1.Abraham Lincoln High School’s It was all yellow at Lincoln this past week. Literally. DPS Superintendent, and Board President Gaytan dressed in yellow and surprised Lancer students to celebrate their two-level jump on the DPS School Performance Framework, moving from Red all the way to Yellow in a single year! This milestone is a testament to the hard work of the students, staff, and families at Lincoln. Congratulations, Lancers! If you want to watch some of the celebration, head to the link in our shownotes. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSYgpEBjAnZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 2.How Community Hubs Are Supporting Hundreds of DPS Families This Winter Across DPS Community Hubs, the season of giving has brought connection and meaningful support to families across the district. In partnership with the Denver Public Schools Foundation and community organizations, Community Hubs supported more than 800 students with holiday gifts, essential items and welcoming experiences. Families enjoyed warm, joyful events with strong participation and thoughtful details, including festive toy giveaways with gift wrapping, hot cocoa, access to mini market resources and opportunities to sign up for ongoing programming, all in collaboration with host schools. If you’d like to see some heartwarming photos, head to the photo gallery linked in our shownotes. 3.Tasty Food: Free Meals Available During Winter Break All youth ages 3-18 are welcome to receive free meals and snacks. No ID or registration is required. Explore available locations and times by visiting the Tasty Food website linked in our shownotes. Beginning in January 2026, Tasty Food will transition to the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE). The program will continue to operate and will be administered by DDPHE. 4.Library Services Presents: Wrapped 2025 In 2025, DPS students turned pages into possibilities! Through DPS Library Services, we celebrate these successes highlighting books that are inspiring and building literacy skills. We are excited to announce that this past year, DPS students checked-out more than 760,000 books, ebooks and audiobooks! Want to know more of the stats? Watch the 2025 Wrapped video : https://www.canva.com/design/DAG7sY7xkZg/FZvpRJo97WYAIvB-tqEbiw/watch 5. Proud to Serve: How General Counsel Aaron Thompson Came Home to Serve Students https://youtu.be/6QlZbVzxGZM Most people know Aaron Thompson as General Counsel for Denver Public Schools. What they don’t know? He’s also a rapper, painter, and creative at heart. If podcasts are your thing, and it I’m going to guess they might be if you’re still here, check out the latest episode of DPS Stories where General Counsel Aaron Thompson opens up about his journey—from working on DPS buses to becoming the district’s top lawyer—and how art, music, and service have shaped the way he leads. He reflects on growing up in Aurora, finding his voice through creativity, and why keeping students first is at the center of everything he does. Watch or listen to this episode. You can also find it wherever you get your podcasts. That’s a wrap, folks! Have a safe and relaxing holiday break. We’ll see you in 2026.
