stms

STMS receives Toshiba grant for its Maker Lab program

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) has received a $2,676 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation. These funds will support the 7th and 8th grade students in the year-long Maker Lab elective.

SROs on campus in South Lake Tahoe: More than a police officer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - School Resource Officers, or SROs, have been a recent topic of conversations in the community with some residents questioning the need for an armed officer on South Lake Tahoe campuses.

The word "resource" gives one an insight into their position - a resource for the students, and not only at school. A resource for the parents. A resource for the school district. A resource for the school.

And the job doesn't end there.

Kudos: South Tahoe Middle School thanks the community for their support

On our last day of school at South Tahoe Middle School, we look back with gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that helped to enrich the lives of our students throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Despite finishing the school year off-campus with remote learning, we were able to envision and execute some wonderful programs and activities including:

● The new STMS robotics team
● AVID college field trips
● High-interest books for classroom libraries
● New books for the school library
● Mountain bikes, parts & tools for PE
● Science magazine subscriptions

Beloved South Lake Tahoe teacher retires

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the past 27 years, Frank Kovac has been with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD).

When he landed in South Lake Tahoe Kovac already had spent time teaching at Fairfax High School, Emerson Junior High, James Rutter Middle School, and Paul Revere Middle School, but he found his niche beginning locally at South Tahoe Middle School.

After one year at STMS Kovac took the position as athletics and activities director at South Tahoe High School (STHS), a position he held for five years.

South Lake Tahoe 8th grader makes bands on his 3D printer for nurses and other essential workers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Besides at-home school and getting some outside exercise, an 8th grader from South Tahoe Middles School (STMS) has been making plastic bands on his 3D printer to help ease elastic band pressure on facemasks for healthcare staff and other essential workers.

Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe hosts student art show

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Emerging young Van Goghs and Picassos were on display this week at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe (BGCLT). Parents, family, and friends toured the displays Thursday afternoon.

The club's Art Director Gina Stowell has been working with the students in several mediums including pastels and charcoal, watercolor tempura, monochromatic, printmaking, acrylics, mixed media collages, and multi-colored drawings. All were hung around the room for the art show as was a special blacklight "Glow Gallery."

The artists on display were ages 6-15.

Early Christmas presents for several groups in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The El Dorado Community Foundation played Santa Wednesday night, handing out checks for 29 different projects in the South Lake Tahoe area that help both children, education and adults.

Over $50,000 was distributed to the following groups (with funded projects listed):

Community
Kiwanis Community Organization, Inc. - Coats for Kids
Juvenile Service Council of El Dorado County - Life Skills/Job Readiness program
Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless - Coordinated Entry
Choices for Children - The Healthy Bottom Line Program

STMS Maker Lab needs community votes to win national robot contest

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Maker Lab at South Tahoe Middle School is a finalist to win ten new Sphero RVR Robots and it will take votes from the community to bring them to the school.

Fifteen schools were selected by SparkFun® Electronics to be finalists in their national contest to assist middle and high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiatives and education with the RVR (pronounced "Rover").

Backpack giveaway to 80 TRiO ETS students at STMS Kickstart Day

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Backpacks stuffed with needed supplies will be given away to the first 80 students to turn in a completed application for the first time with TRiO ETS in grades six to eight at South Tahoe Middle School.

This 2nd annual Backpack Giveaway is on Thursday, August 22 during the school's Kickstart day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During Kickstart, students will also be getting their class schedules, class pictures, photo I.D. and much more.

Crews working to get Sierra House Elementary open by start of school

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A fire at Sierra House Elementary School on November 11, 2018, caused extensive damage and forced students to spend the school year at other campuses in South Lake Tahoe - 4th and 5th graders at South Tahoe Middle School and K-3 at the old Al Tahoe campus. With the beginning of school just around the corner, crews have been beefed up and are working overtime to try and get the doors open for all students on August 26.

South Tahoe Middle School holding "Kickstart" day for all students

Event Date: 
August 22, 2019 (All day)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the start of the new school year rapidly approaching, students are not only getting their back to school shopping, but they are also wondering who their teachers will be, what buses to ride, and other important information.

