Team DPS Weekly
Practicing the alphabet with a puzzle.
April 18, 2019
Resources Following This Week's Events
In light of this week's events, we have compiled the following resources to help talk about violence with our students:


Mental health teams and crisis teams will also be available to support in schools.

As a reminder, DPS team members also have 24/7 access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -- a free resource that provides team members and their dependents with confidential support, resources and information. All DPS employees can access the EAP by calling 855-327-1377 or visiting GuidanceResources online (enter Organization Web ID: DPS).
Celebrate Your Teammates! Nominations for Honors Awards are Now Open
Do you know someone on Team DPS who embodies the Shared Core Values every day? How about a successful and effective team?

Recognize these individuals by nominating them for an Honors Award:


Also, nominate a DPS parent or family who is making a positive impact in their school communities for the Family Leadership Award, presented at a Superintendent Parent Forum. 

All honorees will be announced and celebrated this fall. Nominations are due May 24. Questions? Email Our_DPSValues@dpsk12.org. 
Benefits Open Enrollment: Take Action Starting Monday
Benefits Open Enrollment begins this Monday, April 22. Take early action and be entered to win a giveaway! Make your benefits selections by midnight April 24 for your chance to win.

Important: If you do not enroll in or waive benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna 3500 CDHP plan and a Health Savings Account (HSA). Click here to see if you are benefits-eligible.
Need help selecting your benefits?
Review the 2019-20 Benefits Enrollment Guide and other resources on The Commons, such as the Open Enrollment FAQ. Or, attend a benefits pop-up fair or sign up for a 30-minute one-on-one phone or in-person consultation.
Top 5: Healthy Recipes
Thank you to those who shared your delicious and creative healthy recipes!

Check out all of the recipes that were submitted here . Congratulations to our giveaway winner, Rashmi Gaitonde at Green Valley Elementary!

Rashmi shared this recipe for breakfast popsicles : Mash any mixed fruit, canned or frozen. Mix the fruit with Greek yogurt, milk and honey then layer in Popsicle molds along with crunchy granola and freeze until set. 
Top 5 Callout: Office Support Shout-Outs
Next Wednesday, April 24 is Administrative Professional Day -- the perfect time to show our office support team members how much we appreciate them! Shout out your office support team members here. We'll feature responses in next week's newsletter, and one person will win a giveaway!
Start Saving for Retirement Today
Join over one third of DPS team members and sign up for a retirement savings account through DPS. Participating in 403(b), 457(b) and 401(k) plans is voluntary, which means you decide how much you want to contribute and you can enroll any time.

DPS' rates are now 1.28% lower than similarly-sized employers. Lower rates can add up to thousands of dollars over time. Enroll in a supplemental retirement plan at my.valic.com. The process is quick and easy, and deductions will come straight from your paycheck. 

For more information, call AIG (formerly VALIC) at 720-962-8025 for 403(b) or 457(b) questions or PERA at 303-832-9550 for 401(k) questions.
DPS Foundation Achieve Gala Rescheduled for April 30 
Due to inclement weather last week, the DPS Foundation's 17th annual Achieve Gala was cancelled. Thanks to the community, vendors and sponsors coming together for our students -- and a very generous offer from the Hyatt -- the Gala is now rescheduled for April 30.  

With more than 300 students participating this year, this is an event that is not to be missed! This year’s event, "Celebrating Educators. Transforming Futures," will highlight the skills and talents of DPS students and the educators who have supported them along the way. For more information or to purchase your discounted ticket by Monday, April 22, visit www.dpsfoundation.org/achieve. 
Cheer on DPS Students at the Special Olympics Unified Track and Field Competitions
Come cheer on our DPS athletes at the upcoming Special Olympics Unified Track and Field Competitions from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., April 24 and 25, at All-City Stadium, 1500 S. Franklin St.

Special Olympics Colorado’s Motor Activity Training Program (MATP), for athletes with significant disabilities, has been chosen as one of ESPN's Special Olympics 50 Game Changers. ESPN will be at the events filming to help tell the story of our game-changing programs that are creating school climates of acceptance and inclusion.

RSVP to Alyssa Svalberg at ASvalberg@SpecialOlympicsCO.org or 720-359-3119.
Perks at Work: Maternity Care
DPS moms-to-be have access to free workshops and programs through DPS Wellness, Aetna and Kaiser:

  • Open to all DPS team members: Power of Pregnancy Workshop, 11 a.m.-2:45 p.m. April 27 at Harvard Gulch Recreation Center. This free prenatal fitness workshop will teach various exercises and mindfulness skills that aim to alleviate discomfort and increase energy. Click here for more information and here to register.

  • Open to team members enrolled in DPS' Aetna medical plans: Maternity Support Center which offers support throughout the process from planning for baby, pregnancy, delivering your baby, bringing your baby home and taking care of yourself. Visit Aetna Navigator to learn more.

  • Open to team members enrolled in DPS' Kaiser medical plans: Pregnancy & New Baby Care Guides as well as Mother’s Milk Club classes. Get the support you need from staff trained in lactation as well as share and learn with other breastfeeding mothers. Visit kp.org to learn more.
Living Our DPS Honoree
Jeehyun "Jean" Lim
Nurse, Nursing Services
Collaboration

"As soon as you arrive at Jeehyun 'Jean' Lim’s health office, she’ll introduce you to the school front office staff. Among her many other school nurse duties, Jean lives our Shared Core Value of Collaboration as she cares for students with chronic conditions. For example, Jean has an organized, efficient and evidence-based care coordination system in place for students with diabetes. This includes providing direct diabetes care to her students (blood sugar checks, carbohydrate counts, insulin administration and insulin pump management), training and supervision of school staff and educating families. She monitors these students several times a day and maintains regular communication with the students’ families, their health care providers and pertinent school staff including teachers, cafeteria employees and the principal. Collaboration is key when caring for students with chronic conditions and Jean does that like a champion!"

-- Ana Kim, Nursing Services
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