Hello Ridgeline Families-- We’re counting down with just 13 days until the start of school! It’s going to be a very good year. It’s nice to begin to have some routines, traditions, and a better ability to plan and prepare for the next thing coming. There are changes every year in our staffing, so there will be some new faces on campus. One thing that won’t change is our emphasis on creating a culture and environment where students, staff, and parents want to be. It is fun to have been able to watch students grow up in Ridgeline, while we’re becoming a school. This years seniors, going into their third year here, have the most experience as students on our campus. They hold the keys to continuing to develop our culture through their ideas, involvement, and by setting the example for all students.
Today’s newsletter has important information and dates for coming events. Please read the Student Services section carefully about student class schedules. Those are available to view TODAY in Powerschool. Because we’re making adjustments still in our master schedule, students schedules are Subject To Change. Our goal is still to have them very clean by the first day. I’m highlighting this line: we will not be taking schedule change requests at this time. There are a few exceptions, so please Read the Student Services page.
We’ve got freshman and new student orientation opportunities coming up.
Peeking ahead to the first day of school, September 07…, will run 7:45-2:15, late start Thursdays begin September 14. In the past I have held an all-school assembly in the stadium in the morning before starting our first day. This year will be different, NO all-school assembly and students will be welcomed into the building before school and stage in the commons and/or gym prior to going to Advisory.
Ridgeline Admin had a great experience yesterday handing out backpacks at the School Resource Fair, hosted by Central Valley School District. Over 1300 backpacks were distributed as well as other supplies and resources that were available to families. Students could even get a free haircut!
All right, I gotta go- we’re handing out popsicles to kids of all ages in our local parks today! 3rd annual Popsicles with Principals event.
Make it a great weekend! --Mr. Hardt
It is an exciting time of year and Ridgeline students will be able to view their schedules early this year!
On Friday August 25th, late afternoon, PowerSchool will be live and schedules posted.
With this early release, there are a few important reminders:
- Student Schedules are not final: We expect to be welcoming many new students next week, and with our very full schedule, it may require classes to move to accommodate every student’s needs. We will suggest checking schedules again the night before the first day to be sure students are know their official schedule.
- Schedule change requests: At this time we will not be taking schedule change requests, as our counselors’ priority, next week, is enrolling our new students before the first day. However, there are two kinds of considerations our counselors will want to know about.
- Schedules that include a missing period (i.e.: no 3rd period)
- Schedules that have a wrong course according to a student’s transcript (i.e.: placed in Geometry but needs Pre-Calculus). This is not a preference course, it is a transcript/graduation mistake/requirement.
- New Limitations: This year has brought new challenges to our master schedule. Over the summer, counselors have successfully completed schedules working within tight parameters. Moving individual courses in a student’s schedule, could result in losing important core courses (graduation requirements), which we will be actively trying to avoid. This means, you may hear “we can’t move that” more often than years prior. We apologize, but want you to know this is the reality.
- Start of Year Schedule Change Process: Once school starts, our counselors typically work off of a 3-3-3 schedule for course changes.
- 3 –Sept 7, 8, 11
- Only students with missing periods, or in the wrong course sequence can request assistance.
- These students can report to their counselors, at school, during the period that is empty or wrong.
- 3 – Sept 12, 13, 14*
- Students may complete a schedule change form** for other changes. (Last day for requests is Sept 14)
- *NOTE: This is subject to change, depending on ability to make adjustments for students.
- TBD: If we will be able to offer this, and what the form will look like may change. (i.e.: paper, Google, etc.)
- 3 – Sept 15, 18, 19*
- Counselors work with student requests and finalize rosters for teachers.
- *NOTE: This time frame may be shorter than 3 days depending on changes.
- Lunch: Lunches are determined by the student’s 4th period. Upper level takes 1st lunch, lower level takes 2nd lunch. Sometimes we have exceptions, and the student’s 4th period teacher will notify the class if it is changed.
For more information and updates, please be sure to watch our weekly newsletters.
