STEM SPOTLIGHT

Thank you for your time, patience, and attention during this busy back-to-school season. We know there’s a lot of information coming your way, and we truly appreciate the effort you put into staying informed and prepared.

The brand-new STEM School Highlands Ranch website now features an exciting, easy-to-use Parents Page—your one-stop hub for everything STEM families need! From quick links to Infinite Campus, medical forms, the academic calendar, lunch menus, school supply lists, to so much more, this page is built to simplify your school year. Whether you're a first-time STEM parent or returning, the Parents Page is your go-to spot to stay connected, informed, and engaged all year long!

You’ll receive the STEM SPOTLIGHT newsletter every Sunday. But with so many back-to-school messages right now, it can be easy to miss something. To help, we’ve added a 2025-26 Back-to-School Messages section to the Parents Page.

We have added to the calendar a new back-to-school family event called Welcome to STEM on August 8th! More information about this event towards the end of this newsletter.

• August 8: Welcome to STEM event at Main Event - Just Added!
• August 11: Elementary School Meet the Teacher (Grades 1–5)
• August 11: SPARTAN START Orientation and SPARTAN LAUNCH (Grades 6–12)
• August 11–13: KINDIE SPARTAN LAUNCH
• August 12: First Day of School (Grades 1–12)
• August 14: Kindergarten First Day of School, Tissues & Tears (Early Release for Kindergarten Only)
• August 15: Kindergarten Early Release
• August 18: Kindergarten First Full Day of School
• August 19: High School Senior College Night
• August 20: Secondary Back-to-School Night (Grades 6-12)
• August 21: Elementary Back-to-School Night (Grades K-5)

Teacher assignments for the upcoming school year will be available in Infinite Campus starting July 28th. Our teachers, student support team, and administrators have worked together with great care and intention to place each student in a classroom where they can thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. Because of the thoughtful and collaborative nature of this process, we are not able to accommodate requests for classroom changes.

Elementary placards will be available for pickup at the Elementary School entrance during the following times:

• Monday, August 4th – Thursday, August 7th: 8 AM – 2 PM

• Monday, August 11th: 3 PM – 5 PM

B.A.S.E. will now be offered in the mornings this year, running Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 8:05 AM. While breakfast won’t be provided, students are welcome to bring their own to enjoy during the program. Afternoon B.A.S.E. will continue from 3 PM to 6 PM. Families can register for either or both sessions through the B.A.S.E. website.

The elementary school supply list is linked here for your convenience. Please review it to ensure your student is prepared for the first day of school.

Secondary student schedules will be available in Infinite Campus (IC) starting July 28th. Our counselors will hold opportunities for students to update their schedules before the first day of school.

• Thursday, August 7th:
• 9 AM to 11 AM: 12th Grade and 8th Grade
• 1 PM to 3 PM: 11th Grade

• Friday, August 8th:
• 9 AM to 11 AM: 10th Grade and 7th Grade
• 1 PM to 3 PM: 9th Grade and 6th Grade

Counselors will be available to make schedule changes for secondary students during SPARTAN START on August 11th, based on each student’s assigned time (see schedule below). Students and families are strongly encouraged to attend on August 7th or 8th during our designated Schedule Change Days for the best chance to adjust and finalize schedules. Getting your schedule settled early helps ensure it’s accurate and complete so you can focus on everything else during SPARTAN START.

No appointment is required; we’ll assist students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Schedule changes are only made if a student is missing a required core class (like English, Math, Science, or Social Studies), or if the schedule is not complete.

For 11th and 12th grade students (Juniors and Seniors), we will also make changes if there is a problem with a Concurrent Enrollment (CE) course or a core course that is required for graduation.

We are not able to change schedules for things like teacher preference or to be in the same class as a friend. Thank you for understanding!

SPARTAN START is our orientation event for all Middle School and High School students (new and returning). This event is highly encouraged to attend. Students will rotate through key stations (photos, ID, schedule help, clubs, and more). Plan to spend about an hour on campus.

A parent or guardian is highly encouraged to attend with their student during their assigned time based on last name:

• A–L: Open House from 8 AM to 12 PM | Counselors available from 8 AM to 11:30 AM

• M–Z: Open House from 12 PM to 3 PM | Counselors available from 1 PM to 3 PM

New Middle School and High School students are encouraged to attend SPARTAN LAUNCH on August 11th. This student-only session helps ease first-day nerves through tours, meet-and-greets, and activities with student leaders and staff. SPARTAN LAUNCH is part of the SPARTAN START event. No registration needed—just come during one of these times:

• 10 AM to 11:30 AM

• 1:30 PM to 3 PM

Join us for an exciting back-to-school STEM event at Main Event Highlands Ranch supported by the PTO on Thursday, August 8th, from 5 PM to 9 PM! This all-ages evening is a great way to celebrate the start of the new school year with other STEM families while enjoying food, games, and fun in a private party setting. Address: 64 Centennial Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

• Kids (ages 0-17) are $28 each. Each ticket includes a pizza buffet and unlimited soft drinks (soda, iced tea, or lemonade). Non-STEM siblings are welcome to attend and will be charged the $28 admission price.
• Adults are $55 each. Each ticket includes all-you-can-play activities & unlimited arcade pass, dinner buffet, a swag pack from Main Event, unlimited soft drinks (soda, iced tea, or lemonade), and two drink tickets good for beer or wine. Adults will also have access to private reserved billiards and shuffleboard tables during the event. The adult unlimited pass is intended to be shared with their child for arcade games and activities. Adult supervision of children is required throughout the event.

If an adult is only attending to chaperone and does not wish to eat, drink, or play, they may attend at no cost, but will not receive access to the buffet, beverage options, swag, or games.

If you plan on attending, will you please let us know by filling out this form by August 1st? We kindly ask you to send a response so we can plan food, drinks, and space. Send your attendance response here.

• August 11th, 3 PM - 5 PM: Elementary Meet the Teacher (Grades 1-5).
• August 21st, 5 PM - 6:30 PM: Elementary Back-to-School Night (Grades K-5). Parent-only event.

• August 11th: SPARTAN START: Back-to-School Student Orientation (Grades 6-12). and SPARTAN LAUNCH (new students in grades 6-12).
• August 20th, 5 PM - 7:30 PM: Back-to-School Night (Grades 6-12). Parent-only event.

Your vote can make the difference! STEM School Highlands Ranch is honored to be nominated in five categories for the Colorado Parent 2025 Family Favorites!

• Favorite Charter Elementary

• Favorite Charter Middle School

• Favorite Charter High School

• Favorite Middle School Principal

• Favorite High School Principal

This recognition means so much to our community, and with your support, we can take the top spot in all five categories! You can vote once per day through August 15th—be sure to spread the word and share the link with friends and family!

VOTE HERE! And share this link TODAY with your friends and family: go.stemk12.org/VoteSTEM

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 PM - 5:30 PM