The Denver Public Schools Podcast

Denver Public Schools

Welcome to the DPS Podcast—the official hub for all things Denver Public Schools! Tune in to hear inspiring student success stories, discover family-friendly tips and resources, and stay up-to-date on the latest district news. We’re here to make sure every DPS family has easy access to the information they need. Don't miss out—hit subscribe now and join the conversation!

  1. 3D AGO

    From Teacher Appreciation to Biliteracy - DPS Snapshots with Natalie B.

    1. Uplifting Community Voice: New Collaborative School Committee (CSC) Impact Videos The  DPS Communications team and the Family & Community Engagement team, also known as FACE, created a series of Collaborative School Committee Impact Videos through interviews with school leaders, teachers, parents, students and community members. This project provides a first hand look at what it means to serve on a CSC and how it supports community voice and family engagement.  You can watch the impact video, linked in our shownotes.  CSC Impact Video 2. DPS Students are Hopping Aboard the Bike Bus https://youtu.be/2xZStpVFkfo Bike to School Day may have been postponed by snow this week, but a growing number of DPS schools are supporting "Bike Buses.” Bike Buses are  groups of students and adults riding together on bikes to school.  Watch the video linked in our show notes to learn how bike buses work and how the DPS Sustainability team is helping more schools start their own programs. 3.  DPS Foundation Supports Extra Week of Discovery Link Equity in access to summer programming is a priority for DPS, and the Denver Public Schools Foundation is helping us deliver. Their recent funding support has allowed Discovery Link to add a third week of summer camp at Barnum Elementary for students from several school sites. The DPS Foundation raises funds for afterschool programs, classroom grants, student grants, workforce development and more. You can learn more about this work and discover ways to get engaged at dpsfoundation.org.    4. DPS Seal of Biliteracy Denver Public Schools celebrated a record-breaking year at the annual Seal of Biliteracy celebration hosted by North High School, where more than 1,600 students were recognized for demonstrating proficiency in multiple languages. That number marks a new record for Denver Public Schools and reflects the growing number of students embracing bilingualism as a superpower. The celebration honored students for their language skills, cultural competence, and commitment to future readiness.  Watch a recap of the ceremony:  https://youtu.be/UOhj_k6HAcw  5.  May the Force (Elementary) Be With You Force Elementary welcomed current and new families for its “May the Force Be With You” STEAM event, giving future students and families a hands-on look at what makes the school so special. From planetarium adventures and magnet games to lightsaber decorating, live reptiles, and relay races, families explored interactive learning experiences designed to spark curiosity and fun. Events like this help strengthen school-family partnerships while showcasing the creativity and excitement happening every day at Force Elementary.   A fun video of the May 4th event is linked in our shownotes: . https://youtu.be/fFhYhFoh-28  That’s all for this week!  Please remember to like and subscribe to never miss an episode.  As always, thank you to the DPS External Communications team for their help editing and producing this week’s show. We’ll see you next time on DPS Snapshots.

    3 min
  2. MAY 1

    Four Fridays Left - DPS Snapshot Show with Natalie B.

    1. Should Students Have Access to Communication Devices During School Hours? The DPS Board of Education is finalizing a new policy regarding students having access to communication devices (such as cellphones, headphones, smart watches, etc.) during school hours. As we prepare for implementation in July 2026, we are conducting a survey to understand the DPS community's current sentiment to ensure upcoming communications about this policy clearly address concerns and questions. The Device Policy Sentiment survey, is now open and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15. The questions take 5-7 minutes to answer and all responses are confidential. Learn more about the policy on the Communication Devices Advisory Committee (CDAC)  2. Resources to Celebrate Our Educators During Teacher Appreciation Week! Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and DPS plans to roll out the red carpet to say thank you to our amazing educators. To help spread the cheer, we've created a variety of templates, like notecards, signs/signs for schools (8.5″ x 11″ & 8.5″ x 14″) and graphics( profile photo). ( Teacher Appreciation webpage) 3. 2026-27 Discovery Link and Little Links Registration 2026-27 Discovery Link and Little Links Regional Rolling Registration will conclude today at 6 p.m. Registration for all regions and locations will open back up on Tuesday, May 5 at 6 a.m. Read this document 4. 100 Years of Pride: The Legacy of West High School  West High School marked 100 years on its current campus, celebrating a legacy that dates back to 1883. Students, staff and alumni came together to honor the school’s history, reflect on its impact and celebrate the generations who have passed through its halls. If you missed the in-person celebration, watch the celebration recap to see how the West Cowboys marked this milestone.  5. DPS Schools Earn Statewide Recognition Join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements across our district! This year, many DPS schools earned statewide recognition from the Colorado Department of Education for exceptional performance and student growth. 22 schools received the John Irwin Award, recognizing sustained excellence in academic achievement in math, literacy and science. Two schools were honored with Centers of Excellence Awards for achieving high academic growth among at-risk students, and one school received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award for exceeding growth expectations across grade levels. We’re proud of all the educators, students and community members that helped contribute to these recognitions.

