SNACS Family Newsletter | June & July 2026
Happy July! We hope your family is having an amazing summer so far. As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, we’d like to share important updates and helpful information to ensure everyone feels prepared and excited for the first day of school.
Important Dates and Reminders đź“…
July
- No scheduled events
August
- August 10 – First day of school for Pre-K through 8th grade
- August 14Â – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- August 21Â – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- August 28 – No school; Professional development for staff
September
- 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 11Â – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- September 18Â – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
- September 25Â – Early Release; dismissal at 1:45 pm
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. Â
Celebrating Our Graduates
At the end of the school year, our school community came together at TMCC to celebrate our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 8th-grade students. It was a bittersweet event filled with smiles, laughter, proud moments, and plenty of happy tears as families and staff gathered to honor our graduates and say goodbye to our 8th graders.
We loved celebrating our tiny learners as they completed Pre-K and got ready to take their first steps into elementary school. It was just as exciting to watch our Kindergarteners complete their first year of elementary and prepare for new adventures as they continue their education in the primary grades. We then proudly celebrated our 8th-grade graduates, many of whom have been part of our school community since Pre-K, as they took the next step toward high school. Each graduating student has worked hard this year to reach this milestone, and it was a privilege for SNACS to be a part of their growth and recognize their accomplishments throughout their educational journey. 
Thank you to all of the families, friends, and staff members who helped make this celebration so memorable. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and can’t wait to see all the amazing things they accomplish in the years to come. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Staying Sharp & Getting Ready: Navigating the Final Stretch of Summer!
Summer is the ultimate season for rest, play, and making lifelong family memories. But as we head into this final month of break, it is also the perfect time to gently shift our focus toward the upcoming school year.
Research shows that students can lose important academic skills over the summer months when they aren’t regularly practicing. Luckily, preventing the summer slide and prepping for a smooth transition back to school doesn’t require hours of desk work. It’s all about small, daily habits and partnership!
1. Beat the “Summer Slide” with Everyday Learning
Keeping your child’s mind stimulated can be fun, interactive, and easily integrated into your daily routine. Here are a few simple ways to keep those brains active:
- Read Together for 20 Minutes a Day: Just a few minutes of daily reading dramatically improves vocabulary and comprehension.
- Bonus: The North Valley Library is running its summer reading challenge for all ages! Kids get a free book just for signing up, and another free book when they read for 600 minutes and/or complete 8 activities.
- Sneak Math into Daily Chores: Have your child help measure ingredients while cooking, compare prices at the grocery store, or help calculate payment and change at checkout.
- Keep Writing Fun: Ask your child to write down the weekly grocery list, keep a summer journal, or write a letter to a friend or family member.
- Screen Time with a Purpose: Utilize high-quality, educational apps and websites like Khan Academy Kids, PBS Kids, ABCya!, and Prodigy to reinforce math and reading skills.
- Explore the Community: Keep an eye on the community section of this newsletter for local events that make learning interactive and fun.
2. Shifting Gears: Prepping for the Routine
Stepping back into a school routine can be a big adjustment. Starting to prepare about two weeks before school begins will help your child feel confident, secure, and excited to walk through our doors.
- Reset the Clock: Gradually adjust bedtime and wake-up schedules to match the school-day routine.
- Warm Up the Brain: Re-engage your child’s focus by setting aside 15–20 minutes a day for focused reading, writing, or math practice.
- Designate a Learning Space: Create a quiet, organized, and learning-friendly area in your home where your child can read, work on projects, and comfortably complete homework during the school year.
3. Partners in Success for the 2026–2027 School Year
At Sierra Nevada Academy Charter School, we firmly believe that students achieve their greatest success when schools and families work together. Simple conversations, shared reading time, and active parental involvement make a lasting impact on your child’s confidence and academic success.
Stay Connected with SNACS! You can help us build a strong partnership by reading our newsletters, actively checking ClassDojo, communicating with your child’s teacher, and attending school events.
Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming school events by visiting our calendar at
Re-Enrollment Time! ⏰
As we get closer to the new school year, we wanted to remind families to re-enroll their child as soon as possible. Spots are filling fast, and re-enrollment helps us plan effectively for staffing, classrooms, and student support services. At SNACS, we are committed to helping every child grow academically and personally. Our mission is to accelerate learning and support student success through high-quality, standards-based instruction that is personalized for each learner. Using our PLAY® model, students learn through hands-on exploration, meaningful choices, and engaging activities that make learning exciting and purposeful. The PLAY® approach is designed to maximize teacher support, student engagement, and academic achievement. Every student has a Personalized Learning Plan that helps teachers understand their current skill levels in each subject and set clear goals throughout the year. Classrooms are thoughtfully designed to look like a discovery museum, with standards-based learning centers that encourage curiosity, independence, and active learning every day.
