It may be hard to believe, but we are already finishing up the first semester of school! 

This Friday is Nevada Day, so there is NO School on 10/27. Enjoy the three-day weekend.

It always seems as if there is non-stop activity from Halloween to New Year’s, so remember to check here (and your school calendars) for up-to-date info on activities and events.

Here are a few exciting announcements and the breakdown for this coming week.

Incline Elementary School

IES hosted their annual Jog-A-Thon and successfully raised ~$25,000 to fund a P.E. teacher for the year. Donations are still being accepted here: IES PTA Jog A Thon or by bringing a check to the front office.

IES is hosting an “author visit” with the distinguished novelist, Suzanne Morgan Williams.  She will be providing a writing workshop series for the 4^th and 5^th graders on October 25^th, 26^th and Nov 7^th & 8^th. This enrichment program is being funded by the Incline Education Fund through a grant by the Nevada Arts Council.

And put the next PTA meeting on your calendar: it is on 11/13 at 4:00 in the Teacher’s Lounge.

Incline Middle School

The Halloween Dance is HERE!   Thursday, Oct 26^th from 6-8pm.  All middle school kids are invited.  Parents can still volunteer to help here: Halloween Dance Help

IMS is hosting their second Trash to Treasure event next weekend, 11/4. From 10-2.

The Treasure to Treasure project received a grant from the Tahoe Fund to clean up our area of the Tahoe basin and design a project that will ultimately help inform the wider community about the fragility of our environment. 

All of Incline Village is invited to clean up their own neighborhood or one of the neglected or overlooked areas where trash accumulates. 

Incline Middle School will be the “home base” for the event.  You can pick up any necessary trash pick-up supplies and you can bring your haul back to IMS for disposal.

All ‘resuable’ items collected will be sorted out and ‘repurposed’ into both small and large art project(s) that will eventually be displayed around town.

Additionally, our local partner in education, Incline Education Fund, will be supplying food and drinks for participants.

We hope to see you there!

Incline High School 

Mark your Calendars:

• IHS is hosting 2 upcoming Senior nights this Thursday, 10/26.
• The Volleyball Varsity game is at 5pm and the Football Varsity game is at 7pm
• Come support our teams against local rival North Tahoe. Both Themes are Pink Out’s.
• Next Wednesday, IHS is hosting a Dia de las Meurtes celebration on Nov 1^st from 5:30—7:30. (see the attached flyer)
• IHS is hosting an Open House STEM on Nov 8^th from  6-7pm 
• Come see all the exciting STEM activities taking place at our very own OSIT Designated STEM School!  (see attached flyer).

And two EXCITING pieces of news:

Incline High School was recently awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam® grant in the amount of $7,500 to create an invention geared towards detecting roof load from snow accumulation. Incline High School is one of only eight high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year.   Stayed tuned for a detailed article on the award.

Through a collaboration with the IHS Boosters and the Incline Education Fund, Incline High School is now offering IN-SCHOOL College Counseling services from EdPlanIt!  ALL seniors will get one-on-one appointments with certified college-counselor Leslie Hermann.  Unable to stay retired, retired IHS Principal, Leslie Hermann, has gone on to receive her college counseling certification and is providing services twice/week. 

Originally Published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune 10/20/2023, Written by Kayla Anderson

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – More than 50 people including parents, Washoe County School District staff, board members, local teachers, and longtime residents filled the Duffield Theatre at the Incline Village High School on the evening of October 12 to discuss the School District’s Facility Modernization Plan in the hopes of creating some guidelines for a working group that can help move the District forward regarding its capital improvement options for Incline’s schools.

The District has held more than two dozen public meetings throughout the region over the past year to discuss the FMP and its potential outcomes while also collecting input from the community before any decisions are made.

The District hired CannonDesign to help complete a comprehensive facility assessment and assist in a transparent planning process with key stakeholders. At the October 12 meeting, outside consultant Margaret Schultz facilitated the meeting, showing a presentation that noted the key takeaways from the April 5 and May 3 meetings and ensured the audience that “any change that takes place needs your input”. She then said that the goal of the meeting was to create guidelines for a working group, and wanted the audience’s input on who the membership should be.

