Traverse City Area Public Schools Health & Wellbeing Systems Change

Healthy children are more successful learners.

In December of 2021, Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) was awarded a Rotary Charities Systems Change Accelerator Grant.

The grant awarded the district $150,000 to improve the health and wellbeing of students and staff by creating, promoting, and sustaining policies and practices within the district.

Since being awarded the grant, TCAPS has hired Ty Schmidt as the District Wellness Coordinator.

Unofficial 2022-24 TCAPS Health & Wellbeing Accomplishments Since Being Awarded Systems Change Accelerator Grant

Compiled by Ty Schmidt

Healthy & Wellbeing Team Purpose:  

(Vision & Mission Statement) In collaboration with the district’s Behavioral & Emotional Support Team, Climate & Culture Team, Physical Activity Team, Nutrition Team and eighteen Building Teams, TCAPS’ reimagined Health & Wellbeing Team is impacting and improving community mental health, wellbeing and school connectedness in alignment with the district’s strategic plan by promoting, and sustaining practices of support within each school building. Championing healthy, life-long habits for students and staff. 

Health & Wellbeing Teams:

  • District Team
  • Behavioral & Emotional Support Team
  • Climate & Culture Team
  • Nutrition Team
  • Physical Activity Team
  • 18 Building Teams (all schools + Boardman and Sabin)

Health & Wellbeing Accomplishments:

  • Hired a new District Wellness Coordinator
  • The Board of Education approves a new strategic plan with health and wellbeing at the forefront of several focus areas
  • Created a new district Health & Wellbeing ecosystem framework and drafted a reorganized Health & Wellbeing structure
  • Formed the Behavior & Emotional Support Team (BEST) to focus on the “specific needs and planning in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of PK-12 behavior and emotional student support-specific initiatives.”
    • 3 work groups:
      • Mental Health Supports
      • Prevention of Bullying & Harassment
      • Supporting Challenging Behavior

*note: for the 2024/25 school year, the BEST team will form a new team – Celebrating Diversity – to help coordinate the district’s efforts to increase and promote inclusivity.

