Falcon Flyer

Hello Ridgeline Families-- The best part about August is when our students start arriving back on campus and breathe life back into a quiet summer building! After this week we’ve got just 12 days until the First Day of School.

It is IMPORTANT to carefully review some key information in today’s Flyer.

I’ll start with the cell phone update detailed below. It’s hard to argue that cell phones aren’t a distraction or cause wasted time in our lives. This becomes particularly problematic at work or school. A helpful resource to delve deeper into the impact on cell phone use with kids (and adults) is a book called, The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt. There is also a podcast overview of the book’s topics available. It really provides some context for what we have suspected for a long time. So, what can we do for our kids at school? We teach them to disconnect from their phones and offer interventions and consequences if they do not. I support this concept as I believe it will do many of our kids a favor in terms of their ability to focus on the task at hand. We will need a lot of parent support and buy-in to be consistent. One way you can help, is to not text your child frequently during the school day. And if you do, be patient not to expect an immediate response. Seems simple, right? Except, WE, the adults also get anxious when we don’t hear back right away from our kids. It’s a pretty amazing dynamic we’ve created for ourselves. So please review the policy with your child.

Attendance is addressed in the Flyer as well. There is a lot of emphasis already on Unexcused absences. We will always focus on those, but are increasing our efforts on mitigating EXCUSED absences and Tardies (late to class). Interesting phenomenon I’ve observed many times over the years… There is sometimes a disconnect between being on time to school and on time for other activities or appointments. I’ll see a parent come in urgently demanding to pick up their child because they are running late for the orthodontist, and regularly call in and excuse their child for being late or missing school just because they can. What if we all worked together and intensely focused on getting our kids to class on time (particularly that 1st period in the morning) and getting to school every day, limiting excused absences? It is an area of “growth” for us as a school this year.

The last item I want to bring to your attention is accessing Powerschool. There is a handy link below to get you started and access the parent portal. This can be a useful tool to help monitor your child’s academic progress as well as attendance. If you take care of it today, you’ll be set for the rest of the year!

If you do go to the Powerschool portal, you’ll notice an advertisement that it goes “live” on Monday, Aug. 26, 3:30pm. You and your student will be very excited to see their new schedule. IT WON’T BE 100% ACCURATE. We are aggressively addressing some significant matters related to staffing and enrollment, which means we will still be cleaning up the master schedule and, thereby, individual student schedules right up through the first days of school. As the master schedule gets fine-tuned next week and the two days before school, the student schedules will be more complete. Please hold off calling/emailing your child’s counselor through next week.

It will ALL get worked out—it always does!

Thank you for your continued support and working together to make Ridgeline an excellent place to learn and grow!

Make it a great weekend! --Mr. Hardt

If you are a NEW STUDENT to Central Valley School District, please follow the below steps to register:

Register your student online:

💻 https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/enrollment

Once your online registration is complete and we have received all of the required documentation, our Registrar will call you to schedule a new student registration appointment with our counselors.

**It's important to note that you need to register online first, and then our Counseling Secretary, will call you to make an appointment, no walk-ins.

The Falcon football program is in need of two managers for the upcoming season!

Contact Mr. Rogers for details concerning the schedule and responsibilities:

Email: brogers@cvsd.org

Our incredible Falcon Link Crew is ready for our incoming freshmen! Parents, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 28th from 6:00-7:30 for a night of activities, campus insight and tour, plus a great connection for your incoming 9th grader. (This is for freshmen only, sorry - no parents).

Looking for an activity or sport for this fall? Consider playing Unified!

What is Unified Soccer? We take students with and without intellectual/physical disabilities to practice and compete in a variety of sports. Everyone gets the opportunity to play unified. This fall we are beginning with soccer, and we will get the chance to compete against other GSL schools. This is an inclusive, welcoming, and uplifting group.

Practices are Tuesdays from 2:30-4:00 beginning September 17th. Students who are getting a ride home will need to be picked up at 4:00. Students cannot stay later or stay without supervision. Our season will run late September to early November. The game schedule has not been released yet.

