RVHS NEWSLETTER - Jan. 31, 2025

JAnuary 31, 2025 EDition

Mustangs Madness Spirit Sale

Looking to update your gear for the spring? Or, welcome your new Mustang with some Ralston Valley clothing before next school year? Now is your chance to order the latest Ralston Valley swag during our spring sale. Click on the link below to browse the online store. The deadline for orders is February 10th and gear will be delivered to the school on March 4th.

Online Store

Sponsor Partnerships

Advertise your business with us! We have digital and static signage options available within a variety of sponsorship packages on our new video board in the gym. Your business logo will be displayed digitally during our home athletic contests and other events in the gym for the community and guests to see. Please reach out to Mike Ackerman or Tony Pergola for more information.

Pre-Arranged Absences

In accordance with district policy, absences of one or more days require a Pre-Arranged Absence Form . Criteria for approved absences are listed on the form, and printed copies are available in the attendance office.

Parking Information

Any student who wishes to park their vehicle in the RVHS student parking lots must have a parking tag. All school registration requirements must be met before obtaining a parking tag, including any fees and fines paid.

All 11th and 12th graders who have already purchased a parking tag for the main student lot can pick it up in the Finance Office. Tickets will be issued for those who do not have the appropriate parking tag. If there are no parking spaces available when they arrive, they should park in the overflow lot off of Alkire St. They cannot park illegally.

Sophomores with a parking tag, please be reminded that you cannot park in the senior/junior lot, you must only park in the North Lot off of Alkire St.

All students who park illegally or in the incorrect lot will be ticketed. Tickets must be paid in a timely manner so students can retain their parking tag.

At this time, we are sold out of parking tags for all student lots. If we are able to offer more tags, we will include that information in a future newsletter.

All concerns regarding parking passes should be addressed with campus supervisors.

Drop Off and Pick Up

It is a great time to remind everyone to be thoughtful of our neighbors and student body during drop off and pick up. We must keep the right of way clear for emergency vehicles and through traffic. With only one road to enter and exit a building this size, with this many people, the roads at the school will always be congested. There are a few things we can do as a Ralston Valley community to help make these busy times of day run as smoothly as possible.

Main Entrance - Dismissal is at 3:30 p.m. and we ask that you do not arrive to pick up your student and park in the loop before 3:00 p.m. Please be sure to pull as far forward as you can in the loop at the front of the school when dropping off or picking up your student. This helps to alleviate backups in the roundabout and get as many cars off of 80th Ave. as quickly as possible. Also, please pick up your student on the outside of the loop, not the inside. We do not want students passing in between cars as this is not safe.

Student Parking Lot - To keep our students safe, please do not park in our student parking lot while you wait to pick up your student(s) after school.

Roundabout - The roundabout is part of the road. Please do not park in the roundabout while waiting for dismissal time. This blocks the flow of eastbound traffic and prevents traffic exiting to the east from leaving campus as well. Please do not stop and pick up your student in the roundabout or on 80th Ave.

Fire Station - As traffic backs up on southbound Alkire, please be sure to leave room for our first responders to exit the firehouse safely and without obstruction. Do not block the exit of their garage.

82nd Ave. - Please pay attention to posted road signs along 82nd Ave. There are multiple speedbumps on 82nd Ave., making it necessary to go the speed limit or slower to ensure safe driving and prevent damage to your vehicle. There are also multiple No Parking signs along 82nd Ave. next to the school's property. Please do not park there to pick up your student. Finally, and most importantly, please do not park across the street and ask for your student to run across 80th Ave. to be picked up. This is highly dangerous!

Thank you for your continued diligence when driving in and around Ralston Valley.

Testing Center Hour Changes

The testing center has new hours. Here are the new hours:

Tuesday: Open ICE (8:15 AM - 9:55 AM)

Wednesday: Open all day (8:15 AM - 3:30 PM)

Thursday: Open all day (8:15 AM - 3:30 PM)

Friday: Open 7th block (1:55 PM - 3:30 PM)

ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT & TUTORIAL CLASS

Earlier this week, courses titled 'Tutorial' were added to student schedules. Students and families will notice that a section of Tutorial for each of their teachers has been added to the I.C.E. section of their schedule.

Beginning Tuesday, February 4, students earning a D or an F in a course at the time that teachers submit grades are required to attend I.C.E. for additional academic support. The Tutorial class is a placeholder course and is used to track attendance for those students who are required to attend I.C.E.

The expectations of I.C.E are:

Attendance in I.C.E. will be mandatory for ALL students with a D or F in any of their classes.
Parents will receive a phone call notifying them that their student’s attendance is required in I.C.E. during the segmented portion dedicated to the class in which they have a D or an F.
Students earning an A, B, or C are still encouraged to attend I.C.E. for additional support; however, the segmented portion of I.C.E. will be dedicated to improving the learning of students who are currently earning a D or an F.