READ MORE >

Written by Parker Casey, 8th Grade

School counselor, author, and journalist Phyllis L. Fagell visited Lake Tahoe School last week to talk about youth mental health and wellness, as outlined in her new book called Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Teens in Turbulent Times. She spoke to 4th through 8th grades and to the parents at night, and I had the opportunity to speak with her one-on-one about some of the topics she discussed.

In her sessions with students, she started by sharing advice written by middle school students from previous schools she visited. As she read the advice from previous schools, students began to realize that everyone in their age group is wrestling with a lot of the same challenges. She hears so many of the same stories from the same schools, state to state and even from different countries. She then asked students to anonymously write down something that they wished their parents knew about being a middle school student, which she would later share with parents at a community presentation that evening.

After a brief presentation on the 12 middle school superpowers, Ms. Fagell had kids do value exercises where she asked students to fill out a worksheet with different traits in decision-making. When kids know how to make decisions using a more stable framework rather than relying solely on their instincts, they tend to make decisions that lead to fewer regrets and bring out the best in them. Ms. Fagell then encouraged students to write advice to share with rising middle schoolers. She does this at every school she visits because she believes that middle schoolers are incredibly wise, and we don’t tap into their ability to help other students as much as we should.

When I spoke with her, she shared how middle schoolers can often have a reputation for being mean, reckless, and even lazy, and if the students hear and absorb those negative messages, it can negatively impact them. Ms. Fagell argues that the negative stereotypes are not true, and that these are kids who want to be good people who do the right thing and treat their friends well. They do not have a lot of life experience and they are still acquiring social skills, so things like jealousy or trying to impress someone get in the way and that can lead to some social clumsiness.

In her evening presentation, Ms. Fagell shared the notes about things they wished their parents knew about middle school, which was eye-opening for many of the parents, and helped them learn how to help their kids activate their “superpowers.” Ms. Fagell loves middle schoolers because she believes that they are incredibly funny and interesting and the perfect mix of sophisticated and child-like. She showed how adults can support them and help them develop a positive self-image, compassion, and a willingness to take healthy risks. We are thankful for her visit and look forward to more from Lake Tahoe School’s Speaker Series on Youth Mental Wellness!

Parker Casey is a Lake Tahoe School student and Public Relations Officer of the LTS Student Council.

*Photo Creator Mathew Thayer | Credit AP

Mostly a quiet week on the school front… just these three items:

-If you haven’t seen it on the calendar, look for the attached flyer for more info on the FREE Community Presentation this Thursday, 9/28, from 5:30-7:30.  Lake Tahoe School is hosting middle school counselor & private practice therapist who will speak on “Middle School Superpowers; Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times.”

-It’s going to be a little quiet around town next week as the K12 schools are on break from Oct 2-6.

SAVE THE DATE:

Saturday, Nov 4th., there will be a Community-wide, post-Halloween clean up!

As part of their Trash to Treasure program, the Incline Middle School will take a lead role in planning their first community project. They are inviting any/all groups, clubs, and individuals of all ages to participate. Basically EVERYONE!  

Look for more details to come in early October (after the break), but put it on your calendar now.

Author Jarret Lerner is coming to Incline to talk to local students about the joys of reading at 3 separate school presentations.

Lake Tahoe School is hosting a FREE community event tonight (9/20) from 6:00-7:30 in their new school library.

THIS WEEK:

It’s HOMECOMING WEEK at Incline High School.

• The local parade is this Friday, 9/22, from 2-3.
• The dance is in the small gym from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm.
• Come out and cheer on our Highlanders!

Here are the details:

Parade route: Hwy 28 from the Pet Station/Ski Loft, past Alibi, back up around Raleys and to the high school.

The football teams will be playing Battle Mountain Friday night.  JV game is at 4:30, Varsity at 7:00  

The futbol teams will be battling South Lake Tahoe on Saturday. Boys Varsity is at 10, Girls Varsity at 12:00.

Submitted by Mary Danahey ~ Incline Education Fund

Over 2,500 schools participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experience valued by colleges and universities across the U.S. and around the world.

