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 Important Upcoming Dates
| August 29 |
Picture Make-ups
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| September 4 |
Labor Day (School Closed) |
| September 6 |
High School JET College Fair
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| September 12 |
BOD Meeting (Quorum pending)
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| September 13 |
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| September 19 |
Flu Shot Clinic
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| September 20 |
SAC meeting
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| September 21 |
Skate City PTO Event
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| September 21 |
Best of U - UK College Options Program
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| September 22 |
Professional Day (School Closed)
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Message from Our Executive Director
From the Desk of Dr. Penelope Eucker
2017 Test Scores Released
Congratulations STEM School Highlands Ranch
Colorado has released the results for our 2017 mandatory state tests.
STEM School Highlands Ranch is the highest scoring DCSD school for SAT, PSAT, and 9th grade science. Additionally, except for one elementary and one middle school in the district, we were the highest scoring in the district for science in grades 5 and 8. At 90.5% proficient and above, it is likely that we are the highest in the district for Algebra II.
Even though about 30% of our students opted out, we still managed to outscore DCSD in every category from grades 3 to 9. (Not counting our middle school grade-level math where most of our students take the Algebra I, II, and Geometry tests instead.)
Our students on IEPs (special education) scored 14 points higher than state average and 12 points higher than DCSD for growth. Congratulations to our hard-working special education providers for closing the achievement gap. Every ethnic group at STEM School Highlands Ranch significantly outscored the state and DCSD as compared to the ethnic group scores in other schools. Our welcoming, inclusive environment paired with high expectations for all students contribute to this achievement.
Elementary outscored every DCSD score although we do not "drill and kill" with endless worksheets that can crush the spirit of inquiry in our young students. Schools that emphasize these basic skills and take this approach tend to score higher, but our students score higher every year they remain with us as the testing shifts to the abstract and application of knowledge. Plus, they retain their love of learning that is so critical for future success.
This is a team effort with strong partnerships between our parents and teachers. Canvas and Google Classroom allow a constant flow of information between parents, teachers and students. Clear communication about learning objectives and progress toward those objectives result in higher achievement.
We do not simply teach to the test; we rely upon our rigorous curriculum and instructional platform that emphasizes critical thinking, creating new knowledge, and teamwork. These 21st century skills are so necessary for success in a global economy.
With our mission of never stop innovating, we recognize that we still have some work to do on our growth scores in some areas. High scoring students are more challenging to see growth, but we are confident that it is possible with thoughtful analytics and precise instruction. This will be one of our goals at STEM School Highlands Ranch this year.
For visuals of test score comparisons, see the table below and charts
here
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We can all feel great pride in our school!
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General Office Updates
Picture Make-ups
Make-ups will be on August 29th. More info
here.
Flu Shot Clinic September 19th
All information about the Flu Shot Clinic is on our website, including an announcement flier, information on the vaccine, a consent form, and a sign up link.
Yearbook Orders
Want to purchase your yearbook early and save money?
Link here and search for STEM School and then click on yearbook.
Volunteering At STEM
If you haven't already done so, y
ou can create your Volunteer Account in the
HelpCounter.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
Earn DOUBLE Volunteer Hours with Driveline
Learn how you can help with Driveline and earn double the volunteer hours on
here.
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Counseling Corner
Jesuit Educational Tour (JET) College Fair
When: Wednesday, September 6th, 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Where: STEM Elementary School Gym
Who: Current STEM students in grades 9-12 only
Students must sign up through Naviance by Friday, 9/1 to be excused from class. Visit
our website for a list of colleges attending this fair and to view
other
upcoming events.
News from the Student Support Team
Click here to read about:
- Screenagers film showing
- Sources of Strength Program
- Elementary students transitioning into the new school year
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Make sure to read through the All-School Update section of this newsletter for important updates.
Principal's Page - Did You Subscribe?
Visit the High School Principal page,
Principal Cody Blackburn, as he will be updating it with news particular to the High School.
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Attention National Junior Honor Society Members! The first meeting for NJHS will be
Friday, September 8th
after school (
2:55-3:45 p.m.) in room 105 (Mr. Haydel's Room).
If you have any questions please contact
Ms. Alfaro
or
Mr. Haydel
.
Sea Camp
The first trip departs October 23. Check the school website
Educational Trips for forms and more information.
All School News
Make sure to read through the All-School Update section of this newsletter for important updates.
Principal's Page - Did You Subscribe?
Please make sure to subscribe to Principal Weyman's
Principal Page as she will be updating it with news particular to the Middle School.
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Upcoming CogAT Assessment: 3rd and 5th Graders
Principal's Page - Did You Subscribe?
Please make sure to subscribe to Dr. Karen Johnson's
Principal Page as she will be updating it with news particular to the Elementary School.
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Check out the
Enrichment page
of the website and view the most recent
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Thank you from PTO Presidents
Lynne Paris and Angela Tolar
Thank you STEM Community, for a successful 4
th
Annual STEM Blast Off Family Social. What a great day! The weather was perfect, the day was full of amazing activities (giant water slides, human hamster balls, bouncy houses, face painters and much more!), delicious food, and smiling families making new friends.
Close to 500 people attended and we want to give a huge round of applause to the STEM Blast-Off Chairs and Committee for all their amazing effort and talent in creating such a wonderful event for our school. It was absolutely fabulous!
Thank you STEM Blast-Off Volunteers!
The dedicated committee members spent countless hours planning this event and it could not have happened without them: Kalissa Braga, CoChair; Susan Montgomery CoChair; Kelley Marie Paulson, CoChair; Marcia Britton, Tess Paultler, Champa Shrestha, Alicia Reid, Annegret Weckerle, Melyssa Wilson and Laura Wyse. Thank you to all our volunteers! For a full list, click here.
What did you think?
Did you like the event? Want to see more? How can we improve next year's STEM Blast Off? Please fill out this survey to give us your feedback. Thank you!
Our Sponsors
allowed families to support the event and promote their businesses. Your support allowed us to create the largest event we have ever held. A HUGE thank you! Please help us to recognize and support all the wonderful event sponsors for this year's event
Want to be a part of the new, improved PTO?
We're taking things to the next level!
The STEM community is rapidly growing and evolving in new and exciting ways and the PTO is embracing it with many new initiatives and offerings. You can be a part of it though the PTO! "Help be the change you want to see!" Simply take a few seconds to fill out the PTO Volunteer Interest Form and we'll be in touch soon!
Up Next:
9/13: PTO Meeting, Elementary Cafeteria, 6:30-8 p.m. (also available via Facebook Live)
9/21: Skate City, Littleton, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
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The Douglas County School District is Colorado's third-largest school district, serving more than 67,000 students in preschool through twelfth-grade.
Visit the
DCSD website
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The Foundation for Douglas County Schools (formerly the Douglas County Educational Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which works with corporations and organizations to develop private resources to enrich education within Douglas County schools for the fulfillment of lifelong learning experiences of our students, citizens and community.
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Coming Up!
Park -
Oct 7th, 7:00 p.m.
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STEM School Highlands Ranch | 303-683-7836 | www.stemk12.org
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