Buffs Newsletter

As we wrap up the final week of our first semester, I want to pause and recognize something we all feel: life in our society can be heavy right now. Many of our students, families, and staff are carrying responsibilities and worries that don’t always show on the surface. In moments like these, what matters most is who we choose to be for one another. At Smoky Hill, we choose connection over isolation, kindness over indifference, and unity over division. We stick together because when we do, we are stronger than any challenge in front of us and better prepared for anything ahead.

I am incredibly proud of the hard work our students and staff demonstrated this semester. Whether it was pushing through a tough class, showing up consistently, balancing multiple commitments, supporting a teammate, or helping a friend, those daily efforts add up. Our staff has been steadfast in guiding, encouraging, and believing in our students, and our students have continued to grow in resilience, character, and determination. That’s something worth celebrating.

I want to express a special thank you to our parents and guardians for the incredible support you’ve shown throughout Semester 1. Your partnership, encouragement, and commitment to your students and our school make a meaningful difference every day.

As we enter this holiday season, I hope you find time for rest, reflection, and meaningful moments with your loved ones. Please take care of yourselves and each other. I hope the holidays are truly uplifting for you.

I’m excited for what’s in store for the second semester. Until then, I wish you a safe, peaceful, and rejuvenating break.

Happy Holidays!

With gratitude,

Dr. Andre Bala

Smoky Hill High School Community,

The Smoky Hill STRIDE Clinic is in its final phases of being relocated to the southeast parking lot, just outside the Smoky Hill Cafeteria and Nurses' Office.

Here is the remaining Smoky Hill STRIDE Clinic relocation timeline:

-12/17: Last day of STRIDE Clinic being open for business in its current location

-12/18-1/4: New location to be prepped for STRIDE building move

-1/5: Official completion date

We ask that community members not enter the construction zone and be respectful of the relocation process. I appreciate your patience, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Dr. Andre Bala

Principal | Smoky Hill High School

Monday 1/5 No School for Students, Staff PD Day

Tuesday 1/6 RED Day

Wednesday 1/7 GREEN Day + School Accountability Meeting in Main Office 6-7:30 pm

Thursday 1/8 RED Day

Friday 1/9 GREEN Day

January 7 from 6-7:30 pm Main Office Conference Room

Come learn more about the AVID college and career readiness elective program!

When: Thursday, January 29 from 5:30-6:15 pm

Where: Online via Teams

How: Register using the QR Code shown or click on this link: bit.ly/48VVr2q

Build confidence. Strengthen Habits. Own Your Future.

Our Drama Department is celebrating 5 students going to Bloomington, IN in June 2026 for Nationals in the following categories:

• Musical Theatre
• Acting
• Set Design

Students earned Superior Ratings during last weekend's Thespian Conference at the Colorado Convention Center. Please join them for a night of short plays and improv as they perform with the CCSD Honor Theatre.

Date: January 17, 2026

Time: 6 pm

Location: Overland High School

Cost: Free Admission

Please click on the link to read her story!

https://jea.org/news/faust-named-2025-h-l-hall-national-yearbook-adviser-of-the-year/

Concurrent Enrollment: Earn high school credit and college credit at the same time. Courses are offered through local community colleges and taught at CCSD high schools by accredited, post-secondary teachers. Courses are free if the student completes the required paperwork including Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) and meets the prerequisites.

Dual Enrollment: Similar to Concurrent Enrollment. Families incur a small tuition cost to enroll. Courses offered through Metro State University of Denver and taught at CCSD high schools.

Some courses have prerequisites that must be met in order to enroll in class and be eligible to earn college credit. Student must do the following to earn college credit:

• Satisfy prerequisites
• Complete Student/ Parent Agreement
• Apply to the college
• Get a C or higher
• Be enrolled the entire term

For the course to be tuition free, the student must apply for COF (College Opportunity Fund) during the college application process.

We are writing to share important information about Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) Concurrent Enrollment (CE) and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, particular CE and DE courses will be weighted in Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. Please note that this change is not retroactive and will apply only to courses taken in the 2026–2027 school year and beyond.

To be eligible for weighted GPA credit, CE and DE courses must meet two of the following three criteria:

• The course has a college readiness and/or college prerequisite as defined by the partnering postsecondary institution
• The course is a CCSD defined core academic class
• The course is a Guaranteed Transfer (GT) course as defined by the Colorado Department of Higher Education

This shift aligns CCSD with practices across other Denver Metro area school districts. It also reflects our district's ongoing commitment to ensuring that students have equitable opportunities as they pursue their pathway of purpose.

