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HRHS Falcon Community Bulletin

Week of February 03, 2025

HRHS FalconCommunity BulletinWeek of February 03, 2025

Our Falcon Community Bulletin

**Please Open this Bulletin in an internet browser to see all sections of the Bulletin**

We understand that often the bulletin information can remain here for a long time, and important information can sometimes get lost. So we highlight WHAT'S NEW as the most important things happening here at the school right now. We will still leave other pertinent information in the bulletin so that it can be referenced throughout the year

WHAT'S NEW and IMPORTANT:

  • HRHS Wish Week Closing ceremony is tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb 4 during Homeroom and Access! Click here to watch the closing assembly. It will begin at around 9:15. Thank you to our staff, students, feeder schools and community for helping us grant Regina’s wish and more for our Make-A-Wish Colorado fundraiser. Please accept our sincere thank you to everyone for contributing to the week! Follow our Instagram page @hrfalcons

    • Pods are still available at TOPGOLF tonight, Monday, February 3rd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Reserve a pod for $120 by clicking the hyperlink. Each pod has room for 6 people.

    • Check out our SILENT AUCTION here (still accepting bids through Tuesday) and make a bid on an item. Thank you to everyone who made a donation to the auction!


  • Safety and Security of Students: A reminder to all families, student safety is of paramount importance in our building. Emergency Contacts and Related Family members listed in Infinite Campus are the only people allowed to pick up your student from school for an appointment, etc.

    • If you need to add anyone to your list of trusted individuals, please email our Registrar, Ashlee Main, (amain@dcsdk12.org), with the full contact information (name, cell, work, home phone number(s), email address) for each person to be added.

    • All absences, appointment pick-ups, late arrival or early dismissals MUST be reported to our Attendance Line number: 303-387-2502, 24 hours in advance. Please see additional information below in the Attendance section.


  • Graduating Seniors: Seniors should have picked up their Announcements and/or Merchandise on Wednesday, Jan 29. If students forgot, all fully-paid orders are available in the Main Office. If a balance was due on the order, please contact Jostens local office directly (303-985-0095) to complete payment.

    • Seniors may pick up their orders before or after school or during their assigned off period or lunch time.

    • Seniors may NOT leave their classes to collect their Jostens order.


  • Principal’s Pass Application: The Highlands Ranch Principal’s Pass Program, linked HERE, is designed to provide recognition for those Senior students who meet the highest standards while providing additional incentives to motivate other students to aspire to a similar level of accomplishment. Additionally, it is designed to provide a more independent experience that will foster a smoother transition into the post-graduation experience.

  • Important School Immunization Information for Families: Please see the update from the Colorado Dept. of Education HERE


  • February 14-Special Event: Get ready for some fun because Junior Beauty Night is happening on Valentine's Day! We are so excited to share all the amazing things happening in our class as we prepare for the upcoming SkillsUSA competitions. This exciting event is not just about beauty; it’s a fundraiser organized by our amazing students as part of our SkillsUSA organization.

    • Come join us for a night filled with beauty, creativity, and community spirit! All proceeds will go towards our competition kits and fees, helping us take as many as 33 students to compete this year!What a fantastic journey it has been!

    • Last year, during our first time at SkillsUSA, our talented 11 students brought home an impressive 3 state titles in Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Care! Their dedication and hard work truly paid off, and we are so proud of their achievements!

    • Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm! Together, we are making a difference in our students' lives and helping them shine in the world of cosmetology. Let’s keep the momentum going and make this year even more successful! Please see the link HERE to reserve a space for your younger children.

--> OTHER IMPORTANT HRHS INFORMATION

  • Celebrate National School Counseling Week Feb 3-7, 2025!

    • DID YOU KNOW that in DCSD we have one of the lowest counselor-to-student ratios nationally, allowing counselors time to design data-driven comprehensive programming for all students? Through the instruction of the American School Counselors' Mindset and Behavior standards, students are better able to engage academically, learn social-emotional wellness skills, and access college and career pathways.

    • DID YOU KNOW that DCSD School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling? The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program in supporting the whole child.

    • DID YOU KNOW that DCSD school counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options, and social/emotional skills?

    • DID YOU KNOW that DCSD School counseling programs help to increase student achievement by identifying gaps in achievement data and designing instruction to close these gaps? School counselors are integral to student success.


