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. In this week's Northern Express, sister publcation of The Ticker, writer Brighid Driscoll takes a look at seven different programs that run throughout the calendar year under the TCAPS umbrella — from an enrollment bus tour to student health center to a backpack drive and pop-up shop.

The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.