Head to the Top 5 for office support team member shoutouts! |
|
|
|
Open Enrollment Week Two: Take Action by May 6 |
|
|
|
We are now in the second week of Benefits Open Enrollment, which ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6! This year, DPS is offering a new, low-cost medical option for team members and their families. Pay less for health insurance next school year by selecting the new MotivHealth plan, which features benefits such as:
-
High-quality hospital and care ratings through the Centura Network of Care.
- The highest in-network coinsurance at 20% .
- Low out-of-pocket maximums ($3,000 for individual and $6,000 for family).
- Out-of-network coverage.
- A prescription assistance program to help lower the cost of your medications.
- Free insulin and testing supplies.
- Telehealth at no charge.
Act now for a chance to win! Team members who take action and enroll or waive their benefits today, April 28, will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!
How DPS Benefits You: Recent Highlights and Updates
In DPS, we are committed to helping all team members feel supported as we work together professionally to support our students. Central to this commitment is ensuring we offer a Total Rewards package that meets the varying needs of our team members and their families, and recognizes the contributions and talent of our team.
To achieve this -- and to address the challenges of rising health care costs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic -- DPS continually evaluates offerings and implements new strategies to ensure a competitive and comprehensive benefits package.
Recent highlights include:
- DPS’ transition to self-funded benefits in 2020 and subsequent efforts to reduce the cost of health premiums. Rates would be 28% higher for next school year if we were still fully insured.
-
Addition of the MotivHealth medical plan -- a low-cost offering available for 2022-23.
- Enhanced efforts to off-set costs through benefit credits, medical subsidies and HSA contributions.
- Supplemental benefit offerings, such as Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity have expanded coverage with no additional cost.
- Improved sick and leave policies that provide sick time to even more employees, including hourly employees and bus drivers.
- Recognition of Juneteenth as an official districtwide holiday.
While these highlights demonstrate our focus on continual improvement, we recognize that supporting our team is an ongoing and collaborative effort. We look forward to partnering with Team DPS to ensure we benefit you in the ways that matter most.
|
|
|
|
Nominations for Night of Honor Awards Now Open |
|
|
|
Now is your chance to recognize those who've gone above and beyond during the 2021-22 school year! Do you know someone on Team DPS who embodies the Shared Core Values every day? How about a successful and effective team? Recognize these DPS team members by nominating them for a Night of Honor award:
-
Leadership Lamp Award: Our most distinguished award honoring our Shared Core Values champions (four awards total).
-
Living Our DPS: Honoring the actions of individuals living one of our Shared Core Values (40 awards total).
Also, we are excited to celebrate some of last year's honorees in the next few weeks, and plan to announce and celebrate our 2020-21 Leadership Lamp honorees during an in-person event in the fall.
|
|
|
|
Celebrate Our Educators during Teacher Appreciation Week! |
|
|
|
National Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner, taking place May 2-6! To help spread the cheer, we’ve put together a list of ideas and templates with ways school teams and the community can celebrate our educators. Visit our Teacher Appreciation webpage to see how you can get involved. And be sure to share your celebrations using #DPSLovesTeachers.
Additionally, work with students to tell us what makes their teacher great by completing this short form by tomorrow, April 29. Please note that submissions may be featured on the DPS website and DPS Facebook page. We look forward to sharing students' perspectives and thanking our amazing educators for ensuring Every Child Succeeds!
