In years past (like in this photo), we were able to collect clothing as gifts for students in the ESSA foster care program and military-connected students. This year, Team DPS can still give to these kids virtually! |
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Giving Tree for DPS Students is Going Virtual This Year! |
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The Giving Tree is an annual tradition at the Emily Griffith Campus, when team members purchase clothing items for our students in the ESSA foster care program and military-connected students. (Learn more about these students here.)
This year, our Giving Tree is going virtual! To participate, simply click here to donate, and members of Team DPS will purchase gift cards for clothing items and distribute them to our students. Please make donations by Dec. 18.
Last year, thanks to generous donations by Team DPS, we were able to provide new winter clothing to more than 100 of our students. Let's once again share the spirit of the season and make a difference in the lives of our students!
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Top 5: How Team DPS Gives Back |
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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 below, and read all of the inspiring ideas of how to give back here. Congratulations to our giveaway winner, Michelle Blue, John F. Kennedy High School.
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5. "Our school leaders (including principals, team leads, nurse and psychologist) encourage community support. They started a GoFundMe campaign to help our families with necessities like food and rent during the pandemic. Now, faculty and friends are adopting families to provide both gifts and necessities like clothing and shoes as holiday gifts. I am so proud of our Gust family!" -- Barbara Laff, Gust Elementary
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4. "Even though Thanksgiving was much smaller this year, the amount of food was not! I heated up leftovers, plated them, and gave them to some community members experiencing homelessness. Everyone deserves to have Thanksgiving leftovers!" -- TJ Layne, Fairview
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3. "This Thanksgiving, my family decided to foster a dog. It's been a truly awesome experience and she has already found her forever home." -- Anne Hursta, CMS & Cowell
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2. "I do a '31 days of giving' each December. I make lunches for the homeless, collect donations for Children's Hospital, the animal shelter, etc. I bake cookies for the local police and fire stations. And my favorite is making stockings each year with essential items for a senior care center." -- Autumn Webster, Swigert
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1. "John F. Kennedy High School teachers and staff have 'adopted' numerous families this holiday season to provide gifts and meals over break. We'll be shopping for our kids and parents, wrapping the gifts and delivering them with meals. The need for a festive holiday this year is enormous, and those of us blessed with our incomes are giving back to our families with love and joy." -- Michelle Blue, John F. Kennedy High School
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Top 5 Callout: Favorite Susana Memory or What You’ve Learned From Susana |
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From a student to our Superintendent, after 31 years in DPS, Susana Cordova is stepping down from her role. She has made an impact on all of Team DPS as well as our students, and she will be very missed. Her last day is Dec. 18 -- and before then, we want to hear what she taught you or your favorite memory of Susana. Share through this form and you'll be entered to win a giveaway!
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Susana visiting with a student in 2018. |
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ICYMI: Protect Your Personal Information Using DPS' New Login Process |
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All DPS team members are now required to complete several steps to enroll in a new authentication system when accessing Employee Space, Manager Space, District Training Registration and the internal Job Board for the first time.
This new login process -- called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) -- significantly increases the security of your DPS login by combining something that you know (your password) with something physical that only you possess (e.g., your smartphone). DPS is making this change to protect the security of your personal information (like your paycheck), as well as student and district data.
What you need know:
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Follow all enrollment instructions. When you log in, you will be prompted to enroll in Duo Security and to download an app on your smartphone. (Non-VPN users have alternative options -- learn more.) It is important to follow all of the steps for a successful enrollment. Make it easy by using this step-by-step guide during the process. (Spanish version.)
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Turn on notifications on your phone from the DUO mobile app. Allowing notifications from the app will ensure you receive push notifications to log in.
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Most users agree the Duo Mobile app on your personal cellphone is the most secure and convenient method of MFA. The app allows you to create a key that only you have, which prevents anyone else from logging in as you. Learn more here.
Visit the Duo Page on The Commons to learn more about other methods of MFA and access additional resources. |
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What To Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19 |
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Do you know what to do if you test positive for COVID-19? There are steps to help you feel better and prevent others from getting sick.
Stay home, hydrate, rest and watch symptoms. Stay in touch with family or a friend, and have them contact you regularly to help track your symptoms. If your symptoms progress, call your doctor. Seek care immediately if you have trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, inability to wake up, or bluish tint to the lips or face. Learn more about emergency warning signs.
