Back to School: Supporting the Whole Student at TCAPS

Traverse City Area Public Schools takes a comprehensive approach to supporting kids in and out of the classroom

By Brighid Driscoll | Aug. 24, 2024

When most people think about public schools, they think about education—classrooms, teachers, and textbooks. However, Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is working to go beyond traditional scope, offering different services designed to support the well-being of students and their families.

These initiatives, many of which have been developed in response to community needs, include summertime meals, enrollment efforts, student health services, and more, with an emphasis on meeting families where they are. We took a look at seven different programs that run throughout the calendar year under the TCAPS umbrella.

1. The Enrollment Bus Tour

On a hot August afternoon, TCAPS Executive Director of Marketing & Communications Ginger Smith stands outside a school bus with other TCAPS staff, ready to help prospective students and families. Launched in 2023, the Enrollment Bus travels throughout the community during the summer, connecting families, particularly those new to the area, with essential resources.

As Smith explains, “We drive around and promote to families who are maybe new to the area and have not figured out what school they belong to. We bring our community partners along to help connect families with schools and other local resources.” Outside of the bus are baskets of school supplies, flyers with information on other resources, and fun giveaways like colorful slinkys and sunglasses.

2. Student Health Center

No primary care doc? No problem. The TCAPS Health Center operates out of West Middle School and offers a range of health services to students. In collaboration with Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc. (NMHSI), the health center offers accessible primary care and behavioral health services to students ages 3-21. Open year-round and always accepting new patients, the center provides essential medical services, including physical exams, wellness visits, and treatment for illnesses and injuries.

Behavioral health services encompass crisis intervention, counseling, and substance use education. The center welcomes all students, regardless of insurance status, ensuring they receive comprehensive care right at school, helping them stay healthy and focused on their education.

3. Student Support Network (SSN)

Led by coordinator Katie Kubesh, SSN is a vital resource that serves students ages 3 to 20.

“We provide basic needs like school supplies, gym shoes, and clothing,” Kubesh says. “If a student needs something like a backpack or help with extracurricular activities, we’re able to provide those items for them.”

The SSN also goes beyond material needs, offering referrals for medical, dental, and mental health services, and even assisting families with utilities through community partnerships. The program was born from the consolidation of three earlier initiatives: Partners in Education, a strategic plan focused on student services, and the STEP program, which supported students experiencing homelessness. “Two years ago, we combined these programs to form the Student Support Network,” Kubesh says.

A significant part of the SSN’s work involves supporting students under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal program that guarantees educational stability for students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Kubesh, who also serves as the McKinney-Vento liaison for TCAPS, explains, “This law gives students the right to school stability, immediate enrollment without necessary documents, and transportation to school.” The SSN works year-round, identifying eligible students and ensuring they receive the services they need.

4. The Sunshine Bus

The Sunshine Bus, a collaborative effort with the Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City, is one of the SSN’s standout initiatives. Running for 11 weeks each summer, the bus visits eight locations weekly, providing food, hygiene items, and other essentials to families. The bus runs through Aug. 31.

“It’s a great way for us to reach out to the community,” Kubesh says. Funded by a grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Sunshine Bus followed a consistent schedule this summer, visiting the same locations every Wednesday through Friday. At each visit, families would receive one bag of food per child and an additional family bag containing staples like rice, peanut butter, and milk. The food was provided by Father Fred. The Sunshine Bus also takes special requests for items, which are delivered during the next visit.

By stopping in neighborhoods and other accessible locations, the program ensured that families without reliable transportation could still access these services. “Our goal was to be able to reach all of our most vulnerable families during the summer,” says Smith. During the school year, many children rely on school for two meals a day through the free breakfast and lunch programs. The Sunshine Bus ensures that these children continue to receive nutritious food even when school is not in session.

5. The Backpack Drive

Another SSN highlight is the annual backpack drive, a partnership with Sunrise Rotary Charities. Each year, the Rotary group assembles and distributes hundreds of backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. Families who qualify for the program receive a letter notifying them of their selection, and they can pick up their backpacks before the start of the school year.

“It’s a really good partnership that we have to ensure that kids have what they need to start school,” says Smith.

6. The Pop-Up Shop

The Pop-Up Shop, also part of the SSN, offers essential items like clothing, shoes, undergarments, backpacks, and school supplies to students in need. The shop is open during key times such as the back-to-school season and spring break and is by appointment only. “It’s rewarding to see families get the support they need,” says Kubesh.

In a similar vein, during the holiday season, TCAPS organizes a Christmas shop where families can select gifts for their children. The initiatives are fueled by community donations and volunteers, with more information available on the TCAPS website.

7. Supporting Extracurriculars

TCAPS also works to ensure that students have access to extracurricular activities, which often come with financial barriers. The district seeks out sponsorships to cover costs for sports, clubs, and other activities, so that every student can participate regardless of their family’s financial situation. Last year, for example, the SSN helped several students attend prom by providing donated dresses and assistance with other prom-related expenses.

These efforts extend to supporting high school students’ autonomy and dignity. TCAPS partners with organizations like Goodwill and the Women’s Resource Center to provide families with vouchers, allowing them to shop for clothing and other necessities.

“It’s a big deal for high school kids to be able to get the shoes they want and the styles they like. They don’t want to feel out of date,” says Smith.

Smith notes that all of these TCAPS programs are made possible through strong community partnerships and the district’s commitment to the well-being of every student in the community. The overarching goal is for TCAPS to cultivate an environment where all students can succeed in and out of the classroom.

Learn more about the Student Support Network at tcaps.net/programs/step and other TCAPS initiatives at tcaps.net/programs.