Mustang News
february 5, 2021 edition
Dear Ralston Valley Community,
Our 2021 Make-A-Wish Week is well underway as we passed our initial goal of $10,000 before our week even started. Thank you to our generous community for helping us to continue the tradition of Supporting Make-A-Wish Colorado. With our current fundraising total added to what we have already contributed as a community over the past 10 years, we have raised enough money to grant 29 wishes. In order to grant 30 wishes we need to raise an additional $7500 this next week. Here is how you can help...EAT! Please consider supporting Make-A-Wish and local restaurants next week. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to RV and our Make-A-Wish efforts. Just tell the cashier you are with Ralston Valley Make-A-Wish 2021!
Sunday, February 7th eat at Lot One for Brunch (9AM-2PM) or Dinner (4PM-9M)
Monday, February 8th eat at Panera on 64th and Yank between 4PM-9PM
Tuesday, February 9th is Abo's Pizza night for Delivery or Takeout from 4PM-7PM
Wednesday, February 10th get dessert at Dairy Queen on 64th from 5PM-Close
Thursday, February 11th eat at either Arvada Firehouse Sub location from 4PM-9PM
Don't forget to visit our Silent Auction and bid on vacation getaways and so much more!
Sincerely,
Ralston Valley Student Government
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Jenny Braketa at jenny.braketa@jeffco.k12.co.us
Thank you in advance for your generosity,
Ralston Valley Student Government
#Cruisin4Cody
Parent/Teacher Conferences Save the Date! February 25, 2021
Parent/Teachers conferences will be held in a virtual format between 3:00 - 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 25. Information will be upcoming on how to sign up for a time slot.
Course Selection for 2021-2022
During the upcoming week, current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will be introduced to the course selection process for the 2021-22 school year.
Art Show Exhibit
Even during the pandemic, RV students continue to produce art work at amazing levels. Below are pictures of the art work of three students who have created exceptional pieces that are being recognized at the state, and national levels! Way to go Marnie, Ethan and Hanna!
Marnie Jordan's, Autumn Leaf drawing (created with markers, colored pencil, and charcoal) will be on display at the Foothills Art Center in the 7th Annual "Power of Process" Show (a Jeffco student art exhibit hosted and funded by the Foothills Art Center), 809 15th Street, Golden, CO 80401
On display from January 29th – April 4th, 2021
Ethan Moore - Gold Key Award for his drawing titled "Isolation". Ethan's work will move on to the national level of competition.
Hanna Webb - Honorable Mention in the Colorado Regional Scholastics competition for her work titled "Black Wire and Glass Ring".
National Honor Society
The Ralston Valley chapter of the National Honor Society is now accepting applications for membership for the 2021-2022 school year. Requirements to apply: You must be a current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.6 + with a good quality of character and leadership potential. Applications are posted, and will be submitted, via our NHS google classroom. Students who have met the aforementioned criteria have already been invited to join this classroom. Please check your email for this invitation. If you were not invited to the NHS Google Classroom and believe that you should have been, please email Mrs. Reid at ireid@jeffco.k12.co.us or Mrs. Rosenthal at amy.rosenthal@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Information on Meal Service
Remote distribution sites and mobile delivery sites have closed
Students attending in-person, hybrid schedule access meals at their home school site on school's meal schedule.
100% remote learners access meals on Tuesday and Thursday (5 Total Day of Meals) at home school site.
In-person, hybrid learners may pick up meals for the days not in school on second day of in-person learning on school specific schedule.
Younger children (not registered at school serving meals) may receive meals at their closest Jeffco school site.
Please review the entire information on the District flyer.
Self-Report Positive COVID-19 Cases
Student Positive Self-Report: During remote learning periods, families can use this form to report a positive case of COVID-19. If you have specific questions, please reach out to Christy LeBlanc, RVHS District Registered Nurse at christy.leblanc@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Health-Related Information
Please contact Ralston Valley’s District Registered Nurse at christy.leblanc@jeffco.k12.co.us for any health-related issues or diagnoses including COVID positive students, diabetes, seizures, asthma, allergies, and any other health updates for your student.
Special Education Virtual Community Forums
Please see the upcoming Special Education Community Forums by clicking on this link.
athletics/activities update
Athletics
It was an honor to celebrate the signing of a National Letter of Intent to compete in athletics at the college level with twenty-four of our seniors on Wednesday of this past week! (Pictures below) Our Mustang athletes will be spread out coast-to-coast competing in eleven different sports, and we wish them the best of success. If you are a senior athlete who has committed to play in college or will be committing, contact the RV Athletics Department and let us know as the next NCAA Signing Day is coming up on April 14.