Incline Village, NV – At Incline High School, three students from the class of 2023 have earned the AP Capstone DiplomaTM, and two students from the class of 2024 have already qualified to receive the AP Capstone Diploma.  Additionally, eight students have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate^TM during the 2022-23 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are crucial for academic success. 

“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Principal Cahill. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers displayed exceptional dedication to this impactful, multi-academic-year program where they got to explore their passions through scholarly research. This is a meaningful college readiness program that will serve our students well after high school.”

To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP^® Exams of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Students are increasingly participating in the AP Capstone^TM program. The program has reached a milestone of over 100,000 students participating during the 2022-23 academic year, representing over 2,500 schools worldwide. Approximately 15,800 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,600 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.  

Unlike traditional APsubject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects. 

“It is remarkable to witness students—and even educators—rediscover their passion for learning through the AP Capstone program,” shared Bianca Peart, the global lead of the AP Capstone Diploma program. “The constant fascination stems from the array of subjects students explore, all while cultivating essential skills—as if witnessing the creation of a masterpiece.”  

“I’m thrilled to congratulate these motivated students, who worked hard to earn the AP Capstone Diploma and AP Seminar and Research Certificate,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement^® Program. “These students have enhanced the foundation for their future academic and professional careers by honing their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations on topics they’re passionate about.”

Of the students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program at Incline High School:

• 3 graduates from the class of 2023 were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams, and 2 seniors in class of 2024 have qualified. Class of 2023: Ivy Batmale, Shannon Hugar, and Josue Salas.  Class of 2024: Sarah Moore and Jesse Santina.

• 10 students were recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction. This honor is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Scholars with Distinction: Paloma Akiwenzie, Alexander Beaulac, Quinn Cafferata-Jenkins, Abbygail Duckworth, Shannon Hugar, William Jones, Adelina LaForge, Sarah Moore, Jesse Santina, and Annie Stembridge. 

• 6 students were recognized as AP Scholars with Honor.  This is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Scholars with Honor: Luciano Casini, Sequoia Denton, Catherine Kerrigan, Parker Mirzayan, Nicholas Suter, and Katherine Wechsler. 

• 22 students were recognized as AP Scholars.  This designation is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. AP Scholars: William Arrison, Ivy Batmale, Emily Brubaker, Hoswaldo Cabrera, Anna Cecchi, Gianna Damato, Liam Ellis, Molly Ellis, Anthony Eppolito, Ginna Eppolito, Auri Fernandez, Tate Gitchell, Lainey Lowden, Alexander Macdonald, Preston Nilles, Kira Noble, Elanor Ogden, Josue Salas, Elissa Sano, Samantha Stephens, Rebeka Sussman, and Kyler Thompson. 

• 8 were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research: Emily Brubaker, Auri Fernandez, Kimberly Lara, Lainey Lowden, Parker Mirzayan, Kira Noble, Samantha Stephens, and Kyler Thompson. 

The College Board’s Advanced Placement^® Program (AP^®) gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. A 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards. 

Incline High School is an AP Capstone school that is constantly looking to offer a wide range of AP courses. Current offerings are as follows: AP Seminar, AP Research, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Environmental Science, AP Government, AP US History, AP Human Geography, AP Literature, AP Eng. Language, AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP 2 D Art, AP 3 D Art, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C – Mechanics, AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. 

This week is just about keeping everyone in the know and getting used to the rhythm of the school year. See each school for the latest updates.

Incline Elementary School:

Principal John Stern welcomes 4 new teachers this year:

• Jamie Gasparre Pre-k Teacher
• Heather Fisher- Dean of Students
• Jessica Garcia- New P.E. Teacher
• Kimberly Murphy- New Computer/Tech Teacher

The Reno ACES held a successful fundraiser for IES last Sunday at the IES ACES DAY! There was a great turnout and everyone had a blast!   

Upcoming IES events: 

• Back to School Night next Tuesday, September 12th, starting at 5pm.  
• ‘Coffee and Conversation’ with the Principal on September 13th, starting at 9:30am
• PTA Party on September 24^th at 4:00pm at the Lower Village Green. 

