SNACS Family Newsletter | April 2026
We hope all of our SNACS families had a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break! We are excited to welcome everyone back for a busy and fun month of learning. April is a time when we really begin to see how much our students have grown throughout the year, and we look forward to finishing the school year strong together.
From the CEO’s Desk
Hello SNACS families!
Thank you to all of our families who came out for our 25th annual Author’s Debut at Barnes and Noble. I’d like to share how this event came to be a highlight of SNACS. This story is an excerpt from my homeless to Harvard memoir, UNBROKEN Road to Freedom.
My second grade teacher, Mrs. Schimp had a philosophy where students worked on projects in centers stationed throughout the room. Her centers were catered toward specific reading, writing, and math activities. We had to complete specific tasks and then could work on various activities.
I loved the writing center, organized with diverse types of paper, pens, and pencils. Art supplies for mixed media illustrations and other random items generated creativity. I chose velvety fabrics, wallpaper samples, and fake flowers depending on which book I wrote. I worked on a picture book for weeks, crafting my first fiction work. I was one of the first students to complete work each day, eager to finish my book.
The cover had plush brown fabric (designed to emulate fur) over cardboard to create a hardcover. The story was about bringing a pet leopard to school. Illustrations took weeks to complete. Paw prints trailed in and out of the text to keep the reader moving forward in the book. I thought it was a smart touch.
It took several months, but I completed my first book. I summoned Mrs. Schimp over when I was ready to share. She read the entire story without saying a word. She touched each page as she soaked in the story. I waiting to hear what she thought. As she closed the cover, she pulled it close to her chest and hugged it.
“This is the best story I have read,” she declared.
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. I know you will grow up to be a writer, a children’s book writer.”
“Thank you.” I believed every word.
“Now that you have written on book,” she said with a smile, “I can’t wait to read the next.” She nudged, as inspiring teachers do. “So you better get started.”
She put the book on the shelf, in a queue for the next story-time feature. It remained on display as an example for others. At that moment, I fell in love with being an author-writing, designing, creating, and publishing. The process required sustained effort over time, which proved a worthy endeavor. At seven years old, my dream to be a published author began.
Mrs. Schimp inspired me to become a published author, the PLAY® model, and annual author’s debut at SNACS. The PLAY® model has been a cornerstone of SNACS mission and vision since its inception in 1999. Teachers design classrooms like a discovery museum with standards-based learning centers. They require “must do” centers and offer opportunities for “can do” centers. Students use the PLAY® Interactive Choice Boards to select which center they are working in and when. They learn to regulate their time to get through all of the required “must do” centers within the timeframe given. The PLAY® model builds brain development in executive functioning, metacognition, agency, self-regulation, and other non-cognitive skills.
The annual author’s debut has been a highlighted feature of SNACS for 25 years where every student becomes a published author. Students in grades prek through second grade create classbooks with the guidance from their teachers. This introduces students to the process involved with published books, builds a love for literacy and publishing. Students in grades third through eighth grade publish individual books. They go through the process of brainstorming, mapping, planning and outlining, writing a first draft, self-editing, peer-editing, and teacher editing to perfect their stories. Students design and create their own front and back covers and internal artwork. They learn formatting and create the front and back matter of their books. 
The published books are debuted at Barnes and Noble Author’s debut where students (and the public) see their books for the first time. They sign their books in front of a live audience and have their picture taken. Book and cover art awards are given across all grade levels to highlight student’s exemplary work. Students, their families and friends, and the community comes together to celebrate published books and our love of literacy and publishing. The event is filled with love, laughter, and lots of memories to last a lifetime.
Thank you to Mrs. Schimp for inspiring me to become a published author and start SNACS, which has impacted thousands of students’ lives. Thank you to all of the dedicated SNACS teachers who inspire our young writers to share their stories and publish their books. Thank you to all of our families and community members for celebrating with us. Thank you to our students who worked hard to create amazing books to share with the world. May you always share your stories and as a published author and pursue your dreams everyday, because dreams do come true.
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Regan
Upcoming Dates & Reminders
April
- April 6 – Classes resume from Spring Break
- April 15 from 5 to 6 pm – Family Reading Night
- April 22 – Family Pancake Breakfast
May
- May 6 from 5 to 6 pm – Family Reading Night
- May 25– No school and campus closed in observance of Memorial Day
Celebrating 25 Years of Author’s Debut
We’re so grateful to the families who came out to Barnes & Noble to celebrate and support our students at our annual Author’s Debut.
This year, we proudly celebrated 25 years of published student authors! This is a huge milestone for our school community.
The event was filled with lots of excitement, including the debut of our students’ latest published books and the presentation of awards for outstanding published books and artwork. We had fun activities to celebrate, including a bookmark-making station, a scavenger hunt, and a family raffle.
We also extend our thanks to our local Barnes & Noble for hosting the event and supporting our school through a fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds donated back to us.
This month, we are excited to showcase some of the hands-on activities happening in Ms. Aguilar’s 5th-grade class each Friday! Every week, students who have achieved their weekly I-Ready goals get to participate in “STEM Friday,” where they get to participate in different experiments that allow them to learn more about the world around them.
