Weekly Parent Newsletter

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. Upcoming events include:

• Saturday, March 9 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) - Boys JV Volleyball at DCHS JV Tournament
• Saturday, March 9 (12 & 2 p.m.) - Girls' JV & Varsity Soccer at Sky View High School (Thornton)
• Sunday, March 10 - Daylight Savings Time
• March 11-15 - Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Monday, March 11 (6-7:30 p.m.) - Boys' Volleyball vs. Arrupe Jesuit (Secondary Gym)
• Tuesday, March 12 (8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) - Spring Photo Make-Up Day & Elementary Portraits (ES Gym)
• Wednesday, March 13 (6:30-8 p.m.) - STEM PTO Monthly Meeting (Zoom)
• Thursday, March 14 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) - Career Discovery Day (Secondary Gym)
• Thursday, March 14 (3:30-7 p.m.) - Secondary Parent-Teacher Conferences (Secondary Cafe, Commons, Secondary Gym)
• Friday, March 15 - No School - Teacher Work Day
• Friday, March 15 (8-11:30 a.m.) - Secondary Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 16-24 - High School France and Germany Trip
• March 20-23 - FRC Colorado Regional Competition (Denver)

Dear STEM Parents and Community,

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year's Wish Week campaign and made it a huge success. The students and staff enjoyed the assemblies, spirit days, evening events, and restaurant nights. Everyone is so happy to see Bella's wish of going to Disneyworld with her family come true!

We are looking forward to seeing all of you at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent-teacher conferences are an important part of supporting your student's academic growth and development and a contributing factor to your student's overall success. We are committed to partnering with every parent and/or guardian.

Elementary School conferences are being offered Monday through Friday of next week and are pre-scheduled with your student's teacher. Secondary conferences will be on Thursday night and Friday morning. Secondary teachers will be available for 10-minute intervals and will be located in the secondary gym, athletic entrance hallway and middle school cafeteria.

If you cannot attend your student's conference, please contact your student's teacher and/or building director to schedule a conversation on another day.

Click the button below to continue reading the update about Secondary Standards-Based Learning and Grading.

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

• Upcoming events
  
• Elementary Yearbook Information
• Important Elementary School Driveline Reminders
  
• CMAS Testing Information

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

• Upcoming Events
  
• College and Career Newsletter
• Senior Cap and Gown Information
  
• Summer Programming Opportunities
• 2024 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Award Nominations
• NYU GSTEM High School Research Program
  
• AI Scholarships for 2024 AI Camp
• FREE Virtual Exchange STEM Program

The Backpack Society is an organization that partners with schools in Douglas County and Littleton Public Schools to reach students in need. They are a 100% community supported nonprofit based in Highlands Ranch. They collect food donations and raise funds for students who are sturggling with food insecurity.

• Click here to learn more about the Backpack Society
• Click here to sign-up to receive food

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

• Boys' Volleyball Home Opener Next Monday!
• Download the new STEM Spartans Athletics App
• New Athletics Website!

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
• Summer with STEM School
• 4th Quarter Enrichment Club Registrations Opening Soon
• Donations and Volunteers Needed for TSA State Competition
• Elementary and Secondary Club Registrations

Spartmart is the place to get all of your STEM Spartan Gear. The SpartMart is run by High School Students from our Business Department, who have a passion for building school culture and spirit. Check out our selection below.

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
• Vision and Hearing Screening Volunteers (Need 24)
• Click here to donate tissues to our Front Offices
• Click here to donate Newspapers for Art Class
  
• Click here to donate for the 6th Grade Keystone Trip
• Click here to sign-up for CyberPatriot snack donations
  
• 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.

As the Center for Strength approaches the closing of its doors, their heart is to meet the needs of the STEM community. Some of their events/programs are in need of funding and they are asking for your help. Please click the button below to see all of the ways that you can get involved.

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

Niche.com is an online platform that helps connect families with their future schools in their neighborhoods. It is one of the top search platforms that families use when looking for a new school. If you love STEM and what we have to offer your student(s), please consider leaving us a review. Click the button below to visit our school's profile, where you can leave a review.

You can also leave us a review on our Google Business page. Click the button below to share why you love STEM School Highlands Ranch.

Thank you in advance!

Currently, we are excited to announce we are recruiting for the following positions:

• Associate Director of Admissions
  
• In-House Substitute Teacher
• Long-Term Substitute Teacher
• Elementary Instructional Assistant
• High School Educational Assistant