  • What does a student being “EXITED” by the District mean? If you receive an “Exited Warning” letter from the school, it is due to your student being absent from school for 10 consecutive days or for a high federal absenteeism rate (over 45%). If you receive the warning letter, you have 5 days to contact your student’s Counselor to re-engage your student to improve his or her educational experience.

    • If you do NOT contact the Counselor, your student will be exited from the school.

    • Your “Exited” student is STILL enrolled in HRHS/Douglas County schools, however, per CDE (Colorado Department of Education) your student will not be counted towards enrollment and will NOT have a schedule until you and your student meet with a District re-engagement specialist to determine the best way to re-engage your student to improve their attendance and their educational needs.

    • Per the State of Colorado, students must attend school and classes until the age of 17, so your student is still subject to all Truancy laws. This is a new process from the State of Colorado.


  • HRHS ID Scanners Use: Please remind your student to download the Minga app on their smart device. If a student’s ID card is not scanning or their photo is not in the Minga app, please ask them to report this to the staff in the Main Office.

    • If students do not have a smart phone they must use a current ID card (cost of $5 to replace a lost ID).

    • Students without a current ID will be required to enter through the Main Entrance and go directly to the Main Office to have their photo taken and obtain their ID card.


  • Exciting Opportunity for Student Travel sponsored by members of the English Dept! We’re going on an educational adventure in BUDAPEST, VIENNA, and PRAGUE in Spring 2026, and your student is invited to join us! You can enroll now and learn more about enrollment at www.eftours.com/2833214YH by clicking on the red "Enroll Now" button on the site, or by calling EF’s Traveler Support Line at 800-665-5364.


  • Yearbook Ordering through Jostens: Please see this flyer to order your student’s yearbook directly from Jostens.


  • Student Computers: The school does not currently have enough Chromebooks to lend to all students who may need one. If you would like to purchase a Chromebook for your student, the district has partnered with Govconnection to allow Chromebook purchases at our district price and with the same warranty. The Chromebooks start at $315. We guarantee that the Chromebook will be supported through your student’s time at HRHS. Apple also has a student discount available as well. These will also be supported through your student's time at HRHS.

--> SENIOR NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

  • Graduating Seniors: Seniors should have picked up their Announcements and/or Merchandise on Wednesday, Jan 29. If students forgot, all fully-paid orders are available in the Main Office. If a balance was due on the order, please contact Jostens local office directly (303-985-0095) to complete payment.

    • Seniors may pick up their orders before or after school or during their assigned off period or lunch time. Seniors may NOT leave their classes to collect their Jostens order.


  • Principal’s Pass Application: The Highlands Ranch Principal’s Pass Program, linked HERE, is designed to provide recognition for those Senior students who meet the highest standards while providing additional incentives to motivate other students to aspire to a similar level of accomplishment. Additionally, it is designed to provide a more independent experience that will foster a smoother transition into the post-graduation experience.


  • For Families who like to pre-plan for Graduation Day! If you want flowers or gifts for your Graduate waiting for you to pick up when you arrive at Red Rocks on Graduation Day, see the link below! Early Orders guarantee you the lowest prices!! Graduation Flowers and Gifts Order site - Linked HERE

--> SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

  • Sources of Strength: Sources of Strength is a wellness model that uses teams of peer leaders to change social norms and break codes of silence through positive messaging that focuses on Hope, Help, and Strength. This is an upstream prevention approach that promotes help-seeking behaviors, connections between youth and adults, and building resilience in efforts to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors. The strengths wheel consists of 8 protective factors: Mental Health, Family Support, Positive Friends, Mentors, Healthy Activities, Generosity, Spirituality, and Physical Health. Last week students completed a lesson to review the different parts of the wheel and then wrote a postcard to someone they consider to be a “Mentor”. We were happy that students could identify someone they believe to be a trusted adult or mentor. Good work Falcons!


  • To recognize and honor all cultures within our community, please check out the Anti-Defamation League calendar linked here for a very complete listing of many different ethnic, cultural, faith & religious communities. We have begun adding many of these dates to the HRHS School Day Calendar, linked on our school website.

--> ACTIVITIES

  • HRHS’s production of Anastasia: The Musical is just around the corner and ticket sales will go live in the next few days. Shows are sure to sell out, so don’t delay reserving your seats HERE!

  • The Theater Department collects donations of gently used furniture, wood, and paint. Please email Heidi Nester at hnester1@dcsdk12.org to work out the details!