These experiments help spark curiosity and creativity, with activities such as making slime and Oobleck, creating bouncing rubber balls, and building erupting baking soda and cider volcanoes. Students also had the opportunity to make seashell fossils using coffee grounds and flour, bringing science and creativity together. One of the biggest hits this year has been creating colorful lava lamps, helping students better understand how different materials interact.
STEM Friday has quickly become a student favorite and is a wonderful example of how learning can be fun and engaging for students!
Family Climate Survey Reminder
It is that time of year again! We invite all SNACS families with children in Kindergarten to 8th grade to participate in our Family Climate Survey, open now through April 24, 2026. This survey helps us better understand your family’s experience and provides valuable feedback that helps us continue improving our school community.
As a thank you for your time:
Families who complete the survey will be entered into our Family Climate Survey Raffle for a chance to win a prize! The class with the highest participation rate in the Family Climate Survey will receive an ice cream party!
We truly appreciate your feedback and partnership in helping make SNACS the best it can be for our students and families.
Why Re-Enroll at SNACS?
We love having your family as part of the SNACS community!
Re-enrolling your student helps ensure they can continue learning and growing in a familiar, supportive environment. When students stay at the same school, they benefit from strong relationships with teachers and staff who already understand their learning style and strengths. Familiar routines and expectations help build confidence, while lasting friendships create a strong sense of belonging. Staying at SNACS also provides academic continuity, allowing students to build on the progress they’ve already made. Most importantly, it means your child can continue growing on the strong foundation they’ve already started.
Re-Enrollment Raffle!
To celebrate the re-enrollment season, we’re having a Re-Enrollment Contest!
How to enter:
- Complete your student’s re-enrollment.
- Take a screenshot of the completion screen on Infinite Campus or confirmation email.
- Submit your screenshot using our Re-Enrollment Google Form.
Families who submit their confirmation by June 1, 2026 will be entered into a raffle to win one of our amazing prizes!
Don’t miss your chance. Enroll early to secure your child’s spot for next year and enter the raffle!
Re-enroll now in a few easy steps:
- Visit this link
- 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 have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office at 775-677-4500—we’re happy to help!
Community Events
Free Family Fun events
- North Valleys Game Night!
- When: April 10th at 3:30-5:30
- Where: North Valley’s Library
- Join us for some family fun at Game Night! Get ready for an evening filled with laughter, snacks, and fun with your neighbors. You can bring a game to share, too!
- Paws 2 Read (All Ages)
- When: April 11th from 2PM-3PM
- Where: North Valley Library
- Reading program for children of all ages proudly presented by Paws 4 Love. Friendly dogs lend a loving, non-judgmental ear to beginning readers.
- Crafternoon: Notan Designs (All Ages)
- When: April 14th from 3:30-5:30
- Where: North Valley Library
- Explore the Japanese concept of balance, Notan, in this fun art lesson that helps participants learn about positive and negative space while practicing their creativity and fine motor skills.
- Reno Earth Day Festival
- When: April 18th
- Where: Idlewild Park
- A large outdoor festival celebrating sustainability with live music, food vendors, environmental booths, and kids’ activities.
- Crafternoon: Bee Straw Puppets (All Ages)
- When: April 28 from 3:30-5:30
- Where: North Valley Library
- Craft your very own bumblebee straw puppet to celebrate the arrival of spring!
- For more events at the North Valleys Library, see their full calendar here. For a complete listing of library events for this quarter, visit the Explorer today.
STEM Happenings
- STEAM: Math Spin-to-Win Bingo (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: April 7 from 3:30-5:30
- Where: North Valleys Library
- Add your way to BINGO! This fun math game reinforces addition skills and strategic thinking.
- STEAM: Aluminum Foil Human Structure (Ages 7 and up with an adult)
- When: April 21 from 3:30-5:30
- Where: North Valleys Library
- Participants will explore material science by crumpling aluminum foil to create a human figure. This activity introduces basic human anatomy proportions and encourages fine motor skills.
- Invent a Spaceship (All Ages)
- When: April 29 from 4-7:30
- Where: Discovery Museum
- Cost: Member- Free Nonmember- Included with admission
- Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a spacecraft using recycled materials, considering things like how it will be powered, where it will travel, who will be at the controls, and other important aspects of the mission.
Misc/Ongoing events
- Cardboard City (Ages 5 and up)
- When: April 1/8 from 4-7:30 and April 4, 5, 11, and 12 from 10:30-4:30
- Where: Discovery Museum
- Cost: Members: Free Nonmembers- includes with admission
- Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will evolve throughout the day.
- Help Clean Up Lake Tahoe (All Ages)
- When: Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays between April 15th-26th from 10:30-4:30 pm
- Where: The Discovery Museum
- Cost: Members- Free Nonmembers- Included with Admission
- In honor of Earth day, visitors can invent a device that will help keep Lake Tahoe’s beaches and shores clean using a variety of materials.
- Science Distilled: Drive in for Science (All Ages)
- Featured film: Hope in the Water
- Cost: Members: $7/$10, Nonmembers: $9/$12
- When: April 25 from 7:30- 9 pm
- Where: West Wind El Rancho Drive-In Theater, 555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks
- At this Science Distilled event, explore the groundbreaking work of dedicated fishers, aqua farmers, and scientists who are attempting what was once thought impossible: harvesting aquatic species to feed our growing planet while also saving our oceans.