HAWK News: Important Logistics + Coffee with TEA's Counselor

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

— John A. Shedd

Dear TEA Community,

We are so grateful for the parents and caregivers who volunteer to drive and support our students on trips and fieldwork experiences. Having members of our community step into these critical volunteer roles helps make so many TEA experiences possible. We truly appreciate the many ways our families help make these experiences possible.

If you are interested in driving for an upcoming TEA trip, there are two sets of requirements depending on whether you will be driving a TEA vehicle or transporting TEA students in your personal vehicle. Please complete and submit the appropriate requirements as soon as possible so you can be verified and ready to volunteer when opportunities arise.

If you anticipate driving for a fieldwork experience, athletics, school event, or another TEA activity this year, please make sure you have completed the appropriate requirements in advance. Please note the training is two hours and is good for two years. If you have any questions, please reach out to Liz McInroy.

You can find more information about driving for TEA  in the forms available HERE.

If you weren’t able to join us, or simply want to revisit information shared during the evening, our Back-to-School Night slides are available HERE. 

Families can find course descriptions and additional information about their student’s classes directly in Blackbaud. 

Need instructions on how to access Blackbaud? This helpful PDF provides a step-by-step guide!

At TEA, we place a high value on our orientation program for Upper School students. During the first week of school, students spend Tuesday getting oriented to campus, their Crew, and the nuts and bolts of TEA. This day is spent in Crew, our grade-level advisory hub. Faculty guide students through team building, goal setting, Blackbaud training, and important parts of the handbook. 

Crews develop collective agreements that set the framework for the rest of the school year and, of course, prepare for their first expedition: the annual orientation backpacking experience.

Each Crew traveled locally, with locations spanning the basin, from Emerald Bay and Desolation Wilderness to Donner Summit. Three days and two nights in the field, sharing challenges and experiences, is our way of greeting the new school year and forming fast bonds within each Crew. Every year, this adventure builds strong friendships and relationships among students and between students and faculty.

By hiking together, selecting and setting up camp together, cooking, cleaning, playing, learning, and struggling together, new and returning students learn from one another and quickly come to recognize each other’s strengths. This simple idea, that everyone can pull a little extra for a crewmate when they need it and have that support reciprocated, is at the heart of our orientation Crew trips.

This year, students experienced unseasonably chilly fall weather, wind, and rain. They came through it with more confidence and a greater awareness of their own strength and perseverance.

It takes a village to put more than 100 students in the field at the same time, across eight different routes, supported by 25 faculty and staff members. 

Our Fall 2026 Crew trips were inspiring, and we thank everyone, students, faculty, staff, and parents, for supporting this incredible program.

--- Andy Giordano, Director of Fieldwork

Parents and caregivers of students in Grades 8–11 are invited to join Katy Watts, TEA’s High School Academic, College and Career Counselor, for coffee, donuts, and an informal conversation about making the most of the high school experience at TEA.

Katy will share how students can make intentional choices throughout high school that support their academic goals and future college and career opportunities, including what colleges consider when reviewing applications and how families can help students plan ahead.

This is a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with Katy, and learn more about the resources and support available to students throughout their high school journey.

This week, we’re excited to welcome the Skovran-Schultes family to TEA! Parents Patrick Skovran and Sue Schultes are joining the community with three students: Samson in 10th grade, Noah in 8th grade, and Gretchen in 5th grade, along with their two Cavapoos, Ginger and Hazel.

After many years in San Francisco, followed by five years in Alamo, the family is making Truckee their full-time home. When they first toured TEA, they were drawn to TEA’s smaller community and opportunities for students to spend less time online and more time learning through hands-on, real-world experiences.

Truckee is already familiar territory for the family. Noah, who skis with the OVFree team, also loves soccer, mountain biking, and just about anything active. Gretchen enjoys gymnastics, horses, and performing, while Samson’s interests include chess and martial arts.

As they settle into Truckee, the family is looking forward to slowing down the pace of life, getting to know the TEA community, and making new friends.

Welcome to TEA!

TAP’s first Pizza Day is Monday, September 28! If your student would like to participate, families must register for the full year by Friday, September 25.

New this year, one registration covers all nine Pizza Days from September through May. The cost is $108 for the year ($12 per lunch) and includes two slices of pizza, a drink, and a fruit-based snack. Cheese, pepperoni, and gluten-free options are available.

Registration closes Friday, and families will not be able to enroll later in the school year.

Pizza Days also need a little parent power! TAP is looking for lunchtime volunteers to help make Pizza Day happen at both Lower and Upper School. If you can lend a hand during one or more lunches this year, add your name to the volunteer schedule.

Finally, join us at our next TAP Meeting: Monday, October 12 at 8:45 a.m. at the Truckee Airport or virtually via Zoom. 

Join us in officially welcoming Ms. Brittany Kimmel to TEA! Ms. Brittany brings more than a decade of experience working with young people in outdoor and educational settings. She is teaching math to students in 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades while also leading TEA’s new Flex Friday programming.

Her background makes her uniquely suited for both. Brittany studied Environmental Science, Secondary Education, and Mathematics before graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno and moving to Tahoe in 2020. Since then, her work with students has taken many forms, from serving as a backpacking guide in Canada, to coaching ski team at Palisades, and coordinating STEM programming and designing after-school activities. 

For the past two years, Brittany led Physical Science and Robotics Camps through Tahoe Summer Camps and guided rock climbing trips, creating opportunities for kids to learn through experimentation, movement, and adventure. Now she’s bringing that combination of academic knowledge, outdoor leadership, and creativity to TEA. 

Outside of school, Brittany can often be found reading, climbing, backpacking, or line dancing. We’re excited to have Brittany bringing her many interests and talents to students across TEA this year!

Have Hawk News feedback? Please let us know here.