January 20, 2023 EDition
JUNIORS- SAT Essay Opt In
Students who wish to take the optional essay for SAT must register in advance. The essay registration window is January 17- Februray 16. This will be the only opportunity for students who wish to take the optional essay to add it to their April school day test registration. Interested students should register either through their online College Board account or by calling the College Board at 866-917-9030 option 2. Click here for more information about optional essay.
We'd Like Your Input - Jeffco Website Redesign
Jeffco is redesigning the district website (jeffcopublicschools.org) and changes will be coming to school websites too. Use the links below to let us know what you like and what you'd like to see so we can make our websites the best resources possible for our students and families.
Community Feedback Survey (available in English and Spanish)
activities
Make-A-Wish Week is HERE!
Our 12th annual Make-A-Wish Fundraising Week starts tonight with our annual student volleyball tournament, following the Girl's Basketball game vs. Valor Christian. Starting next week, activities like Teacher Pie Roulette, the Wing Eating Contest, and Pie the Prez and Administrator will get going! Check out the RVHS Make-A-Wish Website, Spirit Calendar, and amazing Silent Auction below to learn more about the week! This truly is one of the highlights of the school year!
Thrift for Wishes
In honor of Make-A-Wish 2023, Ralston Valley is hosting our first annual thrift store and clothing drive, Thrift for Wishes. Clothing drive items will be accepted until January 20th! Bring any lightly worn clothes, jackets, accessories, etc. to your student’s math classroom, check the acceptable items list for details. The Thrift for Wishes thrift store will be open during the basketball games on Wednesday, January 25th, starting at 4:00 pm. All clothing not purchased will be donated to Goodwill. Thank you for your support!
Student Government is getting ready for Make-A-Wish 2023! They are decorating the lobby for Sawyer, our Wish Kid, with lots of bright rainbow colors and transforming our Mustang into a Unicorn.
athletics
Thank you to all of the students, parents, and community that came out to last Friday's basketball doubleheader at the Mustang Range. Ralston Valley took on Arvada West in both girls and boys basketball in front nearly of 2,500 energetic fans. The girls got the night started right when Finley Timon dropped a deep three with 12 seconds to go to give the Mustang's the win 36-35. The boys followed suit with the girls and rolled to a 17 point victory 59-42.
Ralston Valley Wrestling hosted Bear Creek on Thursday. The Mustangs scored 59 points in the duel! Eight pins and a tech fall powered the Mustangs to the win over their Jeffco rival. Good luck at this weekend's Top of the Rockies Tournament.
Hockey beat Castle View last night 4-1 to kick off three straight nights of games for them. Tonight they host Cheery Creek at APEX. The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. Tomorrow afternoon they travel to Denver East for a 3:45 p.m. match-up with the defending State Champs.
Swim and Dive will spend this weekend competing in the Jeffco Invite at Meyer's Pool. The team is making its final push for a league title. It is expected to be close between Ralston Valley, Valor, and Columbine. This is a preview of the League Championships that will take place the first week of February.
Sports Registration is now open for all Spring Sports. Registration for Boys Swim and Dive is due by 3:00 p.m. on 2/17. All other Spring sports registrations are due by 3:00 p.m. on 2/24. Your student will need to have had a physical within the last 365 days to register. The online registration must be completed prior to your student being allowed to participate in practices and tryouts. Spring Sports include:
Boys and Girls Lacrosse
Boys and Girls Track and Field
Baseball
Girls Golf
Girls Soccer
Girls Tennis
Boys Swimming and Diving
You can access the online registration portal by either going to the Athletics page on the Ralston Valley Homepage or click HERE.
The Mini Mustangs Cheerleading Camp is coming up on January 24th and 26th with a performance on January 27th. The $60 registration fee includes a t-shirt, hair bow, sparkly poms, picture with your favorite cheerleader, group photo, and snacks. Please click on the link below to register. Late registration deadline is January 23rd.
