ThunderRidge Weekly Update

Happy Friday!

Let’s start with celebrations! The ThunderRidge SkillsUSA team had an impressive showing at the State Conference last week, and last weekend Track and Field participated in the Acadia Invitational. Special congratulations to our girls 4x1600 team who are now ranked #2 in the nation! Can you believe that? See below for even more impressive results from that event. Congrats, also, to the TRHS Seniors on the Boys Swim Team who had their Senior Night at their Meet against Valor on Tuesday.

Congratulations to all 9th-11th graders (and their families) for making it through standardized testing week! Make up tests will happen next Monday-Wednesday for students who missed PSAT 9, PSAT 10, SAT, or CMAS. IB and AP tests are just around the corner, but let's enjoy this brief reprieve while we have it.

What amazing art and food we had at our International Baccalaureate CreateFest this past Wednesday! I am in awe of the variety of skills and talents our students shared. In addition to amazing 2D and 3D art, we also had fashion, food, welding, leathercraft, crochet, and film. How fun is that? Our students are incredibly talented. (Wednesday also saw a very satisfying Girls Soccer Night victory over Ponderosa HS. JV GIrls Tennis did great as well. Not that we would want to flex on our peers or anything…)

Next Tuesday (4/21) is another chance for our students to shine in the 10th grade personal project showcase. Having just seen what our seniors did, I look forward to seeing our sophomores showing off their interests and passions. Then, on Tuesday night, the Board of Education meeting will be a big one. If you are interested in policies and topics that impact the future of the district, I encourage you to put on your comfy clothes, grab your popcorn, and stream away. Or come on down to DCSD’s Legacy Campus to see the action in real life. The Board will be considering the CD Policy (AKA cell phone policy) among other important topics.

We have two opportunities open right now for you to share your thoughts.

• First, we hope you nominate ThunderRidge for the Colorado Parent Magazine 2026 Family Favorites Contest. Your support helps us continue to be recognized as a top choice for families in our community. Family Favorites page and select the appropriate category to get started.You can vote once a day from now until May 15th if you’d like.

• Second, I invite all our Grizzly families to take the DCSD 2026 Stakeholder Experience Survey. The survey will take approximately 7 minutes to complete. The survey deadline is Friday, May 8. If you have more than one student enrolled in DCSD, please complete the survey once for each child.

Remember that next Friday is a staff professional development day, so students will have the day off. DCSD is also closed on Monday 4/27. Students, try not to be too sad about having a lovely long weekend. I hope you enjoy the reprieve from the intensity this time of year brings. When students return, they will find new seating in various locations around the building. These pieces were chosen by the TRHS Design Committee of students and staff. Please encourage your students to treat the furniture well, as we will not be able to get more anytime soon!

Next Friday is our Prom and After Prom. We could still use parent/guardian help and support with the After Prom, so please reach out to our StuGov facilitator, Sully (thomas.sullivan@dcsdk12.org), to volunteer. If you want to support good, clean fun to keep our students safe, we’d love to have you there!

Lastly, we are pleased to announce that longtime TRHS Counselor, Mr. Chris Smith has agreed to serve as our Interim Athletic Director/Assistant Principal next year. We are so grateful to Mr. Smith for helping us and encourage you to check out his welcome letter below.

Have a wonderful and restful weekend.

Hugs,

Liz

April 20-22: CMAS/SAT/PSAT Make-Ups
April 24 : Professional Development Day - No students
April 24 : Prom - Chatfield Farms - 8:30-11:00pm / After Prom - Sporty Pickle - 11:30pm - 2:00am
April 27: Compensation Day - No students
May 4-15 : AP Testing
May 7: Underclassmen Awards Ceremony - 5:30pm - Main Gym
May 11-13 : Senior Finals
May 13 : Instrumental Concert - 7:00pm - Auditorium
May 14 : Choir Concert - 7:00pm - Auditorium

May 15: Senior Checkout

May 20: Senior Awards Ceremony - 6:00pm - Main Gym

May 26: No school due to Graduation

May 26: Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony - 9:00am - University of Denver Magness Arena

May 22 - 29 - Underclassmen Finals

May 29: Last day of school

Monday - Blue

Tuesday - Green

Wednesday - Blue

Thursday - Green

Friday - No School

Monday - No School

Tuesday - Green

Wednesday - Blue

Thursday - Green

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

Hello Grizzly Community,

My name is Chris Smith and I am honored to be your Athletic Director/Asst. Principal for the 2026-2027 School year at ThunderRidge High School. I am ecstatic about this opportunity and look forward to hopefully serving our community in this new capacity.

Having been a proud member of the ThunderRidge community for the past 21 years, I’ve had the privilege of growing through several roles. I have been a counselor, an administrative dean, the head coach of boys and girls soccer, and a parent and community member. This is truly a "dream job" for me, and I am ready to hit the ground running. As I transition into the AD/AP role, I am committed to the following priorities to best support our school:

• Visibility & Responsiveness: I will be present and accessible—supporting teachers, staff, and students during the school day and cheering on our Grizzlies at community events in the evenings.

• Proactive Communication: My goal is to exceed expectations by providing timely, professional, and clear communication in every interaction, whether that be by phone, email, or in person.

• Athletic Excellence: I will be active at our remaining spring events and plan to meet with every coaching staff before the school year ends to evaluate and support each program's specific needs. Growing all of our programs is a priority, working with our feeder schools and helping to build a desire in all K-8 students who will strive for and look forward to becoming a Grizzly.

• Administrative Synergy: I am dedicated to supporting our current leadership team, teachers, and all staff in my role as a leader and team member to act as a beacon for all stakeholders and every student.

