STEM SPOTLIGHT

Prospective Spartan Night is our open house for families exploring STEM in grades K–12, and our own families are invited too! If your 5th grader is getting ready for middle school, or your 7th or 8th grader is already thinking about high school, join us on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Tour classrooms, hear from current students and get a look at the next chapter of being a Spartan. Register with the Current Families button on the event page.

Know a family that would love STEM? Whether their child is starting kindergarten or high school, pass the invite along. Many of our new Spartans first heard about us from a current family.

Save the Date: 2027–28 Open Enrollment and sibling registration open after Fall Break. If you have a younger child who will be joining STEM, watch for details.

https://www.stemk12.org/enrollment/psn

Secondary and Elementary families, please make note of the following schedule changes as we head toward Fall Break!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 — SECONDARY TESTING & LATE START

Students in grades 6, 7 and 12, along with any Secondary students who opted out of testing, will have an 11:30 a.m. late start due to testing. This will be a Blue Day.

Late-start students should enter through the Athletic Entrance for classes beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Please note: Lunch will not be served to students arriving for the late start. Students should plan to eat lunch before arriving at school.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 — EARLY RELEASE
Please plan for the following dismissal times:

• Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 11:20 a.m.
• Grades 2–5: 11:30 a.m.
• Secondary: 11:55 a.m.
  
  

OCTOBER 12–16 — FALL BREAK!
There will be no school October 12–16. Enjoy a safe and relaxing Fall Break, Spartans!

Get those costumes ready and join us on Friday, October 30 from 5–7 p.m. for a fun-filled night of Trunk-or-Treating at STEM!

Our trunks will be hosted by student clubs, grade levels, PTC—and YOU!

WANT TO HOST A TRUNK?
We’d love to have STEM families join in the fun! If you’d like to decorate a trunk, pass out candy, and participate in the event, please sign up using the form below to let us know you’ll be there!

WE NEED CANDY!

Between now and October 30, keep an eye out for our Monster Candy Collection Boxes in each lobby! Please consider donating a bag of individually wrapped candy to help our clubs, teachers, and trunk hosts keep our trick-or-treaters stocked throughout the night.

Whether you're hosting a trunk, donating candy, or coming to trick-or-treat, we can't wait to celebrate with our STEM community!

Learn more about STEM’s Gifted & Talented program, including how we support our gifted learners and provide opportunities for students to grow and thrive.

5th Grade Families: This spotlight also includes important information about upcoming CogAT testing and DCSD’s Universal Screening process for 5th-grade students.

Read below to learn more about Gifted & Talented at STEM and important upcoming testing information.

Get ready to PACK THE GYM IN PINK on Monday, October 5 as STEM Girls Volleyball hosts Pink Out Night in support of breast cancer research! 🩷

This year, our volleyball players are adding a little friendly competition off the court as they battle for the title of STEM’s Best Baker! Stop by the Greatest Bake Sale Ever to purchase some amazing homemade treats, cast your vote for the best baker, and help support an incredible cause.

Proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research—and donations are currently being triple matched, making every contribution go even further.

Pink Out is about more than wearing pink. As CHSAA shares, the initiative is an opportunity to create greater awareness among young women participating in volleyball and encourage important conversations between mothers and daughters about breast cancer.

Wear your PINK, bring your sweet tooth, cheer on our Spartans, and help us turn Monday night’s volleyball games into an opportunity to make a difference! 🩷🏐🎀

It’s time to start planning for winter! Elementary Winter Club registration is officially LIVE!

Explore this winter’s club offerings and find the perfect fit for your student.

Visit STEMK12.org to view available clubs and register today! 💙💛

Space may be limited, so don’t wait to secure your student’s spot!

10/5-10/9: Elementary Conferences

10/5: Volleyball Pink-Out
10/6: STEM Innovation Invitational | Elementary Make-Up Picture day
10/7: Grades 6, 7, and 12 Late Start | MS/ HS Parent Teacher Conferences | Last Names A-K
10/8: MS/ HS Parent Teacher Conferences | Last Names L-Z
10/9: K-12 Early Release
10/13-10/16: Fall Break
10/19: 7th Grade | Seacamp Informational Meeting
10/20-10/23: 8th Grade | Boston Trip
10/21: KOSON/ STEM BOD Meeting
10/26-10/30: 7th Grade | SeaCamp trip
10/27: 8th Grade Rising Spartan Night
10/30: Elementary Halloween Parade | Trunk - or - Treat

Please click the button below to read full updates from Ms. Manzanares, Elementary Principal.

Elementary families, it’s time to order your 2026–27 STEM Elementary Yearbook! Capture all the memories from another great year with your K–5 Spartan.

To purchase a yearbook for your K–5 student, visit buytheyearbook.com and use:
STEM School Highlands Ranch School Code: 737836

Don’t miss out on a year full of Spartan memories! 💙💛

Elementary Picture Make-Up Day is Tuesday, October 6, from 8 a.m.–12 p.m.!

If your student missed Picture Day on September 1, get them dressed up and ready to show off their best smile!

Students who need a make-up photo will have the opportunity to have their picture taken during the school day.

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.

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.

Please click the button below to read full updates from Mrs. Ridder, Middle School Principal.

Secondary Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up! Conferences will be held from 4:30–7:30 p.m. on the following evenings:

• Wednesday, October 7: Last names A–K
• Thursday, October 8: Last names L–Z
  
  

Conferences are run open-house style—there are no scheduled appointments. Families can find the teachers they would like to speak with and get in line. To help keep things moving and give as many families as possible an opportunity to connect, each conference is limited to approximately ten minutes per teacher.

With multiple teachers to visit, it may be difficult to meet with every teacher in one evening. We encourage families to prioritize the classes where a conversation would be most helpful based on grades, behavior, student concerns or conversations at home, or other areas where additional information may be helpful.

If you need more than ten minutes with a teacher, please email them directly to schedule a separate meeting so you have the time needed for a more in-depth conversation.

We look forward to welcoming our Secondary families and providing an opportunity to connect with your student’s teachers!

Did you know After Prom is planned and put on by a dedicated committee of STEM High School parents? The committee meets monthly throughout the year, with meetings and planning increasing as we get closer to After Prom on April 9.

We’re looking for parents who would like to help make this year’s event an unforgettable experience for our students! If you’re interested in joining the After Prom Committee, please fill out the form below.

Can’t commit to the committee but still want to help? We would love to have you! Keep an eye out in March for After Prom volunteer sign-ups and opportunities to help on the day of the event.

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
  

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!

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