Secondary News and Updates (01/08/21)

December 17th was the last day for the 2020-21 Fall Semester. Semester grades are available in the Parent/Student Portal. Grades have been posted to the transcripts. If your student is enrolled in a Concurrent Enrollment class on STEM campus, credit values have been adjusted. For students that are taking courses off the STEM Campus, please send an official transcript of your grades to the registrar, Tiffany Klenke at tiffany.klenke@stemk12.org.

Deadline extended to January 30, 2021

Do you Intend to Return for the 2021-22 School Year?

For enrollment planning purposes, please let us know, either way, if your child plans to return to STEM School Highlands Ranch next year.

Please complete this form for each of your currently attending STEM students. If you are currently enrolled at STEM please let us know that your child is returning. You do not need to “open enroll” to remain at STEM. If your child is currently attending STEM, they will be automatically enrolled for next year. Please also complete the form if your student is planning to seek enrollment at another school so that we can have an accurate count of returning students.

Do you Have a Sibling Who Wants to Attend STEM Next Year?

Does your current STEM student have a sibling who is interested in attending STEM for the 2021-22 school year? Did you know that they have priority on our waitlist? Please add them to our waitlist now! STEM’s open enrollment is now open and we will begin notifying families of accepted spots for the 2021-22 school year beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Now Accepting Names for the 2021-22 School Year!

STEM is now accepting names for the waitlist for 2021-22 and beyond. Please spread the word to your family and friends. They can add their child to the waitlist here! We will begin notifying families of accepted spots beginning on December 1, 2020. Please note that STEM does not follow the Douglas County Open Enrollment process.

Intent to Attend Your Neighborhood School

If you wish to attend your neighborhood school, you must return this form to that school no later than January 5th. This will allow your child to attend that school in the fall of next year (2021-22).

Questions? Please call the MS office at 303-683-7836 or check the website for more enrollment information.

Monday, Jan. 11, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Zoom

This event is for new and incoming High School STEM Families. No sign-up is required. A Zoom link will be provided. This event is open to incoming 9th grade students and parents of ninth graders that will be attending STEM School Highlands Ranch next year for ninth grade. This is a great opportunity to join our counselors and teachers to learn more about what the STEM High School experience is all about.

Topics will include:

• Required high school courses
• College/Career Programs
• Block scheduling
• Teacher expectations
• Developmental skills needed for success
• The role of the school counselor
• Canvas
• Enrichment offerings

Contact: Alyssa Woodward – alyssa.woodward@stemk12.org, Alexa Nichols – alexa.nichols@stemk12.org

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 5 p.m. – Information Session via Zoom

Students interested in joining the Boys Basketball Team can sign-up here for the Boy’s Basketball Information Session on Tuesday, Jan. 12 starting at 5 p.m. via Zoom.

Monday, Jan. 18 – Season Starts

Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 3-4 p.m. – Zoom

Student Forums are open to STEM Students only and are their opportunity to ask questions, get to know our STEM Leadership Team and make recommendations on how STEM can improve. If you’d like to take part, please sign-up below. A Zoom link will be sent to you via email prior to the event.

Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 6-8 p.m. – Zoom

All NEW Off-Campus CE Students must attend this meeting in order to register for their Fall 2021 CE Courses. This meeting is only for NEW Off-Campus CE students who plan to enroll in classes for Fall 2021.

Thursday, Jan. 14, from 7:50-8:50 p.m. – Zoom

Parent Coffee is a way for our parents to connect with members of our Leadership Team to ask questions and propose ideas. We will be holding a Virtual Parent Coffee Session via Zoom for any interested parents. Please sign up using the form below. A Zoom link will be sent to you via email prior to the event.

Thursday, Jan. 14, at 3:30 p.m. – via Zoom

Classroom spelling bees were held on Thursday, November 12, in fourth through eighth grades. Students competed to determine classroom winners and alternates. Classroom winners will compete in a participant and judge only STEM school-wide spelling bee on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Middle School Cafeteria.

CONGRATULATIONS to our exceptional STEM spellers!

