BACK-TO-SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Welcome! Our Back-to-School Newsletter is chock full of important back-to-school information for the 2025-26 school year. Please review the information and complete the Back-to-School checklist below to ensure a smooth start to the school year.

A Note from the Principal

Dear Ralston Valley Students, Parents, and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year at Ralston Valley High School!

As summer winds down and the excitement of a new year begins to build, I hope you’ve had time to rest, recharge, and enjoy meaningful moments with loved ones. Whether you’re returning to RV or joining our community for the first time, welcome! We are so glad you’re here.

At Ralston Valley, we take great pride in our students’ success, in the classroom, on stage, and in competition. Our continued recognition as one of the top high schools in Colorado and the nation reflects the dedication of our students and the commitment of our exceptional staff.

Now in my eighth year as principal, I remain inspired by the heart of this community. Our educators are devoted not only to academic excellence, but also to creating a culture where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to ask questions, take risks, and engage with diverse perspectives in a safe, inclusive environment.

Educating the whole child is at the center of what we do. Students are encouraged to explore their interests through activities, athletics, the arts, clubs, and leadership opportunities. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they’re supported in starting something new.

Ralston Valley’s tradition of excellence extends across academics, athletics, and the arts. Our diverse course offerings, including electives, Career and Technical pathways, Concurrent Enrollment, and a robust Advanced Placement and honors curriculum, prepare students for success in college, career, and life. From our outstanding musical productions and state-recognized marching band to our high-performing athletic teams- winners of the prestigious Steinmark Trophy more times than any other Jeffco school- our students demonstrate Mustang pride in all they do.

To support student well-being, we are proud to offer a comprehensive network of resources, including six school counselors, a school psychologist, a Jefferson County Mental Health Therapist, and a peer counseling center. We are committed to ensuring every student has the tools and support they need to thrive.

We also know that strong schools depend on strong partnerships. Parents and guardians are encouraged to get involved through PTSA, School Accountability, or one of our many athletic and activity booster clubs. Your involvement helps build community and enhances the student experience in meaningful ways.

As always, our doors, and inboxes, are open. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s grade-level administrator, counselor, or to me directly with any questions or ideas. We value your partnership and are here to support you.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Ralston Valley community. Together, let’s make the 2025–2026 school year one of growth, connection, and celebration.

Go Mustangs!

Warmly,

Mica Buenning

Principal

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLIST

Each year all existing Jeffco families are asked to complete the Annual Update process. This gives families the opportunity to confirm their household information (address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, etc), their student's information, and sign the agreements required each year.

All families must review and confirm information via the Portal. Additional information regarding the Infinite Campus Parent Portal can be accessed at: Families - Jeffco Public Schools.

To start your Annual Update (available August 1-September 13):

Please DON’T create yourself again in Infinite Campus. If you cannot remember your username or password, click on the appropriate link from the log-in page.

Before you begin, please make sure to gather the following:

Household Information -- address and phone numbers
Parent Information -- work and cell phone numbers, email addresses
Student Information -- demographic and health/medication information
Emergency Contact - addresses and phone numbers.
Additional Documents -- documents such as a birth certificate, immunizations, applicable legal documents, and proof of residency that can be scanned and uploaded

Log-in to Infinite Campus using your Jeffco Parent username and password.

Forgot your username or password? Visit the Personal Account Manager to reset them.

On the left hand side, click the ‘More’ option at the bottom of the menu.
Click on ‘Annual Update Online Registration’ option.
On the next page, click the ‘Start’ button for 2025-26.
On the next page, you will see a list of your students who are enrolled for the upcoming school year. Click ‘Begin Registration’. NOTE: If you have students listed that are not included in the household or are missing a student completely, please call your school before completing your registration. If you need to enroll a new student, you will need to go to EnrollJeffco to add them to your account and enroll them in a school.
At this point, you will be taken to the Online Registration module to verify and update your information. For more information on each screen you will be prompted to complete, please click here.
When you have finished, click ‘Save/Continue.’
Repeat for each student in your application.
When you are done with all student updates, click the large Submit button. Congratulations! You’ve completed your registration process.

