Sept. 8, 2017
 Connecting with Families to Support Students' Dreams
"We know our students' learning and growing doesn't stop when they leave the classroom, and parents are our most important partners in our kids' success."
Supt. Tom Boasberg
Dear Team DPS,
Joy. Fulfillment. A sense of belonging. A successful career. Happiness.
 
These are just some of the answers shared with our teachers after they asked parents one simple but powerful question: What are your hopes and dreams for your child?
 
Across Denver, DPS teachers are stepping out to visit students and their families outside of the classroom during our Parent Teacher Home Visits. These visits -- which can take place at a family's home, park, library or wherever they're most comfortable -- aim to build strong and positive relationships between families and educators, to set a foundation of success for our kids both in and outside of school.
 
More than 120 DPS schools are currently participating in our home visit program, with nearly 800 already completed so far this year. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Columbian Elementary students Tatianna and Analia, and their mother Melissa Chavez, when they were visited by teachers Leo Andrade and Danielle Morris-Hesse.
Supt. Tom Boasberg joins teachers Leo Andrade and Danielle Morris-Hesse in their parent teacher home visit with the Chavez family.
    
 
"You get a chance to meet each other out of the school and build new relationships," said Melissa. "I learn new things from them too. They teach me new strategies on how to do math. ... Now I know what to do when we go home and what we can work on."
 
We know our students' learning and growing doesn't stop when they leave the classroom, and parents are our most important partners in our kids' success. By building personal relationships with families, teachers and parents can partner to help our students grow as learners and as people.
 
I encourage our teachers to make the most of these opportunities to further connect with our students outside of the classroom and build stronger relationships with their families, who we know are key to our students' success. If you have questions about the home visit program, reach out to your principal or [email protected] with our Family and Community Engagement team for more information. 
 
It will take all of us together -- parents, educators and the community -- to reach our vision, Every Child Succeeds, and these visits are an important step in getting us there. Because we know every parent has big hopes and dreams for their child that, together, we can make a reality. As Melissa put it:
 
"I want them to keep striving to be the best human beings that they can be. As long as they keep learning and keep pushing themselves, they're going to be great."

Best,
Tom
Pictured above: North High School students Clara and Diego Fierro-Rayas pose for a photo with their parents during a visit to their home by Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova and North educators German Echevarria and Joanna Wood.
DPS News Now: Weekly Headlines from DPS in 60 Seconds
This week we are defending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), kicking off Parent Teacher Home Visits and discussing the teachers union agreement. Learn about this week's events in 60 seconds!
DPS News Now -- Sept. 5-8, 2017
Lo último en DPS -- Sept. 5-8, 2017
Didn't see last week's DPS News Now video? Not to worry! DPS News Now videos are posted to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo every Friday. All DPS News Now videos are also available in Spanish as Lo último en DPS.
DPS Will Continue to Educate All Students Regardless of Immigration Status
DPS Team members and students across the city gathered at Auraria Campus to show support for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
In light of recent events surrounding immigration and refugees, we know some students and families are experiencing increased unease and uncertainty. We are committed to providing equitable and inclusive environments where all our students feel safe and socially and emotionally supported.

DPS will continue its practice of not collecting or maintaining any information about our students' immigration status. Additionally, DPS officials will continue to urge Congress to quickly take action to ensure that our undocumented students are free to pursue an education without fear of being separated from the communities that they have been a part of for years. Click here for more information about resources and supports that are available to students and families.
DPS Designates 5 New Early College High Schools

DPS is helping more students across Denver earn free college credit while they're still in high school with the announcement of five more early college designated high schools:
The innovative design of the early college program allows students to be immersed in a college-going culture through partnerships with local colleges and universities, while still receiving support from the DPS high school environment. Students have the opportunity to enroll in college courses at no cost to them or their families.

To learn more, watch this DPS Features video here.
2017-18 District Maps and Handbooks Now Available
The 2017-18 DPS District Maps and Handbooks for Families and Students are here!

The District Map is available in hard copy, PDF version and an interactive online version. To request a hard copy of the District Map, fill out this Google form.

The handbook is available to print and view online in English and in Spanish. The handbook will also be available in other languages in October!
COMING UP...
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