Secondary News and Updates (05/24/24)

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.

We are always looking for ways to improve our security posture. This coming school year, we are going to implement MFA for all students. The first question that probably comes to mind, my student doesn’t have a phone so how can we do this? U, we can use another source.

We are writing to inform you about an important update regarding the security measures we are implementing to safeguard our students’ online activities.

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a secure digital environment for our students, we will be introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all student accounts on our school’s digital platforms, implementation will start at the beginning of the new school year. We will accomplish this by using Clever Classroom MFA.

What is MFA and Why is it Important?

MFA is an additional layer of security that helps protect accounts by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. This typically involves something the user knows (like a password) combined with something they have or know (such as a card to scan or the need to identify pictures they have chosen). By implementing MFA, we are enhancing the security of our students’ accounts and reducing the risk of unauthorized access or potential breaches.

What Does This Mean for Your Child?

Starting a couple of weeks after the start of the new school year, your child will be prompted to set up MFA when accessing their school accounts. One of the ways to help the youngest would be to have pictures that have to be chosen after the password. The first screen would show a group of animals and the student would have chosen one after they set up the MFA. The second would show pictures of foods. With the two pictures chosen, they would use these to complete their MFA. There are also options for using Apple Touch ID or Windows Hello if your machine has this configured. We will provide detailed instructions and support to ensure a smooth transition for all students. We will start to send out the detailed instructions prior to the start of the new school year.

How Can You Help?

We kindly ask for your support in helping your child set up MFA for their school accounts. Encourage them to follow the provided instructions and emphasize the importance of keeping their login credentials and authentication methods secure.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about the implementation of MFA, please do not hesitate to reach out to support@stemk12.org. We are here to assist you and ensure that this transition is as seamless as possible for your student.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we continue to prioritize the safety and security of our students’ online experiences.

STEM IT Department

With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we recommend you check to make sure you can access your Parent Portal account and/or set one up if you have not already done so. The document below contains instructions on how to set up your Parent Portal account if you have not already done so.

You will need access to your Parent Portal account to complete Express Check-In for your student(s) in July. The portal also allows you to make contact updates to your profile (phone, email) and allows you to see important information about your student with respect to grades, transcripts, and attendance, among other things.

Watch for updates about Express Check-In on our website this summer and via direct email. An email from the District later in the summer about the exact dates of when Express Check-In will be taking place will also be sent. If you have trouble accessing or setting up your parent portal account, please contact District I.T. at 303-387-0001.

Middle School Students will have the opportunity this June/July to sign up for a locker. Lockers are $5 for the school year and all locks are provided by STEM. The sign-up will be sent via email to all families in June/July so be on the lookout for that this summer. All locker fees will be added to the student’s MySchoolBucks account to then be paid during Express Check-In.

In July, high school students with a valid driver’s license and registered vehicle can sign up for a parking pass. Parking passes cost $50 for the school year. There is no assigned parking. Seniors will be given priority in the order that they sign up, followed by juniors and sophomores. If students receive their driver’s license during the school year, they can put their name on the waitlist, and if there are any available throughout the school year, they can purchase one.

Fees for the parking passes will be added to each student’s MySchoolBucks account and must be paid for before picking up the parking pass in August.

The initial sign-up window will close on Wednesday, July 17, at 12 p.m. Seniors who sign up during this window will receive priority, followed by juniors and sophomores. After Wednesday, the sign-up will be turned into a waitlist, and students will receive a parking pass on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students assigned a parking pass will receive an email after Wednesday, July 17. Notification emails will go out to parents and students.

The STEM Administration, in collaboration with High School Student Government, is excited to once again announce the continuation of the tradition of allowing seniors to paint their parking spaces.

Seniors who would like to paint their parking spaces can select that option during the sign-up process. An additional fee of $25 will be added to the student’s MySchoolBucks account and must be paid prior to the space getting painted. Instruction about painting parking spaces will be sent to students directly who have signed up to paint.

The $25 painting fee will be donated to High School Student Government.

Painting of spaces will take place on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additional information on artwork submission, materials, painting tips, design criteria, etc., will be sent to students who signed up to paint in July. All artwork must be approved via the Art Submission Form shared in July.

For questions about Senior Parking Spot Painting, please email communications@stemk12.org.

STEM has partnered with CSU to bring our students additional concurrent enrollment (CE) opportunities for the 2024-25 school year. For Fall 2024, CSU is offering GEOL 110, Introduction to Geology – Parks and Mountains (GT-SC2) or SOC 100, Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3). Both are 3 credits and guarantee transfer courses. For more information or to register, please reach out to Nicole Ryan at nicole.ryan@https://stemk12.org.

We’re excited to announce that sixth graders at STEM next year will be provided with a laptop from STEM, so they will not need to purchase their own laptop. More information will be shared in the coming months about the type of laptop and distribution.

Metropolitan State University, Denver is not enrolling for their Fall 2024 Virtual Network classes. Virtual Network classes are asynchronous online courses, that use the Canvas platform. MSU is offering the courses below for fall. As a reminder tuition is covered by STEM, and there are no additional course fees (excluding textbooks), providing more concurrent enrollment opportunities for our students. If you are interested in registering for Fall 2024, please reach out to Nicole Ryan before summer break at nicole.ryan@https://stemk12.org.

• AAS 1010: Introduction to Africana Studies (GT- SS3)
• ANT 1010: Introduction to Biological Anthropology (GT-SC1)
• ASL 1010: Sign Language I
• SWK 1050: How to Change the World (GT- SS3)

(GT courses are Guaranteed Transfer courses, and will transfer to all Colorado public colleges and universities. Degree transferability is determined by transferring institution. It is recommended to reach out to the college/ university to ensure it is applicable to your degree plan).

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.

• NEW – Summer of Emerging Tech by The Coding School. Summer programming is currently open for middle and high school students interested in learning more about quantum computing, emerging tech, data science (HS only) and AI (HS only). Click here for more information and to register.
• 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.
• Space Foundation Discovery Center – Are you between the ages of 10 – 14? Are you looking for something to do this summer? If so, join the Space Foundation for two exciting Free student programs. Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on educational opportunities, while exploring space activities. Click here to learn more.

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@https://stemk12.org with questions. Registration for Arapahoe Community College opens March 11th for Summer and Fall courses.

Arapahoe/ Douglas Works is presenting a no cost Summer Job Hunt Boot Camp supporting young adults aged 14 – 18. Learn from experts gaining skills focused on career exploration, labor market information, resume building and interview skills. Review the attached flyer for more information and to register.

Dear Community Members,

We are excited to announce that the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Nutrition Services will be offering a Free Summer Lunch Program for children 18 and under from May 28 to August 2, 2024. This program is available Monday through Friday at various locations in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Parker.

Details:

• Dates: May 28 to August 2, 2024 (Monday through Friday)
• Locations: Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Parker
• Times: Vary by site (Please see the attached document for specific locations and times)
• Eligibility: Open to children 18 and under
• Important Notes:
  • Children must be present to receive a meal.
  • All meals must be consumed on-site.
  • No meal service will be available on June 19th and July 4th.

We encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to ensure that our children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. For detailed information about the site locations and specific serving times, please refer to the attachment.

We look forward to serving our community and hope to see many of your families participating in this program.