RVHS NEWSLETTER - Sept. 19, 2025

september 19, 2025 EDition

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be hosted in person on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Conferences will be drop-in visits with teachers located in the RVHS Main Gym and Small Gym and will be limited to five minutes. If you believe your conference requires more than five minutes, please feel free to reach out to teachers directly to schedule an alternate day/time to connect.

Conferences provide a great opportunity for you and your student to meet with teachers and learn about their strengths, accomplishments, and areas of improvement. We encourage all students and parents to attend and hope to see you there!

If you are not able to meet with one of your student’s teachers during conferences on Wednesday, September 24th, please email them to schedule an appointment for an alternate day/time.

***PTSA will be providing dinner for teachers. Please click here to access the Sign Up Genius if you would like to make a contribution. Thank you!**

Jeffco 10th Grade Career Expo

10th grade students are invited to attend Jeffco's annual Career Expo on Wednesday, October 15th, at the Jeffco Stadium. We will leave Ralston Valley at 9:30 a.m. and return by 1:30 p.m. Bus transportation will be provided and students will need to bring lunch. Students will have the opportunity to explore different career possibilities and interact with industry professionals. Click here to view the flier.

If your 10th grader would like to attend the Expo, please download and complete all parts of the permission form located here. Students can also pick up a permission form in the Counseling Office.

All permission forms are due by Friday, September 26th in the Counseling Office or the Main Office.

Homecoming 2025

Ralston Valley's 2025 Homecoming week activities include a 5K race, movie night, kickball tournament, food trucks, dress-up days, foam-in-the-dark party, games, casino night, and of course the annual dance. This document and the 2025 Homecoming Site will help you stay up-to-date on all the events!

2024-25 Student Score Reports in Student Insights

Student Insights is a resourceful tool for K-12 families and students in grades 6-12 to view current and historical assessment data and plans that are applicable to your student.

2024-25 student score reports are now available electronically in Student Insights.

Log in to Student Insights here using your Infinite Campus parent portal login credentials to view the following applicable* information:

PSAT & SAT results - 2024-25 results now available
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) - 2024-25 results now available
Colorado Alternate Assessment/Dynamic Learning Maps (CoAlt/DLM) - 2024-25 results now available
ACCESS for ELLs results - 2024-25 results now available
MAP Growth results
READ Plan goals and supports
Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) goals and programming supports
Graduation requirements progress report
High School Transcript Grades

Click here to learn more about Student Insights and here to learn more about our state and district assessments.

*Available data listed above is based on student grade levels and programming.

If you would prefer to receive a paper score report, please email Kristen Hogan, School Assessment Coordinator, at kristen.hogan@jeffco.k12.co.us. The deadline to request a paper report is Friday, November 21st.

Alkire Street Construction

The City of Arvada will soon begin construction on a new sidewalk along Alkire. Work is scheduled to begin in late August or early September, with crews working Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. During this time, Alkire will often be reduced to a single lane, and traffic delays are expected. Please plan accordingly when traveling to and from school.

For more information about the project, visit arvadaco.gov/alkirestreet

Thank you for your patience and understanding as this important improvement project is completed.

25th Anniversary Celebration

Please join us to help celebrate Ralston Valley’s 25th year of excellence! All events are open to the entire community and supported by the RVHS Alumni Association. Proceeds from the weekend will go directly back to the school by helping to replace the existing technology in all classrooms and funding scholarships for seniors. Our hope is that the entire community will get involved – students, parents, staff, and alumni – to make this a momentous celebration!

Click on the individual links below for information about each event.

Friday, October 3rd - Tailgate & Homecoming Football Game

Saturday, October 4th - 25th Anniversary Gala @ Freedom Street

Sunday, October 5th - Open House @ RVHS

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.

NHS Supporting Students

Ralston Valley's National Honor Society is excited to continue to offer additional academic support to all of our students through the newly rebranded Cram Corner. Cram Corner is available every Wednesday in the Library from 3:30-4:30. This is a great place for all students to receive help on assignments, projects, and test prep for their peers in NHS. Looking forward to seeing many of our students there for the first Cram Corner of the school year on September 17th and every Wednesday after.

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. Due to the limited number of parking spaces available, there are a limited number of tags available to purchase.

Seniors and juniors will be allowed to park in the west and southwest parking lot, as long as there are available tags. The north parking lot (off of Alkire) will be available for sophomores and overflow for juniors and seniors.

