Elementary News and Updates (05/24/24)

Please take a moment to check the STEM All-Events Calendar on our website.

There are lots of events already scheduled so please take a moment to take a look at the calendar to familiarize yourself with some of the events at the start of school. This calendar will continue to be updated throughout the summer as we get closer to the start of school.

Rising fifth graders staying at STEM for the 2024-25 school year will have the opportunity this June/July to sign up for a locker. Lockers are $5 for the school year and all locks are provided by STEM. The sign-up will be sent via email to all families in June/July so be on the lookout for that this summer. All locker fees will be added to the student’s MySchoolBucks account to then be paid during Express Check-In.

With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we recommend you check to make sure you can access your Parent Portal account and/or set one up if you have not already done so. The document below contains instructions on how to set up your Parent Portal account if you have not already done so.

You will need access to your Parent Portal account to complete Express Check-In for your student(s) in July. The portal also allows you to make contact updates to your profile (phone, email) and allows you to see important information about your student with respect to grades, transcripts, and attendance, among other things.

Watch for updates about Express Check-In on our website this summer and via direct email. An email from the District later in the summer about the exact dates of when Express Check-In will be taking place will also be sent. If you have trouble accessing or setting up your parent portal account, please contact District I.T. at 303-387-0001.

We are always looking for ways to improve our security posture. This coming school year, we are going to implement MFA for all students. The first question that probably comes to mind, my student doesn’t have a phone so how can we do this? U, we can use another source.

We are writing to inform you about an important update regarding the security measures we are implementing to safeguard our students’ online activities.

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a secure digital environment for our students, we will be introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all student accounts on our school’s digital platforms, implementation will start at the beginning of the new school year. We will accomplish this by using Clever Classroom MFA.

What is MFA and Why is it Important?

MFA is an additional layer of security that helps protect accounts by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. This typically involves something the user knows (like a password) combined with something they have or know (such as a card to scan or the need to identify pictures they have chosen). By implementing MFA, we are enhancing the security of our students’ accounts and reducing the risk of unauthorized access or potential breaches.

What Does This Mean for Your Child?

Starting a couple of weeks after the start of the new school year, your child will be prompted to set up MFA when accessing their school accounts. One of the ways to help the youngest would be to have pictures that have to be chosen after the password. The first screen would show a group of animals and the student would have chosen one after they set up the MFA. The second would show pictures of foods. With the two pictures chosen, they would use these to complete their MFA. There are also options for using Apple Touch ID or Windows Hello if your machine has this configured. We will provide detailed instructions and support to ensure a smooth transition for all students. We will start to send out the detailed instructions prior to the start of the new school year.

How Can You Help?

We kindly ask for your support in helping your child set up MFA for their school accounts. Encourage them to follow the provided instructions and emphasize the importance of keeping their login credentials and authentication methods secure.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about the implementation of MFA, please do not hesitate to reach out to support@stemk12.org. We are here to assist you and ensure that this transition is as seamless as possible for your student.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we continue to prioritize the safety and security of our students’ online experiences.

STEM IT Department

Dear Community Members,

We are excited to announce that the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Nutrition Services will be offering a Free Summer Lunch Program for children 18 and under from May 28 to August 2, 2024. This program is available Monday through Friday at various locations in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Parker.

Details:

• Dates: May 28 to August 2, 2024 (Monday through Friday)
• Locations: Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Parker
• Times: Vary by site (Please see the attached document for specific locations and times)
• Eligibility: Open to children 18 and under
• Important Notes:
  • Children must be present to receive a meal.
  • All meals must be consumed on-site.
  • No meal service will be available on June 19th and July 4th.

We encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to ensure that our children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. For detailed information about the site locations and specific serving times, please refer to the attachment.

We look forward to serving our community and hope to see many of your families participating in this program.