Secondary News and Updates (03/31/23)

Dear Middle School Families,

Well, we did it! For the first time in STEM history, we pulled off an April Fool’s day joke on our entire secondary student body. I wish I could count how many pranks our kids have pulled on me through the years, so today was a first! That being said, it broke my heart to see their sweet, sad faces when I announced to them that we had to make up two snow days due to a calendar glitch. The worst part is that we have to make them up on Saturdays! The poor kids! But all was forgiven when we finally announced APRIL FOOLS at the end of the day!

Middle School Conferences

Thank you for your flexibility in rescheduling our parent conferences on Thursday. We had an excellent turnout, and it was a successful evening. I very much enjoyed seeing our wonderful families and catching up with parents and students.

Student Assembly on Friday morning

On Friday morning, Officer Gabe, Michael Link, and I held a Middle School assembly to address some of the behaviors we have seen this semester. The actions addressed were Respect in the Classroom, Lunchroom and Around the School, Online Bullying, Racial Slurs, Transmission of Inappropriate Photos, and Inappropriate Touching. We also touched upon online safety and not sharing personal information with people online. We informed students of the school discipline AND the legal consequences of some behaviors. The students were very respectful, and they listened intently. I am hoping that you can continue these discussions at home.

CMAS is underway for Middle School

Thursday began our middle school CMAS testing season! I checked in on almost every class, and our students were working very hard and in good spirits, for the most part. On Monday, seventh grade is virtual, and on Tuesday, eighth grade is virtual. Click here to view the CMAS Testing Schedule.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, April 4 – Board of Directors Meeting at 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 20 – STEMFEST
• Thursday, April 24 – Saturday, April 27 – The Little Mermaid Production
• Wednesday, May 10 – STEM Fine Arts Showcase
• Thursday, May 18 – Graduation – No School

Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend.

In partnership,

Maura Ridder, Middle School Director

Dear Stem Spartans and families,

Happy April Fools Day! As you have all heard, the administration decided to pull an April Fools Day joke on our student body. Once the announcement was made, I had students rushing to the office to see if it was really true. Apparently, nobody wants to go to school on a Saturday! Well, thankfully it isn’t really the case, and we don’t have to make up any days.

Today we had a High School Assembly that focused on driving safety. According to the CDC, in 2020, 2,800 teens lost their lives in automobile crashes, and another 227,000 students were injured. It is the leading cause of death for American teens across the country. As I expressed to the students, this one hits me pretty hard because as a career educator, I have lost far too many students to car accidents. We are entering the deadliest time of year statistically, as students are much more likely to be in a car crash in the spring and summer months. As a school, we want to make sure we are doing our part in teaching students about safe driving. It started today with the assembly and the guest speakers who shared their stories and experiences. Next week we will also have several activities to help educate our students, all designed for them to have fun and learn about the importance of safe driving.

Now that we are into April, the end of the year is in sight. This is a very fun time of year. Seniors are counting down to graduation, and the rest of our kids are looking forward to summer. Students are talking about Prom, club elections, robotics competitions and the spring play. With all of this going on, it is easy to get distracted this time of year.

Students, it is important to make sure you finish strong in all of your classes, and if you are struggling, please take the time to meet with your teachers to get the help you need. Parents, I know many of you came to conferences this week, but if you ever have any questions about your child’s academic progress, please feel free to reach out to the teachers at any time.

Looking ahead, April is also testing month. Please see our website for the complete list of assessments, but the big one for us is the PSAT and SAT, that will take place on April 12th. The PSAT 9 and 10 are state-mandated tests, but they are also excellent pre-tests to help the students be prepared for the SAT. Juniors, the SAT is also state-mandated, but as you know, many colleges and universities still request SAT scores, so it is important that you do your best.

Athletics:

Our girls’ soccer is off to an amazing start! We are 3-2 overall and 3-0 in league play! Our track team is also off to a great start, with a number of our athletes setting personal records as they compete in our inaugural CHSAA season. Our next track meet is Thursday, April 6, at Englewood High School. As you know, now that we have a gym, we were able to field our first-ever boys’ volleyball team.

The boys are having a lot of fun and are doing an excellent job against some pretty tough competition. Our next game is this Saturday, April 1, at Gateway! Finally, our eSports are also doing an excellent job. All of our eSports teams are competitive, but our League of Legends team is ranked #1 in the state! I would like to take a moment to thank all of our coaches for the time, effort and energy they put into coaching our students, and they are basically doing this for free. Thank you for all that you do!

