Upcoming Events
STEM All-Events Calendar
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.
KOSON/STEM BOD Working Session
Monday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Zoom
The KOSON/STEM Board of Directors will be holding a Working Session via Zoom on Monday, oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is no public comment, however the community can tune in to watch the working session as an attendee on Zoom.
School Picture Retake Day (Last of the Fall Semester)
Friday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – Elementary School Gym
The School Photographers from DR Photo will be on-site on Friday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Elementary School Gym for School Picture Retakes. Retakes are available at no charge. If a family would like their package reproduced then please return it to the photographer on picture day. DR Photo will not reproduce the package until the original package is returned. All images will overwrite previous image(s) and will be used in the yearbook. So only get a retake if you want a new image. Click the button below to order your photos. Ordering is available through June 30, 2023.
STEM Theater Presents: Little Women
November 10 & 11, at 6:30 p.m., & November 12, at 3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars!
Jo March isn’t your typical Victorian lady. She’s indecorous and headstrong, and one day she will be a great American novelist. As she and her sisters grow up in the middle of the Civil War, they strive to be brave, intelligent, and imaginative young women. But as adulthood approaches, each sister must negotiate her private ambitions with society’s expectations. In a war-torn world defined by gender, class, and personal tragedy, Jo March gives us her greatest story: that of the March sisters, four dreamers destined to be imperfect little women.
Tickets are $10. Links to purchase tickets will be provided soon! Contact Max Schwartz (max.schwartz@https://stemk12.org) with any questions.
News and Updates
Update from Mrs. Gasser on Standards Based Learning
Thank you for your patience while our staff is learning about grading through Standards Based Learning. At Friday’s professional development, our teachers worked on using Canvas and MasteryConnect to enter their grades. We worked on aligning our units to our standards and determining which assessments best allowed students to demonstrate their understanding. Here are some things to look out for.
For our Elementary School families, you should have received an email from MasteryConnect asking you to set up an account. This account will link you to your student’s MasteryTracker, which shows your student’s grades. We ask for some grace for our teachers as they learn all the pieces of MasteryConnect. If you notice that there is a mistake in one of the trackers, please kindly reach out to the teacher via email so that they can look into the issue.
For our Secondary School parents, we have finally been able to turn off the averaging function and the decimal point function in your student’s grade book. All assignments entered into the grade book prior to Friday might still have a decimal point and a number in the parenthesis. The number in the parenthesis is the score that the student received on that assignment. Any assignment entered after today will have a raw score of a 4, 3, 2 or 1.
Students should view their grades in the grade book by clicking on the show more details button in the top right corner. This will show the assignment grade, as well as the learning mastery grade. We ask for some grace for our teachers as they learn all the pieces of the learning mastery grade book. If you notice that there is a mistake in the grade book, please kindly reach out to the teacher via email so that they can look into the issue.
I have created the handout below that helps break down what you will see on Canvas for your child. In each unit, the teacher will determine which standard or standards they are assessing and then will provide feedback to students along the way. Teachers will collect assignments and assessments throughout the unit that demonstrate knowledge of the standard and enter them into the Canvas grade book. Students should monitor their grade book for feedback and to see their demonstration of knowledge grade.
Please have grace with our teachers while they are learning our new grading syhttps://stems, as there might be a few hiccups along the way. We ask students to politely email their teachers with grading questions and clarification. If you have any questions about grading or Standards-Based Learning, please check out our website, and click on student support, academics, and Standards-Based Learning.
Thank you,
Michelle Gasser, Director of Professional Development
2023 DCSD Apple Awards
The nomination Window Opens on Monday, Oct. 3!
The Foundation for Douglas County Schools is proud to honor exceptional educators and staff who are inspiring a love of learning in students and are trailblazing extraordinary innovation in our schools. Over the years, the Apple Awards has grown to engage the entire community, bringing in thousands of nominations every year for teachers and staff members across the district.
