Mr. Alsup Message

It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the third quarter! The semester is moving quickly, and our students are staying busy.

We are currently in the process of completing our course selection process for next year. Thank you very much for the time you dedicated to helping your students select the right courses. We use student course selections to guide our staffing decisions for next year, which is why we are unable to grant many schedule changes once schedules are finalized and released. We appreciate your partnership in this important process.

Shout Outs…

Shout out to everyone who participated in and attended our Annual Multicultural Event! It was a fantastic evening celebrating the many cultures that make up our Spartan community. Thank you to the students, staff, and families who helped organize performances, presentations, and food. It was a wonderful reminder of the diversity that makes STEM such a special place.

Shout out to our High School Speech and Debate students who competed at the State Tournament earlier this month. Representing your school at the state level is a tremendous accomplishment. We are proud of your hard work and dedication!

Shout out to our STEM’s Got Talent participants and organizers. Auditions were impressive, and we have so many talented Spartans. We are looking forward to the show!

Wish Week

Wish Week is quickly approaching! This year’s Wish Week is the first week of March. Each year, our National Honor Society partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor a child and help make their wish come true. To meet our fundraising goals, this is a K–12 event and a true community effort.

Our NHS students are putting the finishing touches on the plan for the week and will release detailed information soon. There will be spirit days, fundraising competitions, and special events throughout the week.

Wish Week is always one of the most exciting and meaningful weeks of the school year. Thank you in advance for supporting our students and helping us make a difference in a child’s life.

Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, here are a few historical events to highlight:

Today in History: February 16–18

February 16, 1857 – Frederick Douglass was elected President of the Freedman’s Bank and Trust, which was established as a secure bank for Black soldiers to deposit their money.
February 16, 1923 – Bessie Smith made her first recording, which went on to sell 800,000 copies.
February 16, 1970 – Joe Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis to become World Heavyweight Champion.
February 17, 1891 – A.C. Richardson patented the butter churn.
February 18, 1688 – The first formal protest against slavery in America occurred in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
February 18, 1896 – Henry Grenon patented the Razor Stropping Device, used to sharpen straight-edge razors.

Senior Parents

I am writing to you about a senior game that some of our students may be playing. Before I go into details, I want to caution you that some of you may find this concerning.

The name of the game is “Senior Assassin.” This game is not sponsored or supported by the school in any way. It is played by high school seniors across the country. Students who sign up target one another with squirt guns, and when a student is hit, they are eliminated from the game. While we do not know exactly which seniors are participating, it appears that there may be a number of them involved. If you see a student carrying swim goggles, that is often an indicator they are participating.

This game cannot be played at school under any circumstances. Students may not bring squirt guns or any facsimile of a firearm onto campus. Any item that resembles a weapon is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Additionally, students who are carrying goggles or other items associated with this game during the school day risk having those items confiscated.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about the dangers of this game, particularly when toy guns are mistaken for real weapons. You can read their article here:
https://dcsheriff.net/dcso-issues-warning-about-senior-assassin-game/

Senior parents, please take a moment to discuss this with your student. As mentioned, this game is not sponsored or supported by the school, and school and district policy will be enforced. We need your help reinforcing this message so our students stay safe and out of trouble.

Thank you very much for working with us on this. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Looking ahead…

Boys Volleyball officially begins 2/16
Girls Golf begins 2/23
Girls Soccer begins 2/23
Please see our athletic website for more information.

Tuesday, 2/17
Boys and Girls Basketball @ Mile High Academy
3:30 – Boys JV
5:00 – Girls Varsity
6:30 – Boys Varsity

Saturday, 2/21
High School Speech and Debate Tournament at Highlands Ranch High School – 7:00am

Foothills League Tournament
Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball will compete at Twin Peaks Academy. Game times are still To Be Determined.

Tuesday, 2/24
Girls Basketball vs DSST CollegeView @ STEM – 7:00pm

Saturday, 2/28
Colorado Space Design Competition (Hosted at STEM)
This full-day, industry-style experience challenges students to work in engineering teams to solve a futuristic space problem and present their solutions to a panel of industry professionals. Students collaborate, problem-solve, and communicate in a fast-paced, real-world setting. This event is designed to be accessible to all students.

Thanks Everyone!
Go Spartans!

Sincerely,
Ryan Alsup
High School Principal
STEM School Highlands Ranch