Secondary News and Updates (08/09/24)

Dear Middle School Families,

What a wonderful week of welcoming our students back to school! We loved seeing all of their sweet, smiling faces. Yesterday, during Access time, we held our first Middle School Assembly. During that time, we welcomed students back to school and introduced them to our office staff, Student Support Team, Teacher Support Team, and IT Team. We discussed expectations for arrival in the morning, and I informed students that we would be holding Open Gym from 7:15-7:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We discussed enrichment activities, sports, and who they should go to for help. We asked some teacher trivia questions and ended with a very competitive staff lip sync competition!

This year’s Parent/Student Handbook will be sent out shortly. You and your student can review our expectations together. A few important reminders:

• Badges are part of our dress code and must be worn each day. Please help your child remember to wear his/her school badge (photos will be taken next week and badges distributed). Our entire staff will be checking to be sure each child is wearing their ID. They will be sent to the office for a temporary badge if they are not. Please be aware that your child will receive a detention after three temporary badges.
• Please also review our cell phone and dress code expectations and consequences with your child.

I am looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can reach their highest potential this year. A strong partnership with you will make a significant difference in your child’s success. We are all invested in your child’s education and goals. I ask that we work together to support your child’s growth by ensuring that he/she:

1. Attends school daily and arrives on time.
2. Completes all assignments.
3. Share school stories, friends, encounters, and content with you.
4. Informs you if he/she is struggling in any area or subject.
5. Is aware that you believe he/she will succeed at STEM.

If you would like to get involved in your child’s education, please consider volunteering at STEM; our students will thrive from your contribution to our school. The middle school is always looking looking for volunteers to help us with the following activities:

1. Lunch
2. Driveline
3. School-wide events
4. Enrichment activities (Theatre, robotics, and TSA could always use help!)

Important Events and Dates

• Wednesday, August 15, 2024 – Secondary Back to School Night – 5 pm start in the MS Cafeteria.

Our incredible STEM faculty and staff feel honored that you have chosen to entrust your children in our care. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

In partnership,

Maura Ridder, Middle School Director

Dear STEM students and families,

The start of an academic year is always an exciting time, but this seems to be the best one yet. I want to thank the parents, students, and staff for the great opening of the school. The first week of school has been very busy. Teachers and students have spent the past few days establishing relationships with each other as well as exploring the new curriculum that every student faces as they move up in grade level and subject to the next. Each brings with it exciting new challenges as students use the prior knowledge gained with the new knowledge learned. This connection is important to both students and staff members as we strive to reach our full potential as life-long learners.

Attention all high school students: our 5th grade needs your help. Our 5th graders’ Outdoor Ed trip is coming up from September 30th to October 2nd, and they need high school students to help chaperone. This is an amazing opportunity and a great way to earn community service hours! If you are interested in participating, please email Mr. Chang at jason.chang@stemk12.org.

Safety and Security for all of our students and staff is always our top priority. It is our goal to provide a safe environment for our students to learn. This is why we have the Evolv system. We started off with long lines, but once students had the process down the lines disappeared. This year, we are back to the long lines. Earlier this week, I sent out an email to our middle and high school students reminding them to take out their laptops, 3-ring binders, chargers, umbrellas, and other items that it seems to detect. I also pointed out that the line at the athletic entrance is generally much shorter. Parents, if you drive your students in the morning, please remind them if they have these items out of their bags, they will get through much quicker. Students, thank you very much for your patience.

On Wednesday, we had our rules and regulations assembly during access. During that assembly, I reviewed many of our policies with the students, including our cell phone policy. National and local data has clearly demonstrated that cell phones are a distraction and should not be in the classrooms. However, instead of banning them, we ask that every student power down their cell phones at the beginning of class and place them in the cell phone holders in each classroom. They are welcome to have their phones at the end of the class so they can use them during passing periods, lunch, etc. This is not a new policy; however, we are asking our teachers to be more vigilant with the enforcement.

Finally, a quick note about lightning delays. As you know, thunderstorms are highly unpredictable. They come in quickly, and despite the best weather-predicting technology, they can change directions. As a school, we follow the DCSD lightning policy. Anytime there is a strike within 6 miles, we need to hold students for 30 minutes from the last strike. The district policy also allows high school students to make their own decisions and leave, but middle and elementary students can only leave with a parent. High school siblings cannot take their middle or elementary school siblings out during a lightning delay unless they are 18 or older, and it is clearly documented in IC.  If you have any questions about the lightning policy, please feel free to email me at ryan.alsup@stemk12.org, and I will do my best to answer them.

Looking ahead…

Club Rush is Wednesday, Aug. 14, during Access. Club rush was a huge success last year, with many students being exposed to clubs that they didn’t know we had. Our clubs are extremely important to the culture of our school, and students who are involved in clubs typically enjoy school more and experience higher levels of academic success.

Back to School Night will be on Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 5-7:30 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers as you follow an abbreviated bell schedule. The teachers are prepared to give you an overview of the class to give you a better idea of what to expect this year. However, please note this is not a parent/teacher conference. If you need to meet with the teachers to discuss anything specific to your student, we ask that you schedule an appointment with the teacher.
Athletics registration is open! Fall sports are starting, so it is important to register asap. Please click here for more information!

