For the fifth consecutive year, 100% of DSST graduating seniors have been accepted into four-year colleges and universities around the country.  At an early morning pep rally on March 23rd, 88 DSST: Stapleton seniors were recognized by their teachers and peers for this incredible accomplishment. 

The celebration began with a rousing DSST chant, each class trying to outdo the others.  The staff joined in on the enthusiasm with teachers Cory Hofschild and Jeff Hollenbach serenading the senior class with their own humorous rendition of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," the popular Dirty 

Dancing finale by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.  About halfway 

The DSST: Stapleton High School Class of 2012 enters into a pep rally thrown in their honor to celebrate 100% acceptance to four-year colleges and universities.

through the song, the rest of the Stapleton faculty joined in.

Each of the younger DSST: Stapleton classes then presented a gift to the seniors to acknowledge their hard work. The sixth graders gave colored pencils "for a bright future," and the seventh grade presented a series of inspirational quotes. Other highlights of the morning included recognition of each senior for his or her contributions to the community and advice from staff members about what to expect in college.

The 88 members of DSST's Class of 2012 have gained acceptance to an array of prestigious schools across the country, including New York University, Amherst College, Dartmouth College, American University, Northeastern University, and Howard University. Students must accept a place at their university of choice in early May and they still have senior projects to finish before graduation. "They have worked incredibly hard over nearly four years at DSST as their 100% college acceptance attests," said DSST: Stapleton High School Director, Mark Heffron. "They still have two difficult months of school left, but I am so impressed with their ability to push to the end with high quality work in AP classes and their senior projects." 

A community garden will add new dimension to DSST: Green Valley Ranch's focus on health sciences this spring.  The garden is a collaborative project led by teachers and school leaders from the four schools currently operating on Denver Public Schools' (DPS) Evie Garrett Dennis Campus in Green Valley Ranch - DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School, DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School, SOAR (elementary) and Vista Academy.  DSST will incorporate the garden into middle and high school elective courses, and hopes to coordinate with the campus cafeteria to grow ingredients for student lunches to raise awareness campus-wide about healthy eating and sustainability.

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) provided gardening advice to the planning committee, as well as free seeds and seedling plants.  "We're not exactly sure what will grow in that particular spot," said Colin Hynes, Health Sciences Coordinator at DSST: Green Valley Ranch and garden committee member.  "So this first season we'll have a lot of fun experimenting to see what works."

The proposed location of the Evie Dennis campus community garden.

Seeds on order include carrots, cantaloupe, cucumbers, radish, scallions, pumpkins and spinach. Seedlings that will be transplanted into the garden include basil, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno and Anaheim peppers.

DSST students aren't wasting any time getting their hands dirty in the garden. Before Spring Break, ninth grade science classes at GVR High School used the garden for a unit on soil testing.  A spring gardening elective for ninth graders will also make use of the garden as a testing and demonstration ground for lessons on food geography, planting zones, food  access, soil health, food careers, harvesting and seed saving. "This is a great opportunity for kids to be able to learn about gardening, healthy eating and sustainability in the classroom, and then take a quick trip outside to see those lessons in action," said Hynes. 

The Service Learning Spring Break trip, organized by Social Justice teacher, Bret Poppleton, has become a DSST: Stapleton tradition.  Each year, students join Poppleton and a few other teachers to spend their seven days of vacation volunteering. This year, 35 students and 8 adults spent their week building homes in Costa Rica for impoverished families with an organization called Homes of Hope.

DSST: Stapleton High School senior Ben Brasch enjoys the view from the roof of a house constructed by Homes of Hope and DSST students.

Together with Costa Rican Homes of Hope employees and the families who will move into the homes, the DSST: Stapleton team erected two houses. Senior Ben Brasch, who has participated in Service Learning trips in the past, said, "The trip seems to have an almost mystical effect on both the kids and adults that allows them to relax and really remove barriers that can get put up at school. Working with Homes of Hope has been an extremely rewarding experience."

Though much of their trip was dedicated to building houses, the team did have an opportunity to relax on the beach and take a zip line trip through the Costa Rican rain forest. The balance of fun and service has made the Service Learning trip extremely popular among students. Brasch, in particular, has found the trips to be rewarding. He explained, "I feel as though I leave each of these trips a new, rejuvenated, and holistic person."

As the first round of Denver Public Schools' (DPS) new enrollment system, SchoolChoice, closed in March and students were informed which DPS school they will be attending for the 2012-13 academic year, DSST Public Schools emerged as one of the most sought after schools in the city.

A few highlights:

• Over 3,700 students preferenced (ranking 1-5) at least one DSST campus;
• 1,515 students chose a DSST campus as their first preference;
• DSST admitted 784 students into six schools; and
• Roughly 1,100 students are currently on a waiting list for admittance to a DSST school.

DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School was the most in-demand middle school in the district this year, with its High School equivalent next door only slightly behind in number of applicants.