ThunderRidge Weekly Update

Good afternoon, Grizzly families,

As you likely know from the busyness in your own homes, our spring semester is intense! Here are a few of the notable items from this week, and some that are coming up.

This week, we celebrated National School Counseling week. If you have a moment to jot a note of appreciation to the counselor(s) with whom you work the most, please do so! I am so grateful to get to work with each of my counseling teammates (pictured above) and greatly admire their skills. Don’t know who your students’ counselors are? You can find that information on your student's schedule in IC. Also, check out the TRHS counseling webpage and the Counseling newsletter to learn more about what our counseling department offers.

It was a big week here for activities! Seventeen of our Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students qualified for state, and two of our students are participating in All State Orchestra this Saturday at 4pm at Griffin Concert Hall on the campus of Colorado State University. Also, competition season has officially started for ProStart, and rehearsals for our spring musical, Mamma Mia, have started.

Tonight is Senior Night for our co-op hockey team. If you’ve not had a chance to see our ThunderRidge students play with their DCSD peers, this is a good night to cheer them on! The game starts at 5:30pm at the South Suburban Sports Complex. Check out more athletics updates on the TRHS athletics website or below.

Speaking of websites, I promised earlier in the year that we would find a way to share information from our socials to our website so students without social media can stay up to date.To see this, go to the homepage of the TRHS website and scroll down to the bottom where you can find those posts. Thanks to our TRHS Testing Center Coordinator, Jenna Kamberos, for figuring this out!

Next Tuesday, 2/10 at 6:30pm, Douglas County High School is hosting an Army JROTC info night. Interested students continue to attend their home schools, but can participate in JROTC at DCHS.

Remember, Parent-Teacher Conferences and Senior Parent Information Night are Thursday evening. There will be no school for students on Friday 2/13 as it is a PD day for our staff, and no school on Monday 2/16 for Presidents’ Day.

On 2/17 during Grizzly Hour, 9th-11th graders will be introduced to a free trial of a PSAT and SAT test-prep program called Brain Buffs. We will have a limited number of school devices available to be checked out, but please have your students bring their own laptops or Chromebooks that day if they have one.

Looks like we’ll have warm weather this weekend. I hope you can get out and soak up some Vitamin D! If you’re attending conferences next week, be sure to say hi!

-Liz

February 12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Halls of TRHS - 4:00-6:30pm

February 12 - Senior Parent Information Night - Auditorium - 5:30pm

February 13 - Professional Development Day - No students

February 16 - Presidents' Day - No school

February 19 - Grizzly Path: Find Your Calling - 5:30-7:30pm

March 2-6 - Grizzly Gives Week

March 9-10 - Choir Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm

March 10 - Band Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm

March 10 - Grizzly Gives Assembly

March 11 - Orchestra Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm

March 12 - Band Concert - Auditorium - 7:00pm

March 13 - End of 3rd Quarter

March 16-20 - Spring Break 🏖️

Monday - Blue Day

Tuesday - Green Day

Wednesday - Blue Day

Thursday - Green Day

Friday - Teacher Work Day - No Students

Monday - Presidents' Day - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday - Green Day

Wednesday - Blue Day

Thursday - Green Day

Friday - Blue Day - NO PLC - Classes will begin at 7:40am.

Registration for spring sports is now open! Click the graphic below to go to the ThunderRidge Athletics website.

Congratulations to our FBLA students on their strong showing at Districts this week! Seventeen students qualified for State, with four earning double qualifications. Nice job, FBLA!

If you find yourself near Bear Canyon Elementary, be sure to stop by and check out the amazing, custom bike rack built by ThunderRidge's own Emma Henion and Addie Graham, members of the SkillsUSA/Girls that Weld club.

This project was a special request from Bear Canyon, and the girls did a fantastic job bringing it to life. Their hard work, creativity, and welding skills really shine through! Great work, Emma and Addie!

Our final round of Parent Teacher Conferences for the 25-26 school year will be held on Thursday, February 12th, from 4:00-6:30 pm. Conferences will be open-house style in the main hallway of ThunderRidge. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with your child's teachers. Please limit each conference to 5 minutes, so you can see as many teachers as possible. Thank you for your continued support of your children and TRHS!

Sophomores and Juniors - join us at ThunderRidge on February 19th from 5:30-7:30pm to explore your options for after high school. We will have over 40 colleges and universities on-site, along with representatives from the Career Technical industry, Military and workforce. Scan the QR code on the flyer below for more information.

Friday, April 10, 2026

11th grade: CMAS (Science) testing 7:40am - 11am only*

12th grade: Senior Project Presentations All day* (times may be updated in Jan/Feb)

Presentation times will be released to students only shortly before this date.

