Elementary News and Updates (02/18/22)

Tuesday, Feb. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 3-5 p.m. – Room 149

Do you have talent? Do you sing? Dance? Play and instrument? Are you a comedian? Do you do improv? Please come audition for the 10th annual Stem’s Got Talent. Prepare an act that does not exceed 3-5 minutes. All students should come with their acts polished! No karaoke or sing-alongs. If you are singing to music, please bring the music with you. If your act is too complex to audition in person, contact Mrs. Ridder about submitting a video audition. Remember, this being our 10th year, the competition is heavy. We usually have about 100 – 150 acts audition, and can only place around 20 in the show.

We are also looking for 1-2 masters of ceremonies to host the show. If you would like to audition for that role, please prepare a one-minute monologue on how you would open the show.

If you cannot make the audition day, contact Mrs. Ridder at maura.ridder@stemk12.org for an alternative date.

Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 10-11 a.m – Secondary School Entrance

Each Wednesday, STEM opens up its doors from 10-11 a.m. for a building tour to interested families who would like to learn more about our school. We’d like to encourage our families to spread the word to anyone they know who might be interested in having their student(s) attend STEM. Interested tour participants should arrive 10 minutes early to get checked in and badged. They must bring a valid ID in order to get checked in.

Friday, Feb. 25, from 6-8 p.m. – Elementary Gymnasium

STEM PTO will be hosting an Elementary Sweetheart Dance on Friday, Feb. 25 from 6-8 p.m. in the Elementary Gymnasium. Elementary families are welcome to attend the Red & Black Masquerade Ball. Cost is $5 per person. There will be dancing, crafts, selfie station and games. We hope to see YOU there! Get tickets via the button below.

Monday, Feb. 28 – Thursday, March 3, during select hours

Scholastic Book Fair is back for its spring tour. Come ready to shop for new books at our fair. Students will be taken by their teachers to shop during school hours on Monday and Tuesday. Parents can come shop before school hours on Wednesday starting at 7 a.m., until school starts, and after school until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Pre-order books using the button below.

Monday, Feb. 28, from 5-7 p.m. – High School Commons

If you’re interested in getting involved in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at STEM, we encourage you to attend to find out more information. Email amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org with questions.

Tuesday, March 1, from 5:30-7 p.m – High School Commons

The monthly STEM Board of Director’s Meeting will be Tuesday, March 1 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.

Thursday, March 3, from 7-9 p.m. – Middle School Cafeteria

Friday, March 4, from 7-9 p.m. – Middle School Cafeteria

Saturday, March 5, from 3-5 p.m. & 7-9 p.m. – Middle School Cafeteria

Wednesday, March 9, from 6:30-8 p.m. – Zoom

Wednesday, March 23, from 5-6 p.m – Zoom

This webinar will focus on our implementation of SBL for next year. We will answer the following questions:

• What is Standards Based Learning?
• Why are we making the switch?
• What does this mean for my student?
• How will grades be reported when we implement SBL?
• What does SBL mean for college acceptance?”

Contact: Michelle Gasser, michelle.gasser@stemk12.org with any questions

Every March, STEM celebrates a week-long fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation called Wish Week!

This year, STEM is proud to represent Samuel, a five-year-old battling leukemia from Morrison, Colo. His wish is to visit Noah’s Ark in Kentucky, inspiring this year’s Wish Week theme: Animals!

Help us reach our goal of $15,000 by buying your Wish Week shirt via the button below. Please make sure that you are signed into your MySchoolBucks when ordering. Please let them know to not check out as “Guest.”

The deadline to buy Wish Week shirts has been extended! You have until Wednesday, February 23 to get your 2022 Wish Week shirt, but don’t wait! Order yours for $20.

Give back, get back! Thanks to STEM’s Spartmart, our 100th and 200th orders will win a $10 gift voucher to Spartmart. These milestones come fast, it could be you!

Remote students, staff, alum, and community members are welcome to buy their shirts, too. Send an email to nhs@s.stemk12.org with the name on your order and we’ll contact you when your shirt is ready for pick up!

Thank you to everybody who has contributed to this cause so far! We know this Wish Week will be the best one yet!

For any questions, email nhs@s.stemk12.org.

STEM’s National English Honor Society is putting on a Book Drive This Month! All of the books that we collect will go to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Denver which promotes getting books in the hands of everyone who wants to read. New and Used books can be donated at the Secondary School Front Office until Monday, Feb. 28.

We are excited to announce that STEM has partnered with Backpack Society, a Douglas County based nonprofit that provides meals for students and families with food insecurity or with temporary need. We are the 26th school in the Highlands Ranch area to partner with this organization that provides a wonderful service for our community. This program is available to anyone with need (families or staff) grades K – 12 at STEM. Families of our students are also receiving this information and the registration links.(Families do not have to live in Douglas County to be eligible – as long as they have a student attending STEM).

