Secondary News and Updates (03/01/24)

Dear Middle School Families,

It was a joy supporting our Middle and High School students at the TSA State Competition last week. Our kids made us proud by taking “Top Chapter” for the 10th year. Also, our Middle School Tech Bowl team took First Place and will head to Nationals in June.

There were plenty of other wins and accolades for our school, and all had a wonderful time! A huge shout out to Ms. Shapiro, Ms. FitzRoy, Ms. Nason, Mr. Reichmuth, Mr. Sweeney, Ms. Viren, and Mr. Blue for being inspiring mentors to these students. Finally, words cannot express how grateful we are to our parent volunteers: from food service to check-in, to food donations, to clean-up and packing up. THANK YOU, ALL!

Next week is Wish Week. We kicked it off this Friday with our Pep Rally. Next week, please join us for some of the fun events and activities. The Wish Week calendar can be found in the parent newsletter and website.

STEM’S GOT TALENT – Thursday, March 7, at 6 p.m.

Please support our talented students on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Mission Hills Church! Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. All staff and students are free. You will not want to miss our 12th annual show and staff lip-sync performance! Get your tickets via the button below. Also, our NHS students will do the Miracle Minute during intermission, so bring your cash! All proceeds from the show go to our Wish Week child. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Parent/Student Conferences – Thursday, March 14, and Friday, March 15

Our spring conferences will occur on Thursday, March 14, from 3:30-7 p.m., and Friday, March 15, from 8-11:30 a.m. Please look for invites from your student’s teachers. Conferences are open house style. Middle School English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science will be located in the MS Cafe; Math, Computer Science, and Engineering will be located in the Secondary Commons; and Art, Music, Drama, PE, Business, Health, Psychology, World Language, High School English/Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies will be in the Secondary Gym.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Wish Week – Monday, March 4 – Friday, March 8
• STEM’s Got Talent – Thursday, March 7, starting at 6 p.m.
• Parent Conferences – Thursday evening, March 14, and Friday morning, March 15
• Spring Break – March 16-24

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Maura Ridder, Middle School Director

Dear STEM Spartans and families,

Happy Wish Week, everyone!

As you know, every year, we spend a week dedicated to fundraising for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This is always one of my favorite weeks of the year! The week is full of festivities, including students vs staff basketball, rough and tough volleyball, and STEM’s Got Talent, just to name a few high school activities. Throughout the week, there will be various fundraising efforts as well, which will include students collecting money in the driveline, so have your wallets ready! The theme this year is “Bold like Bella.”

Bella is the child for whom we are fundraising. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to the Make-a-Wish office with some of our National Honor Society students to meet Bella and her mom. Bella is an amazing little girl. While there, I had an opportunity to talk to Bella’s mom, and she shared their family story. She talked about the seizures and other health impairments that Bella has experienced. Then, she talked about the impact on the family. Bella has two older sisters, both also elementary-aged. They have been there through it all and have helped in any way little girls can help. Mom told me that once Make a Wish became involved, it gave all of them something to be happy about, something to look forward to.

When the money is raised, and the wish is granted, they all experience the magic. So, how can you help? First, please help your students to participate in the fundraising efforts for the week. Second, you can participate as well. You can participate by going to the various restaurants sponsoring us next week, or you can come to the 12th annual STEM’s Got Talent, where all proceeds will go to the cause. Finally, for those who wait in the driveline, be ready to donate some spare change. We will have students in all of the drivelines every afternoon carrying buckets to collect the change. And most importantly, please remind your students of the importance of helping others. After all, that is truly what Wish Week is all about.

I want to give a shout-out to Kathy Dwyer and our NHS students! They have spent countless hours planning and preparing for the week and are truly motivated to do what it takes to meet the fundraising goals. Please click here or visit our website for more information.

I would also like to give a shout-out to Mrs. Newhouse and our DECA students. Mrs. Newhouse is our new business teacher, and while some teachers take some time to get acclimated to their new environment, Mrs. Newhouse hit the ground running. This week, she took a group of students to the Broadmoor for the state DECA competition. Our students did exceptionally well, and Harman Saron and Braden Calme qualified for Nationals! I would also like to thank Nicole Bostel, our Communications Director. She took on the additional responsibility this fall of running all of our business clubs, including DECA, FBLA and Spartmart, until we found Mrs. Newhouse.

Have a good week, everyone!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup, High School Director

Go Spartans!

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.

Tuesday, March 5, and Wednesday, March 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Colorado law (C.R.S. 22-1-116) states that grades K, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9th shall be tested for sight and hearing. We also screen students who are new to a school district and any referrals. C.R.S. 22-1-116 “The sight and hearing of all children in the kindergarten, first, second, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth grades, of children in comparable age groups referred for testing, shall be tested during the school year by the teacher, principal, or other qualified person authorized by the school district. Each school in the district shall make a record of all sight and hearing tests given during the school year and record the individual results of each test on each child’s records. The parents or guardians shall be informed when a deficiency is found.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any child whose parent or guardian objects on religious or personal grounds.”
It is important to note that this is a screening, not a complete exam. If your child wears prescription glasses or contacts, it is necessary that he/she wear them during the screening.

