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From the Desk of:
Executive Director, P.J. Eucker, PhD
STEM or STEAM?
Nic Garcia from
Chalkbeat Colorado wrote a feature article on STEM in Colorado and profiled our school. In his story, he said any quality STEM program is really STEAM. The "A" is for the arts. He highlighted our music students and how they produced an album from lyrics to production.
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Quick Links to Newsletter Sections
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All School News and Updates 
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Professional Development Day
No School for students tomorrow, Friday, November 11th.
The school is closed.
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State Mandated Testing:
If you choose to excuse your student from State Mandated Testing in the Spring, please do so by December 15th. This form must be filled out each year. Directions can be found under the Parent Excusal Form on the State Mandated Testing page of our website. This allows us to build an efficient schedule to protect instructional time. Questions? Contact Hannah Reese,
Assistant Principal | Academic Dean.
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Intent to Return to STEM for 2017-2018 School Year:
The Douglas County Open Enrollment window begins on
November 1, 2016. STEM will begin accepting students for enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year on
December 1, 2016. Please take a moment to complete the form below to let us know if your currently enrolled STEM student plans to return, or to enroll at another school for the 2017-2018 school year. It is not necessary to Open Enroll your current student. If you have friends or family that are interested in STEM, please have them place their student on the Enrollment List located on the STEM website.
If you currently have a student enrolled at STEM and would like to enroll a sibling, please place their name on the enrollment waitlist located on the STEM website. Please be sure to include the name of your current student in the "Sibling Enrolled" box.
We do offer sibling priority for grade level availability.
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Important message!
From our Chief Operation Officer, Robert Hoornstra:
The Transportation Management Plan (TMP) was prepared by STEM School and Academy, in cooperation with Douglas County Department of Public Works, by identifying best traffic procedures to maintain and improve existing neighborhood traffic
flows, while mitigating potential impacts on adjacent businesses.
Under the current Plan, the High School parking lot was never intended to be used for student drop off and pick up. Through our transportation consultant the High School, lot access was granted for STAFF PARKING ONLY. However, over the previous few months this lot is mistakenly being used as a full movement access point.
The Douglas County Department of Public Works came to observe our situation on
September 29, 2016 and provided traffic feedback that using the High School lot as student drop off and pick up, it severely hampers traffic flow, street grid lock persists and it causes unnecessary delays on S. Barrons Blvd. and Bluepoint Road.
We want to be a good neighbor and to accomplish this, we need to quickly this situation. In order to make this happen, the STEM School will cone off and close this lot at 7:30 am each day beginning November 10, 2016 and reserves the right to further restrict future use of this lot.
Please help us abide by these transportation safety rules.
We are working to improve the driveline process and need your input!
One way to streamline the driveline is to maximize carpooling and/or use buses to decrease the number of vehicles in driveline.
If you haven't already, please complete this short survey by Monday, 11/14.
Thank you! |
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| STEM Carpooling Committee |
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SPART MART BLACK FRIDAY SALE
Attention STEM Families,
On
Friday, November 18th, the Spart Mart will be hosting a Black Friday sale in the morning in the Elementary lobby from
7:30am to 8:15am.
Stop by and purchase a drink, get one food item for free!
Also, for $35, there will be a Black
Friday bundle deal!
It includes:
- Sticker
- Lanyard
- Drawstring Backpack
We hope to see you then!
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Upcoming Dates
Nov. 7-15 STEM Elementary Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive
Nov. 11 No School - Professional Development Day
Nov. 14-18 7th Grade SeaCamp Trip
Nov. 15-19 8th Grade Kansas City Trip
Nov. 15 College Search Part 1 for Juniors (and Parents)
Nov. 16 Academy Committee Meeting
Nov. 16 HS Showcase Event
Nov. 16 SAC Meeting
Nov. 17 International College Options (ICO)
Nov. 19 STEM First Tech Challenge Scrimmage
Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving Break - No School
Nov. 28 Vision & Hearing Screening (through Dec. 1)
Nov. 29 6-8 Grade Drama Field Trip
Nov. 29 Allies in Diversity club's Middle School movie night
Nov. 30 Drama Production
Nov. 30 4th Grade Manitou Cliff Dwellings Field Trip
Dec. 01 Simple Solutions
Dec. 02 TSA Run Offs
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We Need Your Input!