Note: Required fields are marked with a red asterisk, and the district will receive the data exactly as it is entered. Please be careful of spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Dates should be entered as MM/DD/YYYY and phone numbers as XXX-XXX-XXXX.

If you need assistance, please call (303) 982-2372 during business hours or leave a message and a representative will be back in touch with you.

Forgot your username or password? Visit the Personal Account Manager to reset them.

To-do list (complete the following before the first day of classes):

Complete your annual update
Pay fees/fines online through the Parent Portal (available after 3:30 p.m. on August 8th)
Review and print Student Schedule in Infinite Campus (available after 10 a.m. on August 18th)

Pay fees/fines online through the Parent Portal (available after 4 p.m. on August 8):

School fee payments are paid ONLINE using a debit or credit card 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted. For fee payments please go to the Ralston Valley homepage to Quick Links, Frequently visited Resources, Registration and Student Fees, and click on Fee Payment, or click here. Be sure to use Google Chrome. You will need your student’s ID number and last name as it appears in Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

For families who have newly enrolled student(s), please allow at least 48 hours after creating your account for fees to be available for your student(s). Online help may be accessed once you have clicked the Jeffco Student Fee Payment link.

For district information about fees, please visit the Jeffco Financial Services webpage. Jeffco Student Fee Payment is unavailable for payment transactions from Mid June to beginning of August. All 2025-26 fees, and ALL fines from previous years, must be paid before August 18th

REMINDERS:

A parking fee of $125 will be added to the account of every junior and senior. If you DO NOT want to purchase a parking tag to park on school property, DO NOT pay the fee. Any unpaid parking fee will be removed from the account beginning September 5.
DO NOT PAY FEE if a student is planning to drop the course OR take a different course. (Click here to review policies regarding enrollment and schedule changes/adjustments.)
Class fees are dedicated to the purchase of student planners and school to family communication.
Personalized Tech Usage Fee covers the above listed items as well as a district-provided chromebook
AP test fees will appear on student records in October. Payment options/deadlines will be communicated in class at that time.
Yearbooks are $75 until December 1st, 2025, when the price increases to $85. Yearbooks have SOLD OUT in the past. Purchase yours early to avoid being left out!
For district information about fees please visit https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/about/finance/student_fees.

Click here to access the Jeffco Public Schools Student Fee Payment Help Guide.

Print/View Student Schedule

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on August 18, student schedules will be available for viewing in Infinite Campus. Once logged in follow these steps:

Select student
Open options menu in top left-hand corner
Select "Schedule"

If you desire a placement review for the reasons listed below, click here (NOTE: You must be logged into the student’s Jeffco Google account to submit the form. An email/phone call to your counselor does NOT replace the completion of this form.)

Schedules will be adjusted to rectify errors made in the scheduling of courses. The following circumstances are considered errors:

Required prerequisite not fulfilled
Course previously taken
Graduation requirement needed
Not enough courses
Duplicate course

SCHEDULES AND ADJUSTMENTS

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on August 18, student schedules will be available for viewing in Infinite Campus.

Due to the dynamic nature of the scheduling process, students should log-in to Infinite Campus before the first day of classes to confirm schedule.

Enrollment Requirements:

Students in Grades 9-11 are required to be enrolled in six classes each semester. 9th and 10th grade students will be enrolled in an Advisement class as a 7th class.
Students in Grade 12 may be enrolled in five classes each semester.
Students may take an extra class if enrolled in a performing arts course, Student Government, or with administrative approval.
Seniors with five or six courses will be enrolled in Senior Seminar for the first semester.

Schedule Adjustments/Changes

Following the release of schedules, information related to review of schedules will be sent to families. Schedule adjustments/changes will be granted only with the approval of a counselor or an administrator. Changes will only be made for incorrect level, prior semester failure, or class conflict. Changes/adjustments will not be made for teacher/period preference.

Students placed in an Honors or AP class as a result of the course selection process must attend class before attempting to adjust schedule.

