Mr. Alsup Message

I hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the last days of summer weather! We're excited to share some of the incredible achievements and upcoming events at STEM!

STEM After Prom Parent Committee: After Prom is a cherished tradition that provides students with a safe and fun place to continue celebrating after prom. This event is only possible through the hard work of parent volunteers, and we’d love for you to join us! Whether you enjoy event planning or prefer helping the night of—setting up, running activities, supervising, or cleaning up—your support is invaluable. Our students look forward to this event every year, and we need many hands to make it happen.

If you’re interested in volunteering in any capacity, please fill out this form. This is a great opportunity to get to know other high school parents while providing a great experience for our kids. The committee has already started meeting, but there is still room for more volunteers. We’d love to have you on the team!

Best Robotics Kickoff Success: Last Saturday, our BEST Robotics team hosted our second annual Kickoff Event. Schools from across the region gathered for the unveiling of this year’s playfield, and the excitement was palpable as teams learned about the new challenges. The robots and playfield are complex, but with the dedication of our students and sponsors, we’re ready for an incredible season ahead!

STEM Blast Off Recap: STEM Blast Off on Wednesday, September 17th, was a tremendous success! Despite the challenging weather, our community came together for a fun-filled evening that not only brought joy to students and families but also served as a wonderful fundraiser to support our programs. We are so grateful to all of the parents, students, club sponsors, and staff who made this event possible. A special thank you goes out to Allison Everson—schools cannot thrive without the dedication and support of our parents, and we are incredibly fortunate to have you leading as our PTC Chair!

Grade Checks: We have been in school for a few weeks now so it is time to start monitoring the grades. Please remember that we are no longer following the Standards Based grading system, so homework counts in the grade. This is a great opportunity to monitor your child's progress and discuss any concerns with their teachers. If you have any questions about the grading, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

National Ranking Achievement: I’m proud to share that STEM has once again earned national recognition:

• #1 in Douglas County
• #19 in Colorado (out of 608 high schools)
• #796 nationally (out of over 18,000 schools)

These results reflect the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. Last year, we increased both the number of AP exams taken and the scores earned in nearly every subject area. Congratulations to our students and staff for their continued excellence!

Open Enrollment: As we approach the open enrollment window, I spend a lot of time going to other middle schools and attending their various high school fairs. While it does take time away from home, I love to go because I want all students to know about the amazing education we offer here. I have worked in a number of schools, but have never worked with such an amazing and unique program. This really is a special place. So, if you know of anyone who may be interested in attending STEM, please encourage them to come to one of our tours. Or we would love to have them attend our Perspective Spartan Showcase on October 30th.

Attendance Reminder: In the next few newsletters, you’ll hear more about the importance of attendance in October. While attendance is always critical, the state uses our October attendance rate to determine funding. If possible, please avoid scheduling vacations or extended absences during this time.

Upcoming Events:

• Middle School and High School Assembly: 9/25
• Homecoming Week: 9/29-10/3
• Homecoming Dance: Saturday, 10/4
• KOSON Board of Directors Monthly Meeting: 10/7
• Picture Retakes: 10/7
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Tuesday, 10/7 and Thursday, 10/9
• Fall Break: 10/13-10/17
• Annual DECA Invitational: 10/22
• Best Robotics Practice Day: Saturday, 10/25

That is all I have for now. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Ryan Alsup, High School Principal

Proud to be a STEM Spartan!