    3 min
  3. APR 28

    Denver Scholarship Foundation ayuda a los estudiantes del DPS a llegar a la universidad - EDUCA DPS

    En este episodio del podcast Educa DPS, conversamos con Yoseline Loya de la Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) para desglosar todo lo que los estudiantes y las familias de DPS necesitan saber sobre la preparación para la vida después de la escuela secundaria. Desde becas y ayuda financiera hasta visitas universitarias y exploración de carreras, esta conversación gira en torno al acceso, las oportunidades y la toma de decisiones informadas. Ya sea que seas un estudiante de primer año que recién comienza o un estudiante de último año listo para postularse, la DSF ofrece apoyo gratuito en cada paso del camino. También abordamos los siguientes temas: • Qué significa estar preparado para la universidad y para el mundo laboral • Cuándo deben comenzar a planificar los estudiantes (pista: es antes de lo que crees) • FAFSA vs. CASFA y cómo funciona realmente la ayuda financiera • Cómo las familias pueden involucrarse y recibir apoyo • Por qué los estudiantes deben postularse primero y decidir después Si eres estudiante o padre de familia de DPS, este episodio es para ti. Existen oportunidades disponibles, y no tienes que recorrer este camino en solitario. 🔗 Obtén más información sobre la Denver Scholarship Foundation: www.denverscholarship.org 📞 Contacto: 303-951-4140 👉 No olvides dar «me gusta», suscribirte y compartir este episodio para ayudar a que más familias accedan a estos increíbles recursos.

    35 min
  4. APR 24

    Earth Day in Action: How DPS Students Are Making a Difference - DPS Snapshots with Natalie B.

    1. A mill levy override is an increase of the previous voter-approved tax rate (mill levy). Join DPS at an upcoming regional meeting to learn about the process and share your thoughts on how to spend the  potential mill levy override by using in an interactive budget tool to allocate funding for YOUR top priorities. Each meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Food, childcare and interpretations will be available for each meeting.  Meetings will take place on:   April 27: Westerly Creek (8800 E. 28th Ave.)May 4: Holm (3185 S. Willow St.)May 6: Trevista (4130 Navajo St.)May 12: Responsive Arts & Steam Academy (RASA) (19201 E. 62nd Ave.)May 14: Whittier (2480 Downing St.)2. Upcoming Board Engagement Sessions As part of Governance Policy 15, board members will engage with the community within their respective districts over the next few months. At these engagement sessions, board members will be discussing various policies and getting community input. Childcare, light refreshments and interpretation services will be available at each meeting. There will be a meeting in  President Gaytán will host on Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Florence Crittenton (55 S Zuni St.) (RSVP English | RSVP Spanish) Vice President Monica Hunter will host on Thursday, April 30 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Manual (1700 E 28th Ave.) (RSVP English | RSVP Spanish).  3. Celebrating Dia Del Niño (Children’s Day) at the Denver Art Museum Día del Niño, or Children’s Day, is on April 26! Head over to the EDUCA DPS Podcast (linked in our shownotes) to learn about the history of Día del Niño, how it is celebrated around the world and why creating spaces for children to feel seen, valued and inspired matters. Our friends at the Denver Art Museum will be hosting their annual celebration on Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring live music, art-making and interactive activities for all ages. Admission is free for all ages. EDUCA is available in Spanish and EDUCA in English video  4. Join us for the DPS Citywide Visual Arts Reception on May 5 from 5-7 p.m. Hosted at the iconic Denver Art Museum. This exhibition showcases the incredible talent, dedication and unique visions of our elementary students.  Come experience a vibrant gallery of self-expression and enjoy the rare opportunity to meet the young artists behind the work. Let’s celebrate the power of the arts in our schools!  5. This is What Earth Day Looks Like in DPS This Earth Day, sustainability came to life through the leadership of a DPS student. Lola, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, is turning her passion for the environment into action as she works toward earning her Seal of Climate Literacy. As part of her project, Lola partnered with students at Samuels Elementary to build bee boxes, teaching younger learners about the critical role pollinators play in our ecosystem and how small, hands-on efforts can make a meaningful impact. Watch the video to see her impact in action https://youtu.be/l0MFlfqRmOI

    4 min

About

Welcome to the DPS Podcast—the official hub for all things Denver Public Schools! Tune in to hear inspiring student success stories, discover family-friendly tips and resources, and stay up-to-date on the latest district news. We’re here to make sure every DPS family has easy access to the information they need. Don't miss out—hit subscribe now and join the conversation!