Dear STEM Parents and Staff,
As many of you know, the STEM school is currently undergoing an evaluation of its brand and communications methods. As part of this process, we recently emailed an online survey to over 3,000 key community stakeholders, including all of the current parents and stuff.
Just in case you missed the email, we are providing a link below.
We want to be certain that each and every parent takes the time to complete this survey. It is vitally important to this process.
Please take some time to complete this survey. We thank you, in advance, for your time, thoughts and comments.
STEM SURVEY LINK
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HEY EVERYONE!
Yes you!
- Do want to see the amazing learning happening at STEM?
- Do you want updates on special events?
- Do you want to see great pictures of students and staff?
FOLLOW us on SOCIAL MEDIA
Don't wait, Do it now. Links are below!
  
And, we are now on SNAPCHAT!
We are partnering with Mrs. Ramon's marketing class. STEM student, Andrew Schoenherr will be working with us to create three or more SNAP stories a week. We've even got our own geofiler!
Download SNAPCHAT APP HERE and search
thebeststem and follow us!
Here is a pic of our welcome SNAP! Join us.
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STEM EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP (PTO)
A new event organized by S.T.E.P
Please join us for dinner;
- Wednesday, November 30th at the Lone Tree Panera Bread to benefit STEP at STEM school. Click here for flyer.
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Wednesday, December 13th, from 3:30 - 8:00 pm at Freddy's Steakburgers,
click for flyer
What is STEP: The
ST
EM
E
ducational
P
artnership (STEP)
is a volunteer Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) that uses its resources (materials, funds and services) to support our school. Every parent, every teacher and every staff member at STEM School is granted membership in STEP. There are no dues to pay or requirements to meet. STEP's objective is to promote open communication between STEM parents, teachers, and staff, to support STEM's educational needs, and to foster a sense of school-wide community and spirit. We take pride in doing all we can to enhance the learning environment of our children as they are our future. All of us working together can help make this happen.
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Counseling Corner
Second semester Schedule Changes:
We have already received schedule change request forms for 2nd semester. Please note the following:
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Schedule change requests will be considered
during the 1st week of 2nd semester
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Every request
WILL NOT be fulfilled
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Additional criteria regarding schedule change requests will be shared toward the end of 1st semester. A new form will likely be used.
- We appreciate your patience and understanding with this matter
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Volunteer News and Information
Elementary Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive:
Elementary classrooms are collecting food items to create Thanksgiving meal baskets for families at Greenlee Elementary in Denver. Their goal is to create four baskets per classroom.
We need two parents, per each elementary classroom to help sort foods and create baskets on
Wednesday November 16th
. We also need six drivers
on Thursday
afternoon, November 17th at
3:45
to load the food baskets and deliver them to Greenlee Elementary in Denver. We can leave after school through the driveline and go together as a convoy.
To sign up,
click here
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Other Volunteer Opportunities
- Lots of various "donation" opportunities
- Gift card rewards for students
- Drama class production
- Crash club donations
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Middle School Student Government
candy grams for charity
- Classroom donations
- Veteran's Day letter activity
You can see these and more opportunities on the Volunteer Page of the website.
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High School News
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Click here for video newsletter
What's Mr. Blackburn chatting about today?
Listen to his video newsletter for more info on:
- High School Showcase, November 16
- The Matchwits Competition on Rocky Mountain PBS
- Lighting work in the Video Production Class
- What's happening in the AP Biology Enzyme Lab
- A Quest for female basketball players
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MANDATORY CE Registration Meeting
Who: All students with CE courses @ STEM on their Spring schedule
What: Students will register for Spring courses at ACC
When:
December 7th from
3:30-5:00pm
Where: HS Cafeteria
Why: ACC & STEM are piloting letting students enroll for their ACC courses via the ACC portal.