As always, we encourage students to work closely with their school counselor, current teachers, and families when selecting their high school courses. Course choices should support each student’s individual postsecondary goals whether that means earning a certificate, entering the workforce, attending college, joining the military, or exploring another pathway.

To help families and students make informed decisions, we recommend:

• Attend scheduled registration information meetings with your school counselor and teachers during registration time.
• Review your high school's current course guide and the CE and DE offerings that are available.
• Talk with teachers about how specific classes may support student interests and strengths.
• Exploring CCSD’s college and career readiness resources
• Examine Colorado’s Guaranteed Transfer course list

We are excited to continue supporting students as they discover and pursue their unique paths. Thank you for partnering with us in this vital work. For questions, comments, and/or concerns, please contact Mr. Chris Ritchie, CE Coordinator at 720-886-5491 or critchie@cherrycreekschools.org.

There is an increased risk due to the holidays, higher fatality rates, and higher levels of financial, social and emotional stress. Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, call for an uber/lyft/taxi or choose to abstain from drugs or alcohol to ensure you have a safe month.

Grief is deeply personal and a natural process. It looks and feels different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to feel while grieving, but it’s important to know that support and resources are available. If you or someone you know needs more help, 988 offers 24/7 judgement-free support for mental health, substance use and more. Text, call or chat 988.

Support During the Holidays

The holidays can bring tough triggers for alcohol or other substance use- but you don’t have to face them alone. Help is available if you would like support with your recovery: www.samhsa.gov/find-help

Did you know Cherry Creek School District has an Adolescent Substance Use Prevention, Intervention, Resources & Education (ASPIRE) Team of school health professionals that supports students and school communities with substance use prevention, intervention and education? If you feel your child is in need of support, reach out to your school for more information.

Morgan Craft, LCSW, LAC | Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

mcraft@cherrycreekschools.org |720-886-5508

March 1, 2026: Last date for any cancellations, less the cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued after this date.

AP Exams: May 4-8 & May 11-15, 2025 (Smoky Hill's AP & IB Exam Schedule)

Registration for the Summer 2026 Colorado Health Careers Academy is NOW OPEN!

Colorado Health Careers Academy will be back at both the ACC, Littleton and CCD, Lowry campuses in the summer of 2026.

NEW for 2026! CHCA has partnered with AllHealth Network to offer a career exploration module in Behavioral Health!

Space is limited and students are encouraged to register early.

The new https://www.readlearnleadco.org/ website is a helpful resource for families who want to support their child’s reading development at any age. It offers simple, everyday tips—like reading together, playing word games, or talking about your day—that can make a big difference. You’ll also find guidance on how to recognize reading challenges early and how to partner with your child’s school to create a personalized READ Plan. Resources are available in English and Spanish, and reading in your home language is encouraged!

Bison Football is building the next generation of athletes the Bison Way through discipline, teamwork, and community. We’re looking for players ages 8U–13U ready to grow, compete, and represent with pride!

Buffalo families and community. The Buffalo App is here.

Your one stop shop for all things Smoky Hill Activities and Athletics.

Download it today on the App Store and stay up to date with your favorite club/team.

A new school year is here! We bet you’re already full of pride.

Give the gift of a yearbook to make their big moments even more special. Order their 2026 yearbook today! RESERVE A COPY

Yearbooks are sold on a first-come basis and while supplies last.

• current school ID,
• valid government-issued ID,
• alien registration/permanent resident card,
• Military ID/dependent card with DOB,
• RTD-issued youth special discount card.

If you are a parent and in need to transportation to get to and from Smoky Hill for a parent meeting, please reach out to Rachel Brown or Gabriella Garcia and we would be happy to support you.

If you have more questions, go to rtd-denver.com or call RTD at 303-299-6000.Call +1 303-299-6000 via Google Voice

What is Buff's Pantry?

As a class, we have aimed to make a difference in our Smoky Hill community, and we decided to do this by creating a safe space where students can receive the food and hygiene products they need on a weekly basis. We offer multiple types of food, whether it’s canned/boxed or just quick snacks, hygiene products, baby products (diapers/wipes), and clothes/shoes. We receive donations from SECOR, the local community, students, and our CCSD district Food Pantry Liaisons. Last year, we were able to serve 70 families in total. Our goal is to limit food insecurity and strengthen our school holistically.

