Climate and Safety Spotlight: Keeping Our Kids Safe - Gun Violence Facts and Safe Storage

Keeping students safe is our highest priority at DPS. This month’s Climate and Safety Spotlight is focused on preventing gun violence and how we can work together as a community to keep children safe at home, at school and in our neighborhoods.

The Reality: Why This Matters

Across the United States:

Behind every number is a child with hopes, dreams and people who love them. That’s why prevention and partnership with families is so important.

The Role of Safe Gun Storage

Research shows that many guns used in youth suicides, school shootings or unintentional shootings come from the child’s home or the home of a friend or relative.

Sandy Hook Promise highlights that:

Safe storage saves lives.

If there are firearms in any home where your child spends time (your own home, relatives or friends):

Recognizing Warning Signs

Many incidents of violence are preceded by warning signs, especially on social media or in conversations. These can include:

If you notice any of these warning signs in your child — or in another young person — take it seriously.

How Families Can Help

Here are practical ways you can support safety and prevention at home:

1. Talk with your child about speaking up.
Let them know they should always tell a trusted adult if they:

2. Ask about safety when your child visits other homes.
It’s okay to ask other parents or relatives:

“If there are any firearms in your home? Are they locked, unloaded and stored safely?”

3. Stay connected.

4. Use school and community resources.
If you’re worried about your child’s emotional or mental health, reach out to:

Our Shared Commitment

DPS is committed to:

Thank you for being our partners in keeping students safe. Together, we can prevent tragedies and ensure every child in Denver Public Schools has the chance to grow, learn and thrive.

If you have any questions or would like more information about gun locks or safety resources, contact Joey Trujillo.

Denver Public Schools has moved the part-time, off campus, Career and Technical Education (CTE) application to the SchoolChoice Application platform. You will confirm the home school you are attending, and a new application will open for CTE. Select up to three choices and a lottery will run for acceptance into the CTE programs in March. You will be notified by email which program you have been selected for. To learn more about CTE pathways, visit CEC Early College website.

This week, DPS was joined by the Denver Broncos and CommonSpirit Health in celebrating kindness and community at Colfax Elementary. The school's classrooms nominated a Kindness Champion, recognizing students who go above and beyond to support and uplift their classmates. Colfax Elementary families also received a generous King Soopers gift card to support them during the holiday season and students were surprised with Broncos goodie bags. 

Watch how our Colfax community is spreading kindness.

Summit Academy moved into the former Castro Elementary School building this school year. Now, the renamed "Summit at Castro" honors the proud history of Castro while helping middle and high school students prepare for their future. See what’s happening at Summit at Castro. 

DPS hosted its Annual Eighth Grade Career Fair, organized by the DPS Career and College Success team and DPS volunteers. Students had the opportunity to explore future career paths and engage directly with local professionals, from first responders to community partners and major organizations across Denver. This year's event offered hands-on conversations, real-world advice and a powerful reminder that our students’ futures are full of possibility. Watch the 2025 Annual Eighth Grade Career Fair highlight video to see the full recap. 

Join us in cheering on the Denver Nuggets as they take on the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.! Buy your Denver Nuggets tickets today.

Also on Saturday, Nov. 22, the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team will go head to head with Arizona State. Buy your University of Colorado Buffaloes tickets to support DPS students and educators.

Finally, the Colorado Avalanche will host the Montreal Canadiens during Thanksgiving weekend! Purchase Avalanche tickets to see them play Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.

As a fifth grader, Olivia understands that school is more than just academics; it’s about community, creativity and compassion. At Cory Elementary, she’s grown into a leader through volunteering and exploring her love for the arts.

Whether she’s supporting the front office or students with special needs, Olivia exemplifies that giving back can make a lasting impact. Her story reflects how Denver Public Schools nurtures not only academic growth but also kindness, leadership and passion.

Read Olivia's full story.

Girls Inc. of Metro Denver empowers youth across our city to grow into strong, smart and bold leaders. Their research-based programs provide hands-on learning, mentorship and engaging lessons focused on leadership, healthy relationships and academic success.

In addition to in-school and after-school programming, Girls Inc. offers opportunities at their West Colfax center, including academic and career readiness programs, paid summer internships, and family engagement events designed to help youth and families thrive.

Interested in enrolling a student in Girls Inc. programming? Contact Destinee Perkins, Sr. Director of Community Engagement & Outreach, to learn more.

Read the Sustainability Team's November newsletter to discover how we can make a difference together this year! The newsletter provides opportunities to engage with local climate action, explore classroom resources and learn from what others are doing across the district. Whether you're a student, educator or part of the community, there’s something for everyone. Sign up to receive the Sustainability newsletter and be part of the movement to help achieve the goals of the DPS Climate Action Plan. 

The DPS Sustainability Team is thrilled to announce the release of our 2024-25 Climate Action and Accountability Annual Report. The report is also available in Spanish. 

The report tells the story of progress toward DPS’ 2028 climate action goals and celebrates our shared commitment for a better today and tomorrow for our students. Discover how DPS has become a national leader in climate action and learn how you can get involved.

Thank you to all the collaborators and student advocates who make this work possible. It will take the collective effort, passion and dedication of many minds and voices to accomplish the goals in the DPS Climate Action Plan. Together, we are building a cleaner, safer and more hopeful world for DPS students. 

Join the Multilingual Education (MLE) District Advisory Committee (DAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 5-7 p.m., at South High School. Attendees will learn about the SchoolChoice process, understand the importance of attendance and hear how we are strengthening family partnerships to support every student's success. Dinner, childcare and interpretation will be available. View the flyers in the eight most common DPS languages. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register. For more information, visit the MLE website or contact Sary Portillo at 720-423-2661. 

Join us for Healthy Choices, Bright Futures on Dec. 9 from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom. The first 100 people who participate in the full Zoom session will receive a $25 gift card for King Soopers! Register for Healthy Choices, Bright Futures.

This event will feature tools, safety tips and resources to help families support their students in making healthy choices. Learn about:

dpsk12.org