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.
NEHS Writing Center Dates for Middle and High School Students
Tuesdays from 3-3:30 p.m., in Room 103 and on Google Meets
We are excited to announce that STEM’s Writing Center will be open to all Middle and High School students. Students looking for additional help on their English assignments can join us either in person (Room 103) or over Google Meets after school on Tuesdays from 3-3:30 p.m. Students can sign up for a 15-minute slot during which we can help them with any essay, assignment, or project.
We can’t wait to see you all!
Dates: 2/21, 2/28, 3,7, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16
Secondary Calendar Update - Friday, Feb. 24 is a Blue Day for Secondary
Friday, February 24, All Day
Friday, Feb. 24 will now be a Blue Day for all Secondary students due to Monday, Feb. 20 being a holiday.
STEMShares UNICEF Project Angel Heart Event
Friday, Feb. 24, from 3-5 p.m. – HS Commons
As part of the STEMShares initiative to give back to our community, STEM UNICEF is hosting February’s STEMShares Event. UNICEF invites the whole school to decorate meal bags for Project Angel Heart. Join the Student Advisory Council in the High School Commons on Friday, Feb. 24, from 3-5 p.m. No sign-up is necessary.
Math Honor Society Pi Bake-Off
Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 3-5 p.m. – HS Commons
Do you like baking? Do you think you can make the best pie? Do you want to win $25? Bake the best pie (dessert or savory) and compete against your classmates on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 3-5 p.m. in the High School Commons during the annual Great STEM Bake-off! The esteemed judges, Mr. Moore, Ms. White, and Mr. Kerwin, will judge your pie based on creativity, taste, and presentation! This event is open to all students and families.
HipPOPs Ice Cream Truck at STEM
Thursday, March 9, from 2-4 p.m. – Secondary Parking Lot
Kick-off Spring Break with a sweet treat from the HipPOPs Ice Cream Truck. The truck will be at STEM on Thursday, March 9, from 2-4 p.m. in the Secondary Parking Lot. Pre-orders are strongly encouraged to reduce wait times and impact to driveline. Click the button below to view the menu and to pre-order. Just put the items in your cart and make sure that you have March 9 as the pick-up date, and any time between 2-4 p.m. as your pick-up time.
News and Updates
Enrichment: Girls Middle School Basketball - Registration Deadline
Middle School Girls! Sign up for girls’ basketball! The season goes from April 7 to May 24. Games are Friday evenings at the brand new South Suburban Sports Complex, and practices are once a week at our new gym Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Come be a pathbreaker and have some fun! No basketball experience required – we would love to see you start a new tradition at STEM! Registration deadline is March 9, 2023. Cost is $200 for the season and covers everything from uniforms, fees and more. Contact Coach John.Griffin@stemk12.org with any questions.
Lunches will be FREE Next School Year
FREE lunches are back for students! Starting in August of 2023, students will once again receive free lunches. Students must chose an entree, fruit/vegetable a milk for the free lunch. Snacks are not free.
While lunches will be free, it is important for families who need additional financial support to still complete the Free/Reduces Lunch application. Those who qualify for FRL status will only receive the additional benefits (free/reduced school fees, free/reduced trips, priority for scholarships in non-FRL field trips or Enrichment programs, and/or graduation fee reductions, etc.) of the program if they complete the application.
In order to assure that the District and STEM receive accurate data, DCSD and STEM are requesting that ALL families complete the FRL application that opens on July 15, regardless of financial status. A new application must be completed each school year. Families can also still apply for this school year using the link below.
National English Honor Society Monthly Literary Competition
NEHS is proud to announce the monthly Literary Competition. You can submit any art or piece of writing to sophia.marks@s.stemk12.org and make the subject “February Literary Competition – [Art or Writing] and [Grade].” Our theme for this month will be Love! The winner will receive a $20 Target gift card! Please submit by February 28th!
Winter Weather Facts/ Resources
Below are some Winter Weather Facts and Resources for families.
Mentors Needed for Business & Resume Workshop
Our high school entrepreneurship class is looking for feedback and advice from adults about their business ideas.
Your support would be online (Google Meets) on the following Fridays, though you are not required to attend all sessions to participate:
- March 3, 2023 (any duration between 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.) – Introduction/Initial Discussion
- March 31, 2023 (any duration between 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.) – Continued Feedback
- April 14, 2024 (any duration between 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.) – Continued Feedback
- May 8, May 12 or May 15 (between 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.) – Final Presentation
You would work with the same 1-2 groups of students throughout the sessions you are available to attend and mentor them through their ideas. You will be provided a mentor guide with ideas for questions and conservation topics.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY
If you are not interested in this mentorship, we are additionally seeking in-person professionals for our Resume-Building Workshop on April 6th from 3-4 p.m.
