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DSST: Aurora Science & Tech Middle School

DSST Dispatch: September updates from DSST

09/28/23, 9:03 AM

A note from CEO Bill Kurtz:

I write this message with a deep sense of gratitude for all of you who have partnered, supported and helped build DSST over the last 20 years. I am thankful for the thousands of students and families who have given us the sacred opportunity to be a part of their educational journey. With that gratitude, I share that this 2023-24 school year will be my last as CEO of DSST Public Schools. Working on the DSST team for the last 20 years has been an honor of a lifetime. I will finish this school year as CEO, so I am not going anywhere soon. I want to ensure the Board of Directors will have the time and space to execute our well-thought-out succession plan over the course of an entire school year. I fully expect this year will be my best at DSST and our best year as an organization.

My heart is full. Thank you.
Bill Kurtz
CEO, DSST Public Schools

Denver's 9 News and Chalkbeat Colorado ran stories on the above announcement (linked respectively). You can also watch the 9 News segment that aired here. You can read Bill's letter here if you missed the full announcement. We are so grateful to Bill for all he has done to grow this organization into what it is today and for his impact on our staff, students and community.

Network Highlights

  • All DSST high schools with graduating classes ranked among top 50 in Colorado
    • The U.S. News and World Report has released its list for the top high schools in Colorado. According to the report, U.S. News analyzed 24,980 public high schools across the U.S. Out of the 523 Colorado public high schools included in the list, all six DSST schools with graduating classes have earned a spot in the top 50 high schools for the entire state. Read more.
  • DSST schools shine in 2023 Denver School Performance Framework results
    • Recently, Colorado unveiled its preliminary 2023 School Performance Framework (SPF) results, and the news is nothing short of impressive for DSST. DSST operates six of the top 10 high schools and six of the top 13 middle schools in Denver, with DSST: Cedar High School being the number one high school in all of Denver. Read more.

In case you missed it

  • AST High School sophomore and student council president Fatima Najar was featured on Univision for Hispanic Heritage Month. She spoke about how she was a shy child but, over the years, has learned to find the power of her voice.
  • The MTV CubeSat Club was interviewed for a podcast series hosted by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science called Laws of Motion. This season premiered on Sept. 27. You can learn more here.
  • Habib Seid, an eighth-grader at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School, was recently featured on CBS for Colorado Energy Day. Habib's project was among those being showcased at the event. You can check out the story here!

Resources & Reminders

DPS is asking all families to complete a mental health survey to provide valuable input on your student’s mental health and social-emotional well-being. It will take less than five minutes. Click here to access the survey.

To inspire more Coloradans to continue their education, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutions will allow students (or anyone) to apply for free as part of the sixth annual Colorado Free Application Days. You can learn more here.

RTD offers a variety of resources and information for discounted rates on public transportation. Some of the resources include discounted student passes, income-based fare discounts and more. Click here for more information.

Clothes To Kids of Denver provides new and quality used clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families in the Denver Metro Area, free of charge. Students must be age 3-21, live in the 11-county Denver Metro Area and be enrolled in preschool – 12th grade, or working toward a GED. You can learn more here.

Upcoming events

  • Sept. 29 - 30: Financial Literacy weekend at the DSST: Cole Campus. Click here for more info.
  • Oct. 4: Screening of Screenagers at North High School. See more info here.
  • Oct. 4: The DPS Substance Use Prevention Program webinar covering youth substance use prevention and intervention. Learn more here.
  • Oct. 27: Youth Unity Rising Summit at CSU Spur. Learn more or register here.

Important Dates

  • October 12-16: Fall break
  • October 27: Family conferences - no school for students
  • November 20 - 24: Thanksgiving break
  • November 27: No school for students

Your voice matters!

Voting is an essential right and a privilege that significantly impacts our education system. We want you to use your voice to create the change you want to see, and in order to do so, you need to be a registered voter. DSST wants to share some resources to help you prepare for the upcoming election.

You can find all the resources and info you need at DSSTVotes.org, including how to check your registration status. We also encourage you to complete the commitment to vote form. Our goal as a community is to have at least 1,000 members from DSST commit this year! When we unite to exercise our voting rights, we amplify our voices and have the power to bring about meaningful change. Let's make a difference together!

Donate to DSST

If you would like to learn more about opportunities to give, contact info-development@scienceandtech.org or at (303) 802-4117. You can also click here to visit the DSST donation page.

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