Weekly Parent Newsletter

It is hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us. We have much to be thankful for and many opportunities to celebrate as a STEM Community.

Thank You DCSD Voters

Staff received their first increased paychecks this past week. I have heard from quite a few staff members how this has positively impacted their lives and made this holiday season a bit brighter. The passage of 5A provided funding to increase licensed salaries by 9-11%, hourly employees by $2/hour, and admin and non-licensed employees by 7.5%. Additionally, STEM has set aside funds for increased stipend opportunities for coaches and employees who help with our extracurricular and Enrichment programming. Please see the special thank you from Mr. Kerwin, one of our HS History teachers. Thank you for supporting the educators in Douglas County and at STEM.

It's that time of year! We're starting to prepare for the 2024-25 School Year (can you believe it?!?), and we need our CURRENT STEM Families to complete the Intent to Return/Not Return process.

This information will help our Leadership Team plan for the new school year regarding budgeting, facility use, staffing, and more. This process also helps us to know how many new students we will have openings for in the upcoming school year so that we can invite students during the Open Enrollment Window during the month of December.

Please complete a separate form for each of your CURRENTLY ATTENDING STEM students so that we know your student is either returning or not returning to STEM. Completing the form does not require your student to attend STEM for next year should you change your enrollment plans. The form allows you to update your submission should you change your mind over the next few months.

Click on the STEM Events Calendar to see everything that is happening at STEM. We've added Enrichment and Athletic Events to the calendar as well.

Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 5, starting at 5:30 p.m. for the Boys' Basketball Home Opener. Let's pack the Secondary Gym as the Boys' Basketball team kicks off their home season against Abraham Lincoln.

Did you miss your chance to get a limited edition Basketball T-Shirt? We've ordered extra so you can still place your order. Pick up for all orders will be starting at 9 a.m. at the Secondary Front Office on Monday morning.

In this week's Elementary News, you can find information about:

• Final Performance of Clue
• Court Warming Spirit Week - Basketball Home Opener
  
• KOSON/STEM Monthly Board Meeting
• Elementary Choir Concert - December 11
• STEM PTO Monthly Meeting
• STEAM Day - K-12
• ES Winter Spirit Week
• STEM PTO Cookie Exchange
• Reminder! Check your MySchoolBucks Account

In this week's Secondary News, you can find information about:

• Final Performance of Clue
• Court Warming Spirit Week - Basketball Home Opener
  
• Boston Trip Information Meeting (2024 Eighth Graders)
• KOSON/STEM Monthly Board Meeting
• France & Italy 2025 Trip Interest Meeting
• Boys' Basketball Home Opener
• Nerds Night Out
• TSA Run-Offs
• Secondary Winter Concert
• STEM PTO Monthly Meeting
• STEAM Day - K-12
• STEM PTO Cookie Exchange
• Reminder! Please check your MySchoolBucks
  
• So Much More!
  

We ask that all families contribute 30 hours (or more) of volunteering to STEM. Families can give of their time or make a Volunteer-Hour Donation. See all the opportunities available:

• Volunteer sign ups in Raptor Volunteer Portal
• Lunchroom helper
• Driveline helper
• Theater Production Volunteer
• CyberPatriot Snack Donation Request
• TSA Run-Offs Donations Request
• Our Health Room needs donations - Click here for the Amazon Wishlist
  
• Donate snacks for Enrichment Clubs
  
• Staff's Amazon Wishlists
• Make a Volunteer-Hours Donation via MySchoolBucks

Volunteering is easy. Once you're approved in our Raptor System, browse the Upcoming Events in the Volunteer Portal and sign-up! Your Volunteer Hours will automatically be logged when you sign-in for the event.

Each week we'll share important Athletics News with our community. Updates are written by Athletics Director Susan Jones. In this week's update:

• Cross Country receives top honor
• Volleyball Season Ends with Several Awards
• Basketball Tickets Being Sold Online
• New Athletics Website!
• Watch Spartans Live!

Enrichment at STEM is the place students can find all of the school’s after-school, summer, and other enrichment offerings.

• Donate to STEM's Enrichment Program
• Elementary, Middle and High School Club Registrations

Want to see all the Good Things happening at STEM? Check out our Sharing Our Good News post. Each week we share photos, videos and information about the Good News that has happened that week.

Each week our STEM PTO puts together a newsletter for our community, sharing information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.