Buffs Newsletter

Dear Smoky Hill Community,

As we approach the end of the first semester, excitement is already building among our students for the upcoming holiday season. It’s a special time filled with joy, relaxation, and a sense of closure.

However, I would like to take a moment to address a growing concern that has surfaced in our community and others nearby: the “Senior Assassin” game. This activity has become increasingly popular among high school seniors across the country, including Smoky Hill High School.

The game typically involves students attempting to “eliminate” one another using facsimile guns or similar items. While it may seem like harmless fun to some, the nature of the game often leads to behavior that can raise serious safety, legal, and policy concerns. In some instances across the metro area and nation, these games have resulted in police involvement due to reports of suspicious or unsafe activity, trespassing on private property, and reckless driving as students attempt to "assassinate" or evade one another.

I want to be clear: Senior Assassin is not permitted on the Smoky Hill campus or any Cherry Creek School District property. Neither our school nor our district condones, sponsors, or organizes this game in any way, whether on or off campus. Any student involvement that disrupts the learning environment, creates safety concerns, or violates district policy (including Board Policy JICI-III related to firearm facsimiles) will result in disciplinary action.

Additionally, families should be aware that the Smoky Hill High School is not responsible for any money collected or distributed as part of the game and assumes no liability for any related financial transactions or disputes.

Parents, I encourage you to have a conversation with your student about this game and the potential risks involved. I also urge our students to make safe, thoughtful choices that reflect the respect, responsibility, and pride that define Smoky Hill High School.

As always, our focus remains on maintaining a safe and supportive environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us uphold the values that make our Buffalo community so strong.

With appreciation,

Dr. Andre Bala

Principal

Smoky Hill High School

Monday 11/3 RED DAY

Tuesday 11/4 GREEN DAY + Voices of Color Parent Meeting 9-11 am + District P.I.N. Presentation. See Flyer Below.

Wednesday 11/5 RED DAY + ADVISORY + S.A.C. Meeting from 6-7:30 pm in Main Office Conference Room. See Flyer Below.

Thursday 11/6 GREEN DAY

Friday 11/7 RED DAY + The Outsiders Fall Play at 7:15 pm in the Smoky Hill HS Auditorium.

Saturday 11/8 The Outsiders Fall Play at 7:15 pm in the Smoky Hill HS Auditorium.

Join us for an exciting night and come be part of the Herd!

Date: Tuesday November 12th, 2025

Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Place: Smoky Hill High School Auditorium and Hallways (Entrance at Activities door 16100 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80015

Agenda:

• Welcome from Principal Bala
• IB (MYP and DP) Presentations
• Presentations from our Student Panel and other Smoky Hill Clubs!

Students in grades 9 through 12 will have the opportunity to complete the Healthy Kids Colorado (HKC) survey this year through their social studies class on November 13-14. Please see the attached letter for more information on the survey and how to opt your child out if you prefer.

CCSDHKCSParent Letter Arabic.pdf
CCSDHKCSParent Letter English.pdf
CCSDHKCSParent Letter Spanish.pdf

Smoky Hill Counselors are working with students to teach them financial literacy. Why is teaching financial literacy important? Financial literacy is essential for all students, regardless of their background or future career path. It equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of personal finance, make informed decisions, and achieve financial security. Below are hyperlinks to resources for parents:

Financial Literacy Rocks

Personal Financial Literacy Resource Bank

Dates: June 7 – July 18, 2026
Location: University of Northern Colorado (UNC)

FSI goes way beyond what you learn in school. Over six weeks, you’ll:

• Do hands-on research in cutting-edge science labs

• Go on field trips and industrial site visits

• Hear from scientists and innovators in engaging seminars

• Even earn college credit while you’re at it!

Who Should Apply? FSI is for students who are:

• Curious, motivated, and ready to be challenged

• Dependable and mature team players

• Currently in grades 9–11

Scholarships Available!
In fact, every student in the 2025 program received significant scholarship support — so don’t let cost stop you from applying.

