"In the end, we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply."

Thank you to everyone who joined last week’s Town Hall, both in person and on Zoom. I appreciate your engagement and the opportunity to connect with so many of you. 

If you were unable to attend, the full recording is available on our YouTube channel.

I began the Town Hall by highlighting some of the bright spots across campus, including strong college acceptances, meaningful fieldwork, and growing opportunities for cross-grade collaboration. These moments reflect the depth of the TEA experience and the continued strength of our program.

We also spent time discussing the challenges we are navigating, particularly around enrollment, retention in key transition years, and long-term financial sustainability. I want to continue being candid about these realities while staying grounded in what makes TEA special.

Looking ahead, we are exploring ways to strengthen academic pathways, including the introduction of honors-level coursework, while maintaining the experiential, relationship-based learning that defines our model. We also shared a campus update from the Board and our commitment to increasing transparency as planning evolves.

A key theme throughout the conversation was the importance of collective effort. From enrollment referrals to fundraising, especially as we approach the Gala, your engagement plays a critical role in sustaining and strengthening TEA.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in this work.

— Christopher Barnes, Interim Head of School

Last week, our students reminded us of the power of courage, creativity, and community. Our 2nd and 3rd-grade Hawk’s Peak crew shared their Truckee History play with the lower school at Hearth, and it was a joy to watch their hard work come to life. Their perseverance, collaboration, and confidence were evident in every moment of the performance.

We are so proud of their growth and invite families to join us for their final performance this Thursday, April 2 at 9:15 a.m. at the Truckee Rec Center where they will share their learning with members of our local senior community.

Our 8th-grade crew also represented TEA beautifully at a local Rube Goldberg competition hosted at the Truckee Tahoe Airport. Students brought together ingenuity, innovation, and humor as they designed and presented their machines. It was inspiring to see them engage alongside students from other schools and to have community leaders present as judges for this STEM event.

Moments like these reflect the meaningful learning, character, and connection to the community that we value so deeply at TEA.

— Kristen Giordano, Lower School Division Head & School Counselor

This is a friendly reminder that deposits become non-refundable beginning this Wednesday, April 1st. 

To secure your child’s spot and to help us finalize planning for the upcoming school year, please sign the enrollment agreement as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Admissions Team.

—Ally Chase, Interim Admissions and Marketing Director

At TEA, our teachers are truly the heart of our community, and this year’s Grit & Glamour Gala offers two meaningful ways to show just how much they matter.

Please consider adding a teacher ticket when you purchase your gala tickets, or if you’re unable to attend, you can still sponsor a faculty member. It’s a generous way to ensure our dedicated faculty can be part of an evening that celebrates the impact they make every day.

We’re excited to introduce Faculty Wish List items at the gala, each one personally selected by our teachers. These small but meaningful resources ($100–$250) will directly enhance their classrooms and programs. This offers a tangible way to support the tools and experiences our children benefit from every day at TEA. Any items not claimed during the event will roll into our post-Gala silent auction.

Thank you in advance for showing up for the people who show up for our students every single day!

— Courtenay Wallpe and TEAm

We are considering starting a monthly Family Belonging Group and would love to hear from families who might be interested in joining! Meetings might include fun, relaxed activities like bowling, lake days, walks, or casual dinners around town. This school-wide group is open to everyone, with the intention of connecting, building community, and having fun together! If you're interested, please reach out to me directly.

— Kristen Giordano, Lower School Division Head & School Counselor

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