Smoky Hill Buffaloes Newsletter

Dear Smoky Hill High School Community,

It is with deep gratitude and excitement that I introduce myself as the new Principal of Smoky Hill High School. I am honored to serve this incredible community and to lead a school with such a strong tradition of academic excellence, student achievement, and community pride.

I am especially excited to return to the Smoky Hill feeder area, having previously served as Assistant Principal at Laredo Middle School from 2017–2020. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the families, students, staff, and community that make this area so special, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return in this new role.

Over the past 24 years, I have proudly served the Cherry Creek School District in nearly every role within a school community: English teacher, Speech and Debate coach, Varsity Dance Team coach, Performing Arts Coordinator, Activities Director, Middle and High School Assistant Principal, and now Principal. I have also experienced this district as a parent, with both of my children graduating from Cherry Creek schools. This year, my daughter enters her senior year at Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!), and my stepson is actively volunteering at the University of Colorado Hospital. I believe deeply in the mission and vision of this district and in the life-changing impact that schools can have on young people.

Smoky Hill High School has a rich legacy of academic excellence, championship athletics, outstanding arts programs, and tremendous community pride. Almost every day, I meet someone who tells me they stayed in this community because of their experience at Smoky Hill. That says so much about the strength of this school and the relationships built here over generations.

As principal, my commitment is to continue building on that legacy while helping shape the future of Smoky Hill High School. I believe students thrive when schools hold high expectations while also providing high levels of support. Every student deserves to feel known, challenged, supported, and proud to be a Buffalo.

The goal is simple: to ensure every Smoky Hill student graduates feeling prepared for their future, confident in their college and career pathway, and connected to this community.

I look forward to meeting students, families, staff, and community members at PTO meetings, athletic events, performances, and celebrations throughout the school year. Please do not hesitate to reach out, introduce yourself, or share your hopes for Smoky Hill High School.

I am excited for the year ahead and all we will accomplish together.

Sincerely,

Kelly Helm

Principal

Smoky Hill High School

e | khelm@cherrycreekschools.org

w | 720.886.5300

Check-in Info

All students and families must attend a Student Check-In to receive their student IDs and ensure that all required parent forms are complete.

Photo IDs are required for all students. Photos will be taken and student IDs distributed at Smoky Hill High School on the following dates:

August 5, 2026 | 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

To receive a student ID, all required parent forms must be completed. Information about parent forms can be found on the district website, and instructions for completing the forms are available here.

Please join us for an Open House to get a feel for our building on Thursday, August 13 from 5:30-8 pm. We invite you to join us in the cafeteria for our 2nd annual family math night from 6:20-8 pm. You'll have a chance to meet our new principal, math department coordinator and the math teachers sharing one of the students' favorite lessons from our Open Up Resources curriculum! Time is reserved at the end of the night for a Q & A about your student's experience in Algebra I and Geometry this year.

Our goal is to share student schedules by the end of day on Friday August 14th. Students can see their schedules when they log into their Cherry Creek dashboard and click on the Powerschool tile. If there are any concerns about schedules, our counseling department will have a process in place for schedule repairs and will communicate that when school starts. Thank you for your patience.

Freshman: August 17th, 2026

This day is dedicated to our Freshman Class of 2030! Freshmen will be able to get acquainted with their RED and GREEN Day schedules, meet their teachers and get to know their Link Leaders. 10th, 11th, and 12th graders stay home.

All students: August 18th, 2026

Our whole student body will be together for the first full RED Day schedule. Link to Bell Schedule.

Celebrate the 1st week of the school year by connecting with our school community! Meet your child(ren)'s teachers, explore student clubs, activities, and athletics to discover opportunities to get involved. Stop by booths throughout the building, ask questions, and get excited for a great year ahead.

We look forward to seeing you from 6-8 pm on the Thursday August 20th! And don't forget to stop by the Kona Ice Truck!

If you are dropping off and/or picking up your student at Smoky, please use the entrance off of Laredo Street and Buffalo Way. The Main Office entrance closes at 9:30 am, so please sign in through the Activities entrance on the east side of the building if arriving after that time.

The north parking lot (located on E. Smoky Hill Rd.) is not accessible for after-school student pickup. To ensure a safe and efficient dismissal process, all after-school student pickup will take place in the south parking lot (located on E. Buffalo Way). Afternoon pick up/drop off takes a little bit longer, so please be patient with our student drivers and families.

Students who are registering their vehicles will need to fill out the parking permit application located in the student check in packet.

Everyone is invited to come out and support our Smoky Hill Cross Country team on Monday, September 07, 2026, Labor Day for our 4th Annual Smoky Hill Community 5K Walk/Run. We would love to see you there!

