Mustang News
November 13, 2020 edition
Message from the Principal
Greetings RVHS Families,
Jefferson County Public School District has announced that we will be moving back into a 100% Remote Learning Environment starting November 16th and extending through winter break. As I stated last week, I truly believe that in-person learning is best for our students, but the current data is alarming. As you are aware, our school has been closed twice for cleaning in the last 14 days, and, due to the number of students, teachers and staff placed on quarantine this past week, in-person learning is no longer manageable. As much as it saddens me to move to a 100% Remote Learning Environment, it is an unfortunate necessity.
Due to these circumstances, our students need us to come together to support their learning now more than ever! I can assure you that we will continue to work diligently to support all students. As we navigate this learning environment, please check in with your student(s) often. Encourage them to reach out to their teachers and/or counselors when in need. Please make sure they are aware and are accessing all academic and social emotional supports provided.
Finally, I’ve included a link to the Ralston Valley Remote Learning Plan. There are few changes as over the summer we intentionally developed a schedule that would allow us to move between learning models with the least possible disruption to our students. Due to these early efforts, no adjustment to our current bell schedule will be necessary.
Thank you again for your support as we navigate these difficult times together!
Learning Preference Survey
The Learning Preference Survey is open for families to request a learning environment for second semester. Please make sure to fill out ONE form for EACH RVHS student. We will use this information to build our classes based on current health guidelines. Therefore, we cannot accommodate any changes from the remote to hybrid learning environment once the classes have been built. The form will close on Friday, November 20th. If a preference form is not filled out for a student, their second semester schedule will default to the learning model (Hybrid or Remote) in which they finished the first semester. Please contact your grade level administrator with any questions.
School Supply & Awards Pickup
To support the transition from Hybrid Learning to 100% Remote Learning at Ralston Valley High School, we will be conducting item Pick-Up Days. The purpose of these two days is to allow students to pick up the follow:
Academic Letters and Awards from the 2019-2020 School Year. These would normally be handed out in the Fall.
Athletic recognitions from this Fall and the 2019-2020 School Year.
Additional supplies from classroom teachers to support all students during Remote Learning. (Your student's individual teachers will communicate if there are materials needing to be picked up.)
Pick up will happen on the following two dates:
Friday, November 20th from 12:00-3:00
Friday, December 5th from 12:00-3:00
Please enter the parking lot through the west entrance. School personnel will be present to assist in handing out materials.
Thanksgiving Baskets for Families in Need
Student Government needs your help in supplying Thanksgiving Baskets to 12 families in the Arvada community. We are asking for donations so that we can go and purchase a hearty Thanksgiving meal for these families. Traditionally, we have had classrooms "adopt" a family and bring in food donations directly to the classroom, but this year we are unable to do so. Please consider donating to Student Government so that we can go and provide a Thanksgiving meal to these families in need. Thank you!
To donate, please click here
2020-21 Semester One Finals Schedule
Finals Schedule is available by clicking here
NHS Food Drive Totals
Thank you, students and parents of Arvada! Together with your support and generous donations, the NHS RV CARES food drive was able to collect just over 3,300 items for the Arvada Food Bank (Community Table). It is very special that we could come together as a community during this time where many of us feel divided. Thank you for supporting us and the Arvada community at large. A special thank you to our middle school partners: NHJS at Three Creeks, Oberon and Excel Academy and our Elementary school partners: Three Creeks, Meiklejohn and Van Arsdale! We could not have done it without you!
LifeTouch Pictures
Due to the recent changes in the learning environment, the picture retakes scheduled for Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18 have been cancelled. We are considering a future date for retakes, but currently have no additional details available.
For your convenience, Lifetouch is providing an opportunity for retakes in their studio on Saturday, December 5. To maintain social distance, please call (303/565-5203) for an appointment. The studio is located at 6510 W. 91st Ave. #130, Westminster, CO 80031.
Jeffco Drug Intervention Services
Resources for Parents - please click on this link.
Yearbooks
The 2020-2021 Ralston Valley High School yearbook is available to purchase! As the world continues to adjust to change, one thing that remains constant is the yearbook tradition. Give your student the gift of memories that will last a lifetime, documenting the story of a year they will never forget.
Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase a yearbook for your student on Jeffco Connect. Purchase today as the price goes up December 1st.
Athletics
Season A of the CHSAA Athletics and Activities calendar is winding down with the close of the regular season in the sport of football and in sideline spirit. The Mustang varsity football team defeated Arvada West last night to finish with a regular season record of 4 – 2. Our lower level football teams will close tomorrow with home games vs. Arvada West, while the varsity awaits word on a possible playoff berth or one last season ending game next week. Go Mustangs!
