Nov. 2024

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As we navigate the critical outcomes of the recent elections, including the presidential race, it’s clear that national leadership decisions will profoundly shape our climate action landscape.

Now, more than ever, focusing on local impact is essential. Thanks to Denver voters, the passage of the bond provides an incredible opportunity for meaningful, immediate sustainability projects right here in our community. We’re grateful for your support and are eager to work with our partners to turn these initiatives into tangible progress.

Together, we’re building a resilient, sustainable future, no matter the national climate. Thank you for standing with us!

The City & County of Denver and Denver Public Schools are seeking student artists to submit artwork for the Truck Art Contest - where winning artwork will be featured on Denver's waste collection trucks as part of a “rolling art gallery” for all of Denver to see!

Students are encouraged to create original artwork on the theme of “reducing waste in Denver.”  Submit your entry online by Friday, Nov. 22.

Teachers are welcome to attend Climate Science for the Middle Grades, a FREE professional development opportunity hosted by UCAR’s Center for Science Education.

• The virtual workshop is on Dec. 5 from 4-5 p.m. Register here. 

• Attendees will explore the essential elements of climate literacy at the middle school level and leave with a suite of standards-aligned activities to help students in your classroom understand climate science and solutions to climate change.

DPS has a goal that by 2028 50% of science teachers participate in annual professional development on climate and sustainability.

Denver’s LeafDrop program allows residents to dispose of their fall leaves in an environmentally friendly way. Bring your fallen leaves and old pumpkins to LeafDrop sites located across the county (including DPS’ own Bruce Randolph High School and Kennedy High School), and Denver will then turn them into compost that will be made available to residents in the spring. Sites are open through the end of November.

Use Denver’s updated Waste Directory to better understand what items go into your recycling, compost, and trash carts. It’s important to know what goes where and to keep our waste streams clean from contamination in order to meet DPS’ goal to have a landfill diversion rate of at least 25% by 2028.

Amelia is the former co-president of DPS Students for Climate Action, and she recently convinced her parents to get a heat pump when their natural gas boiler stopped working. 

Heat pumps provide both cooling in the summer and efficient electric heating in the winter. Heat pumps are a key tool for climate action because they are on average 2-4 times more energy efficient than the most efficient natural gas boiler. And, they can be - and increasingly are - powered by renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

If you are considering following Amelia’s lead and installing a heat pump, check out the financial rebates offered by Denver and the tax credits offered by the Colorado Energy Office.

Hear from Adam West, energy engineer, about how DPS’ new Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy FNE (RASA) represents a critical step forward for climate action and sustainability at DPS.

Shout out to the Teller Elementary’s Earth Rangers for leading the way and getting their school EcoSchools certified for the 2023-24 school year! Not only that, Teller is one of the first schools in DPS to reach the Green Flag level - the highest level of EcoSchools certification. 

• Check out this video to learn more about their journey to EcoSchools certification.

• If you are interested in exploring EcoSchools certification at your school, please reach out to kelly_moses@dpsk12.net. DPS has a goal to have 25 schools certified by 2028.

Fourth graders at Gust Elementary had special visitors from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to learn about solar power. Gust and 10 other schools will be receiving solar shade structures thanks to a grant from Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. Solar energy programming for students will take place at those schools in conjunction with DPS’ Spark Early Career Exploration Program.

Several DPS high schools organized field trips to the second annual Youth Unity Rising Summit at CSU Spur in October. The event focused on environmental justice, stewardship, advocacy, mental health, and inclusive wellness. Showcasing youth leaders in the community, the event featured student-led workshops, a panel discussion, as well as keynote speeches from community leaders.

The DPS Students for Climate Action and members of East High's Sustainability Club played a vital role in the planning and facilitation of the summit.

• Canary Media:  Solar is helping schools save big. Your district could be next.

• Generation180: Community Solar Offers Financial Lifeline to School Families in Need

• EducationWeek: More Schools Invest in Solar Panels to Save Money and Help the Environment

This data visualization from Ed Hawkins, climate scientist at University of Reading, shows how global temperatures have changed since the Industrial Revolution, that our future is in our hands, and that we must take urgent climate action to avoid the most harmful effects of global warming.

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