APRIL 28, 2023 EDition

Big Blue Awards

Congratulations to our students who were celebrated this past week for the Big Blue Award!  These students were nominated by a staff member for demonstrating perseverence and/or growth this semester!  We are proud of you Mustangs!  Here are pictures of a few of the recipients: 

Teacher Appreciation Week 

Teachers spend countless hours supporting, nurturing and educating our children.

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12.  As a small token of our appreciation, PTSA is partnering with RV to make our teachers feel special.  Please use this link to sign up to help supply breakfast, lunch and gift cards to our amazing RV staff and let them know how thankful we are for the work that they do.  You can drop all donations off at the main office or at the security desk before the designated day.

Dress Code 

As the warmer weather approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our community of our school dress code.  Ralston Valley places a tremendous emphasis on academics, and we feel it is critical to keep a learning environment that promotes safety and professionalism.  We feel that dress is a form of self-expression, and know that different environments are appropriate for different types of dress.  Please remind your student to keep their attire professional while at school by following our school dress code.  For specific details or questions, you can visit our school handbook, contact the Dean, or speak to your student's grade-level Administrator.

activities

Attention Juniors and Seniors attending Prom

 We are excited to host you at Prom this Saturday, 4/29/23 at the Denver Aquarium. For those of you who have purchased your tickets and are planning on attending, below you will find information for FREE parking.

 

Your event's parking access code is 0020.

 

When you arrive to the Downtown Aquarium parking lot, please pull into either entrance lane. Once you reach the kiosk, you'll press the button on the touchscreen reading "Other Access Options", then "Access Code", then enter your four-digit code (0020). The kiosk will print a validation ticket for you, without requiring payment. Please leave this ticket in your car and proceed across the street and into the Nautilus Ballroom Entrance for your event. After your event, you'll scan your validation ticket at the exit gate kiosk, and you'll be able to leave without paying. If you accidentally end up paying, just let us know that day and we'll process your refund.


Have a great time!

Mrs. Braketa, Student Government

After Prom

Every year, the PTSA at Ralston Valley High School hosts a SAFE and FUN After-Prom party for all students who attend the RVHS Prom. This year's After-Prom Party is on April 29th, at the Apex Center (13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada) from 11:30pm - 2:00am.  


This event is 100% paid for by the PTSA and is only possible with your support. Below you will find a link to a Sign-Up Genius page for items we need the night of, as well as donation slots for prizes for the students, and a place for a donation to help cover the cost of After Prom.


We would appreciate your financial support to help make this event possible. You can make a secure donation through www.zellepay.com.  The email for our account is rvptsa@gmail.com or https://rvptsa.digitalpto.com click on “Join PTSA” & that will open the link for donating to After Prom.


If you have questions or want to help with the final details to make this night a blast for our students, email rvptsa@gmail.com


After Prom Sign Up Genius


With great gratitude,

RVHS PTSA After-Prom Committee

Day Without Hate Week

Thank you to our students and staff for their participation during DWOH Week 2023!  Students participated in a variety of activities that gave them the opportunity to show kindness and/or learn about how we can be kind to others.  Please take a look at some of the activities below: 

Deutschklub sponsored the "speak German and eat cake' party during ICE on Wednesday.

Students participating in the lunch service projects for Day Without Hate Week. Students could paint kindness rocks that will be distributed in the community, decorate a bag for Project Angel Heart or write a letter of gratitude. 

Student Voice Club at lunch making peace bracelets.

Pride Party on Monday during ICE.

Collage Concert 2023

Collage Concert is the choir department's end of the year pops concert.  It features all 5 choirs and solo songs from members of the choir department.  We celebrated the year, honored our graduating choir seniors, and also celebrated Mrs. Leah Nemeth-Nunn, our accompanist, who is retiring this year!  

Skyline Jazz Festival   

Congratulations to our Jazz Band on their Excellent Plus rating at the Skyline Jazz Festival!  They also had an amazing clinic with Dr. Williams from UNC and Clare Church.


Calling all Seniors!   RVHS PTSA is offering a scholarship opportunity for those seniors who meet the following guidelines:

A total of $3,000 will be awarded to the top applicants.  After reviewing the applications and interviewing selected applicants, the RVHS PTSA will determine the number of scholarships and the amounts to be awarded (for example, two $1,000 awards and two $500 awards OR any other combination for a total of $3,000).  To apply, please go to the RVHS PTSA Website  http://rvptsa.digitalpto.com/.

