STEM's MATHCOUNTS Program qualifies for state championship
Congratulations to our MATHCOUNTS program for qualifying for the State Championship!
STEM’s 6th and 7th grade team comprised of Yash A, Sylvester H, Ethan L and Shriya M who finished 6th overall in the competition.
Sylvester and Shriya qualified to compete in the MATHCOUNTS State Championship at Denver University on Saturday, March 16th. A big thank you to STEM math teacher Holly Li, our first-time MATHCOUNTS coach for dedicating her time and energy to preparing our students for the qualifier. Way to go Spartans!
Chinese New Year begins this weekend
Chinese New Year 2024!
Chinese New Year 2024 falls on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 24th, 2024.
Celebrations last up to 16 days, but only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday (February 10th–February 16th, 2024).
Chinese New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2024 is the Year of the Dragon; 2023 the Year of the Rabbit. Dragon is the 5th animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs, coming after the Rabbit and before the Snake. Recent years of the Dragon include 2024 (this year), 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, and 1952, with the next Dragon year in 2036 (Year of the Fire Dragon). It is associated with the earthly branch symbol chen.
Like many aspects of traditional Chinese culture, the 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs are based on the Chinese lunar calendar, which differs slightly from our Gregorian calendar system.
If you were born in January or February, pay special attention to when the Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year) begins since you may be the previous year’s animal.
STEM students learn Secondary Spanish by working with puppets
Puppet talk!
STEM students in Secondary Spanish Class are using puppets and doing performances to learn the language along the way. Each puppet character is different and has a unique personality.
These are rehearsals for classroom shows the students are putting on in the first week of March.
STEM art students find inspiration during field trip to Denver Art Museum
All about art.
STEM art students took an eye-opening field trip to Denver Art Museum this week. Some of the current exhibits include Personal Geographies, Amoako Boafo, American Artists from The Phillips Collection, Islands Beyond Blue, The Skeletal World of Jose Guadalupe Posada, Space Command, Gio Ponti, Arts of Asia Galleries and much more!
Field trips like this one serve as inspiration to our STEM students who then contribute their own amazing art to the school’s hallways.
STEM students shine at FBLA district competition
Finishing strong!
STEM students did a fantastic job at the FBLA district competition this week. Congratulations to our team and to the STEM students who qualified for state including Rylie Calme, Krrish Chawda & Alexander Rogers (in two events), Braden Calme & Harman Saron, Logan Smart, Syna Joseph, Thomas Lewis (two events) and Blake Carver Adames.
A special thanks to STEM staff for helping make it all happen including Melanie FitzRoy, Nicole Bostel and Jennifer Newhouse.
STEM Middle School Chess Team declared winners in state tournament
Team champions!
Congratulations to this group of STEM students for being declared Middle School Team Championship Winner (1st place) in the Colorado Scholastic State Chess Tournament that happened this past weekend:
1. Darshan SathishKumar (7th grade)
2. Sarvesh Rajesh (8th grade)
3. Vedant Margale (8th grade)
4. Vedant Ratnakar (7th grade)
The boys gave a commendable performance and tied for the 3rd (Darshan and Sarvesh) and 4th place(Vedant M. and Vedant R.) – based on points while individually they were placed 5th (Sarvesh), 7th (Darshan), 11th (Vedant M.) and 12th (Vedant R.) after a two-day long, six-round tournament based on tie-breaks.
STEM is very proud of this team and to accept their trophy to be displayed for years to come!
STEM Student Government display posters in hallways to celebrate Black History Month
Just some of the STEM student created artwork and posters that are displayed for Black History Month. Have you ever wondered why February was chosen for the month of recognition?
Because in February there are the birthdays of two great Americans who played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively.
STEM Kindergarteners celebrate first 100 days of school
This calls for a celebration!
This week STEM Kindergarteners celebrated their 100th day of school with a 100 day theme. The students brought 100 items from home, they labeled sticky notes counting by 10’s and separated their items into groups of 10 on each sticky note to make 100. They also did a roll and count math activity and danced around a lot!
Milestones are always fun to celebrate, especially when you reach your first 100 days of school!
Educators celebrated with a complimentary night at Main Event
Oh what a night!
A special thanks to Main Event Highlands Ranch for hosting another Educator Appreciation Night. STEM staff was treated complimentary bowling, games, food and a raffle drawing. It’s so nice to see our hard working teachers rewarded with an evening of free entertainment and so much more. Two of our elementary teachers walked away with the top raffle prizes which include a free group party at Main Event!
STEM celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day
This week we celebrated National Girls and Women In Sports Day!
This annual day is to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress and advocation for equality for women in sports.
Each year since its inception in 1987, the United States Congress recognizes women’s contributions to sports and society on a day during the first week of February. NGWSD is celebrated annually across the United States and features community-based events, notable women athletes, awards, and other activities. The events are organized by members of the National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition, including the Women’s Sports Foundation, National Women’s Law Center, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and Girls, Inc.
Let’s give a special shout-out to our STEM Spartan ladies!
STEM parents surprise teachers with soup themed lunch
STEM secondary engineering students design elevator pulley system
Soaring to new heights!
That’s the name of this PBL (Problem Based Learning) unit that STEM Middle School engineering students are tackling. They begin by drawing out the blueprint design of their elevator, which is operated using a standard pulley system. Then they apply their design and modify it on their computers. Finally, they build a cardboard design of their elevator and watch it come to life.
How does a pulley system work? A pulley with one wheel allows you to reverse the direction of your lifting force by pulling down on a rope (that’s looped over the wheel), lifting your weight. With a two-wheel pulley, you reduce the effort you exert to lift the same amount of weight. You lift the weight with half the force. A pulley is a wheel that carries a flexible rope, cord, cable, chain, or belt on its rim. Pulleys are used singly or in combination to transmit energy and motion. Pulleys with grooved rims are called sheaves.
STEM's P-TECH Program looks toward the future as students earn college credits
All about P-TECH!
So many STEM students are benefiting from our P-TECH Program, which allows students to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Robotics and Automation degree or an Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity from ACC. Students can start in 9th grade and continue at STEM through year 14. The P-TECH pathways are Cybersecurity, Game Design and Development, and Robotics and Automation.
Check out this interview for more details about the program and look over our website for more information:
STEM celebrates five year charter renewal
Renewal celebration!
Cake for all as STEM celebrates our five year charter renewal from the Douglas County School District board.
It’s an exciting time for STEM and we are greatly looking forward to the next five years and beyond!
Playground design expert gives presentation to STEM 3rd graders for PBL unit
All about playgrounds!
Erin Starr, COO of Star Playgrounds, visited with STEM 2nd and 3rd graders to help give them some ideas about an ongoing PBL unit where students are designing a more inclusive playground.
Erin talked about her Littleton playground equipment business and how they integrate CAD into their operation.
The students also learned about cost management of the playground and how they might turn their visions into a reality. Thank you Erin for this insightful presentation and helping inspire ideas for the project!