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STEM SPOTLIGHT

STEM SPOTLIGHT
STEMSPOTLIGHT

STEM SPOTLIGHT 8/30/26 STEM SPOTLIGHT 8/30/26

BOOSTERTHON ACCELERATOR FUND RUN AND COLOR PARTY ARE UNDERWAY!

Our Boosterthon Accelerator Fund fundraiser officially kicked off Friday, and we’re excited for the fun ahead!

In case you missed it, Ms. Kovalesky shared important information with both Elementary and Secondary families about fundraising, what students can expect over the next two weeks, event-day details, and how families can get involved.

Read Ms. Kovalesky’s messages below for everything you need to know!

STEM ELEMENTARY ACCELERATOR FUND RUN 2026 MESSAGE
STEM SECONDARY ACCELERATOR FUND COLOR PARTY 2026 MESSAGE

THANK YOU FOR HELPING STEM GROW

We are excited to share that the DCSD Board of Education has officially authorized the STEM School Highlands Ranch Homeschool Enrichment Program. This new program will allow us to extend hands-on STEM learning to K–8 homeschool students in our community.

This expansion is possible because of the strong reputation our families and educators have helped build. When you share the difference STEM has made for your child, you help others understand the value of our school and strengthen trust in STEM throughout the community.

Thank you for being our advocates, sharing your experiences and helping us bring STEM education to more Colorado students. We are grateful to grow from the strong foundation our entire STEM community has built together.

UPDATED 2026–27 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

There has been an update to this year’s Academic Calendar. We’ve linked the updated calendar below for families to review.

You will now see several dates marked in teal. These dates indicate days when some Secondary students who are not participating in scheduled testing will have a late start.

Additional information, including which students are impacted and specific arrival times, will be shared directly with affected families as we get closer to those dates.

Please take a moment to review the updated Academic Calendar below and save a copy for reference throughout the school year.

2026-27 UPDATED ACADEMIC CALENDAR

PARENT 2027-28 ACADEMIC CALENDAR SURVEY- WE VALUE YOUR INPUT

As we consider future school calendar options, we want to ensure that any decision we make reflects the needs of our families, students, and staff. Your input is an important part of this process, and we value the perspectives of our entire STEM community.

We ask that you take a few minutes to carefully review each of the calendar options provided in the survey and consider what would work best for your family. Each option has different benefits and considerations, and your thoughtful feedback will help us better understand the priorities and needs of our community.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for partnering with us as we work to make an informed decision that best supports our students, families, and staff.

Please complete the Parent Calendar Survey and select the option that you believe is best for your family.

2027-28 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 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

9/1: Elementary | Picture Day
9/2: SAC |Girl's Persist Meeting | Science Olympiad Interest Meeting
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
9/21-9/25: Homecoming Week
9/26: HS Homecoming Dance
10/3: Grades 9-12 | Stellr Space Design Challenge

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

ELEMENTARY PICTURE DAY IS SEPTEMBER 1!

Elementary Picture Day is coming up on Tuesday, September 1!

Families who would like to order their student’s school pictures can use the link below:

  1. Click the link below to visit the ordering page.
  2. Your student’s September 1 Picture Day will be listed at the top.
  3. Click Order and complete your student’s information.
  4. When asked for your student’s teacher, enter the last name of their classroom teacher.

Click the link below to order your student’s school pictures!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!


We need parent volunteers to help make Picture Day run smoothly! Volunteers will help keep students organized and moving through the photo process throughout the day.


Please consider signing up here!

ORDER YOUR SCHOOL PHOTOS TODAY!
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 21 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!

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 MR. ALSUP

Please click the button below to read full updates from Mr. Alsup, High School Principal

MR. ALSUP MESSAGE

NEED TO ORDER SCHOOL PICTURES?

Picture Day has passed, and we know some families have had difficulty navigating the ordering process. If you still need to order your student’s school photos, please follow these steps:

  1. Click the link below and select your student’s Picture Day.
  2. Secondary families: Scroll down to find the August 10 and August 21 Picture Day options.
  3. Click Order and complete your student’s information.
  4. When asked for your student’s teacher, please enter the last name of their Access teacher.

Click the link below to order your student’s school pictures!

ORDER PICTURES HERE
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!

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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