Secondary News and Updates (04/29/22)

On Monday, May 2 there will be an Information Meeting for current sixth-grade students going into seventh grade who are interested in attending Seacamp next year. The meeting will be held via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. Click the button below to access the Zoom.

Tuesday, May 3, from 5:30-7 p.m – High School Commons

The monthly STEM Board of Director’s Meeting will be Tuesday, May 3 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the High School Commons. 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.

Wednesday, May 4, from 5-7:30 p.m. – High School Commons

Do you like movies? Do you maybe even enjoy making your own and wish you had a chance to show them to the world? Well, look no further, pal, because your big chance has at long last arrived. It’s time for the second annual STEM Film Festival!

After the success of last year’s event, this year the fest will be held in person, Wednesday, May 4, 5-7:30 p.m., in the High School Commons. Mark your calendars! The event will feature of course your submissions, awards, concessions (probably), prizes and maybe even the opportunity to meet Jacob McGillvray himself. Free admission and entry, too. Both Middle and High School students are invited to participate. We are currently accepting submissions in the categories of:

• MS and HS Comedy
• MS and HS Drama
• MS and HS Animation
• MS and HS Action/Thriller
• MS and HS Horror
• And, of course, everyone’s favorite, MS and HS Uncategorized. You can go wild on this one.

There will be an award for the winner of each category, as well as a gift card prize for the coveted BEST IN SHOW WINNERS. (Woah!) TSA and Video Production students, you are especially welcome to send any videos you may have produced as a submission. Please send any submissions no later than Monday, May 2 to carlos.martinez@stemk12.org.

Thursday, May 5, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Coors Field

Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,

We are so excited to share that the Colorado Rockies will be hosting a STEM Day at Coors Field on Thursday, May 5, collaborating with Steve Spangler of 9News.

Formerly called Weather and Science Day, this event will focus on educational events incorporating physics, math and meteorology into unique science experiments.

The interactive presentation will run from 10:30-11:30 a.m., with parking lots opening at 9 a.m.

Part of the event will hopefully include a special presentation by our engineering students, who are building a robot that will be competing to throw out the first pitch. Audience participation will factor into the best robot being picked to make history. This is a feat not yet accomplished by anyone in history at the Rockies stadium. This is so special that there will be a news presence, and maybe even Guinness Book of World records will be there.

While this is an instructional day for students, we want to recognize that many families may want to attend. We want to remind and encourage parents to please call the attendance line at (303) 683-7836 to excuse their student. Families can call this line in advance of May 5 to tell us that their student will not be in attendance that day. Please understand that the Administration Team discussed possibly making this Day a no-contact day; however, we were unable to make this accommodation due to testing and other logistical reasons.

Those who would like to attend the interactive presentation must purchase a ticket to the game. The Colorado Rockies game vs. the Washington Nationals will begin at 1:10 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased directly through the Rockies website and TicketMaster. STEM is not coordinating tickets, but there is an option for group sales if you have a large group. Here is the link to the Rockies STEM Day page, and it has a link to buy tickets and other details. To purchase more than 12 tickets, please call 303-ROCKIES or grouptix@rockies.com.

Thank you,

STEM School Highlands Ranch Communications

We are starting the planning process for MathCounts 2022-2023! MathCounts is a national mathematics competition for 6th-8th grade students. If you are interested in participating next year, please fill out the survey linked below. It does not matter what level of math you are in, so if you love math and competing, this is the place for you! Reach out to Ms. Bates if you have any questions at jessica.bates@stemk12.org.

• Wednesday, May 18 (6-7:30 p.m.) at HRCA Southridge Recreation Center – Senior Honor Night
  • Event for those students receiving academic honors.
  • Seating is limited to honor students and two guests
• Thursday, May 19 (10-11 a.m.) at Echo Park Stadium – Graduation
  • No tickets are needed
  • Students arrive at 9 a.m. for rehearsal
  • Parents enter at 9:30 a.m.
  • Please park in the east parking lot.

Email Karen.Adam@stemk12.org with any questions.

