TTUSD District Update

• Glenshire Elementary’s Recipe for Math Success!

• Find the Perfect Fit: TK & Kindergarten Preview Nights

• Spelling Stars Shine Bright!

• Academic Achievement Tip | Let’s Get Our Children Talking!

• A Heartfelt Thanks to our TTUSD Board of Education Trustees!

• Supporting our Immigrant Families

• Celebrating Attendance Success!

• Transportation Tips | Safe Arrivals & Departures

• Social Emotional Learning Tip | Spark Meaningful Conversation

• Measure AA | Investing in Our Student’s Futures

• Hit the Slopes and Support Our Schools

• Upcoming Important Dates

Dear TTUSD Families,

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed a restful break and quality time with loved ones. As we begin 2025, I'd like to share some important information with you.

First, January is School Board Appreciation Month! At our December 18th meeting, I was pleased to swear in returning board members Cris Hennessy and Kirsten Livak. We're honored to have them recommit to four more years of supporting our TTUSD students and staff. Below, you’ll find a section highlighting our board members' great work, and I want to thank them all personally for their dedication.

Second, regular school attendance is essential for students to learn and succeed. We've recently heard from some students and families who are feeling anxious about their immigration status, and this anxiety is leading to school absences. We want to reassure everyone that TTUSD schools are safe and welcoming places for all students, regardless of immigration status. This is a commitment rooted in our values and reinforced by our legal obligations. At the January 22, 2025, board meeting, Trustees reaffirmed our district's commitment by approving “TTUSD Resolution 20-2024-2025 Tahoe Truckee Unified School Sites as Safe Places For All,” which reaffirms our commitment to ensuring a safe educational environment for all students and serving as a safe educational community for students and families threatened by immigration enforcement or discrimination, to the fullest extent provided by law.

It's important for all our students to be at school every day, ready to learn. Here's why:

• Learning builds day by day: Missing school means missing out on important lessons, classroom discussions, and opportunities to connect with teachers and classmates.

• Strong attendance leads to stronger achievement: Students with good attendance are more likely to graduate and have greater success in college and/or careers.

We want to assure our families that:

• Your child's information is private: We cannot release information to immigration officials.

• Every child has the right to a free public education: This is regardless of immigration status.

We're committed to providing all our students with a safe and supportive learning environment where they can thrive. Families can find resources later in this newsletter to help address concerns.

Thank you all for your continued support and engagement within our school district. I hope you have a wonderful new year.

Warm Regards,
Kerstin Kramer
Superintendent Chief Learning Officer

TTUSD is committed to engaging and empowering students, educators, and staff to achieve their potential. As we approach the year's halfway point, Superintendent Kramer presented a mid-year check-in on the Strategic Plan to the Board of Trustees at the January 22, 2025, meeting. Eight of the 20 action items are complete, meaning the action's intent has been achieved, nine are in progress, and three have not yet been started. Staff continues to dedicate thought and resources to these action items, as they all help us achieve our overarching goals. We encourage you to watch her presentation for further information on all three categories: Academic Achievement, Support Systems, and Community Connections.

To highlight a few key initiatives:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Our first CTE Advisory Committee meeting took place in December. This committee, composed of industry professionals, educators, and community members, works to ensure our CTE programs align with industry standards and prepare students for successful careers. We partnered with local businesses to gain expertise in strengthening curriculum, developing industry partnerships, guiding student work-based learning, and enhancing career pathways. This collaboration is invaluable as we establish systems for work-based learning and internships (action item 1.3.1), and we are thrilled to continue this valuable partnership.
  
  

• Employee Evaluation System: Our Human Resources team launched a district-wide online employee evaluation system (action item 1.2.3). This fully electronic system streamlines the evaluation process, provides easy access to past reviews, and simplifies paperwork when employees transfer between departments. It also eliminates paper copies, increasing sustainability. We are excited to see the system's impact and look forward to using its data analytics to identify trends and further improve working conditions for all employees.

Glenshire Elementary School (GES) recently wowed the Board of Trustees with a captivating presentation showcasing their impressive work in mathematics. Principal Kuttle, Assistant Principal Mohagen, and their dedicated staff highlighted their use of academic discourse and the new Eureka Math2 curriculum to build a strong foundation for student success.

GES has implemented school-wide initiatives to boost math achievement, including:

• Elevating Student Voices: Prioritizing student talk time and enhancing pair-share practices to encourage active participation.