Finally, we have started our athletics booster club. Last meeting, we elected our leadership board, and they will begin the fundraising process. I would like to thank all of our parents who have participated to this point and would like to invite all of our parents of student-athletes to join us in the future. This booster club will be instrumental in helping us as we continue to develop and improve as a High School athletics program. If you have any questions about the booster club, please feel free to reach out to me, and I will give you the information that you need!

Please have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup, High School Director

Please take a moment to check the STEM All-Events Calendar on our website.

There are lots of events already scheduled so please take a moment to take a look at the calendar to familiarize yourself with some of the events at the start of school. This calendar will continue to be updated throughout the summer as we get closer to the start of school.

Tuesdays from 3-3:30 p.m., in Room 103 and on Google Meets

We are excited to announce that STEM’s Writing Center will be open to all Middle and High School students. Students looking for additional help on their English assignments can join us either in person (Room 103) or over Google Meets after school on Tuesdays from 3-3:30 p.m. Students can sign up for a 15-minute slot during which we can help them with any essay, assignment, or project.

We can’t wait to see you all!

Dates: 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Testing is coming up and we wanted to provide the following information to families. Testing for 6th and 8th graders will be on Monday, April 3.

Monday, April 3

• 7:50-9:50 a.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 1 – 6th Grade
• 8-9:20 a.m. – CMAS Math Unit 1 – 8th Grade
• 9:35-10:50 a.m. – CMAS Math Unit 2 – 8th Grade
• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 2 – 6th Grade
• 12:45-2:45 p.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 3 – 6th Grade
• 1:20-2:40 p.m. – CMAS Math Unit 3 – 8th Grade

Please note: ALL 7th graders will be VIRTUAL on Monday, April 3, due to CMAS testing.

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Testing is coming up and we wanted to provide the following information to families. Testing for 6th and 7th graders will begin on Tuesday, April 4.

Tuesday, April 4

• 7:50-9:50 a.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 1 – 7th Grade
• 8-9:20 a.m. – CMAS Math Unit 1 – 6th Grade
• 9:35-10:50 a.m. – CMAS Math Unit 2 – 6th Grade
• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 2 – 7th Grade
• 12:45-2:45 p.m. – CMAS ELA Unit 3 – 7th Grade
• 1:20-2:40 p.m. – CMAS Math Unit 3 – 6th Grade

Please note: ALL 8th graders will be VIRTUAL on Tuesday, April 3, due to CMAS testing.

Tuesday, April 4, from 3:15-4 p.m – HS Commons

Calling all students in grades 6-12! Join us for the first Student Forum/Information Session on Tuesday, April 4, from 3:15-4 p.m. in the High School Commons. This is your opportunity to learn more about what’s happening at STEM and get to know our STEM Administration Team. This event is organized by our Student Advisory Council.

Tuesday, April 4, from 5:30-7 p.m – Mechatronics Lab (P-TECH/KOSON Building)

The monthly STEM Board of Directors’ Meeting will be Tuesday, April 4, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Mechatronics Lab of the P-TECH/KOSON Building. The STEM BOD is comprised of parents and community members who volunteer their time. The Board’s role and purpose is to provide oversight of the Executive Director, who implements the policies set forth by the Board. The Board also provides support and direction of STEM’s long-term vision and mission. Additionally, the Board is active in making sure that STEM remains in compliance with all DCSD, state and federal compliance requirements, as well as STEM’s Charter Contract.

Meetings are open to anyone to attend. Anyone who would like to address the Board Members must sign-up in advance by completing the Public Comment Form no later than 12 p.m. the day of each Board meeting. If written testimony or a handout is submitted, presenters are asked to supply one (1) copy via email to communications@stemk12.org.

Friday, April 7, from 3:30-5 p.m. – Secondary Gym

Mark your calendars for the SteMed Safe Driving Event on Friday, April 7, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Secondary Gym. This is a carnival event for students to learn more about safe driving habits and the dangers of distracted driving. More information will be shared in the coming weeks about the different events.

April 10-14 – Spirit Week

• Monday: PJ Day
• Tuesday: Soccer Mom vs. BBQ Dad
• Wednesday: Anything but a backpack day
• Thursday: Throwback Thurs/ Dress like you did back in MS or ES
• Friday: Prom Color Wars/ Black vs. Gold/Yellow

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Testing is coming up and we wanted to provide the following information to families. Testing for 8th and 11th graders will be on Monday, April 10.