4th Grade
1. Daniel Yun
2. Gia Basra
3. Elizabeth Lee
4. Shravani Jagtap

5th Grade
1. Mirren Winfrey
2. Neil Shandilya
3. Vedant Margale
4. Genevieve O’Kane

6th grade
1. Sophia Bertsch
2. Jonah Bartlett
3. Kaitlyn Settle
4. Prab Singh

7th Grade
1. Emmelyn Roettger
2. Nakul Choudhary
3. Reva Mehratra
4. Siddhi Singh

8th Grade
1. Alex Tijerina
2. Zack Feldkamp
3. Aadithya Senthilkumar
4. Caroline Vargash

Alternates:
4th Grade
Gabe Angel (Murillo)

5th Grade
Quinn Smith

6th Grade
Miyu Erikson

7th Grade
Siddhi Singh

8th Grade
Syna Joseph

Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4-5 p.m. – Zoom

Thursday, Jan. 21, from 6-8 p.m. – Zoom

Join us for an interest meeting for any incoming 9th-12th grade students and their families who would like to learn more about CareerWise and P-TECH. A Zoom link will be available in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 6-8 p.m. – Zoom

Ms. Lytle will be conducting a presentation for Junior parents and students on the college application process. A link will be sent to all Junior Students and parents via email on January 25.

SAT & ACT testing
How and when to apply to college
How to create a resume
How to select your recommenders
How to craft a strong college essay
How to use Naviance in your college search
How to find funds for college – FAFSA & Scholarships

Contact: Kandace Lytle – kandace.lytle@stemk12.org

Thank you all for your patience as we worked through a number of challenges. High School Class T-Shirts have been ordered and will be delivered between January 18-22 to the school. We will update further as to T-Shirt Distribution as soon as we’ve received them. Thank you again!

Students and families wanting to access their PSAT, NMSQT and or SAT scores can do so through collegeboard.org by creating an account. Age restrictions do apply, so if you are unable to create an account, please have a parent contact our testing coordinator Nancy Szczekocki at nancy.szczekocki@stemk12.org to have a digital report sent.

NHS is partnering with other STEM honor societies to offer tutoring for Middle and High School students. Students can request tutoring in different subjects or with time management and organization, and they can also specify how often they need tutoring (one-time, weekly, etc.). Tutors will not assist with any graded work to avoid violations of the academic integrity policy. Click the button below to sign-up.

National Honor Society is searching for businesses to sponsor our annual Wish Week in March. Wish Week is a school-wide fundraiser for Make-A-Wish® Colorado dedicated to granting a wish for an ill child. If you work for or know of any businesses that may be interested in sponsoring this event, please let us know or have them contact nhs@s.stemk12.org for more information. All proceeds will contribute to granting a child’s wish.

The community service and assessment requirements have been waived for graduation and for STEM Scholar for 2021 graduates. Students just need to meet the credit requirements to graduate.

Applications for the 2020-21 Future Leaders program presented by CBS 4 and PDC Energy are being accepted, to recognize Colorado High School students excelling in STEM. Teachers, parents, mentors and others are encouraged to nominate students who they believe will be Colorado’s future STEM leaders. Nominations will be accepted through April. One student will be selected each month for the award that includes $1,000 and a student profile on CBS4. Nominations should include basic information on the student and their STEM field of study/focus, and any extraordinary circumstances/obstacles that student has had to overcome in order to pursue their studies.

All Secondary Students can pick up their yearbooks from last school year at the Middle School Front Office. People who have yet to purchase their yearbooks from the 2019-2020 school year and would like one can email sherry.wise@stemk12.org to request and get payment information.

Online ordering is now available for 2020-21 Yearbooks. Click here to purchase yours today!

DCSD will be providing weekly remote meal bag pick-ups at all neighborhood Middle Schools in Douglas County (pick-up not available at STEM). Meal pick-ups do NOT require pre-order. Simply pull up to our curbside pickup locations and request a meal for kids, just like our Summer Feeding sites. Kids do not need to attend DCSD Schools and do not need to be present for pickup. Please see the flier to right for more information.

*Due to COVID 19, no visitors or volunteers are allowed inside the building at this time. Volunteer requirements will be adjusted as needed. If you are making a donation, please keep track of your donated items for the time being until we provide additional instructions on how to log your hours.

Volunteer opportunities below are all outside of the school building.

Our Physical Education Department would love to take your students on new and exciting adventures, but sometimes that requires extra equipment. There was recently a disc golf course built within walking distance from our campus, and we would love to use this space in our community to enhance our curriculum. We are looking for donations of frisbee golf discs that students can use. Anything and everything would be greatly appreciated!

Please bring these donations to the MS office labeled PE Donations. For questions, contact Megan Lipe, Secondary Physical Education Teacher megan.lipe@stemk12.org.