STEM SPOTLIGHT

The first week of school has been nothing short of amazing! Our halls are filled with energy, laughter, and the excitement of new beginnings. From reconnecting with friends to diving into learning, our STEM community is off to an incredible start to the 2025-26 school year!

Please use the Table of Contents to the left to jump immediately down to the three major sections of the newsletter:

• Important Dates and Events
• Elementary Newsletter
• Secondary Newsletter

We’d love to see your First Day of School moments! Please share your photos and videos using the link below so we can feature them on our social media and in school highlights. Thank you for helping us capture these special memories!

Are you interested in making an impact at STEM? Join us for the new Parent Teacher Committee Interest Meeting on August 28th from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM in Room E136 in the Secondary building. Learn how you can get involved in supporting our students, staff, and community!

If you have noticed that your fees for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals are not waived in MySchoolBucks, please reach out to Ashley.Westfall@stemk12.org

Please check these pages regularly for the most accurate event dates and times.

Kick off the new school year at STEM’s biggest family celebration—our PTO Blast Off event—where fun, games, and community help support our amazing Student Government and student-run clubs!

The STEM PTO Blast Off event is Wednesday, September 17th and we can’t wait to celebrate with our community! Wristband and ticket sales directly support Elementary & Secondary Student Government and student clubs—so every purchase helps our students thrive.

Pre-sale wristbands are on sale now for $15, or you can get 25 tickets for $20. You can purchase your pre-sale wristbands and tickets through MySchoolBucks by clicking the link below. Prices go up at the door, so purchase today! Pre-sale orders close on September 10th.

Your wristband includes unlimited access to exciting activities like Luigi’s Game Truck, Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course (Elementary students only), Corn Hole, Bootcamp Challenge Obstacle Course (Secondary students only) and two mystery game booths!

In addition to wristband activities, there will be special games available for just 1 ticket per play. Become a superhero or animal with Face Painting, tackle the 25 Foot Rock Climbing Wall Volcano, compete in the Duck Race, race friends on the 3 Lane Bungee Run or dunk a MYSTERY STEM teacher or staff member in the Dunk Tank! There’s something fun for everyone, no matter your age!

Purchase both the Wristband and Ticket Bundle to access EVERY ACTIVITY!

And don’t forget to bring your appetite—Kona Ice and a food truck will be on-site serving up tasty food and sweet treats. Come for the fun, stay for the food, and support our amazing STEM students!

Please click the link below to read full updates from Mrs. McElroy, Elementary Principal.

This is a parents only event. Elementary Back-to-School Night will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21st, from 5 PM - 6:30 PM. Back-to-School Night is an opportunity to learn about your child(ren) classroom and the expectations for the year. Schedule of the evening is below.

5 PM - 5:20 PM - Welcome Message in ES Gym

5:30 PM - 5:50 PM - Session 1: K-5 presentations in the classroom

6 PM - 6:20 PM - Session 2: K-5 presentations in the classroom (only if needed for families with multiple students)

Picture day will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26th. Picture order forms will be in your child’s Friday folder. Retakes will be held at a later date this fall.

Our Elementary Health Room is in need of clothing donations to help care for our students. Girls’ leggings, undergarments, and pants in sizes 4T/5T are needed most, along with boys 4T/5T sweatpants. All sizes and clothing for boys and girls are welcome.

Donations can be dropped off or shipped to:

STEM School Highlands Ranch

Attn: Julie Adamek

8773 S. Ridgeline Blvd.

Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Thank you for supporting our students and helping us meet their needs!

We’re looking for Elementary volunteers to help support our students and staff during driveline, lunch and recess! Sign up below to join in and make a difference.

Please click the links below to read full updates from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Principal, and Mr. Alsup, High School Principal. These updates have important information about High School and Middle School that all parents should be informed about.

Back to School Night will be Wednesday, August 20th from 5 PM –7:30 PM. This is a parents-only event. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your student’s teachers as you follow an abbreviated bell schedule. Please be sure to print out a copy of your child’s SILVER day schedule.

If your child missed SPARTAN START Picture Day on August 11th, they will be photographed for the yearbook and their student ID on Friday, August 22nd during the school day. This is not a school-wide picture retake day—only students who missed SPARTAN START will be photographed. Our staff has a list of these students and our staff will email these parents directly with a reminder. The official school-wide picture retake day will take place later in the year.

Families can now register their Middle School and High School students for Secondary After School Care! Registration link is below. By registering through this link, this one-time registration allows your child to attend any day without additional sign-ups. Secondary After School Care is a drop-in service available from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM on all full school days (no service on half-days, holidays, virtual days, or snow days).

Once you complete the registration form, your information will be added to the SmartCare system, and you’ll receive an email with payment options. Families will be charged $10 per session through SmartCare for each day their student attends.

After School Care is held in the Middle School Cafeteria, with pickup at the Athletics Entrance on the west side of the building. For questions, please call (720) 679-7478.

Middle School and High School students are invited to audition for "Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic." Auditions will be held, Monday, August 18th from 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Theater Room. Performances run November 13th - 15th.

If your child can't make in-person auditions, they can still audition virtually by submitting a virtual audition by Friday, August 22nd. Please email Mr. Morgan for more information: morgan.roberts@stemk12.org

BELL SCHEDULE

Secondary School (6-12): 8 AM - 3:30 PM

Elementary School (K-1): 8:10 AM - 3 PM

Elementary School (2-5): 8:10 AM - 3:10 PM

AFTER-CARE HOURS

B.A.S.E. (K-5) 6:30 AM - 8:05 AM and 3 PM - 6 PM

Secondary (6-12) After School Care: 3:35 PM - 5:30 PM