ThunderRidge Weekly Update

Principal's Perspective
Yay! We finally have snow! This is so exciting,
I have been so impressed by the participation from our students, families, and feeder schools in support of the Ontiveros family. We are looking forward to celebrating with them at the conclusion of Grizzly Gives week next Tuesday. Not only have the spirit days been a ton of fun (including fun wigs today), but it’s been great to see the esprit de corps as students cheer each other on in talent shows, adopt other people to join them for Trivia Night, or (mostly peacefully) beat each other in 3x3 basketball and in dodgeball.
Students of the Month and Positive Behavior Referrals are back! Thanks to TRHS Dean Kristen Kovack, we got to experience that moment when students who have a pass to the office realize that not only are they not in trouble, they are being celebrated for how great they are. If your student received recognition, ask them to show you that positive referral that a staff member gave them. It’s so good to be able to celebrate our amazing kids!
Seniors — there are only a few more days left to sign up to audition to speak or perform at graduation! This is such a great opportunity to be part of the ceremony. Check out the flyer below for details and sign up by March 12th.
All are welcome to attend to our School Accountability Committee (SAC) meeting next Thursday, March 12, from 4:30–6:00 PM in the library’s Post-Grad room. We will be serving dinner, so if you plan to attend the SAC meeting for the first time, please let me know ASAP via email at ejwalhof@dcsdk12.org. I don’t want anyone to leave the meeting hungry!
PSAT and SAT are only about 5 weeks away (including Spring Break). We encourage all of our 9th-11th graders to check their DCSD email for the login information from Brain Buffs - a test prep program that can give each student customized feedback to help them learn and improve their scores. Remember, the optional prep/study sessions are on Thursdays during Grizzly Hour. Please have students contact their counselors if they want more info.
Tickets for our Spring Musical Mamma Mia are already on sale. The show will be on April 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 9th, 10th & 11th and I hope to see you there to celebrate our oh-so-talented students. Speaking of our talented students, I also hope you can also make it to one of our band and choir concerts next week. Dates and times are listed below, and are also on the home page.
We are still in the midst of hiring our remaining few open positions for teachers and admin, so please bear with us if our response time is a tiny bit delayed.
Enjoy your weekend!
Liz
Important Dates
March 9 - Orchestra Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm
March 10 - Band Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm
March 10 - Grizzly Gives Assembly
March 11 - Choir Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm
March 12 - Choir Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm
March 12 - SAC Meeting - Post Grad Room - 4:30 - 6:30pm
March 13 - End of 3rd QuarterMarch 16-20 - Spring Break
April 2-4 & 9-11 - Spring Musical: Mamma Mia
April 10 - Senior Boards
April 10 - 15 - Spring Testing
April 15 - IB Art & Film CreateFest
April 20-22 - CMAS/SAT/PSAT Make-Ups
April 24 - Professional Development Day - No studentsApril 24 - Prom - Chatfield Farms - 8:30-11:00pm
Bell Schedule for March 9 - 13
Monday - Blue Day
Tuesday - Green DayWednesday - Blue DayThursday - Green DayFriday - ALL Day with PLC
Classes begin at 8:25am on PLC days. If your student needs to arrive at school prior to that time, they may go to the Library or Commons until class begins. Breakfast will be available in the Commons.
ThunderRidge Athletics
Grizzly Gives Information and Schedule of Events
Grizzly Gives Week kicked off this week!
Tonight is our Sadie’s dance from 8-10pm! Admission is $15, or show us your Grizzly Gives band. Remember to bring your student ID. The theme is “Rave at the Ridge,” so get excited! Dress code is to definitely wear sneakers! This is not a formal dance at all. Just a way to have fun and raise funds for Grizzly Gives Week.
It's Friday! The restaurant night is McDonald’s from 4-9pm.
Remember, you can still donate online to help out the Ontiveros family. Everything goes directly to the Caruso Family Charities to help out the Ontiveros.
Let’s keep the momentum going Grizzlies! Any questions, send them to thomas.sullivan@dcsdk12.org
More information can be found on our TRHS website and social media pages.
Sophomores and Juniors - Become a Link Crew Leader
If you are a current sophomore or junior and want to help welcome the Class of 2030 to ThunderRidge High School in August, apply to be a Link Crew Leader!
