Mrs. Ridder Message

Happy New Year and welcome back from winter break! It has been wonderful having students back in the building, and the first week of the semester went very well. Our staff truly enjoyed reconnecting with students, hearing about their break, and seeing classrooms back in full swing. The energy and sense of community were strong, and we are excited for the weeks ahead.

As we settle back into routines, I want to share a few important reminders and announcements.

Student ID badges

This week, we had approximately 30 students a day enter the building without badges. Badges are an important safety measure and must be worn daily. Please help us by reminding your students to bring and wear their badge each day. If a badge has been lost, replacements can be requested through the secondary office.

Technology Use and Group Messaging

I want to take a moment to address an issue we are seeing with group messaging. While technology can be a powerful tool for learning and connection, it can also create challenges when it is not closely monitored. We are seeing an increase in inappropriate behavior occurring in group chats, including bullying and unkind communication that often happens outside of school hours but has a significant impact on students during the school day.

We are also seeing many messages being sent very late at night — sometimes at 12:00 a.m. or even 3:00 a.m. Even when phones are taken away, students often still have access to messaging through iPads, laptops, or other devices. We strongly encourage families to regularly check devices, review messaging apps, set appropriate boundaries, and monitor usage across all platforms. These conversations are much easier to address early, before they escalate or cause harm.

Please remember that bullying in group chats is neither acceptable or tolerated, regardless of whether it happens on or off campus. When these situations come to school, they affect student safety, well-being, and learning, and the school will respond accordingly. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing expectations around respectful communication and responsible technology use.

Important Upcoming Dates and Events

• January 13th- Middle School Course Selection Information Night

• January 16th - Early Release Day

• January 19th - No School - Martin Luther King Day

• January 30th- No School

• February 12th - Second Annual Multicultural Event Night - More details to follow

• February 13th - No School - Professional Development Day

• 
  

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. We are grateful to work alongside such an engaged community, and we look forward to a great rest of the semester.

Warm regards,

Maura Ridder
Middle School Principal
STEM School Highlands Ranch