You will receive a referral letter if your child does not pass the vision screening. Children with concerns should be evaluated by a Vision health care professional. Please take the letter to your appointment and have the provider complete the bottom
of the form and then return it to your school’s health office/school nurse. Students who do not pass the hearing will be rechecked by DCSD Audiology Department, and they provide follow up communication.

Standards for hearing and vision are available at:

• http://www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/visionscreeningk122016
• http://www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/guidelinesforchildhoodandyouthhearingscreeningrogramspdfjune2017

Tuesday, March 5, from 5:30-7 p.m. – Mechatronics Lab in P-TECH/KOSON Building & Zoom

The KOSON/STEM Board of Directors will be holding its Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, March 5, from 5:30-7 p.m. in person and via Zoom.  The BOD is comprised of parents and community members who volunteer their time. The Board’s role and purpose is to provide oversight of the KOSON Schools Chief Innovation Officer, who implements the policies set forth by the Board. The Board also provides support and direction for STEM’s long-term vision and mission. Additionally, the Board is active in making sure that KOSON Schools remains in compliance with all DCSD, state and federal compliance requirements, as well as STEM School Highlands Ranch’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.

Tuesday, March 5, from 5-7 p.m. – Dress Rehearsal for students at Mission Hills Church

Thursday, March 7, from 6-9 p.m. – Show time at Mission Hills Church

Tuesday, March 12, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Elementary Gym

DR Photo will once again be at STEM to photograph any students who missed photo day in the fall or any students who would like their photo retaken. Families can order photos directly through DR Photo after photo day. Student IDs will not be printed by the photographers. If a student would like a new student ID printed with their new photo, they must request that through the front office. A $5 replacement fee will be applied to the student’s MySchoolBucks account.

Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30-8 p.m. – Zoom

Join the STEM PTO for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 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, March 14, during Access

STEM Middle and High School Students get ready for our upcoming Career Discovery Day event! On March 14th during your Access period, STEM has invited industry partners to engage with our 7th through 12th grade students to share about their education and career journey. In addition, we have invited a few of our educational partners to share about their unique programming. This year we will have opportunities for hands-on experiences to learn more about various career fields within Aerospace, Info Tech, EV, Government, Healthcare and more. Students will receive a list of our guests in the coming week with sample questions to help spark conversations.

Spartans, this will be an excellent opportunity to begin to think about various career fields, network with industry professionals and learn from partners in the community. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

Thursday, March 14, from 3:30-7 p.m.

Please look for invites from your student’s teachers. Conferences are open house style.

• Middle School Cafe – Middle School English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science
• Secondary Commons – Math, Computer Science, and Engineering
• Secondary Gym – Art, Music, Drama, PE, Business, Health, Psychology, World Language, High School English/Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies

Do you have a student who is planning on taking a Concurrent Enrollment (CE) course next school year? If so, please see the important information and deadlines below.

All CE Students

If you are enrolled in a CE course at STEM or one of our partner institutions, you and your parents/ guardian will need to complete the STEM CE agreement. Please read through the agreement carefully, and reach out with any questions.

• STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement

Rising 9th Graders and Students taking a CE course

Our CE classes are Arapahoe Community College (ACC) courses taught at STEM. If you are enrolling in a CE course and have not completed a CE course before, you will need to apply to ACC. You can access the application below.

• ACC Application Process

CE courses at a partner institution

Students can enroll in concurrent enrollment courses at one of our partner institutions. Registration for most of our partner institutions is in March. For all schools except ACC, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org for instructions on applying/ registration.

For ACC courses, if you plan to take a course at ACC in the Fall, you will need to complete an advising and registration session. ACC will be hosting two advising and registration sessions for STEM students. A virtual session will be offered on March 11, and an in-person session on March 13 at STEM. Both sessions will begin at 3:30 p.m. The advising and registration session is required to register for courses at ACC. Please register in advance for the ACC advising and registration sessions using the link below.

• STEM Advising & Registration Session

As a reminder, if you plan to enroll in a course at a partner institution (on-campus or online), there may be additional student fees. STEM will pay for the tuition, but students are responsible for any fees associated with on-campus enrollment. Please refer to the partner institution’s fee schedule for more information.

If you have questions on Concurrent Enrollment, please do not hesitate to contact Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org.

As a part of the College Board (the SAT testing vendor) resources, students can choose to complete a voluntary data questionnaire and opt-in to Student Search. The College Board’s Student Search Service is a free, voluntary program that connects students with information about educational and financial aid opportunities from nearly 1,900 eligible colleges and universities, as well as scholarships and other educational programs. Click here to learn more about the Student Search Service.