Backpack Society offers 3 programs:

• Student Program: Students who register will receive a bag with 6 meals, drinks, and snacks each week.Students will pick up their bags at STEM on Thursdays after school. Student registration link.
• Family & Staff Program: Families who register for this program will receive a box of groceries, including perishables to help through the weekend. This program requires a family member to pick up the box at Backpack Society headquarters drive-thru: •213 W County Line Road, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. In addition to the families of our students, any staff member with a need may also register for this program. Your information is kept confidential and is NOT shared with the school. If a family (or staff member) has registered, but does not have transportation, and would like to participate in this program, please let a counselor know and one of us can arrange for pick up. Family/staff program registration link.
• Food Pantry at STEM: More details to come soon on this program.

Thanks,
STEM Counseling Team

Please take a moment to complete this survey is to get feedback on the list of holidays that you’d like to see represented on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Web Page. We are also collecting feedback on our DEI Committee purpose statement.

Elementary Student Council wants to support Wish Week by doing a Coin Collection Competition. We are in need of CLEAN, CLEAN gallon milk jugs. We need 2-3 per class for a total of approximately $75. We will be collecting coins starting on Monday, March 7, collecting through March 22. One class from K-2 and one from 3-5 will get a pizza party sponsored by Elementary Student Council. Money will be counted and donated to National Honor Society on March 25 during the Wish Week Pep Rally.

My name is Amy Dupays. I am the elementary BASE Manager for STEM. The STEM BASE team is looking for additional staff to support the after-school child care demand in our Elementary STEM community. If you or someone you know is looking for a fun job after school, is great with kids and ready to work with a dedicated, fun team this is the job for you. We need you 3-5 days each week 3-6 p.m. Full-time hours are available during school breaks and summer. NO WEEKENDS – Yay!

Please email me acdupays@dcsdk12.org for more information or submit your application using the following link: DCSD STEMBASE Program Leader Position.

**Please note: While this directly impacts Elementary (West) Driveline, this message is for All Families as it will indirectly impact Secondary (East) Driveline.**

Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,

Due to the construction, the West side of the Elementary Parking Lot (active loading zone area in front of the Elementary School Doors) will be closed from Tuesday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 25. There will be a large crane that will be installing the precast walls for the new building addition and it will need to be in that part of the parking lot for the entire week. It will impact the Elementary morning and afternoon driveline.

Elementary Driveline will be rerouted through the parking lot, along the East side of the Elementary Building, exiting through the Secondary exit.

This will cause delays during the morning and afternoon driveline. Elementary drop-off in the morning begins at 7:10 a.m. Secondary Driveline begins dropping off at 7:30 a.m. We are asking all Elementary families to please arrive prior to 7:30 a.m. to avoid a conflict with the Secondary Driveline. In the afternoon, we are asking parents for patience during pick-up as students and staff will be getting used to a different pick-up pattern.

Elementary Driveline Morning Directions to follow:

• Enter ES driveline through the West Entrance (normal entrance)
• Families will either be direct to go straight and stack or turn to the right to snake around the parking lot (like normal)
• Please follow all directions from the driveline attendants.
• Cars will be stacked in the Unloading Zone on the East side of the Elementary School Building and attendants will come to unload students; Please do not unload students anywhere other than the unloading zone.
• Once cars are unloaded, driveline attendants will direct cars to proceed forward along the East side of the building to then exit the Secondary Parking Lot.
• Cars will merge several times throughout this process so please be patient, show kindness and allow cars to merge for the driveline to proceed efficiently.
• Cars will only be allowed to make left and right turns in both directions out of the Secondary Driveline onto Ridgeline, Directed by a Sheriff deputy heading south.
• All ES students will be let into the elementary school cafeteria once dropped off.  Students will be picked up by their teachers at 7:30 a.m.

Elementary Driveline Afternoon Directions to follow:

• Enter ES driveline through the West Entrance (normal entrance)
• At 2:10 p.m., families of K-1 students will be allowed to enter the parking lot and go straight and stack, following the instructions of the driveline attendants.
• At 2:25 p.m., families of students in grades 2-5 will be allowed to enter the parking lot. Driveline attendants will direct families to either go straight or go right to stack.
• Only cars in the Active Loading Zone on the East side of the Elementary School Building will be loaded.
• Please make sure that you are using PikMyKid and that your account is updated.
• Once cars are loaded, driveline attendants will direct cars to proceed forward along the East side of the building to then exit the Secondary Parking Lot.
• Cars will merge several times throughout this process so please be patient, show kindness and allow cars to merge for the driveline to proceed efficiently.
• Cars will only be allowed to make a right turn out of the Secondary Driveline onto Ridgeline, heading south.

