Secondary News and Updates (04/02/21)

*Due to COVID 19, no visitors or volunteers are allowed inside the building at this time. Volunteer requirements will be adjusted as needed. There was a consideration to switch volunteer hour tracking systems, but we will stay with our system we have been using at this time.

Volunteer opportunities below are all outside of the school building.

Staff Feedback Team Donations

The Staff Feedback Team is seeking “treat” donations for staff. If you are interested in donating any of these items, please bring to the MS Office labeled “SFT Treats” – thank you so much!!

Individual bags of:

• Mixed nuts
• Pretzels
• Vegan Variety pack
• fruit leather
• oreo snack packs
• BBQ Lays
• Justin’s Nut Butter squeeze packs
• Olives to go
• pickles to go
• Sparkling water
• regular water
• small soda pop cans
• bottles of tea
• chips
• goldfish
• cookies
• crackers
• rice crispy treats
• jerky sticks/pouches
• non-food options: lip balm and lotion.

PE Donations

Our Physical Education Department would love to take your students on new and exciting adventures, but sometimes that requires extra equipment. There was recently a disc golf course built within walking distance from our campus, and we would love to use this space in our community to enhance our curriculum. We are looking for donations of frisbee golf discs that students can use. Anything and everything would be greatly appreciated!

Please bring these donations to the MS office labeled PE Donations. For questions, contact Megan Lipe, Secondary Physical Education Teacher megan.lipe@stemk12.org.

ES Counseling Donations:

• Water beads refill
• Assorted sports beads
• Craft beads like these or any of these
• Plastic funnels

Please bring to the ES Office labeled ES Counseling. Thank you!

March 29-April 10 – Donation Window

PTO and SteMed are trying to raise funds for Children’s Hospital to help support their programs for patients and families. When our STEM Community orders a meal through Mile High Catering, a portion of the proceeds of those meals will go to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Colorado to fund programs for patients and families. On April 19, there will be a driveline from 3-5 p.m. to pick up all the food ordered. It will take place at 1811 Plaza Drive. Be on the lookout for volunteers and signup. Email pto@stemk12.org for more information. Click the button below to order and access the menu.

April 5-9 – Donation Window

Who doesn’t love animals? SNHS is looking for new or used towels to donate to the MaxFund Animal Shelter. Donations will be open from April 5-9. Donations can be dropped off at the Middle School entrances. Please contact Tjaden Litwiler, Naomi Tewolde, or Mr. Schnacke for any questions.

March 29-April 9

This year, National English Honor Society will be hosting a writing competition. Students can submit a piece of writing answering the pivotal question: “What is something good that has come from the pandemic?”

All grade levels K-12 are eligible to participate. We are hoping to have parent volunteers judge the pieces and announce first- and second-place winners.

April 19-23 – Virtual Events and Dress-Up Activities

During the week of Earth Week, the Science National Honor Society is planning to have a spirit week-like event over the week of April 19-23. Each day will include fun dressing, and some days will include a simple activity.

• On Monday, we will have a whiteout day; everyone wears white in order to raise awareness of melting glaciers.
• On Tuesday, everyone will dress as their favorite season.
• On Wednesday, everyone will dress as their favorite animal, and can bring a stuffed animal to class (in-person or on Zoom).
• Thursday is Earth Day, so everyone will be encouraged to wear green and blue, or Earth Day shirts that would be available to buy.
  • We will be creating these shirts to sell, and all the funds collected will be donated to Grand County Fire Departments in thanks for their courage last year. On this day, we would also be releasing education videos for the entire school, as well as creating educational color packets for the elementary school students. For all secondary students, we are hoping to do a recycled-materials activity, such as building something useful in their household, that they can make from other materials.
• Finally, on Friday, everyone will be encouraged to dress like a scientist, as the end of the week will follow with student-produced tutorials on at-home experiments for all students.

All of these after-school events would be virtual. Contact: ryleigh.johnson@s.stemk12.org

April 19-22, 4-6:30 p.m.

This explorative & informative fair for youth will feature career panels representing a wide variety of industries throughout the state. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for youth attendees, parents, educators, and potential career panelists via the website: www.youthcareerfair.org!

The Colorado Virtual Career Fair is a collaboration between the Colorado State Youth Council, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Colorado Association of Career & Technical Education, other Colorado professional education agencies & organizations; and many Colorado school districts.

