Weekly Parent Newsletter

Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,

We thank you for being a part of our STEM community and value your efforts in helping us continually improve. We believe that our continual collaborative efforts will support our growth and improve STEM for your children. Please take the time to read more below about our School Accountability Committee (SAC), how their work also supports our school, and how you can impact change with just a few minutes of your time.

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.

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.

Deadline to nominate is Sunday, Nov. 12!

Let's be the sixth man and pack the gym for the Boys' Basketball season opener against Abraham Lincoln High School, and show our STEM Spartan Pride by representing with a special-edition Spartan Basketball T-Shirt.

The presale will close on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. so that I can place the order for the shirts and have them for distribution on Monday, Dec. 4. Proceeds from this sale will go to our Athletic Department to support our Student-Athletes.

During November, our staff set aside time to reflect upon the positive aspects of our STEM community. We are incredibly thankful for our students, staff, and families. Our students keep us on our toes and challenge us to be better educators, our colleagues support one another in our professional growth, and our parents positively collaborate to ensure the best outcomes for our children.

Thank you to those who voted for 5A. This funding will provide an increase to every staff persons’ salary and decrease the salary gaps between our district and the surrounding districts. Our fantastic staff members are so thankful as it directly impacts their daily lives.

STEM would like also to recognize those who have served our country today. Thank you for your years of service. We are grateful for your sacrifices and commitment to our country.

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

• Thanksgiving Food Drive
• Scholastic Book Fair - November 13-17
  
• HipPOPs Gelato Truck - November 17
• Blue vs. Gold BasketballScrimmage - November 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:

• Thanksgiving Food Drive
  
• HipPOPs Gelato Truck - November 17
• Blue vs. Gold BasketballScrimmage - November 17
• 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:

• Volunteer sign ups in Raptor Volunteer Portal
• Scholastic Book Fair
• Lunchroom helper
• Driveline helper
• Theater Production Volunteer
• TSA Run-Offs Donations Request
• Donate snacks for theater production Clue
• 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:

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.