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STEM SPOTLIGHT

STEM SPOTLIGHT
STEMSPOTLIGHT

STEM SPOTLIGHT 8/23/26 STEM SPOTLIGHT 8/23/26

MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. GET INVOLVED TODAY MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. GET INVOLVED TODAY

STEM School Highlands Ranch flyer titled “Why Join SAC?” explaining the School Accountability Committee. SAC brings together parents, staff, and community members to support student success and strengthen the school. The flyer explains that SAC is an advisory committee, not a governing body, and highlights responsibilities including advising on the school’s Unified Improvement Plan, recommending spending priorities, discussing school leadership, safety and community concerns, sharing information, supporting school improvement plans, reporting on school performance, providing input on principal development and evaluations, and promoting parent engagement. The flyer encourages parents, staff, and community members to join SAC and includes a QR code for additional information.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE- JOIN THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITEE

Want to stay informed, share your voice, and help strengthen our school community? STEM’s School Accountability Committee (SAC) brings together parents, staff, and community members to support student success and help build the future of our school. SAC is an advisory committee—not a governing body.

SAC members provide valuable input on topics including STEM’s Unified Improvement Plan, school spending priorities, school performance, safety and community concerns, principal development and evaluations, and parent engagement. The committee meets at least quarterly to discuss what’s working, what needs attention, and how we can continue improving for students.

Our first SAC meeting of the school year is Wednesday, September 2, and we’d love to have you there!

Your voice. Our school. Our future. Parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to get involved. Use the information in the flyer below to learn more about SAC and how you can participate.

PTC INTEREST MEETING

Looking for a way to get involved and make a difference in the STEM community? Our Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) is made up of parents from grades K–12 who work collaboratively with the school to support our students, staff, and families.

The PTC helps show appreciation for our incredible staff, organize community-building events, and support fundraising initiatives that benefit our entire STEM community.

Interested in learning more? Join us for our upcoming PTC Interest Meeting! You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the PTC, meet other parents, ask questions, and find out how you can get involved.

Thursday, August 27
6:00–7:30 p.m.
Enter through the Athletic Entrance

Whether you have a little time to give or want to take on a larger role, we’d love to have you! We hope to see many of our STEM families there!

COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS SEEKING FAMILIES FEEDBACK

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is asking Colorado families to share their perspectives on school choice and the educational programs, services, and resources they use to support their students.

Feedback collected through the survey will help inform upcoming State Board rulemaking and legislative priorities and give policymakers a better understanding of the diverse needs of families across Colorado.

Your perspective matters! The more families who participate, the better the survey will reflect the experiences and needs of communities across our state.

Use the button below to take the survey and share your feedback.

COLORADO EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS SURVEY
STEM Enrichment and Athletics Banner
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ENRICHMENT AND ATHLETICS UPDATES ENRICHMENT AND ATHLETICS UPDATES

ATHLETICS UPDATES

Please click the link below to read full updates from STEM's athletic director, Mr Barrios.
MR. BARRIOS MESSAGE

SECONDARY FALL ENRICHMENT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Secondary Enrichment registration is officially open! Explore our exciting fall offerings and find opportunities for your student to learn new skills, discover new interests, and get involved outside the classroom.

Spots are limited and may fill quickly, so don't wait! Use the button below to explore available programs and register today.

Please note: The website has been experiencing intermittent issues with the registration links. If you are trying to register for a Secondary club and the link is not working, please reach out to enrichment@stemk12.org for assistance.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL ATHLETIC REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Fall Athletics registration is officially open! With practices starting soon, now is the time to get your Spartan registered and ready for the upcoming season.

All student-athletes must complete their athletics registration and submit the required CHSAA form before participating.

Don't wait until the first practice! Use the button below to register today and make sure all required paperwork is turned in.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE!
womans hands working on keyboard and notebook
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IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS

8/27: PTC Information/Interest Meeting
8/28: K-12 | Early Release Day | Boosterthon Kick Off
9/1: Elementary | Picture Day
9/2: SAC
9/7: K-12 | No School | Labor Day
9/9: Boosterthon Event Day
9/14: Playground Ribbon Cutting-SAVE THE DATE
9/16: KOSON/STEM Board Meeting
9/17: K-5 | Elementary Only | No School
9/18: K-12 | No School

IMPORTANT LINKS IMPORTANT LINKS

PARENTS PAGE
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
young student using tablet to control robot
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ELEMENTARY NEWSLETTER ELEMENTARY NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM MS. MANZANARES

Please click the button below to read full updates from Ms. Manzanares, Elementary Principal.

MS. MANZANARES MESSAGE
Four members of the STEM School Highlands Ranch community—Chris Damour, Amie McElroy, Jessica Manzanares, and LynAnn Kovalesky—celebrate progress on the new Elementary playground beside freshly poured concrete. The concrete includes a special design recognizing the major contributors who helped bring the playground project to life. New playground equipment and ongoing construction are visible in the background.
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PLAYGROUND PARTY-SAVE THE DATE

Our new Elementary Playground is almost ready, and it’s time to celebrate! Join us for a Playground Ribbon Cutting Party on Monday, September 14 from 5–7 p.m.

Bring the whole family to check out and play on our newly updated playground! Bring dinner and enjoy a picnic together, or purchase supper from the food truck joining us for the evening. Come play, eat, and help us officially open this exciting new space for our Elementary Spartans!

