HAWK NEWS: Coming Together + Preparing for the Year Ahead

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the Hawk Fire and, especially, members of our own communiTEA who have been displaced, evacuated, or are facing uncertainty about their homes and neighborhoods.

We know this fire is affecting families across our broader Reno-Tahoe community in many different ways. To those directly impacted, please know that your TEA community is thinking of you and ready to support one another in the days ahead.

We are currently gathering information about ways our community can help and will share additional resources and opportunities to support affected families as they become available. For now, we are holding our neighbors, first responders, and everyone working to keep our communities safe close in our thoughts.

On Friday, families received an important back-to-school communication with the 2026–27 Student & Family Handbook and required forms for the new school year.

As a quick follow-up, please make sure you have reviewed the Handbook and completed all required forms and signatures in Blackbaud by August 31.

Families with students in grades 6–12 should also review the new LockedIn phone policy and complete the participation form.

These forms must be completed before your student begins school on September 1.

If you missed Friday’s message or still have items to complete, you can find the full checklist, links, and additional information below.

Supporting TEA doesn’t always have to look like making a traditional donation. Our sign-up parTEAs are designed to do two things at once: raise meaningful funds for the school and create memorable experiences that bring members of our communiTEA together.

Whether you’re backpacking through Desolation Wilderness, flowing through a morning yoga session, or tackling mountain bike trails with fellow parents, these experiences offer a chance to connect outside the usual school-day rhythm while directly supporting TEA’s fundraising efforts.

Several upcoming parTEAs still have space available, including:

Choose the experience that sounds most like you, invite a friend if there’s room, and know that your participation supports both TEA and the relationships that make this community stronger.

New to TEA this year? Save the date for our New Parent Evening Social on Wednesday, September 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Martis Camp.

This gathering is an opportunity for new parents and caregivers to connect with one another and begin building relationships within the communiTEA.

More details are coming soon! Keep an eye out for an invitation from our TAP Vice President via Paperless with everything you’ll need to know.

We are excited to welcome the Angeley family and their five-year-old son, Kai, who is joining the K/1 crew this year!

The family of four has called Truckee home for the past 10 years and includes Kai’s younger brother, Luca, along with their cat, Nori, and two dogs, Wobbe and Sunny.

Kai’s grandparents, affectionately known as “PapaTutu,” also live in Truckee and are excited to be part of his TEA experience.

Kai is a gentle, curious kid who loves asking questions, figuring out how things work, and experiencing things for himself. He is a caring big brother and loyal friend who can be observant when entering a new environment. Once he gets comfortable, his funny, adventurous, and affectionate personality comes through.

The Angeley family loves camping, biking, skiing, traveling, and spending time outside together. Kai has spent the past two winters skiing at Alpine Meadows and Palisades, but some of his biggest adventures have happened farther from home. Ask him about his favorite place and there’s a good chance his answer will involve a beach, a boat, or the ocean!

This year, the family is looking forward to Kai making new friends, discovering new interests, and building confidence as he begins kindergarten. 

Welcome to TEA, Angeley family! We are so glad you’re here!

There are several upcoming opportunities to connect with TAP, your parent association:

1) TAP will be hosting a booth at the Bashcamp BASH where you can ask questions, sign up to volunteer or meet some new friends.

2) Please join TAP for a first day of school coffee (9/1)  beginning at 8:45am at the Pavilion at the Riverview Sports Park. 

3) New and returning parents are invited to the New Parent Evening Social on Wednesday, September 9th beginning at 5:30pm. A paperless post invite will be sent shortly.

4) Please consider attending TAP’s first official meeting of the school year from 8:45am-9:45am at the Airport. You can attend virtually as well via Zoom. 

Before asking students to step outside their comfort zones this year, TEA faculty are doing the same.

Today, faculty members are in the field together for either a day hike or an overnight backpacking experience designed to strengthen connection, build shared understanding, and experience fieldwork firsthand.

The purpose goes well beyond spending time outside together. Faculty are practicing many of the same skills, routines, and expectations students encounter throughout the year, from preparing for an adventure and navigating challenges, to reflecting as a group, sharing responsibility, and caring for one another along the way.

Experiencing fieldwork from the student perspective gives teachers and staff an opportunity to think more deeply about what we ask of students physically, socially, and emotionally. It also creates shared language and experience across our faculty community as we prepare to support students through moments of uncertainty, discomfort, discovery, and growth.

Just as importantly, time together on the trail creates space for relationships to deepen before the school year begins. Strong crews are built through shared experiences, and this adventure gives faculty the chance to reconnect, welcome new colleagues, and begin the year with a stronger sense of trust and community.

At TEA, learning by doing is not something reserved for students. Our faculty are heading into the year the same way we hope our students will: curious, connected, willing to embrace challenge, and ready for the adventure ahead.

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