Fundraising Thank You

Dear STEM Families,

As we prepare to kick off another exciting school year, I want to begin by saying thank you. Your generosity, trust, and partnership continue to make an extraordinary difference for our students.

During the 2025-26 school year, our community contributed more than $118,000 to the Accelerator Fund, including over $75,000 through our annual Fun Run. Every gift, regardless of size, helped create opportunities for students that extend well beyond what public funding alone can provide.

At STEM School Highlands Ranch, we believe our operational budget should provide a strong foundation for an exceptional education. The Accelerator Fund allows our community to build on that foundation by investing in the experiences that make our school exceptional. While public funding covers the essentials, the Accelerator Fund allows us to enhance academics, athletics, arts, student activities, campus improvements, and community engagement.

Simply put, public funding supports the foundation of our educational program, while philanthropy helps accelerate the exceptional experiences that make STEM distinctive.

Together, we are creating learning experiences that inspire curiosity, encourage innovation, build confidence, and prepare students to solve real-world problems.

Thanks to your generosity, the Accelerator Fund strengthened student experiences across our school this past year.

Students benefited from enhanced collaborative learning spaces designed to support teamwork, innovation, and hands-on STEM experiences.

Investments: Computer lab furniture and collaborative workspaces for secondary students $27,000

Students had greater opportunities to discover new interests, build friendships, and develop leadership skills through expanded support for extracurricular activities.

Investments: Support Secondary Tier One Clubs $17,500

Student-athletes benefited from upgraded equipment that enhances practices, competition, and the overall athletic experience.

Investments: New volleyball poles and nets $12,000

Students gained new spaces to play, gather, and learn through thoughtful enhancements to our elementary campus.

Investments: Basketball hoop and tetherball pole for the elementary playground- approximately $5,000; Funding for a shade structure as part of the new elementary playground, creating a comfortable outdoor learning and gathering space for students $25,000

These Accelerator Fund investments complemented the STEM Board of Directors' $1.25 million investment in the new elementary playground. Together, these projects are creating spaces where students can learn, play, collaborate, and build community for years to come.

Last year, we shared plans to purchase a student transportation vehicle. Since then, changes to Colorado school transportation regulations significantly increased both the requirements and cost of purchasing a compliant vehicle. As a result, that purchase has been deferred.

Rather than moving forward with a purchase that no longer represented the most responsible use of donor funds, those funds, together with the remaining Accelerator Fund balance, will be carefully stewarded and strategically invested in future opportunities that maximize student impact.

Every gift to the Accelerator Fund represents a family investing in something bigger than their own student. Together, you are helping create opportunities that benefit every Spartan, from the classroom to the athletic field, from student clubs to campus improvements. We are incredibly grateful for the trust you place in our school and for your continued investment in our students, staff, and community.

We are excited to kick off this year's Fun Run fundraiser August 28 through September 9. More information about this year's Fun Run, fundraising goals, and ways to participate will be shared as the school year begins.

Thank you for believing in our students and for helping us continue to build a school where every Spartan has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and succeed.

With gratitude,

LynAnn Kovalesky
Executive Director
STEM SChool Highlands Ranch