

ThunderRidge Weekly Update
August 18, 2023
Back to School Night - August 23rd
Parents - please bring a screenshot or printed copy of your student's schedule with you to Back to School Night.
Important Dates
🎓 August 23 - Senior Parent Information - 5:00 - Auditorium
🏫 August 23 - Back to School Night - 5:30
📜 August 30 - NHS Induction Ceremony - 6:00pm - Auditorium
⛔ September 4 - Labor Day/NO School
🎓 September 6 - Senior Project Parent Night - 6:30 - Auditorium (Please note the change in date)
Bell Schedule for August 21 - 25
Monday - Blue Day
Tuesday - Green Day with Advisement
Wednesday - Blue Day
Thursday - Green Day with Access
Frieday - All Day with PLC
ThunderRidge Athletics
New School Year, New School Gear
Check out our online store for customizeable TR gear!
Support the Girls Volleyball Program
Check out our team apparel store to support the Girls Volleyball Program. There is also some really nice generic ThunderRidge swag as well. Thank you for your support!
Click the image to keep up with all ThunderRidge Athletics information!
Weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) Information
Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) are an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they teach. They have a positive and lasting impact on student learning. PLC's at TRHS are not an initiative, program, or teacher meeting to complete at task. They are built on the notion that growth and learning is a continual process where teachers regularly engage/collaborate for the benefit of ALL students. This is a mutually accountable process where teachers commit to improve practice & student learning.
Due to the new common bell schedule, our staff will have PLCs every Friday if it is a regular 5-day week.
On PLC days, classes will begin at 8:25am and students will follow an "ALL' day class schedule. 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.
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
NHS Students Are Offering FREE Tutoring During Access
If your child would benefit from assistance with homework, TR members of the National Honor Society (NHS) are offering FREE tutoring in room C108 during Access.
AP and IB Exam Registration Information
Attention all AP and IB Students/Parents,
Exam registration for year-long classes for the 23/24 school year is right around the corner.
Any student NOT interested in the taking the exam must communicate this to Ms. Kovack (kkovack@dcsdk12.org) for AP exams or Mrs. Lakeland (trhsib11@dcsdk12.org) for IB exams by Wednesday, November 1st.
If you decide not to test after this deadline, the school is still charged a fee and no refund will be available.
Senior Project Parent Informational Meeting
If you are a parent or guardian of a senior, you probably have heard of the senior project, but do you really know what it is? This is your opportunity to learn about this cumulative project for all seniors at TRHS. We will provide an overview as well as dates and helpful advice for a successful project at an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
If you are unable to attend, the presentation will be on the TRHS website under the Seniors 2024 tab.
Please contact Denise Orsini at Denise.Orsini@dcsdk12.org. if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Senior Photos Are Due October 13th, Senior Ads Are Due December 15th
Senior photo upload is now available - school code 7751. Click here for more information.
Planners, Activity Passes and Parking Permits Are Still Available for Purchase
23/24 Planner - $7.00
The TRHS 2023-24 Student Planner is a valuable time management tool!
Click here or scan the QR code to purchase. Planners will be delivered to student's Seminar teacher.
23/24 Activity Pass - $50.00
This pass provides entrance to all TRHS home athletic events with the exception of playoff games. Once a pass is paid for in myschoolbucks, students must visit the Finance Office to obtain their Athletic Activity Pass sticker.
23/24 Parking Permit - $50.00 Juniors and Seniors ONLY
A Message from Grizzly Gratitude
Hello Grizzly Gratitude community! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Back to School teacher survival bags ...whether you donated items or helped fill bags, we appreciate you!!!
We had the wonderful pleasure of meeting several parents at the freshmen information night Wednesday evening. It's great to have so many new members joining efforts to support our teachers and staff. WELCOME!!!! We're so glad you're part of our GG family:)
An "NFL Kick Off" themed popcorn buffet is planned for September 7th. You'll find the sign up link below if you're interested in supporting this fun event. Monies collected will go towards purchasing popcorn from our local Cornzapoppin! However, we are in need of drinks and a few other items to help make this day a success:) THANK YOU!!!
Shelley Wells has worked diligently to put together all of the TR staff birthdays for the upcoming year. If you'd like to be a birthday sponsor (or coordinate with a friend!) please click on the sign up below. Shelley will reach out to you with details regarding dietary restrictions and drop off instructions. This is such a fun way to add a personal touch and celebrate each of the 160+ TR staff.
