Upcoming Events
STEM PTO's STEMGives Campaign Underway
October 4 through January 14 (Extended deadline!!)
STEMGives! is your opportunity to support your school, teachers, students and staff! Your donations help the STEM PTO to provide money directly to the school for teacher and school grants/requests and fund the STEM PTO’s activities, fundraisers and events. The campaign will run from October 4 through December 7 and all donations can be made online or via check.
WAYS TO GIVE:
- The PTO will be accepting online donations through Colorado Gives at the link below. Colorado Gives is an online donation site that accepts credit cards, debit cards and bank account transfers. Donations can be made one time or recurring/monthly. $200/family or $20/month will make a great impact!
- Donors can also pay by check. Checks should be made out to STEM PTO (write STEM Gives! in the memo) and delivered to the STEM Middle School office. Checks can also be mailed to the STEM Middle School Office at:
STEM School Highlands Ranch
℅ STEM PTO Treasurer
8773 S Ridgeline Blvd
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Members of STEM PTO will be in Elementary and Secondary Drivelines on Monday, Dec. 6 and Tuesday, Dec. 7 to pass out fliers with a QR Code for families to donate. This is another way for our families to donate!
STEM Holiday Toy Drive
COVID Testing
Tuesday, Dec. 7, in the morning
STEM will be offering COVID Testing for students and staff again on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in the morning.
ELEMENTARY FAMILIES: Elementary students whose parents have consented to testing will be pulled from their classes by the Health Assistant. No sign-up form (aside from the Consent form) is needed.
FYI: Mobile Health’s CSR team is making phone calls to some parents to verify consent form information if the form is missing information or if the information is inaccurate. CDPHE has requested this of Mobile Health so that they can get accurate information.
STEM Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 5:30-7 p.m – High School Commons
The monthly STEM Board of Director’s Meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 7 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.
Prospective Parent Building Tour
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 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.
STEM PTO Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 6:30-8 p.m – Middle School Cafeteria
The monthly STEM PTO Meeting will be on Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Middle School Cafeteria. STEM PTO is comprised of parents from the STEM community who work together to help foster a strong sense of community, provide enhancement activities for students, faculty, staff and families, while also helping to increase educational, social and emotional experiences for the members of their families.
STEM PTO is organized for the purpose of enhancing the quality of each students’ education, the school as a whole, and the entire community through the development of resources and participation of parents, school staff, and the community. Meetings are open for anyone to attend. Please park in the High School Parking lot and enter through the High School doors.
Youth Education & Safety in Schools Event
Elementary Spirit Week
K-2 Holidays Around the World
Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 7:45-9:50 a.m. – Elementary Cafeteria
At STEM, one of our traditions has been our “Holidays Around the World” event for our K-2 students. Unfortunately, due to COVID, we have not been able to carry on with this tradition, but we are looking to reinstate it this year! We are looking for parent volunteers to help make this event possible. If you would like to come in and help teach about a holiday that is special to your family and culture, we would love to have you volunteer for this event. We ask that you bring samples of food that demonstrates your holiday that you would like to bring awareness to. If you could fill out the interest form below, we will contact you by email within the next couple of days.
Contact Annie McAninch (annie.mcaninch@https://stemk12.org) or Addie Bohnsack (addison.bohnsack@https://stemk12.org) with any questions.
Prospective Parent Building Tour
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 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.
STEM SAC Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 5:30-7 p.m. – HS Commons
The monthly STEM School Accountability Committee (SAC) meeting will be on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the High School Commons. The meeting will also be available to watch via Zoom as a trial. In-person participation is strongly encouraged to help build engagement. Additionally, those who would like to participate in Public Comment must do so in person. Please park in the High School parking lot and enter through the High School Entrance.
The purpose of the SAC is to inform, encourage and provide opportunities for parent and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school’s instructional program and quality improvement processes. The SAC makes recommendations concerning the School’s performance, improvement, priority improvement, or turnaround plan, and meets to discuss the implementation of the School’s plan and other progress pertinent to STEM’s accreditation contract with the Board of Education. The SAC makes recommendations to the director for prioritizing the spending of school money.
STEM Improv and Sketch Comedy Show
Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 6-7 p.m. in the Middle School Cafeteria
It’s Saturday Night Live, but on a Wednesday! It’s like Who’s Line is it Anyway?, and we REALLY don’t know who’s line it is! Come see STEM’s brand new sketch and improv comedy show!!! You’ll see hilarious original comedy sketches, witty improv from STEM’s brilliant middle school and high school minds, and an original comedy video to top it all off!!!
News and Updates
Do you intend to return to STEM?
