PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test - Tues., October 6th 

Students in grades 9-11 will take the required PSAT/NMSQT on Tuesday, October 6th from 8:15 a.m. to approximately 11:00 a.m. for standard time test takers. Buses will run on this day at normal times and lunch will be served. Any students who remain on campus after they have completed testing will be supervised in the cafeteria until dismissal at 3:30 p.m. Seniors will not attend school on this day. 

Students will need to arrive with a fully-charged, school-issued Chromebook, school ID, and a pencil. For additional College Board information regarding digital readiness and the upcoming PSAT, click here.

The $14 fee for the test has been placed on 9th-11th grade student accounts and can now be paid online. Please pay by October 2nd if you haven't already.

Picture Packages Coming Home

If you ordered a picture package from Lifetouch, those will come home over the next two weeks.  Students will receive their pictures from the teacher whose class they took the picture in:

9th Grade - Advisement

10th Grade - Biology

11th Grade - History

12th Grade - English/Lang Arts

If you ordered a picture package and are doing retakes (see info below), you must bring the original package to retakes to swap it out.

If you have not received your pictures and you have the order receipt, call Lifetouch Customer Service at 1-800-736-4753.

Picture Retake Day is September 28th.

If you need a retake of your school picture taken during the first weeks of school, that opportunity will be on September 28th from 10:30 AM - 1:45 PM in the main lobby.  Students should attend during their lunch if they need a retake.

If you ordered a picture package and are doing retakes, you must bring the original package to retakes to swap it out.

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.

More information about attendance can be accessed HERE .

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 Police.  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.

Athletics Update

Football - The #5 ranked Mustang football team has been on absolute fire, tearing through their schedule and securing two statement victories since our last newsletter to move to a dominant 4-1 record at the midpoint of the season!

It all started on Homecoming Friday in front of an electric, packed crowd at the NAAC. The Mustangs went toe-to-toe in a wild, back-and-forth battle against a tough Fairview squad before pulling away with a crushing 4th-quarter surge to seal a 39-23 victory. Sawyer Blomquist put on a clinic, gashing the defense for 176 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Lucas Gerlach anchored a relentless defensive unit with 11 total tackles.

The squad carried that energy right into Thursday night on the road against Rock Canyon, putting together a complete, 42-7 blowout victory. Quarterback Logan Gabler was virtually unstoppable, putting up 273 passing yards and punching in three rushing touchdowns himself. Wideout Phoenix Tomsick proved to be his ultimate target, hauling in 130 of those receiving yards and connecting with Gabler for a dynamic touchdown score.

Now sitting at 4-1 with playoff energy already building, the Mustangs return to home turf for one of the most anticipated matchups of the year as they face off against #2 Mountain Vista next Thursday, October 1st at 7:00 PM at the North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC). This is shaping up to be an absolute blockbuster under the lights—pack the stands, wear your colors, and bring the noise as the Mustangs battle to keep this rolling!

Boy's Golf - The Mustang boys golf team officially brought home the first league title of the school year, putting an exclamation point on a historic season by utterly dominating 5A Jeffco play to win the championship by an astounding 45 strokes!

This banner year was driven by unmatched depth and elite individual talent across the entire lineup. Leading the charge, Noah Ramsey captured 4th place overall in the league, while Liam Braketa secured 5th, with both standout golfers earning First Team All-League honors. The honors kept rolling in as Trevor Blong finished 7th and Declan Regnault took 10th to claim Second Team All-League accolades. To cap off the program's stellar performance, Coach Jiana Carroll was fittingly voted the 5A Coach of the Year by her peer coaches across the conference.

Now, the league champions set their sights on the ultimate prize: the 5A State Championships, taking place October 5th and 6th at the prestigious Columbine Country Club. Wish these guys luck as they look to carry their momentum onto the state stage and bring home more hardware!

Volleyball - The Mustang volleyball team kicked off 5A Jeffco league play with an absolute thriller on the road at Columbine. The squad set the tone early by storming out of the gates and taking the first two sets in dominant fashion. When Columbine rallied back to take the next two sets and force a high-stakes, winner-take-all fifth set, the Mustangs showed incredible composure, digging deep to claim a gritty 15-10 victory and secure a massive conference win!

That ice-in-their-veins response in the fifth set proves this group has the mental toughness to match their explosive physical talent. Handling adversity on the road in a high-pressure environment is the mark of a championship-caliber team.

The league slate doesn't slow down from here. The Mustangs return to home court this Tuesday to host Chatfield in a high-energy showdown before hitting the road for a fierce cross-town rivalry battle against Arvada West on Thursday!

Softball - It was an action-packed week for the Mustang softball team, battling through a grueling three-game slate and coming out with huge momentum. The squad launched the week in phenomenal fashion on home turf, knocking off top-10 powerhouse Chaparral HS in a impressive 6-3 statement victory.

The girls then hosted Columbine on Tuesday, showing immense grit by locking in and playing tough, scoreless softball after a rocky first inning before ultimately dropping a tight 5-1 battle. But true to their resilient character, the Mustangs responded in terrifying fashion on Thursday traveling to cross-town rival Arvada West and putting on an absolute offensive clinic to crush the Wildcats 18-4 in a dominant road blowout. 

That massive bounce-back win sets up a pivotal stretch of conference play. The Mustangs return home Saturday morning at 10:00 AM for a crucial league battle against Chatfield before gear up to take on Valor Christian and Lakewood next week.

