Secondary News and Updates (06/10/24)

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.

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.