That is all I have for now. Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup, High School Director

Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. – High School Commons

Join our College and Career Counselor, Kelli Myrick, for the annual Senior College Night meeting in our High School Commons on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  This is a college application information session for High School seniors that includes a financial aid presentation for seniors and their parents. Email kelli.myrick@stemk12.org with any questions.

Wednesday, Aug. 14, during Access – Secondary Commons and Secondary Gym

High School clubs will have the opportunity to showcase what their clubs are all about during this event so that fellow high school students can learn more and also join.

• Freshmen/Sophomores – 10:35-10:55 a.m.
• Juniors/Seniors – 11:05-11:35 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 5-7:30 p.m. – Middle School Cafeteria and High School Commons

Our Secondary Back to School Nights are your opportunity to build communication and connection between teachers and families. Families will begin in the respective locations listed above. School Directors will kick things off with a 20-minute presentation before dismissing families to follow their student’s class schedule. Each teacher will conduct a 10-minute presentation that provides an introduction about themselves, an overview of the course, procedures and expectations, how parents can help and the best way to contact them.

Schedule:

• Director’s Welcome: 5-5:20 p.m – MS Cafeteria (MS) or HS Commons (High School)
• Period 2 – 5:25-5:35 p.m.
• Period 3 – 5:40-5:50 p.m.
• Period 4 – 5:55-6:05 p.m.
• Period 5 – 6:10-6:20 p.m.
• Period 6 – 6:25-6:35 p.m.
• Period 7 – 6:40-6:50 p.m.
• Period 8 – 6:55-7:05 p.m.
• Period 9 – 7:10-7:20 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15, during Access – Secondary Commons

Middle School clubs will have the opportunity to showcase what their clubs are all about during this event so that fellow middle school students can learn more and also join.

• Sixth-grade – 10:35-10:55 a.m.
• Seventh-grade – 11-11:20 a.m.
• Eighth-grade – 11:20-11:40 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m. – Mechatronics Lab in P-TECH/KOSON Building & Zoom

The KOSON/STEM Board of Directors will be holding its Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m. in person and via Zoom.  The BOD is comprised of parents and community members who volunteer their time. The Board’s role and purpose is to provide oversight of the KOSON Schools Chief Innovation Officer, who implements the policies set forth by the Board. The Board also provides support and direction for STEM’s long-term vision and mission. Additionally, the Board is active in making sure that KOSON Schools remains in compliance with all DCSD, state and federal compliance requirements, as well as STEM School Highlands Ranch’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, Aug. 21, at 5:30-7:30 p.m. – KOSON/P-TECH Building (Mechatronics Lab)/Zoom

The meeting will also be available to watch via Zoom. In-person participation is strongly encouraged to help build engagement. Additionally, those who would like to participate in Public Comment must do so in person.

The purpose of the SAC is to inform, encourage, and provide opportunities for parents and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school’s instructional program and quality improvement processes. The SAC makes recommendations concerning the School’s performance, improvement, priority improvement, or turnaround plan, and meets to discuss the implementation of the School’s plan and other progress pertinent to STEM’s accreditation contract with the Board of Education. The SAC makes recommendations to the director to prioritize the spending of school money.

Applications are now open for the fall session of Civic Academy, which begins Tuesday, September 10. This free, seven-week course of study is hosted by the Denver Regional Council of Governments and invites Front Range residents to learn more about regional issues, such as transportation, economic vitality, affordable housing, planning and development. Sessions range from interactive workshops to field trips. New this year will be simultaneous Spanish interpretation of each week’s classes.

Applications close Friday, Aug. 23. Click the button below to apply. Civic Academy (formerly Citizens’ Academy) began in 2007 as a program of nonprofit corporation Transit Alliance. Since 2018, DRCOG has organized and hosted the Civic Academy.

Want to connect with other families in your student’s grade? Join your student’s class page on Facebook to connect with other parents, get class-specific info, and more. Click the button below to visit our Get Connected back on the website that lists all of the Community Facebook pages. Be sure to answer all required questions in order join. Email info@stemk12.org with any questions.

Did you know you can start earning college credit while in high school? STEM currently partners with Arapahoe Community College (ACC) to bring CE (concurrent enrollment) courses to our STEM classrooms. Students can begin taking courses in engineering, technology, computer science, English, math, and science at the STEM campus. ACC also offers courses onsite to support students in their long-term academic goals.

In addition, STEM partners with other Colorado colleges, including Metropolitan State University, Denver (MSU), and Colorado State University (CSU), to bring additional options for our students. Below are the courses for the Fall Semester.

CSU

• GEOL 110, Introduction to Geology – Parks & Monuments (GT-SC2)
• SOC 100, General Sociology (GT-SS3).

MSU

• AAS 1010, Introduction to Africana Studies (GT-SS3)
• ANT 1010, Introduction to Biological Anthropology (GT-SC1)
• SWK 1050, How to Change the World (GT-SS3)
• ASL 1010, American Sign Language I

Deadlines to register are quickly approaching. If you are interested in learning more or registering for classes, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.