Falcon Flyer

Hello Ridgeline Families-

We are back, and welcoming in 2025! Now that the calendar has flipped, 2025 is very real for our senior class as they have a little over half a year left of their high school life. At the top of the year everything rolls down hill very quickly. Meaning, the months ahead of us will be busy and will go by quickly. Did you know we’re already building our master schedule and course catalog for registration next school year? However, for our students, what is most important is what is in front of them today. Right here and now, one day at a time, is the key to being successful in school and allows a student to enjoy the ‘extras’ along the way. A little over two weeks remain in semester 1 before we complete finals on Jan. 30-31. Vacation is over and it’s time to buckle down again!

You’ll notice a general notice in the newsletter today regarding Pertussis (Whooping Cough). When we receive information of a confirmed case in our school we will directly notify, via email/text, all students families if they are in any of the same classes as an infected individual. Like with any of the crud going around, if your child has symptoms described in the letter below, take some time and/or get to the doctor.

We took a moment to celebrate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and our SRO Officer Dave Howard (pictured here). We’re grateful to have his support and contributions every day on our campus!

It has been a heart-breaking week watching the events unfold in the Los Angeles area with the devastating fires. Mrs. Larsen and I have had conversations about her science class this week, as they just happened to be working on a unit related to forest management and how geography, drought, wind, etc.. impact how these fires occur and cause so much damage. You’ll see in her article below where students observed demonstrations where a critical element was the slope of the hills. It was a valuable lesson for our students and has very practical applications for them in the future.

Looking ahead to next week, we will have an all-school assembly on Thursday, Jan. 16th, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event is to recognize his contributions, as well as many others, to advancing opportunities for all people. The Monday following is the official holiday and school is closed on Jan. 20th.

Come out and enjoy some home-court basketball and home-mat wrestling competitions this month. Our teams enjoy a good crowd of supporters behind them and it makes for an exciting environment!

There are a lot more nuggets of information and coming events in today’s Flyer, so give it a look-over!

Make it a great weekend! –Mr. Hardt

FAFSA NOW OPEN!
If you are the parent/guardian of a current senior who plans to enroll in college next year, this notice is for you! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is NOW OPEN. The FAFSA is an online federal form that, once completed, will offer your student the opportunity to be considered for grants, work-study, scholarships, and student loans at the colleges and universities to which they've applied. For your information, here is an important link with information your student and you may wish to review ahead of filing the form.
Additionally, RHS hosts a local scholarship page we share with East Valley, West Valley, and Freeman school districts. We will update the scholarship page as scholarships become available throughout the winter/spring. I encourage your student to routinely check the page for scholarship opportunities that may benefit your student!

Attend NewTech Prep Career Night to gain early access to the 2025-26 NewTech application!

Still interested, but can't attend Career Night? Find the NewTech application link on their website starting February 1st. Apply as soon as possible for your best chance at earning a spot in your program of choice.

In Ms. Larsen's AP Environmental Science classroom, the power of aligning curriculum with current events has been especially evident this week, though the context has been somber. The class has been studying forestry management and wildfires while tragic wildfires continue to affect Southern California. Each day, the lesson has begun with news segments covering the ongoing crisis, a reality that has personally impacted many students and Ms. Larsen herself, with family and friends affected by the fires.

Finding balance between education and empathy has been central to these lessons. While exploring the science of wildfires, Ms. Larsen has emphasized compassion for those directly impacted by these disasters. Thursday, the class conducted demonstrations illustrating how factors such as slope, drought, wind, and forest fuels influence wildfire behavior. Before starting, Ms. Larsen reminded students that although the simulations were controlled, they reflected real situations currently impacting communities. She stressed the importance of sensitivity and respect while learning about these critical environmental events.

The discussions extended beyond the science to include practical safety measures, prevention strategies, and the importance of staying informed about wildfire risks. Ms. Larsen introduced the class to tools such as the Watch Duty app for fire alerts and Windy.com for monitoring wind patterns, empowering students to stay aware of wildfire dangers both near home and when traveling.

Ms. Larsen hopes these lessons conveyed not only the scientific content but also the profound human impact of wildfires, encouraging both knowledge and empathy in her students.

Ridgeline gymnastics is offering a mini-gymnastics camp for all students K through 6th grade on Thursday, January 16th and Friday, January 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30 in the gymnastics room (west side of Ridgeline High School). Our gymnastics team and coaches will teach basic tumbling and dance skills on floor, how to balance on the beam, and basic skills on the bars. The cost is $50.00 and includes a T-shirt.

