Career Education Center students celebrate their 2017 graduation.
Celebrate College and Career Readiness Month with Volunteer Opportunities and More
Did you know that by 2020, 74% of all Colorado jobs will require education beyond high school, such as college, trade school, an apprenticeship or military service? Help get kids excited about college and career opportunities during our eighth annual College and Career Readiness Month this October! Here's how you can get involved:
 
How you can volunteer:
  • College Application Week is Oct. 16-26 and volunteers are needed to help students apply for college. Sign up here; check the box next to the day you'd like to volunteer and click on the orange button. If you have questions, contact Joanna Lilley.
  • Volunteer at the 8th-Grade Career Fair, where students can explore career opportunities in areas that interest them and practice interview skills with industry professionals. Sign up here; click on the green "register" button and select "volunteer" in the ticket drop-down menu. If you have questions, contact Miriam Linden.
How you can celebrate
Use #myPlanDPS to share your teams' College and Career Readiness Month celebrations on social media.
  • Wear your college gear on College Spirit Fridays every Friday in October. Use it as an opportunity to talk to students about their college options. Share photos on social media with #MyCollegeFriday.
  • We want to hear about how your teams are celebrating College and Career Readiness Month. Share your photos and stories on social media with #myPlanDPS.
Follow DPS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see all the ways our students are preparing for college and their careers. Visit collegeandcareer.dpsk12.org for information on College and Career Readiness at DPS. 
Enroll in the Sick Leave Bank by Sept. 30
There are two days left for eligible team members to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank. Enroll by completing  this form and submitting it to Human Resources by Sept 30. If you are already enrolled in the Sick Leave Bank, there is no action required to stay enrolled.  Sick Leave Bank provides eligible team members (those in a position that accrues sick leave) additional sick days when they are on an extended personal illness leave and have exhausted their accumulated paid leave. Click  here  to learn more about Sick Leave Bank eligibility and policies. 

This is the last year Sick Leave Bank enrollment will take place in September; beginning April 2018, enrollment will only take place during new hire enrollment and the annual open enrollment period. 
Top 5: Fall Faves
We asked you to share your favorite things about fall -- and it's clear from the submissions that fall is a popular time of year! Congratulations to our giveaway prize winner, Andrew Hodges at Bromwell Elementary!

5. " My favorite thing about fall is watching the aspen change to gold. I am from southern New Mexico where fall doesn't really exist and leaves don't change color (they just turn brown and fall). Seeing the mountains blaze in that amazing gold color is something everyone needs to experience." -- Elena Saenz, DCIS at Montbello

4. "My favorite things about fall are roasted green chili and my husband's green chili recipe! Yum!" -- Silvia BorrĂ¡s-Giner, Multicultural Services

3. " My favorite part of fall is competing to find my way out of corn mazes before my friends. The last person out always has to buy drinks." -- Aly Nutter, Merrill Middle School

2. "S ince I was a kid, my all-time favorite thing about fall is crunching leaves on the sidewalk. It made my trip to Park Hill Elementary School a playful adventure." -- Jamie Archambault, University Park Elementary

1. "My favorite thing about fall is that I can get away with not ironing my shirts or tying my ties perfectly because my sweater will hide it. Sweaters also hide the Thanksgiving and cookie weight!" -- Andrew Hodges, Bromwell Elementary School
Top 5 Callout: College and Career Readiness Month
Whether you're an educator in our classrooms or you volunteer in schools as a Reading Partner, you're empowering our kids to forge their own futures. We want to hear how you're preparing our kids for college and career. Email newsletters@dpsk12.org and tell us how you inspire our kids to follow their dreams. We'll feature the Top 5 in next week's newsletter and one person will win a giveaway prize!
Attend the DPS Belong Kickoff Event
Don't miss the kickoff of DPS Belong from 
5-8 p.m. Wednesday,  Oct. 11, at Manual High School. DPS Belong is a new program that creates employee-built groups fostering diversity and inclusion. It is r ecommended for team members who are interested in connecting with others who have similar backgrounds and experiences.   Group ideas are already forming, so don't miss your opportunity to create or join a new Belong group on Oct. 11! RSVP  here .
Sign Up for the Financial Fitness Program and the HealthTrails Team Challenge
Financial security is crucial to positive health and well-being. Participate in the DPS Financial Fitness Program and you'll have access to a finance coach, a personalized financial fitness plan and more than 100 online tutorials. The program is tailored for you to increase your sense of financial security and reduce stress caused by finances. Register now!

The last day to register for the HealthTrails Team Challenge is Oct. 2. During the challenge, you and up to five team members will track healthy behaviors -- such as exercise, nutrition and mindfulness habits -- while traveling virtual, interactive trails all over the world. Participants are eligible to win prizes, including FitBit activity trackers, mountain getaways, gift cards, fitness classes and on-site chair massages. Register today!
Living Our DPS Honoree

Nancy Small
Legal Assistant, Office of General Counsel
Collaboration

"Nancy Small of the Office of General Counsel goes above and beyond to take care of our team by living the value of Collaboration. She is light-hearted, fun, always willing to take on new tasks and is one of our team's greatest strengths! No matter what is required to get something done, Nancy will do it. She is always willing to step in and help any time she sees that someone needs assistance.
 
Having been at DPS for a while, Nancy has developed relationships and knows who to call or where to look for what is needed. She is always thinking about ways to team Legal up with schools and other departments to ensure we all know and can support one another. Dealing with lawyers can be tough but she handles it like a champ! On top of this, Nancy brings a sense of fun to our office, dancing and rocking out to Queen or old-school hip-hop.  Nancy is a joy to work with and we are so fortunate to have her on our team!"
 
-- Kathy Porter, Molly Ferrer, Leah Avila, Toni Wehman, Danielle Cardona, Amber Elias, Office of General Counsel

Nominate one of your colleagues who you see living one or more of our Shared Core Values to be featured as a Living Our DPS honoree.
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