What is a Link Crew Leader?
Link Crew Leaders are:
- Leaders of TRHS
- Students from the junior and senior class
- Students who want to make a difference at ThunderRidge High School
Link Crew Leaders are trained to:
- Welcome incoming freshmen by creating a positive environment
- Facilitate small groups in Seminar on Orientation Day in August
- Be positive leaders and role models in all situations
Applications are due Friday, March 13th.
If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Sullivan in E209 or Mrs. Lynch in E111.
Spring Testing Schedule
Prom 2026 - Moonlit Masquerade
Save the Date for Prom - April 24, 2026
Moolit Masquerade - Chatfield Farms
8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80128
8:30-11:00pm
After-Prom - Sporty Pickle
8640 S. Peoria St. Unit 100, Englewood, CO 80112
11:30pm
Class of 2026 Information
The table below highlights where students should be in the Senior Project process. If they are struggling or confused about any of these components, please have them reach out to their English or Advisement teachers. To manage their time, Seniors should aim to have their fieldwork hours completed by the time they return from Spring Break.
Graduation auditions
Speaker auditions will take place at 3:00pm on March 25th, and performer auditions will be held at 3:00pm on March 26th.
Community service hours are due April 1st
Seniors - Be sure to complete your 20 hours of community service before April 1st. If you hope to letter in Community Service, all hours must also be submitted by April 1st. Submit your hours using Helper Helper.
Order your cap and gown before April 1st to avoid shipping fees
The deadline to order your seniors' cap and gown is May 1st, but any orders placed after April 1st will incur an extra shipping fee. Order online at urherffjones.com. For detailed ordering instructions, click here.
Scholarship Opportunity
The Trailblazer Elementary School PTO is excited to once again offer a $750.00 scholarship to a deserving senior at ThunderRidge High School who also attended Trailblazer Elementary School.
Requirements for Scholarship
● Must have attended Trailblazer Elementary School for at least one (1) year
● Must be currently enrolled as a Senior at ThunderRidge High School
● Must be attending a college or university in Fall 2026
To apply for this scholarship
Please write a detailed essay that includes your favorite memory from Trailblazer Elementary School, or what impact having attended Trailblazer Elementary School had on you. Please also include information on your future college and career plans.
Submissions due by: April 15, 2026
We would like to present the Scholarship in person at our May 5, 2026 PTO meeting.Recipient will be notified prior to our May meeting date.
Please remit essay to:
Trailblazer Elementary School PTO
TrailblazerElementarySchoolPTO@gmail.com
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.
Counselors' Corner
ThunderRidge High School – March Career Exploration Series 🌟
Join us during Grizz Hour (10:25–10:55) in the Post Grad Room (Library) for three exciting career speakers this month!
March 24 – Marketing (Molly Busch – UCSF Health Marketing & Communications)
Discover how digital marketing connects patients with healthcare services at UCSF Health. Students will learn about careers in marketing, communications, and technology, including managing online campaigns, improving search tools, and launching digital platforms used by thousands of employees.
Click here to sign up!
Seniors - the deadline to complete community service hours for graduation is April 1! If your student needs hours, check out the TRHS Counseling newsletter, or the Helper Helper app for community service opportunities.
For all things Counseling, including scholarships and community service opportunities, check out the full TRHS Counseling newsletter!
IB Update
We are excited to share that Jacquie Rapant and Rachel Stewart have been selected as the new Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinators at ThunderRidge High School for the coming school year. Please join us in congratulating them as they take on this important leadership role in our IB continuum. Both Mrs.Rapant and Ms.Stewart are already such invaluable members of the ThunderRidge community, and we know they will be phenomenal in this role.
The MYP Coordinator plays a key role in supporting the implementation and continued development of the IB Middle Years Programme. This position serves as an academic leader who works closely with teachers, administrators, students, and the wider school community to ensure the programme is aligned with IB standards and provides meaningful learning experiences for students.
In addition to these responsibilities, MYP Coordinators help foster a culture of inquiry, reflection, and global-mindedness across the school. They support students and teachers alike as we continue to build a strong IB pathway that connects the Middle Years Programme to the Diploma Programme.
