March 1 - March 14, 2025
EDC Education Highlights
Stars at School: Natalie Stephens-Butler – Mountain Democrat - What started as a teacher’s simple suggestion turned into an inspiring journey for Ponderosa High School senior Natalie Stephens-Butler, whose experience in Academic Decathlon has shaped her perspective on learning, teamwork, and resilience.
Congratulations to this month’s nonprofit of the month: Project Green – Style Magazine – Project Green’s mission is to engage students to help grow school gardens by creating a safe outdoor educational environment while nurturing social development.
City of South Lake Tahoe relaunches free learn to swim program for 3rd graders in partnership with LTUSD – Tahoe Daily Tribune – The city of South Lake Tahoe Parks & Recreation department, in partnership with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, announced the return of the 3rd grade swim program.
Marcella Foundation hosts BookMode Kindle Giveaway at Sierra House Elementary – Tahoe Daily Tribune – The Marcella Foundation hosted its 3rd annual BookMode Kindle Giveaway Event at Sierra House Elementary School, where 70 brand-new Kindles were distributed to every 2nd Grade student.
South Lake Tahoe GigaBite Robotics fundraising for competition in the Netherlands – South Tahoe Now – The South Lake Tahoe GigaBites Robotics team shined recently at the Nevada state competition doing well enough to qualify for the FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Event in the Netherlands July 1-5.
“Noises Off,” laughter on – Village Life - Live theater is a kind of magic act; for two-ish hours, give or take, the cast and crew collaborate to weave a tale that, ideally, will keep the audience transfixed and engaged.
Good to Know
Local
It’s Box Lunch Time! – South Tahoe Now – CASA El Dorado’s 29th Annual Box Lunch fundraiser, taking place April 24, supports its programs that provide support, empowerment, and a voice for the abused, neglected, and at-risk youth in El Dorado County.
February 21 - 28, 2025
EDC Education Highlights
Sierra House Elementary named a 2024 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll school – South Tahoe Now – Lake Tahoe Unifies School District (LTUSD) has announced the naming of Sierra House Elementary School as a 2024 Honor Roll school.
EDHS alum contributes to NASA’s Artemis Project – Mountain Democrat - El Dorado High School graduate Chris Volek is helping shape the future of space exploration by contributing to one of NASA’s most ambitious space missions — Artemis.
CAPP Fund donates over $6000 for STHS and GWHS – South Tahoe Now - The CAPP Fund (College APPlication Fund) just completed its fifth year of giving back to any local high school senior who applied for reimbursement of up to 2 college application fees.
Marcella Foundation hosts BookMode Kindle Giveaway at Sierra House Elementary – South Tahoe Now - The Marcella Foundation hosted its 3rd annual BookMode Kindle Giveaway event at Sierra House Elementary School, where 70 brand-new Kindles were distributed to every second-grade student.
Transitional kindergarten, kindergarten programs available at BOMUSD – Georgetown Gazette – BOMUSD offers high-quality developmentally appropriate transitional kindergarten and kindergarten programs.
Future Farmers of America grows in the divide – Georgetown Gazette - Golden Sierra Junior Senior High School has started a Future Farmers of America program this school year. In the spring term, a new ag science course was launched, and the program is looking to involve a lot more students and members of the community.
Creativity takes over AODC – Georgetown Gazette - Please join Erica Phillips and her Golden Sierra High School students for a reception at Art On the Divide Gallery on March 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. David Blonski will play original music for this event and refreshments will be served.
Good to Know
Local
Tahoe Fund seeks teens to be part of Teens for Tahoe Giving Circle – South Tahoe Now - High school students with a passion for Lake Tahoe are encouraged to apply for this new program, which is part of the Tahoe Fund’s Teens for Tahoe initiative and begins this Spring.
February 10 - 21, 2025
EDC Education Highlights
GATE activities in the spotlight – Mountain Democrat - Rolling Hills Middle School continues to shine as a leader in fostering creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving through its Gifted and Talented Education Club.
County students explore the power of play during Global School Play Day – Mountain Democrat - On Feb. 5, students throughout El Dorado County joined over two million children across 80 nations in exploring their creativity through play as part of Global School Play Day, a grassroots movement encouraging schools worldwide to dedicate a full day to unstructured play.
