Led by students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, East High School and Montbello High School, the Black Voices in Color Podcast covers Black Excellence and the student experience in DPS. In this episode, students engage in authentic conversations that go beyond the surface and take a deep dive into the importance of elevating black student voices.

Tune in and be part of the conversation as we strive to uplift and honor the voices that contribute to the dynamic tapestry of the DPS community. Find the Black Voices in Color Podcast on our YouTube channel, or listen on any podcast platform by searching for The Denver Public Schools Podcast.

In the last week of January, DPS’ 2024 Community Planning and Advisory Committee (CPAC) met for their first full meeting hosted by Montbello High School! The CPAC is made up of a diverse group of people who share a common interest; supporting and investing in Denver Public Schools. Watch this special recap video to see interviews from a few of our new members.

CPAC members are volunteers who play a critical role in creating a bond package proposal that, if approved by the Denver Board of Education, will be presented to Denver voters in November 2024. Members are examining the needs of schools across the district and working together to prepare recommendations on air conditioning, building maintenance, and safety and technology, among other essential investments.

The CPAC will meet a total of five times together as a full group and four to six times in their subcommittee groups over the course of six months.

To review presentation materials from CPAC meetings and to learn more about the process, including details on how you can sign up for public comment (space is limited, so register early), visit ourwordourbonddps.org.

Students, staff and community members at Smith Elementary School set aside time during community meetings each week in February to recognize, honor and celebrate Black History, traditions, impact and world-changers! Last week, Smith second graders led the whole school community in a celebration of Black Excellence, past and present, with a melody from Jessica Deshong. Watch the celebration here.

Video Cinema Arts students at Denver School of the Arts took home the most awards at the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the Film & Animation category! Sage Logan (12th grade) and Halyn Herndon (eighth grade) won Gold Keys, which will be nominated for the national competition! View other winners here. The awards ceremony is on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Denver Arts Museum, with screenings of the films at RMCAD Mary Harris Auditorium today and Sunday, Feb. 18.

Experience digital books in over 20 languages on SORA!

This three-minute video demonstrates three ways to filter and find books, audiobooks, magazines and read-alouds in Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic and many other languages. Please note that not all materials are available in all languages.

Have a title you’d like to read that isn’t in SORA? Fill out the Request a Title form, and Library Services will do their best to help! Keep reading!

Extended Learning and Community Schools is proud to launch its first-ever sport-focused summer camp at South High School! These weekly camps will help students build athletic skills and prepare them for ELCSports, DPS' only district-run elementary sports league. For more information, click here. Registration will go live on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 a.m. If you have any questions, email elcsports@dpsk12.net.

Join the Multilingual Education (MLE) District Advisory Committee (DAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 9-11 a.m. at Goldrick Elementary. This month, we will have representatives from Special Education, Gifted and Talented and Summer Connections. Breakfast, childcare and interpretation services will be available.

Share the attached fliers with your families of multilingual learners and encourage them to register here. Staff are also highly encouraged to attend. For more information, visit the MLE DAC website or contact Olga Olivas at 720-423-3058.

Join FACE University for a Social Media Safety training for families on March 12 from 5-6 p.m. This session will provide resources and tips for families on the dangers of social media and how to help their students stay safe and smart online.

Use this session to gain valuable information and collaborate with other families on technology safety solutions. After this session, we will launch an interactive training for DPS families to earn a social media safety certificate. Learn more and RSVP.

Access past editions of Our DPS Weekly.