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Looking Toward the Future with Optimism |
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Dear Team DPS,
Thank you for your continued understanding and perseverance throughout this challenging school year. For all of us, the uncertainties and struggles of the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic have put a strain on every aspect of our lives. And I’m very appreciative of the strength and dedication shown by our students, families, and educators.
As we shared earlier this month, we are working toward bringing more middle and high-school students back for in-person learning soon after spring break. This week, school leaders received details on our updated guidelines for increasing the number of students participating in in-person learning, and they are actively planning how these changes will work for their school’s unique circumstances.
I am excited by the opportunity we have to bring more students back for in-person learning. And I’m even more excited about the return to more normalcy that we hope the 2021-22 school year will bring. Next year, we hope to have all of our schools open for in-person learning, with key health protocols still in place depending on COVID levels.
(Watch this week's update on COVID conditions in Denver, including some answers to questions about the vaccine and the importance of in-person learning, in this video update from Denver Health's Dr. Bill Burman.)
And as we look ahead to next school year, we are also exploring the need for a virtual option, including how this program would be delivered and who would be eligible to participate. Key considerations in this planning include:
- Best practices in learning, including in-person vs. remote learning.
- Family interest and motivations, including the feedback provided through our surveys.
- Experiences of our staff and families this year.
- Health conditions and the input of our health partners.
- How to run a sustainable program aligned to the needs of our students.
In April, we hope to be able to share more details on our plans for next year. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this challenging time.
Sincerely,
Dwight Jones
Interim Superintendent
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Update on Community Access to COVID-19 Vaccines |
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Beginning on March 19, Colorado will enter Phase 1B.4, which means even more community members will become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including those who are 50 and older, essential workers, and people with underlying medical illnesses. Vaccine eligibility in these categories starts at 16 years of age.
If you believe that your student is eligible because of a health condition or occupation and would like to get them access to a vaccine, please contact our School-Based Health Centers at 303-602-8958. Through a quick telemedicine appointment, our partners at Denver Health can support you in determining whether a student is eligible, understanding if the vaccine is the best option for the student, and providing the student access to a vaccine appointment at a Denver Health clinic.
The decision about whether to receive a vaccine is a personal one, between you and your health care provider. We also want to share information on how to access the vaccine, because one of the ways we can increase the safety of in-person learning is for parents and family members to be vaccinated.
As access to vaccines expands, our health partners remind us that vaccination helps protect all of us -- our loved ones, our communities, and our schools -- and the more we vaccinate, the fewer COVID-19 variants there will be in our community. If you or your family members are interested in getting a vaccine, here are some ways you can access it:
- Sign up with your health care provider.
- Call the City’s COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 877-CO VAX CO (877-268-2926.)
- Contact your neighborhood pharmacy.
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School Year Calendars Now Available for 2021-22 and 2022-23 |
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Last night, the Denver Board of Education voted to approve the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school year calendars. These are now available on The Commons School Year Calendar page. Additionally, translated versions of the calendars will be available in nine languages on the DPS website Calendar and Publications page as soon as possible.
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ICYMI: Take Our Community Survey and Attend a Regional Community Gathering for the Superintendent Search |
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There’s one week left to take our latest survey -- which includes questions about the superintendent search and planning for next year. Your voice counts, so please take the survey by Friday, March 26, using the survey link you received in an email on March 10.
Regional community gatherings with Denver Board of Education members about the superintendent search start next week! All gatherings will be held virtually, and links will be available on superintendent.dpsk12.org soon.
Upcoming Community Gathering Events:
- Northwest Denver Regional Gathering -- Wednesday, March 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Near Northeast Denver Regional Gathering -- Wednesday, March 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Spanish Language Community Gathering -- Thursday, March 25, 5-6 p.m.
- Far Northeast Denver Regional Gathering -- Thursday, March 25, 5-6 p.m.
- Southwest Denver Regional Gathering -- Monday, April 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Central Denver Regional Gathering -- Monday, April 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Southeast Denver Regional Gathering -- Monday, April 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Native American Community Gathering -- Tuesday, April 6, 5-6 p.m.
Note: Simultaneous interpretation will be offered at all sessions.
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Join the Next Multilingual Education District Advisory Committee Meeting |
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DPS invites all our English Language Acquisition (ELA) families to a virtual Multilingual Education DAC meeting on Wednesday, March 24, from 5-6:30 p.m. During this meeting, we will discuss how trauma affects families and kids, learn about DPS feedback sessions and much more. For more information and to register, click here or call 720-423-2040.
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Upcoming AAYLS Event: Worthy of Love and Respect |
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The DPS community is invited to co-create a warm, loving space to listen and share in honest conversations with our Black Young Ladies during the Worthy of Love and Respect event. Join us on Friday, March 26, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. as our Black young ladies ask questions and discuss love and respect with the Black men of our community. Learn more and register by Monday, March 22 below:
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Young ladies can register here.
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Black men can register here.
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