HAWK News: New Programs, New College Profile + Pizza Day Deadline!

“There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.”

— Brené Brown

At TEA we are continuously open to and interested in improving our programs by iterating until we find our groove. When we make a change or try out a new twist on a program, we understand that it can take some time for it to take root or be adopted. This is where we find ourselves today with respect to two new initiatives for the 26/27 school year. 

Both LockedIn and Flex Fridays were born out of an intentional desire to respond to feedback regarding what was and wasn’t working in terms of cell phones in the Upper School as well as professional development for faculty. 

Our previous cell phone policy turned our fantastic teachers into technology monitors, which significantly distracted from their ability to be present and engaged with students. Additionally, it did not provide flexibility for students who have technology accommodations, nor provide reassurance and safety communications in the case of an emergency. 

Flex Fridays provide an amazing opportunity for students to get caught up on coursework, seek tutoring support, and engage in fun collaborative cross-grade activities. 

High School students have the opportunity to gain mentoring practice, pursue personal passions by forming a club, or provide meaningful (and truly appreciated) service within their communiTEA. If your High School student doesn’t know how to maximize this opportunity, please have them reach out to Kathleen Ruffle or speak with their Crew leader. 

To help us execute Flex Fridays effectively, with respect to staffing, activities, and safe dismissal, we need to know your student’s Friday plan. 

Please be sure to complete the Friday Plans Form. If your plan stays the same each week, you only need to fill it out once by selecting “ongoing Friday plan.” We will use that rhythm until you tell us otherwise.

Sincerely,

TEA Admin

What does a college or university need to understand about a TEA student?

That’s one of the important jobs of a school’s College Profile. Sent alongside student applications, it gives university admissions teams context on the academic rigor, opportunities, and experiences that have shaped each TEA student.

We’re excited to share TEA’s new 2026-27 College Profile, and we’re proud of the story it tells. At TEA, rigorous academics and experiential learning go hand in hand. All high school courses are UC A-G approved, and students apply what they learn through field research, Real-World Intensives, collaboration with industry experts, and a rigorous Senior Capstone. 

The results speak volumes. 

Since 2017, 100% of TEA seniors who applied to four-year colleges and universities have been accepted, earning more than $11.5 million in merit scholarships. TEA students have been accepted to institutions including Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, Middlebury, NYU, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and many more. 

This week, families have two opportunities to learn more about college and career planning at TEA: 

It was a great day for our Middle School runners at Friday’s “Warrior Trail Meet” at George Whittell High School in Zephyr Cove! 

Eighteen schools and more than 300 athletes competed in the meet, with 95 boys participating in the 6th – 7th grade section, and 52 girls participating in their respective section. 

Our team took on a challenging, hilly course and showed incredible grit from start to finish.

Myles Forrest, 7th grade, and Booker Collins, 6th grade, were head-to-head, with Myles finishing 26th and Booker right behind him in 27th! Bechler Elers, 6th grade, had a fantastic race as well, staying close to his teammates and finishing strong in 31st.

And a big shoutout to Cate Wu, 6th grade, who had an amazing debut in her very first race, finishing strong in 31st place!

We are so proud of the determination these runners showed on the course. It was so much fun to watch — keep up the hard work,TEAm! 

We love seeing our students biking and e-biking to school, and we want to help them build the skills and confidence to do it safely. 

We’re excited to share a free community event that gives students and families a chance to learn directly from local safety experts.

Truckee Police and CHP Truckee are hosting a free Bike Rodeo on Wednesday, September 30, from 4:00–6:30 p.m. at the Truckee Elementary School playground.

Students can bring their bikes and helmets to practice riding skills and have their helmets checked for proper fit. Free helmets will also be available for those who need one. Parents and caregivers can participate in an educational session covering bicycle and e-bike safety, safe riding practices, and important rules of the road.

We hope TEA families will take advantage of this opportunity to learn together and help keep our students and community safe.

This week we’re excited to welcome Cody Sweatt to 9th grade! Cody and his mom, Alison, and stepdad, Matt, recently moved to Truckee from Pebble Beach, along with their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Nala and Hoku. Cody also has two older stepbrothers, Tim and Jerry, who attend Cal and UCLA.  Cody’s dad, Jason, lives in Florida.

The family loves being outdoors and staying active. Cody is passionate about downhill mountain biking and skiing and is happiest when there is an adventure involved. 

That spirit of adventure played a role in the family’s decision to choose TEA. The family shared that they love the idea of education extending beyond the classroom, helping students to learn more about themselves, one another, and the world around them.

As new full-time Truckee residents, Alison, Matt and Cody are excited to meet other TEA families.

Welcome to TEA, Cody! We’re so glad you’re here and look forward to the adventures ahead! 

If your child went home sad today, because they didn't receive pizza at lunch, you have one final opportunity to sign them up for the eight remaining sessions. This opportunity will only be available through this Friday, October 2nd. 

As a reminder, TAP is offering pizza lunches for students monthly throughout the school year, beginning at the end of September and running through May. New this year, families will sign up and pay once for all nine Pizza Days at the beginning of the year. 

For more information, including how to sign up, visit this ParentSquare post. 

A little parent and caregiver support goes a long way! TAP is still looking for volunteers to help with lunch duty and provide support in classrooms.

Whether you can help once or make it a regular part of your schedule, volunteering is a great way to support our teachers and students while building a stronger connection to the TEA communiTEA.

Mark your calendar for our next TAP Meeting: Monday, October 12 at 8:45 a.m. at the Truckee Airport or virtually via Zoom. 

Some TEA students may already recognize our new Physical Education teacher, Temma Farrell. 

Temma joined the TEA community as a substitute teacher last year and has also worked with students through Tahoe Summer Camps, teaching Pure Sports, Backcountry Skills, Art & Adventure, and Whitewater.

Temma grew up in Nevada County and graduated from Nevada Union High School before earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in Political Science and Public Service, with an emphasis on human rights and environmental policy, analysis, and planning. Her studies explored the intersection between environmental impacts and human rights, including issues such as climate displacement.

Movement and athletics have always been a big part of Temma’s life. She grew up playing just about every sport she could, including eight years of Little League baseball. Baseball remains her favorite sport! Temma also has an extensive dance background, with eight years of training in modern, contemporary, and ballet. 

Temma also brings extensive experience working with young people outdoors. She has coached ski racing at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Palisades Tahoe for several years and holds a Wilderness First Responder certification and a Professional Ski Instructors of America Level I certification. She is working toward her Level II ski coaching certification this season.

At the heart of Temma’s approach to PE is the idea that movement should be something students get to do, not something they have to do. She wants students to discover forms of physical activity they genuinely enjoy and can carry into their lives well beyond school.

That means creating a safe environment where students can try a game or activity they may not feel comfortable with yet, challenge themselves, learn to push through difficulty, and experience what their bodies can do. Just as importantly, Temma sees PE as an opportunity to practice teamwork, leadership, and good sportsmanship.

We’re excited to officially welcome Ms. Temma to the CommuniTEA!

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