Hello Ridgeline Families- What a busy and enjoyable week here at RHS. The accelerator is pretty much to the floor with only 34 school days until graduation, 40 until the last day of school. I’m not usually one for “countdowns”, but I was literally counting the days relative to all the academics and activities we have scheduled in that window of time. So buckle up!
This week we enjoyed celebrating some significant accomplishments. Monday began with the annual Spokane Scholars banquet. This regional event is held at the Convention Center and involves about 30 high schools. We had an impressive group of students and even earned some scholarship money (group pictured here). The next day, Mr. Emmerson and I accompanied Maddie and Zander to the GSL Scholar/Athlete recognition luncheon. We’re very proud of our scholars and athletes! Read more about both of these events below. Thursday we hosted our one big track meet of the year. It takes great planning by our coaches and a lot of hands to assist, so Thank You to all volunteers who took the time to come and support our athletes! I’d like to thank parent volunteer, Katharine Heskett, who assisted me with the senior awards (and always reads my newsletter-good job)! Looking forward to celebrating our senior boys soccer tonight, and baseball, softball, golf, and tennis seniors very soon!
At our staff meeting Thursday morning we took a look at some interesting Attendance data, prepared by our Dean of Students, Ms. Fraser. Something parents might be surprised to know: 21% of our students have already missed 10% of the school days for the year. That’s about 1 in 4 students. Peeling back the data a bit, it is calculated even by single periods. For example, periods are added together to total a single day (6 periods=1 full day). So your student might have missed two periods one day, three periods another, then just one another day—for a total of 1 full day. This data also includes missing a class period for ANY REASON—excused, unexcused, release for school activity, etc… If you consider Becca law requirements for Chronic Unexcused absences (10+/year), we have 7% of our students in that category. We have many interventions in place, and still we have a ways to go. A goal moving forward is to work on what we can control. It would be important to add parent voices to this conversation. We collectively need to evaluate what “school” can and should look like for most kids. What are our community values around school attendance? Is physically being in school, in class the most important part of education to our families? Have things changed so much (due to many factors), that the high school experience needs to be re-imagined? My learning style (and leadership) is enhanced when I have the benefit of working with others and sharing perspectives and thinking. I’ve read “principal” books and leadership books and have learned many things. However, the real learning didn’t occur until it was applied in the fluid environment of a school with hundreds of people influencing the outcome. Apply that to reading about a science concept from a textbook at home alone, to participating in a collaborative lab experiment where a team of scientists works through the scientific method to ascertain results. There will be more dialogue and opportunities for input regarding school attendance in the coming year, stay tuned!
I’ve ran this by you a few times and would like to have a couple more parents… Ridgeline Accreditation-We’re looking for parent input: If you are interested in participating in a parent forum regarding accreditation for Ridgeline High School, we’d like to hear from you. The peer review team will be at Ridgeline on Friday, April 26, from 11:00-11:45, to meet with RHS parents. The 45 minute conversation revolves primarily around two big ideas: What is going well at Ridgeline? What are some opportunities for improvement? More info about accreditation is below or you can go to the Washington State Board of Education to learn more: https://www.sbe.wa.gov/faqs/accreditation
If you’d like to participate, and can be available at that time, please contact our head secretary, Molly Adams at MoAdams@cvsd.org. You’ll be sent a confirmation, or a ‘thank you but we’re full’ notice a week before. Please provide your phone number along with your email. Thank you!
What is Accreditation?: Accreditation is a voluntary process for granting public recognition to institutions that meet external standards of quality. It is a process a school undertakes to create a valid, credible reputation among fellow institutions, students and the public. Accreditation is a peer review process that is intended to help schools develop their strengths, ensure effective governance, and provide the best educational experiences for their students. The primary objective of accreditation is ongoing school improvement.
Who Reviews Us? The peer review team is comprised of individuals from our local and regional ESD’s (Educational Service Districts), with input from stakeholders—staff, students, and parents.
Find out what’s happening, be an informed parent, check out the Falcon Flyer every week!
Make it a great weekend! --Mr. Hardt
Attention AP Students and Parents
Test Date, Location, and Arrival Time:
What To Bring For Paper Exams:
-2 pencils (with erasers) for completing multiple-choice answer sheets.
