Students at George Washington High School honored Black History Month by creating videos sharing their voices. Watch their Our Patriots Voice video and read more in the Top 5.
Feb. 25, 2021
Top 5: Black History Month
Thank you to team members who shared how their students have been learning about, connecting with, interpreting and celebrating Black History Month this year.

Congratulations to this week's winner, Alyssa Richardson at George Washington High School! Read how students across DPS honored Black History Month here.
5. “Our first-grade ELA-S students have been reading books during ELD and were able to talk about race, then wrote their reflections in English. I am so proud of all of them!”
-- Pilar Gonzalez Munoz, John H. Amesse Elementary
4. “My students created ‘Ask Me About’ slides and changed their profile pictures in google to highlight African American and Black individuals they feel should be recognized. This helped students share information and start conversations in classes. I also changed our Schoology profile picture to one of their slides each day.” -- Melea Mayen, Northfield
3. “All of our ECE-4 students participated in reading books for Black History Month and creating a poster using their handprints. We learned about the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Bessie Coleman.” -- Farwa Batool, Sandra Todd Williams Academy
2. “In honor of both MLK Jr's legacy and to elevate Black History Month in our halls, our two first-grade teachers created a ‘patchwork quilt’ with each panel created by one of their students. The students designed their messaging and the display is a beautiful reminder of the anti-racist work we are engaged in with our students and ourselves.”
-- Hanna Franzblau, Valverde Elementary
1. “This year, students have spent their time in a Community Learning Seminar engaged in conversations about how imperative it is to learn about Black and African American history. Videos students watched highlighted the importance -- while also opening up the discussion -- around examining the patriotism and contribution of African Americans to our country fulfilling its ideals and actualizing civil and human rights. Here are two videos that highlight our student's voices: We Are Patriots, We Are Black Excellence and Our Patriot Voices.” -- Alyssa Richardson, George Washington High School
Top 5 Callout: Riddle Me This!
I may cause you to sweat, yet I exert no pressure on your body. I am a puzzle with no physical pieces. What am I? A riddle!

Submit your favorite riddle and its answer through this form and we'll share it in next week's edition!
COVID-19 Test Results Delayed Due to Weather
COVIDCheck Colorado, DPS' partner in providing free COVID-19 testing, is experiencing delays in delivering test results due to shipping delays caused by the severe weather across the country. If the COVIDCheck lab receives a test for processing seven days after the original test date, that patient will receive a "Test Not Processed" result, which means a retest is needed to get a current result. We recommend that team members who have been tested in the past 5-7 days who have not yet received their results proactively schedule a new test. Saliva testing is available at a number of additional locations this week and results should be back within 48 hours. Find testing locations here and schedule your appointment here.
Voices of the Vaccine
"I drove down to Colorado Springs Children's Hospital for my vaccine. As soon as I walked in, tears streamed down my face. Before and during the quarantine, I successfully fought and won a battle with breast cancer. It has been a year and a half of fear and a lot of time alone. I was so relieved to get my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and see a light at the end of the tunnel."
-- Jennifer Anderson, SE&O
If you've received your vaccine and want to share your experience and what getting the vaccine means to you, please email your story to newsletters@dpsk12.org!
1095c Tax Forms Available March 2 in Employee Space
Team members who enrolled in electronic delivery for their tax forms can access their 1095-C forms in Employee Space beginning Tuesday, March 2. W-2 forms are currently available. 

Use these instructions to access your 1095-C and W-2 forms:
  • Log in to Employee Space on the Employee Action Center with your DPS username and password.
  • Click "Access Electronic W2 & 1095c" and enter your username and password again. You will need to be inside the DPS Network. 
  • Download your tax forms under “Recent Documents” on the left-hand side of the page. 

Team members who have not signed up for electronic delivery can expect their forms in the mail within three weeks. Please note, 1095-C forms are not required for filing taxes. Employees are able to complete federal and state tax returns without a 1095-C.
HR Connect: New Service Hours
HR Connect call center hours are changing beginning March 1, in order to improve response time to the increasing number of email inquiries. 

Team members will be able to access support from Human Resources:
  • By phone: 7:45 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday at 720-423-3900.
  • By email: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at HR_Connect@dpsk12.org.
Update on Use of Local Home Folders (W: Drives)
With the transition to Google Suite, the use of local home folders (W: Drives) has dropped to just 17% due to team members’ preference for Google Drive. With the decreased use of W: Drives, DoTS is cleaning up local home folders. 

What this means:
  
  • W: Drives will no longer be available on new employees’ devices.

  • Over the next few months, W: Drives that only contain a few files and have not been recently accessed will be archived.

  • Team members who have active W: Drives will get an email from DoTS to discuss moving work files to Google Drive. Team members who want to maintain their active W: Drive should discuss options with DoTS.
Free Programs Through DPS Insurance Carriers
Health insurance with DPS does more than just help cover medical expenses! Kaiser Permanente and Aetna both offer a number of free programs and discounts for members.

Kaiser Permanente:

Aetna:

When choosing your benefits during benefits open enrollment April 19-May 7, check out free programs and discounts with each carrier and maximize your benefits! Learn more and prepare for open enrollment by visiting thecommons.dpsk12.org/openenrollment.
March Wellness Opportunities: Zumba and Mindfulness Classes
Sign up for free, virtual Zumba classes every Wednesday in March from 3:30-4:30 p.m. These classes move between high- and low-intensity dance moves, designed to get your heart rate up and boost cardio endurance -- feeling more like a dance party than a workout class! No equipment needed and open to all fitness levels. ​After completing this waiver​, team members will receive an email to confirm class registration.

If you prefer a more relaxing way to practice self-care and relieve stress, sign up for a 30-minute guided mindfulness and breathing practice led by a mindfulness expert from Passage Works. Register today for upcoming sessions on March 11 and March 18.
Living Our DPS Honoree
Eric Mendoza
Math Teacher
Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
Accountability

"Señor Mendoza takes responsibility for his individual and collective commitments. He grows from success and he learns from failure. He inspires students and other teachers to always give their best by setting high expectations and holding us all accountable. His commitment to the community is represented by his 15 years of hard work at KCAA." -- Marlin Nino, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
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