Mr. Alsup Message

Dear STEM School Highlands Ranch Families,

We have officially made it through the opening days of another school year, and I want to thank our students, families, and staff for helping us get off to such a positive start. There is always a tremendous amount of energy in the building at the beginning of the year as students reconnect with friends, meet new teachers, learn new routines, and begin settling into their classes.

One of the things I enjoy most about the first few weeks of school is watching our students begin to find their rhythm. High school moves quickly, and each new year brings increased expectations, greater independence, and new opportunities. Whether students are beginning their first year of high school or preparing for their final year at STEM, I encourage them to start developing good habits now. Attend class, stay organized, ask questions, communicate with teachers, and take advantage of the resources available to you. The habits students establish during these first few weeks can have a significant impact on the rest of their year.

Building Community

Academics are obviously an important part of the high school experience, but being connected to the school community is equally important. Some of the best experiences our students have at STEM happen outside of their regular classes. Clubs, athletics, activities, competitions, performances, and other extracurricular opportunities allow students to meet people with similar interests, develop leadership skills, and simply have some fun.

I strongly encourage every student to find at least one way to get involved this year. You do not have to join ten clubs or participate in every activity. We simply want every student to find a place where they feel connected to our school community.

Setting the Tone for the Year

During these opening weeks, we are also spending time reinforcing our expectations for students. Our goal is not simply to have rules. It is to create an environment where students can learn, teachers can teach, and everyone feels safe and respected.

That requires a partnership between students, staff, and families. Simple things make a tremendous difference: arriving to class on time, being prepared, treating others respectfully, keeping phones and other distractions away during instructional time, and taking responsibility when mistakes happen.

High school is a time when students are given greater independence, and with that independence comes greater responsibility. We want our students to learn how to advocate for themselves, communicate appropriately, solve problems, and make good decisions. Those skills will serve them well long after they leave STEM.

A Reminder About Cell Phones

One area where we will continue to be consistent is our cell phone policy. This expectation is also now reflected in DCSD district policy, reinforcing the importance of limiting cell phone distractions during instructional time.

Students are expected to power down their phones at the beginning of class and place them in the classroom cell phone holders. Students may access their phones again at the end of class and use them during passing periods, lunch, and other appropriate times.

We appreciate our families reinforcing this expectation at home. Our goal is not simply compliance with a policy. It is to protect instructional time and create classrooms where students can focus, participate, and learn without unnecessary distractions.

Looking Ahead…

Senior College Night: Tuesday, August 18, 5:30 to 6:30 PM

Senior year moves incredibly quickly, and the college application process will be here before we know it. We will host Senior College Night on Tuesday, August 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. We strongly encourage our seniors and their families to attend.

At this point in the year, seniors who are planning to attend college should be preparing to complete their applications. This means finalizing college lists, reviewing application requirements and deadlines, working on essays, requesting letters of recommendation when needed, and making sure they understand the process for requesting transcripts and other supporting materials.

Even if application deadlines seem far away, now is the time to get started. Completing as much as possible early in the semester will make the process much less stressful as deadlines approach.

Back to School Night: Wednesday, August 19, 5:00 to 7:30 PM

We are looking forward to welcoming families to Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 19, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your student’s teachers, experience an abbreviated version of their schedule, and hear an overview of what students will be learning and what teachers will expect from them this year.

Please remember that Back to School Night is not intended to be a parent and teacher conference. If you need to discuss something specific to your student, please contact the teacher to schedule a separate conversation.

Fall Athletics and Activities

Our fall season is getting underway, and I encourage everyone to come out and support our Spartans. Athletics, clubs, competitions, and activities are an important part of building school spirit and community. Whether you are participating or cheering on your classmates, I encourage our students to get involved and support one another.

Finally, thank you to our families for trusting us with your students each day. We have an outstanding group of young people in our building, and I am excited to see what they accomplish this year.

The beginning of a school year always brings some adjustment, but it also brings tremendous opportunity. Let’s make it a great year.

Have a safe and wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup
High School Principal
STEM School Highlands Ranch