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 1/23/23
Monday, Jan. 23rd - Silver Day
Tuesday, Jan. 24th - White Day
Wednesday, Jan. 25th - Blue Day
Thursday, Jan. 26th - White Day
Friday, Jan. 27th - Blue day
Thursday, January 26th will be our Make-a-Wish Assembly so we will have a modified schedule:
I.C.E.: 7:25am-7:55am
Block 2: Class & Assembly - 8:00am-10:50am
Block 4: Lunch A: 11:00-11:30 Class A: 11:35-1:15
Class B: 11:00-12:40 Lunch B: 12:45-1:15
Block 6: 1:25 – 3:00
Advisement Corner
Ninth Grade Advisement
Monday, January 23rd in Advisement our counselors will be coming into the classrooms to do quick check-ins with the 9th grade students. We also will continue to learn about Executive Functioning Skills, a group of important skills that may include the following:
Paying attention
Organizing and planning
Starting tasks and staying focused on them
Managing emotions
Keeping track of what you are doing
Counseling Department
Upcoming College Visits
Representatives from the following colleges will in the RVHS Counseling Office on these dates and times:
Grand Canyon University, Traditional Campus - Tuesday, Jan 31st 11:30 a.m.
Scholarships for Seniors
We have updated our "How to find scholarships" guide for 2023. If your student is a senior looking for scholarships, this document is the best place for them to start. Seniors received an email this week with this guide and an update on upcoming private local scholarships, a FAFSA step-by-step guide, and a Colorado Scholarship directory.
Girls Lead the Way STEM Conference
Girls Lead the Way - STEM & Leadership Conference for High School Girls is designed for young women in grades 9-12 interested in being a leader in STEM. Participants will engage in a day-long, interactive, lab and classroom-based conference hosted by the Society of Women Engineers - Mines Collegiate Section.
Date: Saturday, February 4, 2023
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Colorado School of Mines, Green Center
Register: click here
"I Matter" Free Counseling Sessions
The Colorado Department of Human Services has established a temporary behavioral health services program to provide access to mental health services. I Matter can provide up to six free virtual counseling sessions that are completely confidential. The service 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
Ralston Valley Artists Win Colorado Scholastic Art Awards
Congratulations to the following Colorado Scholastic Art Award winners with work on exhibit from February 1st - March 7th at the Denver Art Museum and 40 West Gallery:
Ethan Card - Honorable Mention in Drawing
Elizabeth White - Honorable Mention in Drawing
Emma Francis - (2) Silver Keys in Jewelry
Two artists will move forward to compete nationally with Gold Key awards:
Cherisse Cassell - Gold Key in Ceramics
Zayne Yeager - Gold Key in Painting
Below is some of their amazing work.
Honorable Mention: Drawing, Elizabeth White
Gold Key: Ceramics, Cherisse Cassell
Silver Key: Jewelry, Emma Francis
Honorable Mention: Drawing, Ethan Card
Gold Key: Painting, Zayne Yeager
Silver Key: Jewelry, Emma Francis
College Panel with RV Alumni
The Counseling Department hosted a College Panel where they invited RV alumni who are currently in college back to talk about their experience in college thus far. They discussed details about what college is like, how to prepare, what to expect academically, living situation dynamics, and more. The panelists answered questions from the audience and afterwards answered students' individual questions. It was great to see current and graduated Mustangs all in the same place.
German Students Travel to Estes Park
Ms. Blum accompanied eight of her German students to a weekend retreat of language immersion in beautiful Estes Park.
AP Statistics Analyze Proportion Data
In Advanced Placement Statistics class, students worked with candy as manipulatives, to analyze the differences in proportions of orange Skittles and M&Ms for a sampling distribution lesson.
Escape Room Challenge in AP Computer Science Principles
Mr. Jonson's Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles class solve puzzles and find clues for an Escape Room Challenge, to learn about Cryptography and Cyber Security.
Algebra 2 Uses, Not Loses, Their Marbles
In Mr. Cengia's Algebra 2 class, students measure the roll time of marbles in order to approximate square root functions with their nSpire calculators.
U.S Government Classes Build Models of the Types of Government
Ms. Dean's U.S. Government students reviewed the types of government by building representative structures out of toothpicks and tape. Each group was assigned a form of government and had to act accordingly.
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.
Submit the 2022-2023 parking application
Within two business days of application completion, the prorated parking fee will be added to the fees account in Parent Portal- pay all fees. Link to Pay Fees . New class fees have been added for second semester, please log in and pay your student's fees.
Once the parking fee AND all other fees and fines have been paid, a parking pass will be delivered to one of the student’s classes within two school days.
*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.
Administration
Principal - Ms. Buenning, (303) 982-5600
9th Asst Principal - Ms. Abrams, (303) 982-9463
10th Asst Principal - Mr. Ackerman, (303) 982-5595
11th Asst Principal - Ms. Kline, (303) 982-9378
12th Asst Principal - Mr. Litzau, (303) 982-5611
Athletics Director - Mr. Pergola, (303) 982-5604
Dean - Mrs. Nigut, (303) 982-5101