Secondary News and Updates (02/09/24)

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.

Monday, Feb. 12, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. – HS Commons

Reviewing the college application process for juniors and their parents with College and Career Counselor, Kelli Myrick. Come learn about where to begin when searching for a university, what all will be required to submit for college applications, and how Mrs. Myrick will support you throughout the next few years! (Presentation will be added to the College Website and repeated during the fall of senior year for those that cannot attend) Contact: Kelli.Myrick@stemk12.org

Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Room 106

We will be going over some of the details and important logistics for the Spring Break France & Germany trip. There are some critical forms that will need to be filled out for the district. You may fill them out in advance and email them to me (abby.tomic@stemk12.org) or I will also have them printed at our meeting.

Monday, Feb. 14, from 6:30-8 p.m. – Zoom

Join the STEM PTO for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 6:30-8 p.m. via Zoom.  STEM PTO is comprised of parents from the STEM community who work together to help foster a strong sense of community and 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 to enhance the quality of each student’s education, the school as a whole, and the entire community through the development of resources and the participation of parents, school staff, and the community. Meetings are open for anyone to attend.

Thursday, Feb. 15, from 4-5:30 p.m. – Room ES 206

STEM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, starting at 4:00. We will meet in ES206. We welcome all parents, students, and teachers! Email kate.jackson@stemk12.org with any questions.

On Thursday, Jan. 25, our Middle and High School Counseling Teams gave presentations on the Academic Course Selection Process and the Academic Planning Guide. Below are the PDFs of each presentation. Also, click the button below to see the Special Edition Newsletter that went out earlier in the week, explaining all about our High School programs available to students in 9th-12th grade. If, after reviewing the presentations and the Special Edition Newsletter you still have questions, please email info@stemk12.org. Students in grades 5-11 will receive these same presentations during Access next week.

The first round of course selections is underway in Secondary. Both last week and this week, students completed a Google Form to request courses for next year. This form is replacing the paper Course Selection Sheets that students used to complete prior to entering schedules into Infinite Campus in previous school years.

The decision to move to a Google Form was made for many reasons. The main reason was that it allows for the counseling team to have conversations with students about the courses that they are interested in taking and whether or not students have met the prerequisites for those courses.

Our team has been communicating with students who have selected courses that are significantly higher than a standard progression to make sure that students and parents understand the rigor required for these courses. Additionally, the Google Form provides students with a copy of their responses so that they can use those when they register in Infinite Campus.

Next week, during Access, students will enter their schedules into Infinite Campus. This will help to build their schedules for the next school year.

Please take some time to discuss some of the course selections your student has requested so that they are ready for next Wednesday. If you have any questions about courses or selections of courses, please review either the Middle School or the High School Academic Planning Guides.

Ms. Clay and Ms. Williams are hosting a book club for 6th-grade boys during this spring semester. Each group will be able to hold 6-8 students. Participants are expected to read both during group and outside of group and participate in group discussions. We will be reading Restart by Gordon Korman and meeting weekly during Lunch or ACCESS. There will be themes revolving around; identity, responsibility, reputation vs. reality, bullying, and loyalty. Each week students will receive prizes for participation and preparedness. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Clay or Ms. Williams! We look forward to hearing back from you! The club will begin soon so don’t delay in signing up.

February ACCESS is going to be exciting as we look ahead to the 2024-25 school year. We can’t believe the time for students to register for classes is already here! In the Middle School and High School ACCESS periods, students will participate in an assembly with the School Counselors to learn about the registration process, Academic Planning Guides, requirements for classes, and hear about various pathways offered through STEM for specific interests. Students will then be registering for classes for next year. In addition, secondary students will kick off Wish Week with another assembly and be provided with study hall time to focus on iCap requirement completion, check grade progress, meet with teachers if needed, and continue progressing through their coursework.

Please click the button below to place your senior’s Cap and Gown order. The deadline to place your order is Friday, March 15, 2024. Jostens has shared with us that many families have not completed this step and are concerned that our seniors may not have their caps and gowns in time. This information was shared directly with students in the Fall during the Senior Assembly and was sent out via email. Thank you so much for completing this step in a timely manner.