Please note: Our playground is still under construction, so this date is subject to change if we experience any project delays. If needed, our backup date is Monday, September 21 from 5–7 p.m. We will communicate any changes with families as soon as possible.

ELEMENTARY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We know our STEM parents and families want to be involved, and we love having you on campus! Our Elementary School currently has several volunteer opportunities open and ready for families to sign up.

Lunchroom Volunteers: Help our students during lunch by opening drinks and packages, assisting with cleanup, helping keep the lunchroom running smoothly, and lending an extra hand where needed.

Driveline Volunteers: Help our staff safely welcome students from their vehicles to the building in the morning or help students get from the building to their vehicles during afternoon dismissal.

Picture Day Volunteers: Join our photographers in the gym to help organize students as classes arrive, straighten hair and clothing, and hand out a face wipe when someone is still proudly wearing a little bit of their morning snack.


Whether you can volunteer once or become a familiar face around campus, we’d love to have you join us! Use the button below to view available opportunities and sign up.

student building a model house
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SECONDARY NEWSLETTER SECONDARY NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM MRS. RIDDER

Please click the button below to read full updates from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Principal

MRS. RIDDER MESSAGE
Flyer for the 2027 Colorado Space Design Challenge at STEM School Highlands Ranch. The event takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and costs $75, all inclusive. Students will work as real-world engineers for the day, responding to an RFP to design a permanent Martian habitat through collaboration, problem-solving, and design studies. Participants will explore career pathways, receive mentorship from aerospace and technology professionals, and receive a 12-month Stellr Community membership. The flyer includes photos of students collaborating on engineering projects, a QR code to register, and the Stellr Education website.
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STELLR SPACE DESIGN CHALLENGE | GRADES 9-12

Calling all high school students interested in engineering, aerospace, technology, design, and problem-solving! STEM School Highlands Ranch will host the 2027 Colorado Space Design Challenge on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Students will step into the role of real-world engineers for the day, working collaboratively to respond to an RFP for a permanent Martian habitat. Participants will tackle design challenges, problem-solve as a team, and receive mentorship from professionals from major aerospace and technology companies.

Event Details:
Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 8-5 p.m.
STEM School Highlands Ranch
$75 – all inclusive

Open to students in Grades 9–12

Registration also includes a 12-month Stellr Community membership and event T-shirt.

Interested students and families can use the registration information in the flyer below to learn more and sign up!

REGISTER HERE!
Flyer for a FIRST Robotics Interest Meeting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. Students and parents are invited to learn about FIRST Robotics Team 4418 IMPULSE on August 25 at 6 p.m. in the High School Café, entering through the Athletic Entrance. The flyer features photos of Team 4418’s competition robot and students working together on robotics. Two QR codes provide more information about FRC and FIRST. For questions, contact first4418@gmail.com or visit frc4418.org
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FIRST ROBOTICS INTEREST MEETING- AUG 25TH

Interested in robotics, engineering, coding, or being part of a competitive team? FIRST Robotics Team 4418 IMPULSE is hosting an interest meeting for students and families on Tuesday, August 25 at 6 p.m. in the High School Café. Please enter through the Athletic Entrance.


Students and parents are invited to come learn more about Team 4418 IMPULSE, what FIRST Robotics has to offer, and how to get involved.

Questions? Contact first4418@gmail.com or use the information on the flyer below to learn more.

SECONDARY AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: INFORMATION & REGISTRATION

STEM Secondary provides safe and supervised after school care for middle and high school students from 3:40 – 6:00 PM on school days. After school care takes place in the MS cafeteria on the west side of campus, and parents pick up their students at STEM’s Athletic Entrance. No need to schedule in advance; students can simply drop in once registered. Care is only offered on days when school is in session and not during school holidays or breaks.

SmartCare Childcare Platform
SmartCare manages student attendance and payment for secondary after-care. Please register your student(s) in SmartCare before they attend. To register, email enrichment@stemk12.org with the subject “SmartCare,” and we’ll set up an account for you.


Cost: $7* per afternoon

* Families in need of financial assistance: contact ashley.westfall@stemk12.org for more information.

Contact:
Direct Line (during After-School Care hours): (720) 679-7478
Questions? For more information, email enrichment@stemk12.org

2026–27 YEARBOOK: IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION

We're excited to start work on this year's yearbook and wanted to share a few important dates and details.

Senior Pictures
Senior pictures are due October 31st. Image requirements have been emailed to your student, please make sure they follow those specifications.

Preferred Name Changes
If you'd like your student's name changed for the yearbook, please email yearbook@stemk12.org. Requests must:

  • Come directly from the parent/guardian
  • Include the student's name as it appears in Infinite Campus
  • Include the preferred name you'd like used instead

Order Your Yearbook
Yearbooks are available now for $55 (back-to-school pricing) through September 25th. Prices increase after that date, so order early to save.
Order here

Senior Ads
Senior ads are due by November 9th and can be purchased here:
Order a senior ad

Please reach out to yearbook@stemk12.org with any questions. We can't wait to capture another great year!

SCHOOL HOURS SCHOOL HOURS

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: 3:30 PM - 6 PM

STEM School Highlands Ranch
www.stemk12.org | info@stemk12.org | 303.683.STEM (7836)
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