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5 tips for students during Colorado's Free Application Days and college application season

Colorado’s Free Application Days event offers every student across the state the opportunity to apply to college free of cost. But even if students miss the three-day window, they haven’t missed their chance to apply to college or prepare for life after high school.

The days, from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20, serve as an unofficial kickoff to the college application season. However, Colorado students shouldn’t feel like they need to rush through the college application process just to meet the free application deadline.

A persistent myth among students is that you have to pay to apply to schools, said Analise Gonzalez-Fine, director of college initiatives at DSST Public Schools, a Denver-area charter school network. But that’s not universally true.

The deadline is fast approaching! It's time to submit your Public Service Loan Forgiveness paperwork.

The deadline to turn in your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) paperwork is fast approaching. 

FYI on DEI: What you need to know about DEI work at DSST

Here are some of the things our DEI team focused on for the 2021-22 school year.

Workday is getting a new look!

Workday is going to look a little different starting Sept. 10. Here is what you need to know about the changes coming to the site.

Denver teachers, stoked to see their students, know COVID's legacy is still with them

COVID forced everyone at Denver Public Schools to learn from home during the 2020/2021 school year. Kids were mostly back in classes last year, but things were still a little sideways, and they remain as such.

Madi Perry, a calculus teacher at DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School, told us she signed up for an Amazon wishlist for the first time this year. She mostly worried her students’ families would struggle to afford the items on their back-to-school shopping lists.

“I offered folders yesterday, and way over half the class came up and took them from me,” she told us. “Everything I bought has been used. I felt like I was totally right about that.”

Perry also said “massive dips and declines” in academics, which stemmed from the learn-from-home era, are still super apparent.

Back to school: dogs, AP classes and alarm clocks. What Colorado students are looking forward to this school year and what they want changed

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. When asked if she has played all four years of high school, she answers with a polite, “Yes, ma’am.”

Amaryana said she likes the team bonding on the volleyball squad – it’s like a family. On the team she’s learned the nuances of good communication and knows that will help her in life. She’s also looking forward to her advanced placement classes this year. She doesn’t really like reading but said the heavy reading and writing load gets her ready for college.

“I’m being prepared for that,” she said.

A new COVID booster push begins as Colorado heads into the third fall of the pandemic

It’s the Global Fest in Aurora, where people wait in lines for food from vendors from as far afield as Nigeria and Vietnam.

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.

Nearby, a nurse under a tent asks a patient, “You want your right arm or your left arm?”

It’s the third fall of the pandemic, and the push is on to get more COVID-19 shots into arms. For two years, this festival was virtual. Now that it’s back, the vaccine tent is bustling.. 

Meet the new school directors leading at three of our schools

As we kick off the 2022-23 school year, DSST is excited to introduce some new school leadership team members.

Community celebrates 'Random Gestures of Compassion' in honor of Reese Grant-Cobb

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock proclaimed July 20, 2022 “Random Gestures of Compassion Day.”

The recognition is in honor of Reese Grant-Cobb, a 17-year-old DSST: Montview student who was killed in 2018, just weeks before his 18th birthday.

He was also a standout on the East High School football team and his friends called him a “Renaissance man.” July 20 would have been Grant-Cobb's 22nd birthday.

“The month of July is the hardest month of the year for me because the beginning of the month is the anniversary of his death — he was attacked on July 1 and then died on July 2 — then July 20 … is his birthday,” said Beverly Grant, Reese’s mother. 

Resource spotlight: Keyaisha Thomas, DSST's dedicated staff-member mental health provider

DSST is proud to partner with Mines & Associates to provide all DSST team members access to a no-cost dedicated mental health counselor.