Welcome Back Message from Dr. Fisher

Dear STEM Families,

We are so excited to welcome our STEM students back to the Dayton Regional STEM School in just a couple of weeks. The beginning of each year is a time of excitement and anticipation. We’ve spent the summer planning and preparing and eagerly await the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

Our new Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 is now finalized and will serve as a guide as we continue to prepare and inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. The plan's theme is STEM without Limits. The four-year theme will serve as a reminder that our history is rooted in taking risks and pushing the boundaries of traditional educational models with the goal to best prepare our students for a lifetime of impact as they find their passion and purpose.

To our new STEM families, please accept a heartfelt welcome! Over the coming weeks you will receive more information that will help you get connected and prepared to start the school year. Along the way feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We hope that your student will have a great transition to our school and will have many stories to share with you throughout the year.

Here are some important school-wide updates:

New Administrator Position

We have added a Dean of Students to the STEM administrative team this year. Ms. Lori Dunn will serve in this role. Her main focus areas will be behavior supports, promoting ACE culture, student attendance, gifted supports, and testing. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Dunn to the STEM team!

Change to the Daily Schedule

This year we are excited to announce some changes to the daily schedule. I have attached a copy of the schedule for you to review. Please feel free to share it with your students. Here is a summary:

• Passing time has been changed to 3 minutes (previously 5 minutes).
• We have added a Personalized Learning Period (PLP) during 2nd period each day. This period will take the place of an advisory and allows time for enrichment, goal setting, career exploration, intervention, team building, portfolio work and other activities. It is titled Personalized Learning because we want to meet the students on an individual level and provide supports based on their needs and interests. Mr. Sears and Mr. Pant will be sending out additional information on the goals and objectives for high school and middle school PLP.
• Students will receive quarterly and final grades for PLP, which will be listed as the following on report cards and transcripts:
  • 6th grade – Personal Growth 6
  • 7th grade – Personal Growth 7
  • 8th grade – Personal Growth 8
  • 9th grade – Professionalism 101
  • 10th grade – Professionalism 102
  • 11th grade – Professionalism 103
  • 12th grade – Professionalism 104
• Study hall will take place during midday every day. At times, there will be special assemblies or meetings during study hall, so students should not count on this time to complete work for the afternoon classes.

Dress Code Reminder

With the return to school many of you may be shopping for new clothes. Please keep in mind our dress code as you select options to wear to school. Many of the current styles are not appropriate for school. Here is a summary:

• Clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit and down to approximately 4 inches in length on the upper thighs
• Stomach or mid-drifts must be covered
• Tops must have shoulder straps
• Rips or tears in pants or shorts should be lower than the 4 inches indicated above
• Shoes must be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment (pajamas, bedroom shoes or slippers shall not be worn, except for school activities approved by the administration)
• See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code
• Headgear including hats, hoodies, costume wigs and caps are not allowed unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reason by school administration
• Some courses may require specialized attire, such as safety gear and closed-toe shoes

Students found in violation of the dress code will be issued consequences as indicated in the student handbook. As part of our intervention strategies parents may need to bring a change of clothes in order for a student to return to class. We appreciate your support of this Board approved dress code.

School Safety

The safety of your children is a high priority and we take this responsibility to heart. We have a Threat Assessment Team at STEM who have been trained to identify potential risks and to assess these risks based on a set of criteria to determine the most appropriate intervention. Members include administrators, counselors and law enforcement. We meet routinely to evaluate any potential risks, and will convene quickly before a scheduled meeting if the need arises. If you have any concerns about safety over the course of the year, please reach out to a school administrator or record your concerns in our Stay Safe Speak Up portal.

Required drills are conducted each year based on state fire marshal mandates. Drills include a combination of rapid dismissals, safety, tornado and theoretical drills where we walk through various scenarios and map out responses to mitigate potential hazards.

This year, I also plan to assemble a student safety committee to provide an opportunity for students to discuss their ideas for keeping STEM a safe place to learn and grow.

Your partnership is critical to the success of our school. Thank you for entrusting us with the education of your children. We take this responsibility very seriously and continually reflect on our practices to make sure we are preparing the students for a successful future.

Please reach out anytime if you have any questions or concerns.

Your Partner in Education,

Dr. Robin Fisher
Superintendent / CAO
The Dayton Regional STEM School
robin.fisher@daytonstemschool.org