--> ATHLETICS

  • As we head into the playoffs for our winter season, let's remember that sportsmanship is the true mark of a champion. Whether you're on the field, cheering from the stands, or coaching from the sidelines, let's show respect for the game, our teammates, opponents, and officials.


  • Please be aware that we will be charging for admission at all levels during our home basketball games this season ($8 adults & $5 students or $9 & $6 with GoFan). Most of our opponents will be implementing similar policies when we travel to other places as well. Thank you for your understanding and support!

  • Add us on Twitter and Instagram: @hrhs_athleticsandactivities

  • Go to our athletic website for your athletic updates, game info and our upcoming events. GO FALCONS!!

  • SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN - Please use the link HERE to register and upload your physical!

--> ATTENDANCE

ONLY Parents/Guardians of a student are allowed to excuse them from school. Please keep the Attendance Line number handy: (303)-387-2502. All families new to HRHS, please read this information thoroughly.

*Reminders about Attendance:

  • All absences for appointments during the school day are to be reported on the Attendance Line 24 hours in advance! It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to stop at the Attendance window to pick up their leave pass, prior to their appointment time; passes are not delivered to classrooms.

  • Parents/Guardians have 48 hours to excuse their student(s) for an Excused absence. An acceptable reason under School Board policy for the absence MUST be given for students to have an Excused absence.


Attendance SIGN IN - SIGN OUT Policy:

  • SIGN IN Procedures: LATE STUDENTS MUST SIGN IN through Attendance. Anytime a student arrives at school late, they MUST SIGN IN at the Attendance Office, even during a passing period. Parents/Guardians must call the Attendance line to excuse a Tardy.
  • SIGN OUT Procedures: STUDENTS LEAVING CAMPUS must come to the Attendance Office before school or during passing periods for a pass to leave the building (unless the appointment is during their off period). It is the student’s responsibility to pick up the pass, as we do not deliver items to classrooms. Parents/Guardians must call 24 Hrs in advance to excuse the Early Leave absence.
  • If a student must leave due to illness or unanticipated needs, the student must come to the Attendance/Health Office first.
  • Not checking in or out with the Attendance Office is counted as an Unexcused Absence.


**If you think your student is marked Absent or Tardy in error, please contact the Teacher directly via email to see if it can be changed. The Attendance Office Staff can’t change attendance without receiving confirmation from the teacher.

--> BUSINESS OFFICE

If you have any questions regarding fees, please email the bookkeeper @ rsteffes@dcsdk12.org.

  • For the 2024-25 school year course and lab fees for 1st semester were due on Dec 1st. Please make sure your 1st Semester fees are paid.

  • Second Semester fees will be assigned on January 28, 2025. This will include the Graduation fees for all seniors!!!

  • DCSD Nutrition Services Free Lunch program information is linked here.

    • The District is highly recommending that if financial assistance is needed by your family, to please apply for the Free/Reduced Lunch program for this school year. If a family needs assistance beyond lunch (to help cover required school fees) - this paperwork must be completed.

    • Families must reapply each school year if they have financial need. Please use the link here: Free/Reduced Lunch Application for 2024-2025


  • Optional fees are housed on MySchoolBucks - items like Activity Pass(SBA), Student Planner, Class Donations and Parking Permit Fee (10th graders may now buy a Parking Permit for the rest of the 24-25 school year.)

--> COUNSELING

  • SAT Prep Opportunity: There will be a high-quality SAT prep course this winter. It will be hosted at the University of Denver, taught by a Harvard grad. There is also a live online version of the course. Both courses are open to Juniors and Seniors. 27-hour comprehensive course, including 3 proctored practice exams Starts in Feb. and runs for 7 weeks (until the April in-school test day). Taught live by a 99th percentile expert instructor. Costs $195. Campus Prep has provided these popular courses at the University of Denver for the past 7 years and has been the official SAT provider for the Boulder Valley School District. Students who complete the course often increase their score by over 200 points. The courses fill up fast. Apply at https://www.campusprep.org/sat (it takes 60 seconds to apply) Visit https://www.campusprep.org/sat to see the schedules and to apply for the course. Questions? Email admin@campusprep.org

  • Substance Abuse Group Info: For students who are experiencing struggles with substance abuse, please see this flyer for additional support for your student during Access on Tuesdays for 8 weeks. Students should speak to their Counselor about joining the session beginning in March.