Please read below for guidance regarding whether or not your junior should sit for the PSAT, as space will be limited in the October 11, test.
Does the PSAT matter anymore?
PSAT is an acronym that refers to the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test and is a product offered by the College Board. The test’s purpose is two-fold when taken by high school juniors in the fall of the year:
To offer a practice opportunity for those who plan to take the actual SAT (typically during the latter half of the junior year), and
To serve as the qualifying test for National Merit Finalist status (a exceptionally competitive designation attached to a college scholarship and national academic recognition).
For more than a decade, increasing numbers of colleges and universities have been re-evaluating their use of standardized test scores in the admissions process. Like so many aspects of our shared experience, COVID significantly impacted standardized testing. Most colleges and universities across the country that relied on standardized tests in the admissions process elected to suspend or eliminate their use, shifting to test-optional policies. As a result, standardized test scores may not always be necessary for college admissions, and we encourage students and their parents/guardians to become intimately familiar with the testing policies of each school to which a student plans to apply.
Reflecting on the current test-optional environment, the need for the PSAT may not be as crucial as it once was. What’s more, there are no-cost, pressure-free methods to prepare students for the SAT via Khan Academy. Thus, those for whom the PSAT is most appropriate are:
Juniors who wish to qualify for National Merit Finalist status as seniors, and
Juniors who believe they will need the SAT for college admission and wish to have a more intensive practice experience.
Ridgeline High School will offer the PSAT on Wednesday, October 11, for a cost of $18.00. If you would like your student to take the PSAT, please have the student respond to an interest questionnaire Mr. Spraggins posted to the Class of 2024 Google classroom NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, The formal registration process will begin later in September, and the number of testing slots will be dictated by anticipated student interest. (Translation: there will be a limited number of test slots available.) Please ask your student to watch the Class of 2024 Google classroom for more information. If you and/or your student have questions, please contact Mr. Spraggins (bspraggins@cvsd.org, 509-558-3813).
Falcons Fall Mini Cheer Camp... registration opens 8/28/23
Join the Ridgeline Falcon Cheerleaders for a mini cheer camp and performance Sept 13th and 15th!
Clinic: Weds Sept 13, 6-8 pm, RHS gym (Doors open at 5:30)
Performance: Friday, Sept 15, half-time of the varsity Football game v Mead (game starts at 7pm; optional cheer warm up in the gym at 6pm)
Who: Kids ages K-5th grade
Cost: $50.00 per camper
Registration open 8/28-9/10 or until we reach 100 campers
*Campers get a pink cheer T-shirt and green pom poms! **T-shirt sizes are first come, first served
***One adult per camper receives free entry to the football game
Special thanks to DaBell and Paventy Orthodontics for their support!
New Students grades 10-12 or any freshmen that misses orientation
We are hosting an open house, drop-in style event, for all NEW 10-12 grade students and freshman who may have missed orientation.
September 6 (day before school) from 12-3:00. Students will have an opportunity for a guided tour of the building from current student leaders. There is no scheduled program, so come by anytime and plan on about 20 minutes for your visit.
It’s a great opportunity to find your way around and ask lots of questions of your tour guide about what they can expect as a student at Ridgeline High School!
Business Office Hours
The Business office is open from 7:00-2:30 during normal school days. We are CLOSED from 12:30-1:30 for lunch. If you need assistance during that time you can call 509-558-3809 and our Business Office will get back to you as soon as possible, or for online payments please follow the steps below.
You can pay online by going to cvsd.org then complete the following steps:
- Student/Parent Resources
- Online Payments
- Click the Online Payments TouchBase link
- Username: Your students school ID #
- Password: Students last name capitalizing the first letter
- Click on student’s name
- Under Shop click Pay Fines/Fees then follow the instructions from there
FOR NUTRITION PAYMENTS: Once you have clicked on your student’s name the nutrition balance will show at the top. Type the amount into the fillable box that says Nutrition Services then click Buy. Go to the checkout cart and complete payment. For any questions or discrepancies, please contact them directly at 509-558-5414
