The B
bcat SKI/SKATE 2017 Vol: 1 IssueWEEK : 1 2011
faculty. Their entry has been virtually seamless, and their impact huge.
Eric Harssema (Spanish): Eric has been a part of the Incline Village community ever since completing his undergraduate studies in Environmental Studies, Latin American Studies, and Spanish. Mr. Harssema has taught Spanish from 2nd grade through college, worked for the Tahoe Language Center, and created multiple after-school Spanish clubs.
Dear LTS Families: “Come watch us, Mrs. Glass!” “Mrs. Glass, I want you to hear my speech.” Regardless of the classroom, the subject, or the age of the children in question, Lake Tahoe School students are eager to share their knowledge and discoveries. They are eager for the adults in their lives to watch them perform, to answer their questions, and to engage in discourse about any number of topics. In short, from the time they enter PreK3 until they graduate, LTS Bobcats demonstrate joy in learning. Students would not be as articulate and thoughtful as they are without the guidance and support of our faculty, a cadre of exceptional professionals. Ten teachers have worked at LTS for over ten years. Several more have been part of the team for five years or more. In August four very strong educators joined the ranks of our full-time teaching
Sara Holm (Kindergarten): Sara received her BA from St. Lawrence University, her teaching endorsement from UNR, and a Master’s in Education, Equity and Diversity in Educational Settings from UNR. She is completing a second Masters in Education (Administration and Leadership) from Sierra Nevada College. She has taught grades K - 4, worked as a teacher mentor and coach, and served on various teams developing curriculum and assessments that integrate 21st-century skills. Ari Maier (5th Grade): Arianna graduated with a Bachelor’s in Social Work from West Virginia University (Magna Cum Laude) and later earned a Master’s in Special Education from Fairfield University (Summa Cum Laude). She has taught classes from 4th through high school in a wide range of subjects. Arianna’s passions include English and literature, making the well-established 5thgrade curriculum - with its emphasis on language arts and social studies - a natural for her. Consistent with the LTS
philosophy of “figuring it out,” Miss Ari likes to create handson, project-based learning experiences that engage and challenge her students fully.
Shari Wilson (Academic Coach): Shari earned her BA from Chico State and her Master’s from San Francisco State University. In her many years as an educator, Shari has experienced a tremendous range of classrooms, ages, and job responsibilities. She has taught students from kindergarten through college, served as both an assistant principal and principal, and worked as a resident supervisor of student teachers. The fact that we have managed to replace some stellar teachers with equally qualified and committed educators speaks to the many strengths of our Lake Tahoe School teaching and learning community. We are blessed with students who love to show us what they have learned and with educators who are committed to honing their teaching skills. Those are the ingredients of a very fine school.
Ruth Glass
Best Regards,
Head of School laketahoeschool.org @laketahoeschool
(left to right) Eric Harssema, Sara Holm, Ari Maier, Shari Wilson
Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
LTS Alumni Spotlight: From LTS to Wellesley By Ella Breider/LTS Class of 2012
My years as a Bobcat encouraged me to PURSUE my diverse set of interests and
Ella Breider, daughter of beloved LTS 2ndgrade teacher Ms. Heidi Breider, attended Lake Tahoe School from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Following her graduation from LTS, Ella attended Incline High School, where she was a standout student who took eight AP level courses, graduated with a 4.6 GPA, and was accepted to a number of highly selective colleges and universities. Now in her first
PERSEVERE
year as a Wellesley student, Ella reflects back on her time at Lake Tahoe School.
As I start my second semester at Wellesley College, I reflect upon all the formative experiences that led me to embrace the challenges accompanied with an elite, liberal arts New England women’s college. Lake Tahoe School prepared me for the rigorous academia and close-knit intellectual community that greeted me at Wellesley. From a young age at Lake Tahoe School, I was offered opportunities to lead, create, and explore through personal
in the face of challenges.
accountability in Student Council, individual expression in Creative Arts, and experiential based discovery in Outdoor Education.
My years as a Bobcat encouraged me to pursue my diverse set of interests and persevere in the face of challenges. I look back fondly, particularly on the Outdoor Education offered at Lake Tahoe School, where I was urged outside of my comfort zone and encouraged to grow and learn while exploring nature. For my 8th-grade trip, my class was fortunate enough to embark on a trip to Kauai, Hawaii, where we camped, worked on a sustainable farm, and experienced local culture. The trip gave me the opportunity to experience an interesting, foreign environment, while growing as an individual, team member, and leader.
I am grateful for the many skills, both foundational and eclectic, which Lake Tahoe School taught me.
Confident, Articulate Leaders: 8th Grade Exhibition By Rod Tayler/LTS Exhibition Advisor
The Lake Tahoe School Eighth Grade Exhibition provides an opportunity for students to engage in a capstone educational experience. Created by the Coalition for Essential Schools and Ted Sizer, the Exhibition is used by middle and high schools throughout the country. It is a studentdriven enterprise that involves parents, teachers, advisors and community members in a multi-faceted, performancebased and year-long project. Centered on and inspired by an essential question, the Exhibition involves three main components: a research paper, a hands-on project, and a multi-media presentation. Each Exhibition component possesses merit in its own right, and their combination allows students to ‘exhibit’ aptitude and responsibility for learning.