Applications are due to the front office by Friday, April 21th, 2023.  Interviews for selected finalists will be early May 2023. Announcements will be made by the end of May 2023.  If you have any questions, you may contact Scott Cochran, PTSA President, at rvptsa@gmail.com.  Good luck to all our applicants!

PTSA scholarship application and information page http://rvptsa.digitalpto.com/


Yearbooks - Mustangs, it's time to buy your yearbook if you have not already purchased one.   Yearbooks can be purchased through Infinite Campus, where you pay school fees.  We are running out of copies to sell,  so get yours before it's too late!

athletics 

Our boys swimmers won the Jeffco Invite last weekend at Meyers Pool.  In a back and forth battle with league rival Columbine, the Mustangs edged the Rebels 486-467.  First place finishes from Colby Garrison (diving) and Austin Metzler (200 and 500 free) helped power the Mustangs over a loaded Jeffco field.  They will look to ride this momentum into the League Championships May 5 and 6.


With the #4 seed in the CHSAA Team State Tennis Championships, the Mustangs opened up play on Wednesday with a 7-0 victory over #13 Chaparral.  #5 Mountain Vista will be at Ralston Valley this afternoon to take on the Mustangs in Round 2.  The winner will likely face #1 Cherry Creek in the semifinals next week.  Good luck ladies.  


GLAX dropped a close game to Dakota Ridge this past week, losing 9-8 in a great Jeffco battle.  Tomorrow, they close out their 2023 home schedule with an 11:30am matchup against Kent Denver at Trailblazer. We will honor our graduating seniors and thank them for their contributions to our program.  


Soccer had great game at #5 Valor last Friday night that ended in a 1-1 tie.  Margo Mulhern came up huge in net with several key saves to hold the high flying Eagles to only one goal.  After beating Bear Creek 10-0 on Tuesday, the Mustangs have another big Friday night match up when they take on Arvada West tonight at NAAC at 7:00pm.


Track will spend this weekend at one of the State's premier track meets at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.  The Liberty Bell is one of the last tune ups for most teams before their league and state championships.  Good luck today and tomorrow to all of our track athletes.


BLAX beat Fairview last Friday, 8-4, in good match played up in Boulder.  After dropping their Wednesday game to the Poudre School District Stars, they will look to rebound this afternoon against Mountain Range.  3:30pm is the start time out at NAAC.

 

Winners opened league play on Monday with a nail biter, beating Columbine 9-8.  In a high scoring game, the defense came up huge at the end.  Senior Ryan Myers threw from the outfield to catcher Laird Jones, resulting in the potential tying run being thrown out at home in the bottom of the seventh to end it.  Chatfield heads to Ralston Valley this afternoon and Valor will come see us tomorrow at 11:00am.  Good luck this weekend.

Congratulations to Ralston Valley alumni Brad Roberts.  Today, Brad and many of his Air Force football teammates were honored at the White House for winning the Commander in Chief Trophy.  Brad was able to present the President with an Air Force helmet as part of the ceremony.  

off campus policy

Due to the nature of our campus, we do not allow students to walk off campus during the school day.  


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


If your 10th-grade student is driving, they may leave campus with parental permission.  They are expected to follow local and state driving laws.  Please click on this FORM to give your sophomore child the ability to leave campus with your permission.  


Our campus is not closed to our 11th and 12th grade students and they may leave campus. 

 Schedule for The week of 5/1/23

Monday, May 1st - Silver Day

Tuesday, May 2nd - White Day 

Wednesday, May 3rd - Blue Day 

Thursday, May 4th - White Day 

Friday, May 5th - Blue Day

Advisement Corner

Ninth Grade Advisement

On Monday, May 1st we will begin the last month of the 2022/23 school year. For Advisement, our mentors will  lead a lesson on self-reflection and gratitude. We will focus on any staff member in the building that helped them get through their freshman year of high school and write them a thank you card. Also, students will do some self-reflecting on their first year and the growth they have made. 

Ninth Grade Advisement Attendance

As we look towards the last few sessions of Advisement this semester, we wanted to take a moment to remind you of the attendance requirement for Advisement and share with you some opportunities that students will have to make up absences.  

As communicated previously with students, they cannot miss more than four classes of Advisement to receive a passing grade.  If a student reaches five absences, excused or unexcused, they will automatically fail.  As you may remember, students will receive a pass/fail grade and receive .125 credit for a passing grade.  

To determine your student's current number of absences, please look in Parent Portal or ask your student to connect with their Advisement teacher on Monday, May 1st.  