South Tahoe Middle School is holding "Kickstart" on Thursday, August 22. It will be a day dedicated to giving out class schedules, taking school pictures, getting identification cards and tables full of information from the school and community for students and parents.

LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater announces retirement

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has announced he'll retire in one year.

Dr. Tarwater has been with LTUSD since 2005.

During their last meeting on June 11, the Board concluded its annual evaluation of Dr. Tarwater's performance. Though details of that evaluation are not available, they extended his contract one extra year until 2022 until they were notified of his notice of retirement.

At their June 25 meeting, the Board is scheduled to accept his retirement.

South Lake Tahoe group collecting items for migrant children in Tijuana

Event Date: 
June 19, 2019 - 5:00pm

A group of locals from South Lake Tahoe are leaving town next weekend with backpacks filled with stuffed animals, toys, books, art supplies and more that will go to migrant children living with their families in shelters in Tijuana.

John Friedrich, his wife Kim and daughter Rosie will be going to Mexico joined by another local, Joanna Lilly, with the collected items. They've had help from the Bijou Community School PTA and South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) Spanish Teacher Krissi Russell.

Kudos: Bread & Broth thanks STMS Club Live

Thanks to the leadership of Club Live’s advisor, Larry Lambdin, South Tahoe Middle School students have the opportunity to experience leadership events, participate in community service projects and enjoy recreational trips all focused on providing safe and high energy alternative activities.

Challenge Day at STMS and STHS: "Life-changing"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In a world where youth are faced with continued bullying on social media and at school, and where they feel disconnected and unsafe, a program continues to be offered to South Lake Tahoe students to change the direction of negative outcomes.

Imagine a school where everyone feels safe, loved and celebrated. Imagine enemies finding common ground and making peace; friends healing past hurts and making amends; people igniting their passion for service and leadership; adults and youth working together to create a school where everyone is included and thrives.

Kudos: Drug Store Project appreciates help from the community

Tahoe is a glorious place. Most of us come here to live in its beauty, but it’s the “community” that keeps so many of us here. It’s that sense of doing good for one another that keeps many of us hopeful about the future. I’m happily involved in different aspects of our community and that part of my life is why I feel so grateful and blessed. Tuesday’s Drug Store Project for our sixth-grade youth was a testament to the compassion and dedication of our agencies, businesses, service clubs, and community members for the good of its people.

"Stop the Bleed" presented to Lake Tahoe Unified teachers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Teachers at South Tahoe High stayed after school Tuesday to learn what Homeland Security and the FBI want them to - how to correctly apply a tourniquet and help survivors should there be a mass casualty event.

Level III Trauma Center surgeon, Kimberly Evans, MD, FACS and Barton’s Trauma Program Manager, Cate Neal, RN joined South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Captain Kim George in presenting "Stop the Bleed," a programs created by the Department of Homeland Security and American College of Surgeons to teach lay people how to care for trauma victims.

Sierra House Elementary students move to full-day schedules at STMS/Al Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Since a fire destroyed a section of Sierra House Elementary on November 11, 2018, students and staff have been dealing with the smoke damage, relocation, and minimum school days.

Just before the winter break classes were held at the Al Tahoe Elementary school site, home of the Boys & Girls Club, but that plan will now change starting January 14, 2018.

Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe signs land lease, first step for new clubhouse

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The community could see a new Boys and Girls Club in South Lake Tahoe as early as Spring 2021.

During their November 13 meeting, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board voted unanimously to approve a ground lease between them and the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe (BGCLT), enabling the nonprofit youth club to build on a lot owned by the district adjacent to their current location at Al Tahoe Elementary.

Director and staff sought for spring musical at South Tahoe Middle School

Do you love the theater? Do you enjoy working with youth? The Tahoe Arts Project (TAP) is seeking a director, technical director, music director and choreographer for their spring South Tahoe Middle School musical theater performance.

Rehearsals will begin in February, and the musical production will be held in May. The performers will have rehearsals immediately after school at STMS, 2 - 3 days per week.

A stipend will be offered for each position.