Scheduling over 1,900 students is a challenging process and there is little room for adjustments. Unless an error has been made, students should plan to attend courses identified in their original schedule until schedule changes have been granted.

Schedules will be adjusted to rectify errors made in the scheduling of courses. The following circumstances are considered errors:

Required prerequisite not fulfilled
Course previously taken
Graduation requirement needed
Not enough courses
Duplicate course

QUICK REFERENCE

RVHS follows a Silver/White/Blue day rotation with school starting at . View the Bell Schedules here for specific class period times. You can view or subscribe to the Silver/White/Blue calendar here.

All students must be registered for the bus if they intend to ride.

Please visit the district’s transportation website for all information in regard to busing.

A printable year-at-a-glace calendar is available here.
An online Google calendar you can subscribe to is available here.
Calendars by sport/activity are available here.

Lockers will be assigned to all 9th graders. The locker number and combination will appear on the student’s schedule. Sophomores, juniors and seniors desiring a locker should direct inquiries to our campus supervisor staff located in the Security Vestibule beginning on Tuesday, September 2.

Note: With block scheduling, many high school students choose not to use a locker.

**New Information for Sophomores**

Any student who wishes to park their vehicle in the RVHS student parking lots, must have a parking tag. All school registration requirements must be met before obtaining a parking tag, including any fees and fines paid. Due to the limited number of parking spaces available, there will be a limited number of tags available to purchase.

Seniors and juniors will be allowed to park in the west and southwest parking lot, as long as there are available tags. The north parking lot (off of Alkire) will be available for sophomores and overflow for juniors and seniors.

To obtain a parking tag, seniors and juniors should fill out this parking registration form. The $125 district parking fee will be placed on all senior and junior accounts on August 8th. If you DO NOT want to purchase a parking tag to park on school property, DO NOT pay the fee. Any unpurchased parking fees will be taken off accounts on August 29th (or earlier if sold out). Students who have filled out the registration form online and paid the parking fee in Campus, can pick up their parking tag in the cafeteria during Access on August 26th and 28th for both juniors and seniors.

Sophomores who would like to park on campus should fill out this parking registration form. Once the form is filled out, the $100 registration fee will be placed on the students account (please allow 1-2 days). Once the fee has been paid, students can pick up their parking tag during Access on September 2nd and September 4th in the cafeteria.

All concerns regarding parking passes should be addressed with campus supervisors.

Parking will be enforced and tickets issued for vehicles not properly tagged beginning on Monday, September 8th.

School issued IDs are required for entry to the school for all students and those 'purchasing' lunch from the school.

If a student does not have their school issued ID, they will not be allowed to enter the building until they have been cleared by security. Please ensure you speak to your student(s) about this policy. We must all work together to keep everyone safe!

Picture Dates by Grade Level:

9th Grade: August 19, during Orientation
10th Grade: August 20, during Biology
11th Grade: August 20, during Modern U.S. History
12 Grade: August 20, during English

NOTE: These pictures will be used for school IDs. Seniors may submit a senior picture for use in the yearbook. Click here for more information.

Families may pre-order picture packages on mylifetouch.com with your Student ID or code X6WC7PTVE.

ACADEMIC & STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS

9TH & 10th GRADE ADVISEMENT

When: Silver Days

Where: Room Number listed on schedule for "Advisement".

Description: All 9th and 10th grade students will be enrolled in an Advisement class for the 2025-26 school year. Participation is required, attendance will be taken, and students will receive a pass/fail grade on their high school transcript earning 0.125 credit per semester for a passing grade. The class will take place every Silver Day throughout the entire school year. 9th and 10th grade students enrolled in seven classes will participate in Advisement on Thursday mornings from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. Teacher and classroom location will be listed on the student schedule as “Advisement”.

10th Grade Advisement

Advisement for 10th graders will strengthen the relationships they created in 9th grade with their mentor teacher and other peers. We want to continue to build community, empathy, and compassion and have the students begin to understand themselves and how it impacts their community. We also want to give them opportunities to lead their peers in various activities.

