Tahoe Valley red carpet greeting; Community meets Mt. Tallac students

The doors opened at all seven schools in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Monday, welcoming students back after their summer vacations.

At Tahoe Valley Elementary, not only were the doors opened, but the red carpet was rolled out, literally. Staff and members of the California Highway Patrol greeted students as they entered the school with fanfare and balloon in celebration of their return.

Not only did the students enjoy the processional, but parents, staff and officers did as well.

For the second year, Mt. Tallac High School started off their school year with a community "meet and greet," bringing their 65 students and community members together. Students greeted their guests with a handshake and a warm hello, something Principal Holly Greenough hopes gives her students a good introduction to community leaders who could possibly be their future employers.

John Machini of South Tahoe Refuse returned again this year, along with John McDougall of Cascade Properties, Mayor Wendy David, LTUSD School Board Members Barbara Bannar and Dr. Larry Green, SLT Chief of Police Brian Uhler, Tahoe Youth & Family Services Executive Director Christopher Croft and others, as well as school counselors and District staff.

Senior Leeann Vanbeenen, 17, spent time talking to Dr. Green about her ambitions to become a lawyer. She is currently attending LTCC as well as Mt. Tallac, and has aspirations of going to Stanford Law School.

Abijah Sequoiyah, 18, is already paving a future where he wants to be a surveyor. Samantha McDonough, a 16-year-old junior, plans on going into the mental health field as a counselor, a field that also interests senior Michaela Valle, 16. Kayla Kippes, also 16, wants to pursue nursing.