Denver Academy Impact Report 2021

READY AND RESILIENT

IMPACT REPORT 2021

THE 2020/2021 SCHOOL YEAR was an unprecedented mix of innovation, improvisation, challenges, and successes.

It was by far a school year like no other and the DA community remained ready and resilient through it all.

With your support and generosity, students, teachers, and staff were able to remain on campus most of the year for in-person learning and worked together as a community to maintain a safe place for students to learn and thrive.

In the pages that follow are highlights of the past year, including amazing accomplishments our community made together.

We hope you enjoy this report and understand what an incredible impact you have made on Denver Academy.

Gratefully,

Mark T. Twarogowski Head of School

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FINANCIALS & FUNDRAISING 2020-2021

11%

2%

ANNUAL GIVING from our

10% 17%

generous community allowed DA Mustangs to remain ready and

resilient as we took on one of our most challenging school years yet. Thanks to donations from friends, family and organizational partners, we were able to provide a safe environment where students were taught the way they learn best.

REVENUE

3% 87%

TUITION & FEES

CONTRIBUTIONS

OTHER

$12,527,044

OPERATING EXPENSES

61%

9% EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE OTHER FUNDRAISING & MARKETING

$12,222,965

A GENEROUS DA COMMUNITY MAKES AN IMPACT: The Fund for Denver Academy $281,092 ToThese unrestricted gifts support operating expenses,

helping to bridge the gap not covered by tuition alone.

Net revenue from DA’s second virtual Gala on April 17, 2021, (proceeds fund tuition assistance for families in 2021-2022).

$302,818

funds to areas of need: $428,781* Restricted Tuition Assistance $381,333* *Includes Gala proceeds

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Participation in Annual Giving

Board of Trustees Faculty and Staff Current Parents

94.7% 98.9% 25.1% (Not including Gala)

TUITION ASSISTANCE

6%

DENVER ACADEMY has a long tradition

9%

of assisting students with need-based

22%

63%

TUITION ASSISTANCE

financial aid. The Gala plays a major role in this tradition, as do gifts from individuals in our community and

$14,203 Average gift for tuition assistance

29% of students received tuition assistance for the 2021/2022 school year

foundation partners.

OPERATING FUNDS

GALA PROCEEDS

ENDOWMENT

GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS & FOUNDATIONS

$1,643,011

GRANTS RECEIVED IN 2021: FOUNDATION Anonymous Zeff Kesher Foundation

AWARD

PURPOSE

$4,000,000

BOE* Pledge for Performing Arts Center (3-year pledge)

$100,000

BOE* Endowment

The Anschutz Foundation

$30,000

Tuition Assistance Program

Virginia W. Hill Foundation

$30,000

Tuition Assistance Program

Galena Foundation

$5,000

Professional Development / Annual Wings of the Future Award *Building on Excellence

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BUILDING ON EXCELLENCE BUILDING ON EXCELLENCE 50th Anniversary Campaign

IN 2016, our community kicked off an ambitious fundraising We are grateful that the remaining goal of building a new Performing campaign to prepare the campus for the next 50 years. Thanks to Arts Center is still on track. We continue to work with our architects 50thtoAnniversary Campaign your generous support, we have raised over $23.8MM build the at Clutch Design, our owner’s rep at Anser Advisory, our general James E. Loan Athletic Center, renovate the Elementary Building, contractors, JHL Constructors, and the city of Denver. increase our endowment fund and build a Performing Arts Center.

In order to build the Performing Arts Center, we still need

to raise an additional $1.5MM.

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CAMPOS EPC MIDDLE SCHOOL SMARTLAB OPENS WHEN SCHOOL OPENED IN AUGUST, so did the brand new Campos EPC SmartLab. Located in the Middle School, the Lab provides students with science, math, robotics, and technology immersion, all thanks to the Campos EPC Foundation.

Our first collaboration with Marco Campos and Campos EPC was in 2019 when we opened the Campos EPC Elementary SmartLab. We are grateful that, as our elementary students rise to middle school, the next level of learning awaits them. Campos EPC is helping to create the next generation of engineers, scientists and problem solvers from Denver Academy!

THE DENVER ACADEMY 2021 GALA was held virtually for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The planning team showed they were ready and resilient to pivot to our second virtual event. Our Gala Committee and staff did an amazing job of creating a virtual event like no other!

Saturday Night Live – DA Style! brought guests back to the classic sets of SNL to fundraise for one of our biggest annual campaign needs, tuition assistance.

We are incredibly grateful to our wonderful guests and supporters who helped us raise over $300,000 for students needing tuition assistance for the 2021-2022 school year!

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OUTDOOR LEARNING NEW ON THE DA QUAD and throughout campus this year were 16 tents, thanks to some generous donors. These outdoor classrooms provided our students with a safe place to learn.

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LEARNING LANDSCAPE Integrating the physical environment into everyday learning THE GEODESIC DOME GREENHOUSE is the latest element of Denver Academy’s Learning Landscape initiative, which aims to integrate the physical environment into everyday learning.

structures as they provide strength and stability. The dome design also makes it highly energy-efficient, using geothermal energy to heat or cool the ambient air.

This space will provide a rich learning opportunity for our diverse learners, opening up the world of horticulture – the art, science, technology and business of growing plants.