Join here: https://incline-elementary-pta.square.site/pta-membership

Incline Middle School newbies:

New Principal, Dan Lediard welcomes 2 new additions to IMS: 

• Robert Riley – librarian & computer science teacher
• Crystal Preciado-Ramierez- CLS 

IMS falls sports teams (Cross Country and Girls Basketball) have started their seasons and Homework Club is in full swing, meeting M-Th right after school.

And don’t forget to join the Jr Boosters here: https://www.washoeschools.net/Page/2173

Incline High School updates:

Incline High School is excited to announce that they are now offering on-site College Counseling!  

Seniors will have first dibs (for obvious reasons) at access to services during their first period ADVISORY.  

Watch this column for more detailed information next week.

• Hispanic Parent Night is TODAY, Wednesday, 9/6 at 6 p.m. in the Duffield Theater
• Back to School night was a great success!  There was a huge turnout as parents got to meet their students’ teachers and lots of school spirit was on display. 

Don’t forget to join the BOOSTERS -if you haven’t already- so that you can attend any/all sporting events for free!  https://inclineboosters.com/join-us/

Football, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Cross country, Girls Golf, and Cheer are all in full swing.  Check out the IHS website for game schedules.   Volunteers are always needed to help at the games.

Mary Danahey
Incline Education Fund
maryd@inclineeducationfund.org
650-743-2309

Now that the shock of being back in school is over, it’s time to settle into the groove. There is a LOT going on so here’s a quick list to keep you in the know:

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS AT EACH SCHOOL:
Incline Elementary: Thur, 9/12, 5-7:30

Incline Middle: Tues, 9/15, 5:30-7:00

Incline High TONIGHT, Wed, 8/30, 5:30 – 7:30

Lake Tahoe School: Thur,  9/7 6:00-8:00

OTHER SCHOOL NEWS:

Incline Elementary School is proud to now be recognized as a “Nevada Governor’s STEM School”. This designation is proof of the evidence-based, high-quality STEM education students receive at IES. The Reno Aces are hosting a fundraiser for IES on Sunday, September 3rd at 6pm. IES gets a percentage of each ticket sale purchased with the QR code below.  It’s Family Sunday, meaning $1 hot dogs and lots of family fun – including kids getting to run the bases between the game and postgame fireworks.  Use the QR code below to buy your tickets.

Incline Middle School is excited to continue offering “Wednesday Exploratory” where students get to choose between a number of options to spark their curiosity and learn about potential careers. Offerings this quarter include: entrepreneurship, podcasting, environmental stewardship, cooking, and 2 sport options. They are also engaging students through the MATHCOUNTS enrichment program and of course, the IMS robotics program (now in it’s second year).WATCH this column for the interview with Dan Lediard as he talks about his vision for IMS and their plan to also become a Nevada Governor’s STEM School.

Incline High School has a LOT going on…. The remodel funded by the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation is underway and most of the demolition is already complete. Stay tuned for updates. And just to show that students are starting the year off right: several of last year’s engineering students entered an MIT competition and have made it into the second round, and SEVEN of our students have been honored in the College Board’s 2023 National Recognition Program. Oh, and IHS is also proud to now be recognized as a “Nevada Governor’s STEM School”.  Proof of the solid education provided by IHS.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Community opportunities are all around. Schools are always looking for substitute teachers and coaches (paid positions) and volunteers are needed for the Read With Me program at IES. For more information, please reach out to: maryd@inclineeducationfund.org.

EVENTS:

There is the Reno Aces Game this Sunday to benefit IES. And the Wine & Food Tasting event at Aspen Grove on 9/23 to support the local Boys & Girls Club and Incline Middle School.  See the flyers below. 

Mary Danahey
Incline Education Fund
maryd@inclineeducationfund.org
650-743-2309

Good News! While the possible closure of Incline Middle School is still on the table, WCSD has announced that they will definitely NOT be closing after this 2023-24 academic year. 

The earliest possible date would be June of 2025, meaning that there will be at least one more year of instruction at the current IMS site – through the 2024-25 school year. 

Stayed tuned here for future updates.

Count Day is August 25, so please make sure your student is in attendance that day as schools receive funding based on how many students are enrolled on specific dates and 8/25 is one of them.

Now that school is back in session, please consider joining your specific parent group (PTA, Jr Boosters, and Booster emails are below). Schools serve their students better when parents are involved.  

