HELIX FEED

Post-Covid, DSST teachers chart long journey back to reading proficiency

Every day of our lives almost all of us will spend time reading. It could be a work of fact or fiction, a magazine or newspaper, or something online.

Through the written word we gain new knowledge. We combine these 26 symbols based upon the sounds they represent, or where they appear in a sequence and instantaneously recognize a word. As a species, it’s one of our most amazing skills.

Through reading, we quietly entertain or inform ourselves; are magically transported to other times—past, present and future; meet both real and imagined characters who exist in their own universe and are memorialized on the pages of books. Indeed, reading is the fuel that propels wonder.

What can be gained through reading is what literacy interventionists like Kelly Francisco and Samantha Hakes work on daily to impart to dozens of young minds at DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School and Aurora Science and Tech Middle School, respectively.

FYI on DEI: A look at how DSST is working on creating a diverse and equal environment

Welcome to the FYI on DEI - winter edition. This will provide snapshots and updates of the DEI work at DSST Public Schools. The FYI includes an update on our overall DEI department goal, identified success and opportunities for improvement, our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization and a look ahead to the remainder of the school year and toward 2023-2024.

Changes and updates you should know for the 23-24 calendar

The 2023-24 calendar is now live! The calendar includes several adjustments, which are a direct response to your feedback.

Introducing a new leadership position: President of DSST

As you may have seen from Monday's email from Bill Kurtz, DSST will be introducing a new leadership role.

Denver Teachers Look to Improve Student Reading Skills Post COVID

For a young mind, there is no greater gift than that of literacy. It is a gift that allows one to explore places, things, or ideas anywhere without even leaving your chair. It allows travel to another continent or to a distant spot in a boundless universe.

Literacy is a ticket whose expiration date is a lifetime and one that can be passed on endlessly. But COVID-19, a microscopic bug that created a new normal in every time zone, also affixed a form of intellectual handcuffs on many young minds.

In Colorado and every state, the pandemic created chaos. The virus closed schools and forced educators to scramble and create whole new approaches to teaching. Now, nearly three years since the first cases of coronavirus, we are seeing the intellectual impact it had on learning.

Denver celebrates 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade

The Marade — a combination of march and parade — began in 1984, with a goal of celebrating Martin Luther King’s legacy and the progress the world has made since his assassination, while also recognizing the work still needing to be done.

Quincy Shannon brings students of color from his school to the Marade each year and said teaching students of color in a system that often fails them is an overwhelming challenge.

“I’m just here serving as a bridge from the last generation who has trailblazed to the next generation who will have to take on the torch,” said Quincy Shannon, dean of students at the DSST: Green Valley Ranch.

Complete the Mid-Year Survey and you could earn breakfast for your school

As you saw in the email from Monday, the Mid-Year Survey is now open. This is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on what is working, what is not and how we can continue to grow and improve.

'It makes me feel a lot more confident': DSST teachers introduce program to help improve students' reading skills

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows Colorado students are continuing to get back on track post-pandemic.

With so many kids falling behind, DSST Public Schools - formerly known as the Denver School of Science and Technology - has a new effort to get them back on track. Three reading interventionists are working to dismantle the myth that some students are just not readers. 

CBS News Colorado's Mekialaya White spent time in one of the classrooms in Green Valley Ranch Middle School teaching the pilot program, led by interventionist Kelly Francisco. 

DSST Center Program students celebrate holidays at winter carnival

The Winter Carnival for our Center Program students was a blast!

Giving & Cheer Day 6: Joven Lusa on the Core Value of Integrity

Hello DSST! I’m Joven Lusa and I started my journey here at DSST: College View Middle School as a gym teacher, yes I said “gym” teacher, back in 2018. I have since transitioned to a dean of students.