Mr. Alsup Message

Welcome back! I hope all of our students and families had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break. As we return, we are entering the fourth quarter, which is always the busiest time of year with testing, activities, and end of year events quickly approaching.

The past few weeks at STEM have been full of great events and accomplishments. Wish Week was a tremendous success! I would like to give a big shout out to Vance Carrier and our NHS students for their leadership and hard work. They put together an incredible week of activities to support our Wish Kids, and it was great to see so many of our students engaged in such a meaningful cause. Thank you to our entire community for your support in helping make a difference.

We have also officially transitioned into our spring sports season. Thank you to all of our winter athletes and coaches for a great season, and best of luck to our spring teams as their seasons get underway. Your dedication and commitment continue to make us proud.

Tardiness Reminder

As we return from break, this is a great time to reestablish routines. Student tardiness, especially during first period, continues to be an area of concern. When students arrive late, they miss important instructional time and disrupt the learning environment for others.

Please help us reinforce the importance of arriving at school on time each day. Establishing strong routines is an important life skill and sets our students up for success. We appreciate your support with this.

Finish Strong

Thank you to all of our families who attended Parent/Teacher Conferences prior to Spring Break. We appreciate your partnership and support.

As we enter the final stretch of the semester, this is a great time to regularly check grades with your student and stay on top of their academic progress. Having open conversations about assignments, assessments, and overall performance can make a significant difference.

Please make it a habit to review grades together, and do not hesitate to reach out to teachers if you have any questions or concerns. Working together, we can help ensure that all of our students finish the semester strong.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month! This year’s theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” We are proud to continue supporting opportunities for our students to grow in STEM fields.

As part of that work, we are excited about the continued growth of opportunities like SWENext, which helps students, especially young women, develop leadership skills, build confidence, and explore careers in engineering and technology.

In addition, we are proud to offer Girls Persist, a program focused on building confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community among our female students. Together, these programs provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect, develop their voice, and prepare for future success.

In the spirit of Women’s History Month, here are a few notable events:

• March 8, 2023: STEM School Highlands Ranch alumna Gitanjali Rao participated in an international panel at the United Nations in recognition of International Women’s Day, representing youth voices and speaking alongside women from around the world about innovation, equity, and opportunities for girls in STEM
  
  

• March 17, 1995: NASA astronaut Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot a Space Shuttle mission
  
  

• March 23, 1882: Emmy Noether, a groundbreaking mathematician whose work influenced modern physics and algebra, was born
  
  

Spring Testing

Spring testing is quickly approaching. Please take a moment to review the testing calendar so you are aware of important dates and schedule adjustments. On several testing days, our bell schedule will be modified, and student arrival times may vary depending on grade level and testing requirements.

Being aware of these changes ahead of time will help ensure that students arrive on time and are prepared for testing. Thank you for your support in helping make this a smooth and successful testing window.

Teen Driving Safety

As we move into the spring season and events like Prom, I want to take a moment to remind all of our teen drivers about the importance of safe driving. This is something that is extremely important to me personally.

For the fourth year, our STEMed club is partnering with the Choose S.A.F.E. program to focus on teen driving safety. Our students are working to plan an event prior to Prom to raise awareness and encourage responsible decision making.

Automobile accidents remain the leading cause of death for American teens, with the most dangerous time of year being from April through September. As a longtime educator, this is something I care deeply about. I would like to thank our STEMed students for taking on this important work and helping to make a difference in our community.

Looking ahead…

We are entering a very busy stretch of the semester with testing, spring activities, and end of year events quickly approaching. Please continue to check our school communications and website for updates.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are proud of our students and grateful for our Spartan community.

Thanks everyone,
Go Spartans!

Sincerely,
Ryan Alsup
High School Principal
STEM School Highlands Ranch
Proud to be a STEM Spartan!