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Schoology is Live!
DPS' new Learning Management System (LMS) for classrooms is live for all school-based employees in district-managed schools!
Schoology is a versatile and engaging digital tool that gives you access to professional development courses and curriculum in one place. It also enables personalized and student-paced learning to be incorporated in classroom instruction!* To get started, log into Schoology through the
Teacher Portal.
Additional resources include:
For additional information check out the
Schoology FAQs.
*Courses and rosters from Infinite Campus will be available by August in preparation for the 2017-18 school year. Students will also have access beginning in August.
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Provide Input on Proposed ECE-3 Discipline Reform and You Could Win $200 for Your Classroom
DPS is asking teachers to share their voices and ask questions about the Board of Education's resolution to dramatically reduce the use of suspensions and eliminate expulsions for our youngest students, kids in ECE-3.
We've already heard from over 70 teachers via focus groups, the [email protected] email and our survey.
We would love to hear from more teachers and ask that you
please take the online survey today. Yesterday, we sent you an email from Susana making a similar request.
Thanks to the overwhelming response we received, we are offering another $200 prize for your classroom to thank you for your input. This means we will be offering two prizes of $200 each; the emails of the first 200 teachers who respond by noon Friday will be entered into a random drawing and two winners will be selected. Winners will be notified Monday morning.
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Negotiations Update for May 1: Teacher Planning Time
In DPS, we know that planning time for teachers -- to plan their lessons, review and give feedback on student work, and talk with students -- is essential. It is important that teachers have both individual-planning time and team-planning time so that they can give their very best to their students during classroom time.
That is why five years ago, in partnership with DCTA, DPS dramatically expanded the amount of planning time, including self-directed instructional-planning time, for teachers. DPS is a leader in the metro Denver area in terms of guaranteeing the most protected time for teachers.This includes a 45-minute duty-free lunch every day and, in addition, at least 300 minutes of self-directed planning time per week for elementary/ECE-8 teachers and 345 minutes per week for secondary teachers. Click here to see how DPS compares to other districts.
In our conversations with educators from across the district, we have heard that you want the opportunity to decide what works best for your students, faculty and school. The proposal that we shared with DCTA on Monday night is designed to empower school communities to use the available time to meet the unique needs of each school. We propose giving schools greater flexibility to determine how they allocate their planning time, while still guaranteeing teachers the same amount of protected time. For example, schools could bank planning time over multiple weeks to allow for extended planning time during certain points in a six-week period or to enable modifications to the schedule such as a late start or early release. We also propose tasking the Instructional Issues Council, a joint body of educators with DCTA representation, to seek out creative solutions to share with our schools. Click here to view the DPS proposal (the markup indicates proposed changes to the current agreement).
We welcome your ideas and look forward to working with you to find innovative ways to maximize our time. See negotiations updates on this page on The Commons.
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Illuminate Data and Assessment -- "DnA" -- Summer Professional Learning Sessions
Teachers have an opportunity to spend some quality time with the Illuminate data and assessment platform this summer. These professional learning sessions are a result of feedback from teachers and will include a variety of conference-style sessions designed to meet your specific needs. Sessions will be offered June 19-20 at North High School. These optional, non-paid sessions are available for registration "a la carte" or as a whole for PDU credits. Please complete registration using this Google form by June 9. Print this flier to share this opportunity with others at your school! For additional questions, please contact Alison Mueller.
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Final Roster Verification Window Closes May 5
The final Roster Verification (RV) window for all non-charter schools is open through Friday, May 5. If you need a short refresher on the Roster Verification process, please click here.
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Science and Social Studies Teachers: Time to Order Literacy Design Collaborative Resources
It is time to order your Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) resources for fall 2017. Please check with your school leader to see that your order has been placed. Modules are embedded in scope and sequence for social studies and science for grades four through 12. Paid planning workshops are being offered in August. Please see the Professional Learning Catalog for more information.
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Teacher Leadership & Collaboration
Required Professional Learning for All Teacher Leader Roles: Session Descriptions Available
Session descriptions for Teacher Leadership & Collaboration's (TLC) Summer Professional Learning are now available for new-to-role and returning-to-role teacher leaders. Sessions are differentiated by role and experience level.
See this page on the TLC website to access an overview of your role-specific professional learning sessions; click on your role and experience level under "Professional Learning Requirements" to review sessions. If you haven't already,
please register online before May 15 for your
2017 required summer professional learning. Check your email for additional details from the Teacher Leadership & Collaboration team.
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Don't Miss: National Speaker Layla Avila in Year's Final ED Talk
Layla will speak on the topic of
Leading with Our Values to Create Sustainable Change, focusing on the importance of building a culture of trust where student, parent and teacher voices, especially those of traditionally underrepresented populations, are valued and heard. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and practice our Shared Core Value of Equity!
Join us
5:30-7:30 p.m., May 10 at Manual High School, 1700 E. 28th Ave. Register today.
DPS ED Talks are designed to bring educators and community members together to help create an open environment to learn from each other in pursuit of the DPS vision, Every Child Succeeds. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
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| Project-Based Learning Academy of Excellence
CareerConnect wants to provide teachers the ultimate classroom resource to create fun, authentic and relevant learning opportunities for students. Throughout the 2017-18 school year, Project-Based Learning (PBL) Academy teachers will be supported by academy leads in both project design and classroom implementation. The PBL Academy will encourage teachers to dream big and try new things while teaching their content areas, all with the right supports to be successful.
This academy provides an opportunity for educators to learn how to design and implement an effective six to eight week PBL unit. With guidance from academy leads, teachers will design their first PBL unit during a three day, teacher-focused workshop. This workshop will provide project planning structures that enable ease of PBL design during the school year.
See this flier
for more details and to apply.
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| DPS Achieves Advanced Placement Honor Roll Recognition
DPS achieved placement on the esteemed
7th Annual Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll
,
earning accolades for demonstrating
progress in student success in college and career readiness. This marks the third time DPS has made the honor roll and follows DPS receiving the
2016 College Board AP District of the Year
award
.
To earn prestigious placement on the AP Honor Roll, DPS exemplified a districtwide increase in overall student participation in AP courses and an increase of African-American, Latino and American-Indian/Alaska-Native students enrolled in AP courses. While growing the program, the district simultaneously improved scores significantly.
Offering AP courses is one of many strategies DPS is taking to ensure students are ready for college and career. This
distinction
is held by only three other districts in Colorado.
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| New Features in the DPS Parent Portal Mobile App!
The new and improved version of the DPS Parent Portal mobile app is now available and includes new features that allow parents and students to better monitor academic progress on a deeper level. Increase parent and student engagement by encouraging guardians and students in your classroom to utilize the DPS Portal app.
What's new?
If a student's school uses DPS' online gradebook, parents now have access to their child's current grades, assignments and assignment detail.
Additional features include translations in 10 languages and the ability to view student schedules, as well as download Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessment results. Encourage your parents and students to download the DPS Portal app (
iPhone
or
Android
).
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