May 25, 2018
Congratulations to the Class of 2018! 
"Our belief in our students' potential -- the belief that from the very first day they walk into one of our classrooms, every child can achieve at the highest levels and ultimately cross the graduation stage -- is at the heart of everything we do."
Dear Team DPS,

 
Supt. Tom Boasberg 
High school graduation is a time of remarkable joy for our students, families and educators as we celebrate all of the possibilities the future will bring. It has been truly heartwarming this week to see our students beam with pride and cry with joy as they cross our graduation stages, diplomas snugly in hand. 
 
I am thrilled that the Class of 2018 is one of our largest graduating classes ever. Most striking has been our growth in graduates among our students of color since we launched the Denver Plan a little over a decade ago.   
 
The opportunity to graduate and be prepared for college and career is life-changing not only for our students, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college, but for communities throughout Denver. Our belief in our students' potential -- the belief that from the very first day they walk into one of our classrooms, every child can achieve at the highest levels and ultimately cross the graduation stage -- is at the heart of everything we do.
 
This year, we're celebrating many students, such as CEC Early College senior Bao Vu, who aspires to a career in nursing. "I have a brother who was born with epilepsy, and some of my family members have other health issues," Bao said. "I was inspired to enroll in Concurrent Enrollment through the advice of my counselor. She opened my eyes to how much money and time you save through the program, and I was able to see that getting a degree would be attainable for me."
 
John F. Kennedy High School seniors Yesenia Gallegos and Kathleen Martinez both interned with Xcel Energy and earned scholarships as a result of their impressive work on the job. This opportunity was made possible through our DPS CareerConnect program, which provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities to students. In this year's graduating class, some 320 students have participated in CareerConnect internships. "I'm excited to attend Colorado School of Mines in the fall, to pursue my dream of becoming an engineer," Yesenia said.
 
DPS is also preparing future students for our new graduation requirements , beginning with our Class of 2021. The new requirements mirror what is expected for our students to be successful in college, career training or the workplace, so that as they complete their education in DPS, they have the skills they need to be confident about their futures.
 
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year's graduates, their families and all of the teachers, coaches, counselors and leaders who helped them reach this milestone accomplishment .
 
Best,
Tom  

Pictured above: Students from Manual High School's graduating Class of 2017. 
Celebrating Outstanding Parents and Family Members with Family Leadership Award
Ratosha Miller (right) was one of six parents honored with a Family Leadership Award for embodying one of our Shared Core Values.
DPS closed our last Superintendent Parent Forum of the 2017-18 school year with the Family Leadership Awards, which celebrates parents and family members who embody one or more of our DPS Shared Core Values: Students First, Integrity, Equity, Collaboration, Accountability and Fun.    

Family members from across the district were nominated by an educator at their child's school for making a significant contribution and demonstrating a commitment to strengthening educational partnerships between parents, schools and DPS. Thank you and congratulations to the winners of each Family Leadership Award:
  • Megan Ferina, nominated by Westerly Creek -- Students First
  • Scott Balderman, nominated by Lincoln Elementary -- Integrity
  • Elvia Chávez, nominated by Swigert International School -- Equity
  • Tara Leavitt, nominated by Green Valley Elementary-- Collaboration
  • Antilena Htoo, nominated by Place Bridge Academy -- Accountability
  • Ratosha Miller, nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College -- Fun
DPS Features Video: From Farm to Table, Students Feed Denver Families
 
The butter hits the griddle. A whiff of vanilla fills the room. And before you know it, kids are serving up their next prized main course: pancakes! Every week at Marie L Greenwood Academy, students cook up a new meal as part of the school's Each One Teach One program.

Through gardening, students learn about literacy, science and cooking -- life skills they take home as they teach family members how to make pancakes and other meals from scratch. In partnership with Whole Foods and the support from DPS educators, these students are helping to expand access to fresh produce in Far Northeast Denver. 
OverDrive eBook Library Available to Students All Summer Long
As we approach summer break, it's important that students continue reading over the summer to sustain their reading growth made during the school year and prevent summer literacy loss, also known as "summer slide."

Reading over the summer will not only support students from falling behind but will also help them build their reading skills.
Research shows that students who are given access to books over the summer perform 35-40% better on reading achievement tests than those without access to books.
 
With the DPS  OverDrive eBook Library , DPS students have 24/7 access to eBooks all summer long. Our OverDrive eBook collection is available anytime, anywhere from any device. To access the eBook library, students simply log in and can then choose eBooks from a large collection of relevant and engaging reading materials.

To access the library, visit dpsk12.lib.overdrive.com. If you have questions or need support, contact the Library Services help desk at 720-423-1842 or email libraryhelpdesk@dpsk12.org
May 28: Memorial Day -- DPS schools and offices will be closed