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Weekly Parent Newsletter
Friday, March 1, 2024
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Friday, March 1, 2024
Upcoming STEM School Highlands Ranch Events
What's Happening at STEM
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:
- Friday, March 1-Friday, March 8 - NHS Wish Week
- Monday, March 4 (4:30 & 5:30 p.m.) - Boys' Volleyball JV and Varsity vs. The Vanguard School Season Home Opener (Secondary Gym)
- Tuesday, March 5 (7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) - Vision and Hearing Screening
- Tuesday, March 5 (3:15-4 p.m.) - Student Forum/Information Session (High School Commons)
- Tuesday, March 5 (5-7 p.m.) - STEM's Got Talent Dress Rehearsal for Students
- Tuesday, March 5 (5:30-7 p.m.) - KOSON/STEM Monthly Board Meeting (KOSON/P-TECH Building)
- Wednesday, March 6 (7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) - Vision and Hearing Screening
- Wednesday, March 6 (5 & 6 p.m.) - Boys Volleyball JV and Varsity vs. Aurora West College Prep (Secondary Gym)
- Wednesday, March 6 (7-9 p.m.) - Wish Week - Nerds Night Out (High School Commons)
- Thursday, March 7 (6-9 p.m.) - STEM's Got Talent Show (Mission Hills Church)
- Friday, March 8 (3:30-6 p.m.) - Wish Week - Carnival
- Sunday, March 10 - Daylight Savings Time
- March 11-15 - Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 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 (12-1 p.m.) - Secondary Parent-Teacher Conferences (Virtual)
- Friday, March 15 (1-3:30 p.m.) - Secondary Parent-Teacher (In-person)
- March 16-24 - Spring Break
Check-In with Ms. Kovalesky
Dear STEM Parents and Community
It is hard to believe that STEM is entering the hiring season for the 2024-25 school year. STEM values its employees and strives to recruit and retain top employees. Each year, we ask our staff to inform us of their intent to return so that we can continue our planning process for the new school year.
Our Master Schedule is created and impacted by the following factors:
- Intent to Return Data
- Incoming students for the new school year
- Returning Staff
Data collection during this process is so important, so we strongly encourage families to inform us as soon as possible if their enrollment needs are changing. This year, we will send the Intent to Return/Not Return form again in late April/Early May to get one more look at the projected enrollment of our current families. If you have any questions, please email registrar@stemk12.org first so that we can answer your questions.
School News and Updates
Elementary News/Updates
In this week's Elementary News, you can find information about:
- A message from Mrs. McElroy, Elementary School Director
- Upcoming events
- Important Elementary School Driveline Reminders
- CMAS Testing Information
Secondary News/Updates
In this week's Secondary News, you can find information about:
- A message from Mrs. Ridder and Mr. Alsup
- Upcoming Events
- Reminder about upcoming Concurrent Enrollment Deadlines
- SAT Questionnaire Info for 11th-grade Families
- PSAT10 Questionnaire Info for 9th- and 10th-Grade Families
- Senior Cap and Gown Information
- Summer Programming Opportunities
- 2024 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Award Nominations
- Testing Accommodation Information for PSAT and SAT
- NYU GSTEM High School Research Program
- FREE Virtual Exchange STEM Program
- AI Scholarship for 2024 AI Camp
- FBLA State Judge Request
Resources from the BackPack Society
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.
Sharing Our Good News
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.
The STEM Experience
Athletics News/Updates
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 News/Updates
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
Get Your STEM Spartan Gear at SpartMart
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.
STEM Mountain Shirt
$15
Spartan Long-Sleeved Grey Shirt
$20
Spartan Computer/Messenger Bag
$20
Get Involved at STEM
Donations and Volunteering News/Updates
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 items for Middle School Game Night
- Click here to donate items for Wish Week
- Click here to make a monetary donation to Wish Week
- 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
We Need Volunteers
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.
Center for Strength is Closing. Help them reach their donation need for their closing events
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.
STEM PTO News/Updates
Each week our STEM PTO puts together a newsletter for our community, sharing information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.
Do You Love STEM?
Leave us a review!
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!
Employment Opportunities at STEM
Currently, we are excited to announce we are recruiting for the following positions: