Lake Tahoe School, the only fully-accredited, independent Pre-K age 3, Pre-K age 4, and Kindergarten through 8th grade school in northern Nevada and the Tahoe Basin, welcomed students back to campus including 38 new students at the start of the 2019-2020 academic year. 17 students joined the Pre-K program under the leadership of Joan Skelly, Pre-School Director. Another 15 students joined the lower school under the direction of Coordinator, Heidi Breider, and 6 new teens entered the middle school program led by Rod Taylor, Coordinator.
Ms. Skelly brings a lifetime career of early education to the School. She is well-known throughout the Tahoe Basin for her early childhood education programs, and for her age-appropriate summer camps for children. Ms. Breider starts her 16th year at the School and continues to lead the 5th grade classroom. Mr. Tayler begins his 6th year with the School following past careers in medicine, education, coaching, and research. He is the full-time science teacher for middle school.
The School also expanded their learning specialist team with the addition of Robin Andronico. Ms. Andronico brings more than 14 years of reading and writing specialist experience to the Pre-K, lower and middle school classrooms. She joins a team of academic support specialists, coaches and coordinators to support differentiated and interdisciplinary learning.
“We are thrilled to welcome our returning as well as our new families to the start of the school year, and have planned an exceptional academic path for all of our learners,” commented Bob Graves, Head of School. “Our faculty is one of the strongest academic teams in the area with an average tenure of more than 10 years at the School and more than 14 years of education experience. This is key to our success of nurturing a lifelong love of learning in our students who become critical thinkers and articulate, confident leaders.” Graves enters his 2nd year as Head of School and brings more than 35 years of school administration to the task.
Lake Tahoe School offers the widest enrichment curriculum in the Basin, including classroom- and curriculum-based music, art, Spanish, science lab, MakerSpace, and physical and outdoor education. Fall athletics including girls’ basketball and co-ed cross country began August 26. Boys basketball begins in October.
Now entering its 22nd academic year, the School will open a new Athletic and Performing Arts Center – a 12,000sf facility with 2 full basketball and volleyball courts, retractable bleachers, locker rooms, coach’s office, and a full stage with back-of-the-house facilities for productions – in September 2019.