Directors' Update
A message from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Director
Dear Middle School Families,
Our Middle School Spring Dance was a lot of fun. It looked like our students enjoyed themselves. Thank you to all of the parents who came out to chaperone. It is always much appreciated.
CMAS is underway for Middle School. Today, the testing began for our 7th and 8th graders. I checked in on almost every class, and our students were focused and in good spirits. Please take note of the following virtual days: Monday, April 8th, 7th grade is virtual; Tuesday, April 9th, 8th grade is virtual; and, on Tuesday, April 16th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are virtual. Click here for the testing schedule.
| WEEK 2 – APRIL 8-12 | ||
| DAY/DATE | TIME | TEST |
| Monday, April 8 | 7:50-9:50 a.m. | 6 ELA Unit 1 |
| 7th grade virtual (4/8/2024) | 8-9:20 a.m. | 8 Math Unit 1 |
| 9:35-10:50 a.m. | 8 Math Unit 2 | |
| 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 6 ELA Unit 2 | |
| 12:45-2:45 p.m. | 6 ELA Unit 3 | |
| 1:20-2:40 p.m. | 8 Math Unit 3 | |
| Tuesday, April 9 | 7:50-9:50 a.m. | 7 ELA Unit 1 |
| 8th grade virtual (4/9/2024) | 8-9:20 a.m. | 6 Math Unit 1 |
| 9:35-10:50 a.m. | 6 Math Unit 2 | |
| 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 7 ELA Unit 2 | |
| 12:45-2:45 p.m. | 7 ELA Unit 3 | |
| 1:20-2:40 p.m. | 6 Math Unit 3 | |
| Wednesday, April 10 | 7:50-9 a.m. | 11 Science Unit 1 |
| 9:15-10:25 a.m. | 11 Science Unit 2 | |
| Thursday, April 11 | All grades follow the regular schedule | |
| Friday, April 12 | All grades follow the regular schedule | |
Important Upcoming Dates
- April 11 – State of STEM – 6 pm
- April 12 – Move up to Middle School Day
- April 25th – STEMFEST
- May 2-4 – The Addams Family Musical
- May 9 – Secondary End of the year concert
- May 15 – Middle School Awards Night
- May 20 – Graduation – No School
In partnership,
Maura Ridder, Middle School Director
A message from Mr. Alsup, High School Director
Dear Stem Spartans and families,
Happy April Fools Day! Starting off the week with April Fools Day was a lot of fun. As you have all heard, our staff decided to pull an April Fools Day joke on our student body, and all of them came dressed like students- pajamas, bottoms, hoodies, etc. I don’t know what the students thought, but I think some of our staff members really liked their casual attire!
Today, we had a high school assembly that focused on driving safety. According to the CDC, in 2020, 2,800 teens lost their lives in automobile crashes, and another 227,000 students were injured. It is the leading cause of death for American teens across the country. As I expressed to the students, this one hits me pretty hard because, as a career educator, I have lost far too many students to car accidents. And we are entering the deadliest time of year as, statistically, students are much more likely to be in a car crash in the spring and summer months. As a school, we want to make sure we are doing our part in teaching students about safe driving. It started today with the assembly and the guest speakers who shared their stories and experiences. Next week, we will also have several activities to help educate our students, all designed for them to have fun and learn about the importance of safe driving.
Now that we are into April, the end of the year is in sight. This is a very fun time of year. Seniors are counting down to graduation, and the rest of our kids are looking forward to summer. Students are talking about Prom, club elections, robotics competitions, and the spring play. With all of this going on, it is easy to get distracted this time of year. Students, it is important to make sure you finish strong in all of your classes, and if you are struggling, please take the time to meet with your teachers to get the help that you need. Parents, I know many of you came to conferences this week, but if you ever have any questions about your child’s academic progress, please feel free to reach out to the teachers at any time.
Looking ahead, April is also a testing month. Please see our website for the complete list of assessments, but the big one for us is the PSAT and SAT, which will take place on April 12th. The PSAT 9 and 10 are state-mandated tests, but they are also excellent pre-tests that help students prepare for the SAT. Juniors, the SAT is also state-mandated, but as you know, many colleges and universities still request SAT scores, so it is important that you do your best.
Sincerely,
Ryan Alsup, High School Director
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.
News and Updates
District Accountability Applications Open
The DAC is currently accepting applications for membership for 4 Parent Representatives. Please click below to apply.
Important Senior Dates and Information
Senior Walk – May 3, 2023, at 8:15 a.m.
Seniors will be doing one “final” lap around the school wearing all of their college (or STEM spirit) gear. This is an event that all of K-12 participate in and is a wonderful memory for our seniors.
Senior Picnic – May 10, 2024, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Seniors have a half day today, so once they are done with class they can enjoy their afternoon at the picnic with friends! The senior picnic will include lunch and Coldstone for each senior.
Senior Honor Night – May 16, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Secondary Gym
Seniors will receive invites to attend Senior Honor Night to receive their awards and cords to wear at graduation. This is an annual STEM tradition event for our seniors.
GRADUATION!!! – May 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Echo Park Stadium in Parker
Seniors should arrive at Echo Stadium by 9 a.m. to take part in the graduation walk-through ceremony. Families will be invited into the stadium at 9:45 a.m.
Concurrent Enrollment Info
Concurrent enrollment registration is underway! If you plan to take a concurrent enrollment (CE) course in Fall 24, you will need to complete the STEM Concurrent Enrollment Agreement. The agreement is required to be completed each semester. In addition, if you have not taken a STEM CE course, you will need to apply to Arapahoe Community College (ACC). You can view the attached flyer for assistance with your application. The deadline to complete the STEM CE Agreement and ACC application is May 10, 2024.
If you plan to register for courses at one of our other partner institutions, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@stemk12.org for the next steps.
Senior Signs Ready for Pick Up
The class of 2024 Senior Yard Signs are IN!! Seniors should reach out to the High school Student Government via email (studentgov@s.stemk12.org) to arrange pick-up. Thanks to the PTO for keeping this tradition going! Way to go, Class of 2024!!
Summer Internships
Are you looking for something to do over the summer? I am currently looking for student interns in the engineering and healthcare industries. Internships are a great opportunity to dive further into a career field, supporting you in your long-term career planning.
Please reach out to Nicole Ryan at Nicole.Ryan@stemk12.org for more information.
Southridge Rec Center Volunteer Fair
Tuesday, April 16, from 4-7 p.m.
There will be a Volunteer Fair at the Southridge Rec Center on Tuesday, April 16, from 4-7 p.m. This free-to-attend fair is a great chance for teens and adults to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities right here in our neck of the woods! Check out the flier via the button below.
CMAS Testing Information
CMAS testing for 3rd – 8th and 11th graders will occur starting Tuesday, April 2. CMAS is the state assessment given to all students in these grades to measure academic success every spring. As you look forward to the spring, please make sure all appointments, vacations, etc, are scheduled OUTSIDE of the CMAS testing window (4/2 – 4/18) if you have a student in these grades. Also, please try to be on time so testing can start as planned.
Additional information regarding CMAS can be found on our website under state-mandated assessments.
If you would like to opt your student out, please follow the instructions on the website as soon as possible. If you want to discuss what it means to opt-out your student or have any questions regarding CMAS, please contact Julie Adamek at julie.adamek@stemk12.org.
NYU GSTEM High School Research Program
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.
Special Olympics Opportunity
The Youth Activation Committee (YAC) for the Colorado Special Olympics is excited to spread the word about inclusion and any events or fundraisers for our Special Olympians. Below are two upcoming opportunities.
One opportunity is an Open House for anyone who is interested in joining the YAC. It will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 1-3 p.m. at the Celebrity Lanes off of Arapahoe Road. Click the button below for more information.
Another opportunity that YAC offers is the Polar Plunge & 5K in Aurora on Saturday, April 6. Click the button below for more information.
Denver Explorer Program
Each year (Jan-Feb) the Denver Explorer Program connects high school students (interested in a possible STEM career) with STEM organizations. Each week (Jan-Feb) during the STEM Explorer Program, a different company/agency gives a presentation/lab to high school students on STEM careers in their respective organizations. Previous presenting organizations include Lockheed, CO School of Mines, A&E firms, and Forest Service, among others. Click the button below for more information.
FREE Virtual Exchange STEM Program
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.
Summer Programming Opportunities
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.
- The Aerospace States Association and Colorado Space Business Roundtable Aerospace Summer Internship Program is currently accepting applications for their Summer Internship program. For more information, visit their website: ASA/ CSBR Summer Internship Program
- 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.