Secondary News and Updates (03/25/22)

Monday, March 28, from 5-7 p.m. – Zoom

If you’re interested in getting involved in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at STEM, we encourage you to attend to find out more information. Email amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org with questions.

Tuesday, March 29, from 5-6 p.m. – High School Commons

High School Director/Athletics Director Ryan Alsup will be holding a STEM Athletics Information Meeting on Tuesday, March 29 from 5-6 p.m. in the High School Commons. The meeting will cover what athletics will look like next year as we enter CHSAA. The meeting is for all current coaches, athletes, and parents as well as 8th-grade students and parents who are interested in participating in athletics next year. Please park in the Secondary Parking Lot and enter through the Secondary Main Entrance.

Thursday, March 31, from 5-8 p.m.

Save the Date! All STEM Families are invited to join us for STEM Fest 2022, which will be a celebration of who we are and what we do. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Friday, April 1, from 3:30-5 p.m. – High School Commons

STEM staff, students, families and members of our community are invited to our Meet the Candidates Meet-n-Greet on Friday, April 1 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the High School Commons. This will be an opportunity for our entire community to meet with the top candidates who are interviewing to become STEM School Highlands Ranch’s next Executive Director.

Tuesday, April 5, from 5:30-7 p.m – High School Commons

The monthly STEM Board of Director’s Meeting will be Tuesday, April 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the High School Commons. The STEM BOD is comprised of parents and community members who volunteer their time. The Board’s role and purpose is to provide oversight of the Executive Director, who implements the policies set forth by the Board. The Board also provides support and direction of STEM’s long-term vision and mission. Additionally, the Board is active in making sure that STEM remains in compliance with all DCSD, state and federal compliance requirements, as well as STEM’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, April 12, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. – High School Commons

The next step in our replication efforts includes holding a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, April 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is an opportunity for the DPS community to learn more about our new school and to get to know what we’re all about. We hope you can join us via Zoom.

April 18-21, from 4-7 p.m. (virtual event)

The second annual statewide Colorado Youth Career Fair is taking place virtually on April 18-21. This educational event is intended to expose Colorado youth to a broad sampling of career fields. Registration is now open for youth, families, and educators as well as career panelists. Free, virtual event for youth, families, and educators. This event is sponsored by the Colorado Workforce Development Council. Visit youthcareerfair.org for more details and registration

STEM PTO After Prom Donation Request

STEM PTO After Prom Committee is in need of donations for Decorations, Food, Door Prizes and Monetary Donations for After Prom on Saturday, April 23. Click the sign-up buttons below put your name down. Please email stemafterprom@stemk12.org to arrange the drop-off of item donations.

There is still time to join our Ultimate Frisbee team this spring! The team is open to 8th grade and up, and practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 at NorthRidge Park.

Falcon AeroLab has designed an immersive experience for students interested in aviation, including an airplane, glider, and helicopter flight.

Are you interested in doing a full or part-time internship in fall 2022? Next fall, will you have most of the credits you need to graduate?

STEM is now part of the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot (ILOP) program which provides for more schedule flexibility than students have had in the past. If you are participating in ILOP, you no longer have to be on-campus at STEM for 6 classes (or off-campus for a minimum 12 credit hours). You can take the classes you need to graduate and spend the rest of your day in an internship. To participate, you must have most of your credits completed toward HS graduation. If you are interested in doing an internship through ILOP, please complete the Career Discovery application below and you will be interviewed for the ILOP pilot program. The deadline to submit the Career Discovery application for the ILOP pilot is 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.

If accepted for this pilot program, STEM will work to place you in an internship in your area of interest. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the Career Discovery Team members (Dr. Cannady, Mr. Shallenburger, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Reinkensmeyer)

Nominations are now open for the CBS Denver Future Leaders Scholarship. If you know a High School student who is thriving in the STEM core subjects please consider nominating them for this $1,000 scholarship.

Click the button below to access the nomination form and to find out more. One student will be selected each month to receive this special recognition award that will include a $1,000 award along with a student profile on CBS4. The nomination window will run through April 22, 2022.

Attention Middle School and High School students!

Don’t forget to purchase your yearbooks. Go to Yearbookforever.com to buy your yearbook for $45. Buy it while you can because come October 31 the price goes up to $55. Additionally, if you would like your photo in the yearbook, you can share your photos with us. You can share them using the Yearbook Snap app using the code STEM22. It’s available on the App Store and Google Play Store, download it today and share those photos. If you have any questions about the yearbook or how to use Yearbook Snap, please email one of the yearbook editors-in-chief at elizabeth.noethlich@s.stemk12.org and cadence.coan@s.stemk12.org or stop by room 110 after school.

Families can access their photos by visiting the link to the right or going to dr-photo.com, selecting the School Portrait Proofs link, and when prompted enter their private password in the following format: Student ID#

10 Tips for Taking Screen Breaks

It is important to take regular breaks from screens! Get some ideas on balancing screen time, physical activity, and family connection with your child.

7 Easy Ideas Families Can do to Help Develop Language Skills at Home

Parents are helping develop their child’s language skills at home, they may just not realize it. Speech therapists can empower families by sharing ways those daily activities are improving communication skills. Here are a few examples.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Emerging research indicates that approximately 2-4% of a school’s population will sustain a head injury and many of these injuries are classified as concussions. Visit the Colorado Department of Education’s websites for information and resources.

DCSD Parent University – Sleep Hygiene Workshop
Wednesday, March 30 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Free virtual event

In a world full of computer screens and daily stressors, getting a good night’s sleep can be challenging. This rings true for students and their parents alike. Join Dr. Jessica Ridgley from Sky Ridge Medical Center and learn ways you can fine-tune your sleep hygiene and improve the quality of your sleep. Parent University is brought to you by the Douglas County School District and Sky Ridge Medical Center.