Sustainability Newsletter

DPS Students for Climate Action, saw their proposed climate policy passed unanimously by the Board of Education, the day before Earth Day this spring. Beginning nearly two years a year ago, the group of DPS students has been urging the Board to bring the district’s climate goals in line with the ambitious goals of the City of Denver and state of Colorado. Read more here.

The DPS Sustainability Team has been working hard to promote environmental protection, economic prosperity and social development in our schools and community.

Read the 2021-22 Sustainability Annual Report to learn how we’re working toward a livable future and acting with urgency for the students who so bravely stood up for their future and got a climate action policy adopted by the DPS Board of Education. We believe our future is bright and full of innovative thinking, and we hope these results will inspire you to join us!

Thomas engages our youth to ensure they have the tools to enter the green economy and make a difference. The DPS Sustainability Team is increasing our efforts to support DPS student sustainability clubs. Please email Thomas Riggle or call him at 303-345-3293 if your school has a sustainability club, would like to start a sustainability club or would like guidance on a sustainability project. He's here to help!

by Mariah Rosensweig

Our student-led group, DPS Students for Climate Action was directly driven by this urgency to repair our relationship with the Earth, advocating for our Climate Action Policy which the DPS School Board has since adopted. What began as advocacy within our own lives created a policy directly influencing district-wide decisions with tangible impact.

In the coming years, we will continue holding the district accountable to its actions. Our organization will continue creating a network for sustainability clubs to engage in the Sustainability Management Plan, empowering students to lead the charge toward a livable future.

We will hold a workshop this spring, led by students, for students. We will connect with each other and share valuable resources to lead the charge on climate action and environmental justice, ultimately reaching our goals as a community of students, parents, and staff across DPS.

Mariah Rosensweig is a senior at East high school, a leader of DPS Students for Climate Action and a beekeeper. She encourages you to share this article with youth in your life.

Reach Mariah and the team at dpsclimateaction@gmail.com.

Instagram: dps_studentsforclimateaction

The DPS Sustainability Team visited Denver Green School Northfield and Inspire Elementary to see the first goat program in action. After a tour of the garden, they met goats Vega and Marshmallow as well as half a dozen laying hens.

It was wonderful to see middle school students actively caring for the goats and chickens while working to clean out the pens. Later, students gave the team a tour of the compost operation and shared why composting is important and how it benefits the soil. We are excited to see students engaging in these opportunities. Keep up the good work!

In 2023, City and County of Denver trash collection customers will begin receiving weekly recycling and compost collection services to reduce the amount of trash the city sends to the landfill and the production of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. To pay for the expanded services, customers will be charged a fee based on their trash cart size, ranging from $9 to $21 per month (the smaller the trash cart, the lower the fee). Weekly recycling and composting collection services will be included at no extra charge. Rebate applications are now live for eligible Denver residents.

DPS and Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) are teaming up to bring food forests to Denver. Most of our schools have traditional annual vegetable gardens that must be replanted each spring. Food forests are food-producing trees, shrubs, perennials and companion plants that create a mini-ecosystem.

DCIS at Fairmont and Samuels Elementary are the first schools to pilot the program.

In addition to providing food year after year, food forests are an opportunity to integrate outdoor learning spaces and existing gardens. Our goals are to increase food production, provide greater exposure for students to engage and learn in nature, create outdoor learning spaces and improve student nutrition through access to fresh and local produce.

DUG's "tree keepers" will maintain the sites and ensure they continue to thrive while reducing the workload on facility managers. Classes and clubs are encouraged to help nurture and harvest the food forests. Funding for the project is provided by DUG and the City of Denver.

If you are interested in learning more about food forests or bringing one to your school, email Chris at cwoodbu@dpsk12.net.

The Youth Sustainability Board (YSB) supports our sustainability and climate action clubs, bringing a united voice to the concerns of our students. Clubs can connect with YSB for support, networking and advocating for policy change.

We are here for educators, students and clubs alike. Please reach out for support on class sustainability projects and initiatives, garden workdays, Earth Day events and to schedule class or school-wide workshops on energy, waste diversion and more.

Email: dept_sustainability@dpsk12.net

Website: https://sustainability.dpsk12.org/
Phone: 720-456-9083

Instagram: dps_sustainability