Back to Class Bash

A season of volunteering, connecting with our community and fun!

DPS 5K Highlights

Back to Class Bash Season wrapped up at Berkeley Lake Park with the DPS 5K, bringing more than 230 runners and walkers together for a morning filled with wellness, community and school spirit! DPS students, educators, families and community members helped make the event a fun and memorable celebration.

Join Us for the DPS 5K!

Join DPS Foundation to kick off the 2026–2027 school year! We’re excited to invite you to Back to Class Bash Season, with Service Days on Friday, August 7, and Friday, August 14. The DPS 5K, a Fun Run with DPS Foundation, will take place on Saturday, October 3, at Berkeley Lake Park. These events are all about supporting our school communities and having fun in the process!

Service Days

Friday, August 7, 2026, at Barney Ford Elementary School and Goldrick Elementary.

Friday, August 14, 2026, at McMeen Elementary School and Valverde Elementary School.

For sponsorship information, click here or contact info@dpsfoundation.org.

5K Fun Run

The Back to Class Bash 5K Fun Run will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Berkeley Lake Park.

Runners, walkers, and community members are invited to come together for a morning of movement, wellness, and fun in support of Denver Public Schools students and educator wellness.

2025 Events

The Back to Class Bash Season will include three events:

2026 Service Days

Thank you to those of you who joined us for our Back to Class Bash 2026 Service Days on August 7 and 14! We had more than 215 volunteers come together across five school communities: Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School, Barney Ford Elementary School, Goldrick Elementary School, McMeen Elementary School and Valverde Elementary School.

Together, volunteers beautified school grounds and helped create welcoming environments for students and educators returning for the new school year. We’re grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to help our school communities start the year on a high note!

Two women work to paint paw prints on a schools parking lot for a service daw

Two men volunteer to paint the concrete at a school

A girl paints a paw print on the concrete at a school for the day of service

DPS foundation staff at the day of service event

A man carries a large amount of pulled weeds on a service day

A group of volunteers at a school parking lot

A woman paints the concrete of a parking lot of a school for the day of service

Get Involved

Sponsor an Event

Interested in becoming a sponsor for one of our Back to Class Bash Season events?

View our Event Sponsorship Brochure below to learn more or reach out to DPS Foundation Vice President of Development, MaryBeth Lawson, marybeth_lawson@dpsk12.net.

Back to Class Bash is the DPS Foundation’s celebratory back-to-school fundraiser event that gives corporate and community members alike a chance to join together to show our students and educators we stand behind them as they embark on a new school year. Many thanks to all volunteers who joined us on Friday, August 9, 2024 at three different schools: Ashley Elementary, Doull Elementary & Wyatt Academy! This year’s event featured three DPS students from Lake Middle School’s Denver DJ School to provide entertainment for our volunteers!

A white man and woman pose in front of a school playground for the Back to Class Bash.

A group of DPS Foundation volunteers gather in front of Wyatt Academy for the Back to School Bash.

An information table with a large poster that lists out the sponsors and partners of the Back to Class Bash. There are also working gloves and hats on the table.

A group of volunteers pose at playground of a school for the Back to Class Bash.

A black woman and two white women volunteer for the Back to Class Bash.

A group of teachers wearing United Airlines shirts stand in front of Ashley Elementary.

A young DJ wearing headphones around his neck works at a DJ mixer.

A white man and two young white girls stand in a paved playground outside of a school holding buckets of paint.

A group of volunteers paint the pavement at a tetherball court at a school.

A group of volunteers carry large bags of mulch to a school for the Back to Class Bash.

A group of volunteers gather together and pose at the outdoor playground and basketball court of a school.

Two volunteers paint the pavement a bright orange color.

A white young boy wearing a hat that says "DPS" holds a shovel and fills a wheel barrow with mulch.

A group of volunteers stand at a school playground while other volunteers perform maintenance behind them.

A large group of volunteers pose at the outdoor basketball court of a school for the Back to Class Bash.

A large group of volunteers pose outside of a school for the Back to Class Bash.

Sponsor an Event

Interested in becoming a sponsor for one of our Back to Class Bash Season events?

Learn more about upcoming sponsorship opportunities or reach out to DPS Foundation Vice President of Development, MaryBeth Lawson, marybeth_lawson@dpsk12.net.