ThunderRidge Weekly Update
Patterson's Perspective
Today is a big day at ThunderRidge as our seniors present their Senior Projects. They spend the entire year working on these, and it's wonderful to see their final products. Thank you, Seniors, for all of your hard work. You should be proud. I would also like to thank the teachers, staff, and community members that sit on the boards and evaluate the projects. This important day would not be possible without your support.
I would also like to extend a big thank you to Grizzly Gratitude and GBBC for sponsoring a hot dog lunch for our entire staff on Rockies Opening Day. Your generosity is always appreciated.
This past Tuesday, we honored our Academic Lettering recipients for this semester. It was one of the largest groups we have had and it was an honor to celebrate them.
Next week is Spring Testing. Please be sure to take a minute to look at the modified schedule below. Also, please encourage your students to get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast on their testing days.
Hope you all enjoy the warm weather this weekend.
Sean Patterson
Principal, ThunderRidge High School
Important Dates
April 13: Mean Girls, the Musical 7:00pm
April 15: 9th Grade PSAT
April 16: SAT
April 17: 10th Grade PSAT
April 19: Teacher Compensation Day - NO STUDENTS
April 22-24: CMAS/SAT/PSAT Make-Ups
April 24: SAC Meeting - 4:30-6:00pm - TR Library/Post Grad Room
April 26: Professional Development Day - NO STUDENTS
April 26: Prom - Infinity Park - 8:30-11:00pm
May 2: Underclassmen Awards Ceremony - 5:30pm - TR Gym
May 6-8: Senior Final Exams
May 7-9: Choir, Band and Orchestra Concerts
May 10: Senior Check-Out
May 14: Senior Awards Ceremony - 6:00pm - TR Gym
May 16: Class of 2024 Graduation - No school due to graduation
May 20-23: Underclassmen Final Exams
May 23: Last day of school
May 24: Professional Development Day - NO STUDENTS
Bell schedule for April 15-19 // Spring Testing Schedule
We will have a modified schedule April 15 - April 19th for Spring Testing.
Important: Thursday, April 18 is an ALL day with NO PLC. First period will begin at 7:40.
There will be NO SCHOOL for all grades on Friday, April 19th.
Click the image below to enlarge.
ThunderRidge Athletics
National Letter of Intent (NLI) Signing
Wednesday, April 17th through May 15th, 2024 is a designated NCAA Letter of Intent Signing Day period. If you have a TRHS student who is signing at this time and would like to be eligible to sign at ThunderRidge, please review the criteria below:
- Must be a current TRHS Athlete
- Must be a Varsity Letter winner
- Must provide a copy of the Letter of Intent from the attending college/university to the Athletic Office prior to the signing date
- Must have a TRHS coach speak for the athlete at the ceremony (The Athlete is responsible for making arrangements with the coach prior to signing day.)
Please contact Josh Stephenson, Athletic Director, with any questions or your specific circumstances. The ceremony will take place in the Commons 3pm on Thursday, April 25th, 2024.
If your athlete will participate in the April 25th signing celebration, please contact Josh Stephenson at jstephenson@dcsdk12.org with the following information:
- Name of Athlete
- College or University they will be attending
- Sport
- If possible, send Mr. Stephenson a picture or graphic of their commitment.
This information is due to the Athletic Office by FRIDAY, APRIL 19th, 2024.
Click the image above to keep up with all ThunderRidge Athletics information, and be sure to follow us on Facebook.
Freezin' for a Reason
For the second year in a row, ThunderRidge Unified participated in the Polar Plunge at Aurora Reservoir to raise money for our Unified Program and Special Olympics. This year they had 25 participants (up from 11 last year!) and raised $4,800! Thank you to all who participated and contributed to this wonderful cause.
TR FCCLA State
We had a great time at FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) state last week! The kids competed really well and there were over 500 more students than in previous years.
FCCLA gives awards based on their scores; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Then the top 2 scores from each event are the winners and qualify for Nationals. The judges were pretty tough and a lot of events had no students win a Gold.
Here is how our students did:
Ella Hertling and Bailey Koenig - SILVER - Sports Nutrition
Ella Bence and Amy Schulte - SILVER - Sports Nutrition
Sophia Guenthner - SILVER - Career Exploration
Maddie Menzel, Brayln Bott, and Sophie Horner - SILVER - Interior Design
Mia Venner - SILVER - Thematic Table Design
Kennady Cummins - SILVER Thematic Table Design
We had two students place in the top 2 and sweep an event that had the most competitors!