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Offers a cross-curricular academic project in which students can pursue their individual passions and interests;
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Provides a public forum for students to exhibit their abilities and academic work.
Among the many compelling essential questions being explored by LTS eighth graders through their Exhibition project this year are the following: • Lake Tahoe School values the Exhibition because it: •
Incorporates a culminating assignment that assesses the effectiveness with which our students can apply what they have learned;
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What is the effect of sports on at-risk youth? Why should we care about bees? What does it take to design a house? If I learn the science behind cooking, will I be a better cook? What does it take to choreograph a ballet?
Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
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LTS BOBCATS HAVE BEEN OFFERED ADMISSION TO THE FOLLOWING FINE HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES: Bishop Manogue, Burke Mountain, Cate, Dunn, Deerfield, Gould, Holderness, Incline HS, Lawrenceville Academy, Marin Catholic, Northfield Mount Hermon, Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter, Proctor, Santa Catalina, Stratton Mountain, St. Marks, Sage Ridge, Stevenson, Thacher, York Air Force Academy, Brown University, Cal Poly, Claremont McKenna, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard, Lewis & Clark, Northeastern, Oregon State, Princeton, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UCSD, UC Boulder, U of Denver, UNR, UVA, UW, Vassar, Williams, Wellesley
Q &A: LTS Adventure Learning interpersonal skills of interacting with one another in team-building activities. They also contemplate larger themes like “leaving a place better than you found it” -- and collected pounds of trash from the beach to have a tangible experience that relates to the theme.
By Peyton Jobe (Q) & Patrick Fleming (A)
Q: Thanks to your initiative in securing tickets through Senator Harry Reid’s office, LTS kicked off the school year by sending the entire middle school to the Lake Tahoe Summit, where our students heard some of our country’s environmental leaders, including President Barack Obama, speak about the importance of protecting Tahoe for future generations to enjoy in its pristine state. What was the key takeaway for our students? A: One thing that really resonated with our students is just how important Lake Tahoe is nationally. They may not have had a sense of that because they live here, but all of the speakers, including President Obama and Senator Reid, talked about all the efforts and funding that have been going on for decades at the state and federal levels to protect the Lake Tahoe ecosystem. Also, it was very apparent that the event and the cause transcended politics in the sense that, whatever a child’s political leanings might be, all of our students were excited to see a sitting President speak to something about which they care deeply. Q: Taking a look back thus far at the various LTS adventure learning experiences, how do you feel they have helped our students grow?
Q: We are now past the midpoint of the 2016-17 school year. What is on the horizon on the LTS Adventure Learning front for our students prior to the end of the school year, and what are you especially excited about?
A: The ropes course is a keystone event to start our school year. It serves to help build relationships and set the tone for the school year as we discuss our values as a school. Our Adventure Learning expands the classroom to show our students just how much they can learn by sharing experiences in the various beautiful ecosystems we study. I heard from several students on our trip to Chimney Beach that it was the most beautiful classroom they have ever experienced. They grow from these experiences by learning both “hard” skills--such as outdoor cooking, survival skills, and tree planting-that can last them a lifetime, as well as practicing “soft”
A: There are opportunities for our students to learn to build snow shelters, develop winter backcountry safety skills, and further develop their team-building and interpersonal skill sets. The annual, year-end Channel Islands trip for the eighth graders is always a highlight in the sense that the students are able to bond one final time as a class and reflect on their time together at LTS. It is symbolic in the sense that they’re going farther afield than they ever have, and they’re going alone as an individual class without the rest of the middle school. Additionally, most of our middle school trips are mountain based, but they finish their LTS days at the ocean with sea kayaking, so it further underscores that they are about to embark on a bigger journey.
Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
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Enrichment Excellence: Confidence + Skill Sets By Eric Harssema/LTS Spanish Teacher
It has been a pleasure joining the Lake Tahoe School faculty as the new Spanish teacher, and I am thrilled to be part of the greater LTS community (AKA Bobcat Nation). The entire student body, from Pre K through 8th grade, has made me feel welcomed, and I truly appreciate their overall enthusiasm for learning a second language. The Spanish Program is one piece of the school’s verticallyaligned curriculum that seeks to provide students with the skill set and
confidence to succeed in the 21st century. LTS students are so fortunate to learn a second language starting as early as kindergarten, and research shows that continued instruction during these developmentally critical years will produce positive results in the long run. To capitalize on lessons taught in the classroom, it is helpful to incorporate Spanish into daily routines at home. Ask your child what they are studying in class and encourage them to teach you. It may be fun to have family conversations in Spanish around the dinner table once
a week. Middle schoolers and 5th graders have a language app on their iPad, Duolingo, which is a great way to build vocabulary and basic grammar. Any students at the kindergarten through 4th grade level who would like a Duolingo account can contact me for setup assistance.
