ThunderRidge Weekly Update
Patterson's Perspective
Grizzly Families,
It was great to see so many of our upperclassmen at Prom last weekend. Thank you to our Student Government and staff for their time and commitment that went into making this event a huge success.
Next week is Staff Appreciation week. Thank you, ThunderRidge Staff, for all of your hard work and dedication to our students. I am truly grateful for each one of you.
It's hard to believe we are in the home stretch for the 23-24 school year. IB testing is underway, with AP testing starting next week. Senior Finals are also next week, leading to Senior Check-Out, the Senior Gauntlet and Last Blast on Friday, May 10th. Please see the Senior Finals schedule below for details.
Also, please note that the schedule for the week of May 13th will be modified as follows due to graduation on May 16th:
Monday, May 13th - ALL day with NO PLC (7:40 start time)
Tuesday, May 14th - GREEN day
Wednesday, May 15th - BLUE day
Thursday, May 16th - NO SCHOOL
Friday, May 17th - ALL day WITH PLC (8:25 start time)
Finals for 9th-11th graders will begin on May 20th.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions. Thank you again for your ongoing support of ThunderRidge, our staff and our students.
Have a great weekend,
Sean Patterson
Principal, ThunderRidge High School
Important Dates
May 6-8: Senior Final Exams
May 7: Choir Concert - 7:00pm - Auditorium
May 8: Orchestra Concert - 5:30pm - Auditorium
May 10: Moving Up Ceremony/Senior Last Blast
May 14: Senior Awards Ceremony - 6:00pm - TR Gym
May 16: Class of 2024 Graduation - 6:00pm - University of Denver Magness Arena
May 16: No school due to graduation
May 20-23: Underclassmen Final Exams
May 23: Last day of school for Students/End of 4th Quarter
May 24: Grading/Teacher Workday - NO STUDENTS
May 24: Grades available online after 3:00pm
Schedule for May 6-10
Schedule for May 13 - 17
Monday, May 13th - ALL day with NO PLC (7:40 start time)
Tuesday, May 14th - GREEN day
Wednesday, May 15th - BLUE day
Thursday, May 16th - NO SCHOOL due to Graduation
Friday, May 17th - ALL day WITH PLC (8:25 start time)
Schedule for May 20-24
ThunderRidge Athletics
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Get Your Lululemon Spirit Wear
Shop here for your custom, Lululemon, TR gear!
The shop closes May 6th, so order now!
AP Testing - Attendance Information
Advanced Placement (AP) testing begins next week, Monday, May 6th through May 24th. Students will be excused from classes for the time of the exam only. If you wish for your student to be excused for additional times, please contact the attendance office.
Please reach out to Kristen Kovack, kkovack@dcsdk12.org with questions.
Important Information for the Class of 2024
All student fees must be paid in myschoolbucks in order to
pick-up your cap and gown on Friday 5/10.
Graduation Information and DU's Visitors Guide
For your convenience, DU has provided a visitor's guide for graduation. Please see the guide here for maps on where to park, how to enter Magness Arena, and where to meet your graduate after the ceremony. A list of prohibited items is also included. Please note that DU has a NO bag policy for graduations. Diaper bags and medical bags of a certain size are allowed, but all other bags or purses must be left at home or in your car. Please plan accordingly.
Tickets are not required to attend graduation, and seating is on a first come, first serve basis. There is no limit to the number of guests you may bring. Doors open at 5:00pm, and the ceremony begins at 6:00pm.
Graduation Accommodations
DU is equipped to accommodate handicap parking and seating on a first come, first serve basis. No reservations are necessary.
Livestream
The ceremony will be livestreamed and recorded free of charge for friends and family who cannot attend in person. The link can be found here and is also posted on the ThunderRidge Senior webpage.
Graduation Photos
Professional photographers from LifeTouch will photograph each graduate as they receive their diploma. Photographs will be available within 48 business-day hours after the ceremony and uploaded to PhotoDay. You can access the images using the QR code below. There is no obligation to purchase the photos.
Senior Breakfasts
The following elementary schools are hosting Senior Breakfasts to congratulate their former students before they graduate. Click on your school's name below for details. Please contact your feeder school directly if you have questions.
Coyote Creek Elementary / Saddle Ranch Elementary / Stone Mountain Elementary
Yearbooks Available for Purchase
Did you forget to order a yearbook? You're in luck because we have extras! Yearbooks will be sold on May 10th during Last Blast on a first come, first serve basis. The cost is $75, and we will accept cash and credit card for payment. Please reach out to Sarah Luebking at sluebking@dcsdk12.org with any questions.
Moving or Attending Another School for the 24-25 School Year?
