High School News and Updates (04/13/25)

Dear Stem Spartans and families,

We have had an amazing month of April so far! As you know, April is test month. This week we will begin testing in the secondary school, giving the CMAS, PSAT and SAT. I would like to take a moment to thank all of our staff for their flexibility as we navigate through the testing process. Proctoring, teaching in different rooms, and teaching virtually can be a challenge. I would also like to give a big shout out to Amanda Davenport, our K-12 testing coordinator for putting this all together! Please see our website for the complete list of assessments, but the big one for us is the PSAT and SAT that will take place on April 15th. The PSAT 9 and 10 are state mandated tests, but they are also excellent pre-tests to help the students be prepared for the SAT. Juniors, the SAT is also state mandated, but as you know, many colleges and universities still request SAT scores so it is important that you do your best. Please make sure you get plenty of rest this week, and make sure you eat a good breakfast prior to coming to school. This will help you be at your best when taking the test. 

This past week has been truly amazing. Our students did an excellent job organizing an amazing spirit week in preparation for Prom. And Prom was a huge success. I would like to thank Daniel Kerwin and the student government for all of the time and effort they put into this amazing event. And Prom is not complete without an After Prom. This year we hosted our second annual After Prom at the school. I would like to thank all of our parents and staff for putting together such an amazing event.

Now that we are into April, the end of the year is in sight. This is a very fun time of year. Seniors are counting down to graduation, and the rest of our kids are looking forward to summer. And while this is a fun time of year, it is important that we keep our eyes on the prize and finish the semester strong. Please make sure you are checking grades and helping keep the students focused on their academics. This is especially important for our seniors, who sometimes lose focus. Colleges ask for final transcripts, so please make sure they finish strong!

I know I have really harped on safe driving, so I will not include additional statistics in this newsletter. However, please continue to remind our students to be safe as they go out and enjoy the festivities that come along with the end of the year.

Thanks everyone. I hope you all have a safe and fun weekend!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup

Proud High School Director

STEM School Highlands Ranch

Go Spartans!

April 14th – 18th

Read Here for more information!

April 15th

The Aerospace States Association and Colorado Space Business Roundtable Aerospace Summer Internship Program is currently accepting applications for their summer program.
This is an unpaid internship program for anyone interested in aerospace. Though aerospace is STEM oriented, there are opportunities in many career fields including business, program management, procurement, human resources, communications, legal, and others.

The Internship Program runs for two weeks total. There is a virtual week with students from multiple states participating, followed by an in-person week in Colorado During the program, students will have the opportunity to engage with aerospace industry businesses, university programs, and nonprofits, learning about the opportunities and challenges facing the industry and gaining valuable hands-on experience. Please see the website for more information and to apply.

Join Higher Orbits for an exhilarating two-day event in Denver, CO, where aspiring astronauts and space enthusiasts in grades 8-12 will have a unique opportunity to dive into the world of space exploration. The event will be at the Colorado Air & Space Port in Watkins, Colorado on April 26th and 27th.

CU Anschutz Modern Humanity Program has two summer camps for rising 9th through 12th grade this summer. Brain camp will explore the structure and function of the human nervous system. The Anatomy & Medical Careers camp will focus on medical career paths while learning the structure and functions of the human body. For more information, see the attached flyer.

Horrocks Engineering has invited STEM students to assist in creating an interactive project geared for the Transportation & Construction GIRL Day held in September each year. They are currently looking for two students to assist them engineer a project for the event. There will be initial meetings in April/ May, with the bulk of the project being completed in August/ September. This will be a great opportunity to learn from and network with engineers in the field! For more information, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

Exciting News!! Burns & McDonnell is hosting a Summer in person mentorship opportunity and a Spring virtual job shadow day for high school students. Students will have the opportunity to learn about real-world engineering projects and field experiences. Burns & McDonnell is an international engineering, architecture and construction firm with offices in Denver.

If you would like to apply for the Denver Mentorship Opportunity being held this summer, please apply using the attached flyer. What an exciting opportunity to learn from experts in the field.

If you are interested in applying for the virtual job shadow on April 28th, please reach out to Nicole Ryan to submit an application.

Are you passionate about IT? Ready to learn some new skills this summer? If so, TeamLogic IT is currently looking for a dedicated summer intern passionate about technology and eager to gain real-world experience. TeamLogic IT is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) specializing in delivering IT solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Ms. Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

Applications are now being accepted for the Transportation & Construction GIRL Career Week. Career Week for GIRLs is a FREE summer camp that gives young women (ages 13-23) the chance to explore high-paying careers in construction, transportation, and other industries. Over the course of one week, participants will gain hands-on experience, visit top companies, and connect with women professionals in these fields. For more information and to apply, please see the attached flyer.

The Habitat Denver Summer Internship program is an opportunity for high school students to gain valuable skills, learn about affordable housing issues, and make a difference by serving in a Habitat Denver ReStore one shift a week over the course of the summer. For more information and to apply, please see the attached flyer. You can also sign up for an information session here: https://vhub.at/syp

Dear STEM Families,

We are dedicated to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff. Safety is our number one priority and is a layered approach. One of the measures is to ensure that all students, staff, and visitors are identifiable on campus. Student IDs also alert office staff to who has off-campus permissions and allow students to quickly check in and out using our automated system. We ask for your continued support in ensuring your child is wearing an ID to school each day.

As time goes on, we understand that students will misplace their IDs and lanyards. We ordered another shipment of lanyards and ID holders, but our students are going through them pretty quickly.

After Fall Break, students will be charged $5 for replacements. This charge will run through their Myschoolbucks account. Please monitor the account and speak to your child about these charges if they occur.

Spartmart is looking into purchasing nicer, higher quality lanyards to sell as well and you may also purchase lanyards online.

Finally, because IDs are part of our dress code, if a student is not wearing an ID and does not have a temporary ID, they may be assigned a detention. Students have been made aware of this expectation.

Once again, we really appreciate your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of our building directors.

In partnership,

The STEM Admin Team

Our Math Society students are volunteering to assist with math homework during access periods (11-11:40 a.m.) on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Help will be available in both the Middle School and High School commons. Students who need support or want to catch up on homework should feel free to take advantage of this opportunity. Students should contact either their math teacher or access teacher to add their name to the list for help.