9th Grade Advisement

The 9th Grade Advisement program will positively impact student success throughout their career at RVHS. The heart of the program is building relationships with mentor teachers, Mustang Mentor Program (MMP) leaders, and other 9th grade students. We will focus on understanding the Mustang culture, how to implement academic study skills and have fun while building community!

Mustang Mentor Program (MMP)

The goals of the Mustang Mentor Program (MMP) are to provide leadership opportunities for upperclassmen and peer support for all 9th grade students. Welcoming students new to RVHS, we believe it is important for our new Mustangs to connect with fellow students and mentors from the junior and senior classes. Mentors will support 9th grade students on Orientation Day, as well as throughout the school year in their Advisement class.

Access

When: White Days

Where: Students report to the classroom as directed by their teacher

Description: The primary purpose of Access is to improve student learning. The expectations of Access are:

· Attendance in Access will be mandatory for ALL students with a D or F in any of their classes

· Parents will receive a phone call notifying them that their student’s attendance is required in Access during the segmented portion dedicated to the class in which they have a D or an F.

· Students earning an A, B, or C are still encouraged to attend Access for additional support; however, the segmented portion of Access will be dedicated to improving the learning of students who are currently earning a D or an F.

The schedule for Access can be found by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom.

TESTING CENTER

When: Students can utilize the Testing Center during their off-block or during Access on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Where: W2220

Description: The Testing Center is open to all students who miss an assessment with an excused absence. Students who need to make-up an exam should connect with their teacher to see if this exam can be made up in the Testing Center.

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

When: The Student Success Center will be available to students every day, except for block 3.

Where: L1101 (Located across the hall from the Finance Office.)

Description: Students who are struggling in being successful in class will be assigned to attend the SSC during their off-block.

9th GRADE & NEW-to-RVHS INFORMATION

Aug. 19 -Orientation Day - The day many questions from 9th Graders are answered!

ONLY 9th grade students attend school this first full day of school.

This is their day to learn all about Ralston Valley and have many of their questions answered!

Buses will run their normal schedule. Please check HERE for more information about bus pickup and dropoff times.

Students should arrive outside of the main entrance by 8:00 a.m. At 8:15 a.m. we will kick off the day with our Freshmen Welcome Assembly! Students will tour the school and follow their schedule, as well as meet our teachers, counselors, staff, and administrators.

Students will also have their picture taken by Lifetouch during the day. This is the picture that will be used for their yearbook picture and for their ID.

Students who attended a Jeffco School for 8th grade, should bring their Jeffco provided device (Chromebook for most students) that was checked out to them in middle school. These devices will be returned as part of this day. A new Jeffco Chromebook will be issued to all Ralston Valley 9th grade students.

A pizza lunch will be provided. If your student has dietary restrictions, please plan to bring a sack lunch.

New-to-RVHS 10th-12th Graders - An orientation & tour will be given to upperclassmen who are new to RVHS on Tuesday, August 19 at 2:00 p.m. Students should check in at the main office.

No tours will be given prior to August 19.

Chromebook Distribution & Return Info (click to expand)

As part of 9th grade orientation on August 19th, students will return their current school-issued Chromebooks and receive new ones*. Students should bring their current (old) school Chromebooks to orientation day for device return, but may keep their chargers since these are compatible with the devices they will receive and it’s nice to have a spare.

After devices are returned, all 9th grade students will be issued a new, Lenovo 300e Chromebook to use during their four years of high school. These Chromebooks come with an Accidental Damage Protection Plan and a protective case. Please remind your student to leave the protective case on at all times. Removing the case violates the terms of the Accidental Damage Protection Plan, and the process of removing the case causes screens to crack when done incorrectly. Our Cyber Crew only accepts devices for warranty repair that have protective cases in place,

10th-12th grade students who are new to Jeffco schools will receive a Chromebook at orientation. 10th-12th grade students new to RVHS, but unable to attend orientation should report to the library on the first day of classes. Students transferring to RVHS from another Jeffco high school and those returning to RVHS will continue to use the Chromebook issued to them in 9th grade.