The design of this fair has the intention of facilitating access and awareness of career path opportunities to students who may or may not have been able to access the options before. Beyond the barrios of geographic location, beyond zip code, beyond regional location and beyond school district – students & families, youth & individuals of any age or grade level are welcome to attend. Explore more: www.youthcareerfair.org

Panelists will represent the diversity of backgrounds, ethnicities and races and are intentionally recruited to help our students ‘see themselves’ in that future career.** If you are interested or know of others (think of your own friend, family and contacts) who would be a perfect fit, please see the attached Panelist Flier AND extend the ‘application’ here: https://forms.gle/6Gf1mFtZ1N64jvfm8

Equity and Mental Health within our youth communities is an investment the design committee wanted to focus on and the Attendee Registration form reflects this.

If any questions arise, please contact admin@youthcareerfair.org.

April 19-30 – Donation Drive Window

SteMed and SteMed Jr. are hosting a donation drive to the Hope and Help Center of Castle Rock to help them during COVID. Donations can be dropped off at the middle school office from April 19th to April 30th. If you have any questions, please contact SteMed at stemed@s.stemk12.org or kent.schnacke@stemk12.org.

Donation Items:

• Taco seasoning and taco shells
• peanut butter
• Kids drinks in pouches or boxes
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Sloppy Joe mix in cans or packets
• Canned Spaghetti O’s or Ravioli
• Canned Olives
• Canned tuna fish
• Non-refrigerated juice (orange, apple, cranberry, Sunny Delight, etc.)
• Toiletry items: Shampoo and Conditioner (standard size), Toothpaste and toothbrushes (standard size), deodorant (standard size), bars of soap
• Cleaning supplies: Spay bottles of Lysol or Clorox (any brand)

Tuesday, April 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – YouTube

STEM will be holding its first-ever STEM Film Festival on Tuesday, April 27 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. via YouTube. This event is to showcase the creative, video work that is being done within our student body. This event is for Middle and High School Students.

A max of 15-minute Short MP4 Films should be submitted by April 15 to stemfilmfest@stemk12.org. Categories include:

• Horror/Thriller
• Comedy
• Drama
• Educational

Contact Dan Levinson (dan.levinson@stemk12.org) with any questions.

Wednesday, April 28, 6-7 p.m. – Zoom

New to STEM Secondary students and families are invited to attend our “Welcome to STEM” Webinar event on Wednesday, April 28 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom.

This event is New families and students to STEM and for returning STEM families who have a student moving into sixth and ninth grades.

Topics will include:

• STEM’s Formula for Character
• Behavior Expectations
• Review of Required Courses
• Course Progression
• Block Schedule
• Sample Schedule
• Teacher Expectations
• Tips for Success
• Enrichment
• The Role of the Counselor
• Driveline

Contact your grade-level counselor for more information:

• Coleen Sullivan (coleen.sullivan@stemk12.org) – Middle School students with last name A-L
• Vicki Dix (vicki.dix@stemk12.org) – Middle School students with last names M-Z
• Alexa Nichols (alexa.nichols@stemk12.org) – High School students with last names A-K
• Alyssa Woodward (alyssa.woodward@stemk12.org) – High School students with last names L-Z

STEM School Highlands Ranch is excited to partner with the Colorado League of Charter Schools and their ACT Advocacy Network to bring a series of trainings to our families. The training will build your charter school knowledge and your advocacy skills so we can leverage our collective power as a school and Douglas County charter school community to protect what we have and make sure our school and others have what we need and what our students deserve. In this one-hour training, you will learn about charter myths and facts and what makes us unique. Please join us!

What: Charter School Basics

Where: Online via Zoom

When: Thursday, April 15 at 9 a.m. Morning session for STEM families only

Tuesday, April 20 at 12 p.m. Lunch session open to multiple Douglas County charter schools’ families

REGISTER FOR 4/15 HERE 9 a.m. session

REGISTER FOR 4/20 HERE Noon session

Shiloh House is once again offering parents the opportunity to enroll in parenting classes and/or support groups. To register for these classes please call 303-695-7996 or email communityservices@shilohhouse.net. Click the button below to see the current schedule of Parent Classes and Support Groups.

STEM student Arushima Swaroop would like to share his written blog project focused on poverty. If you would like to learn more about the effects, causes, and what you can do, click the link below!

It’s that time of year. If you think your student is missing items, please have your student stop by our Lost & Found to look through what has been left behind. The Secondary Lost & Found is located outside the Middle School Cafeteria Doors. All items not picked up will be donated at the end of the school year.

The STEM Business Office would like to remind families of seniors, that if there are any outstanding fees on a student’s account, they must be paid for prior to graduation. Emails have been sent to families who have an outstanding balance. Fees can be paid for through MySchoolBucks.

The Parent Trust Committee of the Strategic Plan Goal “Building Parent Trust” would like to collect some data from our community (students and parents) on some of the favorite implementations of Problem Based Learning that teachers have created in their classrooms. The committee gathered feedback during the Town Hall in January that included helping to build a repository of PBLs for teachers to use.