At this time, parking tags for all lots are sold out. Seniors and juniors should fill out this parking registration form to be put on a waitlist.

Students who have filled out the registration form online and paid the parking fee in Campus, can pick up their parking tag during their off block in the campus security vestibule.

Sophomores who would like to park on campus should fill out this parking registration form. We are currently sold out but students who fill out the registration form will be added to a waitlist and will be contacted if more spaces become available. If a student has paid and filled out the registration form, they can pick up their parking tag during their off block from the campus security vestibule.

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

Parking will be enforced and tickets issued for vehicles not properly tagged began on Monday, September 8.

Student 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 (closest the the sidewalk), 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 on 80th- 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 and we have shared with students that this is not permitted!

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

Traffic Reminders from Arvada Police Department

Please do NOT stop or park in the roundabout on W 80th Ave. until the car line begins to move/flow. Those waiting on the south side of W 80th Ave. just west of the roundabout need to wait there until they see the line begin to move. This usually takes a few minutes after the bell rings so please be patient. Those who attempt to stop or park in the roundabout before the line begins to move will not be allowed to stay there and will be directed to move (by continuing east) or will be ticketed by Arvada PD. This is essential for efficient traffic flow and will help the pick-up process run smoothly. It also helps to keep that area clear for emergency vehicles.

activities

To kick off Homecoming Week 2025, we invite you to participate in the Lisa Nelson 5k on Saturday, September 27th. The Lisa Nelson 5k is a community event where we walk, jog, and run in loving memory of former Ralston Valley volleyball coach, Lisa Nelson. There will be a pancake breakfast and fun activities after the race and during the awards ceremony. We encourage all members of the community to participate in this fun event and help us celebrate such an amazing woman’s life.

Registration Forms

Jeffco Marching Festival

Ralston Valley's Marching Band gave a great performance last Saturday at the Jeffco Marching Festival. Thanks to everyone who came out to support them.

Fall Themed Photos for Yearbook

Water Polo

Are you interested in a fast-paced, competitive sport? The Arvada West Water Polo Team is recruiting new players! No experience necessary - just basic swimming skills and a great attitude. Come be part of a dedicated team, build endurance, and take your water skills to a new level! Open to all grade levels!

Practices are starting now, and games start in September! For more information, email awestwp@gmail.com.

PTSA Information

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. The Ralston Valley PTSA is looking forward to another great school year supporting the students and staff at Ralston Valley. Please take a moment and register for the PTSA by following the link at the bottom of the page. By registering we will be able to contact you to let you know what is happening with the PTSA. Please register by using this link: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/rvptsa/shop

In addition to registering for the PTSA we are looking for volunteers to serve this year and hopefully beyond. We have positions that may be ideal for parents of freshman students as they can serve for the entire time their student is at the school. Please look at the Board page to see if there are any open positions that interest you. Should you find a position that interests you please email the PTSA at rvptsa@gmail.com and we can get you in touch with the previous person to get you trained up and pass along the needed information.

As of now we will be having meetings in person at the school. By registering we will have your email address, and we will contact you through email with the same information should things change.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the PTSA at rvptsa@gmail.com

athletics

RV Athletics is rolling through another exciting week, with Mustangs competing at a high level and showcasing their pride in every contest. From standout performances to key battles on the horizon, here’s the latest from Mustang Nation:

Football - Mustang Football kept their unbeaten streak alive last weekend, defeating Mullen 20-7 on the road to hold strong at #4 in the MaxPreps state rankings! Quarterback Zeke Andrews led the offense with 243 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, and three touchdown passes in a standout performance. On defense, Jake Lester dominated up front, tallying 2.5 sacks and six tackles to power the Mustangs to a hard-fought victory. Next up is another road game, Friday night at Halftime Help Stadium vs. ThunderRidge at 7:00 p.m.

Softball - Mustang Softball earned a huge win this past week with a 6-2 victory over perennial power Valor Christian — their first road win against the Eagles since 2020! Nina Renk went the distance in the circle, allowing just two earned runs on five hits in a dominant seven-inning performance. At the plate, Stella Emnott was unstoppable, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and a double. After a tough loss against #1 Columbine, the Mustangs look to bounce back at home on Monday against Chatfield.

