Hello Ridgeline Families-- Happy New Year! We made it back and the transition was pretty good. It was great be back with all the kids and awesome people that I get to work with every day! Do you ever stop and think about the new year in terms of all the life experiences and such that have come before over so many years. 2024 is the year now, but it hardly feels possible at times. For example, I often listen to pandora music while I draft my newsletter, and today a classic Bon Jovi ballad came on—Never Say Goodbye… Music is a powerful memory so I drifted back to remembering the time when that song was popular and what life was like. I had to look this up-- and the “Slippery When Wet” album came out in 1986. In my small home town, we were usually a year or so behind popular music so it was more like my freshman year, 1987, when that song had memories of driving around, school dances, and just the 80’s vibe in general. I guess where I’m going with this is, how fast the last 38 years have gone since that song came out. And I think about the class of 2024, our seniors. Now, the year they’ve had marked beside their school record since kindergarten is a reality. When you reach your last year of formal public education, it’s a pretty powerful moment in your life. A whole new reality sets in that you are about to have to grow up even more and start to make greater decisions about your future. A foundation of the Ridgeline mission is valuing the power of quality relationships with others, and the ability to work well with others. So as I think about their preparation for “next steps” I feel good about their future because of who they are as people. Of the dozens of seniors I know a little bit, I can say confidently that I would want to work with them, I’d want them to work for me, and if we were the same age, I know I’d enjoy them as friends as well. I’m hopeful that in 2062, about 38 years from now, they’ll be able to look back fondly on their experiences from high school and those memories will bring them some joy and they’ll recognize the connection between who they are in 2062 and who they were in 2024.
When I get too nostalgic, it means I’m probably listening to too much 80’s music! I guess the take-away from today’s message is to make the most of your time, treat people well along the way, and the rest generally tends to work itself out.
January is the last month of the 1st semester, so we encourage all students to make the most of their time in the classroom, while balancing their activity and social schedules.
Check out our Ridgeline artists (some pictured here) at the Kress Gallery in River Park Square this month. More details below. So much talent!
Everything goes very quickly the rest of the year, so stay informed, be involved, please read the Falcon Flyer!
Make it a great weekend! --Mr. Hardt
2024 FAFSA Rollout: A bit more tinkering…
In the December 15, Bulletin, I informed you about the FAFSA Simplification Act and its impact on the FAFSA filing date for the 2024-25 financial aid funding year, noting a December 31, date as the first time filers would be able to access either the FAFSA or the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid, which is intended for undocumented students). Unfortunately—and perhaps not unexpectedly—the rollout has been plagued with the kinds of unforeseen issues one might expect with a federal process that hasn’t been updated in nearly 50 years! Practically speaking, many who accessed the forms early experienced frustrating glitches, delays, and extremely limited access. Needless to say, those behind the scenes are working feverishly to fix the issues, increase access, and ensure the smooth operation of the process as quickly as possible. My encouragement to anyone attempting file is to be patient and keep trying—perhaps even waiting a week or two before attempting to access it again. In either case, it’s important to file if your student plans to attend a college or university next fall!
Our Falcon artists are going to be featured at the Kress Gallery at River Park Square in January! Come for opening night Friday, January 5th from 5-8pm, or swing by anytime between January 5th-31st to see many pieces of artwork from students across our district. There will be a variety of incredible artwork done by our very own amazing students!
Falcon Robotics Event
Falcons Robotics is hosting the FTC Interleague event here at RHS on January 13th. Competition starts around 12:30.
18 Teams from the Eastern Washington area will compete in this years Game called Centerstage. Winners form this event will go on to compete at the state competition in February.
Save the date for Falcons Winter Mini Cheer Camp!
Clinic Jan 29th and Performance Jan 30th!
**Registration opens Jan 14th**
Clinic: Monday, Jan 29th, 6-8 pm, RHS gym (Doors open for check-in at 5:30pm)
Performance: Tuesday, Jan 30th, half-time of the varsity girls' basketball game (game starts at 5:30pm) **Warm up time in the commons at 5:30pm
Who: Kids ages K-5th grade
Cost: $50.00 per camper
Registration open 1/14/24-1/28/24 or until we reach 100 campers
*Campers get an RHS cheer T-shirt, green poms and a hair ribbon!
**T-shirt sizes are first come, first served at clinic check-in
***One adult per camper receives free entry to the basketball game
Chess Tournament
All chess players are invited to participate in the CVSD Valley Checkmate Championship, a district-wide chess tournament happening on Friday, January 19th. If you want to participate, come to chess club next Monday (1/8) after school to get the field trip permission form from Mr. Genther in room C203.
Save the date... 2nd annual Falcon Formal Fashion Show
Falcon Families, SAVE THE DATE for the 2nd Annual Ridgeline Business Club Falcon Formal Fashion Show, Thursday, February 15th at 7 pm in the RHS theater. Doors open at 6 pm. This was a blast last year! Come see your fellow Falcons strutting the runway looking fabulous! FBLA and DECA are so excited to be working with Believe Prom and Tux in Spokane Valley for this big event. Please put the date on your calendars. Ticket sales will start in February.
Happy Holidays from the Ridgeline Business Club! 🎄💚