• Mastering Math Fundamentals: Following the Eureka Math2 curriculum with fidelity, ensuring daily lessons incorporate fluency practice, clear learning objectives, engaging activities, and culminating discussions.

• Data-Driven Instruction: Utilizing exit tickets to gauge student understanding in real-time and inform instructional decisions.

These strategies are paying off! Last year, GES exceeded its goal of increasing CA Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) math scores by 4%, achieving a remarkable 6% increase. This year, they aim for another 5% gain, meaning 75% of all GES students would meet or exceed math standards!

The presentation included inspiring videos of engaged students and teachers expertly guiding discussions. The Board was impressed by the positive learning environment and the staff's commitment to student success.

Congratulations, Glenshire Elementary, on your outstanding work!

Do you have a little one ready for their first school adventure? TTUSD is excited to welcome our youngest learners in the 2025/2026 school year! Join us for TK and Kindergarten Preview Nights at our fantastic elementary schools.

These events are an excellent opportunity to:

• Explore your options: Learn about each of our five unique elementary schools and one charter school. Discover their distinct personalities and find the perfect fit for your child.

• Experience the environment: Get a firsthand look at our classrooms and meet our amazing teachers.

• Get your questions answered: Our principals and staff will be available to provide information about the curriculum, programs, and enrollment process.

Remember, TTUSD is an open-enrollment district, so you can choose the school that best meets your child's needs. We encourage you to attend multiple preview nights to find the ideal match.

Who's eligible?

• Kindergarten: Children turning five on or before September 1, 2025

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK): Children born between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021

We strive to be welcoming to all families. All preview nights will have Spanish interpretation services onsite.

Can't make it to a Preview Night? No problem! Contact the school principal directly. They're happy to answer your questions.

Get ready to be wowed by the spelling superstars of TTUSD! We're excited to announce the students who have qualified for this year's District-Wide Spelling Bee. These talented spellers earned spots by acing challenging classroom tests before winter break. Now, they're ready to compete for a chance to represent TTUSD at the Placer County Spelling Bee in March.

Let's give a big round of applause to these incredible students! We're so proud of their dedication and hard work. Best of luck to all our spellers in the next round!

January is School Board Appreciation Month, and we're taking this opportunity to celebrate the dedicated individuals who serve on the TTUSD Board of Education. These extraordinary volunteers generously give their time and expertise to ensure our students receive the best possible education.

Our community's support of Measure AA continues to make a profound impact on our students! This $148 annual parcel tax provides vital funding, enriching their educational experience in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise.

At the December Measure AA Citizens Oversight Committee meeting, we heard how Truckee Elementary and North Tahoe School use these funds to create extraordinary opportunities.

• Truckee Elementary: With over $663,000 in Measure AA funds this year (based on enrollment), TES supports a wide range of programs. These include a full-time music teacher, a new social-emotional learning curriculum, the "Morning Boost" intervention program, a kindergarten swim program, exciting science lab resources, and PE equipment like a Gaga Ball Pit—just to name a few!

• North Tahoe School: Measure AA provides NTS with $424,000 this year, enabling them to fund essential staff such as a band teacher, a STEAM teacher, and an art teacher. The funds also support enriching field trips, technology upgrades, classroom supplies, and even the Media Yearbook class, where students learn valuable technology skills while creating the school yearbook.

The committee also reviewed Measure AA's financial health. This year's parcel tax revenue totaled an impressive $5.6 million! We are committed to responsible stewardship of these funds to maximize their impact on our students.

Enjoy some skiing for a good cause! The Excellence in Education Foundation's Skiing for Schools program is back, offering discounted lift tickets to North Lake Tahoe resorts. This year's program features even more options, including Northstar Cross-Country and Boreal/Woodward Tahoe.

Grab your skis and snowboards - these tickets are on sale now and going fast! Proceeds benefit students and teachers in TTUSD. Visit ExinEd.org for details and purchase locations. A huge thanks to Excellence in Education and our business community for their continued support!

February 3-7 | National School Counseling Week

February 4 | Truckee High School 11th Grade Parent & Student Night

February 5 | Minimum Day for All TTUSD Schools

February 5 | School Counselor Appreciation Day

February 13 | THS Spring Back to School Night

February 17 & 18 | No School, President’s Day & Lincoln’s Birthday (Observed)

February 25 | Truckee High School 8th Grade Parent Night

February 27 | Tahoe Lake Elementary TK/K Preview Night