Colorado STEM Academy Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It was a very short week and we hope you all enjoyed your fall break. Monday October 19th is early release and kids should be picked up by 1:40 PM. We hope to see you at the district showcase on Monday from 5-7 (details below).

Reminder that October 26th is a non-student contact day and students do not come to school that day.

Important Reminder: Irving Driveline & Dismissal Rules

Dear Irving Families,

To ensure the safety of our students and keep our dismissal process running smoothly, please follow these key parking and driveline rules:

• Do NOT park along the fence near the playground. Parking here blocks traffic and creates hazardous bottlenecks for vehicles entering and exiting. Please park in designated parking spaces in our lot or remain in your vehicle in the driveline.

• Turn RIGHT ONLY when exiting the Irving parking lot onto 72nd. Waiting to turn left causes severe backup and significantly slows down dismissal for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our campus safe and efficient!

Do Not Send Toys to School:

As outlined in our Family & Student Handbook signed at the beginning of the school year, please remember that toys, squish balls, electronic games, trading cards, stuffed animals, and other personal items should not be brought to school. These items create unnecessary distractions in the learning environment and can easily be lost or damaged.

• Valuables: Any personal items brought to school are the student's responsibility. Colorado STEM Academy is not responsible for lost or stolen money, cell phones, or property.
• Storage: All necessary personal property (like coats and lunch boxes) should be kept in school desks or lockers, clearly labeled with your student's name.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our focus on learning and keeping our classrooms distraction-free!

Annual WPS District Showcase

This annual event celebrates the incredible learning, growth, and talent of our students across the district. Families, community members, and partners like you will have the opportunity to see student work firsthand, explore innovative programs and pathways, and learn more about how WPS is preparing every student for success.

Monday, October 19, 2026, from 5 to 7 pm
Westminster High School - 6933 Raleigh St., Westminster, CO

Costume Contest

This year’s Showcase will also feature a festive twist — students and families are encouraged to come dressed up in their favorite costumes as part of our Halloween Trick-or-Treat theme!

Categories, timing, and judging details will be shared as they become available!

Opportunities for Students

• Each school will have a booth set up to share student data and highlight the uniqueness of each school.
• Students who wear a Halloween costume will have the opportunity to collect goodies, enjoy music, food, and more!
• Connect with WPS community partners like the Boys & Girls Club to learn about their programs and learning opportunities for your family.

Westy Futures Athletics Program

Families are able to register for the Westy Futures Athletics winter sports program. Participation fees are $75 for K-8. Register online.

Rapids tickets were distributed last week to kids who earned free tickets by having 95% attendance from September 2nd-October 2nd.

🔒 Partner With Us in Keeping Our School Safe

📣 School Community Update: Irving Lot & Corner Property

Thank you to the families who raised concerns during Parent-Teacher Conferences regarding the Saloon house on the corner of Irving Street near our parking lot entrance.

We hear you, and we want you to know our team is actively working on this situation and has contacted authorities multiple times.

If you witness suspicious activity and would like to support our efforts, please report it to the Westminster Police Non-Emergency line at 303-658-4360. Thank you for keeping our school community safe and supported! 💙

Another way you can support our safety efforts is by never opening or holding the door for anyone entering the building.

While holding the door is a natural, polite habit, our office staff is specially trained to screen and grant access only to authorized visitors. Locked doors are our single best defense, and keeping them secure relies on all of us. When visiting, please use the front doorbell and wait for an office staff member to greet and let you in—even if you see another parent or staff member nearby.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our school community safe!

Pick up Reminder:

• Monday October 19: Early Release, kids picked up by 1:40 PM

• Tuesday–Friday: all students must be picked up by 3:40 PM

• Need an Extra Tag or Replacement? Stop by the Irving Office during operating hours.

• Chromebook Insurance due by October 1st to guarantee coverage, cannot be purchased after October 1st.

¿Necesita asistencia en español?

Para cualquier ayuda en español, por favor llame a la oficina del sindicato al (303) 487-2853 (se habla español).

Comuníquese con nosotros a este número si necesita:

• Reportar la ausencia de un estudiante

• Programar una cita breve

• Hacer cualquier otra pregunta

¡Estamos para servirle!

📅 Key September Dates 2026–2027 School Year

To help you plan ahead for the upcoming school year, please note our daily schedule and updates below. Our school hours remain unchanged for the new school year

• Oct 19: District Showcase at WHS
• Oct 20: Challenger Field Trip Level 7s
• Oct 21: 8th Grade PSAT
• Oct 26: Non Student Contact Day |
• Oct 28: Denver Museum of Nature and Science Whole School Field Trip (details coming soon!)
• Oct 30: Picture Retakes Location TBD

Dear Families,

Mark your calendars! Our whole school is going on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday, October 28!

