Courageous, talented, promising Samantha Lobato

A sold-out crowd of 1,200 supporters attended Achieve Gala 2012, and nearly $900,000 was raised to support DPS students and schools. We raised $83,000 through individual gifts made on the night of the event – a new record for the DPS Foundation! The entire program was a tribute to the power and potential of the 81,000 students in Denver Public Schools, and  Samantha Lobato is a shining example of how community support is helping DPS graduate our next generation of leaders.

Thank you, Samantha, for sharing your journey with 1,200 people and be the inspiration you are for students, teachers, supporters and the whole community of Denver Public Schools.

Please learn how you too can be a breakthrough for many students at Denver Public Schools.

A to Z Fund Classroom Grants: going above and beyond for DPS students

Oakland Elementary School students enjoyed new books thanks to the A to Z Fund.

Biology. Financial education. Field Trips. Instruments. Libraries. Software.

When it comes to giving Denver Public School students the education they deserve, the sky is the limit. That’s why the DPS Foundation started the A to Z Fund - to provide materials and opportunities that fall outside classroom budgets, but have a lasting impact on curious young learners. From aspiring Astronauts to Zoologists. And everything in between.

The A to Z Fund has granted more than $700,000 since 2006, providing new classroom technology, funding for field trips and competition travel, new musical instruments, books and much more. This school year alone, the A to Z Fund provided grants to 60 schools in DPS. As a result, thousands of students have had access to enriching programs and opportunities.

Welcome Swigert-McAuliffe International School!

Denver Public Schools and the Stapleton community gathered yesterday to celebrate the completion of the Swigert McAuliffe International School, a new ECE-5 School to serve the Stapleton community. The building will also house a middle school, yet to be formally named, starting with sixth-grade in the 2012-13 school year. Check out these photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony. Students will fill the brand new hallways beginning tomorrow, DPS’ first day of the new school year.

Kids In Need Foundation partners with DPS Foundation to provide 1,600 DPS kids with school supplies

The first day of school will be especially exciting for 1,600 DPS kids. On Thursday morning, they will walk into their classrooms to find brand new backpacks filled with all the school supplies they need to have their best year ever in the classroom!

Thanks to a $25,000 grant awarded to the Kids In Need Foundation by the Staples Foundation for Learning, 1,600 students at College View Elementary, Columbian Elementary, Ellis Elementary and Hallett Fundamental Academy will receive school supplies. The schools were chosen based on their high rate of students on free and reduced lunch programs, a key indicator of poverty.

The (first) first day of school in DPS! Welcome back students!

Mayor Hancock and Superintendent Tom Boasberg welcome students to the first day of school in Far Northeast Denver.

Today was the first day of school for more than 4,000 students in DPS! Schools in the Far Northeast region of Denver opened their doors this morning, marking the beginning of an exciting new school year. As a result of changes implemented last year, schools in Far Northeast will have:

• longer school days and years to provide extended learning opportunities
• daily monitoring of students’ progress
• increased collaboration time for teachers
• a strong emphasis on college and career preparation