All students should bring their charged, school-issued Chromebook to school every day. Only school-issued devices have the specific apps students will need for daily school work. We encourage students not to bring personal laptops to school to avoid damage to personal property. Also, students are not allowed to take classroom and district assessments on personal devices since these do not have the required assessment management apps, nor can we provide any tech support for personal devices.

* Eighth graders attending Jeffco middle schools were directed to take their devices home over the summer and return them in August at their high schools. If unique circumstances resulted in a Chromebook being returned to a middle school already, that information has been shared with us and the student’s account will already show the Chromebook as returned. Students who didn’t attend a Jeffco middle school won’t have a Chromebook to return.

PARENT & FAMILY RESOURCES

STUDENT PICK-UP and DROP-OFF

To help ensure the safety of all our students, we kindly ask families to follow these important parking guidelines during pick-up and drop-off times:

Do not park in the front loop during school hours. This area must remain clear for emergency vehicles at all times.
If you are picking up your student in the loop after school, please pull all the way forward. This helps reduce congestion on 80th Ave. and prevents the need for other drivers to pass around stopped vehicles in the loop, which creates safety hazards and slows traffic.
Please avoid arriving before 3:00 p.m. to wait in the loop. Dismissal is at 3:30 p.m., and early arrival can create unnecessary congestion.
Do not park on 80th Ave. or within the roundabout. This causes traffic issues and poses safety risks to our community. Our neighbors at Arvada Fire, as well as other drivers, need clear access through this area.
Please do not use the student parking lot for pick-up. This space is designated for student drivers and must remain accessible to them.
Most importantly, do not park across the street and ask your student to cross 80th Ave for pickup or drop-off. This is extremely dangerous and puts our students at risk.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our campus safe and orderly for all students, staff, and community members. Thank you for your continued support!

PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS

We’re excited to share that our parking lots have been repaved and re-striped over the summer! These upgrades are part of our ongoing efforts to improve campus safety and traffic flow, especially during busy times like arrival and dismissal.

Last year, we implemented several changes to increase the safety and efficiency of our parking lot, based on valuable feedback from students, families, and staff, particularly regarding the amount of spaces available and entry and exit concerns.

With an increased number of upperclassmen drivers again this year, we will continue to ease congestion by reserving the front parking lot for 11th and 12th grade students, while reopening the back lot to accommodate 10th grade drivers.

EXCUSING ABSENCES (Click here for a convenient reference guide regarding attendance.)

Families now have the option to use the Campus Parent Absence Request tool to report same-day or upcoming absences. Detailed instructions can be found at the following link: Campus Parent Absence Request Tool.

As always, families can still call the Attendance line if they prefer. For more information about excusing absences, click here

ALL DAY ABSENCE OR PARTIAL DAY ABSENCE -- Please call the attendance line, 303-982-5550, option 1, then press 2, prior to the absence or on the day of the absence. Please leave your child's name (spelling the last name), grade, date of absence, block(s) missed, reason for the absence, and parent/guardian name & phone number. District policy (JH-R), calls must be made within 24 hours of the absence to be excused.

Reasons that an absence can be excused include:

-A student who is temporarily ill, injured, or whose absence is pre-approved by the school administration.

-A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability. Please be in communication with the Grade Administrator/Dean/Counselor.

-Excused absences include funerals, illness, injury, legal obligations, medical procedures and religious observations, and extenuating circumstances determined by the principal.

-A student who is attending a school sponsored activity or who is receiving Jeffco educational services.

-A student who is suspended or expelled from school.

-A student in out-of-home placement (as that term is defined by C.R.S. 22-32-138 (1)(h)), absent due to court appearances and participation in court-ordered activities so long as the student’s assigned social worker verifies the student’s absence was for a court appearance or court-ordered activity.

The district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources. Per district policy JH.