For enrollment planning purposes, please let us know, either way if your child plans to return to STEM School Highlands Ranch next year. Please complete the Intent to Return Form for each of your currently attending STEM students. If you are currently enrolled at STEM please let us know that your child is returning. You do not need to “open enroll” to remain at STEM. If your child is currently attending STEM, they will be automatically enrolled for next year. Please also complete the form if your student is planning to seek enrollment at another school so that we can have an accurate count of returning students.
Online Butter Braid Fundraiser
Help support STEM PTO in raising funds for the STEM After Prom 2022 event by purchasing from our online Butter Braid fundraiser. Items available include:
- Butter Braids
- Gluten Free products
- Coda Coffee.
The online store is open now through December 6. Products will be delivered to STEM on the afternoon of December 13. More information will be shared soon. Contact Susan Montgomery at https://stemafterprom@https://stemk12.org.
IT News: Canvas Observer Accounts
If you have not set up your observer account for your student(s), please do so as soon as possible. This is one of the ways that teachers use to let parents know about what is happening in classes. You can go to the Technology Support page and click on the “Quick Guide to Syhttps://stems.” You will see a video in this area that shows you step by step in creating an observer account.
If you run into difficulty, please email the IT team at support@https://stemk12.org and they can help with any technology issues that arise.
Thank you Book Fair Volunteers
Battle of the Books Teams Forming!
We are thrilled to host our first year of Battle of the Books teams. Teams of 3rd/4th and 5th/6th graders will read a selection of books and prepare to compete against other schools in the Douglas County Libraries Battle of the Books. Click the button below to read more and sign up! Space is limited to 7 students per team.
Nominations Now Open for Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame
The Colorado League of Charter Schools celebrates members and supporters of the charter school movement annually. Please take a moment to nominate someone you feel deserves recognition for being an outstanding member of the charter community. Submit your nominees through Wednesday, January 5.
Lost and Found Reminder!
Please have your student check the lost and found as we will be donating it over the Winter Break.
Accessing STEM as a Walker/Bike Rider
Elementary Walker/Bike Rider Access
It is so important that our walkers use the Cross Walks when coming to school. In addition to it not being safe to cross where there is no crosswalk, it causes delays in getting cars in and out of our parking lot as they have to wait for pedestrians to cross the street.
See the image to the right to see the suggested route and where to cross and not cross.
If you are picking up your student via our Walker Pick-Up, please do not park in the surrounding businesses, where it is clearly marked that you cannot park. The surrounding businesses are private businesses and STEM families are not allowed to park in their parking lots to pick up their students. These local businesses have informed us that they will begin ticketing and requesting towing of any vehicles that should not be there.
Secondary Walker/Bike Rider Access
It is so important that our walkers use the Cross Walks when coming to school. In addition to it not being safe to cross where there is no crosswalk, it causes delays in getting cars in and out of our parking lot as they have to wait for pedestrians to cross the street.
See the image to the right to see the suggested route and where to cross and not cross for our Secondary School.
If you are picking up your student via Walker Pick-Up, please do not park in the surrounding businesses, where it is clearly marked that you cannot park. The surrounding businesses are private businesses and STEM families are not allowed to park in their parking lots to pick up their students. These local businesses have informed us that they will begin ticketing and requesting towing of any vehicles that should not be there.
Important Driveline Reminders
- Every family who is dropping off a student in a car should be using either our West or East Driveline. PLEASE DO NOT drop students off on the sidewalks in an active roadway.
- If you are dropping off a Secondary Student on the West side of the school, please use the West Driveline for drop-off. It is the safest option for all families.
- Crossing the street should only be done at designated crosswalks. If you are crossing where there is no crosswalk, please kindly make the appropriate adjustment to use the crosswalks moving forward.
- No families and students should be parking their cars for any length of time in the parking lots of the surrounding businesses if they are coming to STEM for any reason.
- We’ve received numerous complaints from the businesses and hotel around us and they have shared that they will move forward with requesting cars to be ticketed and towed if it continues.
Crosswalk Advisory Part 1
Crosswalk Advisory Part 2
Crosswalk Advisory Part 3
Important Message from our SRO Deputy Gabe Uribe
Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,
Please click the button below to read a message from our School Resource Officer Deputy Gabe Uribe about an incident that happened this past week during drop-off. Please read it carefully. The STEM Leadership Team supports and echos what is being shared by Deputy Gabe.