Problem based learning is STEM’s instructional model. Teachers utilized different techniques to have students solve a real-world problem, while teaching the state standards and core competencies.

American Legion is accepting applications for High School juniors and seniors to take part in the Colorado Boys State, which is a six-day hands-on experience from July 11-16 at the Hotel Elegante Conference and Event Center in Colorado Springs. It focuses on the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping the Colorado government. The American Legion Colorado Boys State program is sponsored by the Colorado American Legion. The program cost is paid for by The American Legion. At Boys State, young men learn about city, county, and state government through a non-partisan objective education approach. The young men also form friendships that will last a lifetime! Boys state is for high school juniors going into their senior year with at least one semester left of school.

Elizabeth Brown joined STEM in January 2021 as the Recovery Coordinator for STEM. While her desk is located in the new admin side of the P-TECH building, she will be spending the majority of her time in the school. The broadest description of her position is to provide overall coordination for the recovery of students, parents, and staff. Dr. Euker has stated that it is a huge priority for her that Elizabeth reaches out and provides the necessary support and information to our community. Elizabeth is working under a grant that can make all kinds of resources available to those who would like them.

Her role is specifically to support all who have been impacted, so if there are needs that aren’t being met, questions that aren’t being answered, or services that aren’t being provided, it would be really helpful to let her know so she can be sure to address those issues. Please email her at elizabeth.brown@stemk12.org.

AIAA’s (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) is offering free membership for high school students. STEM School Highlands Ranch has been a partner with AIAA. We are piloting this first-ever AIAA outreach in several projects, including our internships and a project called “Martian Greenhouse.”

All Secondary Students can pick up their yearbooks from last school year at the Middle School Front Office. People who have yet to purchase their yearbooks from the 2019-2020 school year and would like one can email sherry.wise@stemk12.org to request and get payment information.

Online ordering is now available for 2020-21 Yearbooks. Click here to purchase yours today!

Due to the delayed start at the beginning of the school year that has impacted our required academic minutes, if DCSD calls for a SCHOOL CLOSURE due to weather, STEM will operate on a Virtual Day Schedule instead. This decision was made to prevent having to add additional days at the end of the school year to make up for a snow day. If DCSD calls for a DELAYED START due to weather, STEM will operate on a Virtual Day Schedule.

In late August/early September of 2020, STEM had to make an adjustment to its Academic Calendar to extend the school year by a few days in order to account for our delayed start. The last day (half day) for Elementary is Friday, May 21 and the last day (half day) for Secondary is Tuesday, May 25. You can view the updated Calendar here. Additionally, graduation has been moved to Thursday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at EchoPark Stadium.

STEM had picture Day on February 16 & 17 for students needing a current school photo. If your student was unable to take advantage of the picture days at STEM, please set an appointment to have their picture taken at the photographer’s studio. Check out the buttons to the left to schedule an appointment or order photos.

Don’t Delay! Show your STEM Spartan Pride by ordering from the NEW gear that is available in the SpartMart Store. Check out the flier to the right for more information. The SpartMart is operated by STEM students and the gear is designed by STEM students as well.

This upcoming week is National Robotics Week (Apr 3-11), and STEM is highlighting our FIRST Robotics Team (FRC), Team Impulse! This weekend (Sat Apr 3), our FRC team will meet in the STEM HS Parking Lot to film their “”at-home”” challenges. Because there is no in-person competition this year, teams must build and work on their robot from home, and then film the robot completing different challenges to submit virtually for this season’s “”Infinite Recharge”” challenge.

This 2020-21 season, FIRST RISE, powered by Star Wars: Force for Change, sets out to inspire citizens of the galaxy to work together, strengthening and protecting the Force that binds us and creating a place where collaboration and collective wisdom can elevate new ideas and foster growth.

We are excited to host a variety of summer camps this upcoming summer.

• Camp Invention (K-6) | June 7-11, 2021
• Cyber-SPY Camp (K-2) | June 14-18, 2021
• Cyber Detectives (3-5) | June 21-25, 2021
• FRC 4418’s Lego Mindstorm Camp (K-5)
• Peter Pan Theater Camp (K-5) | June 21-25, 2021

Please visit our Enrichment page to view current openings and sign up.

There is still time to join our Spring HS Ultimate Frisbee team! Ultimate is a fun and engaging team sport, and is a great way to make new friends and be active outdoors. In-person practices have started. The team will practice twice a week and participate in a few games against other schools, as well as a State tournament. The team is now open to taking students in eighth grade. Click the button below to learn more and register.