SINGLE PERIOD ABSENCES

Single period absences and tardies will NOT be excused without documentation of an appointment with a physician, physical therapist, dentist, orthodontist, etc. (ex: A student is present every period of the day with the exception of 2nd block. Or, a student is on time for every period of the day but is 30 minutes late to 5th block). The office must be notified prior to the appointment.

ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUES

If a student is experiencing an ongoing medical issue that impacts regular attendance, a meeting with the school nurse, counselor, prevention specialist, assistant principal and/or mental health provider will be scheduled to ensure that we are best supporting the student and their educational needs. Medical documentation may be required if a student exceeds 10 excused absences.

EARLY RELEASE

Please call the attendance line, 303-982-5550, option 1 and press 1 after the early release alert.To help ensure that we have enough time to get your message and send a pass for your student, we ask that you call at least 30 minutes prior to the release time. Leave your child's name, grade, time to be released, reason for the early dismissal, whether or not they will return, and parent/guardian name & phone number.

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES

Students who are planning on missing three or more consecutive days for an excused absence should obtain a pre-arranged absence form in the attendance office. This form ensures that communication occurs before a known extended absence between your child and their teachers. Upon completion and before the absence occurs, the form should be returned to the child's grade level administrator for approval.

TARDIES

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Student tardiness to class shall only be considered unexcused if it does not fall within one of the reasons for an excused absence (see above). Tardies are handled by individual teachers and are subject to possible academic penalties. Excessive tardies may result in behavioral consequences determined by the school administration. If a student is going to be late for school due to an early appointment, contact the attendance line in advance. If your student has been marked absent when he or she was tardy, it is their responsibility to contact the teacher to clear the mismarked absence.

HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION

ALL over-the-counter and prescription medications must be accompanied by the proper paperwork and have a parent/guardian and doctor signature.

This includes medication brought to the clinic, or if your student plans on self-carrying their medication. Health Aides will be available after August 14.

Health Services Webpage

INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT PORTAL

The Parent Portal of Infinite Campus is an excellent way to monitor student attendance and grades. Users who have forgotten their password should use the ‘Forgot Password’ link found on the log-in page. Please don’t create yourself again! Direct all inquiries, including those related to passwords should visit pam.jeffco.k12.co.us.

Log into Infinite Campus to:

Maintain parent/guardian/emergency contact information
Pay fees online
Manage school and district communication preferences
View grade and attendance information

Mobile App Instructions - Note: Enter "Jefferson County" for District Name

CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY (9th & 10th Grade)

To ensure the safety of all RVHS students and due to the nature of our campus, we do not allow any students to walk off campus during the academic school day.

9th grade students are not allowed off campus at any point during the school day unless they leave with their parents/guardians.

If your 10th grade student is driving, they may leave campus during lunch or their off-block with parental permission. They are expected to follow local and state driving laws. The permission form will be available on the RVHS website and in the weekly Principal’s Newsletter when school begins. Once the parent/guardian permission form has been filled out, sophomores must get an approved sticker on their student ID by RVHS Administration to verify parent permission.

Our campus is not closed to our 11th and 12th grade students and they may leave campus during lunch or their off block(s).

ATHLETICS REGISTRATION (Click here to access the RVHS Athletics Website)

Registration is now open for all fall sports. The deadline to register for Football & Boys’ Golf is 3:00pm on 8/1/25. The deadline for all other fall sports is 3:00pm on 8/8/25. Late registrations may not be processed in time for tryouts!

**Please do not register with a physical that will expire before tryouts, as the registration will NOT be processed. You must use the CHSAA Athletic Physical form, located HERE and on the RV Athletics Website

Athletic fees will be due after the tryout period. An email will be sent out when rosters have been posted.

Questions regarding athletics registration at RVHS can be directed to Jesslyn Beauchamp at Jesslyn.Beauchamp@Jeffco.K12.co.us

ACTIVITY PASSES

The 2025-26 High School Student Activity Fee will be $65 and will allow the high school student FREE ADMISSION TO ANY REGULAR SEASON JEFFCO ATHLETIC CONTEST – EVEN JEFFCO GAMES THAT DON’T INVOLVE RVHS!