Boy's Tennis - The Mustang boys tennis team has officially written their names into the history books, bringing home the second league championship of the school year and securing the program's first league title since 2006! After closing out a phenomenal 6-1 regular season with a clutch victory over Chatfield on Thursday, the Mustangs earned the crown by coming out on top of a thrilling three-way tiebreaker against powerhouse programs Valor Christian and Lakewood.

Ending an 18-year title hiatus in one of the state's toughest conferences is a testament to the talent, grit, and mental toughness this entire squad has brought to the court every single match. From top singles spots to deep doubles lines, every point proved crucial in bringing the trophy home.

Now, the newly crowned league champions are fine-tuning their game for the ultimate stage. The team gears up for postseason action by testing their skills against elite competition at the prestigious Cherry Creek Invitational this weekend before learning their official seeds for both team state and individual regionals. Wish these athletes luck as they carry this championship momentum into the postseason!

Flag Football - The Mustang flag football team continues to show immense heart and determination through a relentless, hard-fought season. Last weekend, the squad went on the road to battle a tough Valor Christian team, fighting tooth and nail in a grueling defensive battle before ultimately falling 13-0.

Showing the true character of this program, the girls responded with pure fire on Wednesday night. Playing under the lights on Senior Night, the Mustangs honored their leaders in style by grinding out a thrilling 13-6 victory over Chatfield to capture a crucial 5A Jeffco league win! The energy was high, the defense delivered in high-pressure moments, and the team made sure their seniors walked off home turf victorious.

The Mustangs now turn their attention to a pair of high-caliber non-league tests next week against Northfield and Arapahoe before gearing up for a huge regular-season finale against cross-town rival Arvada West.

Boy's Soccer - Mother Nature gave the Mustang boys soccer team an unexpected break from their high-octane schedule this week, as Tuesday’s slate against Arapahoe was postponed due to weather. With extra time to rest up, study tape, and fine-tune their tactics, the squad is locked, loaded, and eager to step back onto the pitch.

The rest couldn't come at a better time, as the Mustangs prepare to enter a high-stakes stretch of match play. The action resumes Monday at 5:00 PM when they host a premier non-league showdown against Fairview under the lights at the NAAC. From there, the real fun begins—the team kicks off the grueling 5A Jeffco league gauntlet on Friday at 5:00 PM in a heavyweight clash against Lakewood at LMF.

Sitting in the top tier of state rankings, these Mustangs thrive on big-stage atmospheres. Pack the stands at the NAAC on Monday and LMF on Friday. 

Cross Country - The Mustang cross country team showcased their speed and endurance last Saturday, taking on elite competition at the MSU Denver Invitational at historic Washington Park. Facing off against top-tier programs from across Colorado, both squads delivered gritty performances, with the girls team powering their way to an impressive 4th-place finish and the boys securing 9th place overall.

The girls' strong team score was fueled by a pair of dominant top-10 individual finishes, as Eira Barber crossed the line in 7th place and Avery Westly surged right behind her in 10th to pace the pack. While mother nature forced the cancellation of today's scheduled Dave Sanders Invitational, these runners aren't breaking stride.

The squad is using the extra rest to lock in and prepare for one of the biggest regular-season meets of the year, the Pat Amato Classic next week.

Mustang Gear

RVHS SPIRIT GEAR: SHOW YOUR MUSTANG PRIDE! Represent RV in style! 

Shop custom Ralston Valley apparel, spirit wear & more at the RV Online School Store. 

LIMITED-TIME OFFER: SEPT. 18-30

Use code: WELCOMEBACK27 | 25% OFF & FREE SHIPPING on orders $100+

Upcoming College Visits

Representatives from the following colleges will be in the RVHS Counseling Office on these dates and times.  Please sign up in Schoolinks:

University of Wyoming Wednesday, Sept. 30 - 10:00 a.m.

Arizona State-Tempe, Thursday, Oct. 1 - 10:00 a.m.

Oregon State University, Thursday, Oct. 1 - 2:00 p.m.

University of Oklahoma, Wednesday, Oct. 7 - 10:00 a.m.

Colorado School of Mines, Thursday, Oct. 8 - 2:00 p.m.

Landmark College, Wednesday, Oct. 14 - 10:00 a. m.

Denver Area College Fairs

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

• September 30, 2026: Monarch High School (5:30 PM- 7:30 PM)

• October 1, 2026: Denver South High School (5:30 PM-7:00 PM) 

• October 3, 2026: Mountain Vista High School (10:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Colorado Free Application Days

From Tuesday, October 20 through Thursday, October 22, 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. To learn more about Colorado free app day, click here.  For instructions on how to use the fee waiver for each school, click here.  

Scholarship Opportunities  

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

          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)

Ralston Valley Advisement was developed by a team of teachers, counselors, and administrators who determined that relationships would be the foundational theme of this course.  By giving 9th and 10th grade students an adult mentor who they can trust, an older peer mentor (9th Grade), and combining that with a community of peers, Advisement encourages a sense of belonging that can be felt throughout their first two years of high school at RV.  9th and 10th Graders will meet once a week on designated Silver Days (typically Mondays). When possible, students will keep their Advisement Teacher for both 9th and 10th Grade, receiving 0.125 credits per semester on a Pass/Fail basis.  If a student missed five or more Advisement classes, they will automatically fail the course. Makeup sessions and or activities will be offered throughout the semester.  

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

Next week in Advisement, 9th and 10th grade students will prepare for the upcoming PSAT testing day, with a device check for their Chromebooks, and have some fun with a scavenger hunt.  Students in 9th grade will have one minute meetings with their Counselors, and 10th grade classes will participate in a panel discussion with their MMP leaders.

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.