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DSST First Day of School 2025 - 26 in photos

By Nella Garcia Urban, CEO of DSST Public Schools

It has been an absolute dream to have our students back in school the past two days. These photos illuminate the joy, readiness and opportunity in a very strong start to the school year. 

1. The Doors Open: Welcome to a Year of Possibility

DSST’s Infusion 2025 celebrates milestones, student voice and unstoppable school spirit

On Tuesday, August 5, DSST Public Schools staff came together for our annual Infusion event, and let’s just say, the energy was off the charts! From heartfelt moments to school cheer battles, it was the perfect way to kick off the 2025–26 school year. 🍎

🎉 We celebrated our people, including dozens of staff members marking 5, 10, 15, and even 20 years at DSST. And yes, we gave a big shoutout to our amazing alumni who’ve come full circle to serve the next generation.

🌸Flower Person Awards stole the show, honoring staff who bring joy, light, and DSST’s core values to life every single day. Each school created a video tribute to their awardee. You can watch the middle school videos here and the high school videos here.

📣 And in true DSST fashion, the school cheer competition brought the heat, with the DSST: College View Wolves claiming their third straight win! 🐺💥 The crowd (and social media) went wild.

💬 From student poetry to STEM dreams, the day was packed with moments that reminded us why we do this work, and how we thrive together.

Stretch your grocery dollars with a new DSST–Safeway discount

We know the cost of living in Colorado keeps climbing, and we want to help your dollar go a little further. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with Safeway: all DSST team members can now save 5% on groceries at any Colorado Safeway location! 🛒

A Year of Purpose, Progress, and Possibility

By Nella Garcia Urban, CEO of DSST Public Schools

A Championship Year: Celebrating DSST Athletics 2024–2025

From record-breaking participation to historic championship wins, the 2024–2025 school year was a landmark season for DSST Athletics. Across our campuses, student-athletes, coaches, and communities came together to build something truly special—one game, one practice, and one moment at a time.

Mentors fuel innovation as DSST students reach for the sky

At DSST Public Schools, students participate in enriching programs that spark curiosity beyond the classroom—and even beyond Earth’s surface. Programs like CubeSat give students the opportunity to apply science, math and technology skills to analyze real-world factors like temperature, altitude, humidity and gas levels in the atmosphere.

Learning to lead with purpose, not just plans

Late-night Instagram scrolling isn’t usually where leadership breakthroughs happen, but for Lindsay Agbalokwu, a School Director in Training (SDiT), that’s exactly where one started.

A bowl of pho and a business plan: A journey rooted in Vietnamese-Laotian heritage

For Jadyn Nguyen, a 2019 graduate of DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School, identity isn’t just about where you come from—it’s about how you grow, who supports you and what you give back.

DSST: Montview High School students lead the way in sustainability

What started as a brainstorm over winter break has grown into one of the most successful high school composting program launches in Denver Public Schools' history, and it’s all thanks to a group of determined students, a visionary teacher and a community committed to building a healthier future.

Building the foundation for every DSST student to thrive

As we move into the final stretch of the year, we want to take a moment to celebrate some early wins and share what’s coming next regarding the middle school programming shifts.