Monday, April 10

• 7:50-8:50 a.m. – CMAS Science Unit 1 – 11th Grade
• 8-9:30 a.m. – CMAS Science Unit 1 – 8th Grade
• 9-10 a.m. – CMAS Science Unit 2 – 11th Grade
• 9:40-11:10 a.m. – CMAS Science Unit 2 – 8th Grade
• 10:10-11:10 p.m. – CMAS Science Unit 3 – 11th Grade
• 1:20-2:50 p.m. – CMAS Science Unit 3 – 8th Grade

Please note: ALL 8th graders will be VIRTUAL on Tuesday, April 3, due to CMAS testing.

Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30-8 p.m. – Zoom

STEM PTO is comprised of parents from the STEM community who work together to help foster a strong sense of community and provide enhancement activities for students, faculty, staff, and families while also helping to increase educational, social and emotional experiences for the members of their families.

STEM PTO is organized to enhance the quality of each student’s education, the school as a whole, and the entire community through the development of resources and the participation of parents, school staff, and the community. Meetings are open for anyone to attend.

Thursday, April 13, from 5-6 p.m. – High School Commons

On Thursday, April 23, New to Middle School families are invited to come to our Parent Information Night in the High School Commons. Middle School Director Maura Ridder will present to families what families and students should expect as a part of middle school at STEM.

Thursday, April 13, from 6-6 p.m. – High School Commons

On Thursday, April 23, New to High School families are invited to attend our Parent Information Night in the High School Commons. High School Director Ryan Alsup will present to families what families and students should expect as a part of high school at STEM.

Thursday, April 13, from 5-6 p.m. – High School Commons

On Thursday, April 23, New to Middle School families are invited to come to our Parent Information Night in the High School Commons. Middle School Director Maura Ridder will present to families what families and students should expect as a part of middle school at STEM.

Thursday, April 13, from 6-6 p.m. – High School Commons

On Thursday, April 23, New to High School families are invited to attend our Parent Information Night in the High School Commons. High School Director Ryan Alsup will present to families what families and students should expect as a part of high school at STEM.

Hello Spartan Students! If you plan to enroll in concurrent enrollment (CE) courses in the Fall, it is time to register! Please complete the Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form before April 21, 2023. Students (and parents) must complete the form, regardless of the college or university they are attending.

As a reminder, all students completing CE courses at STEM or Arapahoe Community college (ACC) must apply for admission to ACC. You can follow the step-by-step instructions via the button below.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

Are you interested in a health career? Do you have some free time this summer? For students aged 16 – 24, Arapahoe Community College & Community College of Denver are hosting a summer Colorado Health Careers Academy. What an excellent opportunity to learn about different healthcare careers! Plus, you will earn your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the program. See the flyer for more details!

The YouthBoard program is completely free and takes place in the evenings during the next school year. As part of the program, students will:

• Direct thousands of dollars into their community
• Develop leadership skills that will help them be successful in the future
• Create meaningful connections with other young people
• Learn the power of their voice to create change
• Complete 60 hours of community service

Students who are passionate about making their community a better place should apply online by April 16th.

Please contact anna@youthroots.org with any questions.

Are you looking for a Summer Internship? Are you a junior or senior looking for a Fall or Spring Internship? If so, this message is for you!! Internships are an excellent opportunity for our Juniors and Seniors to explore various career fields while earning high school credit!

We are now interviewing for Summer internships for the following companies (see flyer for more information):

Calibre Engineering

• STEM Student Internship – Entry Level

Panther Electronics

• Controls Intern
• Engineering Intern
• Manufacturing Intern

If you are interested in any of the summer internships above or an internship within the Sheriff’s department, please contact Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org. Please do not reach out to the company directly.

For Fall and Spring internships, please schedule an appointment with Nicole Ryan to discuss industry interests and next steps at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

These assessments are administered under standardized conditions to ensure the reliability and validity of the results. Click below to see the complete testing schedule to reference testing times and class sessions for all students. PLEASE NOTE: certain grades will be virtual on certain days so please check the schedule carefully.

Important Reminders:

• It is essential that students are present and on time on the days of testing. Any student who is tardy will not be able to take the test and will need to sit in a designated space until the test is complete.
• Please avoid scheduling trips and appointments for your child during this day.
• Also, ensure your child is well-rested and has had a good breakfast on testing days.

If you’d like to opt your student out, please click here to complete the form. Please click here to read the opt-out instructions.

Hello Spartan Students,

If you are planning to take a concurrent enrollment (CE) course this coming Fall at STEM or at a college/ university, this email is for you!

You and your parents will need to complete the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement. If you are taking classes at STEM or ACC and have yet to apply to ACC, you must complete the ACC application first (see instructions below). You can complete the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement here: STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement Form.

