Secondary News and Updates (12/11/20)

Please complete the Intent to Return to STEM form by December 18, 2020

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.

Our Santa Program order deadline has been extended! The program allows STEM families to donate toward the purchase of gift cards to be given to STEM staff. Participating in the STEM Santa Program is the PERFECT way to thank all of our hard-working staff!

Here’s how the program works:

Place your order using the “STEM Santa Gift Card order button at the bottom.

• Using the “ STEM Santa Gift Card” order link, you can donate $$ to a general fund (used to purchase gift cards for ALL STEM teachers and staff). The STEM SANTA will do the gift card shopping!
• Gift cards will be delivered to staff along with a card “signed” by all families who donate to purchase staff gift cards.
• Be sure to place your order (NO CASH) via the button below by December 17.
• Gift Cards will be ordered on December 18.
• Staff will receive their gifts on our return to school in January.

Remember to order yours before the December 17 deadline!

ORDER TODAY!

Through December 18 – Drop-off at MS Cafeteria

STEM Student Council and Castle Rock PD are teaming up for the Holiday Toy Drive. Drop-off New toys and/or clothing to the Middle School Cafeteria from now until Friday, Dec. 18 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Click the button below to access the Wish List. (No sign-up required). If you’d like to submit a gift card, you can do so via Target and email it to studentcouncil@s.stemk12.org.

SpartMart has some new items for the holidays so please take advantage of purchasing some of our student-designed gear. Any orders placed after December 1 will be charged shipping to prevent any need to pick it up from the school. If you’ve already placed your order prior to December 1, check your email for details on how you can pick-up your order.

Thanks for your support!

Start Mart – Student Staff Team

To view your student’s school photo proofs, visit DR Photos and select the link School Portrait Proof. Use your student’s ID number to access their proofs and place any orders that you’d like.

Students may make an appointment to have a photo taken at our photographer’s studio. DR Photo – 8110 W Brandon Dr, Littleton, CO 80125. Click here to set up an appointment.

The Middle School Student Government is super excited to say that we will be doing a holiday spirit week from December 14-17.

Monday, December 14: Cozy Day – Get cozy or stay in pj’s/onesies or bring your blanket with you to class!
Tuesday, December 15: Festive Day – Wear anything festive like colors, wintery things, etc. GO ALL OUT!
Wednesday, December 16: Icon Day – Change your profile picture to something festive!
Thursday, December 17: Ugly Sweater Day – Wear your favorite ugly sweater or any other ridiculous holiday outfit!

We hope you will participate and have a wonderful rest of your week!

Friday, Dec. 18 – Interest form Deadline

STEM National English Honor Society is excited to announce our 3rd annual TEDx Talk! It will be fully virtual this year. This is an officially recognized event, and will include a mix of students and professionals speaking over the course of roughly 2 hours. It will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

If you are interested in being one of our speakers this year, please fill out the interest form below by Friday, Dec. 18. There is no theme for speeches this year, so choose whatever you connect with! We will send you a Zoom link and date for your audition. Come to the meeting with your topic idea, and you will be critiqued by a panel of judges. If you are selected to speak, you will have time to develop your talk with a few check-up meetings.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact tanvi.patil@s.stemk12.org or jaeden.toy@s.stemk12.org.

Friday, Jan. 8 – Deadline to submit

High School Student Government is holding a Virtual Art Contest now through Friday, Jan. 8. The theme is “How has virtual learning affected you?”

All submissions should be sent to john.masulit@s.stemk12.org.

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

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

All NEW Office 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. A Zoom Link will be provided in the coming weeks.

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.
The zoom link will be shared at a future date to view and support our students remotely.

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 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

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.

At last month’s Front Range BEST Regional Competition, our middle and high school BEST teams performed amazingly. This year’s competition, themed “Outbreak,” was held entirely virtually, and focused on preparing and assisting in a pandemic. Our high school team won the first place BEST award, high school and middle placed first and second in the Robot Competition Game Award, and both teams swept up a number of other awards and recognitions. We are so proud of both teams and their weeks of hard work in a very unusual season!

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.

Middle School Boys Basketball
As in previous years, we will be partnering with Highlands Ranch Rec Center to offer Boys Basketball through their youth league. Click the button to the right to express interest.

TSA – Middle & High School
TSA (Technology Student Association) Meetings have begun! It’s not too late to join. This year’s meetings and state conference will all be virtual. Click the button to the right to sign-up.

MathCounts Club

Is your Middle Schooler interested in joining the MathCounts Club? Click the button to the right to complete the interest form.

We are now accepting applications for unpaid HS internships with Lockheed Martin for juniors and seniors.

Students interested in taking part should read the Internship Flier located at the button to the right.  (Note the 10-12 hours per week time commitment)

For students who want to apply, please complete the Lockheed Martin Executive HS Internship Program Sign-Up form. Students will need to obtain two teacher recommendations using the Teacher Recommendation for Executive HS Internship form via the button to the right. Students should send the Teacher Recommendation link to the two teachers they’d like to have complete it.

All applications are due Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. Students who meet the application deadline will be asked to complete a brief virtual interview. Students who are accepted will be notified by Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.

We are now accepting applications for unpaid Spring 2021 HS Healthcare Internships for juniors and seniors only.

Interested students should read the description of the internship via the button to the right. (Note the 10-12 hours per week time commitment)

Students interested in applying must complete the Healthcare Executive HS Internship Program Sign-Up form to the right and obtain two teacher recommendations using the Teacher Recommendation for Executive HS Healthcare Internship form via the button to the right.

All applications are due December 10, 2020. Students who meet the application deadline will be asked to complete a brief virtual interview. Students who are accepted will be notified by December 17, 2020.

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.

SteMed and SteMed Jr. have introduced a Teacher Mental Health Month program to both the Middle School and High School. As medical clubs, we understand how important mental health is for both students and teachers. Each month, members have the opportunity to nominate a teacher to receive a mental health care package. Mr. Schnacke was our November nominee. Thank you Mr. Schnacke for all you do, we appreciate you!

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 right for more information.