Mia Venner received 2nd place in Thematic Table Design
Kennady Cummins 1st place in Themaic Table Design
This was the first time at FCCLA state for ALL of these students so we are extremely proud of their hard work and seeing it pay off for them in their results.
-Ms. Williamson
Mean Girls Closes This Weekend
There are still 2 opportunities to see the ThunderRidge Spring Musical, Mean Girls.
Final performances are tonight and tomorrow night at (April 12, 13) at 7pm.
Tickets are on sale through SeatYourself.
Pricing for all shows is:
Adult - $14.00 / Senior or Military - $13.00 / Student - $12.00
Earth Week
Earth Week is coming April 22nd - 25th and PeaceJam is planning activities for the week.
April 22 - Wear PJs. Doing less laundry saves water and energy!
April 23 - Wear thrifted clothes. Say NO to Fast Fashion and create less waste!
April 24 - Wear black and turn off the lights! Conserve ENERGY!
April 25 - Wear TRHS / earth and water colors. Carpool with your fellow Grizzlies and reduce COâ‚‚ emissions!
Every day - bring a reusable mug and get free cocoa in the commons during lunch. Less plastic waste!
2024 Prom
The Mirror Ball
4400 E. Kentucky Avenue
Glendale, CO 80246
April 26, 2024 // 8:30-11:00pm
$35 per person or $70 per couple until 4/21/24.
The completed Prom Guest Approval form is required for all guests attending from another school and must be completed before tickets can be picked up.
TICKETS WILL BE $50 PER PERSON AT THE DOOR, SO ORDER NOW!!!
Pre-sales will close on 04/21/24, Tickets can be picked up in room C118 beginning 4/23-4/25/26 before school and during lunches
Free Formal Attire for All Students
Clover's Closet's 6th Annual Prom Pop Up Shop is open this weekend.
Seeking SAC Candidates
We are seeking candidates to run for the TRHS School Accountability Committee (SAC).
If you are a parent/guardian of a TRHS student who will be enrolled in the 2024/2025 school year and are interested in serving on this parent-led committee, we would love to have you run!
SAC meetings are public and open to all. Members of the SAC, which include parents/guardians elected by their peers, a PTO representative elected by the PTO, a teacher representative elected by their peers, a community member appointed by the Principal, and the Principal, have voting privileges and advise the school's administration on various issues. Responsibilities for all members include representing parent/guardian views on various topics the SAC addresses including, but not limited to, budgetary decisions, the Unified Improvement Plan, and safety issues.
Elected member terms are two years, and are staggered for continuity. Members attend six SAC meetings during the school year. Meetings run no more than 90 minutes and are currently held in the late afternoon. Exact scheduling will be determined with members at the first SAC meeting of the school year.
We currently have two open spots. If more than two candidates are interested in serving on the SAC, we will conduct an election. Each parent/guardian will be allowed to vote. Once the voting window (TBD) has closed and the votes are tallied, the top vote-getters will be announced.
After the elected parent members of the 2024/2025 school year have been identified, election to officer positions within the SAC can be conducted according to the bylaws. More information can be found on the TRHS website under the Parent tab.
Interested? Please send your name and a short paragraph introducing yourself and why you would like to serve on SAC to trhssac@gmail.com by May 3rd. Any questions you have may be directed to our current members at trhssac@gmail.com.
Thank you for your consideration.
Information for the Class of 2024
Graduation Information and DU's Visitors Guide
For your convenience, DU has provided a visitor's guide for graduation. Please see the guide here for maps on where to park, how to enter Magness Arena, and where to meet your graduate after the ceremony. A list of prohibited items is also included. Please note that DU has a NO bag policy for graduations. Diaper bags and medical bags of a certain size are allowed, but all other bags or purses must be left at home or in your car. Please plan accordingly.
Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. There is no limit to the number of guests you may bring. Doors open at 5:00pm, and the ceremony begins at 6:00pm.
Graduation Accommodations
DU is equipped to accommodate handicap parking and seating on a first come, first serve basis. No reservations are necessary.
