December 16, 2022 EDition

As the first semester winds down, I would like to express my appreciation for all who contribute each and every day to support our community. 


I would like to begin by recognizing and thanking the RV faculty, staff, coaches, activity, and club sponsors. Thank you for the hundreds of hours you have put in to guide, mentor, and provide opportunities for our students to ensure that they are successful, and have a sense of belonging within the RV community. Thank you! 


I would also like to thank our students. Balancing your studies, activities, sports, and social life keeps your plates full. Yet, you always find time to support our community. From organizing toy drives to donating to our local high schools' food banks, your commitment to our community is endless. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated. Thank you! 


Finally, I would like to thank our families. Ralston Valley would not be as successful without your support. Your partnership is invaluable. Your time, efforts, and unwavering commitment to our school community are essential to enhancing our culture and student success. Thank you! 


Please enjoy the holiday season and stay safe!


Mica Buenning, Principal

Lost and Found

Please be aware that the remaining lost and found items will be donated to the Goodwill on December 20th. We encourage all students who might be missing hoodies, jackets, or water bottles to look through lost and found by December 19th.  Thank you!

Student Parking Lot 

Students have brought to our attention that their cars are being physically blocked by adults who are sitting in their own cars waiting to pick up students after school. Students reported that when they asked the adults to move their cars, it became confrontational. 


Our number one concern is student safety, therefore we have asked both our security team and Arvada PD to help monitor our parking lot. While waiting for your students, please do not block in parked cars. Please find an open (legal) spot and park.


Students have been asked to be considerate and drive safely not only in our parking lot but through the neighborhoods as well. We are also asking you to please model considerate parking lot etiquette for our students. We must all work together to ensure we are safe! 


Thank you!

Student Parking Passes

Parking passes will be for sale again beginning January 6.  If students have not already purchased a 2022-2023 parking pass and wish to, they will be sold from Jan. 6- Jan. 31.  Please follow these steps to ensure a parking pass is purchased before they sell out.


*Students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch should visit the finance office before completing any of the above steps. 

*Parking passes will be enforced beginning Feb. 1st.

*Please contact Jill Kline with any questions.

activities

Thank You PTSA!

What a wonderful way to start our morning. Huge thank you to PTSA for providing such a wonderful breakfast this morning for our staff on the first day of finals!  We appreciate you so much!  

Winter Choir Concert

Congratulations to our choir musicians on two wonderful concerts this past week!  The audience was able to hear all ensembles perform and even included RVHS Alumni joining in the singing of Peace Peace while our seniors sang Silent Night. 

A Message from RV PTSA

Ralston Valley would like to honor their teachers this holiday and finals season.  We would like to provide gift cards for teachers at their luncheon on 12/20.  Please review the sign up and contribute as you can.  Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054BA4AA2BA20-celebrate 

Make-A-Wish

Student Government is excited to announce Wish Week 2023: January 20th -27th. Please see the community letter below which outlines opportunities for our community to enhance the fundraising efforts through business and silent auction donations. More information will follow after Winter Break. 

Community Letter 

NHS - Supporting our Community

Shout out to our National Honor Society for a very successful food drive for Arvada High School, donations were collected from RV students and will be distributed for winter break, great job!

Thank You Student Government for Supporting our Staff 

On Wednesday, Student Government members took time to hand deliver coffee to our exceptional staff all across the building as they hosted  Zado Coffee Co. They also showed off their baking skills by bringing in homemade treats as a way to spread some holiday cheer! 

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America

FCCLA held their holiday social and December community service project this week.  With the generous donations from the RV community and FCCLA members, we were able to stuff over 250 socks with granola bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand warmers to be donated to Socks of Love which will be distributed to the homeless this winter.  Thank you so much for all your donations, we could not have done it without the help of the community! 

athletics 

Congratulation to our Dance Team on their 8th place finish at last weekend's State CHSAA Spirit Championships.  Their hard work paid off with a great routine.  They were right in the mix to make it to finals.  Next up, UDA Nationals in Florida.


Cheerleading also completed their season strong with a finish just outside of the top ten.  They continued to improve all season and are looking forward to their trip to Florida for Nationals next month.