LTS Athletics: Jenkins Ranks, Nordic Bests Rivals By Kris Nugent and Jon Cooper/Assistant Head of School and Athletic Director
Fact: Bobcats run fast and jump high – LTS Bobcats that is. It has been an extraordinary 12 months for Lake Tahoe School track & field and crosscountry athletes, both on a local and on the national level. During the spring and summer of 2016, a number of Lake Tahoe School athletes participated in a variety of local and national competitions. The LTS team competed in the Tah-Neva league track & field season in the spring of 2016 and enjoyed great success, with the 7th-grade girl’s team winning the league team title. From this success, three young lady Bobcats, Millie Jenkins, Jada Moore, and Brenda Martinez-Ruiz, then went on to compete in the AAU West Coast Nationals and the USATF Regional Qualifiers for the USA Junior Olympics. Joining them was 7th-grade student Nicholas Patrick and 8th-grade student Riley Rau. At the USATF Regional Qualifier these five students competed against some of the finest track and field athletes from northern Nevada, northern California, and southern Oregon. After 3-days of
competition, Millie Jenkins stood out with an incredible performance, winning the
capturing a remarkable first place at the local Incline meet in September. The future is bright for LTS track & field and crosscountry. These same students and others will start preparing for another fun-filled and competitive track season this spring.
high jump in the 13-14 years girls division. This victory cemented her place as the best high jumper for her age in the region and booked her a spot at the USATF Junior Olympics. Against the best girls from around the country, Millie performed well and finished tied for 15th. Following the summer, Nicholas Patrick continued to work hard and enjoyed stunning success in the Tah-Neva cross-country season. Nicholas was a top-5 runner in a number of meets, while also
LTS ATHLETICS SNAPSHOT •
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LTS NORDIC: 3rd place in state (including CA & NV) the last two years, besting rival TEA both years. OVER 90% PARTICIPATION among 5th - 8th grade students in team athletics for the past 6 years! TRACK & FIELD won a top 3 team trophy last spring in every division for the first time ever! 7th girls, 7th boys, 8th girls & 8th boys.
8th GIRLS HOOPS WON
the Small School (Division 1) league championship for the 4th year in a row!
Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
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Who are We Bobcats? “The Accidental Incliners” By Leta Seletzky/LTS Parent
When I tell people that we accidentally moved to Incline Village, I’m only half-joking.
We decided to take a look. We toured the school a few days before the application deadline. As impressed as Dimitri and I were by the programs and facilities, our
My husband, Dimitri, and I intentionally bought the vacation home, of course. And we intentionally traveled here from Lagos, Nigeria in June 2014 with our sons, then ages 6 and 4, for summer vacation. We were supposed to return to Nigeria in August, but when the vacation ended, the adventure began. It was late August, and our sons would have already begun a new school year in Lagos but for an unprecedented problem: the Ebola virus had struck the city, and it was spreading. The virus seemed to steamroll over West Africa; it would claim over 7,000 lives in the region by the year’s end. To quell its spread, Nigeria’s federal government ordered that all of the country’s schools remain closed until midOctober.
I learned how to drive on the snow and ice and what it means to be “bear aware.” The boys and I made a lot of new friends. We hadn’t planned to live in a village in the Sierra Nevada, but we were surprised by contentment. So we accidentally moved to Incline. Its beauty drew us to buy a vacation home, and difficult circumstances led us to move into that home. In the process, we found a fantastic school and a supportive community. We’ve stayed—on purpose—ever since.
Since moving to Tahoe, Leta
Clockwise from Top Left: Nelson Seletzky; Lee, Dimitri, & Leta Seletzky; Leta Seletzky and her father
Meanwhile, I’d just finished ordering a year’s worth of school uniforms and supplies to take back to the oil company compound there where we lived and Dimitri worked. Should I return with the boys and wait it out? On the other hand, I’d heard about a high-quality school, Lake Tahoe School, that was close to our vacation home.
boys’ reactions were the deciding factor—at the end of the tour, they didn’t want to leave. In the months that followed, I felt the anxiety-tinged thrill of being forced well outside of my comfort zone. Dimitri returned to work in Nigeria, relocating to the Bay Area and Incline a year later.
Seletzky has left her law career behind to pursue her dream of writing a book about her father called The Kneeling Man. The book will reveal the neverbefore told story of the mysterious man seen kneeling over a mortally wounded Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the balcony of Memphis’ Lorraine Motel—a scene that was captured in an iconic photograph taken in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The man, later revealed to be an undercover police officer who went on to become a Central Intelligence Agency operative, is Ms. Seletzky’s father. Dogged by conspiracy theories and intense speculation for decades, Marrell “Mac” McCollough finally shares his personal account of that tragic day.
Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
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Where Creative Spirits THRIVE! Project-Based, Learning by DOING!
(Clockwise from top left: 4th grade studies settling of the west; the makings of a new go kart design for our third annual school Great Go Kart Race later this spring; more from the 4th grade western settlement studies; a ceramics ARTifact of learning)
06 Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
Middle School Writing Corner: LTS Humanities
07 Lake Tahoe School, 995 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV, 89451, (775) 831.5828, laketahoeschool.org
995 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451
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“We moved to Tahoe for this wonderful school.” LAKETAHOESCHOOL.ORG * 775.831.5828