Director's Update
A message from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Director
Dear Middle School Families,
As we approach the spring season, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your incredible support and participation in recent school events. Your generosity and enthusiasm have made a significant positive impact on our school community.
Wish Week Success:
First and foremost, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making Wish Week such a resounding success! Your outpouring of support for our Wish Week child was truly heartwarming. The spirit of compassion and kindness displayed by our students, families, and staff has been remarkable. We are so proud of the way our school is rallying together to make a dream come true. Your contributions will create lasting memories and bring immense joy to our very deserving child, Max.
STEM’s Got Talent!
Our 13th annual STEM’s Got Talent was an evening to remember!! It was filled with incredible talent, from both our students and our staff lip syncers! We were amazed by the diverse range of skills and abilities showcased by our students. A huge thank you to Vanessa Sanchez and Victoria Hafner for taking over the production of this show and to everyone who participated, volunteered, and attended this wonderful event.
PTO Appreciation Lunch:
A special thank you to our amazing PTO for providing a delicious and much-appreciated soup and salad bar for our staff. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are truly valued. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support.
Next, I want to share some important updates regarding our summer programs, attendance policies, Lost and Found, and the upcoming spring break.
Summer Enrichment and Academic Opportunities:
We are thrilled to announce our exciting summer school and enrichment offerings designed to engage and challenge our middle schoolers! This summer, we will be providing a diverse range of programs to keep your children engaged and learning throughout the summer,including:
- Chess Club: Develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills through the game of chess.
- Introduction to Quantum Computing: Explore the cutting-edge world of quantum mechanics and computing (age appropriate).
- Theatre Workshop: Unleash creativity and build confidence through acting, improvisation, and stagecraft.
- Basketball Skills Camp: Improve fundamental basketball skills and teamwork through drills and games.
Detailed information, including dates, times, and registration details, can be found on our website. We ask that you register soon so that we can secure proper staffing for each activity offered. Prices will increase in April. For more information about Summer at STEM, click HERE and register today!
Attendance and Tardiness:
We have observed an increase in excessive tardiness in recent weeks. It is crucial to understand the impact that even a few minutes of lateness can have on both individual students and the entire classroom.
- Individual Impact: Tardiness disrupts the student’s learning process, causing them to miss important instructions and activities. It can also lead to feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Classroom Impact: Late arrivals disrupt the flow of instruction and distract other students, affecting the overall learning environment.
We urge you to make every effort to ensure your child arrives at school on time. If your child is experiencing ongoing difficulties with punctuality, please reach out to their teacher, their school counselor, Mr. Barrios, or myself so we can work together to find solutions.
Lost and Found:
Our lost and found collection has grown significantly. To ensure these items are returned to their rightful owners, we encourage you to take a moment to look through the lost and found items during our upcoming parent-teacher conferences next week.
Important Note: Any unclaimed items remaining after spring break will be donated to a local charity.
Important dates and events:
- Wednesday, March 12 – 4:30-7:30 – Conferences – Last Name A-L
- Thursday, March 13 – 4:30 – 7:30 – Conferences – Last Name M-Z
- March 14 – 23 – Spring Break
- March 24 – 26 and March 26 – 28 – 6th Grade Keystone Science Camp Trips
- April 14 – 18 – CMAS Testing Window
Thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all at conferences next week.
In Partnership,
Maura Ridder
Upcoming Events
Secondary Conferences
March 12-13th
- Wednesday, March 12 – 4:30-7:30 – Conferences – Last Name A-L
- Thursday, March 13 – 4:30 – 7:30 – Conferences – Last Name M-Z
Testing Tidbits
Click here to read our assessment update!
News and Updates
Update on Secondary Student IDS
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
Tutoring during access in MS and HS commons
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.