NFL KICK OFF POPCORN BUFFET:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a49aaaa2ca1fd0-september1#/
BIRTHDAY SPONSOR:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e48ada8229-trhs1/1570918#/
Please look for our table at Back To School Night and come say hi! We'd love to see you all in person and continue to grow this community of amazing parents! If you have any questions, please let us know:)
Wishing you a great rest of the week!
Grizzly Gratitude Core Team
Donation Request 🤧
Cold season is creeping up on us and the Library is in need of tissue donations.
If you are interested in contributing, please leave your donation at the front security desk labeled 'Library.'
Thank you!
IB Update
Welcome back to the new school year from the TRHS International Baccalaureate team. As it is the beginning of the school year and we have some new Grizzlies, we here in the IB world wanted to quickly introduce ourselves and tell you a little about IB.
The International Baccalaureate Programme is a global curriculum focused on developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. This manifests at TRHS through our Middle Years Programme (MYP) in grades 9 and 10, as well as in the Diploma Programme (DP) in grades 11 and 12. All Freshman and Sophomores are in the MYP and then once students get to Junior year they can opt into the Diploma Programme. The DP is the premier college preparatory program that helps students build the skills and knowledge base to be as prepared for university as possible while also helping students be better equipped for life. Any student or parent interested in learning more about the Diploma Programme should come to the IB informational meeting at the Academic Showcase on November 2nd or come by the IB Office and talk to Mr. Risner and Mrs. Lakeland.
IB started the year off with a bang with an awesome BBQ to welcome all of our former, present, and future IBDP students. We had a great turnout and it was fantastic to see everyone and hear about all their summers. Stay tuned in as we keep going through the year as the IB department is looking at more opportunities to strengthen our IB cohort and build an even more amazing TRHS IB community.
This Week in Advisement
Freshmen
Freshmen were asked to download the Canvas app and instructed on the basic functions of the platform.
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
Service Animals in the Building
We will have a certified service animal in our school helping one of our students/staff members as a form of an accommodation. The handler of the service animal is protected under the American Disabilities Act and has the right to be accompanied by the animal.
Please refrain from petting and touching the animal, since it has to fulfill a certain task for its owner. Thank you for your understanding and support. Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the school administration.
Community Service Opportunities
2023 Coyote Creek Carnival
August 19 starting at 12:30pm.
Sign up here to volunteer.
2023 Roxborough Music Festival
Please sign-up here to volunteer on Friday, September 8th or Saturday, September 9th at the Annual Roxborough Music Festival. Multiple volunteer slots are available for a variety of activities.
A 2-3 hour commitment is recommended but you may volunteer more. Please let Chad Bergman know if you have any questions. 303-875-2240, chad.bergman@movement.com
Teen Reading Buddy
The Highlands Ranch Library is now accepting applications to become a Teen Reading Buddy. Our Reading Buddies program pairs a trained teen volunteer with a current 1st through 3rd grade child who is having challenges with reading. The program also helps teens develop teaching and leadership roles.
Teams meet weekly at the library on either Tuesday or Thursday, 3:45 - 5:15. The fall session will run October 3 - December 7.
Apply now at https://dcl.org/volunteer/. Applications are due September 1.
For questions, please email hireadingbuddies@dclibraries.org, call 303-791-READ, or stop by a branch and talk to any of their friendly staff members!
23-24 PTO/SAC Meeting Childcare for Coyote Creek Elementary
Sign up to help with childcare to school-age children during Coyote Creek's PTO and SAC meetings.
The PTO meetings are monthly from 6-7pm, so on those days the volunteer time slot is 5:45-7:15. During some months the SAC meeting will follow the PTO meeting from 7-8pm. On those days the volunteer time slot is 5:45-8:15.
23-24 PTO/SAC Meeting Childcare for Eldorado Elementary
Sign-up here to help with childcare for school-age children during Eldorado Elementary's PTO and SAC meetings for the 2023-2024 school year. Meetings will be held 8/21/2023, 10/2/2023, 11/13/2023, 2/12/2024, 3/25/2024 and 5/13/2024. Volunteer time slot is from 5:45pm - 8:30pm. Bring volunteer forms to be signed at the end of the meeting.
Community Events and Fundraisers
American Furniture Warehouse Back to School Rally - Better Your Home, Better Your School
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, but let’s RALLY in August and $upport TR!
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.
Check out our school newspaper: The Grizzly Growl
Click on the icon to check out our latest edition of the Grizzly Growl!
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