Weekly Parent Newsletter

Election Day is coming up quickly. I got an email this week that my vote has officially been counted. Has yours? Make sure that your voice is heard! The current election is considered an off-year election, meaning there is no presidential or midterm election taking place. As of today, the number of ballots that have been turned in is low compared to the last off-year election in 2021. What we know about off-year elections is that the majority of people who vote are generally aged 55 and over and do not have school-aged children. Voter turnout among our staff and our parent community will be key to this election!

It’s been amazing to see so many painted cars and yard signs in support of 5A and 5B. However, painted cars and yard signs do not translate into votes – those ballots must be turned in. If you have not turned in your ballot yet, I suggest that you drop it off rather than mailing it to be 100% sure it gets there in time.

Here’s what you can do to help:

• Please be sure to turn in your ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. Visit www.DouglasVotes.com to find locations where you can drop off your ballot.
• Talk to your friends, family, neighbors, and school community and encourage them to turn in their ballots.
• Track the status of your ballot at www.DouglasVotes.com.

Learn More About Funding
As you know, funding for our school district is on the ballot – 5A - Mill Levy Override and 5B - Bond. You can find information to share about these initiatives on our website at www.dcsdk12.org/funding. The website also includes Arguments For and Against 5A and 5B to help keep all of us in compliance with the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Campaign Do’s and Don’ts
Here are a few reminders about what you can and cannot do when it comes to sharing information about these ballot measures. You will need to be signed into your dcsdk12.org email address to access the document.

DCSD Funding in the News
DCSD’s funding challenges and the Mill Levy Override and Bond initiatives have been talked about in the media a lot lately. Check out the links below to see stories with interviews from DCSD staff and Board members.

• DCSD Superintendent Erin Kane on the Mandy Connell Show - 850 KOA (October 31)
• DCSD Superintendent on the Marty Lenz show - 850KOA (October 25)
• Board President talks 5A and 5B with George Brauchler - 710 KNUS (October 24)
• Parker resident says voting in favor of school funding measures will benefit local business - Colorado Community Media (October 24)
• Board President Mike Peterson on 5A and 5B with Jimmy Sengenberger - 710 KNUS (October 21)
• Board President Peterson discusses 5A and 5B with Steffan Tubbs - 710 KNUS (October 20)
• DougCo School Board's Christy Williams on Bond Issue - 850KOA (October 20)
• Disheartening Drive: Douglas County teachers deal with metro district pay gap - Colorado Community Media (October 19) (FRONT PAGE ARTICLE!)
• Mike Peterson talks mill levy bond issue for Dougco School District - CBS4 News (October 18)
• Education Corner: The Power of One - Colorado Community Media (October 17)
• Teacher Pay and Ballot Issues 5A and 5B - Macaroni Kid (October 16)
• Board President Mike Peterson on the Mandy Connell Show - 850KOA (October 11)
• COLUMN: DougCo schools seek tax hike to stem brain drain - Denver Gazette (October 6)
• Lone Tree council supports Douglas County School District ballot measures - Colorado Community Media (October 2)
• Superintendent Kane talks with Jimmy Sengenberger - 710KNUS (September 30)
• Parker Chamber hosts town hall on Douglas County School District ballot initiatives to increase funding - Colorado Community Media (September 28)
• Castle Rock Council votes to support Douglas County School District ballot initiatives for funding - Colorado Community Media (September 27)
• Douglas County school leaders hope voters will pass tax to raise teacher pay - 7News (September 25)

Thank you,

LynAnn Kovalesky, STEM Executive Director

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.

Please complete this form by December 15, 2023.

If you are planning on staying at STEM for the 2024-25 school year, you do not need to do anything during the Open Enrollment window.

Current Families with Siblings Wanting to Attend STEM

Does your current STEM student have a sibling interested in attending STEM for the 2024-25 school year? Did you know that they have priority during the Open Enrollment window? Please be sure to complete the Open Enrollment process that opened on November 1 through the DCSD Open Enrollment Engage Portal. Find out more information here. The First Round of Open Enrollment will close on December 1.

Looking to enroll in your neighborhood school (or another Charter School using the DCSD Open Enrollment Tool)?

Families who are looking to leave STEM to attend their neighborhood school or attend another Charter School (that uses the DCSD Open Enrollment tool), must complete the Open Enrollment process through the DCSD Open Enrollment Tool. The First Round of the Open Enrollment Window for DCSD will close on December 1 at 4 p.m. The Second Round of the Open Enrollment Window will open on January 22 at 8 a.m. and close on August 1, 2024, at 4 p.m.

(Note: Parents of any students who wish to go back to their neighborhood middle school for their 7th-grade year must file an intent to return form, by January 10, 2024; applicable also for parents of 6th-grade students whose attendance area is within the Cimarron Middle School, Rocky Heights Middle School and Sagewood Middle School boundaries.)

Please email info@stemk12.org with any questions about this message.

The Foundation for Douglas County Schools is proud to honor exceptional educators and staff who are inspiring a love of learning in students and are trailblazing extraordinary innovation in our schools. Over the years, the Apple Awards has grown to engage the entire community, bringing in thousands of nominations every year for teachers and staff members across the district.

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

• Update from Mrs. McElroy
• Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive
• Veterans Day Celebration - RSVP Here
• Book Fair
• Important Dates
• KOSON/STEM Monthly Board of Directors' Meeting
• STEM PTO Monthly Meeting
• Scholastic Book Fair - November 13-17
• Reminder! Check your MySchoolBucks Account
• Lost and Found Check
• Holiday Meal Boxes from the Backpack Society
• So much more!

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

• Director Messages from Mrs. Ridder and Mr. Alsup
• Thanksgiving Food Drive
• KOSON/STEM Monthly Board of Director Meeting
• STEM PTO Monthly Meeting
• High School Sports Night
• Middle School Dance
• Reminder! Please check your MySchoolBucks
• Check the Lost and Found
• Holiday Meal Boxes from the Backpack Society
  
• 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:

• Click here to sign-up to Chaperone the Middle School Dance (November 10)
• Click here to sign-up to Donate a Snack/Drink item for the Middle School Dance
• Want to serve as a judge for DECA Districts? Email nicole.bostel@stemk12.org
• 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:

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.