Doodle for Google
Calling all creative K-12 students! Doodle for Google is officially open for its 15th year. We are excited to share that this year’s prompt is “I am grateful for…”. Students are encouraged to take a moment to reflect on what’s most important to them.
Students should be prompted to think about:
- What moments, people, places and things are special to them
- What or whom can they not imagine living without
- What are the things that get them through the day
Not sure where to start? Head to doodle4google.com for details on how to enter and to find lesson guides and videos to spark creativity!
Submission deadline is March 7 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Student Laptops Being Charged in IT Offices
Our IT department has been graciously allowing students to charge their computers in their offices; however, lately, it has become overwhelming for them. We are asking all parents to help support their students in bringing their computers to school charged each day and ensuring that they bring a charger with them to school. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 17, students cannot charge their computers in the IT department.
Student Fees Reminder
Reminder!! If you haven’t yet, please log into your MySchoolBucks account to pay your student’s fees. We currently have approximately $30,000 in outstanding student fees, and we anticipate that is due to the technical issues at the start of the school year with Express Check-In. If you have questions about your student’s fees or want to get on a payment plan, please email ashley.westfall@stemk12.org.
Calling all Industry Experts, Parents and Community Members!
Learn about the NEW Career Discovery Program at STEM
After Care Program for Secondary Students
Did you know that STEM has an affordable and safe option for your middle or high school student(s) when they need to remain on campus after school or after their club/activity? With the freezing winter temperatures upon us and Colorado’s often unpredictable weather, After Care is peace of mind that your student(s) is warm, able to access water and bathroom, and with a trusted adult in case of an emergency that can be utilized as needed. Drop-ins are welcome!
The After Care program is operated by STEM Enrichment in the Middle School Cafe and is available from 3-6 p.m. every day, school is in session throughout the school year. The cost is only $8/day.*
SmartCare allows parents to know that their student(s) are safe, as well as make easy payments online. Contact hiroko.ichijo@stemk12.org to get your student registered with After Care today.
*Students that receive FRL benefits can attend After Care at no cost to the parent. FRL contact ashley.westfall@stemk12.org.
Secondary Yearbook Information
This school year will live forever in your yearbook. Buy a yearbook. It’s easy.
Yearbooks may be purchased at yearbookforever.com
Enter STEM School Highlands Ranch and click on Buy a Yearbook. Follow the directions online. Enter your name and credit card, debit card or PayPal information, and click
Submit.
Cost: $55
If you want to personalize the book, name stamping starts at $6 extra and must be purchased before January 29, 2022.
Questions?
Contact Michelle Vitale, the STEM Secondary Yearbook Advisor at michelle.vitale@stemk12.org.
After purchase, you will be emailed a confirmation receipt. You may also verify your order at yearbookforever.com by entering your email in the “Find an Order” field.
Free Chromebooks for Free-Reduced Lunch Students
We are happy to share that we will be offering students who are part of the Free and Reduced Lunch program the opportunity to get a Free Chromebook if the following parameters are met:
- Chromebook is signed out by a parent
- The student must remain enrolled at STEM for three years. (if the student leaves STEM during those three years, they will need to return the laptop)
Laptops can be kept over the summer. For more information, please email ashley.westfall@stemk12.org to confirm your Free and Reduced Lunch Program status. Not sure if you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch? DCSD recommends that you apply regardless so that they can assist you further. Click the button below to access the application.
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.
Update about Secondary Student IDs
- Replacement IDs if lost/stolen: Students who have lost their ID should complete the Secondary Student ID Replacement Form to order a replacement. IDs are free for the first one and $5 for any duplicates. Duplicates will be printed by the front office and students will be notified when they are ready for pick up.
- Lanyards and pouches: Lanyards and pouches can be picked up at the Secondary Front Office. Please show your student ID to receive one.
DCSD News and Resources
Mental Health Resource of the Week
Parents, if you’ve noticed your kids are struggling with their mental health, help is here. I Matter offers free therapy for all Colorado youth. Your children can choose who they talk to and whether or not they want to speak virtually or in person. Visit IMatterColorado.org to get started.
Literary Resource of the Week
Read Across America
Read Across America Week is quickly approaching! The National Education Association (NEA) launched Read Across America in 1998 as a year-round program to celebrate reading. Given Dr. Seuss’ impact on the reading world, his birthday (March 2) was declared Read Across America Day. This also commences Read Across America Week and Read Across America Month. This program strives to create and celebrate a nation of diverse readers. Check out the DLMC’s Choice Board, NEA resources and Reading Rockets resources.
Health and Wellness
Take a Meditation Break
Meditation helps us to “unplug,” relax, reduce stress, and function more effectively. Meditation is a great way for kids to take a break, learn to manage strong emotions, or even wind down before bedtime. It also provides several physical benefits by calming the nervous system and reducing stress. There are several meditative practices that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.