We are grateful to our generous partners for providing funding for this project: The Benedict Foundation, the Edward E. Ford Foundation, the Hewit Family Foundation, the J.K. Mullen Foundation, and nine Denver Academy families.

Did you know that triangles are one of the strongest shapes for building? They are used in the design of buildings and other

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OUR CAMPUS HAS A HISTORY OF PROMOTING HEALTH IN MARCH 1910, the Bethesda Tuberculosis Sanitorium was established at South Birch Street and East Iliff Avenue. The community of Dutch Reform Christians saw a need to create a place of hope and recovery from tuberculosis in Denver. Medical treatments at that time were limited, but it was thought that the clean air in Colorado would be restorative. The first buildings included a central medical

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administrative building with a long row of patient rooms on either side. Each room had an open-air porch for daily treatment.

Now 110 years later, the campus has become a safe place for students to learn during another airborne disease threat – the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID PRECAUTIONS & SAFETY PURCHASES

Touchless hand sanitizers at every entrance

Additional surveillance cameras installed for safety and security

Employed a full-time professional cleaner to wipe all surfaces & door handles on school days

Upgraded Medical Grade HEPA filters for HVAC system & whole-building ionic air purifiers

Tents for outdoor learning

Implementation of the RAPTOR visitor management system to screen visitors

New computers for distance learning and working from home

No touch thermometers for daily temperature checks

Heavy-duty doorstops to keep doors open for air circulation

Outdoor wi-fi expansion for outdoor learning

Perimeter fence installation & signage for added security

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021

Liam Ahlborg Anthony Allmaras Lolla Baker Brennan Birch-Robinson Ava Bosler Cortez Campos Joshua Carpenter Caleb Chayet Aidan Coldren

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Geoffrey Cuba Rachel Dobronyi Samuel Dreyer Matthew Ford Samantha Fuhrer Matthew Godzich Avery Hall Sydney Hall Michael Henningsen

Camden Henry Alexander Hofstadter Alexander Holmes Makenna Hymowitz Vanessa Isabelle Alison Jones Tegan Kline Francisco Koester Katherine Lamb

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Trent Miller Jennifer Naar Nathan O’Meara Diego Quezada Jeffrey Renz, Jr. Liam Sheridan Noah Sullivan Millicent Swaney Sophia Tatro

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Charles Teal John Tucker Noah Waldman Hannah Webb Zachary Weiland Ella Wright James Zarlengo, III

STUDENT & FACULTY ACCOLADES

Valedictorian Cortez Campos

Salutatorian Jennifer Naar

Valedictorian Zachary Weiland

Alumni Senior of the Year Makenna Hymowitz

Phil Johnson/Lou Raders Community Service Scholarship Award Anthony Allmaras

Wings of the Future Award

Mr. Bodden’s nominators had this to say about him:

Congratulations to the Dean of the 6th Grade Division, Barrie Bodden, for being selected as the 2021 Wings of the Future awardee. This award is given for excellence in teaching and leadership at Denver Academy. Mr. Bodden joins an elite group of faculty who have demonstrated professionalism, competence and a genuine commitment to each student’s academic and psychological growth.

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Showed an outstanding ability to adjust and overcome…the pandemic Amazing perseverance and resilience The 6th Grade team and Barrie Bodden are a great support to our students Barrie is a great leader Mr. Bodden has been a great Faculty/Staff representative on the Board of Trustees

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FACULTY MEMBERS REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR ONE POSITIVE THING I LEARNED AS A TEACHER DURING COVID IS…

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES HIGHLIGHTED DURING OUR UNIQUE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR

We learn no matter the circumstances

Differentiation is key

Students are flexible and resilient

The positive and affirming staff - people here refuse to let you fail We work with really cool students and teachers The support from our colleagues is amazing DA Culture My colleagues Solid and supportive relationships

Diversification

There is always a unique buzz at DA

Individuality

Communication is key

Teach to diversity

Teachers are so dedicated & genuinely love what they do

Our students are incredibly brave

Unity and respect are key

How happy everyone is to be here

Technology is so important

Honors my personal time and trusts me to do my job

Inspire community creativity

Caring for and celebration of differences

Flexibility

Strong community

When we work together anything is possible

Freedom to use creativity to teach and reach our students

Connection with peers is crucial Laughter and creativity help hard situations My team has my back Our students are family 12

Collaboration from afar

SOMETHING I APPRECIATE ABOUT DA IS…

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2020-21 DENVER ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kristy Taddonio Mullins ‘94 - Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisa Patterson - Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Kent Berke Carrie Burns Nikki Cady John Farnam Dylan Geller ‘92 Adam Goldsmith Dr. Aliya Hasan Bryan Hassler Deb Knobelman, PhD Mary Lester Steve Lockton Karen McNeil-Miller Amy Messenger Kim Pankratz ‘90 Steve Petrie Sheryl Stefaniak Barb Van Hare Burton “Barney” Wilson

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EMERITUS TRUSTEES Jim Dierker Dr. Nancy Gary Phil Johnson Steve Mooney Tim O’Connor*

EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES Mark Twarogowski Tim Healy ’06 Barrie Bodden Amanda Plank *Deceased

THANK YOU TRUSTEES for your insight, support, and work on behalf of our school.

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PHOTO CREDITS: Buonomo Photography Our Family Clicks Photography Mark Twarogowski

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