You can begin registering Monday August 26th. Registration is through our final form registration process. Here are the links to the directions and registration. Students do need a sports physical completed that is not older than 2 years. Everything must be submitted and cleared by September 13th.

We highly suggest bringing a snack to eat before practice and a water bottle. Athletes will need tennis shoes and shin guards, but cleats are not required.

Coaching this year are Miranda Lasz (mlasz@cvsd.org) and Danae Unland (dunland@cvsd.org). If you have any questions, please reach out to them.

The Plot Like Gravy, Thickens

Audition/Tech Information

• Auditions are Tuesday, September 10 from 2:30-5:30
• Callback list will be posted Wednesday, September 11, after school
• Callbacks will be Thursday, September 12 from 2:30-5:30
• Cast List will be posted on the Theater door Friday, Sept. 13 after school
• Tech Crew List will be posted Friday, Sept. 13, after school

FIRST REHEARSAL IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 IN THE THEATER.

Rehearsals are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2:30-5:00 (until tech

week). We will utilize the Band app to communicate all important

information. Tech crew may not be needed until later in September. Please

note that ALL cast and crew is called during tech week as well as all

performances. Please check your calendar and make sure these dates are

available. The rehearsal/performance schedule is included in this packet.

As theatre is an ASB activity, every student involved in the show (cast and

crew) will be required to have a Final Forms account, which includes an

up-to-date physical on file. Also, every student will need to be (and remain)

academically eligible. Cast members will need to pay a $50.00 Theatre fee,

which will go towards costumes. FINAL FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED BY

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.

Auditions will involve performing at two of the short paragraphs from the

show (attached below). At this point they are not attached to a specific

character. We are looking for STRONG character choices in voice and body

language. As this show is a comedy, funny character choices are great. Also,

we are looking for clear pronunciation, articulation, and not hurrying

through the lines. Memorization is not required.

We will also ask those auditioning to say short phrases and move about the

stage as directed (no preparation required).

Callbacks are by invitation only. The list will be posted on the theater door.

Callbacks will involve cold reads, teaching parts of songs from the show, and

scene work.

Audition and tech crew applications are on a Google Form. There are NO paper

applications this year. The QR code for each is attached below.

~Students may apply to audition as well as to tech crew (if not selected for the

cast).

Applications are due NO LATER than Monday, September 9. Applications will

NOT be accepted later than this.

If your student needs a locker, fill out the link below using the student's email address. Student's can get locker information in the front office!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to thank you for your continuous support. We are looking forward to the 24-25 school year with renewed focus. One key area we are focusing on is the responsible use of technology, particularly cell phones and personal devices. In alignment with the CVSD Cell Phone Policy, Ridgeline High School has established guidelines to ensure that students can maximize their learning potential while minimizing distractions during instructional time.

Our school-wide cell phone and personal device policy aims to create an environment conducive to learning by restricting the use of these devices during instructional periods. This includes all class periods, advisory, and formal assemblies. Cell phones and personal devices must be turned off or set to silent and stored out of sight during all instructional periods unless specifically approved by the teacher. However, students may use their cell phones and devices before and after school, during passing periods, and at lunch. Usage should not disrupt the school environment or cause tardiness.

Students who do not comply with these guidelines may face consequences such as verbal warnings, device confiscation for the rest of the period or day, lunch detention, and, in repeated cases, parents/guardians may need to retrieve the device from the school. We believe that by adhering to these guidelines, we can foster a learning environment that enhances student engagement and success. Your support in reinforcing these policies at home will be invaluable in helping us achieve these goals.

Thank you once again for your partnership. We look forward to a productive and positive school year ahead.

Sincerely,

RHS Administration

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. As educators, we continually strive to ensure the success and well-being of every student in our care. One crucial aspect that greatly contributes to your child's academic progress is consistent school attendance.

We've noticed a concerning trend recently regarding the increase in EXCUSED absences among many of our students. While we understand that there are legitimate reasons for occasional absences, it's important to emphasize the negative impact frequent or prolonged absences can have on your child's education and the classroom environment. Regular attendance is not just about physical presence; it's about active participation, engagement, and continuity of learning.

