TY FOR TCAPS

”I was welcomed with open arms into every room I walked, and this fact has stayed true over the past 5 years.”

Loved reading this story by Email, a soon-to-be Traverse City West Senior High School graduate, in the latest district newsletter.

Email writes about moving to Traverse City during COVID, starting school remotely during lockdown, and wondering what it would feel like to be “the new kid” in a community where friendships and activities already seemed established.

Instead, he found belonging, mentorship, friendship, and purpose through the people around him.

His story is also a reminder that this year’s graduates spent their middle school years navigating one of the most disruptive periods young people have experienced in generations.

For many students, those years brought isolation, uncertainty, and disconnection at a formative time in their lives.

Which is why stories like this matter.

Email specifically recognized the TC West Color Guard program, along with staff members Kate Walski, Holly Collison, Julie Keck, Kelly Rintala, Minda Nyquist, and Karlee Tenbusch, for helping him grow into the person he is becoming and for inspiring his own interest in pursuing a career in teaching.

This kind of student support, connectedness, mentorship, and sense of belonging does not happen by accident.

It reflects the work our teachers, support staff, coaches, advisors, families, and students do every day to create schools where young people feel seen, supported, safe, and valued.

It also aligns directly with our 2030 Vision and goals we’ve committed to as a district around student wellbeing, inclusive excellence, strong relationships, and ensuring every one of our kids has access to the opportunities and support they need to flourish.

Thank you, Email, for sharing your story.

You can read his story here: https://itl.ink/DistrictNewsMay26