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Highlights from our first day of school for the 2026-27 year!

The first day of school is always filled with excitement, energy and possibility, and this year was no exception. Across our campuses, students walked through our doors ready to learn, grow, and make the most of a brand-new year.  

Kicking off the school year together with Welcome Back Bash 2026

On Saturday, Aug. 8, hundreds of DSST students and families gathered at DSST: Montview for an afternoon of fun, connection and celebration at our 2026 Welcome Back Bash. With backpacks, school supplies, live entertainment, community resources and plenty of sweet treats, the event was a joyful way to kick off the 2026-27 school year.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the day!

A community ready for a new school year

Families from across the DSST network came together to reconnect with friends, meet school staff, and celebrate the start of another year of learning. From the moment guests arrived, the energy was high and the excitement was contagious.

Grown here. Leading here. Meet DSST's newest school directors.

 Six leaders. Six communities. One pipeline built to develop exactly this. 

Preparing for a Strong Start: What to know about TLI 2026

Each year, DSST’s Teaching & Learning Institute (TLI) provides dedicated time for learning, collaboration, and preparation before students arrive on campus.

All In Together: Everything you need to know about Infusion 2026

Every year, Infusion gives us an opportunity to pause before students return and come together as one DSST community. It's a chance to reconnect with our shared mission, celebrate the people who make this work possible, and launch a new school year with purpose and energy.

Ariel Berryman memorial scholarship recipient, Katalina Lopez, and the power of belonging

There is a moment Katalina Lopez carries with her. It is not from a graduation stage or a college acceptance letter, but from a living room floor, when she was 6 years old, teaching her 8-year-old brother how to tie his shoes.

Four Years Strong: DSST Celebrates Its Leaders at the 4th Annual Leadership Pipeline Symposium

There's something that happens when a room fills with people who have spent a year doing the hard, intentional work of becoming better leaders. The energy is different. The conversations run deeper. The pride is palpable. That's exactly what filled the air at DSST's 4th Annual Leadership Pipeline Symposium, a meaningful evening of celebration, reflection and recognition for our incredible leaders growing across the network.

Every day, in every hallway: Meet DSST's 2026 Core Value Award winners

Six people. Six values. One remarkable year.

Checkmate: DSST students build something bigger than a tournament

Quantum 5 in Action: what we heard and what's next

Spring 2026 · 931 responses · 87.7% completion