While I am not an alumnus of The Denver Public Schools, my wife, Shirley (Knudsen) Makowski, is an alumna. She attended Garden Place Elementary, Horace Mann Junior High and North High Schools. Her invitation to me to attend a Sadie Hawkins Dance at North High in 1952, had a very lasting memory for us. We will celebrate our 50 th wedding anniversary in June, 2003. My personal memories of the DPS are many and varied. I taught at Colfax and Force Elementary Schools, was Supervising Teacher of Elementary Science and Principal of Dora Moore, McMeen and Sabin Elementary Schools.
I remember the many excellent administrators and teachers with whom I had the good fortune to serve. We had and have much to be proud of in the Denver Public Schools. Experiences with children and their parents were largely positive. Our collective goals provided a strong bond in providing the best possible education for our children.
There were Play Festivals, Summer Playground, Summer Schools, Music Festivals, Concerts, PTSA Meetings, Collaberative Decision Making Councils, The DCTA, the Credit Union on 15th and High Street, The Employees Council, Paired Schools, Triad Schools, changes in Superintendents.......so many memories. Even now, I do experience some of them in my dreams. Memories? They are many and will be held in my heart for the duration of my life.
I retired in 1992 after thirty six years of service in the Denver Public Schools. They were years which resulted in the many and varied memories I have of a School District in which Children Come First. Not just a slogan but a reality.
Ronald T. Makowski, Elementary Principal (Retired)