Enrichment at STEM includes after-school care, clubs and activities.
Informed families are empowered families. We want to make it as easy as possible for families to access all of the information needed to help their students have the best experience possible. This page includes information about the Student/Parent Handbook, our newsletters and more.
The Student/Parent Handbook is the ultimate resource for all of our families. Click the button below to download the Handbook.
After 24 hours of medication for the following conditions:
The student has been free of the following conditions for at least 24 hours:
The student has been free of the following conditions for at least 48 hours:
Source: Health Guidelines Manual
If your student is ill or late, please call the attendance line (303) 683-7836 by 8 a.m. stating a clear reason why they are missing school or if they will be late. If your student is late, please be sure that they clearly write their name on the Late Arrivals sheet in the their school office. Elementary students MUST be signed in by a parent. Secondary students will need either a note from their parents, doctor office, etc., or a phone call from the parent. The attendance dialer will inform parents if a student is absent or tardy.
Click the button below to access the Attendance Correction Form. It will open an editable PDF that you can fill out, save and attach to an email to your student’s teacher who marked them absent. The teacher will then complete the bottom portion of the form and submit it to the appropriate front office for processing.
A student will be excused to leave class with an Early Leave Pass from the office. The student may exchange a note from the parent for the pass at the office. Also:
A phone call to the office may be needed for younger Elementary School students.
In the event DCSD determines that the district should follow the Delayed Opening protocol, our school will abide by its Virtual School Day Policy (from the STEM Handbook).
The idea for Virtual School Days is partially derived from our successful experiences with “Virtual Fridays” for students who commute long distances, are on ski teams or need flexibility due to other family needs. Virtual Days will:
We will institute a Virtual School Day at our school when the Douglas County School District institutes a Late-Start Day. Our faculty will explain to students where to find their Virtual School Day assignments on Canvas. With a Virtual School Day, I understand that parents will express some concerns:
We are closely monitoring our Virtual Days, but also want to emphasize to teachers and students that a Virtual School Day is not a snow day. It will be an instructional day just as our Virtual Fridays are for the many students who now use this option.
We will collect data from our teachers and all students will submit their work as evidence of participation. When Douglas County School District decides weather is significantly poor to delay the start by 90 minutes, a Late Start day, STEM School Highlands Ranch will be closed and all students will remain at home completing their Virtual School Day assignments.
To ensure the safety of the students and to fulfill the commitment to the neighborhood in managing the traffic and parking impacts, the STEM School Highlands Ranch has developed this transportation management plan (TMP). This plan defines the strategies for the next year and this should be a living document that continuously evolves with the growth of the school and neighboring area.
The Plan identifies policies, procedures and improvements to provide safe and efficient access to the school for parents, students and staff and to mitigate potential traffic and parking impacts on the adjacent business park neighborhood.
Click the button below to learn more about the Driveline policies and procedures for student drop-off and pick-up. In order to be good neighbors to the local businesses and communities, it is important that all families abide by the policies and procedures that are outlined.
Carpools enjoy special Driveline perks! There is a carpool “express” lane in each Driveline Loop. Carpools (meaning three or more students, or three or more families riding together) will need to obtain a carpool sticker to use carpool lane. Request a carpool sticker by emailing stemhrdriveline@gmail.com The school has partnered with Way To Go: School Pool to help families find carpool groups.
Spartan B.A.S.E. provides care after school and full days during in-service days and school breaks for STEM Elementary students. The B.A.S.E. program is licensed through the State of Colorado Office of Early Childhood Education and run by the Douglas County School District. B.A.S.E. is staffed with at least one qualified teacher for every 15 students on site. B.A.S.E. provides a safe, enriching, environment, that combines quiet time for homework with enrichment activities, as well as time for free and gross motor play.
The food service program at STEM is provided by the Douglas County School District Nutrition Services. They are committed to providing the highest quality meals for your child. Research shows a student who eats breakfast has improved attendance, is more attentive, better behaved and has an increased energy level. All of these elements are tied to academic success.
School pictures for students that do not have a current photo for this school year:
We will be offering a picture day at STEM on February 16 & 17 (Elementary on the 16th only)
If your student is unable to take advantage of this picture day at school, please set an appointment to have their picture taken at the photographer’s studio.
Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, the process of filing a nonmedical exemption will change. There will be two ways to file a non-medical exemption.
Parents of students in grades K-12 claiming a non-medical exemption must file one annually. Non-medical exemptions expire June 30 each year. If you submit a non-medical exemption on or before June 30, it will not be valid for the upcoming school year unless you signed the exemption during early registration.
STEM School Highlands Ranch has different policies for each grade level regarding over the counter and prescription medications on campus. Please link below for the appropriate grade level of your student.
Check out this tutorial on how to use Canvas from a parent’s perspective:
Infinite Campus (IC) is the Douglas County School District’s Student Portal that houses all information about a student, including grades, schedules, report cards, credits, transcripts and historical information. The IC app can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store for your Smartphone.
After downloading the app to your phone, use the DCSD ID QKKYJL during set-up. Student username is Last Name, First Initial and Middle Initial. (Ex: SpartanSE) No spaces or punctuation is needed.
Your password will be Dcsd and your student number. (Ex: Dcsd123456) No spaces and the D must be capitalized.
DCSD provides students and staff access to Google Apps for Education, a collaborative suite of web-based programs providing email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calendaring and other productivity tools.
Google Apps for Education aligns with our 21st century teaching practices, as well as with the DCSD’s Board of Education’s End Statements and the DCSD Strategic Plan. In line with DCSD’s Choice objective, each school leader can individually decide what tools shall be available for use in their building.
All STEM students will be assigned a stemk12.org email address that will stay with them throughout their enrollment at STEM. This email will give them access to the Google Suite of Educational Apps. Log-in information will be provided once the student is enrolled. Questions about student emails should be submitted to support@stemk12.org.
How to Access your Google Apps Account:
As parents and guardians, you can access your student’s Google Apps account login information through the Infinite Campus’ Parent Portal. After logging into your IC Parent Portal account, click on the Student Account Info link in the left column to see your student’s current username and password.
Privacy and Student Data Security
Google has provided a thorough resource page discussing many of the questions you may have about data security and your student’s privacy while using Google Apps for Education. Learn more about Google’s security practices.
Please note: As a District provided service, we have the obligation and right to monitor and view any student inbox based on concerns over privacy, security, and/or technical issues.
May I opt out of Google Apps?
What if I prefer that my student not have a Google account, may I opt out?
If you prefer that your student is not provided with a DCSD Google Apps for Education account, please contact your school registrar; they will assist with turning off Google Apps for your student.
The STEM School Highlands Ranch cares deeply about the privacy of our students. We are committed to ensuring that their data is protected in every instance, and that we are in compliance with the Colorado Student Data Transparency and Security Act (HB 16-1423) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
DCSD has always protected student data. The new Colorado Student Data Transparency and Security Act is helping to reinforce this protection by focusing on:
View FAQ’s on Student Data Privacy from the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy