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| A kid at Eagleton Elementary uses art to show the value of health and well-being. |
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Benefits Open Enrollment Starts Monday, Ends May 11
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Open Enrollment -- the one time each year that team members can select, change or waive benefits -- starts Monday, April 23, and ends May 11. This year is an active enrollment year. That means all benefits-eligible employees must take action and enroll in or waive benefits during Open Enrollment.
Need help choosing plans that work best for you?
- Don't miss one of our five regional benefits pop-up fairs, featuring enrollment labs and the option to meet with our benefits carriers. (As a bonus, if you're considering purchasing a home, come speak with a Landed representative about an exciting new down payment assistance opportunity.)
- Check out the 2018-19 Enrollment Guide, your comprehensive resource on plans, rates and more. Don't forget: Starting in July, all team members will receive two paychecks per month. The rates listed in the guide are your cost per paycheck.
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Learn about Landed: Down Payment Assistance for DPS Team Members
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A new down payment assistance opportunity is now available to all DPS team members, made possible thanks to a partnership between Landed
and Zoma Foundation, co-founded by Ben and Lucy Ana Walton. Landed provides half of the 20% down payment on a home, up to $70,000 per household, to be paid back to Landed in the future. The assistance is available to all full-time team members who have been with DPS at least two years.
Interested in learning more? Attend an information session at Schmitt Elementary today from 3:45-4:45 p.m. or check the calendar for other sessions in April and May, where a representative from Landed will be onsite to answer your questions.
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Top 5: How Do You Preserve the Planet?
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Our educators aren't just doing their part to preserve the planet -- they're creating resources for you to do yours, too! The Top 5 ways our educators are preserving the planet are below. Congratulations to our giveaway prize winner
Paul Iwancio on the
Professional Learning team -- and thanks for the
paper-saving tips, Paul!
5. "I
use both sides of copier paper, and recycle paper in our school."
--
Rashmi Gaitonde, Green Valley Elementary
4. "
I limit my plastic and single-use packaging use. I purchase package-free items or items in reusable glass jars. I also use reusable bags and containers instead of Ziploc bags and disposable containers. I have my own 'to-go' set for leftovers rather than using the single-use containers provided by restaurants, and I use reusable produce bags for the grocery store." -- Heather Showman, Stedman Elementary
3. "
I like to pick up at least one piece of litter every day, usually on my way to the train or bus stop.
" -- Dan Nelson, Program Management Office
2. "
I take my AP environmental students to the Grow Haus to show them how we can provide sustainable, fresh produce to highly impacted populations." --
Tyler Knauer, East High School
1. "By limiting our paper use by just a third, we could save DPS a million dollars a year. I was inspired by two books -- 'Tribes' by Seth Godin and 'Switch' by the Heath brothers -- to form the Paper Savers Tribe with team members at the Emily Griffith Campus. We meet every three weeks to talk about our progress and plan new activities to help others reduce paper use.
Check out some of our high-tech, low-tech and no-tech ways to cut down on your use of paper."
-- Paul Iwancio, Professional Learning
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Top 5 Callout: Office Support Shout-outs
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Wednesday, April 25 is
Administrative Professionals Day -- the perfect time to show our office support team members how much we appreciate them! Send a shout-out for your office support team members to
[email protected]. We'll feature the Top 5 responses in next week's newsletter, and one person will win a giveaway prize!
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Apply for the Resolution Reboot Five-Week Class
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Are you ready for change? If there is an aspect of your physical or mental well-being that you'd like to improve,
Resolution Reboot
is for you! Resolution Reboot is a five-week program -- taught by Michelle Zellner of Better Beings -- that offers weekly one-hour classes, plus two one-on-one coaching calls and other accountability exercises. The program runs from June 11-July 16 with three options to choose from:
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Noon-1 p.m. on Mondays at Emily Griffith Campus.
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9-10 a.m. on Thursdays at Cheltenham Elementary.
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5-6 p.m. on Thursdays at Bromwell Elementary.
Spots are limited. Apply below by May 11.
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Don't Miss Remaining Equity-based PD Opportunities
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Don't miss these opportunities to refine your equity practices before the school year ends.
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ED Talk with Dr. Rosemarie Allen:
Join DPS educators and the Denver community for a discussion on the importance of culturally responsive practices. The ED Talk is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 30 at Bruce Randolph School. It's free to attend, and refreshments and child care are provided.
RSVP here
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Equity Boot Camp (May 1 or May 2):
Join your colleagues at the last Equity Boot Camp of the school year, "Disrupting the System: Designing Education for the 21st Century." Discussion topics include balancing assessment with relationship building, flattening the hierarchy, use of technology, student voice, and family and community engagement.
Register for a session here
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Deadline Extended to Submit a Team Video to the Shared Core Values Video Challenge
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We know there are great things happening at DPS, and teams across the district are living our Shared Core Values. In a one-minute video, show us how your team is living a one of our Shared Core Values. The teams with the most creative videos will be highlighted during Our DPS Day in August. The deadline to enter has been extended to Wednesday, May 2. Click below for more information and to enter your team's video.
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Living Our DPS Honoree
Community Outreach Coordinator, Place Bridge Academy
"At Place Bridge Academy, Akudo lives our Shared Core Value of Equity every day. She has established a leadership program across cultural communities of our families through a Parent Ambassador Program. This program's mission is to enhance cross-cultural understanding and communication between homes and school. Akudo continues to address the needs of our families through partnerships with the United Nations, food banks, English classes, citizenship classes, legal services and School Deets (a program that translates information for parents in their native languages via text messages and cellphones). She is a true asset to our school and our families!"
-- Brenda Kazin, Place Bridge Academy
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