As a member of Team DPS, it is important to report a confirmed positive COVID-19 case so that the public health department is aware and the health and safety of all our students and staff are prioritized. As a reminder, team members who test positive for COVID-19 should notify their supervisor, even while working remotely. Managers are required to initiate the reporting process with our COVID-19 Reporting Hotline. Click here for step-by-step instructions on what to if you need to report a positive COVID-19 test.
Please note, it is not necessary to have a negative test to return to work after 10 days of isolation and symptom-free for 24 hours. It is not recommended to re-test for 90 days following a positive COVID test. For those without a positive test, it is important to maintain frequent testing. Schedule your test today! |
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Join Us for DPS Skills: LGBTQ+ |
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Dec. 16: 9 - 11 a.m., Virtual Event on Zoom
In this session, participants will develop a basic understanding of LGBTQ+ identities, DPS policy and procedures, and will work to create inclusion and allyship in virtual and in-person environments.
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Join Us for Equity Bootcamps: Culturally Responsive Practitioners and La Comunidad Latina |
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A Conversation with Culturally Responsive Practitioners
Join us from 3-5 p.m. Dec. 16 to hear from our Culturally Responsive Teaching Team about promising practices as they take on the hard questions -- large and small -- about advancing Culturally Sustaining and Responsive Practices in DPS. Participants will advance their awareness of our Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) Educator mindsets, learn about common misconceptions that inhibit advancement of CRE, and experience real-time conversations and promising practices in culturally sustaining and response education.
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La Comunidad Latina in Culturally Sustaining and Responsive Education
Join members of the Culture, Equity and Leadership Team and Culturally Responsive Education on from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 12 to discuss and explore the ways La Comunidad Latina shows up within DPS -- for our work, for our community and, most importantly, for our students. We will spend time sharing stories about the history of the DPS Latin community, engaging in Latin art and music, and hear from historians and students with firsthand experience of what life is like as a member of 'la comunidad.'
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Start Your Winter Break Feeling Strong -- Both Mentally and Physically |
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Today at 4 p.m., participate in a 20-minute, virtually guided mindfulness meditation to help you decompress, relieve stress and improve your mood to finish out your work week. Register for today's session and for the Dec. 17 session at 4 p.m.
Sign up for the last virtual Pilates class of 2020 on Dec. 16 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Gear up for a low-impact, full-body workout that aims to strengthen muscles while improving your posture, flexibility and mobility. No equipment needed and open to all fitness levels. After completing your waiver, you’ll receive an email to confirm your class registration.
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2021-22 Great Schools Enrollment Guides Now Available |
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The DPS Great Schools Enrollment Guides for the 2021-22 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. Limited quantities of printed guides are available; contact the Communications Office for information.
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Learn More about Down Payment Assistance When Buying a Home |
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To support team members in buying a home in the community they serve, DPS has partnered with Landed -- a San Francisco-based startup that helps employees in education buy a home, including through its shared equity down payment program. Landed is hosting an online information session for all employees interested in learning more about Landed’s down payment program and other homebuying resources. Join us for this virtual Landed Info Session at 4 p.m. Dec. 16. For more information, visit landed.com/signup or contact Paula Davis.
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Sangeetha Appavoo
Teacher and STL, Hamilton Middle School
Equity
"Sangeetha is new to our school and to DPS this year, but has gone above and beyond during our remote learning to reach out to every student and help meet their needs. She has built incredible relationships with families and spends much of her time outside of class by helping students succeed in all of their classes. Sangeetha goes well beyond her content area when helping students. Beyond that, she is extremely attentive to the emotional needs of our middle school scholars during this time. She has built a trusting connection with so many middle school students in such a short time. As a result, Sangeetha is deeply attuned to the struggles the students are facing and actively works to help them. Truly, she is an extraordinarily caring adult for our students, and that has value beyond words during this time." -- Joel Mollman, Hamilton Middle School
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Denver Public Schools sends all district newsletters and critical employee communications through Constant Contact. Please do not unsubscribe your dpsk12.org email address from any message; if you unsubscribe from one newsletter or one communication, you will be removed from all other district-managed email lists in Constant Contact. If you have any questions, please email newsletters@dpsk12.org.
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