FEBRUARY 2, 2024 EDition

Parent Teacher Conferences


Parent Teacher Conferences will be Tuesday, February 13th from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to connect with your students' teachers. All teachers will be in the main gym and the small gym.  Please make every effort to keep your conferences to 5 minutes.  If you have topics that you would like to discuss that will need more time, feel free to schedule a follow-up appointment. 


Please use the link below


https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054BA4AA2BA20-47719531-teacher#/





Join us at Summit Jeffco: Empowering RV Families for Student Success!

We encourage you to attend this event that promises to empower and equip you with valuable insights to support your student's educational journey. Join us at Summit Jeffco hosted by Jeffco Public Schools on Saturday, March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Summit Ridge Middle School.

Summit Jeffco is a unique gathering where families can connect with district and school staff, as well as experts in various fields, to explore important topics that impact our students. Discover how you can play an active role in improving your student's educational experience and foster their growth.


Summit Jeffco Event Details:

Date: Saturday, Mar 2, 2024

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Summit Ridge Middle School

Learn More & Register 

 The Panorama Family Survey offers an opportunity for parents, guardians, and families to provide feedback on barriers to engagement, school climate, school fit, school safety, and Jeffco's Strategic Plan.  The Panorama Family Survey can be accessed here 

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 accessed at home with a parent/guardian. 

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

Lunar New Year Taste Test in the Cafeteria

Join Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) for a taste test during lunch on Wednesday, February 7th! In celebration of Lunar New Year, they will be partnering with Schwan’s Foodservice to offer samples of Vegetable Fried Rice and Chicken and Vegetable Egg Rolls. Provide your feedback and let FNS know if you’d like to see these items on the menu next year!

Drop off and pick up

It is a great time to remind everyone to be thoughtful of our neighbors 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 - 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.  

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.

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

activities 

Yearbook Orders 

Last chance to guarantee a copy of this year's yearbook! Capture the special moments and celebrate the memories of the year. Order today through the Jeffco Student Fee Payment system. 

athletics 

Spring Sports Registration is Now Open

Spring sports registration is now open for the following sports: Baseball, Girls Golf, Boys & Girls Lacrosse, Girls Soccer, Boys Swim & Dive, Girls Tennis, and Track.


Deadline:

Swim & Dive, and Golf - Feb 16 @ 3:00

All Other Spring Sports - Feb 23 @ 3:00


Please visit the RV Athletics website to register.  You must have a valid athletic physical to register.


Registration Website: Spring Sports Registration


Wrestling

Wrestling capped off an undefeated home dual schedule Thursday night by beating Fairview 50-33.  Last weekend the Mustangs finished 3rd at the 5A Jeffco Championships.  Congratulations to Carter Coorough and Lincoln Gregerson for their first-place finishes and First Team All-Conference designations.  Next up: Regionals at Legend HS next weekend.  

Swimming and Diving

After correcting the scoring of the Jeffco Invite, our swimmers and divers took home 1st place at the Jeffco Invite.  This puts them in a great position heading into tonight's Jeffco 5A League Championships.  The Mustangs are hoping to bring home the League Title.  Finals start at 4:30 at Meyer's Pool.  Next week is State.  Good luck to all of our qualifiers.

Girls Basketball

The Mustangs bounced back after last Friday's home loss to Valor with a nice road win over Columbine on Wednesday night 64-59.  That win moves Ralston Valley into 2nd place in 5A Jeffco.  The Mustangs can take a huge step towards controlling that spot with a win next Monday at Arvada West.

Boys Basketball

Ralston Valley beat Bear Creek on Wednesday night 71-34, avenging last year's losses to the Bears.  They take on Arvada West tomorrow night at Arvada West.  A win on Saturday night will set up a 5A Jeffco League Championship game against Valor on Wednesday at the Mustang Range.

Hockey

After tough losses to Poudre and Denver East, the Mustangs will welcome Resurrection Christian to the APEX Center tonight at 8:00 p.m.  The Mustangs are looking to pick up the win to spark them for the last two weeks of the regular season.

National Letter of Intent Day - February 7th

Ralston Valley is looking forward to celebrating all of our student-athletes who have or will be signing letters of intent to play athletics in college.  Our celebration will take place on February 7th.  All student-athletes wishing to be honored during this ceremony should see Mrs. Beauchamp in the Main Office to give her their name, sport, and the college/university they will attend. 

Hometown Ticketing - All Jeffco events have gone cashless this year.  When attending games at our schools or stadiums, save yourself time by purchasing your tickets ahead of time by using the link below.  You can also purchase punch passes to use for your entire family.  Punch passes will save you money on processing fees.

HOMETOWN TICKETING BOX OFFICE

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 

February 5 - 9, 2024

Monday, Feb. 5th - Silver Day

Tuesday, Feb. 6th - White Day

Wednesday, Feb. 7th - Blue Day

Thursday, Feb. 8th - White Day 

Friday, Feb. 9th  - Blue Day

Counseling Department

Outdoor Lab Scholarship

If you are a current senior who has served as a High School Leader or Intern at Outdoor Lab, you are eligible to apply for a $2,000 scholarship!  The scholarship can be used for any college or vocational training program.  Applications are due April 14, 2024.  For more information and an application, stop by the counseling office or click here.

FAFSA Block Party

Multiple organizations are coming together to throw a "Statewide FAFSA Pop-Up Block Party."  Students can get help with their FAFSA and be entered into on-site scholarship and prize drawings - prizes are given away every 30 minutes!  There will also be a college and resource fair.  Click here for more information and to register.  Free parking will be provided upon registration.

Date: Saturday, February 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Place: CU Denver-Student Wellness Center, 1355 12th Street, Denver

JCEA Scholarships

Each year The Jefferson County Education Association awards scholarships to senior students who want to pursue a career in education or in the physical sciences.  Scholarship amounts range from $1,000-$2,000 and are renewable each year.  All application deadlines are February 14, 2024.  Click here for more information and applications for each scholarship.

AP Exam Fees

The $98 exam fee for spring sections of AP testing (Comparative Government and Microeconomics) was posted to student fee accounts in Infinite Campus this week.  The AP exam fees are due on Friday, February 23rd.  After that date, a $25 late fee will be added.

Please direct any questions or concerns about AP exam fees or deadlines to Mr. Merkel at scott.merkel@jeffco.k12.co.us

Upcoming College Visits

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

Western Colorado University - Wednesday, Feb. 7 - 11:30 a.m.

University of Wyoming - Thursday, Feb. 8 - 11:30 a.m.

Colorado Girls State for Junior Girls

Colorado Girls State is a FREE week-long civic engagement program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.  The program is open to females who will have completed their junior year of high school.  Attendees will run for mock office, write, debate, and pass bills, engage in a mock trial exercise, and attend guest speaker panels.  This year, the program is June 10-15, 2024 at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO.  Applications are due May 15, 2024.  For more information and to apply, click here.  

Colorado Boys State for Junior Boys

Colorado Boys State is a FREE week-long authentic civics experience sponored by the American Legion.  The program is open to males who will have completed their junior year of high school.  Attendees will create and operate their own cities, counties and state governments.  This year, the program is June 2-8, 2024 at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO.  Applications are due May 1, 2024.  For more information and to apply, click here.

Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship Program

The Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship Program is awarding 150 scholarships of $5,000 each to students pursuing associate degrees, credit-bearing certificates, or industry certifications in engineering, technology, and advanced manufacturing.  Applications are due April 1, 2024.  Click here for more information.   

 Advisement Corner 

Advisement 

Next week, in 9th grade and 10th grade Advisement students will plan ahead for Monday, February 12th when they will have a Block Party with another Advisement Class to celebrate Valentine's Day. The rest of Advisement will be used as a study hall period, as requested by our students. 

 ralston valley HAPPENINGS

Dinosaurs Fundraise for Make-A-Wish

Girls Soccer raised an incredible $2500 in the name of Scarlet Joy and the Make-A-Wish foundation. As a result, Senior Margot Mulhern and all three coaches had to stand outside of the school in dinosaur costumes holding on to signs, "Honk for Girl's Soccer!" Way to go Mustangs! 

Science Uses S'Mores Lab

Students in Chemistry performed a stoichiometry unit, introducing a limiting re-agent using a s'mores lab.  This is a calculation of products and reactants in a chemical equation.  The results were delicious! 

French I Celebrate La Chandeleur

Students in Ms. Frie's class celebrated the French holiday La Chandeleur in the traditional way, by eating lots of crepes!

Significant Special Needs Class Basketball Tournament

Last week the SSN students went to Adaptive Athletics Basketball Tournament at Pomona High School.  Ralston Valley competed against Pomona, A-West, and Standley Lake.  The students had a great time and everyone made at least one basket!

Current Events Discussion In U.S. Government

Ms. Dean's class worked in small groups as they read about current events for context in discussion about how to balance individual liberty and government power.

Geometry in Construction Classes Chicken Coops for Sale

This semester's final project in the Geometry in Construction class involves students building chicken coops. The students will apply their mathematical and construction skills to construct coops that comfortably accommodate four chickens, with a maximum capacity of six. This hands-on project exemplifies how geometry can be utilized to solve real-world problems. 

The coops will be available for sale at $750.00 each.  If you are interested in purchasing a chicken coop please fill out our Google form here. The proceeds from the sales contribute to funding next year's program. The anticipated finish date for the coops is the week of May 20th, a perfect time for the chicks to be moved into their new permanent home and enjoy the Colorado summer.  An example of what the chicken coops will look like is provided below.  

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