Senior Breakfasts
The following elementary schools are hosting Senior Breakfasts to congratulate their former students before they graduate. Click on your school's name below for details. Please contact your feeder school directly if you have questions.
Coyote Creek Elementary / Eldorado Elementary / Roxborough Elementary / Saddle Ranch Elementary / Stone Mountain Elementary / Trailblazer Elementary
IB Update
This week at ThunderRidge we had the Senior Boards, another one of the things that make TRHS such a unique and wonderful school for all of our students. Our IB Diploma Candidates do the Senior Boards, but engage instead through the IB CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) Project for theirs. In many ways, the CAS Project mirrors the Senior Project, but also engages students with eachother in a collaborative way while also mandating they include a service component to the endeavor. CAS is a critical core component of the IB Diploma and promotes the development of well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also socially aware, culturally sensitive, and actively engaged in their communities. The CAS program offers several benefits to students who engage with it in meaningful deliberate ways:
- Holistic Development: CAS encourages students to engage in a variety of activities beyond academics, promoting holistic development by focusing on creativity, physical activity, and community service.
- Hands-On Learning: CAS activities provide hands-on learning experiences that complement classroom education, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.
- Personal Growth: Through CAS, students have the opportunity to discover and develop their interests, talents, and passions, fostering personal growth and self-awareness.
- Global Citizenship: CAS encourages students to engage with their local and global communities through service projects, promoting an understanding of global issues and fostering a sense of responsibility as global citizens.
- Leadership Skills: Participation in CAS activities often involves leadership opportunities, allowing students to develop leadership skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
- Well-Roundedness: CAS encourages students to explore a diverse range of activities, helping them become well-rounded individuals with a balanced approach to life.
- College and Career Readiness: In addition to academic achievements, colleges and universities value applicants who demonstrate a commitment to extracurricular activities and community service, making CAS participation advantageous for college admissions.
Counselors' Corner
This past week TRHS Counselors met with 213 students to support academics, social emotional wellness, and post secondary planning. As we are winding down the year, Counselors are focused on helping students cross the finish line by working with them, their teachers and thier families to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful. We also love participating in Senior Boards and seeing the amazing things our seniors have accomplished!
Testing season is upon us!
Testing week started today. Parents and students can view the testing schedule here. If students/parents wish to opt out of a test, instructions can be found here. We strongly encourage juniors to take the SAT, as this will meet a graduation requirement.
Career Exploration Speakers for April
April 23rd 10:20am-10:55am: Financial Planner
April 30th 10:20am-10:55am: STEM - Program Manager with Lockheed Martin
Mindful Minute - Changing negative self talk and your inner critic
As Counselors, we often see that our students are SO hard on themselves. Their inner critics can sometimes be debilitating, keeping them from being their best selves. According to this article, this can negatively impact our mental health and lead to poor life outcomes. Fortunately there are simple, powerful ways to combat this, detailed in the linked article. Remember: the more compassionate we are with ourselves, the closer we get to becoming our BEST selves.
Advisement Notes
Freshmen
Freshmen set up their online accounts for the PSAT and took a practice test to become acquainted with the format. Students can use their accounts to take full-length practice tests for review.
-Mr. Cohen
Sophomores
-Mrs. Brant
Juniors
Juniors were given the day to get caught up on work, prepare for the SAT, and get additional help. Reminder: juniors are taking the SAT on Tuesday, April 16th. They should be in their assigned testing room by 7:40am.
-Mr. Bidinger
Seniors
-Ms. VandeVusse
Highlands Ranch Best of the Best: Vote for ThunderRidge
Vote for ThunderRidge in Colorado Community Media's 2024 Highlands Ranch Best of the Best. Voting closes April 15th.
Scholarship and Volunteer Opportunities
ThunderRidge is proud to offer a wide variety of clubs and activities!
Click the bar above for a full list including times, days and locations.
Shop the TR Apparel Store
Shop for your customizeable TR gear anytime at the TRHS Online Apparel Store.
About Us
Principal Sean Patterson
Mission Statement:
Empowering Grizzlies through curiousity, compassion, courage, community and service.
#AlwaysAGrizzly
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
Twitter: @TRidgeGrizzlies
Support our school by shopping at American Furniture Warehouse!
Mention ThunderRidge at check-out and a percentage of your purchase will be donated back to the school!
Purchases count any time of the year.