Weekly Communications 4.22

Posted April 22, 2022

Dear Denver South Students and Families,

We hope you all had a great week and have enjoyed this Colorado sunshine. Can you believe we have 15 days of classes left for our seniors? What a year it has been.  It has been a busy but exciting week here at South, with many events celebrating career, college, and athletic success.

In case you missed our Special Communication today, please click here to read an update on Mr. Thomas’ transition. 

As we get closer to wrapping up the year, we ask for your continued partnership around student pranks that could possibly harm or injure someone, disrupt learning, or cause property damage.  Please remember to encourage your students to have respect for one another and take care of our community and building. 

A big congratulations to Samir Monger for receiving the Sean Ranch Lough Foundation Scholarship, which is a FULL 4 year scholarship to CSU that covers room and board. Also in scholarship news, Talia Cardin has been named as a Boettcher Scholarship recipient, which provides a full 4 year scholarship to any Colorado school.  Way to go, Ravens!

On Thursday, we held our Athletic Signing Day event with staff, students, and families. We are proud and pleased to announce that the following Senior student-athletes of the Class of 2022 will be taking their academic and athletic talents to the collegiate level next year! 

  • Alexandra Bernal – Oberlin College – Lacrosse
  • Xavier Cardinal – CSU Pueblo – Football 
  • Maddi Baldwin – Whittier College – Lacrosse
  • Mae Swenson – Flagler College – Soccer
  • Quaid Hunt – Central Washington – Rugby
  • Gage Anderson – UCCS – Track
  • Sara Wexler – Harvey Mudd College – Cross Country / Track 
  • Taeyonna Johnson – Western Colorado State University – Cheerleading 

We also had our 1st Annual Career Fair this week.  There was a great turnout and many students left with interviews or jobs. Our employers had such positive feedback about our South community; they described students as being kind, articulate, and impressive.  We are so proud of our career-minded Ravens!

Go Ravens!

We are Denver South

Sincerely,

Principal Thomas


Upcoming Dates for 2021-2022 School Year:  

April 23: Jazz Band at the Greeley Jazz Festival UNC

April 23: Tree Replenishing Day

April 26: Dance Recital

April 28: Spring Choir Concert

May 2-12: Art Show

May 2-May 6: AP Exams & Spirit Week

May 6: Senior Farewell Sunrise with breakfast

May 6: Spring Pep Rally (Senior Farewell)

May 7: Senior Dance Showcase.

May 9-May 13: AP Exams

May 10: Culture Fest

May 11: Senior Finals, normal bell schedule

May 11: Mx Raven 

May 12: Art Show Reception

May 12: Senior Finals, normal bell schedule

May 12: Senior Awards Night 

May 13: Senior BBQ at 12:45

May 13: Senior Checkout at 1:30

May 13: Mandatory Graduation Practice at 3:30

May 13: Senior Car Parade at 6:00 pm (set up will start at 4:30)

May 14: Prom at the Denver Athletic Club from 8:00-11:00 pm (Guests are permitted)

May 14: After Prom at South High School from 11:30-3:30 am

May 17: Graduation Rehearsal at 11:45 am at DU

May 17: Graduation Ceremony at 2:00 pm at DU

New This Week

Want to support our South community?  Calling all Volunteers!

Families, we need your help!  Please volunteer to support our community at one or all of the following events:


South Ceramics

Our South ceramics students will be partnering with the Colorado Potters Guild in the spring show and sale at First Plymouth Congregational Church  3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113 Thursday, April 28th – Saturday the 30th Click here for the flyer

  • Thursday, April 28th, 4-8 pm 
  • Friday, April 29th, 9 am-8 pm 
  • Saturday, April 30th, 9 am-5 pm

Ceramics and sculpture students will also be  partnering with the second star to the right bookstore for a First Friday show on Friday, May 6th. The show will be up from Friday- to Sunday. Click here for the flyer.

  • Friday, May 6th, 4-8 pm
  • Saturday, May 7th, 9 am-6 pm
  • Sunday, May 8th, 9 am – 3 pm

Recurring News 

Black Student Alliance

We are looking for collaborators and donators 5, 10 or 20 dollars. Everything helps.

This year we spent our budget on a fundraiser, and two events bringing black topics to our school community.

Next year we would like to still fundraise, hold events and maybe even buy new club t-shirts.

We are also always looking for guest speakers.

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DPS ‘Your Voice/Tu Voz’ Survey Opens on May 2

The final round of DPS Your Voice/Tu Voz Surveys for this school year will be available beginning May 2. All surveys will include additional questions to support the Healthy Start Times initiative for the 2023-24 school year. Responses to the survey inform decisions on how we can better serve our DPS community. 

Families will have the opportunity to opt their students out of the survey, if they choose. An email communicating this opportunity will be delivered to families on Monday, April 18.

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DPS Summer Opportunities

Our vision for summer programming is to provide joyful opportunities for students to engage in and preview learning for the upcoming school year. By offering both enrichments and academic content, we aim to provide students with a safe and supportive environment for hands-on learning, exploring new skills and making new friends during the summer months.

Read more about all of the summer program offerings by grade level on our new Summer Programs Webpage.

Additionally, we’re excited to share some of our new and re-envisioned summer programs: 

  • Summer Connections: A free, full-day, six-week program available in all DPS regions for all rising first- through fifth-grade students that combines literacy, math and science. Students will engage in hands-on enrichment experiences in STEM, art and Spark Career Exploration.
  • Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA): The pilot AEA summer program is an immersive four-week cultural-identity and ethnic-studies program on Black/African-American and Latinx experiences and ancestral histories. This space will also provide opportunities to unpack and explore varied racial, social, historic and modern civic complexities facing marginalized populations and communities in the 21st century.
  • Gen Teach Expansion: This program is a free, five-week Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) academic acceleration summer program for DPS students who are entering grades 6-8.

Ready for 202X: Ready for 202X is a four-week, interdisciplinary model that uses science as its base. Students will explore environmental sciences using a hands-on approach through investigations, literacy-rich activities and digital tools that engage students in analytical thinking and problem solving. Participating students receive 10 credits or one unit toward graduation requirements.