-2 pens, with black or dark blue ink only, for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions in most exams.
-Calculators with the necessary capabilities if they're taking an AP Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics, or Statistics Exam. Instruct students to visit apstudents.org/courses and go to the calculator policy section within their course page for the specific calculator policy. Bring extra batteries or a charger.
What to Bring For Digital Exams:
-Fully Charged School Issued Chromebook with Charger for emergencies ONLY (any broken devices or chargers need to be taken to the library and fixed at minimum 1 week prior to exam)
**Limited access to outlets. FULLY CHARGED CHROMEBOOK IS MANDATORY
-College Board Username and Password – Please inform your students to have their College Board username and password written down on a scratch piece of paper/sticky note. Students will not have access to their phones to look at stored information such as username/password. Any username/password issues need to be resolved prior to test day. The student must call the College Board Help Line - 866-630-9305.
-Pen or Pencil to use on scratch paper that is provided.
IMPORTANT: What NOT to Bring:
NO Electronic equipment of any kind:
- Phones or Headphones/Earbuds/AirPods
- Smartwatches or wearable technology of any kind
- Cameras or photographic equipment
- Devices that can access the internet, separate timers of any type, and any other electronic or communication devices.
- If possible, BACKPACKS SHOULD BE LEFT IN YOUR CAR, LOCKER, OR AT HOME.
Snacks will be provided; however, if you choose to bring your own snack this will be stored under your chair and you will not have access to them until break and must be consumed outside of the testing room.
Please remember to pay your test fees prior to the exam day. This can be done on line at https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/payments or in the Business Office.
T24 College and Career Circuit is Back!
Greetings, Falcons! The T24 College and Career Circuit is back and will take place on Tuesday, April 23, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Central Valley High School. Students will have an opportunity to explore the many apprenticeship, college/university, and US military options available to them following graduation. To learn more, access the QR code on the electronic flyer or via this link. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Spraggins (bspraggins@cvsd.org).
Summer 2024 CVVL High School Registration is now OPEN.
Registration Link: CVVL HS 2024 Summer School Registration Link
CVVL HS SUMMER Course Information
- CVVL summer school is for credit advancement. If you failed a course and need to make up credits, please wait for information regarding credit retrieval summer school.
- You may register for only ONE summer school course.
Interested in dance team?
Interested in being on one of the top dance teams in the state!? Join the google classroom for updates! Audition is open to any students grades 8-11!
Audition information:
Prep Class 4/20 10am-12pm
Tryouts: 4/22 & 4/23 6pm-8pm
Finals 4/25 6pm-8pm
Classroom code: 7vmzg5k
In order to attend prep classes or tryouts, must be signed up thru Final Forms! Link below!
RHS Marching Band Information/Registration Night (April 23)
Attention ALL CURRENT 11th – 8th grade students attending Ridgeline HS next year. We are excited to announce the Ridgeline HS Marching Band Information and Registration Night. If you are interested in joining the RHS Marching Band, the Ridgeline Regiment as a band, percussion or colorguard performer, please make a plan to attend Information and Registration Night next week!
The meeting is hosted in the RHS Commons through the Main Entrance. Coaches, and veteran students and parents will join Director of Bands, Mr. Parker to help your student join one of the many amazing, record-breaking programs at Ridgeline. Colorguard and Percussion audition process will be discussed, summer camp expectations and an open Q & A to debunk myths or truths about the exciting program of marching band.
Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:00pm in the Ridgeline HS Commons (use the main entrance). Expect to wrap the general meeting around 7:45pm and join breakouts for percussion and colorguard students/families that break at 8:15pm.
Registration for this activity will open Tuesday night, at www.ridgelinebands.org.
AWARD-WINNING RIDGELINE COLORGUARD AUDITIONS
Colorguard Auditions are coming up next month. If you are interested in joining the Colorguard section for the Ridgeline Regiment, please make sure you are ready for the experience that starts on Tuesday, May 14th and continues through Wednesday, May 15th and Thursday, May 16th. All sessions are from 3:30pm – 6:30pm; students should plan to ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS. Students will enter through the main entrance and head towards the main gymnasium. Tennis shoes and active wear are part of the audition expectation. Coaches will review the dance elements and the equipment elements of the week. We won’t be making cuts, we want to figure out who wants to be part of the team and what skills you have that we can highlight in the design. Then we will run a few skill camps between May and August.