Wrestling beat a tough Broomfield team last night in their home opener.  The final team score was 44-34.  There was a lot of great wrestling by both teams.  The highlight of the night was when Freshman heavy weight Austin Blattner pinned the state's #3 heavyweight from Broomfield in the first period.  


Girl's Basketball improved to 5-2 on the season.  Coming off of a third-place finish at the Fairview Tournament last weekend, they knocked off Legacy on Tuesday 59-47.


Ice Hockey went 2-1 last week with wins over Fort Collins on Friday and Mountain Vista on Saturday.  They fell to the defending state champions Denver East on Monday in a big time matchup of high powered teams.  They look to get back on track tomorrow night when they play Cherry Creek on the road.


Boys Basketball finished 3-0 in the Ralston Round Up to take first place.  They had wins over Douglas County, Cherry Creek, and Legacy to take the crown.  Tonight, they take on the defending champions from Thunder Ridge at 7:00 here at home.  

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 12/19/22

Monday, Dec. 19th - Blue Day Finals, regular bell schedule

Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Make up finals by appointment only

Winter Break - December 21st - January 4th

Thursday, Jan. 5th - White Day - Students Return to School 

Friday, Jan. 6th - Blue day

Advisement Corner

Ninth Grade Advisement

Thank you to all of our 9th Grade Advisement classes and beyond for making our Annual Toy Drive a huge success! Because of such a generous community, we were able to donate over 200 toys to Children’s Hospital and Jeffco Head Start!  

Counseling Department

Schedule Release

Second semester schedules were released and available for viewing in the Parent Portal yesterday (December 15).  Parents were notified via School Messenger and the notification also included the process for paying fees and the dates/times for the Schedule Placement Review Process.    

Transition to College Student Panel

Recent RVHS alums are returning to RV to provide information and perspectives around their transition to college.  The panel will be focused towards seniors, but all students are invited to attend.  If your student would like to attend, please have them complete the RSVP form.

Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Time: 8:00 a.m. (during ICE)

Place: RVHS Auditorium

"I Matter" Free Counseling Sessions

The Colorado Department of Human Services has established a temporary behavioral health services programs to provide access to mental health services.  I Matter can provide up to six free virtual counseling sessions that are completely confidential.  The serivce is offered to youth 18 years of age and younger and is funded through at least June 30, 2023.  For more information and to schedule a session, click here.

ralston valley happenings

Child Development Students Get Real World Experience

This week Child Development studied the importance of Sensory Play with toddlers with a special guest teacher! Morgan Parker is an RVHS alum and is the director of The Academy Early Childhood Education Center in Arvada.  Morgan led the class in five different sensory play activities and discussed the importance of sensory play and how it aids toddler development.  She also invited our class to The Academy on a field trip where she gave us a tour of the facility, discussed career pathways in Early Childhood, and gave the students the opportunity to observe and work in the classrooms with the kiddos.

The RV students loved being able to apply their learning and observe everything we had learned in class this semester with a real-world, hands-on experience!  

World Language Caroling

The main office staff was treated to an impromptu performance of holiday songs, "en francais" from Madame Leslie's French III students.

National Art Honor Society

After creating by hand 50 holiday cards for Project Angel Heart (an organization that prepares and delivers meals for homebound patients living with severe illnesses), the National Art Honor Society students participated in an "Ugly Sweater Cookie" decorating contest.  All were winners in our book, but students had a great time competing in categories such as the "Most Beautiful/Creative Sweater" and the highly coveted sweater design-"Biggest Disaster."

Spirit (Pajama) Day at RVHS 

Ms. Penn and Mrs. Rosenthal, donning their festive pajamas for spirit day!

Science Department Holiday Spirit

Here are some "Chemistry Carols", performed by Ms. Martin's students.

ChemistryCarols 2022

Physics Students celebrated Isaac Newton’s birthday by singing Happy Birthday, having Fig Newtons (Newton Cake!), and listening to the story, “Twas the Night Before Newton” in class. Then they visited other science classes, spreading Newton's cheer with classic carols like “Oh Newton Tree,” “Phrosty the Photon,” and “Feliz Velocidad.” 

Physics Caroling.mov

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