SNACS Family Newsletter | August 2026
Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year, SNACS families!
We are so excited to welcome all our new and familiar students back to school this month and kick off another fantastic year! Over the summer, we have been hard at work freshening up paint, working on projects around campus, and planning for this school year. We can’t wait to see what this school year brings for our students, families, staff, and community. We are so happy to have you!
Important Dates and Reminders 📅
August
- August 10 – First day of school for Pre-K through 8th grade
- August 14 – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- August 21 – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- August 28 – No school; Professional development for staff
September
- September 1 – Fall Picture Day (All Students)
- September 3 & 4 – Half Days for Parent-Teacher conferences. Dismissal at 11:45 am
- September 7 – No school and campus closed in observance of Labor Day
- September 11 – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- September 18 – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- September 25 – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
October
- October 2nd – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- October 5th through 9th – Fall break; no school for PK-8. Educare available with pre-registration
- October 12th – No school; Professional Development for Staff
- October 16th – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- October 19th – Picture Makeup Day (8-9:30am)
- October 23rd – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- October 30th – No school and campus closed in observance of Nevada Day
Keep an eye out for any event changes or additional information sent out via ClassDojo and our Blackboard notifications. Our full 2026-27 school calendar is now available at www.snacs.org/calendar.
Showing Up Together: Why Attendance Matters at SNACS
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! As we kick off August, we are thrilled to welcome our students back into our classrooms.
At Sierra Nevada Academy Charter School, our core belief is that time is our most valuable asset. Because our hands-on PLAY® model and Interactive Choice Boards rely on daily, active participation and small-group collaboration, every single day a student is in class matters.
When your child is here on time every day, they:
- Build Belonging: Staying connected with classmates and teachers fosters a strong sense of community.
- Stay on Track: Missing just 2 days a month, even excused absences, adds up to 18 missed days a year, making it harder to keep pace with personalized learning plans.
- Develop Life Habits: Consistent routines build resilience, responsibility, and confidence that last a lifetime.
Our August Goal: Let’s set the tone early! Aim for 100% on-time attendance this month to start the year strong. If your family ever faces challenges getting to school, please reach out to us. Our family engagement team is always available to support our students and families. Families and students can reach out at any time by emailing familyengagement@snacs.org.
Around the Community
Back to School Events
- Back-to-School Vaccine Events
- Tuesday, August 4 from 2-5:30pm at North Valleys High School
Address: 1470 E Golden Valley Rd, Reno, NV 89506 - Wednesday, August 5 from 2-5:30 p.m. at Mendive Middle School
Address: 1900 Whitewood Dr, Sparks, NV 89434 - Thursday, August 6 from 2-5:30 p.m. at Hug High School
Address: 3530 Sullivan Ln, Sparks, NV 89431
- Tuesday, August 4 from 2-5:30pm at North Valleys High School
- Family Health Festival – Hosted by several partnered local agencies in Washoe County
- When: Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Where: Hug High School at 3530 Sullivan Lane, Sparks, NV 89431
- Back to School Social and Supplies
- When: August 8th
- Where: Crosswinds Church
- Cost: Free entry
- Meet up for free ice cream, a bag of groceries, and free school supplies!
Literacy and Arts Events
- Paws 2 Read (All Ages)
- When: August 8th from 2 PM-3 PM
- Where: North Valleys Library
- Reading program for children presented by Paws 4 Love. Friendly dogs lend a loving, non-judgmental ear to beginning readers. After reading to a gentle dog, children receive a free book.
- 3D Doodle Studio (All Ages)
- When: August 5th, All day
- Where: North Valley Library
- Drop by the 3D Doodle Studio on August 5 and learn how to use a 3D pen. Experiment with what you can create! All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Crafternoon: Back-to-School Photo Frame (All Ages)
- When: August 11th from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Celebrate the start of a new school year by making your own back-to-school photo frame.
- Crafternoon: Squeegee Painting (All Ages)
- When: August 25th from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Get creative and make bold, colorful squeegee paintings. Participants will learn new techniques for creating abstract works of art.
STEM Happenings
- STEAM: Bee Hummer (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: August 4th from 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Cost: Free
- Construct your own bee humming device and experiment with sound, vibration, and engineering.
- Dino Discover Eggs (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: August 7th from 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Cost: Free
- Dissolve your egg, and watch your dinosaur appear. Through hands‑on play, kids will learn about chemical reactions, make predictions, and investigate different ways to reveal the dinosaurs hidden in their eggs.
- STEAM: Starburst Rock Cycle (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: August 18th, 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Cost: Free
- Learn about the rock cycle and explore different types of rocks in this hands-on experiment.
Misc/Ongoing events
- Hot August Nights
- When: July 31st- August 9th
- Where: GSR and the Nugget
- Cost: Free entry
- For 10 straight days, the streets rumble with horsepower, music fills the air, and the nostalgia of the 50s, 60s, and 70s takes center stage.