Click the link below to find out more about some exciting internship opportunities for High School Students. Please be advised that these internships have a fee associated with them. Reach out to amelia.reinkensmeyer@stemk12.org with any questions.

Dr. Cannady will be a speaker at the International Astronautical Foundation’s Global Conference on Space for Emerging Countries. The work our STEM students have done in the Lockheed Martin Internships, Martian Greenhouse, and an upcoming adventure building CubeSats will be presented in a session called Space in Schools & the Role of Academia.

The approach developed with the help of our Building Ships Executive-Level Advisory Board has inspired a global movement in learning.

Mission: We are inviting industry, community, and businesses to join us in making sure every student has the kind of “ships” that promote kindness, readiness for future careers, and passion for infinite opportunities to help humanity.

In addition to the speaking at the conference, Dr. Cannady will be working with space agencies from the US, Italy, Sweden, El Salvador, Panama, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Brazil, Slovakia, Portugal, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Costa Rica, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, France, Guatemala, Kenya, Russian, South Africa, Honduras, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Paraguay, Belgium, Poland, and Columbia.

Dr. Cannady will also be meeting with multiple schools and university leaders from the host country, Ecuador. Sponsoring this adventure is a new aerospace company called Aphelion Aerospace. Aphelion Aerospace was featured at the last Colorado Space Business Roundtable conference as the company to watch in commercial space.

Special thanks to the nonprofit One Voice 4 Change for connecting our students to a global network of students, teachers, and industry leaders. These connections were recently seen in collaboration on renewable energy by Ms. Hart’s STEM MS science classes, working with GE Renewable on solutions for a carbon-free electric grid of the future.

Our STEM students are solving global problems by being connected to industry leaders and students from around the world. These students share their passion for learning, solve problems together, and share their brilliant solutions for our planet’s biggest problems.

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and are looking for ways to get involved, come join us in launching our Climate Change Action Club! Though the school year is winding down, let’s start working to make a difference now, and build momentum going into next year and beyond. If you are interested and would like to participate or simply learn more, please come to Room 114B at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. Let’s leverage our passion, voices and unique talents for the sake of the world! Contact Sara.Phelps@stemk12.org with any questions.

Wings Over the Rockies will be having summer camp at both the museum and at our Exploration of Flight Campus at Centennial Airport. Below are links for staff and students who are interested in summer jobs.

Falcon AeroLab has designed an immersive experience for students interested in aviation, including an airplane, glider, and helicopter flight.

Yearbooks are expected to arrive at STEM soon and will be distributed to your student during their lunch on May 11, 12, and 13. Your student should come to the Yearbook table located in the cafeteria on one of those dates to receive their book.

If you haven’t yet purchased a yearbook, they are sold at yearbookforever.com for $55. Contact Michelle Vitale, yearbook advisor, at michelle.vitale@stemk12.org with any questions.

Families can access their photos by visiting the link to the right or going to dr-photo.com, selecting the School Portrait Proofs link, and when prompted enter their private password in the following format: Student ID#

If You Want to Be Happy, Try to Make Someone Else Happy

A recent study shows that doing kind things for others is an important path to happiness.

Sora Sweet Reads and Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Summer Reading

Reading over the summer is not only fun but also crucial for strengthening students’ literacy skills & preventing the “Summer Slide.” While students cannot regularly visit their school library over summer break, they will still have access to Sora and can also take advantage of all the resources available from our wonderful Douglas County Public libraries. Students can help their school win books by checking out books in Sora during May and registering for summer reading programs at DCL!

How to Help Teens Put Less Pressure on Themselves

Self-compassion can help teens who are struggling with toxic perfectionism.

Fentanyl Crisis Town Hall – Learn How to Protect Your Family
Tuesday, May 3 | 6:00 p.m.

The community is encouraged to participate in an upcoming town hall event hosted by the Douglas County Government, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the 18th Judicial District regarding the Fentanyl crisis. Community members may also attend the town hall in person at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock or call in at 1-833-380-0668