Lake Tahoe School is set to welcome Dr. Devorah Heitner, a leading authority on young people’s interaction with digital media, for a special presentation titled “Growing Up in Public.” The event, part of the Doyle Family Speaker series, will take place on April 15th at 9:00 AM in the school’s Bobcat Treehouse Library.

Dr. Heitner, author of “Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World” and her most recent work, “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World,” will address the unique challenges parents face in guiding their children through the complexities of today’s digital landscape. With a focus on practical strategies and empathetic understanding, her presentation aims to equip parents with the tools they need to navigate social media, online communication, and the ever-present issue of digital reputation.

“We recognize the importance of providing our community with resources to navigate the digital age,” said Robert Graves, Head of School at Lake Tahoe School. “Dr. Heitner’s expertise and research-based insights are invaluable, and we believe her presentation will offer parents a much-needed perspective on raising children in a world where so much is shared publicly.”

Dr. Heitner’s background in media studies and child development has made her a sought-after speaker and consultant. Her work emphasizes the need for ethical and empathetic digital citizenship, offering actionable advice to parents and educators. In “Growing Up in Public,” she explores how young people construct their identities in an environment where their actions are constantly recorded and shared.

The presentation will cover topics such as:

• Understanding the impact of social media on young people.
• Developing strategies for responsible online communication.
• Protecting children’s digital reputation.
• Fostering empathy and ethical behavior in the digital world.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Those interested in attending can register at Laketahoeschool.org.

Lake Tahoe School, known for its commitment to providing a challenging and nurturing educational environment, is dedicated to preparing students for success in an increasingly digital world. The school believes that Dr. Heitner’s presentation will be a valuable resource for parents in the Lake Tahoe community.

Written By Allie Sacci, Lake Tahoe School, 03/24/2025

The Lake Tahoe School (LTS) Chess Team achieved unprecedented success at the Northern Nevada Scholastic (Open and Girls) Championships, securing multiple team and individual victories and qualifying numerous players for the upcoming Nevada State Championships.

Over the weekend, LTS hosted the highly successful tournaments, attracting record-breaking participation from across the region. The Open Tournament saw approximately 260 players, while the Girls Tournament also shattered previous attendance records.

LTS teams demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy, capturing all four team trophies in the Open Tournament (K-3 Championship, K-5 Championship, K-5 Reserve, and K-12 Reserve). In the Girls Tournament, the LTS team also secured the championship trophy. Individual LTS players also dominated their respective sections, securing a large majority of the available individual trophies.

“This weekend was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, coaches, and volunteers,” said Coach E. “We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see them compete at the state level.”

Key highlights of the tournament include:

Open Tournament:
LTS teams won all four team trophies.
LTS players swept individual trophies in the K-3 and K-5 Championship sections, and nearly swept the K-5 Reserve section.
LTS players won 5 of the 8 individual trophies in the K-12 Reserve section.

Girls Tournament:
LTS team won the championship trophy.
LTS players secured 7 of the top 8 individual spots.

The top individual scorers and teams from the Northern Championships have now qualified for the Nevada State Scholastic Championships, which will be held online on March 29th (Open) and March 30th (Girls). The online tournaments will be monitored from the LTS gymnasium.

The school extends its gratitude to Bob Graves and the LTS faculty and staff, parent volunteers, Coach E, Coach Annastasia, Fred Rocher, and sponsors MoFo’s Pizza and Inclined Burgers for their invaluable support.

Submitted by Mary Danahey of Incline Education Fund

Incline Elementary School

IES hosted the SWEP Science Festival last week. (SWEP=Sierra Watershed Education Partnership)  Students rotated through hands-on activity stations designed to deepen their understanding of STEM concepts.  Later that evening, Family Science Night extended the excitement, allowing students to share their discoveries with their families through interactive exhibits and experiments led by SWEP staff and volunteers. 

Incline Middle School –  Congratulations are in order for the winners of the annual IMS Spelling Bee! 6th Grade: Luca Groza (1st), Hector Toc (2nd), Ellie Johnson (3rd) 7th Grade: Harper Rudd (1st), Isabela Buscanan-Fernandez (2nd), Caleb Carsmen (3rd) 8th Grade: Sophia Groza (1st), Nicholas Pannone (2nd), Francisco Jones (3rd)

Incline High School – Athletic Highlights (from last week): The Track & Field team had a record-breaking weekend. The Highlanders split between two major meets and absolutely crushed it – setting a total of 30 personal bests.  Freshman phenom Shelby Erickson added 2 more school records to her collection, in the 800m and 1600m.
The Boys Golf Team came out swinging with a tournament win at Eagle Valley! Senior Sam Lager and junior Lucas McDonald both shot a stellar 81, with solid performances from Anthony Donohue (85), Neils Day (88), Trent Racich (92), and Dylan Zuvic (111). Great teamwork and focus! The Swim team dove into competition on Friday, putting up a strong fight against South Lake Tahoe in an exciting meet filled with standout performances from Sady Kelly, Jayden Medoza, Ava Hane,Ashley Siminov, Sarah Mayr, Olivia Kranz, and William Arrison.

To serve families and their children in the Lake Tahoe area, The Village Church has expanded both its Village Christian Preschool and started the Village Christian Academy (K-5).  The Academy is now enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year. Prospective families are invited to attend our Open House on March 27^th at 6pm.

Class sizes do not exceed 12 students.  Passionate, credentialed teachers provide individualized instruction from a Biblical worldview, applying a rigorous curriculum that exceeds state standards in math, reading, writing, history, science, and geography.  Frequent field trips, outdoor education, and enrichment opportunities create well rounded and engaged students. Tuition will be $1,100 per month per student.

Ashley Holt, a parent of a current student, had this to say:

“My daughter’s growth in her first year at VCA has been nothing short of remarkable.  The individualized focus and outpouring of community support are just some of what makes this school stand out among the rest.”

Join us on March 27^th at 6pm for our Prospective Parents Open House and take a tour of the school. For more information and to RSVP for the Open House contact us at 775-831-0797.

Check out our website at www.villagechristianacademynv.org. 

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 03/17/2025, Written by Zoe Meyer

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) ski team continues its upward trajectory under head coach Cameron Smith, who recently completed his second season leading the program. With a more experienced roster and a structured training approach, the Wolf Pack demonstrated significant progress at the 2025 NCAA Skiing Championships at Dartmouth Skiway in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Smith, who has emphasized a holistic and disciplined approach to training, believes the team’s development is beginning to show tangible results. “I think that having a more holistic approach to the whole season can usually display better results,” he said. “A lot of the athletes are now used to my coaching style.”

The team’s growing experience has also contributed to its success….

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From Incline High School Principal Cahill: 3/17/2025

? Ski Team Success! This past week, we celebrated our Boys and Girls Ski teams at their banquet, and we’re still in awe—our Boys team brought home THREE State titles, while our Girls team earned the runner-up spot! ?? Congratulations, Highlanders!

? A Huge Thank You to Our Boosters! The Crab Feed was a smashing success, and for the first time, Incline Bowl was transformed into an incredible event space! With the overwhelming generosity of our community, we hit the $125,000 matching donation goal from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation! Their continued support elevates our school in ways beyond words, and we couldn’t be more grateful. ?

?‍♀️ History in the Making! Our inaugural Incline Gymnastics Team recently competed at the Grand Sierra Resort for a state title! Their strength, skill, and determination are nothing short of inspiring, and we are so proud of their first season!

⚾? Spring Team Athletics Update:

• Baseball & Softball teams notched key victories this week—way to go!
• Boys Golf hit the course for their first tournament of the season, placing 3rd overall! Sam Lager shot an 80 and Lucas MacDonald an 82—a great start as the team gets into full swing! ⛳

Originally Published in Lake Tahoe School Email Newsletter

Disney’s WINNIE THE POOH KIDS – Playing at Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village – Allie Sacci

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS is playing at Lake Tahoe School on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5:30 pm. The 30-minute musical, designed for elementary school-aged performers, is based on the 2011 animated feature film. The Lake Tahoe School Drama Club cast includes 37 students ranging from 2nd to 8th grade, led by Ms. Amory Bundy. 

“We are beyond proud of our multi-age production of Winnie the Pooh Kids,” Ms. Amory shares. “Students have given their all to make this short musical one not to be missed.”

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS is a timeless story about friendship and adventure based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film. Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship, and of course… sharing snacks. Featuring classic songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, plus new hits by Academy Award-winning songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), this honey-filled delight is as sweet as it is fun.

Admission is free and open to the community.

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS is presented through special arrangement with and all materials provided by Music Theatre International. For more information about licensing Winnie the Pooh KIDS or other Disney shows, please visit www.DisneyMusicals.com.

Lake Tahoe School (LTS) is an independent preschool through eighth grade in Incline Village, Nevada, founded in 1997. Our mission at Lake Tahoe School is to create a joyful and academically challenging environment that echoes the wonder of Lake Tahoe, cultivates community, and sparks personal discovery that leads to an extraordinary future for every student.

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists, and bookwriters of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials, and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 professional, community, and school theatres in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

allie.sacci@laketahoeschool.org

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 03/04/2025, Written by Leah Carter

 Sustainability students at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe kicked off the new semester last month, with the new Sustainability Certificate program in just its second cohort. Five students graduated in Fall 2024 with the first cohort, and five more are set to complete the program again in spring. 

The coursework is modeled after the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, in order to answer real-world questions in the basin and region. The program is designed like a study abroad program, giving students based on the Reno campus the opportunity to spend a full semester at the Wayne L. Prim campus in Incline Village. This allows students to fully immerse themselves in their research, much of which is local and in the field. 

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