Mr. Alsup Message

Dear STEM Families and Students,

I hope you and your children had a restful and enjoyable Fall Break! I continue to be inspired by the energy of our students and the dedication of our staff. The past few weeks have been full of activity and Spartan pride! We recently wrapped up our fall Parent/Teacher Conferences, and I want to thank all of you who attended. I recognize that the evenings can be busy and the lines long, but the conversations between families and teachers are invaluable. These meetings are such an important part of supporting our students’ success and growth.

As I was leaving one of the conference nights, I noticed our robotics students and sponsors were still hard at work long after the evening had ended, preparing for the annual KCMT FIRST Robotics Tournament, which took place on October 11th and 12th. The team did an outstanding job and proudly earned the “Best Pit” Award! Their dedication and enthusiasm are just another reminder that there is always something exciting happening at STEM—our students’ curiosity and drive never stop!

Celebrating Excellence – Congratulations, Siddhi Singh!

I am thrilled to share that Siddhi Singh, one of our outstanding STEM students, has been recognized nationally as a winner of the President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA)! This is an extraordinary achievement—only ten PEYA awards are given across the entire nation each year.

The PEYA program honors students for their dedication to environmental stewardship, innovation, and community involvement. Siddhi earned this prestigious award for her work on Project DEER, a wildlife detection and alert system that uses artificial intelligence to help prevent wildlife collisions. Her creativity, problem-solving, and commitment to making a difference exemplify what it means to be a STEM Spartan.

None of this would have been possible without the collaboration and hard work of Robyn Ballheim, Dhriti Sinra, and Bri Scoville, who worked alongside Siddhi to create the initial prototype of Project DEER. Their teamwork began when they entered the project into the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, which laid the foundation for this incredible success.

I would also like to thank Mr. Tylor Chacon for sponsoring and mentoring the team throughout this process. His guidance and support helped Siddhi and her peers reach their full potential and bring their innovative ideas to life.

Please join me in congratulating Siddhi, her teammates, and Mr. Chacon on this remarkable accomplishment! We are incredibly proud of them and the positive impact they are making on our community and beyond.

Prospective Spartan Night

Our fourth annual Prospective Spartan Night will take place on Thursday, October 30, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. This event provides an excellent opportunity for prospective families to visit our campus and gain a better understanding of the educational opportunities and programs available at STEM. Please invite friends and family who have school aged children and are seeking an opportunity to attend a school where they can discover their passion for learning.

Our staff have been working hard to prepare for the evening, showcasing the engaging, innovative, and hands-on learning that defines our school. If you know families who are exploring school options, please encourage them to attend this event or join one of our tours. It’s a wonderful chance to see what makes STEM such a unique place to learn and grow. Families can also visit our website for more information on open enrollment and upcoming opportunities to visit.

STEM Boosterthon Fun Run — Coming November 5!

We’re just weeks away from launching our first-ever All-School Fun Run Fundraiser on Tuesday, November 5! The STEM Boosterthon is an exciting opportunity for our students to have fun while raising much-needed funds that directly support our school community.

We’re encouraging all Secondary students to take part in this event! Students who raise a minimum of $25 will be eligible to participate in the Chromatic Chaos Color Run—a vibrant and memorable experience for everyone involved.

In addition to the run, there will be fun incentives and prizes for both students and teachers throughout the fundraiser. The event will take place during the school day, and students who participate will be excused from class and dismissed at the conclusion of the event.
(Parents—don’t worry! We’ll blow off most of the color after the run to keep it out of the building and your cars!)

If our Secondary School raises $40,000, students will earn a bonus day off on January 30 and help fund the following important initiatives that directly benefit our Secondary students:

• Two 15-passenger vans for field trips, clubs, and athletics

• Additional funding for Tier One Clubs and classroom/department budgets

Registration is open now! Students can log in and get started during Access class.
If 60% of students register, the entire Secondary School will enjoy a special game time during Access!

Stay tuned—more exciting incentives will be announced soon as we count down to the big day!

Continuing the Momentum

As we move into the second half of the semester, I want to encourage all of our students to stay focused and finish strong. Continue monitoring your grades, completing practice work, and reaching out to your teachers if you need support. Remember—consistent effort now makes all the difference at the end of the semester.

I am so proud of the work our students and staff are doing each day. Whether it’s in the classroom, at a competition, or during extracurricular activities, STEM Spartans continue to represent our school with excellence, creativity, and character.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we make STEM such a special community.

Go Spartans!

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