El Dorado County crowns Poetry Out Loud champion – Mountain Democrat - Four local high school students competed in the Poetry Out Loud 2025 El Dorado Finals at Imagination Theater on Feb. 6.
Green Valley Elementary named to the 2024 California Honor Roll – Mountain Democrat - Green Valley Elementary School in the Rescue Union School District has been recognized as a 2024 California Honor Roll School by the Educational Results Partnership.
Tahoe snowshoe trek takes the classroom outside – Tahoe Daily Tribune – More than 100 South Lake Tahoe eighth graders participated in a snowshoe field trip at the top of Heavenly Mountain Resort for a unique outdoor learning experience hosted by South Tahoe Environmental Coalition.
Stars at School – William “Etch” Etchison – Mountain Democrat - For William "Etch" Etchison, supporting students at Rite of Passage Charter High School is more than a job; it’s a calling.
Lakeview Elementary offers exciting, new STEM curriculum – Mountain Democrat – Lakeview Elementary, a school in the Rescue Union School District, has announced the launch of Project Lead the Way as part of its curriculum, beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
Students asked to work their magic at speech contest – Georgetown Gazette - The local Rotary District 5190 Speech Contest hosted by the Georgetown Divide Rotary Club will be held March 19 at the Buckeye Restaurant in Georgetown.
Good to Know
Local
FBI offers students rare educational opportunity – Georgetown Gazette – The FBI Sacramento Field Office is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 Sacramento FBI Teen Academy, open to all high school juniors in El Dorado County.
Helping hands boost Sadek duo’s recovery – Mountain Democrat - Union Mine High School wrestling assistant coach Kevin Sadek and his son, Charles, a top wrestler on the Diamondbacks' team, are making a comeback from injuries they received in a head-on collision on Dec. 15 last year.
January 25 - February 7, 2025
EDC Education Highlights
Oak Ridge High School triumphs at El Dorado County Academic Decathlon – Mountain Democrat - Saturday, Jan. 25, culminated the El Dorado County Academic Decathlon, which showcased the talent of local high school students in various disciplines.
Rescue Union School District launches solar lease project to power the future - Mountain Democrat - Rescue Union School District is excited to announce the launch of its districtwide Solar Lease Project, marking a significant milestone in sustainability and fiscal stewardship.
Valley View drives away with another art contest win - Mountain Democrat - Valley View Charter Montessori Principal Paul Stewart could hardly contain his excitement as he opened the El Dorado Hill's school's gate to allow an El Dorado Transit bus onto campus.
Stars at School: Miller's Hill Speech Contest - Mountain Democrat - On Jan. 23, students at Miller’s Hill School, part of the Latrobe School District, showcased their talents at the 19th annual Miller’s Hill Speech Contest — an event that has become a highlight of the school’s academic year.
South Tahoe High School CTE Pathway highlight - Dental Assisting - South Tahoe Now - Students at South Tahoe High School have some amazing opportunities to explore careers and learn from highly experienced professionals in the many Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways offered to students.
And the winners are... - Georgetown Gazette - From Nov. 4 to Dec. 16, 2024, three schools — Northside STEAM School, Georgetown School, and Golden Sierra High School — held a canned food competition that benefited the Divide Christmas Food Basket.
Good To Know
Local
Teens share the love with sick children - Mountain Democrat - Oak Ridge High School junior Aislynne Hartman and Ponderosa High School sophomore Sophia Alonso created their nonprofit, the Norcal Gift From the Heart Foundation, in 2024 with the mission of encouraging philanthropy among students in their community while focusing on the specific support of children’s charities
Air Force Auxiliary prepares local teen for military academies - Mountain Democrat - Union Mine High School senior and past Cadet Commander Brock Buak used a combination of academics, athletics and community service to achieve something extremely rare — appointments to four military academies.
Meet Stuart, the little mouse with big courage - Mountain Democrat - Imagination Theater presents “Stuart Little: the Musical,” opening Friday, Feb. 7.
Statewide
California should continue to invest in teacher recruitment retention, study says - EdSource - California has spent more than $1 billion since 2018 on programs to aid in the recruitment and retention of TK-12 teachers.