Students without this activity ticket will have to purchase a ticket online for $5+ every time they attend a game. The activity ticket is not honored for dances, plays, concerts, tournaments, and post-season events.

Families may save money if your student comes to regular season Athletic Events. To pay for the activity ticket, go to the Ralston Valley homepage to Quick Links, Frequently visited Resources, Registration and Student Fees, and click on Fee Payment, or type in the link provided. Be sure to use Google Chrome.

https://ralstonvalley.jeffcopublicschools.org/enroll/registration-fees

You will need access to your student's ID# to proceed. It will become part of the student ID issued at the beginning of school in August.

(OPT 25-26 Activity Ticket - $65)

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME

At RVHS, communication between the school and home is a joint responsibility of the student, parent, and the school. The following are strategies RVHS uses to communicate with parents:

Campus Portal: Parents log on the computer from anywhere and view/monitor their child’s grades and attendance. Parents are asked to use this fantastic resource regularly. Under the “Reports” tab, parents can view an unofficial transcript and progress reports.
RVHS Website: Information includes daily announcements, calendars, important dates, staff voice mails and emails, weekly newsletters & more (https://ralstonvalley.jeffcopublicschools.org/)
Six-week Report Cards (Progress Reports) available on-line in Infinite Campus.
Calls/emails are automatically generated weekly to notify parents of students who have D’s and F’s.
Email announcements and newsletter from the school to home.

PTSA

The Ralston Valley PTSA would like to welcome everyone back to the new school year! PTSA is always looking for new members and we are excited for the upcoming year and finding creative ways to support our teachers, students and families. There are various committees to serve on throughout the year and we are always looking for new ideas and suggestions to improve our group to support all of the different RVHS stakeholders. Let’s get the school year off to a great start by welcoming a lot of new members to PTSA!

PTSA meetings are the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 at the school.

Contact: Scott Cochran, PTSA President

rvptsa@gmail.com

Ralston Valley PTSA Website

25th Anniversary Celebration

SUPPLY LISTS

High schools do not utilize a generic supply list. Individual teachers will provide students with a list of items they will need for their class. Students should bring pencils, pens, paper, and a charged device for the first few days of school.

FROM THE CAFETERIA

All students in Jeffco Public Schools will have access to free, healthy, and nutritious school meals in the 2025-26 school year thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program approved by Colorado voters.

Meal Service for the 2025-26 School Year

Students must present their school issued ID to receive their free, healthy, and nutritious school meals.
Menus will be posted on School Café, as well as in the schools.
On School Café, you may also place restrictions on your student's account regarding what and/or how frequently they may purchase a la carte items.
Contact Erika Edwards, Director of Operations, Food and Nutrition Services at 303-982-6678 with questions about meal service.

We encourage all families to complete the HSMA Combination Form. This form will be available on July 1. To access this form, you must log in to School Café or set up a new School Café account (you will need an account and may not complete a form as a guest).

Completion of this form will help with additional education funding for schools and may allow for waivers of school-related fees.
All household income information provided through the HSMA Combination Form is strictly confidential and protected by law. Please note: Only one form is required for all students in the household.
Forms will be available July 1. While online forms are preferred, paper forms will be available at the Food & Nutrition Services office located at 809 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and also at your student’s school.
Additional meals or a la carte items may be purchased by a student using cash or their School Café account.
Contact Katie Jeter, Director of Resources, Food & Nutrition Services at 303-982-6879 with questions about applications.

DRESS CODE

The Board of Education and RVHS recognize that responsibility for the dress and appearance of students generally rests with students and their parents, and that students may wish to express themselves by the manner of their dress. Students shall not, however, wear clothing or affect an appearance at school or school-sanctioned activities/events that is, or will be disruptive to the educational environment. Students also shall not wear clothing or affect an appearance that compromises a safe environment. Although dress is a matter of self-expression and is influenced by weather and fashion trends, certain items and styles are not acceptable for fostering a positive and professional learning environment.