To support students, we offer make-up sessions for 9th graders who wish to make up missed classes.  These sessions will occur in room L1101 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following dates: 


Tuesday, 5/2
Thursday, 5/4

Monday, 5/8

Wednesday, 5/10

Students do not need to RSVP and can simply show up to the sessions.  If students have any questions, they can connect with Mr. Ackerman, Assistant Principal, in person or via email (mike.ackerman@jeffco.k12.co.us). 

Thank you for your continued support of Ralston Valley's mission and vision and our desire to support the whole child.  

Counseling Department

Senior Survey - Mandatory for All Seniors

Jeffco requires all seniors to take the "Jeffco Senior Exit Survey" in Naviance.  Part of the survey includes indicating to which college a student's final transcript should be sent.  The survey is on the student's Naviance home page under "Important To-Dos and Tasks".  The completion deadline is Tuesday, May 9.  Instructions are also listed in the Class of 2023 Graduation Checklist.  Seniors should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions.     

Mustang Mentor Program Applications

We are looking for current sophomores and juniors who want to build their leadership skills and support younger students.  Applications are now available for 10th and 11th graders who are interested in being a Mustang Mentor next year.  The deadline to apply is Friday, April 28.  

Outdoor Lab Leader Interest Form

Interested in being an Outdoor Lab Leader next year?  Leaders get free meals and lodging for a week in the mountains while gaining valuble experience teaching and leading 6th graders.  Leaders can earn 0.5 elective credit or 85 hours of community service.  Click here to access the Interest Form and for more information.   

Jeffco Summer School

If your students needs to recover credit for a failed class(es), Jeffco has multiple summer school options.  Click here for more information and links to each program.  If you have questions about your student's credits, please reach out to your student's counselor.

How to Talk to Your Teen About Mental Health

This resource has been highlighted before, but we think it's worth bringing up again.  Robbie's Hope created an Adult Handbook entitled "A Guide by Teens on How to Talk to Teens."  It offers detailed instructions about initiating, navigating, and closing a conversation about mental health, as well as things to avoid.   

Hazel Health

Jeffco has partnered with Hazel Health, a free virtual mental health support with licensed therapists.  If your student needs to talk to someone about anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem, academic stress, dealing with change, bullying, or other issues, you can find more information about how to connect with Hazel Health here.

AP Testing

AP Testing will run from May 1 - May 12.  All updated information including dates, times, locations and preparation tips are accessible via our website.  Please contact Scott Merkel (AP Test Coordinator) via email at scott.merkel@jeffco.k12.co.us with any questions or concerns.  

Scholarships for Seniors

For our most up-to-date scholarship list, please visit the Upcoming Private Scholarships page.  Here are a few highlighted, local scholarships: 

Rotary Club of Arvada Vocational Grant due April 28, 2023

Rotary Club of Arvada Academic Scholarship due April 28, 2023

Peck Elementary PTA Scholarship due May 5, 2023

Lisa Nelson Memorial Scholarship due May 8, 2023

Free Car Care and Safety Clinic

DriveSafe Driving Schools are offering free one-hour hands-on car care clinics that include how to check the oil and change a tire.  They will also learn about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving.  For more information and to register, click here.

Date: Friday, April 28, 20203

Times: 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. (clinics last one hour)

Place: Van Arsdale Elementary School parking lot 

ralston valley happenings

Engineering Students Honored at Ceremony at Colorado School of Mines

Congratulations to Sophomore Audrey Merecki, Senior Ava Shokouhi, and Senior Willow Ayers. They recently received the Aspirations in Computing Award from the National Center for Women in Technology. They were chosen from over 3500 applicants from all over the world for their academic excellence, leadership, and future goals in computing and technology.

Way to go, Mustangs!

National German Honor Society Induction

On Thursday, April 27th,  eleven German students were honored for their high performance in the National German Examinations and three students, Kai Buergisser, Carter Morrison and Zoe Zoll (in absentia) were inducted into the National German Honors Society, Delta Epsilon Phi.  12th grade members also received their honor cords.

French Students  Judge the Best Baguette in Arvada

Using as a guide the Grand Prix de la Baguette done each year in Paris to choose the city's best baguette, we did our our Grand Prix d'Arvada. Students brought in baguettes from different places in Arvada and we followed the French guidelines which included look, texture, smell, honeycombed aspect and taste. The winner? King Soopers!  They also made tartines, a traditional French snack.

Administration

Calendar

Important Links