The Jeffco District has temporarily suspended any off-season workouts for sports in Seasons B, C, and D as we follow local health directives and try to minimize contact at this stage of the pandemic. Still, athletes who are planning to try out for a sport during Season B (basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, competitive spirit, and girls swim/dive) can begin the registration process by accessing the registration link on the school website, rvmustangs.org.
Mustang Mentor Program (MMP)
Freshmen and Students who are new to RV this year
MMP is required of all Freshman students and students who are new to RV. Attendance is taken! The remaining MMP date is December 4 from 2:00 - 2:30.
PTSA News
SUPPORTING STUDENTS DURING A TIME OF DISRUPTION will be the topic of discussion for the PTSA meeting on Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. In this virtual session, we will reframe and qualify some of the social and emotional challenges facing our students. We will review some lessons learned from Semester 1 and some opportunities to better support our students during Semester 2. Please RSVP to this important virtual meeting by clicking on this link.
Counseling Department
Daniels Scholarship
The Daniels Scholarship Program offers a comprehensive, four-year college scholarship that provides financial and personal support focused on helping Daniels Scholars succeed in college, and in life. The Daniels Scholarship can be used at any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. Our goal is not only to help Daniels Scholars succeed in college, but to ensure that they thrive beyond their years in college. Every year, Daniels Scholars are selected from our four-state region of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Daniels Scholars currently attend more than 200 colleges and universities in 45 states.
https://danielsfund.org/Scholarships/Daniels-Scholarship-Program/Overview
TheDream.US National Scholarship
TheDream.US National Scholarship, the nation's largest scholarship for undocumented/DACA students, is now open! This scholarship helps by providing DREAMer students up to $33,000 to pursue a bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver ($16,500 to pursue an associate’s degree at Community College of Denver).
They are hosting a Facebook Live Q&A session with previous recipients of TheDream.US scholarship on November 18th, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (see link for flyer). Students, families, and other guests can join us on Facebook and ask questions to students who have received this scholarship and chosen to pursue their education at MSU Denver.
Seniors!
Senior Seminar Session three is now in your counseling Google Classroom. Make sure to read the materials in the session and contact your counselor with any questions.
Warren Tech Update
Please click here for more information if you have a student attending Warren Tech.
Jeffco Public Schools has allowed and advised certain Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to continue in a hybrid model for the time being to ensure that students can meet the requirements for college credit and/or industry certifications. Therefore, some WT programs will stay hybrid and others will go remote. Please see the chart below for information on which program will be hybrid or remote. We also have a few who will stay hybrid for a short time to complete a targeted learning objective and then will switch to remote.
Transportation will still be provided to and from WT; buses will run on the same schedule. Students will have to get to their home high school in order to catch the WT bus.
Warren Tech Applications - Now OPEN!
The 2021-2022 Application is OPEN! Priority Deadline is February 18, 2021.
Warren Tech offers over 35 state-of-the-arts programs (some brand new this year) that allow students to earn both high school and college credit. There are also opportunities to obtain industry certifications, internships, and real-world experience. Contact your counselor if you have questions.
Apply online
Warren Tech Infographic
Mental health
World Kindness Day
Friday, November 13th is World Kindness Day. We encourage you to reflect on the impact kindness has had on your life and brainstorm new ways you can be kind to yourself and others. To get started, here are 7 recommendations for how you can start making kindness the norm in your daily life. If you're interested in diving deep into the meaning of kindness, how to teach kindness to others, and specific ways you can reflect on kindness in your life, please see this Kindness 101 article.
National Gratitude Month
November is National Gratitude Month and research shows that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude can improve physical and psychological health, foster better sleep, enhance social connections, and help us gain perspective. In times like these, it is especially important to reconnect to the aspects of our lives that are going well, even if the list is short.
Starting next week, student leaders will be taking on the challenge of practicing more gratitude in their lives and will be sharing their experiences and recommendations with the Mustang community. We encourage you to reflect on how your family practices gratitude, and we welcome you to participate in the activities shared on the RV homepage.
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
End-of-Life Chromebooks
A few school Chromebooks that were checked out to now 11th and 12th graders last March have reached their end-of-life and are displaying a message to that effect. If your student's Chromebook is displaying an end-of-life message, please have them bring it to the school on their next in-person day to be swapped out for a different device. Students who are 100% remote can contact the school to arrange a device swap. Please call 303-982-5600 and ask for Mrs. Jonson.
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.
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
