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DSST: Aurora Science & Tech Middle School

Sharing some of this month's highlights

09/29/22, 2:45 PM

DSST Dispatch for September 2022: We have some exciting highlights and growth to share with you, along with a student blog for Hispanic Heritage Month and more.

As we start the 2022-23 school year, we are thrilled to share some highlights about the hard work done across our network over the past year. While there is a lot to celebrate -- like our continued status as one of the top school options in Denver, high college acceptance rates and top SAT scores in several categories-- there is still lots of room for strengthening our commitment to our students and families. Click here to see some of the highlights and an outline of our plans to address areas of needed growth.

Back to School Nights give families a fun chance to connect with their students' teachers, school
Over the past couple of weeks, each of our schools has held a Back to School Night. From yard signs to yummy snacks at pop-up concession stands, here are some of the highlights from these school events. Read more.

Student voice: Understanding the impact and importance of Hispanic Heritage Month
DSST: Conservatory Green student body president, Aiden H. put together a guest blog post about the history and importance of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Read more.

'Failing isn’t the end of the world': DSST alumna, teacher shares how DSST helped shape her future
We recently spoke with a DSST founding board member who said she hoped DSST graduates would eventually come back and teach at our schools and become educational leaders. Cami Coultas-McKenney is doing just that. Read more.

College doesn't have to mean debt: What to know about DSST's partnership with AdvanceEDU
One of DSST’s driving factors is making sure all students have an equal opportunity for their post-secondary education. AdvanceEDU is a great post-secondary option for students who want to work while in college and need a flexible college option. Read more.

Meet the new school directors leading at three of our schools
DSST is excited to introduce some new school leadership team members. Becca Bloch, the former school director at Aurora Science & Tech Middle School, moved up to managing director, so Jacquelyn Seigle moved into the role of School Director for the middle school. Also at AST, former Associate School Director for the middle school, Kryzelda Mendoza, became the founding school director for Aurora Science & Tech High School. Briana Mesa stepped into the role to lead DSST: Elevate Northeast Middle School after the position opened at the end of last year. Click here to learn more about each of these new School Directors.

Community Connection

Meet De'Edra Dangerfield:

"My role at DSST is Community Engagement Manager (CEM) and DSST: Cole Campus Athletic Director. As a CEM, I truly enjoy working with families, and developing and working with community liaisons. I was recently awarded the Educator Magnanimous Award from TheEduCtr. This award honors educators of color in the state of Colorado who exemplify high standards of excellence in education. It was such an honor to receive this award because community work and my students are very important to me. Community work is so very critical for our students. Because of the networks and partnerships developed, DSST students receive unique benefits that assist them with being successful in school. I am committed to this work because community engagement is essential and can lead to improved outcomes for our community. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat or have questions. You can reach me at 720-364-1540 or deedra.dangerfield@scienceandtech.org."

Read more about our Community Engagement Managers and their work here. You can also see community resources and other useful information.

DSST in the news

It’s the Global Fest in Aurora. On a stage, a group of young girls in colorful dresses perform a traditional dance from Mexico. Jacqueline Morales, 14-year-old AST student, was among those in colorful dresses participating in a modeling contest. Read the full CPR article here.

Amaryana is launching her senior year. The 17-year-old is excited about the classes at her Denver school, DSST: Montview, and excited for her last year of playing volleyball. She’s also looking forward to her advanced placement classes this year. Read the full CPR article here.

Resources & Reminders

Calendars for the 2022-23 school year can be downloaded here.
Monday is a really important day for funding our schools! Things that are funded based on October 3 student attendance include teacher salaries, paraprofessional salaries, fieldtrips, college success programs, technology and more. It is vital that your student is in class on Monday, Oct. 3, so we can get as accurate a number as possible and ensure maximum funding.
Trimester One Family Survey will be later in October. As in years past, we will be offering our family survey twice a year in hopes to hear how we are doing from you. The survey should take around 7 minutes to complete and will cover various topics including Student Experience, School Operations and Communication and Engagement. We will also be asking for your thoughts on the DSST Network Strategic Priorities over the next 3-5 years. Please partner with us by sharing your feedback on the Tri One Family Survey in October!

Important Dates

October 14 & 17: Fall break
October 28: No school for middle school students (grades 6 - 8)
November 21-25: Student Thanksgiving break
November 28: First day of Trimester 2

Donate to DSST

Why give to DSST Public Schools? Since 2004, we have been dedicated to changing perceptions of what is possible for Colorado public school students. DSST Public Schools transforms urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century. DSST is committed to ensuring that the outcomes of DSST students are high-achieving and do not correlate with any predictable social or cultural factors. This is achieved through interrupting inequitable practices, examining biases and other root causes of inequities, and actively valuing diversity and inclusion. It is with the support of our dedicated partners, DSST is able to continue providing a world-class education focused on building powerful learning communities centered on Core Values within an integrated STEM school model. Click here to donate.