If your child is leaving to attend another high school for the 2024-25 school year, please notify Tiffany Klenke, Registrar, at tklenke@dcsdk12.org as soon as possible. The withdrawal paperwork will be started and instructions on returning books, paying fees, etc will be explained. Following this process will allow for a smooth transition to the new school.
Tissues Needed
Spring allergy season has arrived! Tissue donations for our library would be greatly appeciated. If you would like to contribute, please leave tissues at the front security desk labeled 'library'. Thank you!
IB Update
As the IB exams roll onward, and the AP exams are about to begin, we here in the IB department thought we would share a useful article about healthy eating habits for better test performance. It may seem silly, but the proper diet has been shown to impact assessment performance in students.
For more information on healthy eating habits before a test please see the article linked HERE
Counselors' Corner
This past week in the Counseling office, TRHS Counselors met with 163 students to help with academic planning, social emotional support, and post secondary planning. We have been so proud to watch our seniors during their last week! We have celebrated seniors receiving scholarships and awards, watched them shine at senior boards, and even got a huge kick out of their senior prank!
The last task for seniors to complete is their District ICAP Graduation survey, which can be found on Naviance under “planner” and then “tasks”. This must be completed to receive a cap and gown on Friday May 10th. Graduation is May 16th at DU! All information about graduation can be found here.
These last few weeks, Counselors are working to identify students who need additional academic support and to ensure our rising seniors are on track for graduation. Counselors are also working directly with RanchView Middle School to help our rising Freshmen as they prepare to become Grizzlies. Finally, AP and IB testing begins next week, and counselors will be coordinating and proctoring those tests, while we work to finalize schedules for next year.
Mindful Minute: Avoiding academic burnout
‘Tis the season: the end of the year, and students are SO done. We get it. We’re ready for summer too! With demanding school and life schedules, end of year excitement, worries and frustrations, students are very easily overwhelmed. This article outlines 12 tips for avoiding academic burnout. If you are one to say: “I don’t have time for this," remember: when we prioritize our physical and mental health, we naturally do better, achieve more, and are happier!
This Week in Advisement
Freshmen
Freshmen watched the sophomore project presentations to gain an understanding of what it is, and potential ideas to accomplish next year.
Also, students made a final exam plan and calculated what scores are needed to achieve their desired grade for each class.
Sophomores
Half of the sophomore students presented their final product during the 1st Personal Project Showcase. There were some really amazing projects, and pictures will be included in next week's communication. Congratulate your sophomore for all of the hard work they put in this year accomplishing a passion of theirs.
Juniors
Anyone feeling anxious?? Well if the juniors are they got some great tools to help manage their anxiety. Key takeaways: take a breath, name it tame it, and think positive thoughts. Hopefully these techniques will help as we approach finals.
Seniors
This week in Advisement, seniors began thinking about what legacy they will be leaving here at ThunderRidge after they graduate, and completed a six word legacy activity.
Summer Camp Opportunities
Scholarship and Volunteer Opportunities
Douglas County Libraries has a summer volunteer opportunity for teens who love to read and enjoy working with children. Apply to be a Big Buddy in our Reading Buddies program. Each selected Big Buddy will be trained to read and play literacy games with early readers of various ages to make reading fun, helping them get practice and gain confidence.
Sessions will be held at the Highlands Ranch Library on Tuesdays, June 17-July 12, 1:15-3:15 pm.
For more information and applications go to dcl.org/volunteer
Would you like to be a HOST FAMILY to an amazing high school exchange student from Europe? The STS Foundation is seeking host families now for August 2024. You can pick your student and choose to host for a semester, or for a full school year. Students bring their own spending money for all their expenses and have full comprehensive insurance. Please reach out to Heather Burkhardt for more information or to ask questions.
Heather is a local teacher in Douglas County School District and will help navigate you through every step of this amazing experience!
Heather Burkhardt
Local Cordinator/South Denver 937-304-6043 800-522-4678 x309
ThunderRidge is proud to offer a wide variety of clubs and activities!
Click the bar above for a full list including times, days and locations.
Shop the TR Apparel Store
Shop for your customizeable TR gear anytime at the TRHS Online Apparel Store.
About Us
Principal Sean Patterson
Mission Statement:
Empowering Grizzlies through curiousity, compassion, courage, community and service.
#AlwaysAGrizzly
Website: trhs.dcsdk12.org
Location: 1991 West Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
Phone: 303.387.2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRHSGrizzlies?mibextid+LQQJ4d
Twitter: @TRidgeGrizzlies
Support our school by shopping at American Furniture Warehouse!
Mention ThunderRidge at check-out and a percentage of your purchase will be donated back to the school!
Purchases count any time of the year.