  • Backpack Society: Our HRHS community partners with a local non-profit, Backpack Society, to assist our students and their families who are needing access to food. We have options to help families if it is needed. We have also received the information for Thanksgiving baskets if that is something your family would like to take advantage of, please let us know. If you or someone you know is needing assistance please reach out to a counselor.


  • Social and Emotional Learning: Free Online Mental Health Toolkit for Youth and Young Adults: The Mental Health Toolkit is a confidential and free online resource for youth and young adults created by the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative. The Toolkit has general information, online self-screens and questionnaires, treatment and support resources, skills, tips and activities in the areas of mental health, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, intellectual and developmental disability, and well-being.

--> POST GRAD CENTER

  • Here is the link to the 23rd edition of the Post Grad newsletter. You can subscribe to the Post Grad newsletters by sending me an email with your name and request to be added to my SMORE newsletter subscription.

  • Need Community Service Hours??? Be a volunteer at Fox Creek Elementary school's annual Carnival! It's a fun-filled afternoon of indoor games, fun, and prizes. Join us on any and/or all of the needed slots!

    • Friday, February 21st from 4:00-6:00 PM to set-up games and decorations.

    • Saturday, February 22nd from 11:15-2:30PM (shift 1) to run games and/or be a face painter.

    • Saturday, February 22nd from 2:00-5:15PM (shift 2) to run games, be a face painter and assist with tear-down.

    • Please review the available slots and sign-up.


  • I have several scholarship donors reaching out to HRHS with application opportunities. I post these scholarship options on the Post Grad web page—scholarship tab-“scholarships sent directly to the counseling team at HRHS.”


  • Seniors, have you received a scholarship? We want to know about it! Please bring in or email a copy or the original scholarship offer so that we can update our system.

--> LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER

  • The Creative Writing Club is seeking submissions for its annual literary magazine. Please encourage your students to send their short stories and/or artwork to gmbernacchi@dcsdk12.org.

  • The Social Studies department has begun the approval process for the book Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. We have a display copy available in the library if you would like to check it out. If you are interested in being a parent reviewer, please contact me or Jeff Bliven: gmbernacchi@dcsdk12.org or jbliven@dcsdk12.org.

  • NHS students are offering tutoring to anyone who needs extra help with homework during Access in the library.

  • Follow us on Instagram @hrhs_reads!

--> NURSE’S UPDATE

  • Important School Immunization Information for Families: Please see the update from the Colorado Dept. of Education HERE


  • Notification to families regarding Service Animal: Please see this notice


  • Students with Life Threatening Allergies: Families - Please contact our School Nurse, Adriana Hatch, RN., ahatch@dcsdk12.org in regards to students with life-threatening allergies in our school.

--> PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

After Prom - We need your help!

Dear Families: Our After Prom committee has already been hard at work planning one of our biggest events of the school year. After Prom is a parent run event and we can’t do it without your help! We have a great committee, but we still need more volunteers to help decorate. Family members of any student grade level are welcome to join this hard-working committee! Please consider donating a few hours of your time to decorate a hallway of the school. We already have a theme (shhh! It’s a secret) and lots of ideas, but we need a few more helpers to coordinate each area. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of help from student volunteers and other volunteers.

Come find out what it’s all about and join the fabulous group of volunteers who plan this awesome night. Our next committee meeting is Tuesday, February 11, at 7:00 pm in the library. Or, contact our After Prom president, Tammi Hybertson, at thybertson@comcast.net to get more information.

Thank you!

2025 After Prom Committee


FLOCKING! After Prom Fundraiser: The flamingos are coming! After Prom is not only run by parent volunteers, but funded by parents as well. Our one and only fundraiser for Prom is flocking, where we place 2 flamingos in every junior and senior yard and ask for donations. This is a fun and effective fundraiser, but we need volunteers!

  • Please consider donating a few hours of your time to this wonderful cause. Plus, your student can help and receive community service hours, and it’s a great way for them to get their driving hours.

  • Once you sign up, our “flock master,” Leslie Lobojko, will contact you. You will receive instructions, flamingos, and up to 16 addresses to flock. It can typically be done in a few hours over 3 nights. It’s fun and easy so please sign up!

Note: Please do not remove the flamingos from your yard! A volunteer will pick them up the next day to use at the next house. THANK YOU! If you do not want to get flocked, please email HRHSAfterProm@gmail.com and we will remove your name.