Clothing that is overly revealing should not be worn at school. The open midriff, back, chest, or buttocks should not be exposed. Shirts/tops must have a strap over each shoulder and the bottom of shirts/tops must meet or be longer than the top of the pants so that the midriff is not exposed. Also, not allowed are:

No undergarments may be visible when in normal posture (sitting or standing).
Clothing that has a derogatory message.
Clothing that promotes, suggests, or depicts violence.
Shorts with an inseam of less than three inches.
Trench coats and dusters.
Clothing that displays drugs, alcohol, or illegal activity.
Tops that reveal a student’s midriff or undergarments are prohibited.
Any item that could be an endangerment or used as a weapon (i.e. spikes and chains).
No hats, beanies and sunglasses may be worn in the building at any time. Hoods on hoodies must remain down.
Shoes must be worn at all times.

In order to maintain academic focus and promote safety in our school, Ralston Valley High School requests that students comply with the above dress code, as well as any regulations from Jefferson County Schools and the State of Colorado. If a student is in violation of the above rules, they will be asked to abide by any decision made by staff members and/or the administration about questionable items.

ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE

The Accountability Committee provides a forum for parents, students, staff, and the community to express thoughts regarding school effectiveness and school improvement issues. This group makes recommendations to the school administration and collaborates with the administration in the development and monitoring of the school improvement plan. Everyone is welcome at these meetings.

Meetings are held quarterly as follows:

September 8th (3:45 p.m.)
November 17th (6:00 p.m.)
January 26th (3:45 p.m.)
April 6th (6:00 p.m.)

FROM THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Click here to access the Ralston Valley High Counseling homepage.

To maintain relationships and continuity for as many students as possible, students have been assigned to a counselor as identified in the table to the right.

The Ralston Valley High School Counseling Department continues to serve and support the dynamic, and ever changing, needs of our 1900+ students. We look forward to continuing to develop our program to advocate for all students and develop new initiatives that benefit our community.

Super Test Day

To prepare our students for college readiness, we are conducting a Super Test Day on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. All students in grades 9-11 will be administered the PSAT NMSQT. The test fee is $14.00. This PSAT will be a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) for 11th graders and is a practice for the state SAT test in April. It will also prepare 9th and 10th graders for the state PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 test in April.

Additionally, in April, (dates TBD) the state of Colorado will pay for the PSAT 9 and 10 tests and the SAT test for grade 11. These tests are a measurement of school effectiveness.

College Preparation Exams

While there have been shifts in the landscape around testing and college entrance exams, the SAT still plays a large role in measuring student success. Several institutions and scholarship programs are once again asking students to submit an SAT score for consideration. For many of our students, their performance on the SAT will allow them to fulfill the Postsecondary Workforce Readiness component of the recently amended graduation guidelines set forth by the State of Colorado. Students can demonstrate college and career readiness in English by scoring a 470 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section and a score of 480 would meet the same benchmark in Math (this math benchmark is approved for the class of 2026 only at this point).

As a comprehensive high school, Ralston Valley continues to help students reach these benchmarks by providing rigorous courses and multiple levels of intervention. Additional opportunities are provided each fall for all students in grades 9-11 when they take the PSAT. Top performing 11th graders are eligible for scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Students will also take the PSAT 9 as freshman and the PSAT 10 as sophomores. Each of these tests provides benchmark data for our students and teachers to use in creating and implementing interventions in the classroom.

Advanced Placement Exam Information

Registration for 2025-2026 Advanced Placement (AP) exams will take place in late September/early October. All students interested in taking an AP exam for a year-long or first-semester course will need to register and pay for the test by October 15, 2025. Students taking a second-semester AP course will register for their tests in January, 2026. Students will learn more about this process from their AP teachers.

Registrar

Ms. Shaffer

Counselors

(Assigned by Student Last Name)

A-Cl: Ms. Siegert

Cm-G: Mr. Nemitz

H-K: Ms. New

L-Oe: Ms. Samorajczyk

Of-Sm: Ms. Chicklas

Sn-Z: Ms. McGlone