Learn more and apply here: Frontier of Science Institute (FSI) at UNC

Click in link below.

Below is a link to the story that recently aired on 9News. Take a minute to watch.

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 winter sports https://students.arbitersports.com/smoky-hill-high-school/shhs-athletics-2025-2026-winter

Winter Sports include:

• Girls Swimming
• Boys and Girls and Unified Basketball
• Boys and Girls Wrestling
• Ice Hockey (District Team)

Students must be registered, have an updated sports physical on the new CHSAA Approved form, completed by a guardian, and submitted PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 17th (registration must be completed by Friday 11/14 to be able to begin on 11/17). Registration LINK. CHSAA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form Link.

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

Questions? Please reach out the Mr. Benedict or Ms. Dawn in the Athletics Office.

(720)886-5551 | www.smokyhillathletics.com | @smokysports

Youth Homelessness affects overall health and wellness, often leading to increased trauma, anxiety and depression. Addressing both homelessness and behavioral health needs is essential for helping young people. Are you a CCSD unhoused family or a family in transition?

https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/programs-and-services/office-of-student-health/office-of-student-health/unhousedfamilies-in-transition-mckinney-vento

Students who took the PSAT 9 or the PSAT/NMSQT exam on October 8th are now able to access their scores through their College Board account. For more information visit the College Board website.

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

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)

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!

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,
• 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.
• 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.
• English: Attendance Voicemail- 720-886-5450
• Spanish Attendance VoicemailVoicemail- 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. 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

SHHS Seniors: Are you going to a 4-year college, 2-year college or a trade school? The FAFSA application is now open. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

What is the FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students complete to determine their eligibility for financial aid. This financial aid can include federal grants, work-study programs, and loans. Many states, colleges and trade schools also use the information from the FAFSA to award their own financial aid packages.

Filling out the FAFSA is free, and it’s the first step in accessing the largest source of financial aid for higher education.

Naviance is a web-based college and career planning platform that supports SHHS students in exploring their interests, researching colleges and scholarships, and preparing for life after high school. It also provides parents/guardians with access to resources that help them stay informed and actively support their student’s postsecondary planning.

Parents/guardians no longer need a separate username or password to access Naviance. Simply log in to my.cherrycreekschools.org, search for the Naviance Parent tile, and click to be directed to the parent view of your student’s Naviance account. If you have more than one student, you will be able to toggle between accounts.

If you previously used a Naviance Parent login, please disregard it and use this new, simplified access method instead.

Exploring campuses is a key step in your college or trade school journey. It’s not just about touring buildings—it’s about experiencing the environment, meeting the people, and discovering where you feel most at home. While many families choose to visit during summer or school breaks, there’s also great value in visiting while classes are in session. Doing so allows you to get a true sense of the energy, community, and day-to-day life on campus. Both options can help you decide which schools may be the best fit for you. To help you get started, we’ve included links to campus visit opportunities at colleges and universities across Colorado. You can also Click here for tips on how to get the most out of each visit. Wishing you the best as you explore your options.

Between September and May, we will host 150+ colleges, universities, and military recruiters on campus. These visits are a valuable opportunity for students to learn more about postsecondary options and connect directly with admissions representatives and/or recruiters.

Who Can Attend?

• Juniors and Seniors may attend visits during a class period and should check with their teachers before missing class to attend a visit, and then sign in on the appropriate attendance sheet when they come to the CCC.

• Freshmen and Sophomores are welcome to attend, but only during an off period.

Visit Details

• Each session typically lasts 20–30 minutes.

• The weekly schedule is emailed every Friday, and updated daily, by Ms. Marquita Millard, College & Career Specialist.

📅 Click here for the updated list of upcoming visits: College & Military Visit Schedule

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

10/24/25, 10/10/25, 10/3/25, 9/26/25, 9/19/25, 9/12/25, 9/5/25, 8/29/25