We also encourage all families to take a moment to ensure their contact information is current with the front office. Keeping your phone number, email address, home address, and emergency contacts up to date helps ensure you receive important communications about the upcoming school year, back-to-school events, school announcements, and emergency notifications.
Re-enroll now in a few easy steps:
- Visit this linkÂ
- Log in with your parent portal credentials.
- Click “More” > “Online Registration” > “Existing Student Registration.”
- Make sure the registration year shows as 2026–2027, and begin!
- Complete each step until you submit.
**Any updates to medical, legal, or contact info require in-person forms.**
If you are a new family interested in enrolling at our school, please get in touch with the front office at (775) 677-4500 or visit our website for application information and enrollment requirements. Our staff is happy to answer any questions, schedule a tour, and help guide your family through the enrollment process. Tours can be scheduled by submitting a tour request through our website. Once your request has been received, a staff member will contact you to arrange a time that works best for your family. For more information about enrollment and admissions, please visit our website at https://www.snacs.org/admissions/enroll/.Â
Around the Community
Free Family Fun events
- Tie-Dye Party! (Ages 7 and up)
- When: July 16th from 3 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Register for a 30-minute lesson and demonstration on creating your own colorful tie-dye. Participants must bring a white or lightly colored cotton clothing item to dye; the library will supply the rest of the material. Registration is required for all participants, and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Register here (click the link to see available time slots).
- North Valleys Game Night!Â
- When: July 10th and August 14th from 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
- Where: North Valleys Library
- Join the library for some family fun at Game Night! Get ready for an evening filled with laughter, snacks, and fun with your neighbors. We provide a variety of board games such as chess, Code Master, and dominoes. You can bring a game to share, too!Â
- American Stories Film Series: ‘An American Tail’ (1986) (Ages 7 and up)
- When: July 17th from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Join the library for a family-friendly screening of An American Tail, the 1986 animated adventure following young Fievel Mousekewitz as he and his family journey to America. It’s an uplifting story of hope, music, and belonging. Seating, snacks, and refreshments will be provided by the library.Â
- Crafternoon: Craft Roll Binoculars (All Ages)
- When: July 28th from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Design and assemble cardboard craft tubes to create a unique set of binoculars. Learn how archaeologists, paleontologists, and other explorers set off in field sites on paths of discovery and observation.Â
- Curse of the Last Pharaoh Escape Room (Ages 12 and up with an adult)
- When: July 30th and 31st from 3 PM- 6 PM, August 1st from 1 PM-4 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Join the expedition and help investigate a newly found ancient Egyptian tomb said to be cursed. All the previous expeditions have mysteriously gone missing. You will have 45 minutes to solve the Pharaoh’s riddles before the tomb seals itself forever! Registration is required for this event. Register here (click the link to see available time slots).
- 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.Â
- 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.Â
- 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.Â
Literacy and Arts Events
- Baby Story Time (Ages 0-18 months)
- Where: North Valleys Library
- When: Every Thursday from 10:30 AM- 11 AM
- Cost: Free
- Enjoy stories, fingerplays, and wiggle action as part of the experience to encourage a love of books, empower thinking, stimulate creativity, and promote an overall sense of well-being.Â
- Toddler Story Time (Ages 18 months- 3 years)Â
- When: Every Wednesday from 10:30 AM-11 AM
- Where: North Valleys Library
- Cost: Free
- Enjoy stories, fingerplays, and wiggle action as part of the experience to encourage a love of books, stimulate thinking, and promote feelings of self-assurance.Â
- Family Engagement Activities with the Children’s Cabinet (Ages 18 months- 3 years)
- When: Every Wednesday from 11 AM-12 PM (Starts July 1st, ends July 29th)
- Where: North Valley Library
- Cost: Free
- Join the library after Wednesday morning Toddler Story Time for family engagement activities during Stay & Play, presented by the Children’s Cabinet. Enjoy fun crafts, games, and other activities promoting learning and building skills.Â
- Small Wonder Wednesday (Ages 5 and under)
- Where: The Discovery Museum
- When: Every Wednesday from 9 AM- 10 AM
- Cost: Members- Free    Nonmembers- $11-$16
- Join The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for young learners ages 5 and under. Hear stories, climb the clouds, create art, and enjoy the entire museum for a full hour before it opens to everyone!
- Â 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.
STEM Happenings
- STEAM: DIY Catapult (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: July 21st from 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Cost: Free
- Participants will build simple catapults using craft sticks, rubber bands, and cups, then test force and motion through playful launches. This project is a quick, hands-on way to explore basic physics and engineering concepts.Â
- 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.Â
- 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
- Artown (All Ages)
- When: Whole month of July
- Where: Downtown Reno Riverwalk, and MidTown area
- Cost: Free entry
- Widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the entire country by the National Endowment for the Arts, Artown continues to dazzle the community with a month-long celebration of arts and culture that offers more than 650 events, workshops, and performances.Â
- 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. Â