If you're interested in this opportunity, please send an email noting your specific

It's back to school for South Shore students

It's back to school from youth at the south end of Lake Tahoe on Monday, August 27. Both Lake Tahoe Unified School Distrist and Douglas County School District open their doors and welcome back students for the 2018/19 school year.

All school offices are open and available to help with registration and scheduling needs and to pick up schedules.

Karin Holmes named permanent principal at Sierra House

Karin Holmes can now take the "Interim Principal" off her name tag and add "Principal."

During last week's Lake Tahoe Unified School District(LTUSD) Board of Trustees meeting, the new position was made official.

"We're fortunate to have Karin Holmes," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater. "She is an outstanding educator."

In July 2017, Holmes was given the interim principal job at Sierra House Elementary after Ryan Galles left the district for a job in Vacaville.

It's showtime for South Tahoe Middle School and TAP

Young thespians at South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) have been working since March on Giants in the Sky, a musical and magical story about the world of giants who live in the clouds.

Tahoe Arts Project is presenting the play which is performed by ACT One, a new program for STMS South Tahoe Middle School students that helps fill a void for their hunger for creative expression, given the absence of drama and other arts programming available to students at a critical developmental age.

Incident at South Tahoe Middle School not bullying as reported on social media

A couple of social media posts with accusations of bullying in a South Lake Tahoe school this week have led to outrage, several concerned parents, backlash and sign carrying parents in front of the school Friday morning.

While bullying is still prevalent across the country, what happened at South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) this week has been determined by all involved, including school officials, parents and law enforcement, to not be bullying but more of a wrong choice while playing with a friend.

One student threw rocks at their friend during a school break, hitting them.

VHR ordinance focus of special Board of Supervisors in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
May 2, 2018 - 6:00pm

The last few attempts to have a special El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting on vacation home rentals (VHRs) have been met by bad weather and an overcrowded venue. The VHR meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the South Tahoe Middle School multi-purpose room.

A revised VHR ordinance is the only item on the agenda.

The Board is looking at eight revisions to the current Ordinance:

1) Restructure the violation and penalty provisions;
2) Clarify the language throughout the Ordinance;
3) Require exterior signage;

Letter: South Lake Tahoe community benefited by many service clubs

This letter was sent to South Tahoe Now. We will be running all three "Letters to the Editor" received at the same time.

To the community,

Community round table discussion on EDC budget

The El Dorado County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Don Ashton has been going from community to community, holding round table discussions about the upcoming budget for the county.

All residents from the South Shore are invited to a round table discussion about the budget Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the California Conservation Corps Tahoe Center at 1949 Apache Avenue in Meyers from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

During this open discussion, find out:

Where the County Gets its money
How much is mandated to be spent & where
How much is discretionary & options about how to spend it

Soroptimists of Tahoe Sierra honors three on International Women's Day

The Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) club of South Lake Tahoe honored three women as winners of their Violet Richardson, Live Your Dream and Ruby Awards during a special breakfast meeting on Thursday, March 8.

New after school theater club at South Tahoe Middle School

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Lights. Camera. Action! Tahoe Arts Project is launching a new after-school theater club at South Tahoe Middle School on March 12 to give all students access to the performing arts.

ACT ONE is meant to help fill a void for middle school-aged student’s hunger for creative expression, given the absence of drama and other arts programming available to students at a critical developmental age.

Student leaders sought for new NAMI club at STHS

There is a brand new club at South Tahoe High School that needs the help of student leaders to bring awareness about mental health to their fellow students on campus. Together, the students will work to end the stigma and made it understood that its okay to seek help, and where and when to find it.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of El Dorado County has spearheaded the new club which is called "STHS NAMI On Campus/Brain Health Leadership Club."

South Lake Tahoe native chosen as interim principal at Sierra House Elementary

Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) officials didn't have to look far in getting a replacement for Ryan Galles, outgoing Sierra House Elementary principal.

South Lake Tahoe native Karin Holmes will take the school's top spot on an interim basis beginning August 7.

"It is very exciting," Karin told South Tahoe Now. "What they are doing at Sierra House is amazing! With the garden and health and fitness focus there is no moss growing at the school."

LTUSD celebrates 20 retirees with 551 combined years of service

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is losing a lot of experience as 20 of their employees are retiring after a combined 551 years of collective service in education. The four retiring food service employees alone had 107 years of working with LTUSD.

During a ceremony on Tuesday, the following retirees were honored:

Certificated Staff:

Roy Benavidez – Biology Teacher, STHS, 29 years of service
Therese Colwell – P.E. Teacher, STMS, 27 years of service
Mitch Delacour – ILA, Independent studies Teacher, 39 years of service

Missoula Children's Theatre returns to South Lake Tahoe for the 39th time

Event Date: 
July 14, 2017 (All day)

For the past 38 years, Missoula Children's Theatre has been coming to South Lake Tahoe, transforming youth into actors and actresses in just a few days.

This year the production is Alice in Wonderland.

Auditions will be held on Monday, July 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at South Tahoe Middles School's multi-purpose room (STMS MPR). Approximately 50-60 local children will be cast to appear in the show.

STMS celebrates custodian's citizenship with Red, White and Blue Day

"I's so excited!"

Eduardo Gutierrez has a lot to be excited about this week. He is attending his U.S. Citizenship ceremony today in Reno, a day after the school he is a custodian for, South Tahoe Middle School (STMS), celebrated him and his achievement with Red, White and Blue Day.

On Thursday, students and staff dressed in the colors of the flag, hallways were decorated and a ceremony was held to present Gutierrez with a flag for his home. "This is a big surprise, I'm so happy," he said of the celebration.

"You can be anything you want to be" - Olympian Kristen Armstrong

"I love Tahoe," Olympic Gold medalist Kristen Armstrong said as she greeted South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) students on Wednesday. "You're lucky to have the mountains and the lake."

Armstrong, a four-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist stopped by two South Lake Tahoe schools (South Tahoe Middle School and Sierra House Elementary) to meet with students and deliver a message.

South Tahoe High well on way to keeping accreditation

South Tahoe High School is still an accredited school. That was the message given during Tuesday's meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees as staff updated them on their ongoing efforts to hit the targets set for the next visit by Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) in March of 2018.

Several parents have voiced their concerns that students aren't getting in the colleges of their choice due to the school's status.

Truckee River nearing flood stage as torrential rains hit South Lake Tahoe

Emergency crews have been busy all day, responding to homes, businesses and roads flooding. The number of calls haven't been accumulated yet, but those listening to police and sheriff scanner feeds know it must be dozens if not, hundreds.

The Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe is at 11.26 feet as of 7:00 p.m. Sunday. 11.50 feet is considered major flooding with 12.5 feet at the disastrous level.

One day to SnowGlobe in South Lake Tahoe

Last touches are being finished at the temporary concert venue on the South Lake Tahoe community field to prepare for estimated 15,000 people who will be attending SnowGlobe 2016. From December 29-31, 2016, electronic music fans will fill the town, and organizers have put some new transportation plans in place to accommodate the crowd attending the almost sold out concert.

STMS 8th graders hold their first ever convention

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.

Back to School in South Lake Tahoe

School starts on the California side of the South Shore on Monday, August 29, are you ready?

Here is a list of the local school start and end times:

STHS starts at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m.
STMS starts at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 1:55 p.m.
Bijou starts at 8:35 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m
Sierra House starts at 9:10 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m.
Tahoe Valley K - 5 starts at 9:10 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. TK runs from 9:10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School starts at 9:15 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m.

STMS and STHS holding KickStart 2016 on Thursday

Event Date: 
August 25, 2016 (All day)

The beginning of the school can be as hectic for parents as it is for kids due to the amount of paperwork to fill out and items to be purchased. Much of the class time on those first few days is filled with teachers collected those completed forms, sending kids to purchase gym clothes, school pictures, check out Chrome Books, and more. For the first time, both South Tahoe High and South Tahoe Middle Schools are holding "KickStart" day on Thursday, August 25 to alleviate some of those tasks. There will be a series of stations for students and parents to navigate through.