Walker Pick-Up: Walker pick-up will be from the front of the Elementary School Building (West Side).

Access to the Elementary School Entrance will still be accessible for BASE and for normal operations, however, only parking in the front half of the west side of the building will be allowed. Visitors should park in any available parking spot on the south side of the building.

Just a reminder that if you are picking up your student from an after-school program, there is no active Driveline during that time. You must park in a spot and wait for your student to come out. By waiting in a lane, you may block other cars from exiting and create a chaotic and unsafe environment. Please park when picking up your student from an after-school club.

Attention Elementary Families! It’s time to go through the Lost and Found area. All items that are unclaimed with be donated before Spring Break.

Honoring The Masters, Encouraging The Young

Welcome to Colorado Kids Create Inc., a trade-marked, 501(c)3 and member of the Colorado Art Education Association. We hope you all enjoy this year’s 9th annual, state-wide contest and the opportunity to become a published illustrator! Remember to carefully follow the instructions found in the Contest Details. This year there is a mail-in entry option. Be proud that YOU are doing your part to see Art education flourish in the beautiful state of Colorado.

2022 Prizes

Grand Prize

• A Blick Art Gift Certificate
• Tickets to The American Museum of Western Art – The Anschutz Collection
• One month of Monart Online EduArt Studio Class

1st Place (1 winner from elementary, middle, and high school)

• A Blick Art Gift Certificate
• Tickets to The American Museum of Western Art – The Anschutz Collection
• One Monart Project from the Monart Store

2nd – 4th Place (1 winner from elementary, middle, and high school)

• A Blick Art Gift Certificate
• Tickets for The American Museum of Western Art – The Anschutz Collection

NoCo Regional Prize

• Hayride for 20 people at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch

For further information, contact Rachel Casale, Executive Director, at Coloradokidscreate@gmail.com.

Contest Details

Be inspired by Colorado’s rich, Western heritage. Read the 2022 contest stories here!

Contest requirements:

1. All children must be residents of Colorado.
2. Children must be between the ages of 5-18 years old.
3. Artwork must be horizontal (landscape).
4. Artwork must be done with markers or paint. We like bright and colorful images!
5. Artwork must be scanned and electronically submitted through our submission form. Please scan and upload at the highest possible resolution. DO NOT SEND PHOTOS OF ARTWORK. ARTWORK MUST BE SCANNED AND SENT AS PNG OR JPEG.
6. Parents or teachers must sign an electronic permission form for entry to be valid.
7. Deadline – March 7th, 2022
8. There will be a grand prize winner, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winner for elementary, middle, and high school entries. Awards will be sent through the mail to the participant’s Art Teacher.
9. Winning artwork and honorable mentions will be posted on this website on April 11th, 2022.
10. Mail in option: send to Colorado Kids Create 852 Welch Ave Berthoud Colorado 80513 along with signed permission form.

To enter, please visit the Artwork Upload/Permission Form page. Thank you for participating in this year’s contest!

Click the button below to access the prepayment site for the Elementary Yearbook. Soft Cover books are $20 and Hard Cover books are $30.

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#

Emotion Chart: A Simple Way to Check In On Your Child’s Feelings

Figuring out what your child is feeling, and why they feel that way, can be hard. It may be even more difficult for your child. An emotion chart can help your child express themselves, and help you check in on them.

Family Literacy Tips: From A to Z

Encouraging literacy in your home and community starts with small steps every day. Get some helpful tips from Reading Rockets.

Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate

The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate is a visual guide to help educate and encourage children to eat well and keep moving.

You’re invited! Nutrition Services is trying a new method for taste testing with students. Please complete the Nutrition Services Student Taste Test RSVP form. Please join us on Tuesday, Feb 22 at Rocky Heights Middle School to give your feedback on two of our most popular items:

• Mac & Cheese
• Orange Chicken.

Results of these taste tests help us determine which product we will serve next school year. We will also have a couple of new items we would like feedback on. We are looking for 375 students to participate. Testing times are 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Each testing slot will be capped at 125 participants. Parents are welcome to join. Please note, items being tested may contain wheat, dairy, eggs and soy. Thank you.

DCSD Parent University – Postsecondary Readiness: Preparing for Life After High School
Wednesday, February 23 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Free virtual event
Register here >>

Postsecondary Readiness [PSR] programming prepares students for what is next after high school, whether it be a career, college, military, advanced training, and/or continued education. Learn from the DCSD Postsecondary Readiness team about pathway programs and how they help students make informed decisions about their future, develop necessary skills, and potentially save time & money.