HRHS 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

• 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.

*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.

• ASCENT: Attention Seniors- The DCSD ASCENT application is now open! The application closes on May 1. If you have taken 9 college credits while in high school, you are eligible to apply for this program. This allows for students to have a year of free college tuition at specific colleges in Colorado. Please click here and reach out to your counselor for more information.

• Student Opportunity: It’s that time of year again! Time to apply to Youth Leadership Douglas County! Any student who will be in high school next fall is eligible to apply for YLDC. The class will still meet once a month for an all day experiential leadership opportunity during this one year program (History Day, Finance Day, Media Day, Law Enforcement Day, Health Care Day, Fire Safety Day, etc.). Please review the application here and/or visit us on-line at YouthLeadershipDC.com.

• 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. 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.

• No Place for Hate is hosting its 2nd Annual HRHS Culture Night on Friday, April 4th from 5:00-9:00 pm. Everyone in the HRHS community is invited to attend! We encourage you to bring a dish from your culture to share; students are also encouraged to sign up to perform a traditional dance or song at the event. Students can earn community service hours for bringing a dish, performing, or helping out during the night. Please email Ms. Bernacchi in the library for more information: gmbernacchi@dcsdk12.org. Hope to see you there!

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

• Follow us on Instagram @hrhs_reads!

• 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.

Hello parents! My name is Darby Petitt and I am the new Volunteer Coordinator for HRHS! You will be seeing volunteer opportunities come up so please email me at dspetitt@dcsdk12.org with any questions!

AFTER PROM NEEDS YOU!

Our last two meetings are Tuesday, March 11 and April 8, at 7:00 pm in the library. ALL grade-level families ARE WELCOME! Are you crafty? Do you want to be? Want to learn to transform the whole school into a theme-wrapped party? One of our biggest events of the year is After Prom, a fun filled party for students held at the school immediately following Prom (Friday, April 25, 2025). This is a parent run event and we need your help! Come find out what it’s all about and join the fabulous group of volunteers who have been busy planning this awesome night. Only two meetings left! We’d love to see you there! Email Darby Petitt, Volunteer Coordinator, at dspetitt@dcsdk12.org or our After Prom president, Tammi Hybertson, thybertson@comcast.net for more information.

• After Prom-Supplies Needed: We need donations of a wide variety of things such as large cardboard boxes, empty cereal boxes and refreshments! Please contact Darby Petitt, Volunteer Coordinator, at dspetitt@dcsdk12.org or the After Prom Booster President Tammi Hybertson, thybertson@comcast.net with questions and see the link below to view the list of needed items. Thank you for your support of HRHS After Prom!
  
  

• Check out our wish list if you would like to donate: After Prom 2025 Wish List or as always you can send monetary donations: Donate to After Prom 2025

After Prom is an official 5013c organization so all donations are tax deductible.

Mental Health Week: The counseling department is seeking healthy snack donations to give out for Mental Health Week coming up in April. Click here to sign up to bring snacks.

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.

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:

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, March10 @ 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.

SUPERINTENDENT’S WEEK IN REVIEW: No update for the week of Spring Break

Hello DCSD Families: We have some great DCSD Foundation Community Events already lined up for our school staff and communities!

Thanks SO MUCH for your continued support! All tickets can be purchased directly from the Community Event page of our website. Check out these new events:

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

- Link to purchase Rockies tickets:

- Link to purchase Avs tickets:

- Link to purchase Lone Tree Arts Center Tickets:

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

Community Hiring Events for Students: This career fair is a great opportunity to learn about currently open job positions, temporary summer jobs, and internship opportunities!

• When: Thursday April 3, 2025

• Time:1:00pm - 4:00pm

• Where: ACC’s Sturm/Collaboration Campus

• 4500 Limelight Ave., Castle Rock

• Click HERE for more information

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.