New Message from Michele:
Calendar:
Dec 11: Junior High Only, Early Dismissal, 12:00 p.m.
Dec 12: Winter Wonderland Upper Elementary Student Party, 6 p.m. in the Barn, see below
Dec 17: Coffee with Trisha, 8:30 a.m. in person at The Children’s House and on Zoom, see below
Dec 17: Elementary Robotics Family Open House, 4-5 p.m.
Dec 19: Pajama Day for Primary, see below
Dec 19: Seasonal Sing, 3 p.m. in the Barn, school closes after the event, no Friends Club, details here
Dec 22-Jan 2: Winter Break, No School
Jan 5: Staff Work Day, No School
Jan 6: School Resumes
In The Know:
New! Illness Policy Update – GI Illnesses
We’ve updated our illness policy to clarify procedures and exclusion periods for gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses (vomiting and diarrhea). In most cases, children must remain home for at least 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. During a declared GI outbreak, however, students will be excluded for 48 hours after their last symptoms, and staff return-to-work guidelines are adjusted to reduce the risk of spread.
Please take a moment to review the full Illness Policy and the new GI-Specific section in the Family Handbook.
New! BATA School Loop Clarification
We want to share an update regarding the BATA service that some of our students use daily and to clarify both the nature of this public transportation option and our school’s approach to maintaining student safety. Read more here.
New! Winter Wonderland Party, Friday, December 12, 6-8 p.m. in the Gym
This dance is for Upper Elementary only, please no siblings. There will be food, drinks, games, music, and a lot of fun. It is $5 to get in. The money will go to the sixth years for MMUN.
-Avery, Arianna, Palladia, Mae, Matilda, and Adley
New! Coffee with Trisha, Wednesday, December 17, 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room and on Zoom
Managing stress as a parent during the holidays can be tricky. Join us for a holiday edition of Coffee with Trisha. We will be discussing emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child with Mental Health Consultant, Trisha Short, MA, LPC, IMH-E (II)! This was a popular topic last year; we hope to see you there!
New! Candy Cane Exchange
The Compass Student Senate Fundraising Team is thrilled to inform you about the Candy Cane Fundraiser! From December 8th through December 12th, Student Senate members will be distributing slips to sell candy canes on the main campus to fundraise for public outreach and Junior High school events. Slips for purchasing will also be available daily at the front desk. The candy cane fundraiser works like this:
- Students can send candy canes to their friends and classmates by purchasing a slip from the student senate.
- Adults are welcome to send candy canes as well.
- When a student purchases a slip for $1, they will fill out the questions on it. (To, From, Classroom, Message)
- If you would like to send a candy cane in secret to surprise a peer, feel free not to put your name on the slip.
- Please note that one slip is one candy cane sent.
Our team will take the orders and put the slips on the candy canes. The fundraising team will deliver the canes in the corresponding students' cubbies right before the sing-along on December 19th. The candy will not be consumed on school premises. Donations are welcome. We are so excited for all the holiday fun!
Sincerely,
The Fundraising Team: Ava, Tess, Caroline, Mia, Claire, Olivia, Finn, Henry G
New! Primary Pajama Day, Friday, Dec 19
Primary students are encouraged to wear pajamas to school! Please leave stuffies and slippers at home.
Inclement Weather Policy
TCH Administration determines school delays and closings. Parents will receive an email by 7:00 a.m. (or earlier if possible) notifying them of the delay or closure. The information will also be posted on the school’s website by 7:00 a.m. Please note that TCH will not automatically follow the closure decisions of TCAPS and NMC.
Lunch and Childcare are not refunded on days school is closed for inclement weather or other last-minute closures due to things outside of our control.
Texting for Urgent Communication
In addition to an email alerting you about school closings, delays, or emergencies, we notify parents by text message and will no longer use the Remind app (except when students are traveling overnight). All parent cell phone numbers that are shared in Ravenna will be used so that administrators can quickly communicate a school-wide message.
Time to Order Lunch
December Lunch Menu is now available, view menu here.
Volunteers Needed: Meadow Valley Collaboration - only 1 spot left!
Upper El students, Alexandra, Jane, and Estelle, presented to CHiPA about their collaboration with our neighbors at Meadow Valley. Every Friday, from 10:15 to 11:30, they visit with the residents and do crafts. They requested the need for chaperones to walk with four elementary students each week. (Contact Andrew to become an approved chaperone and driver.) Reach out to Renee with all other questions about the program.
Signup Genius for Meadow Valley
Bright Futures Fund: Off to a Strong Start!
We’re excited to share that we’ve passed $35,000 toward our $275,000 Bright Futures Fund goal—thank you to everyone who has already contributed! A quick reminder that any gifts made before December 31 count toward your 2025 tax year. This year, our Bright Futures Fund is helping us move forward on 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.
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.
Our top-ranked blogs:
Giving Your Child the Gift of Independence
by Alison Breithaupt
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Have you noticed that all babies and young children tend to want to do things by themselves? This tendency is the beginning of independence, which promotes confidence and self-esteem as well as motivation and perseverance. It fosters self-reliance, allowing your child to feel they have control over their life. How do we encourage independence as parents?
Continue reading…
Writing Before Reading
by Megan Fellows
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Many of us who grew up attending traditional schools learned to read before we learned to write. We were taught the names of letters before learning the sound made by each letter. However, the Montessori sequence of lessons gives children opportunities to write before they even begin to read.
Continue reading…
Human Needs and Tendencies
by Megan Andrews
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
We know Dr. Montessori was a scientist, she observed children and made groundbreaking observations about the way they learn. Perhaps, more admirable is the way she connected childhood to being human. She made it possible for adults to see children as extensions of themselves, working towards the same goals and deserving of the same treatment.
Continue reading…
Extracurriculars:
Upcoming Registrations:
Navigators Girls basketball (6th-8th)
Registration deadline: Friday, December 12, 2025
Registration: FinalForms
Learn More
Comets Boys Basketball (4th-5th)
Registration deadline: December 12, 2025
Registration & Learn More: LEAP website
Battle of the Books (4th-5th)
Registration deadline: December 31, 2025
Registration: Final Forms
Learn More
Navigators Robotics (6th-8th)
Registration deadline: January 7, 2026
Registration: Final Forms; (pay participation fee here)
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.
- New! Electronics Recycling Event January 11-18, learn more
- The Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker, Saturday, December 6th at 2 & 7 pm and Sunday, December 7th at 2 pm. learn more
- Kathryn Burke, TCH parent, is raising money for her hometown community in Jamaica that was recently devastated by a Category 5 hurricane. learn more
This Week in Photos:
