Today's professional development (PD) allowed us to think strategically about the next semester, specifically focused on how we can better support students through consistent classroom and school

norms, planning for spring fieldwork and making sure it aligns well across classes and curriculum. PD gives us time to collaborate with other teachers in a way that is almost impossible during our typical schedule. It helps us capitalize on the expertise of our staff and make the most of all the incredible professionals that teach your kids.

- Haley Meyer Upper School Math & 11th Grade Crew Leader

Welcome Back TEA Families!

We hope that you enjoyed a safe and restorative February break. Our hearts and minds are with the friends and families of those lost in the recent backcountry tragedy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to school administrators if there is anything that you or your student needs as we collectively move through this tremendous loss.

Today, our faculty and staff spent the day thoughtfully preparing for a successful second semester. We focused on building momentum for the months ahead and collaborating on upcoming fieldwork experiences to ensure they are impactful, well-organized, and aligned with what students are learning both inside and outside the classroom. Guided by our Curriculum Team, teachers also developed rubrics and assessments, starting with examples of excellent student work. This approach helps students understand expectations more clearly, receive consistent feedback, and feel supported throughout their learning journey. Events like this professional development day provide us with the focused time needed behind the scenes so that your children can enjoy engaging and meaningful learning every day.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, we would like to strongly encourage you to sign up for the upcoming virtual Alumni Panel on Wednesday from 6-7pm. Graduates from the ‘21 and ‘25 classes will be in attendance answering a wide range of questions regarding their experiences at TEA and how those continue to impact their lives. You can register for the zoom link HERE.

Finally, we are so excited to launch our first Lower School Family Dance on Friday from 4:30-6:30pm. Please take advantage of this opportunity to connect with fellow families and show off your moves on the dance floor. You can sign up HERE.

Most sincerely,

Your Leadership TEAm

We’ve seen an impressive surge in student athletic participation this winter, with many programs growing in both size and competitive strength across the board. In this edition, we will focus on snow sports, and next week we will cover ball sports.

 

⛷️ Alpine Team - Leading the way is our CIF & CNISSF High School Alpine Ski Team, which now boasts 12 competitive skiers, a remarkable jump from just three athletes four years ago. Their commitment, grit, and time on snow continue to elevate the program each season. 

The team is led by Head Coach Bob Buckley, who collaborated with key schools and resorts to offer outstanding training opportunities all season long. This team trains gates in the evenings at Boreal, on the weekends at Sugarbowl, and races competitively every Monday, regardless of school break or holiday. 

At least three TEA skiers will compete for California State Championships in early March, with at least 5 qualifying to participate. Senior McKenna Buckley, who will attend Columbia University, is consistently one of the top 3 skiers in the state. Sophomore Caylin Garnett is having a banner season with multiple top 5 finishes. On the boys side, Senior Barett Mason and Sophomore Finn Lichtis-Groom are two of the top skiers in the state. Recently, Finn enjoyed 2nd and 1st place finishes.

🏔️ Nordic Team - With 12 athletes, this team has delivered strong league results and logged countless miles across the Sierra this season, demonstrating resilience and endurance in one of winter’s most demanding sports.

Coached by Maude Meeker, Skye Allsop, Conrad Snover and Eric Martin, this team practices in the afternoons at Tahoe Donner XC. Training alternates between freestyle skate skiing and cross country skiing depending on the mandated race discipline for the week. Freshman Oliver Allsop and Senior Pierce Bolen have starred in the high school ranks. Oliver hasn’t missed a race yet, and currently sits in 2nd place in the Open High School Division of the CNISSF! Meanwhile, Pierce also skis on the national JNQ circuit, he finished 2nd overall in Mammoth Lakes in early February, and earlier this winter competed in Lake Placid, New York in a week long, prime time JNQ events. 

Our Middle Schoolers are being led by 8th graders Cruz Snover, Beau Osborne, Katie Kendrick and Shai Kobert. Cruz consistently finishes in the top 5 each race, regardless of ski discipline or distance; he has taken his game to the next level this season. Cruz finished 4th at the Truckee Sprints against a field of 80+ racers. Shai has enjoyed her best season as a middle school racer, consistently finishing in the top 15, with a few top ten finishes against a very tough athlete field. Katie and Beau are always in the mix, finishing in the top 20 in most races.

Athletics are a vital part of student life at TEA, even if much of the action happens beyond our Martis Valley campus. Best of luck to all of our athletes in the championship races and meets ahead. Go, Hawks!

We’re excited to launch our admissions and enrollment system through Finalsite! Families should be on the lookout for an email with login information and instructions to set up your account. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be able to access enrollment agreements and manage tuition and billing in one convenient place.

Our Admissions and Business Office have been diligently working, and our Enrollment Agreements are on track to be in the system by the end of this week.

You’ll also notice a dedicated “Parent” section on our website, designed to give you quick and easy access to everything you need at TEA, to find all school resources in one location.

Despite the recent snowfall suggesting otherwise, spring will be here before we know it and that means TEA’s Annual Gala is fast approaching. This critical fundraising event needs YOUR help now in order to be successful.

Welcome back from February Break!

This is a friendly reminder that the Upper School Pizza Day is this Thursday, 2/26.

Treat yourself and let TAP deliver a hot lunch to your kiddos. For just $10 your student(s) will get 2 slices of cheese or pepperoni (or one of each) pizza, a fizzy water and a piece of fruit. 

Finally, through we have fully booked the Four Seasons for our "Mom’s Vegas Weekend," TAP President Kim can still get you VIP access to hotel, dinners, pool cabana, and shows!

Contact kim@thekb-collective.com and we hope to see you there!

Oliver Welsch has been part of the TEA community since fifth grade, and over the years has carved out a creative path that is entirely his own. Now a junior, Oliver is deeply immersed in music, media, and critical inquiry, using each as a way to explore identity, culture, and connection.

Many in the community know Oliver as a DJ and musician. His journey into DJing began right here at TEA when he played his first gig at the school spring dance in seventh grade. Since then, he has expanded far beyond the turntables. Oliver plays guitar, drums, bass, and produces and sings his own music. His album People Watching in an In-Between was released in September 2025, and he recently dropped a new single, all of which you can stream on Spotify. 

Oliver also hosts a radio show on KWNK 97.7FM. During the winter season, he curates Your Noir Monologue, a biweekly Wednesday night program dedicated to bebop and jazz. At other times of the year, he continues Turntable Turmoil, the hip hop and acid jazz show. His sets reflect both technical skill and deep musical curiosity, shaped by a lifetime of growing up around sound.

Beyond music, Oliver is a thoughtful and engaged member of TEA’s Belonging Club. He describes his experience at TEA as one that has allowed him the freedom to develop his creative practice in ways that feel authentic to him. The space to experiment, question, and create has been foundational to his growth.

Oliver is already thinking ambitiously about his senior thesis. He plans to produce a documentary exploring the contemporary landscape and internal divisions of the Black Panther Party, examining larger questions about activism, power, and the future of Black political movements in America. His interest reflects a desire not just to create art, but to investigate truth, complexity, and history.

Oliver embodies the spirit of independent thinking and creative risk-taking that defines TEA. Whether behind a turntable, on the airwaves, or preparing for a cross-country research journey, he approaches his work with intensity, originality, and purpose.

We are proud to celebrate Oliver and the many ways he continues to shape his own path.

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