Boys Tennis - Boys Tennis rolled past Golden this week with a 7-0 sweep, improving to 3-0 in league play as they continue their push toward a league championship. At 2 Singles, John Fleissner was unstoppable with a 6-0, 6-0 win, while Brady Swartz powered through with a 6-1, 6-1 victory to help lead the way. This weekend, the Mustangs host their own Full Send Tournament, featuring top competition at every spot in the lineup. Good luck, Mustangs!

Boys Golf - Boys Golf turned in their most impressive performance of the season, capturing the Jeffco League Tournament title at West Woods GC with an 8-stroke margin over second place! Leading the charge was Mason Meyer, who fired a 71 to claim second individually. Right now, the Mustangs have four players ranked in the top 65 in the state as they remain firmly in the state tournament picture. Way to go, Mustangs!

Flag Football - The Lady Mustangs had just one game last week, dropping their first league matchup to Arvada West in a hard-fought battle between two of the state’s top teams. Although Ralston Valley took the loss, they still got scores from Kailyn Korkus and Lilli Lombardi. On the defensive side, the Mustangs kept up relentless pressure with five sacks — led by Shelby Colosimo, who was a force in the passing game with four on her own. They’ll look to bounce back strong next week with tough showdowns against Arapahoe and Valor Christian.

Volleyball - Mustang Volleyball extended their winning streak to six with a commanding sweep over Kent Denver, 25-19, 25-10, 25-17. The victory gives RV valuable momentum heading into league play, which opens September 30th at Arvada West. With confidence high and a #9 MaxPreps ranking, the Mustangs are locked in on competing for a league title!

Boys Soccer - Ralston Valley’s boy's soccer matchup on Thursday was knotted at 1-1 at halftime, but the Mustangs turned it on in the second half, cruising past the Fort Collins Lambkins 4-1. This win marked the fourth time this season they have won by three goals or more, keeping their record perfect at 6-0-1. Much of that success comes from their potent offense, which has racked up 19 goals across those five dominant victories. Next up is a matchup with Rocky Mountain HS today, 5:00 p.m. at NAAC.

Cross Country - The Mustangs had a fantastic weekend at Liberty Bell, posting numerous personal records! Standout performances included Addie Holmann finishing 9th overall in the varsity race, Makenna Cadwell placing 3rd in the JV race, and Hannah Hubbard earning 2nd in the open race. On the boys’ side, Drake Fankhauser took 11th in the varsity race, while Frank Venezia finished 15th in the JV race. Great work, Mustangs!

Tickets - Game tickets must be purchased through GoFan for all Jeffco-hosted events. Ticket sales to all Jeffco events in stadiums and in our gym are available through GoFan. Cash is not 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 to 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 money.

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

Shout out to RV Flag Football coach Greg Johnson, who was named Denver Broncos Coach of the Week! Click HERE to read the article. Congrats Coach!

Congratulations to Volleyball player Sevilla Creasey, named as Jersey Mike's Player of the Week! Coach Geissler says, "Sevilla has done a great job balancing her academics, being a captain of the volleyball team, and her responsibilities as the Student Body President. She always comes to practice eager to work hard and with a smile on her face. She does a great job leading her teammates even if she is having an off day. We are better because of her and her leadership!"

off campus policy

To help keep students as safe as possible, RVHS students are not allowed to walk off campus at any time.

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, parents/guardians of 10th-grade students can give permission for their child to leave campus with the expectation that they are following the local and state driving laws. Once this form has been submitted by a parent/guardian, the student must visit the front office to obtain an 'off-campus' sticker for their Student ID.

Please click on this FORM to give your sophomore child the ability to leave campus with your permission. Students with a valid sticker can begin leaving campus during approved periods on Monday, August 25, 2025.

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

Schedule for The Upcoming week

Monday, Sept. 22 - Blue Day

Tuesday, Sept. 23 - White Day

Wednesday, Sept. 24 - Blue Day

Thursday, Sept. 25- White Day

Friday, Sept. 26 - Blue Day

Counseling Department

Upcoming College Visits

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

Grand Canyon University - Tuesday, Sept. 30 - 9:00 a.m.

Northern Arizona University - Tuesday, Sept. 30 - 9:00 a.m.

Western Colorado University - Tuesday, Sept. 30 - 11:45 a.m.

Willamette University - Wednesday, Oct. 1 - 9:00 a.m.

