TY FOR TCAPS

One of the things I love most about our schools is when the community steps forward to help meet a real student need.

At February’s TCAPS Curriculum Committee meeting*, we learned of a Traverse City Central High School – TCAPS program called Loft @ Lunch that is doing exactly that.

The Loft offers a quiet, welcoming alternative during the lunch period for students who may find the main cafeteria overwhelming — particularly many neurodivergent students who benefit from a calmer space to recharge during the school day.

What makes this program especially meaningful is how it started. The idea didn’t come from the school administration — it came from a parent who saw a need and offered to help.

Today, Loft @ Lunch is staffed entirely by parent volunteers, all of whom go through the school’s regular screening and clearance process.

It’s a powerful example of how community partnership can make a difference for students. By volunteering their time, parents help create a supportive space for kids while easing demands on school staffing and resources.

Programs like this remind us that strong schools are built not just by educators, but by families and community members working together to support every one of our kids.

Grateful to the volunteers and leaders at Central who help make initiatives like this possible.

* My latest Curriculum Committee Snapshot: https://bit.ly/406IezJ

* Check out the meeting presentation: https://bit.ly/4kKCo0t

* Watch the meeting: https://bit.ly/40NEJhL