• Smooth Transition: I will be working closely with Josh Stephenson to ensure a successful transition into this role at TRHS.

Look for an upcoming feedback form and the opportunity to meet with me in the near future!

Thank you again for your support and I am excited to get started. Go Grizzlies!

-Chris Smith

AD/AP 26-27

Congratulations to Curi Yutzy on being named the new Head Girls Basketball Coach!

Girls Soccer Shuts Out Ponderosa 4-0 On Senior Night: Kenzie Burns Scores A Hat Trick.

JV Girls Tennis Wins Matthew Copper Memorial JV Doubles Challenge

Boys and Girls Distance Runners Excel at Arcadia Meet in California

Moonlit 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

Tickets are now on sale

Bundle (Prom + After Prom) - $50

Prom Only - $40

Guest forms are available via the ticket link.

Students are encouraged to wear masquerade masks!

Congratulations to the ThunderRidge SkillsUSA team for a fantastic showing at the State Conference! Special honors go to Addie Graham and Marissa Agnell, who earned Silver for their Community Service presentation!

With 9 students competing across 6 categories, ThunderRidge made a strong showing within the 40+ DCSD student participants. It was an incredible week of growth, grit, and high-level performance. Way to go, Grizzlies!

For your convenience, DU has provided a visitors guide for graduation. Please see the guide here for maps on where to park, how to enter Magness Arena, and where to meet your graduate after the ceremony. A list of prohibited items is also included. Please note that DU has a clear bag policy for graduations. Diaper bags and medical bags of a certain size are allowed. Please plan accordingly.

Tickets are not required and seating is on first come, first served basis. Doors open at 8:15am, and the ceremony begins at 9:00am.

The deadline to order your seniors' cap and gown is May 1st.

Order online at urherffjones.com. For detailed ordering instructions, click here.

If you or a family member require an ASL interpreter at graduation, please contact Lisa Todd at Ltodd1@dcsdk12.org no later than April 30th.

DU is equipped to accommodate handicap parking and seating on a first come, first served basis. No reservations are necessary.

The following items must be completed by Senior Checkout on May 15th in order to pick up your cap and gown:

• Naviance Graduation Survey - see Mrs. Szilagyi in the counseling office with questions
• Community service hours submitted through Helper Helper
• Textbooks and technology items turned in to the library - Books not returned by 12:00 pm May 8th will be marked as 'lost' and the fines will be refelected on you MySchoolBucks account.

• All student fees must be paid by May 1st - Contact the finance office at trhsfinance@dcsdk12.org with any questions

The following elementary schools are hosting Senior Breakfasts to congratulate their former students before they graduate. Click on your school's name below for more information, or contact your feeder school directly with questions.

Eldorado Elementary / Saddle Ranch Elementary

This past week in the counseling office, TRHS Counselors saw 103 students to support academics, social emotional wellness, and post secondary planning.

Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program

This year, school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS),which teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.

SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide, while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.

Through the program, students learn:

• that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help

• how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend

• to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, & Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend

• who they can turn to at school for help

On April 21st and 28th, 9th grade students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend.

At the end of class, students will complete an exit slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk.

Resources:

• SOS for Parents & Caregivers

• www.mindwise.org/parents - Includes information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program, please contact their school counselor. If you would like to opt your student out of this lesson please click here.

Mindful Minute: The Three C’s of Mindfulness

Studies show that approaching life with Curiosity, Compassion, and a Calm Center helps high school students (and all of us!) manage stress, build stronger relationships, and stay open to learning. It encourages emotional resilience, supports positive decision-making, and fosters a growth mindset—leading to greater well-being and academic success. For simple tips on how to incorporate these mindsets into your life, check out this article.

For all things Counseling, including scholarships and community service opportunities,

check out the TRHS Counseling newsletter!

This week, ThunderRidge High School proudly hosted CreateFest, our annual celebration of student creativity and artistic voice, featuring exhibitions from our IB Visual Arts and IB Film students. The event was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to experience the depth of thinking, experimentation, and personal expression that defines the IB Arts experience.

Visitors explored the IB Visual Arts Exhibition, which represents the culminating work of our Diploma Programme artists. Each display showcased not only technical skill, but also the students’ ability to investigate meaningful themes, take creative risks, and communicate ideas through a wide range of media. From mixed media installations to drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture, the exhibition reflected months, and in many cases years, of thoughtful artistic development.

In addition, attendees enjoyed screenings from our IB Film students, whose original works demonstrated impressive storytelling, cinematography, editing, and sound design. These films highlighted students’ understanding of film as both an artistic and cultural medium, as well as their ability to collaborate, plan, and produce polished creative projects from concept to final cut.

CreateFest also showcased work from students from across ThunderRidge, and its feeder schools, from paintings to welding, culinary delights to photography, woodworking to musical performances. This week continues to be a highlight of the year because it brings together students, families, and staff to celebrate the creativity and dedication that make the IB Programme and broader creative community so special at ThunderRidge. Congratulations to all our students for sharing such thoughtful and inspiring work with our community. We are incredibly proud of what you have accomplished!

With sniffles, sneezes, and allergy season in full swing, the library is in need of tissue donations. Please drop off any boxes to the security desk. Every donation is greatly appreciated and helps keep our school community healthy!

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

Saturday, May 2, from 4:00–8:00 PM
2209 W Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Unit E1A, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Order online for pickup using code KRBE7XC, or show the flyer in the restaurant

Additional Information:
Only orders placed during the event hours and for pickup at this location will count toward the fundraiser. Gift card purchases are not eligible. A minimum of $150 in sales is required for the donation to be applied.

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!

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!

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.

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