|
|
|
|
Top 5: Office Support Shoutouts |
|
|
|
Thank you to the team members who shared a shoutout for their school's office support team members in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. Check out the Top 5 below, and read even more shoutouts recognizing and giving thanks to the amazing office support team members who help our schools run smoothly each day! |
|
|
|
5. “Diana Perez is the backbone of CEC Early College! She is the prom planner, graduation superstar, registrar and confidant of all. Diana's laugh is contagious. From planning confetti-filled letters for incoming students to ensuring everyone is greeted warmly and leading staff appreciation, she is a true CEC Culture Champion. Diana, we appreciate you!” -- Roland Shaw, CEC Early College
|
|
4. “Armando Geneyro is an incredible support to our department! His behind-the-scenes management of our on-call supports for student safety -- ensuring our data collection is managed and so much more -- is essential to our team's ability to provide services to kids. He demonstrates the DPS Shared Core Values, particularly Accountability, Fun and Students First! He is an artist and a social justice champion. He volunteers in our schools sharing his love for photography, connecting with people and telling their stories through his work inspiring the younger generations to follow their passions.” -- Meredith Fatseas, SEO
|
|
|
|
3. “I would like to shout out Katie Mohr and Leah Prochnow for their unwavering kindness, organization and generosity. These two women, without a doubt, hold this school together -- from fielding parent phone calls, taking care of communication across the building to always lending a reassuring ear to teachers and students alike. These ladies are secretaries, registrars, nurses, counselors and overall superheroes. We are beyond lucky to have them in our building.” -- Kara Blakey, Morey
|
|
2. “Rocio Salazar is the glue that holds us all together. Her kindness, generosity and calm demeanor puts everyone at ease when they enter our building. She makes a safe space for families to be vulnerable and gives everyone a warm smile to make them feel welcomed. Every student knows her name and they light up when they walk past her desk. McGlone would not be McGlone without her.” -- Teche McLean, McGlone Academy
|
|
|
|
1. “Alexis Matter is a fundamental member of our UPark community! She does so much to support our staff, students and families. Alexis also leads on our Black Excellence Initiative Committee and works to promote Equity and break down barriers throughout our school community. Alexis builds relationships with all of our students and is always willing to help out, read a book, offer a hug or even dress up as Parker the Owl! Alexis is a phenomenal communicator and organizes and writes our weekly staff and community newsletters! Alexis is absolutely amazing and keeps our ship sailing every day.”
-- University Park Elementary
|
|
|
|
Top 5 Callout: Best Student Compliments |
|
|
|
Our kids have a way with words -- and a knack for compliments! What's the best compliment you've received from a student? Share your favorite student compliment here, and we’ll feature them in next week’s edition
|
|
|
|
Payroll Bank Deposit Name Change |
|
|
|
DPS Payroll has recently switched to J.P. Morgan bank. With this change, starting on May 7, you will now see your DPS pay check deposit listed as "DPS Controlled Disb PR". This will not cause any changes to our pay schedule or timing. This notice is only to ensure Team DPS is aware of the bank deposit name change.
|
|
|
|
‘Your Voice/Tu Voz’ Surveys Launch on Monday, May 2 |
|
|
|
The final round of the DPS "Your Voice/Tu Voz" surveys will be available May 2-13. An email from Superintendent Dr. Marrero with links to the current surveys will be sent to students and staff’s DPS emails on Monday, May 2. All surveys will include additional questions about the Healthy Start Times initiative for the 2023-24 school year.
Responses to the survey are important because they inform decisions on how we can better serve our DPS community. Access the results from the most recent survey here.
|
|
|
|
Less than One Month Left to Earn Your Well Aware Reward |
|
|
|
Take action now to earn your $200 reward for completing the Well Aware Program! Complete the requirements by getting up-to-date on your preventative screenings and complete an online health assessment. Participants who complete these two actions by May 20 earn a $200 credit toward their HSA account or as a stipend on their paycheck (HMO plan members).
|
|
|
|
Send Us Your Appreciation Video Clip for June Universal |
|
|
|
We look forward to reflecting on, celebrating and closing out the 2021-22 school year with school leaders at the June Universal. This year, we will share a video compilation of our school and community members showing their appreciation for our educators. Help us celebrate by sending a short clip expressing your appreciation!
Record a quick video following these guidelines:
- 10 seconds maximum
- Record horizontally on your device
- Give thanks and get creative
-
Upload your video by Friday, May 20
|
|
|
|
Join Achieving Excellence Academy Summer Pilot Program |
|
|
|
Are you passionate and knowledgeable about racial and cultural identity? Are you skilled at teaching ethnic studies and incoming ninth-grade students? Teach or lead at the Achieving Excellence Academy! The Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA) summer program is an in-person, immersive four-week pilot taking place June 21-July 14 at Denver School of the Arts. AEA will serve as a cultural identity and ethnic studies program especially for -- but not exclusive to -- Black/African-American and Latinx families, students and educators to learn more about these experiences and ancestral histories. Learn more about the AEA here.
|
|
|
|
Chris Eichenberger
Facility Manager, Goldrick Elementary
Students First
"Chris always puts Students First. He is constantly available and takes amazing care of our building and grounds. Each week, he gives the cleanest classroom award in our community meeting. He even led a student club where kids learned about 3D printing. This year, he has put in countless hours of overtime when other team members were out. We appreciate you, Chris!"
-- Annashay Salas, Goldrick
|
|
|
|
Denver Public Schools sends all district newsletters and critical employee communications through Constant Contact. Please do not unsubscribe your DPS 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