Data shows a strong link between school attendance and academic success. Students who miss more than 10% of school days are at risk of lower grades and higher chances of dropping out. Each missed day can create gaps in learning, making it challenging for students to keep up with their peers. Furthermore, consistent attendance fosters a sense of responsibility, discipline, and commitment in students—essential qualities for success later in life.

To further address punctuality and minimize disruptions, we are implementing a new Ridgeline High School tardy policy:

Purpose: To encourage punctuality and minimize disruptions to learning.

Key Points:

• Expectations: Students should be in class and ready when the bell rings.

• Procedure: Students arriving late must get a tardy slip from the Attendance Desk.

• Consequences for Unexcused Tardies:

• 1st Tardy: Verbal warning and policy review by classroom teacher.

• 2nd Tardy: Parent/guardian notified by classroom teacher.

• 3rd Tardy: Office referral; possible lunch detention. Administration will contact parents and students.

• 4th+ Tardy: Additional consequences, including automatic lunch detention.

• Communication: This will be reviewed in the beginning of the year with all students.

As parents and guardians, your support in prioritizing school attendance and minimizing unnecessary absences is crucial. Encouraging your child to attend school regularly sets a positive example and reinforces the importance of education in their lives.

If there are any challenges or concerns affecting your child's attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you and work together to ensure your child's academic success and well-being.

Sincerely,

RHS Administrative Team

Register Your Student for Bus Transportation

If your student needs transportation to and from school in the 2024-2025 school year, they will need to register to ride. Please help us out with our planning purposes for transportation for next school year. ​​​​​​​Our current Walk Zones are still in effect.

If your address has changed, contact your student's school to inform them of the new address.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzPwxhOCmpRLh7SwcuefHIAHUyDE3VRTYM9fueLF9mVbzTtA/viewform

RHS Falcon Mini Cheer Camp (K-8th)

Please join the Ridgeline Falcon Cheerleaders for our Fall Falcons Mini Cheer Camp!

Mini campers will learn cheers, a band chant and stunts to perform at a Varsity Football game!

Who: Kids ages K-8th grade

When: Sept 25th and 27th—clinic and game performance!

Clinic: Weds Sept 25th, 6-8 pm, RHS gym (Doors open at 5:30) Performance: Fri Sept 27th, half-time of the varsity Football game vs. Shadle Park (game starts at 7pm; optional cheer warm-up in the gym at 6pm)

Cost: $50.00 per camper *Campers get a pink cheer T-shirt, pink ribbon and green poms! **Special thanks to DaBell & Paventy Orthodontics for their continued support ***

One adult per camper receives free entry to the football game!

Registration is live and open until we reach 100 campers

💻https://gofan.co/event/1654063?schoolId=WA87837

Attention Seniors!

🤍Class of 2025 🤍

Senior Photos must be submitted by Monday, October 28th.

Link for Senior Portraits: https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=25falcons

Link for Senior Tribute ads: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/job/21919

Have extra-curricular photos, family, special pictures or additional portraits of your senior you'd like to share? Use the attached link to purchase a senior tribute ad for our yearbook.

Tributes vary in size and price. Parents and guardians get to choose the layout, photos and write a special message.

Please be advised that yearbook staff members will not edit spelling or crop pictures, and the administration does reserve the right to refuse tributes due to inappropriateness.

Please click link below for more information!

RHS 2025 Senior Parents!! Our time is here to start planning a Grad Night they will remember for years to come!! Help be a part of the planning committee — many hands make light work!! Not sure what Grad Night is all about?? Come join us for a parent meeting to discuss all things Grad Night 2025 and let’s make this the best night ever for our Seniors!! Go Falcons!!! 💚🩶

Come see four local marching bands debut their 2024 shows in exhibition: Cheney High School, Mead High School, University High School, and Ridgeline High School. You may purchase tickets at the door or skip the line for ticket and food purchases by ordering online at https://ridgeline-band-boosters.square.site/spectacle-of-sound-2024 Doors open at 5:30-See you there!

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)