  • Formed the Climate & Culture Team to “create a shared vision and related action steps for a sustainable positive culture and climate throughout the district in alignment with the Strategic Plan.”
  • Formed the Physical Activity Team to align the district’s Health & Physical Education curriculum and planning with TCAPS’ Strategic Plan.
    • 5 work groups:
      • physical education
      • LEAP
      • athletics
      • recess movement and play
      • strength & conditioning programs
      • active transportation (Safe Routes To School)
  • Formed the Nutrition Team, a sub-team of the District Health & Wellbeing Team that aims to align the district’s Food Service & Nutrition curriculum and planning with TCAPS’ Strategic Plan.
    • 4 work groups:
      • Food Service
      • SNAP-Ed
      • Farm To School
      • School gardens
  • Formed a new Health & Wellbeing Executive Council
  • Reactivated the Health & Wellbeing District Team
  • Reactivated eighteen Health & Wellbeing Building Teams at every school in the district (Sabin and Boardman too)
  • Hosted Jeff Olson at WSH for a community screening of Do It For Daniel during Mental Health Awareness Month in 2021
  • Jeff Olson returns and screens Do It For Daniel at CSH & WSH for juniors during Suicide Awareness Month in 2021
  • Awarded a $45K emerging needs grant from Rotary Charities to build Sanctuaries (quiet spaces) and pilot the University of Michigan’s peer-to-peer mental health program at both CHS and WSH during the 2022-23 school year
  • CSH’s Health & Wellbeing Team launches Trojans Unite – a student, peer-to-peer mental health group
  • Awarded a $50K grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield in partnership with Benzie Leelanau District Health Department and the NMCHIR’s Community Connections to pilot a Community Health Worker at TH for the 2022-24 school year.
  • Developed a proposal process to help get the required approval for ideas to improve the health and wellbeing of students/staff.
  • With NMHSI, the Student Health Center at WMS opens
  • New therapy (nonservice) animal policy approved
  • New Director of Whole Child Systems hired
  • TRAILS program implemented at CHS, WSH, WMS and EMS
  • School Social Workers employed in every building
    • “Grow Our Own” program implemented for School Social Workers by HR 
  • GTCHD E3 providers at CSH & WSH
  • NMHSI E3 provider at EMS (starting in 2024/25)
  • Trojan Relationship Mapping program implemented at CHS
  • Drafting screening process for students to transitioning to HS and MS
  • New provider release of information agreement
  • Lunch Buddies mentorship program was piloted at TH & CE and then scaled to all K-5 buildings and both middle schools (Midday Mentors)
  • New cell phone policy approved
  • New cyber safety program series launched with Michigan State Police
  • MO Health & Wellbeing Team receives a Healthy Communities grant for healthy celebrations and snacks
  • Meeting of the Minds group was established with a focus on developing and implementing structures and systems of support to increase mental and emotional health and social well-being in collaboration with now over 40 community partners;
  • WW Wellbeing Team receives a grant to build a 30ft hoop house
  • SEL Second Step & Positivity Project curriculum at elementary and MS buildings
  • New policy regarding providers providing mental health care in schools
  • EMS Wellbeing Team launches Student Lounge
  • WMS Wellbeing Team launches Library Lounge
  • WSH hosts an annual mental health summit
  • Organized TCAPS Walks To School Day – a district-wide celebration of National Walk To School Day
  • Organized TCAPS Bikes To School Day – a district-wide celebration of National Walk To School Day
  • Celebrated World Health Day district-wide by encouraging staff to commit to 1 hour of physical activity
  • Coordination Of Care Team draft MOU
  • Connected staff with local health professionals to help teach health curriculum
  • Celebrated National Drinking Water Week district-wide
  • Partnered with Yen Yoga to offer free monthly yoga classes for staff
  • Free Breakfast and Lunch for All (TCAPS Food and Nutrition Services) – 2023/24
  • Grow It, Try It, Like It for pre-k and PE-Nut for K-2-4-5 expands with SNAP-Ed funding from Blair and Traverse Heights (who have had the programming for 17 years) to Courtade, Central Grade, and Silver Lake.  
  • Father Fred Partnership at BL – Healthy Meals for Preschool Students (Food For Families program)
    • Expanding in  2024 to Courtade, Traverse Heights, Central Grade and Silver Lake
  • New middle school  MHSAA athletics initiative, hired a WMS Athletic Coordinator
  • Launched a new monthly district Health & Wellbeing newsletter
  • Trojans/Titans Thrive, a midday mentorship program similar to Lunch Buddies, launches at EMS and WMS in the winter of 2024
  • Developed standardized procedure for taste tests in elementary cafeterias
  • Audit of health class, LEAP, athletics and Strength Conditioning courses participation by the Physical Activity team
  • Healthy all-staff gatherings like the MO Team’s hike at the Commons
  • Increased cafeteria “seat time” (a best practice to increase eating during lunch) by the Nutrition Team thanks to removing lunch cards due to universal lunches
  • Audited practice of the recess before lunch policy by the Nutrition Team
  • Audited school pantries by the Nutrition Team
  • North Ed Farm To School programs at CO
  • New Suicide Risk Review draft
  • New Parenting Classes with WMU
  • FASTER assessments with WMU
  • Student Support Network creates Caring Closets (school supplies, clothing, personal care items) in every building
  • Climate & Culture listening tour with Digital Promise re: educational equity (mental health ranked high)
  • TCAPS Runs Bayshore staff profiles
  • TCAPS Thunderbolts: An all-district staff Smart Commute Week Team
  • Health & Wellbeing’s work featured in the Spring 2024 Navigator Newsletter: https://bit.ly/TCAPSNavigator
  • Health & Wellbeing’s work featured in the 2024 Bond presentation

Other district efforts addressing health and wellbeing of students/staff :

  • The Student Student Network reorganizes to better meet students’ basic needs.
  • Sunshine Bus provides access to free food and basic needs during the summer for all children via a weekly schedule of routes
  • School Resource Officers hired at CHS, WMS & WSH
  • Formed a Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council – a major focus is on belonging, mental health and safety.
  • New Safety & Security Coordinator hired
  • Launched School Success Liaison program with NMCAA (4 buildings in 2023/24)
  • New playgrounds installed at LL and TH