teachers

You're a group of teachers from San Francisco, visiting South Lake Tahoe for the weekend before heading back to wrap up the semester. You've come to Tahoe to ski for opening weekend. You're a group of friends from San Diego, looking for a mini-reunion.

All candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council were given the same questions. With just one day to go to the elections, we will be featuring their answers and a video of their interview with Tahoe Regional Young Professionals through the day.

JoAnn Conner, 67, Small Business Owner, 35 years in SLT.

Discuss your interest in serving on City Council. What is your prior experience in working with civic, community or governmental organizations?

This is a critical School Board election. It is important that our future Board continue the great work our present Board has completed over the last decade. So, it is imperative that Larry Reilly be elected as LTUSD School Board Trustee for Area #1. There is a great deal of work that needs to be done in our district. There are important decisions that need to be made. Our schools and our community need practical, tough, experienced leadership to support Dr. Tarwater in his continuing efforts to make LTUSD a great district for our children.

I am urging all voting members of Area 1 to support Larry Reilly in his bid to represent them on the LTUSD Board of Education.

School physical education at one time was full of jumping jacks, sit ups, pull ups and push ups. Today's physical education at schools has taken on a whole new focus, and Sierra House Elementary in South Lake Tahoe is being honored for what they do on a daily basis.

The school received recognition for their outstanding efforts in creating an active school environment under First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, Her plan is dedicated to ensuring 60 minutes of physical activity a day is the norm in K-12 schools.

I am a resident and registered voter in Nevada, but I work in Meyers, attended Meyers Elementary, grew up in Christmas Valley, and graduated from South Tahoe High School (STHS). The state line is a blur to me because I view the South Shore as one community. I have two children currently in high school, one at Whittell and one at STHS; I also have another child who graduated from Whittell and is now a college freshman. I believe that a good public education system is the great equalizer in America, and that every child has a right to the best education possible.

The first South Tahoe Middle School convention was complete with delegates, platforms, debates and slates. Every state was represented and the students spent the day Friday much as a participant at the national convention would.

Since the school year began, teachers James Seider and Andrew Losk have been teaching their eighth grade students about civic responsibilities and duties, what it means to be a citizen of the United States and about the political process.

There have been two more small fires around South Lake Tahoe in the last four days, the most recent Tuesday night.

On Saturday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. there was a small wildfire on National Forest land off Park Avenue. It was approximately 20 feet by 20 feet and the cause is under investigation.

Tuesday, September 27, there was a small wildfire near the same location reported at 10 p.m. It was approximately 50 feet by 50 feet and also remains under investigation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The students at Tahoe Valley Elementary School are enjoying the fruits of many volunteers' labors as the new greenhouse, Tranquil Garden, climbing stumps and outdoor learning areas have been completed and officially dedicated.

Principal Christina Grubbs gathered staff, parents and community members prior to last week's Back to School Night to thank all who took part in the projects, and to show off what the kids now get to enjoy.

"This is a labor of love for all to enjoy," said Grubbs.

The eighth fire in ten days broke out early Wednesday morning in South Lake Tahoe, this time on Edna Street near Pioneer Trail. Just under one-half of an acre of National Forest Service land burned in the 12:30 a.m. fire which burned a short distance away from Friday's Ralph Drive fire.

Firefighters from US Forest Service, South Lake Tahoe, Lake Valley and Cal Fire all responded and got the fire under control quickly, and had the area contained with a wet line by 6:46 a.m.

Here is a breakdown of the recent fires:

Quick thinking and action by three South Tahoe High teachers helped put out a fire at the campus just as the first day of school came to a close on August 29.

Melissa Berry called 911 and grabbed the fire extinguisher from her classroom and joined fellow teachers Lori Buchan and Whitney Pomeroy in putting out the fire just off the "C" wing at the school.

"The teachers did a good job stopping the fire and it suppressed when we arrived," said SLT Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Tim Spencer told South Tahoe Now at the scene.

When students make their way through the doors of classrooms in Lake Tahoe Unified School District on Monday, 22 new certified staff members will be there to greet them.