174 to graduate from Lake Tahoe Community College June 24

Event Date: 
June 24, 2016 - 6:00pm

The commumity is invited to the Lake Tahoe Community College's Class of 2016 commencement on Friday, June 24 at South Tahoe Middle Schoolat 6:00 p.m. 174 students are graduating, 40 with honors, eight with highest honores, 36 with departmental certificates and 61 with a transfer degree that guarantees them a seat in a California State University this fall.

The theme of graduation this year is based on a William Arthur Ward quote: "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."

Sisters recognized for perfect attendance at South Lake Tahoe schools

Ryann and Morgan Canfield were recognized during Tuesday's Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board meeting for their commitment to achieving perfect attendance as students.

Ryann, and eighth grader at South Tahoe Middle School, has missed just one day of school in her life, and that was one day in kindergarten so she has eight consecutive years of perfect attendance. Her sister, Morgan, a fifth grader at Tahoe Valley Elementary has had perfect attendance throughout her six-year (to-date) school career, including a year of transitional kindergarten.

STMS students rise to the Bike Week challenge

During the past three days, students from South Lake Tahoe schools have been participating in Bike to School days as part of the two-week Tahoe Bike Challenge.

At South Tahoe Middle School, students rose to the occasion and came out in big numbers on their bikes each day.

Each participant received a raffle ticket for each day they rode to school. 15 students were drawn daily for a plethora of prizes including Amgen Tour of California shirts and hates, bike reflectors, bells and lights, gift bags and more.

Kudos: STMS Club Live thanked for adopting a day at Bread & Broth

Bread & Broth would like to thank and acknowledge the South Tahoe Middle School Club Live. Club Live is a program for middle school students that promotes a healthy life style through leadership events, recreational trips and community service projects. Under the guidance of Larry Lambdin and Beth Aiton, the program’s co-advisors, five members of the club helped serve at the Club Live’s “Adopt A Day of Nourishment” on Monday, May 16.

LTUSD School Board: Immunizations, pay raises, improvements and Nevada student plan

The agenda for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday, March 8 is a full one. Board members will be addressing the new state law concerning immunizations, new lights for the soccer field at South Tahoe Middle School, a conditioning room and new flooring at South Tahoe High, student privacy, finances, a 4.5% raise for employees, and discuss a tuition agreement with Douglas County Schools. The meeting begins at the District Office at 5:00 p.m. with closed session, with the public portion beginning about 6:00 p.m.

Immunizations

STMS receives money from all sales at Sno Frozen Yogurt

The South Tahoe Middle School PTA will receive 60% of sales October 16-18 at Snø Frozen Yogurt Cafe located at the Chateau at Heavenly.

All sales will help the students if you mention you are there to support STMS.

Snø Frozen Yogurt Cafe is South Lake Tahoe's only froyo destination, conveniently located just steps from the Stateline casinos and Heavenly's gondola in the new Chateau development. Try their 12 flavors of frozen yogurt and refreshing sorbets
and top it off with over 50 toppings.

They are open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Students benefit from Brief Intervention Program in South Lake Tahoe schools

Students at South Tahoe High and South Tahoe Middle schools now have an option to the normal suspension process thanks to the Brief Intervention Program (BIP) developed by the South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition.

In the past, students would be sent home for three days when suspended for having, or being under the influence, drugs or alcohol while at school. In many instances this method was looked at as a few days vacation with little, or no, opportunity to learn from their errors.

Community Cleanup Day on Saturday, June 6

Event Date: 
June 6, 2015 - 8:00am

It's that time of year again when you can take a vehicle full of trash to the dump for only $5. Clean Tahoe's Annual Clean Up Day is on Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Car and truck loads are just $5 for California residents; $10 for truck with trailer and Nevada residents.

South Tahoe Middle School honors retirees with firemen led Flash Mob

Retiring South Tahoe Middle School Principal thought it was an assembly to honor the school's staff who are retiring. Words were said and plaques were given at the Wednesday morning ceremony. Then, the fire alarm sounded and hundreds of students and staff moved out onto the soccer field.

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