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From the Desk of:
Principal Leanne Weyman
Next week, we have two groups of STEM students attending their extended field trips!
Sea Camp:
Early
on Monday morning, a group of about 50 7th graders will be traveling to SeaCamp in San Diego.
Below is from the from the Sea Camp website:
SEACAMP
"San Diego Sea Camp is a marine science camp offering a range of programs throughout the school year and summer. Since 1987 it has been our goal to supplement traditional marine biology classroom study by providing hands-on education programs for students of all ages. Marine science is a multidisciplinary field, therefore Sea Camp covers a wide variety of subjects including marine ecology, physical oceanography and marine biology, ranging from marine mammals to plankton. Our hands-on labs and workshops are geared to tie-in with our outdoor education field activities."
Kansas City Science and Engineering Tour:
On Tuesday morning, 71 or our 8th graders will be headed to Kansas City for a science and engineering tour. Students will be visiting the Harley Davidson Manufacturing Plant, the Truman Library, the Garmin Plant and the Shatto Milk and Bottling Company. Students will see first hand how our problem-based learning model works in a career setting.
Teacher Spotlight:
Ms. Hoffman and Ms. Schufreider's 6th grade Social Studies classes took time today to write letters to veterans in honor of Veteran's Day.
Students were able to write a letter to a loved one or a veteran who has served or is currently serving in the armed forces.
News from the Middle School Student Council
Spirit Week is December 5-9
Monday 12/5- Stem Spirit Day
Show your Stem Spirit by wearing yellow and blue
Tuesday 12/6 - Twinning is Winning
Dress up exactly the same as your friend
Wednesday 12/7 - Tacky Tourist Day
Today you are taking a vacation to the world of Stem
Thursday 12/8 - Throwback Thursday
Show how you think people dressed back in the day
Friday 12/9- Holiday Fun Friday
Show your holiday spirit!
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Elementary School News
From the Desk of:
Karen Johnson, PhD
Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders!
Please be respectful of the staff and procedures that are in place for the safety of your students.
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School starts at 8:20. Siblings of middle and high school students
should not
arrive prior to 7:45 for sibling club. If you need to drop off students prior to that time, sign up for BASE.
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Teachers begin supervising students
outside
at 8:05. Do not drop students off prior to that time. If supervision is necessary, sign up for BASE.
- 2nd through 5th grade students are dismissed at 3:10. Elementary students need to be picked up at this time. Students not picked up by 3:30, will be in the elementary lobby area and parents will be required to park and come inside to pick them up. If you need supervision after this time, sign up for BASE. Teachers cannot supervise students after 3:30.
- Student Council: Thanksgiving Baskets
- New!! Breakfast Program for Elementary
- Thanksgiving Lunch for Families
- Lost & Found
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We now have a elementary staff favorites binder at the Elementary front desk. It has all elementary staff's favorite items listed by grade, class designation (Chinese, Art etc) and all office and EA staff. All parents are allowed to look at the binder at any time just ask the front desk staff.
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FBLA - Future Business Leaders of America
We are bringing FBLA to STEM! FBLA is a high school organization that promotes bringing businesses and education together through leadership opportunities, career development, and academic competitions.
FBLA invites all high school students to join the group on November 29th at
3:30 pm for the kickoff meeting! In order to join FBLA, students must have previously taken or currently be enrolled in a Business class (Financial Literacy, Business Principles, Marketing, or Entrepreneurship). Click
HERE to learn more and register.
- Middle School Basketball Interest
- Sewing Club
- Helping with our Spartan After School Club (formerly known as Homework Club)
Newsletter
Would you like to receive our Academy newsletter? Please contact
Sara.Phelps@stemhigh.org.
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Douglas Country School District News
Douglas County Educational Foundation
Community Events
- Douglas County Community Night with the Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnepeg Jets is on Friday, Nov 11 at 7 pm. For more information and tickets, link here: www.avstix.com/DC2016
Click here to subscribe to the Douglas County Association for Gifted & Talented (DCAGT) Newsletter.
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