ThunderRidge Weekly Update
Hi everyone!
Happy Friday to you all. Spring is here and so are all the things in the whole world. Every fall, I think, “Boy, this is a busy job.” And then Spring comes, and I want to pat my little Fall self on the head and say, “It was so cute you thought it was busy back then!”
That being said, let’s get to it!
Last month TRHS Chess Club Vice President, Cole Strong, competed in the Colorado Scholastic State Chess Championship and placed sixth in the state. Congratulations, Cole!
Congratulations to TRHS Safe2Tell art contest winner, Rylie Armstrong. Rylie received a gift basket for her winning entry. Well done, Rylie!
Congratulations to the TRHS Theatre students who attended a Master Class with Emmy and Grammy-nominated actor, singer, songwriter, and performer, Cheyenne Jackson. You can see pictures of our students (and Director Hurley) with the famous actor below.
This Wednesday, some of our Seniors (and Seniors from Mountain Vista and Rock Canyon) shared words of appreciation for their teachers in a local teacher appreciation ceremony. Our students are so articulate and thoughtful. I appreciate the custom of telling people you appreciate them while you still have access to them. What a wise habit!
Congratulations to the eight athletes who participated in another signing day earlier this week!
Congratulations to TRHS e-sports - who ranked 11th in the nation this week by USA Today.
TRHS Winter Guard is performing at their State Competition today. Best of luck to Charlotte, Fiona, Andrew, Brady, Charlie, Loni, Brooke, Tori, and Eliza!
Saturday was the Apple Awards for DCSD. If you know him, please congratulate TRHS Welding Teacher, Oscar Chaparro, for his nomination.
Parents of 10th graders: Please remember that Sophomore project papers are due this coming Tuesday, 3/31. Students receive a quarter credit for this project (and learn a ton), so please make sure they are hard at work wrapping up this weekend if they’ve not already finished! The Sophomore Project Canvas course has some great examples if you need an example to show your 10th graders.
There is a SAC meeting on Thursday 4/2 that all are welcome to attend. It is from 4:30-6:30PM in the post grad room in the library.
We have one month until standardized testing! Please encourage your 9th-11th grade students to do diagnostic and targeted practice activities in Brain Buffs. Login info is in their DCSD email.
Our Spring Musical, Mamma Mia, will be open the first two weekends in April. Get your tickets now - as they often sell out completely!
Thank you to Grizzly Gives and GBBC for the hot dog lunch for the staff! See more on that below!
Enjoy these busy, busy days!
All the hugs, Liz
A big thank you to Grizzly Gratitude and GBBC for treating our staff to a fantastic MLB Opening Day lunch! Complete with hot dogs, chips, Cracker Jacks, cookies, bubble gum, and sodas, it was such a fun way to end the week. We truly appreciate your generosity and support!
April 2 - SAC Meeting - 4:30-6:30pm - Post Grad Room
April 2-4 & 9-11 - Spring Musical: Mamma Mia
April 8 - Athletics Night - 6:00pm - Main Gym
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
April 27 - Compensation Day - No students
Monday - Blue Day
Tuesday - Green Day
Wednesday - Blue Day
Thursday - Green DayFriday - ALL Day with PLC
Tickets are on sale now for our spring musical, Mamma Mia!
April 2 - 4 and 9-11 at 7:00pm
April 4 at 1:30pm
Get yours today at www.seatyourself.biz/trhs.
Students: $12 // Adults: $15 // Seniors: $14
We are so excited to recognize Rylie Armstrong as the winner of this year's Safe2Tell Art Contest here at Thunder Ridge High School.
Her entry was selected as the winning submission and she was awarded a self-care basket filled with all kinds of goodies including a journal, affirmation cards, a ThunderRidge sweatshirt, a Safe2Tell shirt, Safe2Tell sunglasses, and lots of other fun things to support her wellbeing.
Rylie submitted an original song called "The Worst," written in memory of a friend she lost to suicide. The song is written from her friend's perspective and speaks to what it feels like to be struggling and not feel seen by the people around you. It is a powerful reminder that not every struggle is loud, and that sometimes the people who need help the most are the ones who never say a word. It reminds us to pay attention, to check in, and to speak up for the ones who can't always speak up for themselves.
And that is exactly what Safe2Tell is here for. We are so grateful that Rylie was willing to share something so personal in the name of awareness. Rylie, thank you for your courage in putting something so personal into words. Your voice matters, and so did hers. A huge thank you as well to every student who participated in the contest. Your willingness to speak up and express what matters to you is exactly what Safe2Tell is all about. Safe2Tell isn't just for emergencies. It's also there to help prevent them. If you are concerned about a friend or even yourself and you don't know who to turn to or talk to, Safe2Tell is here for you. We all deserve to feel seen.
The Safe2Tell Art Contest was created by ThunderRidge senior Victoria Tricamo, one of ten Safe2Tell Student Ambassadors selected across Colorado this year. Victoria opened the contest to all students as a way to bring awareness to Safe2Tell and the many different kinds of concerns students can report. All creative formats were welcome, and students responded with some really meaningful submissions.
Did you know that USA Today has ranked TRHS #11 in the nation for eSports?!
Click here to read the article.The ranking is based on the number of eSports teams, all of their match winning percentages, and overall winning percentage. TR is the only Colorado team to make the top 25 this season.
Congratulations to Cole Strong, vice president of both the ThunderRidge Chess Club and the student-led Chess Association of Colorado, on earning 6th place at the Colorado Scholastic State Chess Championship!
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
Our junior class is now a few weeks into their work around one of the most meaningful and distinctive components of the IB experience, the Extended Essay (EE).
The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word independent research paper that gives students the opportunity to explore a topic they are genuinely curious about within one of their IB subject areas. Throughout the nearly yearlong timeline of this project, students will move through the stages of topic selection, research question development, investigation, drafting, and reflection, all with the guidance of an IB supervisor.
While the Extended Essay can feel like a big undertaking at first, it is also one of the most rewarding parts of the Diploma Programme. Through this process, students develop skills that prepare them exceptionally well for college and beyond, including:
- independent research
- academic writing
- time management
- critical thinking
- source evaluation
- perseverance through long-term projects
Starting the Extended Essay in the spring of junior year allows students to make steady progress over time and positions them well for success as seniors. It also helps ensure they can balance this important project alongside their other IB commitments next year.
We are excited to support our juniors as they take this important step toward becoming confident, independent researchers, and we look forward to seeing the fascinating topics they choose to explore!
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
Douglas County School District Community Fundraiser
Benefiting Douglas County Schools
Featured Games
- April 17–19: Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- May 15–17: Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Special Event
There will be a special National Anthem performance by DCSD students on Saturday, April 18 at 6:10 PM (Rockies vs. Dodgers).
Ticket Information
- Price: Tickets start at $17
- Purchase: Available online only at www.rockies.com/dcsd
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).
Roxborough State Park is currently seeking mascots for 6th Annual Bigfoot Goin' to Rock the Rox event
Roxborough State Park is currently seeking six enthusiastic people to be our Bigfoot and Elbert (CPW big horn sheep) mascots at our 6th Annual Bigfoot Goin' to Rock the Rox event. This public event is on Saturday, June 6 from 9:00am - 2:00pm, with mascots needing to be there from 8:00am-2:30pm.
Roxborough State Park partners with the Leave No Trace organization and was the first park in Colorado to receive the Gold Standard designation of achievement. The event offers many fun opportunities for the public to learn the principles of recreating responsibly. An important part of the day is our guest appearances of Bigfoot and Elbert. You will switch off being a mascot and being a handler for photo and engagement opportunities with our visitors. No speaking is required. You earn community service time towards graduation requirements while having a lot of fun!
Always a Grizzly… my son and I did it a few years back and the majority of our mascots have been recruited from TRHS over the years. If you are interested or would like additional information, please email me, Alex Fountain, at apfountain65@gmail.com.
Thank you very much for your interest and consideration!
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.
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