Unfortunately, JCPH Department orders are still prohibiting spectators at CHSAA events in Jefferson County. With a NO SPECTATORS policy, the best way to watch the Mustangs compete in our gym is to use the FREE live streaming service that we will be providing for home (and many away) contests. On the school website, under the Athletics and Activities tab and the Athletics Website, you will find information on how to access the live streams from our gym. Go Mustangs!
Season C is just around the corner. RV students interested in boys soccer and girls volleyball should check out the link below for registration information. Season C begins on March 8!
Activities
A huge thank you to our parents, teachers, and administrators that participated on Tuesday night to discuss plans for adopting the Class of 2021. The brainstorming session generated some very creative and exciting ideas! These ideas will begin to turn to action over the next couple of weeks. Next week’s newsletter will include a link for parents and teachers to sign up to be part of small committees to oversee the execution of these plans.
Here are some additional updates about Activities coming up this Spring:
Graduation - Jeffco Schools announced last week that all graduation ceremonies for 2021 must be held at an outdoor venue. Traditionally, Ralston Valley has held their ceremony indoors and the CU Events Center in Boulder. We are currently exploring multiple options to find a replacement venue that will accommodate our large Senior Class outdoors.
Prom - With current COVID restrictions in place, the prospect of holding our Prom as we traditionally do becomes less of a reality. As a Plan B, we are working with District personnel on guidelines to allow us to host a formal event at Ralston Valley. These plans are in the preliminary planning stages. More information will be sent out as it becomes available.
Counseling Department
NEW!!!
Due to the volume of information the Counseling Department would like to share with you, moving forward we will be distributing a biweekly Counseling Newsletter that will be linked in Mustang News each week. We will provide updates and resources on college & career, academics, and social emotional topics. Our objective is to ensure Mustang News remains concise while still communicating important information with our community. Current and previous editions of our newsletter will be linked on the Counseling Website in case you would like to access the information at a later time. Click here for our first edition!
Mental health
Lessons Learned During Remote Learning
While we look forward to welcoming students back for hybrid learning, the reality is that all students will still be participating remotely at least a few days a week. With that in mind, we would like to share a few lessons learned from remote learning to help families better navigate the psychosocial aspects of this significant shift in learning environment. Click here for the flyer and more information.
Mental Health and Wellness
As a follow-up from our December sessions with Joy Wishtun, LPC, we will dig deeper around supporting resiliency in our kids. Joy will facilitate four separate sessions over Zoom, where she will focus on providing specific strategies around strengthening your child's resilience:
Early Childhood - February 10th at 5:00 pm
Elementary Age - February 10th at 6:00 pm
Young Adolescents - February 17th at 6:00 pm
Older Adolescents - February 17th at 7:00 pm
Each session will provide parents and caregivers an overview of skills to utilize with children in that developmental level, to build healthier, more rewarding relationships, and help your child’s resilience during challenging times and situations. These presentations will be interactive, so come ready to participate and play! Even if you didn't join us in December, please feel free to participate.
RSVP by February 7th to participate in a 45-minute session. You may attend more than one session, if you have children in multiple age categories. Click on the link below to register:
For any questions, please reach out to Monika VanderStek (Monika.VanderStek@jeffco.k12.co.us), Social Emotional Learning Specialist.
Mental Health Support
Did you know that there is a robust collection of mental health resources on the Counseling Department’s website? To find them, go to the RVHS homepage, click on Counseling & Registrar, and select Social/Emotional Resources.
In addition to the resources on the Counseling website, it is also the best place to locate Counselors' contact information. On the homepage, you will find our phone numbers, emails, and how to set up an appointment with us. Our doors are always open virtually and in-person.
Technology resources & Help
Need Tech Assistance?
Visit our Remote Learning Tech Help Page to view the status of our core tools, access how-to and troubleshooting information, and find out how to get in touch with someone ASAP for tech help.
Please encourage your students to reach out to us for tech help right away so we can get them connected ASAP. It's generally easier to troubleshoot over the phone as opposed to email, so have your student call the school at 303-982-5600 so they can be connected to someone who can assist.
students this week at Ralston Valley
Quick Reference
Administration
Principal - Ms. Buenning, (303) 982-5600
12th Asst Principal - Mr. Litzau, (303) 982-5611
11th Asst Principal - Mr. Ackerman, (303) 982-5595
10th Asst Principal - Mr. Pergola, (303) 982-5604
9th Asst Principal - Ms. Kline, (303) 982-9378
Athletics Director - Mr. Hynes, (303) 982-3563
Counselors
A - Da: Ms. Siegert, (303) 982-5639
Db - Je: Mr. Merkel, (303) 982-5602
Jf - Mi: Ms. Belmear, (303) 982-5680
Mj - Se: Ms. Weber, (303) 982- 5597
Sf - Z: Mr. Giese, (303) 982-8110