--> Other Important Family Involvement Information

School Accountability Committee (SAC)

The mission of the SAC is to inform, encourage, and provide opportunities for parent/guardian and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school’s instructional program and quality improvement processes.

All SAC meetings are located in the Library Conference Room from 5:30-7:30pm.

  • February 3, 2025
  • March 3, 2025
  • April 7, 2025
  • May 5, 2025

Meetings are open to ALL parents/guardians, teachers, community members, and students. You do not need to be a voting member to participate. Topics you’d like to be considered for the agenda, please email Tim Schumacher, SAC Chairperson, HighlandsRanchSAC@gmail.com. For information and minutes of past meetings, please visit the HRHS SAC website.

Falcon Academic Boosters (FAB)

FALCON ACADEMIC BOOSTERS:

The Falcon Academic Boosters (FAB) is a 501c3 organization and was founded to raise funds and provide grants to teachers, staff and departments. These grants are used for supplies, academic media and resources that are needed to enhance the learning environment at HRHS, yet fall outside of the schools budget. On-going fundraising comes through charitable giving from King Soopers, American Furniture Warehouse and Amazon Smiles. FAB is so pleased to announce that new Officers for the FAB organization have been elected and are planning now for the upcoming school year!!


Meetings in the 24-25 school year will be on the second Monday of the month @ 6-8 pm. Our next meeting is on Monday, February 10 @ 6-8pm. This is a great way to get involved and meet other parents at Highlands Ranch High School!


  • There are so many ways to donate to FAB, one is to Venmo @hrhsfab.

  • Click here to learn how to give back to your school through many other channels including Paypal, King Soopers Cards, Amazon Smile, Shopping at SouthGlenn, American Furniture Warehouse and MORE!!!

  • The organization was founded and led by parents, and since its inception has raised and granted back over $125,000 to benefit our staff and student needs.

--> District Information and Opportunities

SUPERINTENDENT’S WEEK IN REVIEW: Linked HERE


Hello DCSD Families: We have some great DCSD Foundation Community Events already lined up for our school staff and communities! All tickets can be purchased directly from the Community Event page of our website. Check out these new events:

- Back to the Future/DCPA - 2/7/25 2/9/25

- Mean Girls/DCPA - 2/28/25, 3/2/25

- The Wiz/DCPA - 4/25/25, 4/26/25

General link to purchase tickets or for more information is: https://www.foundationdcs.org/community-events


District and HRHS Reminder: If you are not aware, many seniors at area high schools play a game called Senior Assassin. This game is not sanctioned by the schools and is essentially a water gun tag game where the last player standing wins a pot of money. Students are not allowed to play the game on school grounds or District properties, at any time. The game can put kids in dangerous situations in cars and parking lots. Law enforcement is aware of the game, but will respond to reports of a weapon with their full response when called. If you have a senior or will have a senior soon, please talk to them about the dangers of playing this game.

    • HRHS Administration has reiterated that this game is not allowed to be played on school grounds and should something like this happen, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken in alignment with district policy and our student code of conduct which begins with a Recommendation for Expulsion.

      • One additional clarification in this restating of the long-standing District policy:

  • No student, regardless of grade or age, is allowed to possess a firearm/gun facsimile (i.e. anything with a trigger mechanism) on any District campus or property, at any time.

Transportation Route Questions: If families have questions regarding their students route we encourage them to fill out a Let's Talk form located on DCSD's main website as these go directly to the contact/feeder group that can assist. Once on the website, hover over families, then click Transportation and they can see all of our resources posted, the Cancellation Rotation Calendar, a feedback tool (Let's Talk), route information, and much more.


DCSD Parent Resource Center: Please use this link to the Douglas County School District Parent Resource Center for Calendars, My School Bucks Payments, Parent Portal access or log-in/password issues and Transportation info, just to name a few of the helpful items on the site.

  • If you are interested in receiving assistance but are having difficulty accessing these agencies, or need assistance that these agencies do not provide, please contact Eric Brosch, School Social Worker, at ebrosch@dcsdk12.org or 303-387-2621, and he will assist you in connecting with the appropriate agency.


Important Resources For Families Needing Public Assistance: Please refer to this information if you have any needs for your family.

Here is information on assistance available for needs such as food, housing, child care, and other financial support.
Highlands Ranch HS Administration
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