Elementary News and Updates (07/26/24)

Dear STEM Families and Community,

I hope that everyone had a fabulous summer, spending time with family and friends and doing the things you love. It is hard to believe that students will return to the building in a little over a week. Each summer seems to go faster and faster. This past week, we welcomed our new staff, and this coming week, all returning staff will be in the building busy preparing for your students’ arrival. We are excited to have students back in the classroom and hallways, filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning. We always aim to help every student feel welcomed, connected, and a part of the STEM family.

I would like to take a moment to introduce our new staff. This year, we will be welcoming four new teachers. In addition, we also added a couple of positions in elementary to best support our building needs. If you see our new staff members, please give them a warm welcome. I have already been bragging about our amazing parent community.

• Kylie Delwiche – Kindergarten
• Madi Binder – Kindergarten
• Deborah Russell – 3rd grade
• Ethan Sauer – Music
• Ken Hurst – Behavior Interventionist (new position)
• Sheila Badovinac – Learning Specialist (additional position)
• Aisha Khan – SPED Educational Assistant (additional position)
• Diane Farris – English Language Development (additional position)

As the new school year approaches, I wanted to give a few important reminders.

• Placard Pick-up for Driveline will be held:
  • Monday, July 29th – Friday, Aug. 2nd, from 7:30 a.m. -2 p.m.
  • Placard Pick-up will be at the Secondary Entrance (not the Elementary Entrance)
• Teacher Meet -n- Greet
  • Monday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m.
  • This is an informal open house to meet the teacher and drop off supplies.
• Kindergarten Spartan Launch (All Incoming Kindergarteners)
  • August 5-7
    • Must sign up for ONE spot only
  • Class Assignments will be released on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug 7
  • Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9 – soft start – 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 14 – 1st full day of school 7:30 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.
• Back to School Night
  • Mark your calendars for Thursday, Aug. 14. More details to follow.

I am honored to serve as the elementary director and look forward to forming a partnership with you this next school year. It is a privilege to be part of a community where parents, teachers, and students care for each other and strive to build positive relationships that support academic and social growth. Please feel free to connect with me by email at amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org if you have any questions or concerns.

In Partnership,

Amie McElroy, Elementary School Director

Monday, July 29-Friday, Aug. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Secondary Front Office

Families can drop off their student’s medication at the Secondary Front Office during the week of July 29-August 2. See the important medication forms that school policies below. If you have any questions, please email nurse@stemk12.org.

Monday, July 29-Friday, Aug. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Secondary Front Office

Families can pick up their Driveline Placards for Elementary Driveline via the Secondary Front Office during the week of July 29-August 2. Placards will be printed on demand. All families must have a placard for their car to access driveline. The purpose of the placards is to help identify at what time slot cars are supposed to be in driveline. Click the button below to learn more about our Driveline.

On Monday, July 29, from 12-1 p.m., a Welcome Back to School Zoom Webinar will cover how our driveline operates for Elementary and Secondary. See below for more information.

Monday, July 29-Friday, Aug. 2, from 12-1 p.m. – Zoom

To help our new and returning families be as prepared as possible for the start of the new school year, we will be offering five Welcome Back to School – Parent Info Sessions the week of Monday, July 29 through Friday, Aug. 2, from 12-1 p.m. each day. Each session will cover important topics, outlined below, that all families should know to start the school year off on the right foot. Following a brief presentation on each topic, we will allow families to ask questions related to that topic. Each session will be over Zoom. We will record each session so that it will be available on this page for those who couldn’t attend.

• Monday, July 29 (12-1 p.m.) – Driveline Procedures & PikMyKid (Elementary Families)
• Tuesday, July 30 (12-1 p.m.) – Getting Informed (Attendance line, using IC, visiting STEM, Student/Parent Handbook, Fees, School Photos, etc.)
• Wednesday, July 31 (12-1 p.m.) – Getting Connected (Communications Pathways, who to contact when?, communications at STEM, etc.)
• Thursday, Aug. 1 (12-1 p.m.) – Getting Involved (volunteering, donating, STEM PTO, STEM SAC, etc.)
• Friday, Aug. 2 (12-1 p.m.) – The STEM Experience (Enrichment and Athletics)

Monday, Aug. 5, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

During the week of August 5th, the kindergarten teachers will be holding assessment days for incoming kindergarten students to help us create classes. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know your students and form trusting relationships! During this time your student will meet each teacher and be asked to demonstrate their level of understanding around current concepts (i.e., letters, numbers, colors, etc.), along with observing social-emotional skills.

During your student’s designated assessment day and time, parents will drop their student(s) off at the main entrance to the school. After the testing is complete, the teachers will walk the students out to the main entrance where they will be released to their parent/guardian. Please be on time for pick up and drop off.

Click the button below to sign-up for a time slot. More information below on next steps for Kindergarten students.

Monday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m. – Elementary School Classrooms

Please join us to meet your teacher for the 2024-25 school year on Monday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m. This is an opportunity for 1st – 5th grade students and families to meet their teacher, see the classroom, and drop off school supplies. Kindergarten families are welcome to come to the teacher meet -n- greet to drop off supplies and meet all the teachers, however kindergarten class lists will not be distributed until after Kindergarten Spartan Launch on Thursday August 8th. Please email any questions to Elementary Director Amie McElroy at amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org.

Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Half Days)

Students will attend school from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. both days. Our half days are designed to ease the transition to a new classroom environment. During this time, your students will learn about the classroom/school rules and expectations. They will get a tour of the school, play fun games, have lunch (school lunch or packed lunch from home), and get to know the friends they will be playing with this year!

Monday, Aug. 12, from 7:30 a.m.-2:25 p.m. (First Full Day)

We are excited about the upcoming school year and cannot wait to meet our new friends. Please feel free to contact our Elementary Director, Amie McElroy (amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org), if you have further questions about testing or the half-day roll-out.

Thursday, Aug. 8, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. – Elementary Cafeteria

We will also host a Tissues and Tears Event for parents on Thursday, Aug. 8, after students are dropped off with their teacher. This is a time for parents to connect with other kindergarten families and meet the administration. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Following the Kindergarten Spartan Launch,

students will be placed with their prospective teacher. On Wednesday evening

(August 7th) you will receive an email from the school with information about who your student’s teacher will be for the 2024-25 school year!

Thursday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 9 will be a half day.  Students will attend school from 8:30 a.m. –1 p.m. both days. Our half days are designed to ease the transition to a new classroom environment. During this time, your students will learn about the classroom/school rules and expectations. They will get a tour of the school, play fun games, have lunch (school lunch or packed lunch from home), and get to know the friends they will be playing with this year!

We will also host a Tissues and Tears Event for parents on Thursday, Aug. 8, after students are dropped off with their teacher. This is a time for parents to connect with other kindergarten families and meet the administration. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Monday, Aug. 12, will be the first full school day (7:30 a.m.-2:25 p.m.). We are excited about the upcoming school year and cannot wait to meet our new friends. Please feel free to contact our Elementary Director, Amie McElroy (amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org), if you have further questions about testing or the half-day roll-out.

Student Safety is the Primary Concern and Goal During our morning drop-off and our afternoon pick-up. Click the button below to check out our Driveline page that outlines important information that each family must know for the drivers of our Elementary (West) and the Secondary (East) Drivelines, as well as for walkers. Please review this information before the start of school to assist us with a smooth drop off and pick up.

PLEASE NOTE: All families will need a driveline placard for afternoon pick-up. Please see our Placard Pick-Up Dates above.

Our Elementary School Driveline will use the PikMyKid App for dismissal this school year. PikMyKid is a dismissal program that provides an additional layer of safety and security to ensure that our students are dismissed to the appropriate parent/guardian on the correct day. Click the button below to find out more about PikMyKid.

The Free and reduced benefits expire in June and every family must apply for FRL benefits every year. VERY IMPORTANT: Families must elect to share their information with STEM, otherwise the school will not be able to see that you have been approved for waivers.

Here are the directions to apply:

• Log onto DCSD MySchoolApps FRL Application.
• Select Begin Application Process
• Complete all information required
• Once approved they will receive a letter confirming the date and student name, ID, and School year (one letter per student)
• Forward all letters to Ashley.westfall@stemk12.org (not required if you checked yes to share your information)

Class assignments for first through fifth graders are available in Infinite Campus. If you have questions about your class assignment, please email amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org or jessica.manzaneras@stemk12.org.

This just in! Student fees should now be in every family’s MySchoolBucks account. Please log in to review and pay your student’s fees. Please reach out to ashley.westfall@stemk12.org with any questions.

We are very excited to welcome back our students to STEM for the 2024-24 school year. We want to make sure all students with medication needs have the proper forms on file at the beginning of the school year. Please review the DCSD medication policies for Elementary students and for Secondary students if your child requires medication while at school, their physician will need to fill out the following forms before the first day of school. These forms can be returned to our K-12 school nurse, Mallory Jimenez, at nurse@stemk12.org or turned in to one of the health offices along with the medication starting on August 1.

Elementary Students (K-5)

1. The use of medication at school is discouraged in most instances. Most medications are available in long acting form and parents are encouraged to administer such medication at home.
2. Medication to be given at school (prescription medication and over-the-counter) must have a completed Student Medication Request and Release Agreement and Provider Authorization form on file.
3. All prescription medication must be furnished in the original pharmacy-labeled container, with the student’s name, medication, dosage, and physician on the label. Over-the-counter medications must be in an original container (these requirements are state regulations). Medication in baggies will not be accepted.

Middle School Students (6-8)

Middle school students may assume responsibility for bringing to school and administering their own medication, provided they carry only enough for one day and have the “Permission to Self-Carry and Self-Admin Medication” form on file in the school office. Students using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel, and parents or guardians will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of the medication. Any parent or guardian who chooses not to sign the permission to carry medication form may request that a structured plan be devised for his or her student.

High School Students (9-12)

High school students may assume the responsibility of bringing to school and administering their own medication, provided they carry only enough for one day. Students who appear to be using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel, and parents or guardians will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of medication. Any parent may also request that a structured plan be devised for their student. On an overnight field trip, students may bring enough medication for the duration of the field trip.

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.