Team DPS Weekly
Classmates are all smiles Columbine Elementary.
Dec. 6, 2018
CollaboRATE is Coming with New Voluntary Self-ID Questions
On Jan. 4, make your voice heard and strengthen your team and all of DPS by participating in CollaboRATE, DPS' employee engagement survey! This is your opportunity to provide your leader, your team and DPS as a whole with confidential feedback that will be used to help Team DPS grow and improve. 

This year, we have worked with our LGBTQ+ Belong group and team members throughout the district to create a more inclusive and effective survey. This includes the addition of new, voluntary and confidential self-identification questions. 

Please use the following resources to find more information on self-identification questions and additional changes to the survey:


Why answer self-identification questions?
"Having the opportunity to self-identify is like having the right to vote. It gives communities a platform to share their collective experiences, barriers and needs; enabling them to more effectively advocate for themselves. The LGBTQ+ community is often left out of data collection efforts (both intentionally and unintentionally), essentially rendering us invisible and making it difficult for us to campaign for support and resources. By including self-identification in CollaboRATE, we can finally be seen by our colleagues, managers and district leadership in a way that helps them better understand our experiences and more intentionally support us both personally and professionally.” --Danica Shipley, DPS Business Intelligence Analyst and member of the DPS LGBTQ+ Belong group.

For an overview of the survey and general FAQs on CollaboRATE, visit thecommons.dpsk12.org/collaborate. 
Top 5: How Do You Give Back?
Thank you to all members of Team DPS who shared how you give back to our community -- both during the holidays and year-round! Check out our Top 5 and read all of the inspiring idea of how to give back here . Congratulations to our giveaway winner, Autumn Jones at Greenwood Academy !
5. "My family and I serve meals to the staff, families and patients at Children's Hospital on Christmas Day so hospital employees can spend the day with their families. This is part of JEWISHColorado's Christmas Mizvah (Good Deed) Program." -- Lisa Zinn, Bradley International School

4. "My family and I have given back to our community for the past four years by packing bags of food for students to take home over the weekend and volunteering at the Humane Society socializing and petting cats." -- Michel Holien, Student Equity and Opportunity

3. "I volunteer year-round as a member of The Struggle of Love Foundation. We provide Thanksgiving dinner, toiletries, hats and gloves to 100-plus families in November and do an annual Santa Toy Shop in December to provide free toys to families for the holiday. It is always a privilege to be part of something bigger than yourself!” -- Toni Shelton, Facility Management 

2. "I volunteer for Children's Hospital Colorado by working at La Cache, a special consignment shop that has raised over $4.6 million for the hospital since its inception. I also write acknowledgements for all donations made to The Alexander Foundation, a benevolence fund in the LGBTQ+ community. I find volunteering to be a wonderful and rewarding activity in more ways than I can count!” -- Evan Anderson, Lake Middle School

1. "I volunteer at a school in Guatemala during the summers and continue to write stories about the school throughout the year. The school serves children who live in extreme poverty and who would not be able to go to school without the support of Escuela Integrada. I write stories, take pictures and video, help with on-the-ground volunteer teams, teach tennis and help the teachers use technology in their classrooms. I learn new things every time I'm there, and come back to the U.S. with a new perspective on gratitude and joy." -- Autumn Jones, Marie L. Greenwood Academy
Top 5 Callout: How Do You Support Your Well-Being During the Holidays?
The holiday season can be a hectic time of year when our healthy habits and routines go by the wayside. We want to hear from members of Team DPS on how you support your well-being during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Tell us how you stay well and you'll be entered to win a giveaway!
Hear from Superintendent Finalist Susana Cordova
There will be one more phase of community engagement for students, families, educators and community members to have the opportunity to hear from Susana Cordova -- finalist for the position of superintendent -- about her vision and priorities. This phase is a necessary component of the board’s decision-making process and will inform their final decision on Dec. 17. 

Mark your calendar for these opportunities to meet the superintendent candidate:

  • 5:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11, at George Washington High School, for all community members.

  • 4:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, at a location to be announced, for all DPS team members. More details will be announced soon.

For more information, visit supersearch.dpsk12.org.
2019-20 Great Schools Enrollment Guides Now Available
The DPS Great Schools Enrollment Guides for the 2019-20 school year are now available online. These colorful guides are the go-to resource for information on all DPS schools, including location, principal and contact information. The guides also feature districtwide information on how to enroll, transportation, programs and more. Browse the guides in both English and Spanish here.

Printed versions of the guides are also available. Visit your nearby DPS school or contact the Communications Office for your personal copy.
Access the Cost of Living Toolkit to Navigate the Denver Landscape
Cost of living in Denver is on the rise and DPS wants to make sure you have the resources you need. Human Resources has consolidated local and national information on topics including housing, neighborhood profiles, exploring the city and more. Whether you're a Denver native or a newcomer, the Cost of Living Toolkit can help you navigate the Denver landscape.

You can also find the toolkit in the Benefits Resource Center on The Commons. Also, join the Facebook group "DPS - Housing Exchange" to connect to the DPS community and find housing, roommates and advice.  
I Give For Team DPS Annual Employee Giving Campaign
Participate for a Chance to Win Broncos Tickets
Did you have your eyes on the Broncos tickets prize a few weeks ago but didn’t win? You’re in luck!

Participate in DPS Foundation’s annual employee giving campaign by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and be entered to win two tickets at the 50-yard line for the Denver Broncos versus LA Chargers game on Dec. 30, courtesy of First Bank.

This is the last week to earn prizes, so don’t wait to join in on the fun. To participate, complete the form  here and return it to the DPS Foundation via email, in person or mail. Or, make a donation here. No contribution is necessary to qualify for prizes.
Perks at Work: Discounted Parking at DIA
Planning to fly this holiday season? DPS team members have exclusive access to 30% off parking at Denver International Airport (DIA) through Beneplace. Log in or register here and click on the "travel" tab to access this and many more travel discounts!
Living Our DPS Honoree
Mark Gross
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician, HVAC
Accountability

"Mark Gross lives our Shared Core Value of Accountability to help keep himself and the other HVAC technicians safe. While working on a rooftop unit at McMeen Elementary School, Mark noticed that there was a cellphone tower in close proximity to the unit. Mark inquired on the safety of the proximity and was not comfortable with the answer he received. He reached out to Joni Rix with environmental services, who investigated Mark’s question and agreed that it was not safe to work on the unit while the tower was powered up.  

As a result of Mark’s persistence, we now have a meter to measure the amount of radiation when working near cellphone towers and proper process on what to do if you have to work near cellphone tower. Not only did Mark made it safe for himself, but also every technician that may encounter the same scenario. Mark put safety first and showed Accountability and concern for everyone's safety."

-- Keith L. Weston, HVAC
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