Please sign up for the race and support our Smoky Hill Cross Country team. Money raised from this event will be used to purchase practice supplies, team equipment, and pay for travel expenses, while also helping to keep Smoky Hill Cross Country affordable and providing opportunities to low-income families.

Thank you for your support. Here is the flyer with the QR code and link to register for the Smoky Hill Community 5K Walk/Run event, and other information.

Questions? Contact: Fabian Ruelas | Spanish Teacher | Boys/Girls Head Cross-Country Coach

fruelaszacarias@cherrycreekschools.org

Dear Parents:

TalkingPoints is your go-to app for staying connected with our school! Use it to report absences, check in about tardies, and communicate directly with our staff and your child(ren)'s teachers. Download the app today to receive important updates and make home-to-school communication quick, easy, and convenient.

Dear Parents:

Download The Buffalo App—your one-stop shop for everything Smoky Hill Activities and Athletics! Stay up to date with schedules, scores, announcements, and news for your favorite teams and clubs, all in one convenient place. Download it today from the App Store and never miss an update.

So, what's your favorite team or club?

Dear Students:

Minga is a highly recommended app for every Smoky Hill student! It gives you instant access to your digital student ID, making it easy to check in at school and school events. You can also view your hall pass history, helping you stay organized throughout the day. Download Minga today so you're ready from day one!

If your child intends to participate in the Fall Athletic season, please make sure to see all information below and the attached CHSAA PPE form.

The athletic registration platform has changed. Please be patient as the whole process is brand new. The new link to register your student for a fall sport is https://students.arbitersports.com/smoky-hill-high-school/shhs-athletics-2026-2027-fall.

We will open winter sports in October and spring sports in January. Registration must be completed by a parent or guardian. The link is only for the following fall sports:

Cross Country, Field Hockey, Girls Flag Football, Football, Boys Golf, Boys Soccer, Softball, Boys Tennis, Girls Volleyball, and Unified Bowling

Cheer and Dance -- tryouts for Cheer and Dance have already been held. There will be a secondary tryout held in the beginning of school year.

Please make sure you have the following materials to complete registration:

• CCSD Student ID #
• CHSAA approved physical form signed and dated by the doctor, athlete, and parent/guardian (upload form in section below).
• Doctor and hospital information
• Emergency Contact Information
• Allergy and medication information

All payments are now made through My School Bucks on the registration

All physicals for the 2026-2027 athletic season MUST be the CHSAA PPE form. This will be the only form accepted to clear athletes for participation. To access the form, please see the attachment or click HERE.

To ensure athletic participation on the first day of practice/tryouts, athletic registration must be completed by the due dates listed below. Please contact us with any questions.

Dawn Michael, Athletics Assistant, dmichael@cherrycreekschools.org @ 720-886-5551

File attachments:

For the 2026-2027 School Year the Cherry Creek School District will provide no-cost Breakfast and Lunch for all students.

Research shows students perform better at school when they are not hungry. By providing Breakfast and Lunch to students at no cost, we better support their learning.

Although all students will receive no-cost meals, it's still important for households to provide their income information when requested. Gathering this information allows the Cherry Creek School District to receive the state and federal funding we qualify for. These funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits, receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support, and more. Providing household income information ensures you and your school receive all available financial support.

This packet contains more information and the form to provide your household income information. While the following pages may reference eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, Breakfast and Lunch will be provided free to all students regardless of household income.

Our school meals follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. You can be confident your children are getting quality school meals while saving your family time and money.

For information on how to apply, please read the attached letter.

Please find attached, a letter from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with important information about school required vaccines for students. The letter is also available via this link in multiple languages.

Please read the letter carefully and check with your student’s healthcare provider or local immunization clinic to ensure their vaccine records are up-to-date before the first day of school.

Vaccine clinic resources and opportunities can be found here.

Thank you for allowing us to partner with you for the health, safety and academic success of your student.

2025-2026 School Year: 5/15/26, 5/8/26, 5/1/26, 4/24/26, 4/17/26, 4/10/26, 4/3/26, 3/27/26, 3/13/26, 3/6/26, 2/27/26, 2/20/26, 2/13/26, 2/6/26, 1/30/26, 1/23/26, 1/16/23, 1/9/26, 12/19/25, 12/12/25, 12/5/25, 11/28/25, 11/21/2025, 11/14/2025, 11/7/2025, 10/31/25, 10/24/25, 10/10/25, 10/3/25, 9/26/25, 9/19/25, 9/12/25, 9/5/25, 8/29/25