DPS Snapshots Show with Natalie B. - District Updates for Nov. 7

The Denver Public Schools Podcast

1.The DPS Board of Education election results remain unofficial until certification on Friday, Nov. 21. For updates, visit the Denver Elections Division website.
Current leaders:

• Amy Klein Molk – Director At-Large
• DJ Torres – District 3 (Central Denver)
• Monica Hunter – District 4 (Northeast Denver)
• Xóchitl Gaytán – District 2 (Southwest Denver)

New directors will be sworn in at a special BOE meeting on Dec. 2.

2. Prioritizing Attendance Around the Upcoming Holiday Breaks

Regular attendance builds strong routines and supports students’ personal, social, academic, and emotional growth. Please plan family activities around the school-year calendar to help your child be in school all day, every day. [Access the 2025–26 calendar.]

• November Break: Nov. 24-28
• December Break: Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 5, 2026

3. Food Assistance

If you or your family are in need of food assistance, there are resources available to you! These local organizations below may be able to help:

•Tasty Food Program: The Tasty Food Program offers afterschool meals for children that will be offered at Denver recreation centers. Visit the Tasty Food website

•Food Bank of the Rockies: You can find a food pantry near you using their Pantry Locator tool

•Colorado 211: This confidential and multilingual service connects people to vital resources across Colorado. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211colorado.org. Note: The hotline is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

•Feeding Colorado: A collaboration of five Feeding America food banks serving Colorado and Wyoming, working to ensure access to healthy, fresh food for those in need. Visit feedingcolorado.org/find-food or email [email protected]

•Hunger Free Colorado: Connects families and individuals to SNAP/food stamps, food pantries, free meals, WIC, and other nutrition programs for all ages. Call 855-855-4626 Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

4. Get Ready for SchoolChoice

SchoolChoice is less than a month away! The Round 1 application is open from Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. to Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. It’s never too early to prepare. Here are some quick tips about ways to prepare:

• Explore the School Finder to find schools near you or search based on academic program or interest.
• Contact individual schools to schedule a tour!
• Find general information about DPS and learn more about all of the programs available in the Enrollment Guide.

If you have any questions, review our FAQs, call the SchoolChoice Hotline at 720-423-3493 or email [email protected].

5. Student Represents DSA and DPS at Film Fest in Poland

Jerry Stone, a senior Video Cinema Arts major at Denver School of the Arts, attended the Science and Technology Film Festival in Kraków, Poland, where his short documentary “The Lab”—the only student project—was nominated for Best Short Documentary. A talented sound engineer with a thriving freelance career, Jerry continues to make DPS proud. Congratulations!

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