The schedule for I.C.E. can be found by clicking here.

SENIOR BULLETIN

The latest edition of the Senior Bulletin was sent to households of seniors earlier this week. Be sure to check your inbox for detailed information related to the following:

Graduation Website
Senior Signs: Click here for additional details and to order by March 24. NOTE: Proceeds benefit RVHS After Prom.
Senior Panoramic Picture: Tuesday, February 18. Preorder here.
Save The Date: Parent Graduation Meeting: Wednesday, April 9.

activities

Band and Orchestra Festivals

We are very proud of our Mustang musicians who represented RV in Honor Band and Orchestra!

NHS Accepting Applications

The Ralston Valley Chapter of the National Honor Society is now accepting applications for membership! Students must be in 10th or 11th grade and have a 3.6 or higher GPA to apply.

Invitations to apply have been delivered to eligible Sophomores in their Science classes. If you are a Junior with a GPA of 3.6+, please pick up an application from Mrs. Reid or Mrs. Rosenthal in the science office.

Applications close at 3:40pm on Friday, February 28th.

Join NHS students for study hall! We meet every Wednesday in the library from 3:30 - 4:30. Free tutoring is also available.

Jeffcon

Jeffcon is a Student Technology Conference for high school students to explore Information Technology pathways and career opportunities. This one-day, interactive conference allows students to learn about various IT roles from experienced Jeffco staff and industry professionals, and explore various career paths in the field of IT. Interested students can register to attend here. This event is sponsored by Jeffco IT, and students must provide their own transportation. Visit the event website at https://jeffcon.net to learn more. A list of students who register & attend (make sure you check in at the conference) will be shared with RVHS to excuse absences for those who attend. See Mrs. Jonson in the library with questions.

When: Friday, February 7, 2025

Where: Bear Creek High School

Who: Open to all Jeffco High School students grades 9-12

athletics

Basketball - The boys are 15-0 for the first time in school history and ranked #1 in the Max Preps Rankings. Ralston Valley's boys basketball is flying high and making noise in the Colorado basketball landscape. Their wire-to-wire 78-50 victory over previously ranked #7 ThunderRidge last Saturday showed off the team's chemistry and skill. The #14 girls continue to look strong. They beat Lakewood last Friday 58-34 and then hit the road to take down Evergreen 72-39 on Tuesday. Eight different Mustangs scored in Tuesday's game, with three of the girls finishing with double-digit points.

The home games this week for both teams are sure to be good ones. The entire Arvada community will pack the house at Ralston Valley for the Girls/Boys double-header against Arvada West on Saturday. The girls kick things off at 1:30 and the boys follow it up at 3:00. Come out in support of the Arvada community at what is sure to be a great couple of games.

Buy your tickets ahead to save yourself a ton of time at entry. Spectators with pre-purchased tickets and students with activity passes should enter at the west end of the gym. If you plan to pay at the gate, please be patient, and enter through the gym's main entrance.

Girls Swim and Dive - It's a huge weekend for the girls at the Arvada Aquatics Center. Prelims today at 2:30 and finals Saturday at 2:30, to see who brings home the 2025 5A Jeffco League Championship. Ralston Valley and Valor have battled neck and neck all year. Should be an exciting finish on Saturday.

Hockey - The Hockey team has won six of their last seven, including knocking off # 2 Monarch, and in the process have vaulted to #8 in the CHSAA seeding index with four games to play. They will play Heritage tonight at APEX when they celebrate Senior Night against #6 Heritage. They will turn around and play #7 Denver East on the road on Saturday. Big weekend for the boys. Good luck Mustangs.

Wrestling - Our grapplers took down Cheyenne Mountain on Tuesday night to close out their home campaign for the year. The 59-18 win had the Mustangs in complete control all night long. Tonight is their League Championship meet at Lakewood. They'll then spend all day Saturday competing in a tournament at Eaton HS.

Ticketing has moved to GoFan for all Jeffco-hosted events. - Ticket sales to all Jeffco events are now available through GoFan. Cash is no longer accepted at the gates for admittance. You are encouraged to download the GoFan App to help you purchase tickets ahead of time for all home events. This will save you a ton of time at the gate. You can also purchase multiple tickets that are good for the rest of the school year by purchasing a punch pass. Punch passes are good for all Jeffco events, and will save you some money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the new online ticketing system.

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 parents/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

Monday, Feb. 3 - Silver Day
Tuesday, Feb. 4 - White Day
Wednesday, Feb. 5 - Blue Day
Thursday, Feb. 6 - White Day
Friday, Feb. 7 - Blue Day

Counseling Department

RVHS College Admissions Night for the Class of 2026

Designed for current juniors and their parents, this is the annual kickoff to the college search and application process. The RV counselors will provide guidance for each stage of the process, including how to make the most of a campus visit, build a college list, create a compelling application, fund your education, and how RV supports the process. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.

Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: RVHS Auditorium

Upcoming College Visits

Representatives from the following colleges will be in the RVHS Counseling Office on these dates and times:

Fort Lewis College - Tuesday, Feb. 4 - 8:15 a.m.

Northern Arizona University - Wednesday, Feb. 5 - 1:30 p.m.

University of Wyoming - Thursday, Feb. 13 - 9:00 a.m.

Colorado Mesa University - Thursday, Feb. 13 - 11:45 a.m.

Panorama SEL Survey Opt Out

RVHS will give students the Panorama Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Student Survey on February 19. If you would like to learn more about the survey and/or opt your student out of participation, click here for more information.

Workshop: Navigating Social Media & Mental Health at Home

Jeffco Public Schools and Children's Hospital Colorado are hosting a virtual workshop that will explore the potential effects and signs of concern around social media use. Families that attend will receive a template for developing a social media plan with their youth. Click here for more information and to register.

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Volunteer Opportunity at Standley Lake Library

Standley Lake Library is hosting a drop-in volunteer day for students aged 12-18 on Wednesday, February 12 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Students are not required to sign up ahead of time. If your student cannot volunteer on that date but would like to volunteer at another Jeffco library branch, click here for a flier of other dates and times.

Jefferson County Counselor Association Scholarship

The Jefferson County Counselor Association (JCCA) is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for a graduating senior. Students must have a 2.5 GPA or above and be willing to share a story of how a school counselor positively impacted them while in school. Click here for the application. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.

Manning Scholarship

Manning Middle School is offering a $500 scholarship to graduating seniors who attended Manning for 7th and 8th grades. The scholarship can be used at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. Click here for more information. Applications are available in the counseling office and the deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.

West Woods Elementary PTSA Scholarship

West Woods Elementary PTSA is offering three $500 scholarships to graduating seniors who attended West Woods for two years or more. The scholarship is to be used towards tuition or educational needs at any college or trade school. Click here for more information and the application. The deadline to apply is March 30, 2025.

Hazel Health

Mental, social, and emotional wellness of students is a priority that we share with our community and one that we are addressing with layers of support including school counselors, social-emotional learning specialists, school psychologists, social workers along with partnerships with outside agencies like Hazel Health.

This year, we continue our partnership with Hazel Health’s Telehealth services to provide a free telehealth extension of mental and physical health support for Jeffco students enrolled at district-managed schools.

Parents/guardians may access these services on behalf of your student by visiting this webpage and following the instructions under "Steps to Access Care"

Advisement Corner

Advisement

Next week in 9th grade Advisement classes, the administration team will teach a lesson about bullying and harassment. In 10th grade Advisement, Peer Counselors will join the class to do a presentation on the Bright Spots of Ralston Valley. Students will focus on gratitude and write letters to reflect on things in their lives for which they are grateful.

Please click HERE to access the course syllabus for Advisement which explains the purpose, key components, and expectations, including grading and attendance.

Reminder - If your student has Advisement on Thursday mornings, it will be from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m. before the start of I.C.E.

Ralston Valley Happenings

Conceptual Chemistry Experiments Using Food

Students in Ms. Penn's class are determining the calorie content of various foods by burning the food under a can of water. They then calculate the rise in temperature of the water and use that to determine the calorie content.

In Ms. Geinitz's and Ms. Martin's Chemistry classes, students did a fun lab experiment that evaluated limiting and excess reagents in chemistry, all while making s'mores!

AP Psychology Studies Motivation

Ms. Berry's Advanced Placement Psychology class did a marshmallow challenge! Students worked to see who could build the highest tower and applied theories of motivation to their efforts.

SSN Basketball Match-Up

Our Significant Special Needs class participated in a basketball tournament against Pomona in Unified P.E. class. They were coached and mentored by the Mustang basketball team, and a great time was had by everyone!

The SSN classroom is collecting eyeglasses to donate to countries in need of medical supplies and support.

World Languages Roundup

Spanish I students are working on a foods unit. They made licuados, a common snack in Latin America, consisting of fresh fruit, milk, and ice.

Madame Leslie's French IV students try mint tea, served Morrocan style, as they study countries in French-speaking Africa.

Frau Blum and eight Mustang German students spent time in beautiful Estes Park for German language immersion with other schools from around Colorado. All activities were connected to the theme of German music.

Administration

Principal - Ms. Buenning, (303) 982-5600
9th Asst Principal - Ms. Young, (303) 982-5713
10th Asst Principal - Ms. Abrams, (303) 982-9463
11th Asst Principal - Mr. Ackerman (303) 982-5595
12th Asst Principal - Mr. Litzau, (303) 982-5611
Athletics Director - Mr. Pergola, (303) 982-5604
Dean - Mr. Duplice, (303) 982-8274

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