Al Tahoe Preschool: Michael Pulley, Early Childhood Education Specialist

Tahoe Valley Elementary: Chelsea Casey, Special Day Class

Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School: Anne Lafferty, Special Day Class and Leah Stockton, 1st Grade

Sierra House Elementary School: Jennifer Bronken, 4th Grade and Tamara Dupuis, School Nurse to be split with Bijou

UPDATE 9AM: Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes offered condolences on behalf of Carson High School to family members after it was learned a 16-year-old CHS male student was killed in a rollover crash in Goni Canyon early this morning. An adult also died in the accident. The names of the victims have not been released.

“On behalf of the school, our students and faculty, we are very sorry for this loss. Our thoughts go out to family and friends of the student,” said Stokes.

Ted Kennedy continues to show his appreciation for local heroes through his South Lake Tahoe restaurants.

Kennedy, who on the ownership team of Base Camp Pizza, California Burger, Azul Latin Kitchen and now, the Lakeside Beach House, shows gratitude on a weekly basis. Those in uniform and teachers get a free meal at any of his four restaurants (police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire personnel, nurses and those on active duty).

"This is to thank them, and show that we appreciate their service," said Kennedy. "They are our local heroes."

Some lessons in school can carry forward into life lessons teaching the student both the material new to their minds as well as accessing their innate skills. This year for the first time the fifth grade at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School in Meyers, California had just such an opportunity.

Location

There will be a reception for all of the 2015/16 retirees of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District on Tuesday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m., prior to the start of the board meeting on the lawn at the Education Center.

Those retiring have worked a collective 299 years in education. Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation President Coleen Shade will conduct the ceremony.

The following certificated and classified retirees will be honored:

Cynthia Cowen, Teacher – 37 years
Martha Brown, Sr. Accounting Assistant - 33 years
Sandra Moulton, Teacher – 30 years

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) didn't give South Tahoe High the results the school was expecting after the recent visit by the group's visiting accreditation committee, so they have begun the appeal process.

After the committee left South Tahoe High, they told Principal Chad Houck they were impressed with what they saw, so a recommendation for the school to be placed on a two-year probationary accreditation caught Houck and other school district leaders by surprise and was contrary to what they led him to believe while they were in South Lake Tahoe.

With the computer science field many dominated by men as well as all careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) field, Whittell High School senior Kelsey Kjer is looking to change that.

Kids, families, teachers*, and anyone interested in making scientific discoveries and learning something new should head to the Lake Tahoe Community College for the inaugural South Lake Tahoe Science Expo on Thursday, March 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Always an annual event on the north shore, this will be the first time it heads south. Students will visit the expo during school, but the whole family is invited to the Thursday evening event, which promises to make science fun!

The Lake Tahoe Community College and Lake Tahoe Unified School District Boards of Trustees will hold the annual joint meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the college's board room, starting at 6:00 p.m.

During the meeting, discussions will be held on several common agenda items.

South Tahoe Middle School Multi-Purpose Field Lighting

For the past few weeks, "celebrities" from South Lake Tahoe have been practicing with their professional partners, all in a quest to win the coveted mirror ball trophy in the Tahoe Arts Project's 4th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars

All of the rehearsing, and nursing aches and pains, have come down to this, the final event which will be held at MontBleu Resort on Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

South Tahoe Now caught up with a few of the couples in their secret rehearsals as they polished up their dance moves in preparation for the big night.

All Douglas County schools, both in the valley and at the lake, are on a one-hour delay Monday morning, February 1. The lake schools are also on a main bus stop only schedule. Students will return home at their regularly scheduled time.

Lake Tahoe Unified schools on the South Shore are on a normal start and bus stop schedule.

Carson City schools were already set to be closed today due to a staff development day. Teachers will be reporting to class, but not students.

Washoe County Schools will be on a two hour delay. Winter Bus stops are in effect.

The Christmas spirit has been evident all through the South Shore over the past few weeks as many people and non-profit agencies have been blessed with donations of money, food and gifts to help make the holidays a bit brighter.

Here are some of the many Santas who've been busy at work:

The South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge and Women of the Moose filled up 40 boxes with hams and food for families at Tahoe Valley Elementary school. The students decorated the boxes.

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The South Tahoe High Booster Club would like to thank the restaurants who donated fabulous food for our teacher's Welcome Back to School luncheon.

Over 70 people enjoyed food donated by Getaway Cafe, MacDuffs Pub, Riva Grill, My Thai Cuisine and Samurai for the spread they put on.

The teachers are still talking about the great food!

Our generous South Shore community never ceases to amaze. Thank you!