
Have you seen the chalk art outside the high school building? Both Peaks and our Spanish students have displayed their artistic abilities this week. For Peaks, it was a competition, won by Capitol (Longs, 2nd; Pikes, 3rd; Evans, 4th). For our Spanish students, the art was in honor of Semana Santa. This week each year, many cities in Mexico, Guatemala and other Central American and South American countries decorate the streets in beautiful patterns in honor of Semana Santa.











The PRA Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Jason Madrid as the Prospect Ridge Academy head volleyball coach.
Coach Madrid combines tremendous energy and passion for the sport with more than 10 years of experience. Recently he has coached the varsity girls team at Bishop Machebeuf High School, assisted with the boys varsity team at Eaglecrest High School, and is a club coach for the Momentum Volleyball Club. He is also a paraprofessional at Horizon Community Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District. Coach Madrid is a proven leader who focuses on building the program by developing players of all ages. He creates a sense of his community with his ability to instruct his players on all aspects of the game and life.
"I am excited to start as the new head coach at Prospect Ridge Academy. I have been coaching for 10 years at the high school and club level. I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old, also playing at the collegiate level. I am excited to bring my knowledge and love for the game to Prospect Ridge. Go Miners." - Coach Madrid
Welcome to PRA, Coach Madrid!
#PRAMiners #PRAAthletics #PRAHSVolleyball


Model UN helps high school students to see issues from a global perspective. In February, PRA's Model UN team traveled to the Netherlands to compete at a conference held at Farel College. Read more about their experience on our blog https://pra-miners.org
#PRAMiners #PRAHighSchool


Parenting teens has always been an adventure, but parenting teens during and after a pandemic has added new layers of complexity to the job. On April 25, Dr. Lisa Damour, New York Times bestselling author, will share information from her latest book, "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers," with parents, including how to support and cultivate adolescent mental health, when to worry about a teenager, and what to do about it.
Read more about the book and upcoming talk on our blog at: https://pra-miners.org/2023/04/05/dr-damour-to-speak-april-25-on-the-emotional-lives-of-teenagers/
Tickets are free but seating is limited. Reserve your spot today at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-lisa-damour-the-emotional-lives-of-teenagers-tickets-603982948257
#PRAMiners



Today a group of PRA students and staff participated in the annual Charter School Advocacy Day at the state capitol. The event is hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Each year the charter school community—including school leaders, teachers, parents, students and community members—come together to learn how become an effective advocates. #PRAMiners #CharterSchool




Congratulations to PRA's Noah Pillow for being named Player of the Game in Mountain Range's game against Boulder in March! Awesome job, Noah!
#PRAMiners #PRAHighSchool


Today PRA's 1st graders are 120 days smarter! For the 120th day of school, the 1st graders dressed up as if they were 120 years old. Gray wigs and moustaches, curlers and canes abounded! It was a fun way to mark a milestone in the school year.
#PRAElementary #PRAMiners









On Thursday, PRA held its Senior Leadership Capstone Symposium for the class of 2023. During the symposium, seniors displayed posters detailing the research they've done this year on a career that is of interest to them. Throughout the year, seniors develop their project with the help of a mentor who works in this area of interest. The successful completion of the capstone project is a graduation requirement at PRA.
#PRAHighSchool #PRAClassOf2023





Earlier this month, Adam Wilk '19, a senior at the US Military Academy, returned to PRA to talk to students about his experiences at West Point. He was accompanied by his fiancée, Lauren Paredes '19, who will graduate from CU this spring. #AlwaysAMiner #PRAAlumni
Read more about Wilk's experience at West Point and the couple's plans for the future on our blog at:
https://pra-miners.org/2023/03/29/west-point-cadet-adam-wilk-19-ready-for-future-with-lauren-paredes-19/






Can crêpes be part of healthy eating? Of course! That was the lesson that PRA's 10th grade health class learned as they looked at the dietary guideline "balance meals with exercise." Working in teams, the students researched the calories contained in one crêpe and each possible topping, discovered why many calories one would need to be burn to equal those calories, cooked the crêpes, enjoyed the fruits of their labor, and then burned the calories with a preferred exercise. PE teacher Dr. Flo said it was a fun learning moment for the class who left with the skills of making crêpe batter from scratch, cooking, and even flipping the crêpes!
#PRATeachingTuesday #PRAMiners



PRA middle schoolers celebrate their Pi Day successes at their annual Pi Day Assembly on Thursday. Seven students were recognized for reciting 100 or more digits of pi and will have their names added to the plaque displayed in the middle school. Sixth grader Ilakkia G. named 200 digits, which was the most this year. Rounding out the top digit winners were: Isaac F., 7th, with 105 digits; Ian S., 8th, with 101 digits; and with 100 digits, Nicholas D., 8th; AJ S., 8th; Itai S., 7th; Brayden E., 6th. The assembly also included teachers and administrators receiving pies in the face, a pie eating contest (won by Ms. Slocum), and more. #PRAMiners #PRAMiddleSchool











On Wednesday, PRA High School hosted its first High School Transition Night to introduce new high schoolers to the academic and extracurricular offerings of PRA. Thanks to all who participated and to our staff and students who helped make the evening a success! #PRAMiners





Congratulations to the PRA sophomores who competed at the Colorado National History Day Regional competition on March 4! The following students will move on and compete in the state competition on April 29 at CU Denver:
Historical Paper: Alexander M., 1st place; Kyla E., 3rd place
Group Documentary: Saige S. and Evelyn A.
Individual Exhibit: Payton S., 1st place; Mae J., 2nd place; Maddie S., 3rd place
Group Exhibit: Korinna C., 1st place; Emily J., 2nd place; Madysen J. and Brie S., 3rd place; Samara G. and Sierra B.
Congratuations, Miners!








Earlier this month PRA hosted its inaugural PRA College Day. College admissions representatives from across the country and abroad gathered on the PRA campus to do presentations and meet with our students. The goal of this event was to help high school students learn about the variety of colleges and universities available to them. The representatives did classroom presentations and set up for the college fair. It was an amazing afternoon for our students!
#PRAHighSchool #PRAMiners





Curious black eyes peer out from the large aquatic tank in the classroom of Melanie Lostroh, the 5th grade reading teacher at Prospect Ridge Academy. Opal and Onyx, Lostroh’s pet axolotls, seem to smile at the classroom activity, inviting connection with the students. “Axolotls are often called water puppies,” Lostroh said. “They are kind of silly creatures and can be very engaging." Read more about 5th grade's experience with Opal and Onyx on our blog at https://pra-miners.org/.
#PRAMinerMonday #PRAElementary




PRA's Ellie Kempfe, assistant principal/athletic director/HS girls head basketball coach, was recently named the Colorado Athletics Directors Association's Athletic Director of the Year for the 3A Classification. This recognition is given for outstanding contributions to Colorado Athletics and school communities. Congratulations, Ellie! #PRAMiners #PRAAthletics


The PRA Concert Band recently performed at the Colorado Bandmaster's Regional Concert Band Festival. It was their first performance at the festival. Congratulations to Mr. Galerstein and the Concert Band on their fantastic performance!
#PRAMiners #PRAPerformingArts


In our Wednesday feature #AlwaysAMiner, we catch up with Tyson Anderson '18. Tyson is currently serving as a firefighter EMT for the city of Lafayette. He will graduate this spring with his degree. Congratulations, Tyson! #PRAAlumni
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Class of 2018, we're excited to welcome you back on May 15 for your 5-year reunion! Sign-up now for the afternoon reception and an evening at Topgolf.
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/class-of-2018-five-year-reunion?cart=538c7632-1da9-4c26-85ce-d17ef26fa52b%21%2147721990


PRA's middle school Science Olympiad team had a great weekend at northern regionals at Fossil Ridge High School. One of PRA's teams qualified for the state tournament at UCCS on April 1.
Out of 30 teams, PRA had a second place finish, a third place finish, six more top 10 finishes, and four finishes just out of the top 10! Ethan and Jerod placed 2nd in Wheeled Vehicle for an AMAZING car they built. Dean and Nicolas finished 3rd in Bio Process Lab category. Our other top ten finishes include: Dean and Nicolas in Codebusters, Experimental Design, and Fast Facts; AJ and Luke in Bridge (which the organizers asked to keep the plans for because "that bridge is interesting") and Fact Facts; and Niha and Ilakkia in Can't Judge a Powder. Barely out of top ten were Ben and Chase, Roller Coaster; Dean, Storm the Castle; Luana and Lianna, Green Generation; and Niha and Ilakkia, Experimental Design.
Congratulations, Miners! #PRAMiners #PRAMiddleSchool #MinerMonday










It's Staff Appreciation Week at PRA! The halls are decorated with staff construction-themed photos. Lunch this week is just one way staff will be celebrated! Thanks to our staff for all you do! And thanks to our volunteers who have made this week happen!
#MinerMonday #PRAMiners
