ThunderRidge Weekly Update

Grizzly Families,

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for our staff, students, and the amazing ThunderRidge community. I hope you are all able to enjoy some time with your family and friends next week.

When we return, we will only have about two weeks of classroom time left before finals begin. Please remind your students to take advantange of Grizzly Hour and free NHS tutoring on Thursday mornings. NHS will also be hosting their Finals Study Fest on Friday, December 13th, from 3:00-4:30pm in the Commons. Tutors for all of the core subjects and world languages will be available. This is a great opportunity for some extra support.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving,

Principal

ThunderRidge High School

November 25-29 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

December 4 - Legacy Campus Showcase & Registration Information Night - 6:00pm - Legacy Campus

December 10 - Choir Concert - 7:00pm - Auditorium

December 11 - Christmas Music Collage - 7:00pm - Auditorium

December 12 - Band Concert - 7:00pm - Auditorium

December 13 - NHS Finals Study Fest - 3:00pm - 4:30pm - Commons

December 16-19 - Fall Final Exams

December 19 - End of 2nd Quarter/1st Semester

December 20 - Teacher Workday - NO SCHOOL

December 23 -January 3 - ❄️ Winter Break - NO SCHOOL ❄️

January 6 - Teacher Workday - NO SCHOOL

January 7 - Students return for 2nd Semester

Monday - Blue Day

Tuesday - Green Day

Wednesday - Blue Day

Thursday - Green Day

Friday - All Day with PLC

ThunderRidge has PLC's every Friday morning if it is a regular, 5-day, school week.

Classes begin at 8:25am on PLC days. If your student needs to arrive at school prior to 8:25am,

they may go to the Library or Commons until class starts.

Breakfast will be available in the cafeteria.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16th

Access - 7:40-8:40

Period 1 - 8:47-10:17

Period 2 - 10:24-11:54

Access as needed - 12:50-2:50

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17th

Access - 7:40-8:40

Period 3 - 8:47-10:17

Period 4 - 10:24-11:54

Access as needed - 12:50-2:50

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18th

Access - 7:40-8:40

Period 5 - 8:47-10:17

Period 6 - 10:24-11:54

Make-up testing as needed - 12:50-2:50

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19th

Access - 7:40-8:40

Seminar - 8:45-9:15

Period 7 - 9:22-10:52

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th

Teacher Workday - NO STUDENTS

Buses will run on their regularly scheduled times. Students who ride the

bus can wait in the Commons until 2:50 pm.

Thank you to our wonderful Social Studies and World Language teams for their outstanding dedication to our students! We are grateful for each one of you!

Click the image above to keep up with all ThunderRidge Athletics information.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook @ThunderRidge Athletics.

Do you know someone who is interested in attending ThunderRidge High School for the 2025-2026 school year? Open enrollment for DCSD is underway! Visit the DCSD website to apply.

Please reach out to Tiffany Klenke, Registrar, at tklenke@dcsdk12.org with any questions.

Senior Advertisements are still available for purchase. Click here for directions.

The last day to purchase and submit an ad is December 19th.

If you want to ensure your student gets a yearbook for the 24-25 school year, please place your order in MySchoolBucks by January 15th. The cost is $80.

There will be a very limited supply for sale on a first come first serve basis at a higher price of $85 during distribution in May.

This past week in the counseling office, TRHS Counselors saw 289 students to provide support with academics, social emotional concerns, and post secondary planning. Counselors visited Freshman Advisement classes this week to assist students in strategically selecting courses that align with their strengths and interests, guiding them toward informed post-graduation plans and future academic or career success.

One of the most exciting post secondary offerings we have is our Career Exploration Series. This series provides students the chance to hear about careers in a broad variety of industries around our area. Every Tuesday, we host a different career speaker who shares with us about their job, their career journey, the skills and interests needed, and much more. We will send out an email each month with the following month’s career speakers, and a link to sign up.

December 3rd, 10:20am - 10:55am: Melissa Akaka - Marketing Professor at the University of Denver. Melissa will discuss the experience of becoming and being a professor, and the value of higher education.

December 10th 10:20am-10:55am: Brandon Flask - Water Quality Technician

Brandon will be sharing how he ensures potable water throughout the city of Denver is clean, safe and reliable, and meets/exceeds state and federal regulations.

Click here to sign up. (Parents, please note that only students can click on the form and sign up.)

Legacy Campus CTE program information night!

The third annual Legacy Campus Showcase and Registration Information Night is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, 2024 starting at 6:00pm. This event is a key opportunity for all new, interested, and prospective students and their families, as we will be providing essential registration information during the first portion of the evening. Attendance is mandatory for those considering enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year.

Is your student struggling with academics? We have many resources available to help:

1. Grizz Hour is a time when every teacher in the building is available to provide extra help; ask your student if they are using this time to visit teachers to get the support they need.

2. FREE tutoring is available after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 in room F224.

3. National Honor Society students are available during Grizz hour in room C108 to provide tutoring and academic support.

