Wet weather hit the Summit with grey skies clouding the parking lot as student athletes participated in their first round of Skills Quest Testing. Our first week has been a mix of exploration, catch-up and tone setting. Groups completed a quick traverse of local peaks on Day 1 with a bracing dip in Lake Mary to close things out. Teachers and Coaches have spent time refining schedules, fielding questions and looking ahead.
First quarter is about laying the foundation for success throughout the rest of the year. Students physically signed the Sugar Bowl Academy Pledge, committing to our core mission and values. It now hangs on the Founder's wall as a reminder to keep ourselves accountable and focussed on why we are here and expectations for community living.
All the best,
moose mutlow
Executive Director & Head of School
This Week
Monday, September 7 – No School in Observance of Labor Day
Student Leadership Council Elections
Want to help make SBA an even better place to be? Now is your chance to run for Student Leadership Council (SLC)!
We are looking for students interested in running for:
President
Vice President
Secretary
If you’re interested in running, you should prepare a 1–2 minute speech to share with your fellow students during Homeroom on Tuesday, September 8th. This is your chance to introduce yourself, share why you want to be part of SLC, and explain what you hope to bring to the role and to the school community.
Homeroom elections will also take place for House Representatives during Homeroom on Thursday, September 10th. Each homeroom will elect a student to represent their House and serve as a voice for their classmates. House Representatives will help share ideas, communicate with their House, and participate in House activities and leadership opportunities throughout the year.
Important note on presidential elections: This year, in order to ensure fair representation of all SBA students, the president and vice president will be awarded to the male and female candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of if they are running for either president or vice president.
School Photos
Wednesday, September 9, 3:45pm
Staff and student photos will take place after school at the Academy. There will be no Advanced Strength & Performance Block, and day student pickup will remain 4:45pm.
SBA Menu - Week of September 6
Academics
Quarter 1 School Schedule
The deadline to make changes to class schedules is Friday, September 11th.
Honors Students
All honors students should plan to attend a meeting during lunch on Tuesday, September 8th in Snowshed to review honors expectations for the year.
Athletics
Pre-season training
Off-season training is where champions are built. For our SBA athletes, the work done outside of winter lays the foundation for success when the season begins. Strength, conditioning, mobility, balance, and mental preparation developed in the off-season naturally evolve into pre-season readiness—helping athletes return stronger, faster, and more confident on snow. Consistent training year-round not only improves performance, but also reduces injury risk and prepares athletes to compete at their highest level from the very first day of the season.
Community
SBA Community Committee
SBA Community Committee is looking for a few more members. Want to help out this fun group or learn more about us?
Our Kick Off Meeting is September 10th at 6:30pm!
If interested in attending email karlita.benedict@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
College Admissions Info Session
Wednesday, September 23rd, 8:30am - 10:00am
Four college representatives will be speaking to students on competitive college admissions. Names of colleges will be announced shortly.
2026 COPA SBA
Thursday, September 24th 3:00pm - 4:45pm
Our own mini World Cup Soccer Tournament! Students represent a country of their choice and try to win points for their Homeroom/House.
Last year, the winner was Albion House, led by coach Jamey.
Parents Weekend & College Admissions Case Study
Friday, October 2, 2026
Parent Programming during the academic day with a parent gathering in Truckee afterwards. More information to follow.
Saturday, October 3, 2026 2:00pm
The North Tahoe Area College Admissions Case Study offers parents and high school students a rare behind-the-scenes look at the college admissions process—by putting participants directly on the admissions panel.
The event is co-hosted by Sugar Bowl Academy, Tahoe Expedition Academy, North Tahoe High School, and Truckee High School, bringing together local schools and families for an interactive look at how admissions decisions are made.
The success of the case study is being recognized this fall at the National Conference for College Admissions Counseling in Minnesota, where Sugar Bowl Academy’s Karen Rowe will present alongside admissions representatives from Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, and the University of Maryland.
Registration opened September 1.
Location: Truckee HS
11725 Donner Pass Rd
Truckee, CA 96161
SBA Mill Valley Info Session
Thursday, October 8, 5:00pm - 6:30pm, Mill Valley
Do you have friends, teammates, neighbors, or family members in the Bay Area who might be a great fit for Sugar Bowl Academy?
We’re hosting a Prospective Family Information Session in Mill Valley on October 8 from 5:00–6:30 PM, and we’d love your help getting the word out. This is a great opportunity for families who are curious about SBA to learn more about our academics, athletics, and community — and to hear directly about the SBA experience.
If you know a family who should know about SBA, please save the date and share this opportunity with them!
More details and RSVP information coming soon. For immediate questions, please contact Taylor Combs at tcombs@sbacademy.org.
Thank you for helping us introduce SBA to more Bay Area families!
PSAT
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
All 10th and 11th graders have now been signed up for the test. Every student must have a Windows or Mac laptop, Windows tablet, or iPad and download Bluebook in order to take the test. Karen will be meeting with students through English classes to give them further instructions during the first week of October.