Director's Update
A message from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Director
Dear Middle School Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed their fall break! Upon their return Monday morning, I asked our students if they missed us, and it delighted us to hear them say “YES.” (Sure, they were being sarcastic, but we’ll take it!.) On Tuesday, our 8th graders left for Boston and by all reports, they have had an incredibly fun-filled week. A heart-felt thank you to Mrs. Dillon for organizing this trip and to all of our staff who chaperoned. Next week our first group of 7th grade Seacampers head to San Diego. A big shout out to Ms. Dwyer for leading this beloved annual trip. On Friday, we held our Middle School Halloween Dance, and it was a lot of fun, and pretty scary! (Of course, what middle school dance isn’t?)
Fall Conferences
Thank you for coming out to our fall conferences. We realize that there was some frustration with long lines, and for that, I am sorry. We are looking at alternative ways to hold our conferences in the spring. As soon as we come up with a solution, we will let you know.
A big THANK YOU to our PTO and to our families for providing a delicious dinner for our fall conferences. All of our teachers are truly grateful for your generosity.
Our Prospective Spartan Showcase Event is Tuesday, October 29th!
We will be holding our third annual Open House Style event for prospective families. Our staff, student volunteers, parent volunteers, PTO, SAC, Board, Enrichment and athletic clubs will all work together to show the community what we have to offer here at STEM. We are asking our families to help us spread the word and share this event with families and friends. We are looking forward to a terrific turnout, and we are excited to watch our enrollment grow!
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, November 1st- No School – Professional Development Day
Thursday, November 14th – Saturday, November 16th – Almost Maine Theater Production
November 25th – 29th – No School – Thanksgiving Break
Have a wonderful weekend!
In partnership,
Maura Ridder, Middle School Director
Upcoming Events
No School - November 1st
Friday, November 1st
This Friday there will be no school as our staff participates in a professional development day!
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Almost, Maine Theatre Performance!
November 14-16
Come support STEM Theater Department’s performance of Almost, Maine November 14-16 at 6pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Almost, Maine is a play by John Cariani that explores love, loss, and the human heart through a series of 8 one acts set in a mythical town called Almost, Maine. General tickets are $15 and student tickets are $10. There is also a bundle purchase option for discounts.
Looking for Volunteers!
November 9th-11th
Circus Olympus
November 18th & 20th
News and Updates
Update on Secondary Student IDS
Dear STEM Families,
We are dedicated to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff. Safety is our number one priority and is a layered approach. One of the measures is to ensure that all students, staff, and visitors are identifiable on campus. Student IDs also alert office staff to who has off-campus permissions and allow students to quickly check in and out using our automated system. We ask for your continued support in ensuring your child is wearing an ID to school each day.
As time goes on, we understand that students will misplace their IDs and lanyards. We ordered another shipment of lanyards and ID holders, but our students are going through them pretty quickly.
After Fall Break, students will be charged $5 for replacements. This charge will run through their Myschoolbucks account. Please monitor the account and speak to your child about these charges if they occur.
Spartmart is looking into purchasing nicer, higher quality lanyards to sell as well and you may also purchase lanyards online.
Finally, because IDs are part of our dress code, if a student is not wearing an ID and does not have a temporary ID, they may be assigned a detention. Students have been made aware of this expectation.
Once again, we really appreciate your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of our building directors.
In partnership,
The STEM Admin Team
Tutoring during access in MS and HS commons
Our Math Society students are volunteering to assist with math homework during access periods (11-11:40 a.m.) on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Help will be available in both the Middle School and High School commons. Students who need support or want to catch up on homework should feel free to take advantage of this opportunity. Students should contact either their math teacher or access teacher to add their name to the list for help.
IMPORTANT! Secondary Yearbook Information
Parents and Friends of STEM - We need you!
Calling all parents and friends of STEM! Would you like to share about your career path, educational experiences and profession with our students? If so, we invite you to participate in our upcoming Career Discovery event.
On October 24th, we are hosting our annual Career Discovery Day event for middle and high school students. Our industry professionals will bring insight and inspiration to student learning and career exploration, allowing students to engage in career-focused conversations.
If you are interested in participating and supporting our student learning, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.