Our DPS Weekly
Oct. 15, 2021
Bouncing Back at Balarat Outdoor Education Center 
Dear Team DPS,

One of the many wonderful parts of going to school in Colorado is the spectacular opportunity to enjoy and learn in the splendor of our great outdoors. DPS’ Balarat Outdoor Education Center provides students with transformative outdoor educational experiences designed to ignite students’ curiosity about the natural world and connect them to the environment. For many of our students, a trip to Balarat -- a rite of passage among fifth graders -- is their first time in Colorado’s high country. 

The 750-acre classroom in the Boulder County foothills was donated to DPS in 1968, and has served more than 400,000 students over the past five decades.

On Oct. 17, 2020, the CalWood Fire near Boulder County scorched part of the property that hosts Balarat Outdoor Education. But the land, like our students during this pandemic, has shown great resilience -- and is already coming back to life. Hike back in time to March with us as we visit the Boulder foothills with students from College View Elementary in this video!
U.S. News & World Report Ranks 24 DPS Schools Among Best For Grades K-8
Several elementary and middle schools in DPS have been ranked among the top 10 in Colorado in a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report! 
For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States. 

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels -- see both ranking lists here.

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:
  • Math and reading proficiency -- or how well students perform on state assessments.
  • Math and reading performance -- or how well they perform compared with expectations.

Congratulations to our top ranked schools!
Participate in the 3 Free College Application Days
We’re excited to share that DPS is hosting three College Application Days on Oct. 19, 20, and 21, which mirror the state’s Colorado Free Application Days. On these days, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado -- and several private institutions -- will be waiving their application fees to encourage all students to pursue a post-secondary education.

Watch the message from Gov. Jared Polis (in English and Spanish) below:
Students will receive application support and can apply to participating colleges for free! Students will also have the opportunity to attend helpful workshops on the Common Application and writing personal essays. Talk with your teacher or school counselor about DPS's College Application Days to get a free head start on your path towards a meaningful career and post-secondary education.
Celebrating Career and College Success Month
Celebrate Career and College Success Month by wearing your favorite college gear every Friday in October! Use this opportunity to spark career and college conversations with students about your path after high school and the importance of planning for their futures, including considering college, vocational training, the military or a path that's right for them. 

Also, don’t forget to follow DPS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see how our students are preparing for success in their career and college journeys -- and add your stories and photos to the celebration by tagging #MyPlanDPS.

Pictured here: Superintendent Alex Marrero (third from left) and team members show their college spirit to celebrate Career and College Success Month.
Upcoming MLE DAC Meeting for Families of Multilingual Learners
DPS is excited to invite all our families of Multilingual Learners to a virtual Multilingual Education Districtwide Advisory Committee (MLE DAC) meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 5-6:30 p.m. 

At this session, you will receive important information and resources about: 
  • Title 1 funds.
  • Graduation requirements and career success.
  • Financial aid and work-based learning opportunities.
  • The DPS Board of Education, including meeting the candidates for districts 2, 3, 4 and At-Large.

Register here and join the meeting via Zoom. For more information, please visit the MLE DAC website or call 720-423-2040.
Join the Conversation: Transgender/Non-binary Allyship 101 Webinar
There is no playbook on how to be a parent or caregiver. This sometimes becomes even more clear when a child comes out as transgender and/or non-binary. Parents and caregivers -- including school staff, extended family, friends and anyone who loves and supports youth -- can sometimes feel lost navigating complex and nuanced journeys around gender discovery. A child in transition can bring up a lot for adults: a range of questions, concerns, and emotions from elation to fear and everything in between.

This talk, brought to you by the DPS Prevention Services Lunchtime Webinar Series, will cover some high-level basics of supporting a child on a gender journey, dispel common misconceptions, and provide recommended resources as you travel this path with your student. To join the conversation on Nov. 3 at noon, register here.
Contact Us
Connect with Us