Mr. Alsup Message

Dear STEM Spartan Students and Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fall Break! Whether you spent the week traveling, spending time with family, or simply enjoying a little time away from school, I hope you had an opportunity to relax and recharge. It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through October. Where does the time go?

Before we left for Fall Break, we wrapped up our fall Parent/Teacher Conferences. I want to thank all of the parents and guardians who took the time to attend. I recognize that these can be long evenings, especially when you are trying to visit several teachers, but the conversations are incredibly valuable. Our teachers appreciated the opportunity to meet with you, discuss your student's progress, and work together to support their success. I also want to thank our teachers for their dedication and willingness to spend two long evenings meeting with families. It is this partnership between home and school that makes such a difference for our students.

October Testing

As we return from Fall Break, I want to remind our families that we will be offering the SAT on Thursday, October 22, for students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who registered to participate. Please note that the testing date was changed from Wednesday, October 21, to Thursday, October 22, due to room availability.

Testing will take place at PTECH. Students should arrive by 7:40 AM, with testing beginning promptly at 8:00 AM. Students will need their student ID for check-in and will use STEM Chromebooks for the assessment. Students may also bring an approved calculator, water, and a snack.

Our Testing Coordinator, Amanda Davenport, has already communicated these changes to participating students and families. If you have questions or scheduling conflicts, please contact her at amanda.davenport@stemk12.org.

I want to wish all of our students who are participating the very best!

Prospective Spartan Night and Rising Spartan Night

We have two important events coming up as we begin looking ahead to the next school year.

On Thursday, October 22, we will host our annual Prospective Spartan Night. This event is designed for families who are considering STEM for the first time, but our current eighth-grade families are also welcome to attend if they would like to learn more about what our high school has to offer. Families will have the opportunity to visit our campus, meet our staff and students, and explore the academic programs, clubs, athletics, and activities that make STEM such a unique place to learn. If you know families who are exploring school options for their children, please encourage them to attend. Please see the spotlight in this newsletter for additional information.

Then, on Tuesday, October 27, we will host our second annual Rising Spartan Night. This event is specifically designed for the parents of our current eighth-grade students as they prepare for the transition to high school. Our goal is to help families better understand the high school experience at STEM and the opportunities available to their children over the next four years.

Choosing a high school is an important decision, and we want our families to have the information they need to make that decision with confidence. We hope these events will help families see the many opportunities available to students as they continue their educational journey at STEM.

Continuing the Momentum

As we return from Fall Break, we are entering an important stretch of the school year. The first few months are behind us, students are well into their courses, and the expectations and academic demands will continue to increase as we move toward the end of the semester.

I encourage all of our students to take a few minutes this week to review their grades in Canvas. If you have missing assignments, assessments that did not go as planned, or concepts that you are struggling to understand, now is the time to address them. Talk with your teachers, take advantage of opportunities for additional help, and make sure you are keeping up with your assignments. There is still plenty of time to make improvements, but waiting until the final weeks of the semester makes that much more difficult.

Parents, I encourage you to continue having conversations with your students about how school is going. While grades are certainly important, I also think it is important to ask what they are learning, what they are enjoying, and what challenges they may be facing. Sometimes those conversations tell us much more than a grade in the gradebook.

I continue to be impressed by the work our students and staff are doing each day. Whether it is in the classroom, on the athletic field, or through one of our many clubs and activities, our students continue to demonstrate their creativity, determination, and willingness to take on new challenges. These are the things that make me proud to be part of the STEM community.

Thank you again for your continued support and partnership. I am looking forward to another great stretch of the school year!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup
High School Principal
STEM School Highlands Ranch