Completion of the student data questionnaire and participation in Student Search is optional and voluntary for all students. Your child will have the opportunity to choose whether to complete the Student Search Service questionnaire. The Colorado Department of Education and the College Board have created a consent form for students if they choose to complete the questionnaire and participate in the Student Search Service.

There is also a list of information that is collected by the College Board in the Student Search Service Questionnaire for your review if you choose to have your student complete the optional questionnaire. Please review the consent form and discuss it with your child so he/she will know how to fill out the consent form at school and complete the questionnaire. There is no need to fill out the consent form at home. Students may also choose to complete the Student Search Service questionnaire at a later date through their College Board student account.

If you have questions about the Student Data Questionnaire or student consent form, please contact:

• Colorado Department of Education Assessment Unit: (303) 866-6929
• College Board: (866) 433-7728]

Thank you – and best of luck to your student on the SAT!

Julie Adamek, Testing Coordinator

As a part of the College Board (the SAT testing vendor) resources, students can choose to complete a voluntary data questionnaire and opt-in to Student Search. The College Board’s Student Search Service is a free, voluntary program that connects students with information about educational and financial aid opportunities from nearly 1,900 eligible colleges and universities, as well as scholarships and other educational programs. Click here to learn more about the Student Search Service.

Completion of the student data questionnaire and participation in Student Search is optional and voluntary for all students. Your child will have the opportunity to choose whether to complete the Student Search Service questionnaire. The Colorado Department of Education and the College Board have created a consent form for students if they choose to complete the questionnaire and participate in the Student Search Service.

There is also a list of information that is collected by the College Board in the Student Search Service Questionnaire for your review if you choose to have your student complete the optional questionnaire. Please review the consent form and discuss it with your child so he/she will know how to fill out the consent form at school and complete the questionnaire. There is no need to fill out the consent form at home. Students may also choose to complete the Student Search Service questionnaire at a later date through their College Board student account.

If you have questions about the Student Data Questionnaire or student consent form, please contact:

• Colorado Department of Education Assessment Unit: (303) 866-6929
• College Board: (866) 433-7728
• Thank you – and best of luck to your student on the SAT!

Julie Adamek, Testing Coordinator

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

Are you looking for something to do over the summer? Below are a few ideas to get you started. The following organizations are currently taking applications for their summer programs.

• PreFlight Aviation Camp – applications are now open for the six-day camp (July 15th – 20th) in Windsor, Colorado.
• SAME (Society of American Military Engineers) / US Air Force Academy Camp – Application is open until March 15th. The week-long, live-in STEM camp is from June 23rd – 29th.
• UC Denver, GenCyber Summer Camp – Application is currently open for the free online program being held July 15-19.
• Colorado Health Careers Academy (CHCA) in conjunction with ACC and other healthcare partners are hosting a summer program for students to explore health careers. Information sessions are available through May. If you are interested in a career in healthcare, click here to learn more.
• CU Science Discovery is offering summer classes for high school students at their CU Boulder and CU Anschutz locations. Programming includes Aerospace, Biotech, Computer Science, Forensics, Neuroscience, Biomed Research, Medical Student Experience and more! Summer Scholarships are available. Learn more on the CU Discovery website.

As a reminder, you can continue earning college credit by taking a course through one of our partner institutions. Please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org with questions. Registration for Arapahoe Community College opens March 11th for Summer and Fall courses.

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.

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.

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.

The Experiment Digital Leadership in STEM prepares participants to be more civically engaged and lead change. This fully funded six-week summer virtual experience teaches high school students to formulate and implement STEM projects in their local communities. The Experiment Digital is designed to connect hundreds of young people across the United States, Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region.

Our application to the 2024 Experiment Digital program is now OPEN! To learn more about our program, click here. Spaces are starting to fill, so be sure to share the application with your students. Students and parents/guardians can apply by clicking here! Final admissions deadline: May 13, 2024

Read and share our program flyer here.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email or reach out at: digital@experiment.org. We’d love to see your students at The Experiment Digital! Click here to visit the website.

Kick-start your journey in technology with AI Bootcamp, a transformative three-week program where you’ll learn to build an AI product under the guidance of experts from Google, Stanford, MIT, and many more! Scholarships for our Summer 2024 cohorts are now open. Apply today and unlock the door to an extraordinary summer AI Bootcamp adventure.

Scholarship Details:

Open to middle and high school students, the AI Camp Scholarship—ranging from full to partial—is designed to make AI Bootcamp accessible to all. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for applications is March 10, 2024. Please advise students to act fast, as spots for this program are filling up quickly!

Colorado FBLA State will be at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center this year from April 1-2. We need judges to help score students from across the state of Colorado. Please click the button below to sign up to judge.