Here are the key details for the day:

• Date of Field Trip: Wednesday, October 28
• Submission Deadline: Friday, October 23
• Cost for PK–5th Grade: Free! (There are no transportation or admission fees for students or approved volunteers.)
• Cost for 6th–8th Grade: $2.50 per student (Volunteers attend at no cost). Please send $2.50 in cash or check to school with your student to give to their homeroom teacher.
• Arrival: All students should arrive at school at the regular start time.
• Departure: Buses depart school around 8:45 AM after breakfast.
• Return: Buses will return to school no later than 2:30 PM.

Please complete one permission slip form per student by Friday, October 23: (Link Below)

We are also looking for approved parent volunteers/chaperones to join us! If you are interested in volunteering, please indicate so on the permission slip form. Please be advised that we are limited to space on our buses so we encourage our parent chaperones to drive. Thank you for your support in making this an awesome experience for our students!

🎤✨ Celebrating Student Talent & Achievement! 📚🐝

🤖🚘 Coding in Action! ⚡️

Our Team A students had an incredible time at the Ranum Iver Innovation Campus October 7, 8 and 9! They dove headfirst into hands-on STEM learning and programmed self-driving Zumi cars! 💻🧠

So much innovation, problem-solving, and fun! 🚀✨

🌲🔥 Hands-on learning in action!

Our Team B 7th & 8th graders took an awesome field trip to Mud Lake on Wednesday October 14th with the Wild Bear Nature Center! Students explored fire ecology, identified trees using every sense except sight, and played a tag game demonstrating the impact bark beetles have on a forest.

We love learning beyond the classroom! 🪵🍂 #HandsOnLearning #STEMinAction #FieldTrip

📸 Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and check out Class Dojo to see photos and more celebrations from across our school all year long. We love sharing the joy, pride, and accomplishments that make STEM such a special place to learn and grow! 💙

PTA at Colorado STEM Academy for the 2026-2027 School Year

We have many exciting events to look forward to throughout the year! If you’d like to get involved, we warmly invite you to attend one of our upcoming PTA meetings. Children welcome and food provided.

Wednesday September 2nd

PTA Meeting 4:00-5:00

BAAC 5:00-6:00

Thursday November 12th

PTA Meeting 4:00-5:00

BAAC 5:00-6:00

Wednesday January 13th

PTA Meeting 4:00-5:00

BAAC 5:00-6:00

Thursday March 4th

PTA Meeting 4:00-5:00

BAAC 5:00-6:00

DAAC Opportunities for Parents

Shape the Future of WPS Schools! 🚀 Join the District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC) and share your voice on budget priorities, student success, and district improvement.

• Commitment: 4 meetings per school year

• Who: Parents, community members, and educators from every WPS school

👉Application Link Below

Español

¡Ayude a construir el futuro de las escuelas de WPS! 🚀 Únase al Comité Asesor de Responsabilidad del Distrito (DAAC) y comparta su opinión sobre prioridades presupuestarias, éxito estudiantil y mejoras del distrito.

• Compromiso: 4 reuniones al año escolar

• Quiénes: Padres, miembros de la comunidad y educadores de cada escuela de WPS

👉 Complete la solicitud abajo.

“Learn more about Mill Levy 4A
Visit the WPS Mill Levy 4A webpage for information about the measure, FAQs, proposed uses of the funding, and additional resources.

“Conozca más sobre la Medida 4A del Mill Levy

Visite la página web de WPS sobre la Medida 4A para obtener información sobre la medida, preguntas frecuentes, los usos propuestos de los fondos y recursos adicionales.

🪵 Get Hands-On with the Woodworking & Woodturning Club! 🔨

Union students will learn tool safety, wood characteristics, and technique while building custom projects—like kitchen items and utensils!

Quick Details:

• Cost: $20 (Payable in cash at the office or via IC Parent Portal once accepted)

• Sessions: 3 sessions available throughout the year (Re-apply for each session!)

• Session 1 Dates: Sep 21, Sep 28, Oct 5, Oct 19, Nov 2, Nov 16, Nov 30 & Dec 7

• Pick-Up: 3:10 PM end time; pick up at the flagpole no later than 3:15 PM

⚠️ Deadline to Apply: Friday, September 25th

(Note: Power & Hand Tool Permission Slip required before the 2nd class!)

👉 [Apply by clicking the link below.

📱 School Phone Policy Update for Next School Year!

Great minds think alike! You may have heard that our school district just passed a new district-wide phone policy. Because we’ve already seen the positive impact of limiting distractions in our classrooms, our school will be maintaining our current phone policy for the upcoming school year with some updates.

We are proud to be ahead of the curve in keeping our focus exactly where it belongs: on student learning, engagement, and building a strong community!

Parents and students, please take a moment to review the district's newly released policy here to see how it aligns with our campus expectations: Link Below

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating the best possible learning environment for our kids! 🦅✨

Please see attachments for important immunization information and requirements for the 2026-2027 school year.

Coming Fall 2026!