New STEM CE and new ACC students only: All students completing a CE course (at STEM or ACC) must apply to ACC (even if you are completing the courses at STEM). If you still need to apply, please do so online. You will need to create an account and complete the ACC application. Typically, applications are processed within three business days. You will need your S# from ACC before completing the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement Form. Applying to ACC

At ACC registration: If you will be taking courses at ACC and still need to complete the ACC orientation and admissions/ registration, you need to complete them before you can register for classes through the ACC portal. You can follow the step-by-step instructions: ACC Orientation & Admissions/ Registration.

MSU Denver: Please see the attached flyer for online course selection options. Other MSU courses will be available but may have additional fees. If you want to register for MSU, please select your courses and indicate your preference on the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form. I will reach out regarding the registration steps.

CSU, Extended Studies: We are tentatively looking at ANEQ 103, Introduction to Animal Science, and PSY 100, General Psychology. Please indicate your preference on the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form if you want to enroll in one or both courses. I will reach out regarding the registration steps.

CSU, Pueblo: Coming Soon! Reach out to me for registration information.

Other College/ University: If you intend to enroll at a college/ university other than those listed, don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Keep in mind, it is your responsibility to ensure that courses selected align with your high school requirements. You can review high school requirements with your counselor.

The deadline to complete the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form is April 14th. Please note, this is a change from the original email.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Again, all students, regardless of college/ university selected, must complete the following form: STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement Form.

Friends of STEM,

Our 7th graders will be investigating real-world biodiversity problems beginning on April 12th.

We hope to engage students with knowledgeable adults throughout this investigation. Your involvement can range from presenting information, sharing about your career, hearing student ideas and giving simple feedback, answering students’ questions, or a combination of these. Any level of experience with biodiversity, life sciences, or genetics will suffice.

This can be in-person or virtually (Google Meets) on any date/time that works for you! If this is something you are interested in, please share a date(s) and time frame that you would like to volunteer between the dates of April 12 and May 5. Please share this information with anyone else you might know who might be interested!

For questions and/or more information, you can contact the 7th-grade science teacher, Kathy Dwyer (kathy.dwyer@stemk12.org).

Attention Seniors and Families! It is that time to be turning in your community service hours. Please don’t forget that ALL seniors must have 20 hours of community service in order to graduate. If you do not have twenty hours turned in, you will not graduate from high school. For those who declared STEM Scholar, you must have 100 hours of community service turned in ASAP.

riends of STEM,
We are seeking panelists to listen to students’ ideas and provide simple feedback.

High school and 7th/8th grade students identified mental health problems facing teens and will propose their ideas for feasible solutions. As a panelist you would attend class in-person, listen to student ideas, ask questions, and share advice if applicable. View more information about being a panelist, and about problem based learning on the document attached.

There are 80-90 minute slots available on April 3rd or April 5th.

For more information about this PBL investigation, you can reach out to the students’ teacher – Nancy.Szczekocki@stemk12.org

FREE lunches are back for students! Starting in August of 2023, students will once again receive free lunches. Students must chose an entree, fruit/vegetable a milk for the free lunch. Snacks are not free.

While lunches will be free, it is important for families who need additional financial support to still complete the Free/Reduces Lunch application. Those who qualify for FRL status will only receive the additional benefits (free/reduced school fees, free/reduced trips, priority for scholarships in non-FRL field trips or Enrichment programs, and/or graduation fee reductions, etc.) of the program if they complete the application.

In order to assure that the District and STEM receive accurate data, DCSD and STEM are requesting that ALL families complete the FRL application that opens on July 15, regardless of financial status. A new application must be completed each school year. Families can also still apply for this school year using the link below.

Our IT department has been graciously allowing students to charge their computers in their offices; however, lately, it has become overwhelming for them. We are asking all parents to help support their students in bringing their computers to school charged each day and ensuring that they bring a charger with them to school. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 17, students cannot charge their computers in the IT department.

Reminder!! If you haven’t yet, please log into your MySchoolBucks account to pay your student’s fees. We currently have approximately $30,000 in outstanding student fees, and we anticipate that is due to the technical issues at the start of the school year with Express Check-In. If you have questions about your student’s fees or want to get on a payment plan, please email ashley.westfall@stemk12.org.

Did you know that STEM has an affordable and safe option for your middle or high school student(s) when they need to remain on campus after school or after their club/activity? With the freezing winter temperatures upon us and Colorado’s often unpredictable weather, After Care is peace of mind that your student(s) is warm, able to access water and bathroom, and with a trusted adult in case of an emergency that can be utilized as needed. Drop-ins are welcome!