Jeffco Performing Arts College Night

Students interested in pursuing music, theater, or dance in college are invited to attend Jeffco's Performing Arts College Night. Representatives from the top performing arts programs in Colorado will be there to answer questions! Click here for a flier.

Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Jeffco Ed Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, Golden

Colorado Free Application Days

From Tuesday, October 7 through Thursday, October 9, all public colleges and universities and several private institutions in Colorado will waive their application fees, making it free for Colorado high school students to submit an application. For instructions on how to use the fee waiver for each school, click here.

RVHS College & Career Planning Series

For a quick "save-the-date" guide to all of RV's college and career events throughout the year, click here. Please contact your student's counselor with questions!

Denver Area College Fairs

College Fairs of Greater Denver offers three large in- and out-of-state college fairs next month. Click here to register for any of the fairs.

Saturday, Oct. 4 - Mountain Vista HS, Highlands Ranch - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 8 - Monarch HS, Louisville - 5:30 - 7: 30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9 - Denver South HS, Denver - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

University of California Info Night

The University of California system is hosting an information night for Denver area students and their families to learn more about UC schools and gain a better understanding of the UC application process. Click here to RSVP.

Date: Monday, October 6, 2025

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Place: Cherry Creek High School, 9300 E Union Ave, Greenwood Village

Scholarship Opportunities

Click on the links below for more information on the following scholarship opportunities:

MEM Scholarhip (for seniors from CO and WA; merit and financial-need based)

Boettcher Scholarship (for seniors; merit-based)

Daniels Fund Scholarship (for seniors; merit and financial-need based)

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (for females in grades 9-12 interested in computer science)

Scholarship Webinar

The Boettcher Foundation is hosting a webinar regarding "Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships." They will discuss how students can "ACE" their college and scholarship applications, including tips on how to make their applications stand out. The webinar is offered on two dates each in September and October. Click here to register - scroll about half way down the page and click on the date you would like to attend.

CU Pre-Health Scholars (CUPS)

Any student in grades 6-12 in Colorado who is interested in healthcare, research, and STEAM are welcome to apply to the CUPS program for the next school year. Students in the program experience a variety of academic activities, college visits, mentoring, and exposure to different STEAM and health-specific technologies and careers. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2025. Click here for more information and an application.

Advisement Corner

Advisement

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

There are no Advisement classes next week, due to Monday being a blue day. Advisement classes will resume the week of September 29.

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

Ralston Valley Happenings

Counselor Team at Ft. Lewis College

RV Counselors Ms. Samoraczyk and Ms. McGlone, along with counseling intern (and RV grad!) Ms. Lyon, visited Fort Lewis College in Durango. They met faculty and students and toured the campus to gain insights into the programs and the characteristics of students who would be a strong fit for the school.

The Wellness Collective (formerly Peer Counseling) transformed the Counseling Center into a supportive space on Tuesday. Along with the schoolwide "Wear Green for Evergreen" theme, students could write supportive cards to our friends in the Evergreen community, color, have snacks and connect with friends in a friendly environment.

Counseling hosted a college fair this week , with representation from over 35 colleges and universities from across Colorado and the U.S.

Artists and Athletes in Significant Support Needs

Sophomores Brendan Rosch and Piper Guildner are talented artists. Brendan's interest in Transformers has inspired him to create these works, currently on display in the Ralston Valley art department. Piper designed and created this bracelet in Jewelry class as a gift for her sister.

The students in the Significant Support Needs program started their Adaptive PE activities with soccer games against Jefferson, Arvada West, and Lakewood High Schools. It was tough competition, but everyone had a great time!

Lab Work in Biology

Ms Reid's Biology students investigated cells under a microscope this week, and students in Honors Biology conducted a titration to determine enzyme efficiency.

Cybersecurity Class Tests Skills in Capture the Flag Challenge

Students from the new Cybersecurity class applied their knowledge in a practical Capture the Flag (CTF) classroom competition. The challenge required them to solve problems related to foundational security concepts, including the CIA Triad, password cracking, and Linux basics.

Administration

Ms. Buenning, Principal 303-982-5600
Mr. Pergola, 9th Asst. Principal 303-982-5604
Ms. Hogan, 10th Asst. Principal 303-982-2391
Ms. Abrams, 11th Asst. Principal 303-982-9463
Ms. Young, 12th Asst. Principal 303-982-5713
Mr. Ackerman, Athletic Director 303-982-5595
Mr. Duplice, Dean 303-982-8274

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