Please Identify your dancer's T-shirt sizes using one of the following: YS (youth small), YM (youth medium), YL (youth large), YXL (youth extra-large), AXS (adult extra small), AS (adult small), AM (adult medium), AL (adult Large), AXL (adult XL). Any other sizing identifications will be given the best guess by the T-shirt company. We order to specific requests of each individual family, so there won't be additional sizes for trading. We have to run our order through Dec. 27th in order to get them in time, so any sign ups beyond that date are not guaranteed a shirt. Thank you for understanding.

Registration open until we reach 100 campers

Please print and bring the Minor Participation Release Form

If you have any additional questions, please reach out!

Leah Grisafi
lgrisafi@cvsd.org

Register today: https://gofan.co/event/1991172?schoolId=WA87837

Anyone interested in playing baseball this year, Open Gym will begin next Thursday at 6:00 pm in the Field House.

Start Date: January 16, 2025

End Date: February 27, 2025

Days: Every Thursdays

Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: Ridgeline High School Field House

Martin Luther King Jr Assembly on Thursday, January 16th! Please note the change in the bell schedule.

Cinderella auditions will be February 3 and 4th!

Information packets are available in the front office. Final Forms is open!

Everyone auditioning and applying for tech crew MUST have a completed Final Form before auditions.

Have you purchased your Yearbook yet? Don't miss your chance to get yours today for $60! Can be purchased online or in the Business Office by February 4th!

https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/payments

When your shelves overflow with old looks,
Why not give life to those dusty books?
Donate them with care,
Spread stories to share,
And turn readers into hooked bookish cooks!

Ridgeline Readers! Book Club is collecting your new and gently used books for the rest of the month. Clear out your bookshelves, closets, car trunks, and anywhere else books might hide. Bring them to the library and Mrs. Maxwell will trade you books for candy. Any age range or genre works. All donations are going to support readers at teen shelter Crosswalk.

Attention seniors in Honor Society, community service forms are due to Mrs. Grisafi no later than February 7th.

An essay and video contest for high school students in the western United States, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. Contest rules and entry instructions available at: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest

Entries accepted beginning January 8, 2025. Deadline for entries is March 7, 2025. Sponsored by the United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit.

Falcons our Winter Formal is coming up on February 8th from 7-10pm. Tickets will be on sale $10 in the Business office beginning on Monday, January 13th!

Don't miss your chance to get your Yard Sign for your 2025 graduate! Scan the QR code to purchase!

Signs are $25 and sales will close April 4, 2025. Signs will be distributed in early May.

Class of 2025 - Grad Night Ticket

Purchase your ticket today for Grad Night 2025! A safe, fun-filled opportunity to wrap up graduation and spend an evening with your classmates. Grad Night 2025 will be held at RHS and will feature casino games, a variety of fun activities and the opportunity to win great prizes. Don't miss out on this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity!! Once your registration has been received, a representative from the Grad Night Committee will follow-up via email to collect necessary waivers.

RHS Senior Grad Night- 2025

Important Information!!

Support the Ridgeline Class of 2025 Grad Night!

Let's send them out in style. Please click the link or scan the QR code on the flyer that will allow you to go to our Amazon wish list of prizes for their Senior Grad Night. Our goal is that every Senior leaves the Grad Night with a prize! Thanks so much in advance for your support!

Parents/Guardians of AP Students,

AP exam(s) will be held in May of 2025. As discussed in previous communication each AP test has an associated fee of $100. If your family is eligible for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program a reduced fee is applied. Fees have been added to your student(s) account. We are asking that AP exam fees are paid by February 3rd. Fees can be paid at the RHS business office or online using the following link. As communicated by AP teachers, testing decisions needed to be finalized on November 15th, 2024. If your student has changed their mind and would no longer wish to take the exam a refund of $60 will be issued. Testing changes must be made prior to March 15th, 2025 to be eligible for the partial refund. No refunds will be issued after March 15th.

https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/payments

Hey Falcons! Do you need a job? Check out our Jobs Board! It's updated regularly and there are some amazing opportunities!

There are flyers in the office to scan the QR code, too!

If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Demarest in E202 or email: kdemarest@cvsd.org

Business Office Open Hours:

7:15- 2:30pm

(Closed 12:30-1:30pm daily)