Don't forget to order your school photos
School photos have been uploaded for families to view. Families can access their photos by visiting the link below, selecting the School Portrait Proofs link, and when prompted enter their private password in the following format: studentid#.
Elementary Yearbook Information
Elementary Yearbooks for the 2022-23 School Year are now on sale! Use the link below to purchase a soft cover ($21), or a hardcover ($31) yearbook.
Updated Snow Day Policy
As the winter season approaches, we want to announce updates to the current Virtual School Day for Inclement Weather policy. Last spring, one of our STEM students presented a proposal and justification regarding changes to our current Virtual School Day policy. As a result, the administration and Board of Directors determined that a change is recommended to the Snow Day Policy. We appreciate the leadership and voice our STEM students display and are happy to announce that STEM will follow the DCSD Snow Day policy with a closure. STEM also reserves the right to modify the calendar, schedule, or this policy, due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather or construction that interrupts the required instructional minutes as set forth by the Colorado Department of Education. The following is a reminder of the current policies.
Late Start Schedule
STEM does not mimic the Late Start Policy and schedule put forth by DCSD. In the event that Douglas County calls for a Delayed Opening, STEM’s Virtual School Day Policy will take effect.
Virtual School Day for Inclement Weather
If DCSD determines that the district should follow the Delayed Opening protocol, STEM School Highlands Ranch will abide by its Virtual School Day Policy. When it snows, our school’s operation and instructional expectations will be determined by one of these three scenarios:
- Updated: Snow Day – Douglas County Schools calls a snow day – STEM is closed (check www.dcsdk12.org)
- Late Start Day – Douglas County Schools calls a Late Start day – STEM is closed and implements a Virtual School Day.
- All Schools Open – Douglas County Schools declare Highlands Ranch area schools open – STEM is open and operating to our regular schedule.
Connect with other Parents
In case you didn’t know, families have specific Class Pages on Facebook where they can connect with other families from their student’s grade. You can find all of the different class pages on our Get Connected page of the Parent section of our website. Click the button below to see them.
Please note that these pages are administered by other parents and not by STEM.
Calling all Industry Experts, Parents and Community Members!
DCSD News and Resources
Mental Health Resource of the Week
Mental Health Myths and Facts
Can you tell the difference between a mental health myth and fact? Learn the truth about the most common mental health myths.
Literary Resource of the Week
Support Writing at Home
Young children like to scribble, make marks that look like letters, and play with writing. Chances are, your child will experiment with writing long before he or she learns to read. Here are some ways to help your child learn about and practice writing.
Total Wellness Resource of the Week
Parent University
Did you know that DCSD has a variety of videos related to mental health, wellness, and more? Check out the Parent University page of our website to see past Parent University events, many of which include great information from experts. We are proud to offer Parent University through a partnership with Sky Ridge Medical Center!
2023 U.S. Senate Youth Program Application available
The United States Senate Youth Program application for Colorado students is available. The 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week is being planned for March 4–11, in Washington, D.C. Each delegate will be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
High school juniors or seniors with demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs and community service are eligible to apply.
Applications are due on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
2023 Daniels Scholar Applications Now Open
Colorado high school seniors can apply now to become a 2023 Daniels Scholar and receive up to $100,000 toward their college degree. Apply at www.DanielsFund.org/Scholarships by October 15 to be considered for a scholarship.
The Daniels Scholarship Program provides the opportunity for students to attend the college of their choice. The scholarship, based on financial need, provides up to $100,000 for a student to attend any two- or four-year nonprofit, accredited college or university in the United States.
Youth Congress - Friday, Oct. 7
Calling all DCSD high schoolers! The Douglas County Youth Initiative invites you to attend Youth Congress, an event where adult leaders work with youth on issues that affect the lives of Douglas County youth. This year’s topics will include: Mental Health Classes, Youth Criminal Justice, Pressure to Succeed, School Safety, Dogs in Schools, Youth Voice, Finances, and Trade School. The event takes place on Friday, October 7 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the DCSD Legacy Campus in Lone Tree.