Kelli Myrick, College and Career Counselor

The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 who have overcome personal adversity and created positive change in their lives. The Youth Awards focus on teenagers who have triumphed over great odds and serve as inspirations and role models. If you know young people who would be good candidates for the Youth Awards, please help identify them by completing the nomination form. Award winners receive a cash gift! Nomination forms are due by Friday, March 29.

the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz is offering Bioengineering Opportunities and Leadership Training (BOLT) camp June 10 – 13, 2024.

BOLT is a camp for high schoolers that teaches students about the diverse careers available in biomedical engineering and STEM. BOLT is designed to introduce students to biomedical engineering design and leadership topics. Campers will learn about what biomedical engineering is, dive into the theory of general engineering principles, and get a sneak peek of cutting-edge research taking place at the Anschutz Medical Campus. There will be several hands-on activities to introduce and demonstrate concepts in circuitry, prosthetics control, and tissue engineering. Student teams will work together to design, build, test, and iterate to create a device prototype to compete in a design competition the last day of camp.

BOLT alumni: if you are interested in being a camp leader please reach out to Kate.Hoch@cuanschutz.edu. Camp leaders will assist with the coordination of camp activities and have opportunities to engage with current bioengineering students and faculty.

There are a limited number of scholarships and seats so be sure to register soon!

BOLT Camp Details:

• Who: The camp is open to all students entering 9-12 grade in Fall 2024
• Dates: June 10 – 13, 2024
• Times: 8:00-4:30 with 1-hour lunch break
• Cost: $900 (scholarship applications due March 15, 2024)
• Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Blv, Aurora, CO
• Supplies: Lunch and all supplies are provided

If you have any other BOLT questions, please email Kate Hoch at Kate.Hoch@cuanschutz.edu.

With the PSAT and SAT tests now all digital, please note how accommodations will work and see if they are still needed for your student:

Please contact Julie Fletcher at Julie.fletcher@stemk12.org for any accommodation questions.

Please contact Julie Adamek at Julie.adamek@stemk12.org for any testing questions.

Attention 11th-Grade Families. Click the button below to submit whether your student will be taking the SAT’s in April with the Essay or without. This form must be completed by Friday, Feb. 2. If your student does not complete the opt-in/opt-out form, they will be ordered to take the SAT without the essay.

Attention, current sophomore high school students! Are you interested in the healthcare industry, but not sure where to begin? The Medical Career Collaborative (MC2) is a multiyear program that provides high school students with healthcare experiences to jumpstart their careers, and provide personal/ professional support. The program is a collaboration with Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health. Learn more by visiting their website. Applications must be submitted by March 6th, 2024 at 5 PM. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

NEHS, MHS, and SNHS are working together to provide tutoring options for students during Access. We can help you with any English, Math, and Science assignments. The Middle School tutoring center will be in the middle school cafeteria every Wednesday during Access starting at 11am, and the High School tutoring center will be in the high school cafeteria every Thursday during Access at 11am. We hope to see you there!

Are you looking for an internship to enhance your current Website or Marketing skills? STEM is currently looking for 2 students to support our Communications team with Website and Marketing activities. If you have experience creating a website, or would like to put your savvy marketing skills to work, then reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.com to learn more. We are excited to be able to support two interns during the second semester.

The Colorado Health Careers Academy (CHCA) is an excellent opportunity to learn more about some of the fastest-growing health occupations in Colorado. If you are between the ages of 16-24 and have an interest in the healthcare industry, you are invited to join the academy this summer from June 10th through July 26th. Information sessions are being held monthly with the next opportunity to join on January 9th. More information can be found on the Arapahoe Community College’s Colorado Health Careers Collaborative website. If you need additional information or have questions, please feel free to reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

Are you looking to reduce your college costs? Did you know you can attend one of our partner colleges/ universities for one year after your 12th grade and incur no tuition costs? STEM School Highlands Ranch participates in the ASCENT program permitting students to take a 13th year of high school while attending college. Students earn credits toward their degree program while helping to reduce college costs. To be considered, students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours by the end of their 12th-grade year. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

July 1-August 9, 2024 – New York City

GSTEM is an NYU summer research program for talented high school juniors interested in STEM. Founded and sponsored by the world-renowned Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, GSTEM offers opportunities for an incredible summer. Our mission is to support those historically underrepresented in STEM including girls and other minorities. Application is open and early deadline is March 15. Final deadline is April 15.