The After Care program is operated by STEM Enrichment in the Middle School Cafe and is available from 3-6 p.m. every day, school is in session throughout the school year. The cost is only $8/day.*

SmartCare allows parents to know that their student(s) are safe, as well as make easy payments online. Contact hiroko.ichijo@stemk12.org to get your student registered with After Care today.

*Students that receive FRL benefits can attend After Care at no cost to the parent. FRL contact ashley.westfall@stemk12.org.

This school year will live forever in your yearbook. Buy a yearbook. It’s easy.

Yearbooks may be purchased at yearbookforever.com

Enter STEM School Highlands Ranch and click on Buy a Yearbook. Follow the directions online. Enter your name and credit card, debit card or PayPal information, and click
Submit.

Cost: $55 

If you want to personalize the book, name stamping starts at $6 extra and must be purchased before January 29, 2022.

Questions?

Contact Michelle Vitale, the STEM Secondary Yearbook Advisor at michelle.vitale@stemk12.org.

After purchase, you will be emailed a confirmation receipt. You may also verify your order at yearbookforever.com by entering your email in the “Find an Order” field.

We are happy to share that we will be offering students who are part of the Free and Reduced Lunch program the opportunity to get a Free Chromebook if the following parameters are met:

• Chromebook is signed out by a parent
• The student must remain enrolled at STEM for three years. (if the student leaves STEM during those three years, they will need to return the laptop)

Laptops can be kept over the summer. For more information, please email ashley.westfall@stemk12.org to confirm your Free and Reduced Lunch Program status. Not sure if you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch? DCSD recommends that you apply regardless so that they can assist you further. Click the button below to access the application.

As the winter season approaches, we want to announce updates to the current Virtual School Day for Inclement Weather policy. Last spring, one of our STEM students presented a proposal and justification regarding changes to our current Virtual School Day policy. As a result, the administration and Board of Directors determined that a change is recommended to the Snow Day Policy. We appreciate the leadership and voice our STEM students display and are happy to announce that STEM will follow the DCSD Snow Day policy with a closure. STEM also reserves the right to modify the calendar, schedule, or this policy, due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather or construction that interrupts the required instructional minutes as set forth by the Colorado Department of Education. The following is a reminder of the current policies.

Late Start Schedule

STEM does not mimic the Late Start Policy and schedule put forth by DCSD. In the event that Douglas County calls for a Delayed Opening, STEM’s Virtual School Day Policy will take effect.

Virtual School Day for Inclement Weather

If DCSD determines that the district should follow the Delayed Opening protocol, STEM School Highlands Ranch will abide by its Virtual School Day Policy. When it snows, our school’s operation and instructional expectations will be determined by one of these three scenarios:

• Updated: Snow Day – Douglas County Schools calls a snow day – STEM is closed (check www.dcsdk12.org)
• Late Start Day – Douglas County Schools calls a Late Start day – STEM is closed and implements a Virtual School Day.
• All Schools Open – Douglas County Schools declare Highlands Ranch area schools open – STEM is open and operating to our regular schedule.

DCSD’s District Accountability Committee (DAC) is currently accepting applications for a charter school parent member. The District Accountability Committee (DAC) meets monthly throughout the year and makes recommendations to the Board regarding spending District money, charter school applications, improvement plans and parent engagement plans. If you have a child in one of our DCSD charter schools and are interested in serving on this important committee please complete and submit the DAC Application.

Safe2Tell

The mission of Safe2Tell is to ensure that every Colorado student, parent, teacher and community member has access to a safe and anonymous way to report any concerns to their safety or the safety of others, with a focus on early intervention and prevention through awareness and education. Learn more or make an anonymous report by visiting www.safe2tell.org or calling 877-542-7233.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Reading to children early and often builds strong foundations in literacy, encourages a love of reading, and increases the potential for learning success in school. The Douglas County Libraries are excited to put great books into the hands of children across Douglas County to provide even more opportunities to read together. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children from birth to age five receive a free book each month, sent straight to their home, that they get to keep.

Hosted by the Douglas County Youth Initiative

Tuesday, April 4 | 12-1:30 p.m., 100 Third St., Castle Rock – Miller Building Hearing Room

• Complimentary Lunch is Available, please bring your own water
• Limited seating. RSVP to malston@douglas.co.us
• Speaker: Lindsey Simbeye, External Relations Strategist
• Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
• Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
• Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus