Seminary Starts On Monday!

Brothers and Sisters

A new year of seminary is upon us! Classes begin August 18 and will be held from 6:20 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. for our students at Highlands Ranch, Mountain Vista and Thunder Ridge High Schools. (Those attending seminary with the Castle Rock Stake at Rock Canyon High School will hold seminary from 6:30 to 7:20 a.m.). Our teachers will send emails this week to tell students what classes they are in and where they will meet.

At the beginning of the year, we want you to know a few important things, so this year can be a wonderful success:

New Seminary Graduation Requirements: Beginning this year, each student will complete the following four requirements to earn credit towards seminary graduation:

1. Complete the designated reading assignments (Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith History this year);
2. Complete a course learning assessment each semester;
3. Attend at least 75% of classes; and,
4. Bishops must verify the worthiness of each student.

These new requirements will bless the lives of our students and their families. Our teachers will have all of the necessary details. For more insight on this elevated learning approach, please watch the video panel discussion with Elder Dallin H. Oaks on lds.org. Students who do not complete all four requirements, but do meet the attendance requirement, will be eligible to receive a certificate of recognition.

Here are a few more things to know about our seminary for the year:

Scriptures and Electronic Devices: All students will use hard copy scriptures in seminary classes. Students are required to leave all electronic devices in the off position until the seminary class concludes. If a student needs to make an unanticipated call or text to a parent or guardian (for health or school related issues), the student should be excused from the class to do so.

Timeliness: Tardiness is not to be equated with absences. Seminary credit may be withheld, however, for flagrant tardiness. Leaving class early will also be factored in to considering flagrant tardiness. Parents should be made aware of tardiness problems and must be given ample opportunity to help correct the problem before credit is withheld. In some cases, the parents or teacher may wish to ask for the bishop's involvement. In each case, sensitivity to the student's continued enrollment and success in seminary should be the foremost concern.

Finally, with the new seminary graduation requirements, the stake presidency has decided to discontinue the Stake President's Award, which previously recognized students for some of the same requirements. Even without the award, we strongly encourage all students to do their best to memorize the 25 scripture mastery passages. Their lives will be blessed as they memorize eternal principles of the gospel as spoken by the mouth of the Lord and recorded in Holy Scripture.

Highlands Ranch Stake Presidency.

Spring Gulch Ward Scripture Mastery Bishop's Challenge!

The Spring Gulch Ward recently held their annual Bishopric vs. Youth Scripture Mastery Challenge. This annual event has become a tradition in the Spring Gulch Ward (this was the sixth year). They invite one of their seminary teachers to moderate while all of the seminary youth and the bishopric participate. There is a point awarded for the fastest individual to find a verse, a point for the fastest table to find a verse, and then three points for restating the verse from memory. 

The bishopric has won this competition for the last two years. This year it came down to the wire. The youth were down by two points with one scripture remaining. David M. (a freshman at TRHS) was able to sing all three verses of Moroni 7:45, 47-48 to steal the victory by 1 point. Above is a video of the last portion of David's efforts. 

Way to go, David- and all the youth- and thank you for sharing this wonderful activity of yours with us!