Future impact on Parking at the STEM Campus
Following the groundbreaking of the new CHSAA Gym/Building Remodel Project, the High School Staff Parking Lot will be fenced off to allow the construction company to stage all their equipment. No staff parking or vehicle access will be allowed in this parking lot. We are sharing this information because we know that several parents are using this lot as a pick-up and drop-off area, which is not permitted via our Transportation Management Plan. We are asking all families to please use the approved avenues for pick-up that are outlined in our TMP.
Elementary Yearbooks are Now on Sale!
Click the button below to access the prepayment site for the Elementary Yearbook. Soft Cover books are $20 and Hard Cover books are $30.
New SpartMart Hours
STEM’s SpartMart is your go-to place for all STEM apparel, gear, and more! Are you hungry for a bag of chips or want a drink? SpartMart has the perfect selection of food and beverages! Would you like a brand new hoodie? Or how about a new shirt to show off your spartan pride? We have perfect merchandise for all ages and groups from teachers to parents to students!
Come to the SpartMart in-person on Monday and Wednesday after school, or on Wednesday mornings. You can also visit our website to place on online order via the button below.
School Picture Retakes and Orders
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#
For virtual students, appointments will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. from September 14 – October 21. Click the link to the right to schedule your appointment.
Donation and Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering and giving to STEM are vital to the success of our school. Our school has a charter that requires a commitment of 30 volunteer hours per family (15 hours per single-parent family).
To make volunteering easy and seamless, please refer to the Volunteering Basics section that will allow you to set up your volunteer account and keep track of your hours. We are extremely grateful for the time and energy donated by STEM parents each year. Please click the button below to see the latest Volunteer Opportunities at STEM.
- Business Professional Volunteers
- Vision and Hearing Screenings
- Elementary and Secondary Driveline
- Lunchroom Volunteers
- Spartan Afternoon Program
- TSA Volunteers
Classroom Wishlists
Teachers always need additional supplies throughout the year in order to enhance their students’ experiences. Consider making a donation to a teacher’s classroom by getting something off their Wish List. You can view all of our teachers’ wishlists on our Parent Get Involved page, or by clicking the button below.
School Donations
Both our Elementary and Secondary Offices are always in need of donated items. Click the button below to see what we need and to sign up. Please bring the items to the appropriate front office with a label for what it is for.
DCSD News and Resources
Mental Health Resource of the Week
Question, Persuade, Refer
Partners for Children’s Mental Health is hosting free Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) trainings for anyone 18+ interested in learning about suicide warning signs, prevention strategies, and how to support youth having thoughts of suicide. All events take place virtually via Zoom.
Literacy Resource of the Week
Create Holiday Learning Traditions
During the holiday season, consider adding some new traditions for your family that will make meaningful memories and strengthen foundations for reading and learning success.
Total Wellness Resource of the Week
How to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits During the Holidays
If your child reverts to unhealthy eating habits during the holidays, it can be challenging for them to get back to good food choices again in the new year. Making sure that you and your child continue to practice healthy behaviors throughout the holidays will help ensure that your family’s health stays in top shape year-round. Find this and more resources with DCSD Healthy Schools.
Apple Award Nominations
We value and appreciate all of our outstanding educators and staff here in DCSD and are thrilled that the Foundation for Douglas County Schools is gearing up to host the 16th Annual Apple Awards on April 2, 2022. Nominations for Apple Awards are now open until Sunday, December 12! Please consider nominating a DCSD educator or staff member who is inspiring a love of learning in students.
Parenting and Trusted Adult Series
Thursday, Dec. 9, 5:30-8 p.m. – St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
The Douglas County Healthy Youth Coalition (DCHYC) and St.Andrew United Methodist Church will host the upcoming Parent and Trusted Adults Series open to the public, registration is required. Supporting the Physical and Academic Success of our Youth will be the topic on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126.
About the Speaker:
Nick Thompson is a therapist and podcaster who consistently delivers digestible and actionable content to aid parents and trusted adults in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
Community Partners
DCHYC intends to continue to collaborate with the following partners to deliver content that meets the needs of Douglas County families:
- Douglas County Mental Health Initiative
- St. Andrew United Methodist Church-Wellbeing Initiative
- Douglas County School District (counseling team)
- Mental health/treatment providers and our parents/trusted adults
We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Denver Springs for the financial support of the Parent and Trusted Adult Series. What is a Trusted Adult? A trusted adult is someone that young people perceive to have their best interests in mind; someone they trust when they want moral support, accurate information or direction to helpful resources without judgment. Adults do not determine whether they are considered trusted — young people make that determination based on their positive experiences with those adults. Trusted adults can be teachers, mentors, coaches, grandparents, extended family members, neighbors, clergy and parents.