Weekly, as students scan the QR codes that are placed in every classroom and around the school and we receive orders in the Google Form, Call 2 Action students will create individualized bags for each student. They will then deliver them to the counseling office. Students will be called to the counseling office to pick up their bags. Our hope is to reduce any shame that comes with needing support by keeping this process as anonymous as possible.

Here is the Buff's Pantry Google form link for you to fill out with your needs:

https://forms.gle/NoraXVqzbxUYT4B8A

Check us out on the news!!

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/aurora-smoky-hill-high-school-social-justice-class-buffs-food-pantry/

If you wish to donate:

We are in need of the following items if you have any spare stock in your home or wish to purchase items from our list:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2O6R74E3W2244?ref_=wl_share

Also, you can have your student drop these off at the main office or bring them to Mrs. Ogide's room (1-11). We will also be running donation drives throughout the year. Stay tuned!

Adult ESL Classes – Free for parents in the Cherry Creek School District!

For questions or more information, please call the Learning Source at 720-291-1345 or email marilyn@thelearningsource.org

Attendance:

• Club Sports:

  • Moving forward, absences for club sports will be excused when verification and documentation are provided by families at least one week (7 days) in advance of the competition date.

• College Visits:

  • All college visits will be excused with verification and documentation submitted at least 24 hours in advance.

• Vacations:

• Vacations will have the first three (3) days excused with appropriate documentation. Any vacation days beyond the initial three will not be excused. The 3 excused days are for the entire year, not each trip.

Acceptable Documentation:

• Team Roster
• Team Schedule
• Email from Coach
• Email confirmation from college being visited
• Vacations
• Email confirmation of trip

As previously communicated, all absences and tardies must be reported to the Attendance Clerk (via Talking Points), Rosita Tantao, or the Dean’s Office , as these are the only individuals who can excuse absences requiring verification and documentation.

Thank you again for your continued communication and support as we work together to uphold a system that best serves our students.

Address Change

If you have recently moved, or are planning to move over break, please ensure that you update your address in the Guardian tab on mycherrycreekschools.org, or provide Cherry Creek School District Admissions with your updated address if you are unsure if your new address is within our boundaries. Please reach out to Rosita Tantao at rtantao@cherrycreekschools.org if any support is needed.

In Partnership,

Rosita Tantao, Assistant Principal | Smoky Hill High School

The safety and well-being of our students is of high priority. As such, the accurate monitoring of attendance is imperative to be able to account for students at all times. Please follow the procedures below.

• Send a text message through the Talking Points app (preferred),
• Step 1 - Open Talking Point and select New Message
• Step 2 - Scroll to the bottom of the list and select Smoky Hill High School (under School Admins)
• Step 3 - Include this information in your message: STUDENT'S NAME, the DATE and TIMES of the absence, the REASON your student is missing class, or needed to leave early.
• If any of the above information is missing or indecipherable, your student's attendance may not be updated.
• Call the Attendance Voicemail line prior to 2:00 p.m. on the day of the absence for daily absence.
• English: Attendance Voicemail- 720-886-5450
• Spanish Attendance Voicemail- 720-886-5455
• When leaving a voicemail message on the attendance line, please include the following:
• STUDENT'S NAME (please SPELL OUT the LAST NAME)
• YOUR NAME and PHONE NUMBER
• the DATE and TIMES of the absence
• the REASON your student is missing class

NOTE:

• Please inform us of changes in home or work phone numbers.
• Absences that are not excused within 48 hours will require a Dean’s approval for changing an absence to “Excused.” ONLY 48 HOURS TO EXCUSE AN ABSENCE.
• If your student needs to be dismissed early from class, have him/her bring a note written by a parent or guardian to the Attendance Office prior to the start of the school day AND please send a Talking Points message. This is to help reduce disruptions in the classroom.
• Students who leave without following the above procedure may be marked “Unexcused.”
• In the event that a student becomes ill at school and needs to go home, he/she must either:
• Report to the clinic.
• The nurse will phone a parent/guardian and obtain permission.
• Have a parent/guardian call and give permission to the Main Office at the time the student is leaving.

Responses to Absences:

• Missing only four (4) days or 17 class periods a quarter classifies your student as Chronically Absent by the State of Colorado.
• Students who have unexcused absences will receive consequences that include, but are not limited to:
• Academic Re-engagement(s)
• Family Meeting(s)
• Being Placed on Attendance Support Plans
• Guardian Shadows
• Loss of privilege(s)
• Medical Note Requirement
• Truancy Court Referral

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