Mindful Minute - Gratitude

As we approach the Thanksgiving holidays, we often focus on what we are grateful for. As it turns out, gratitude is an important part of positive mental health. Gratitude enhances overall well-being by shifting focus from what's lacking to what's positive, fostering a sense of fulfillment.

To inject more gratitude and positivity into your daily life, try using “What Went Well”. At the beginning or end of each day, write down three things that went well. These can be as simple as: “I had a good conversation with a friend”. You’ll find that this can reduce stress, strengthen relationships, boost your mood, and encourage a more optimistic perspective, leading to improved mental and emotional health.

For all things Counseling, including college and scholarship information,

check the full Counseling Newsletter.

This week, as we get ready for the Thanksgiving Break, we in the IB Department wanted to share some of the other Fall/Harvest festivals from around the world. While Thanksgiving is unique to North America (Canada does celebrate Thanksgiving just a week earlier), there are different celebrations the world over to commemorate the harvest and the fall season. It is a good reminder that wherever we are in the world, people always have something to give thanks for. Have a great break!!

Asia

Mid-Autumn Festival (China, Vietnam, and East Asia):

• When: 15th day of the 8th lunar month (September or October).
• Significance: A moon festival celebrating the harvest and family unity.
• Traditions: Eating mooncakes, lantern displays, and moon-viewing.

Pongal (India):

• When: Mid-January.
• Significance: A Tamil festival giving thanks to the Sun God for the harvest.
• Traditions: Cooking and sharing "Pongal" (a rice dish), decorating homes with kolam (rangoli), and honoring cattle.

Africa

Yam Festival (Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries):

• When: August or September.
• Significance: Celebrates the first harvest of yams, a staple crop.
• Traditions: Offering the first yams to deities, dancing, and feasting.

South America

Inti Raymi (Peru and Andean regions):

• When: June 24th.
• Significance: An Incan festival honoring Inti, the sun god, for agricultural prosperity.
• Traditions: Traditional dances, music, and rituals performed near ancient sites like Machu Picchu.

Oceania

Matariki (New Zealand):

• When: Late June to early July (Māori New Year).
• Significance: Marks the rising of the Pleiades star cluster and the start of the planting season.
• Traditions: Feasting, storytelling, and remembering ancestors.

Middle East

Sukkot (Jewish festival):

• When: Late September to early October (15th day of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar).
• Significance: Commemorates the gathering of the harvest and the Israelites' journey in the desert.
• Traditions: Building a sukkah (temporary hut), meals with family, and prayers.

Half of the freshman class registered for next year’s classes. The other half watched a TedTalk about procrastination and reflected on the tasks they need to prioritize in their lives. -Mr. Cohen

Students met with their Advisement teachers to check-in and receive their 2nd progress grade. This grade covers pages 16-22 in their Personal Project Booklet. As we get closer to Winter Break students should be working to complete their goal. -Ms. Brant

This week we peaked the Juniors interest as we continue our dive into career exploration. Students learned about the Holland Codes, and how they align with careers. Next class they will take the O*Net profiler to see how their interests align with a career. -Mr. Bidinger

Project should be completed. We reviewed the Body of Evidence and what to begin collecting to document their Senior Project progression. -Ms. Vande Vusse

If you're purchasing wreaths, centerpieces, or garlands for yourself or gifts this holiday season, please consider purchasing them from Lynch Creek Farms to support ThunderRidge Girls Tennis. Lynch Creek Farms makes beautiful, high quality, handcrafted wreaths and fresh greenery on their family-owned farm in Shelton, Washington. There are more than 150 products to choose from and all products are shipped directly to you or your gift recipient.

Follow this LINK to place your order and 15% of your purchase will support the ThunderRidge Girls Tennis program.

Thank you for your support!

November 23, 2024

The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce hosts the holiday Starlighting ceremony each year and needs several volunteers to coordinate all the activities. If you need/want volunteer hours,

please sign up here.

December 7, 2024

8:00am - 11:30am

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BAEAE28A6F5C43-52574302-2024#/

We are looking for 2 volunteers to help with childcare during each PTO/SAC meeting for the 2024-2025 school year at Eldorado Elementary. Meetings run from 6:00-8:30pm. Volunteers arrive 10-15 minutes early (5:45pm) to get set up (you will have access to PE equipment). Please sign up for any/all slots that you are available to help!

Please bring any volunteer forms needing to be completed and we will get those filled out at the end of the night. Please email Sarah Demers at secretary.pto.eldorado@gmail.com with any questions.

Sign up here

Students receive a Pass (P) or Fail (F) grade for Advisement based on 30% completion of work AND 70% attendance.

This class is a Pass (P) or Fail (F) class based on 70% attendance.

This class is a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade based on 70% attendance.

Principal: Sean Patterson

Mission Statement:

Empowering Grizzlies through curiosity, compassion, courage, community and service.

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
X (formerly Twitter): @TRidgeGrizzlies