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Looking Back on a Great First Semester
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"It has been my privilege and honor to be part of DPS. I'm excited DPS will be able to start our next semester and the new year with a renewed sense of unity and direction."
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Dear Team DPS,
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Interim Superintendent Dr. Ron Cabrera |
As our first semester of this school year comes to a close, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you a restful and joyful winter break.
It has been an exciting and eventful start to the school year. What may be most notable for many is DPS' leadership transition, as we wished farewell to our former Superintendent Tom Boasberg at the start of the school year, followed by an extensive national search for candidates. And now, we are rounding out the semester with Monday's announcement of the appointment of DPS' Susana Cordova, who will take over the role in January. In between, I have served as your interim superintendent, serving in transition. It has been my privilege and honor to be a part of DPS. I'm excited DPS will be able to start our next semester and the new year with a renewed sense of unity and direction.
Additionally there have been celebrations throughout this semester, both locally and nationally. We've all cheered on Denver's breakout football star and South High School alum Phillip Lindsay (Go Broncos!) and celebrated the naming of the 2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year, DPS' own Margaret "Meg" Cypress of Bradley International School. We have made great strides for our students, too, boosting our social-emotional and mental health supports to become a trauma-informed district and hosted more than 3,700 students who learned about hundreds of different career options at the annual 8th Grade Career Fair. Lots of good and important stuff!
In looking ahead to our spring semester, there is a lot to accomplish together, including continuing our work with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association to better compensate our educators, supporting and working with Susana as she steps into her new role as our superintendent, as well as continuing each of our individual roles as we all work toward our vision of Every Child Succeeds. However, we know we can't get there and best support our kids if we're not first taking care of ourselves.
During the holiday, I hope you make time for yourself -- whether that's spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading a good book, or even just getting in that extra yoga class. Do something that makes you happy and return from the break relaxed and eager to keep making a difference.
Happy holidays, and best wishes for the new year.
Warmly,
Ron
Ron Cabrera, PhD
Pictured above: Students from Schmitt Elementary bundled up for winter break.
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¡Somos DPS!: Multicultural Night at Valverde Elementary
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On a crisp autumn evening in southwest Denver, hundreds of families gathered at Valverde Elementary to celebrate each other at the school's annual Multicultural Night.
Whether with song and dance, art or food, families from across the world shared their holidays and cultural traditions with each other. "Our school really becomes the crossroads of our city, country and world," said Hanna Franzblau, a parent and educator at Valverde. "It feels like we are writing our story, and just recognizing from each other that we're all from so many different places, yet together."
Watch this episode of ¡Somos DPS!, and be sure to nominate your school for the next episode by emailing Ben McKee.
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DPS-Funded RTD Passes Available to More DPS High School Students
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On Monday, the Board of Education Transportation Services approved the recommendation to provide an additional 1,700 high school students with DPS-funded RTD passes, starting in January 2019. This opportunity is made possible through a change to the walk zone from 3.5 to 2.5 miles, which means students who attend and live more than 2.5 miles from their home/boundary school are now eligible to receive a pass.
In 2016, DPS made a pledge to work with community stakeholders, such as Together Colorado and the Donnell-Kay Foundation, in a two-year effort focused on increasing access to high-quality schools and educational opportunities for high school students. Utilizing $400,000 provided through the voter-approved 2016 mill levy override, DPS is able to make a total investment of $1.2 million into the DPS RTD Pass program for students. This expansion of the program aims to help maximize opportunities for students to access public transportation, increase student attendance and mobility, and align existing policies that support overall student achievement.
Beginning in January 2019, Transportation Services will provide additional passes to the RTD Pass Coordinators at high schools with eligible students for distribution. Families of newly eligible students will receive information from their schools with instructions on where to pick up their passes. Learn more about the changes to the DPS RTD Program and about the DPS-RTD Pass.
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Recapping the Dec. 12 African-American Young Ladies Summit
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Students in the Big Sister-Little Sister project group start with an icebreaker led by DPS team member Sylvia Bookhardt.
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Dec. 12 marked the third convening of the African-American Young Ladies Summit (A
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YLS), bringing together almost 300 DPS students to learn, grow and build upon the ideas that were created during previous summits.
Students worked on events that will be happening this spring: a fashion show, a Big Sister-Little Sister event incorporating DPS middle school students and an overnight camp weekend
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The summit concluded with a raffle for the students, which included gift cards and 12 sets of tickets to "Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama," provided on behalf of the district's counseling team.
To learn more and see photos from the Dec. 12 summit, click here.
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