Mr. Alsup Message

Happy December!

As we enter the final stretch of the semester, I want to encourage you to help your students remain focused and finish strong. With only two weeks left, this is an important time to check Canvas together for any missing work, current grades, and upcoming deadlines. Encouraging your students to communicate with their teachers and ensuring all assignments are submitted on time will make a meaningful difference in their success.

As winter weather becomes more frequent, I want to remind families of our inclement weather expectations. While we follow district guidance for delays and closures, we recognize that many STEM families travel long distances. If conditions near your home feel unsafe, you always have the discretion to keep your student home. Simply call the attendance line, and we will ensure the absence is handled appropriately. Additionally, during snowy or congested mornings, please follow the designated driveline procedures and refrain from pulling into or blocking access to our neighboring parking lots. Maintaining clear access helps us be good community partners and ensures safety for everyone.

We are also excited to share a unique opportunity for our high school students. We are exploring the possibility of a trip to France this coming spring. Last year, STEM launched a French exchange program with our sister school in Vannes, located in Brittany, France. Their students visited Colorado for a week, and now it may be our turn to continue the exchange by traveling to France over Spring Break this March. Final trip dates are still being determined. This opportunity is open to all high school students, and they do not need to be enrolled in French to participate. Students who join the trip would stay with French families, visit cultural and historical sites, and even spend time in a real French high school. For many, this will also be a chance to reconnect with the students we hosted last year.

To learn more, STEM is hosting information sessions about the exchange trip on Tuesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 12th at 6:00 pm in Jerry Cuellar’s classroom. Mr. Cuellar and Abby Tomic are leading this opportunity. A virtual option will also be available, and families should watch their email for the Zoom link.

Our basketball teams are off to an exciting start. Both the boys and girls teams showed tremendous effort and sportsmanship in early competition. We look forward to seeing their continued growth as the season unfolds.

On Friday, our BEST Robotics team loaded up into two vans for the 8 hour drive to Wichita, Kansas to compete in the regional BEST Robotics competition on December 6th and 7th. This challenging course will be a great test of their innovation and teamwork. Best of luck to our competitors. Go Spartans!

Finally, congratulations to all of our students who have achieved honors and recognition in athletics, activities, and academics this season. Your dedication continues to make STEM proud.

Let’s finish this semester with focus, positivity, and Spartan pride!