All grades: No Regular Classes (Parents do not need to call attendance for this day.)**

Monday, April 13, 2026

9th grade: PSAT testing 7:40 - 11am*

9th grade only lunch: 11:05 - 11:40am

10th, 11th & 12th grade: Arrive at 11:45am for Grizz Hour* (No lunch available)

All grades: Grizz Hour 11:45am - 12:20pm

Period 1: 12:25 - 1:35pm

Period 2: 1:40 - 2:50pm

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

11th grade: SAT testing 7:40 - 11am*

11th grade only lunch: 11:05 - 11:40am

9th, 10th & 12th grade: Arrive at 11:45am for Grizz Hour* (No lunch available)

All grades:Grizz Hour 11:45am - 12:20pm

Period 1:12:25 - 1:35pm

Period 2: 1:40 - 2:50 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

10th grade: PSAT testing 7:40 - 11am*

10th grade only lunch: 11:05 - 11:40am

9th, 11th & 12th grade: Arrive at 11:45am for Period 5* (No lunch available)

All grades: Period 5 11:45am - 12:43pm

Period 6 12:48 - 1:46 p.m.

Period 7 1:51 - 2:50 p.m.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

All grades: Green Day (Regular Schedule)

Friday, April 17, 2026

All grades: Blue Day (Regular Schedule)

* Transportation: Buses will operate on a normal schedule during all testing days.

Students who ride the bus and are not testing will be restricted to the commons for the duration of the testing period each morning.

** Attendance should be called in as normal, except for Friday, April 10, 2026.

Senior parents - please plan to attend the Senior Parent Information Meeting on February 12th at 5:30pm in the Auditorium during Parent/Teacher Conferences.

We'll discuss your student's second semester focus, as well as logistics and important dates leading up to graduation. Herff Jones will be on site for cap and gown and other graduation memorabilia orders. Stop by and see them!

Seniors - scan the QR codes below to sign up for your opportunity to audition to speak or perform at graduation. Sign up closes on March 12th.

Speaker auditions will take place at 3:00pm on March 25th, and performer auditions will be held at 3:00pm on March 26th.

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.

This past week in the counseling office, TRHS Counselors saw 254 students to provide academic planning and support, social emotional support, and post secondary planning.

School counselors help students in more ways than you may know. This week we celebrate National School Counseling Week 2026. Click here to learn more about the role of this essential profession.

We’re excited to share that Douglas County High School will be hosting a JROTC Information Night on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 PM. Please see the attached flyer for full details.

February 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!

📅 Feb 10 – Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration

Discover how careers in geology, engineering, and environmental science power everything from smartphones to renewable energy — and how modern mining is shaping the future.

📅 Feb 17 – Financial Services

The Millionaire Blueprint with Jessica Bassan, MBA will teach students how to manage money, build credit, and start planning for big goals like cars, homes, and financial independence.

Students — come explore careers, ask questions, and start planning your future! 🚀

Click here is the link to sign up.

Become a Peer Counselor

Do you want to make a positive impact on your school? Then become a Peer Counselor! Applications are now available for current sophomores (class of 2028) on the counseling page on the TRHS website, or check out the flyers around school and click on the QR code to apply!

(link: https://sites.google.com/a/dcsdk12.org/peer-counseling/trhs-peer-counseling?authuser=0)

Mindful minute - stay warm physically and mentally this winter

Cold winter days can lead to feeling down and isolated. Mindfulness can ease wintertime challenges by reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing focus. It helps combat seasonal blues by fostering gratitude and awareness of small joys, like cozy moments or winter's beauty. Mindfulness promotes self-care, keeping you present and resilient during colder, darker months. Check out this article, detailing 11 mindful practices to counter the winter blues.

For all things Counseling, including scholarships and community service opportunities, check out the full TRHS Counseling newsletter!

Students learned about the process of building better habits. Using a strategy from the novel, Atomic Habits, students identified a new habit they will perform by selecting a location and time. This practice helps make habit-building more attainable. - Mr. Cohen

Students began conferencing with their Grizz Hour teachers to evaluate their progress towards completing the personal project. - Mr. Carroll

With the help from Canvas Bank volunteers, the juniors participated in a financial literacy exercise. They discovered how career earnings translate to purchases, savings, and long term financial success. - Mr. Bidinger

Seniors completed Senior Project Conference #3 with their Grizz Hour teachers. They reviewed the setting and contents of their Senior Project Google Folder, Mentor Agreement Form, and reviewed their Dialectical Journals. - Ms. Vande Vusse

Eldorado Elementary

• Eldorado Elementary is in need of 16 outgoing, energetic high school volunteers for our annual Family Dance at Eldorado Elementary on Friday, February 27. Volunteers arrive by 5:30pm and leave by 8:30pm. Volunteers will help with various activities (set up/clean up, games, greeting families, Panther costume) and other help as needed.

  Family Dance Volunteer Sign Up: https://bit.ly/eefamilydance

• 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!

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.

Principal: Liz Walhof

Mission Statement:

Empowering Grizzlies through curiosity, compassion, courage, community and service.

trhs.dcsdk12.org

1991 West Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
303.387.2000

Facebook: ThunderRidge High School
X (formerly Twitter): @TRidgeGrizzlies