, we will be sending home vouchers to all eligible students. You can learn how to redeem the vouchers for tickets here. We encourage you to use Honeycomb to coordinate gatherings with your fellow Children’s House families!
The 2024 Reading Club redemption dates are:
Thursday, May 30 at 11:05 a.m.
Friday, June 7 at 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12 at 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, June 22 at 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 30 at 5:05 p.m.