Here are some important dates to put on your calendar. 

Fall Break is Oct 2-6.

Incline Elementary School

PTA email: https://www.washoeschools.net/Page/19046

Back to School Night Tuesday, Sept 12, 5-7

PTA Meetings Mondays:  Aug 28, Sept 25 and Nov 13 @ 4:00

PTA “Get to Know You” Party  Sunday, Sept 17, 4pm @ Burnt Cedar Pool

Incline Middle School

Jr Boosters email: https://www.washoeschools.net/Page/2173

Back to School Night Thursday, Sept 14, 5:30-7:30

Jr Booster Meeting Tuesday, Sept 12, 10:30 

Incline High School

Boosters email: https://inclineboosters.com/join-us/

Back to School Night Wednesday Aug 30, 5:30-7:30

Hispanic Parent Night Wednesday, Sept 6, 5:00

Homecoming Week Sept 17-23

Mary Danahey
Incline Education Fund
maryd@inclineeducationfund.org
650-743-2309

 From: ‘LIVE.WORK.PLAY. Summer 2023’

Middle school is a tricky developmental time for humans. It’s when we start to become self-confident enough to both be a part of and separate from a variety of groups. It’s when we are most keenly aware of how our peers are behaving and when labels like math nerd or class clown can stick. Importantly, it’s also when academic interests begin to solidify. Research has shown that if a student does not show interest in a particular subject, like STEM for example, by 4th or 5th grade, they will not do so. This is particularly true for higher-level classes (like STEM) as students will not have the basic skills needed to take courses later on.

Luckily, Principal Kari Michael and the staff at Incline Middle School understand this complicated developmental time. They know that relationships are built on shared experiences, interests, and goals and they work to provide those shared opportunities for students.

When students feel a part of a group, they also tend to work harder, care more, and invest in the cohesion and success of the group. IMS has done a great job creating a number of avenues for students to build those relationships while experiencing new activities. Here are a few examples of the unique programming offered at IMS.

Wednesday Exploratory Session

Principal Michael developed this weekly program to help students re-engage in school post-pandemic and/or to have an opportunity to get caught up in subjects that they may need more support in.

Students who are on track academically can choose from a variety of experiential opportunities, while those who need academic support can work with a subject teacher in their area of need.

Several options are offered each quarter and are meant to broaden student interest and allow them to challenge themselves. Students choose from a variety of themes and with the generous support of our local community, have been able to go off-campus and learn more about different subjects. Incline Education Fund sourced and funded student activities in partnership with local businesses. From skiing with Nevada

Nordic and Tahoe-Multisport, to leadership classes with Bowl Incline, to a glimpse into the animal world with Pet Network, and to Incline Education Fund-sponsored water safety lessons and a spring special with Truckee’s Gateway Mountain Center, IMS students can widen their horizons, develop new interests and even start thinking about potential future careers.

The IMS Robotics Program

Incline Education Fund was recently awarded a $50k grant from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology to scale up the robotics program at Incline Middle School. The curriculum is aligned to Nevada Academic Content Standards for Computer Science and integrates a final, capstone project each semester. Those projects give students the opportunity to address a real-world issue and require them to present their solution to a public audience. Robotics is offered both as an elective class and an after-school LEGO Robotics Club. Additionally, IMS has created a Girls Who Code Club that is supported by the local AAUW chapter.

The program is proving to be highly successful. Levels of student engagement, teamwork, and collaboration have exceeded expectations and the capstone projects are a great way to showcase student work.

This robotics program is a bridge for those students interested in STEM, as they can solidify skills they’ve developed in the Incline Elementary School Makerspace program and build the foundation they need to succeed in the Incline High School Engineering & Entrepreneurship program. Incline public school students can now take dedicated STEM courses from K-12th.

Wellness Zone

IMS has also created a place where students can learn to address their personal emotional regulation skills. The Wellness Zone is a quiet space where students can get 1:1 academic support or work independently on a project. It is also a space where counselors can run small groups and provide lessons to our special needs students. Detailed Wellness Zone data reports are proving the effectiveness of students having access to a space where they can go to get help when neede