ALL INTERESTED COLORGUARD students and parents should plan to attend the Marching Band Information and Registration Night, Tuesday, April 23rd at 7pm in the RHS Commons. More questions can be asked of the audition process during that night when the coaches cover colorguard topics.
Congratulations to Maddie Hutyler and Zander Palm as representatives for Ridgeline High School in our annual GSL Scholar Athlete luncheon. Each school nominates two student athletes for this prestigious award and these two Falcons are our well-deserved winners. They embody the spirit of our Mission of Belong, Inspire, Grow both in Academics and Athletics!
Talons Up!
Spokane Scholars Foundation
We had six stellar seniors receive their recognition for their incredible academic excellence at last night’s Spokane Scholars Foundation. Bella Mueller was nominated for English, Grayson Nendel for Fine Arts, Nick Goode for Math, Sanjana Sharma for Science, Paige Van Buren for Social Studies, and Kale Kardonsky for World Languages. Nick Goode received the $1,000 scholarship for math, Sanjana Sharma also earned the$1,000 scholarship for science, and Paige Van Buren was given the $2,000 scholarship for Social Studies. What an incredible night for these Falcons!
Dance Team
Congratulations dancers on an amazing season! We want to say a heartfelt thank you to our four seniors Abbie, Avery, Olivia, and Payten. BIG congratulations to our award winners for this season voted on by their teammates:
Most Valuable Dancer: Olivia Warrick
Swoop (teammate) Award: Natalie Newell
Most inspirational: Payten Hooper
Most Improved: Ava Richardson
Coaches Award: Brooke Broom
Falcon Link Crew applications (2024-2025)
Falcon Link Crew is looking for leaders for the upcoming 24-25 school year. Applications are posted on Google classroom for your graduating class. Complete the application no later than May 3rd.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gXBsLNyJriLflU4APnf8UL5lfDIoVoTEBmGlgLLfHn8/edit
Questions? Please email Mrs. Grisafi (lgrisafi@cvsd.org) or Mrs. Jones (wjones@cvsd.org)
1st Annual Mr. BIG's Gentelman's Pageant
Senior boys, Ridgeline is hosting its very first Mr. BIG Gentleman's Pageant and we want YOU to participate! Nominate senior boys who will be great at putting on a show! This exciting event offers our senior boys a chance to shine on the main stage and enjoy an unforgettable experience. The pageant will feature a group performance, entertaining bios, formal wear, a talent show, and engaging on-stage questions.
The pageant will include formal wear, talent show, and group performances. Mandatory meetings will be held during lunches this Wednesday (4/24) and Thursday (4/25) in the counseling center. See Mrs. Roberts for more information.
Grad Night 2024 Tickets
This annual, all-night event, is a way for our graduating seniors to celebrate together one last time, in a safe, fun-filled place. It will happen on Saturday, June 8th 2024, from 9:00 pm - 3:30 am at Triple Play in Cda. Tickets are $100 and will include the cost of travel to and from, all activities at Triple Play Fun Park, pizza and end-less soda, plus other fun surprises! (**NOTE: if you purchased a Senior Bundle package in the Fall - parking spot/yard sign/GN ticket- Do NOT purchase a ticket again!!)
AMAZON WISH LIST
Students love PRIZES and we want to celebrate all their success with gifts and prizes at the Grad Night 2024 All-Nighter! Please consider purchasing a prize from the curated Amazon Wish List that will be awarded at the Grad Night 2024 Event. All seniors who attend Grad Night 2024 will have a chance to win these prizes or be given a gift from the RHS Falcon Boosters.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2JICUH080WAH5?ref_=wl_share
Senior YARD SIGNS
RHS Falcon Boosters will be selling Senior Yard Signs again this year for you to proudly display in your yard. Signs are $25 and the deadline to purchase is Friday April 19th so don't delay!! Signs will be available for pick up in the beginning of May. (**NOTE: if you purchased a Senior Bundle package in the Fall - parking spot/yard sign/GN ticket- Do NOT purchase a Yard Sign again!!)
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