We are thrilled to have Mrs Rapant and Ms.Stewart leading this work and we look forward to the continued growth of the IB programmes at ThunderRidge.
Notes From Tuesday's Grizzly Hour
Freshmen
This week, students concentrated on essential task initiation skills, learning practical techniques to both start tasks and sustain their focus. To apply these concepts, students are encouraged to select a task they need to complete and actively practice breaking it down into manageable components.
-Mr. Cohen
Sophomores
Students conducted peer reviews and peer edits for their first drafts of their written reports.
-Mr. Carroll
Juniors
Juniors reviewed and looked at the results of the culture and climate survey. They compared them with some national statistics, and had a discussion around how to make TR a welcoming and accepting place to be. -Mr. Bidinger
Seniors
Seniors attended a public speaking presentation delivered by Mr. Sicard.
-Ms. Vande Vusse
Fundraisers
Support the TRHS Girls Tennis Team
Modern Market Eatery
Saturday, March 7, 2026 - All Day
537 W. Highlands Ranch Pkwy, Suite 108
Enter the coupon code GIVEBACK upon ordering online through the Modern Market mobile app or website or in Modern Market on March 7th. By applying this code, Modern Market will contribute 25% of your order to support the ThunderRIdge High School Girls Tennis team.
TR Poms Egg My Yard
TR Poms is excited to announce our 5th Annual Egg My Yard Fundraiser and we would love your support in helping us make this our biggest year yet!
Our athletes will “egg” yards the night before Easter, filling them with treat-filled eggs for families in our community. It’s a fun way to celebrate while supporting hardworking student-athletes.
All funds raised go directly toward next season’s expenses, including training, travel, competitions, and team development.
If you are interested in participating, please see the attached flyer for details. You can sign up using this link or scan the QR code on the flyer attached.
Eggs will be hidden on April 4, 8:00-10:00pm
$25 for 25 eggs
$50 for 50 eggs
$75 for 75 eggs
Community Service/Volunteer Opportunities
Camp Invention Volunteers Needed
Roxborough Intermediate is looking for high school students entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade to volunteer this summer at Camp Invention from June 8th - 12th. Volunteers serve as camp counselors to K - 6 students attending this summer STEM Camp. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Allison Rothwell (arothwell@dcsdk12.org).
Students: earn your community service hours at our elementary schools
Eldorado Elementary
Eldorado Elementary is looking for student volunteers to help us with childcare during each PTO/SAC meeting for the 2025-2026 school year. We need 2 volunteers per meeting. Please sign up here for the slots that you are available to help!
Trailblazer Elementary
- We are looking for 2 volunteers to help us with childcare during each PTO meeting for the 2025 - 2026 school year at Trailblazer Elementary. Meetings run from 4:00 - 5:00pm. We are asking that volunteers arrive 10-15 minutes early (3:45pm) to get set up. Please sign up here for the slots that you are available to help!
Please bring any volunteer forms needing to be completed and we will get those filled out at the end of the night. Please email Samantha Marino at trailblazerptosecretary@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you!
Summer Camps
Children's Theater Camp
Join ThunderRidge High School's Youth Theater Camp
Monday, June 22rd - Friday, June 26th
9:00am - 4:00pm with a show on the evening of the 26th.
There will be an audition prior, more details coming soon.
Deadline to register is Friday April 24th. Scan the QR code or click here.
Stone Canyon Summer Camp
Looking for fun, engaging, unplugged summer activities for your child this summer? Consider Stone Canyon's Summer Camp programs! Join us for a summer of fun, adventure, and friendship. Find registration links and more information here: https://www.stonecanyonedge.org/summercamp.
Located in Larkspur, we offer week-long Overnight Camps for 9-15-year-old campers and 3-day Day Camps (including transportation to/from camp out of Castle Rock) for 6-9-year-old campers.
ThunderRidge is proud to offer a wide variety of clubs and activities! Click the bar above for a full list including meeting times, days and locations.
About Us
Principal: Liz Walhof
Mission Statement:
Empowering Grizzlies through curiosity, compassion, courage, community and service.
1991 West Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
303.387.2000
Facebook: ThunderRidge High School
X (formerly Twitter): @TRidgeGrizzlies