Congratulations to Brown International Academy Senior Team Lead and third-grade teacher Sara Jackson, who scaled Mt. Huron this summer! See more snapshots from summer break in tomorrow's Team DPS Weekly Top 5! |
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Guidance on Allowable In-Person Activities While DPS is in Remote Learning for Safer at Home |
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Dear Educators,
For the first quarter, remote interaction and meetings are always preferred and encouraged, with the exception of district-sanctioned in-person activities (such as child care and district-approved CHSAA athletics). During first quarter, schools and teams may consider outdoor interactions and limited 1:1 in-person indoor activities (outside of those that are sanctioned by the district) if there is a compelling reason to do so (such as the activity can’t be performed virtually, there is a need to build relationships in a way that can’t be done remotely, etc.).
Please check with your school leader to make sure this is appropriate for your school community. After that, interactions and meetings can be held outdoors, but the following guidance MUST be followed and shared with participating adults or parents/guardians of participating children:
- Group size must be kept small and cannot exceed 10 participants.
- 6 feet of distance must be maintained between participants.
- Masks/face coverings must be worn by all participants.
- Materials cannot be shared.
- Participants must complete the health screening process prior to participating in the in-person activity. If they don’t, be prepared to take temperature and fill out form on arrival.
- Schools and teams must track the activity, including documenting who participated in the activity.
- Participants should use hand sanitizer whenever possible for hand hygiene.
Complete details can be found here, including a list of allowable activities.
Many thanks,
Tamara and Mike
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Additional Guidance for Those Choosing to Return to School Buildings |
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While we continue to encourage remote work as we start the school year with remote learning, we realize there may be some staff members who would like to work individually from their classroom and our school buildings. Read more in this update, and see below for additional details and guidance: |
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Guidance on Children of Staff in DPS Buildings While DPS is in Remote Learning
To minimize health risks prior to reopening our schools to in-person learning, staff members choosing to work from their classrooms or school buildings cannot bring their children or any other children/adults who do not work for DPS into the building, with the exception of children who are enrolled in DPS-approved child care.
While we understand that this may create a challenge for some teachers, it is important that we minimize the number of people in one building until we are ready to bring more students and staff back in an organized and deliberate way. Staff who have registered their children in child care will need to bring their children home at the end of the child care day at noon.
Staff with children in child care who have unique circumstances for the rest of the day after 12 p.m. can ask for an exemption from their school leaders to keep their children in their classroom for the rest of day. As a reminder, no one is required to report to their school or office unless explicitly directed by their supervisor.
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Guidance on Parents/Guardians and Visitors in Buildings
To minimize health risks, parents, guardians and visitors are not allowed in school buildings at this time. Only school staff, approved district staff, approved contractors, and students participating in child care, or approved for 1:1 support aligned to this guidance, who have completed a health screening and follow health protocols are currently allowed in school buildings. If you have any questions, please contact your school leader.
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Use of Kitchen Appliance and Spaces
Last week, Superintendent Susana Cordova shared health guidance and protocols for those who choose to return to their school or office site. As an update, we ask that team members do not congregate in communal spaces, including faculty lounges or break rooms – however, you will have access to the kitchenette area, refrigerator and microwave. Please use sanitizing wipes on appliances before and after use, and it is recommended that you use paper towels to open refrigerator and microwave doors.
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This Week's Top 5 Things to Know |
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Child Care Registration Opens Aug. 24 for All Team Members and Families |
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Registration will open Monday, Aug. 24, for the second session of DPS child care, held from 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 8-Oct. 16. This care will be available for children ages 5-12 with locations at about 55 elementary schools across the district, and will include support in their remote learning schedules. Child care supports will cost $10 per student, per day through Oct. 16. If DPS remains in remote learning after Oct. 16 or returns to remote learning later in the year, and the need for child care returns, the cost will increase to $14.25-$17 per student, per day (depending upon the availability of federal funding). Please click here to register and find additional details on The Commons.
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Reminder: Personalized Engagement Educator Training for Week of Aug. 17 |
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We hope you’ve been able to review the Engagement Call User Guide and participate in the Personalized Engagement screencast training, and that you’ve started contacting the students and families in your class. Research has proven that authentic relationships are at the core of every effective partnership and are linked to student achievement and school improvement.
So far, DPS educators have completed 3.5% of calls out to families. Shout out to these schools for their outstanding number of calls: STRIVE Prep - Montbello, Bruce Randolph, McMeen Elementary, Emily Griffith High School and North High School Engagement Center!
Thank you for your continued support in reaching out to our students and families this week. If you need support, please contact Family and Community Engagement.
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Safeguarding Student Data - Action Required |
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As we begin the new school year with remote learning, it’s never been more important to follow our student data privacy trainings and utilize the resources available.
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Training: All staff must take the Student Data Privacy Training (only need to complete one time).
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Using Tools: Teachers and principals must follow the process detailed on the ATM. Reminders:
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Enter in the tools that you are using for 2020-21. (They do not carry over from 2019-20, to ensure accuracy for remote learning).
- Tools requiring parent consent:
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Work with your school leader on parent consent either through Annual Family Update or the Parent Consent form (tutorial).
- Track responses and do not enter data into a tool until consent is received.
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If you're adding online tools after you receive the initial parent consent, notify parents.
- Certain tools such as Schoology and Seesaw do not require parent consent.
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Video Conferencing Platform Clarity: Google Meet and Zoom |
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Google Meet is our free, district-supported video conferencing platform. If you plan to record lessons, please review these recording protocols.
Zoom: If a school would like to use Zoom, they must:
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Receive parent consent, because we do not have a Data Protection Addendum with Zoom. Please do not use Zoom until 100% parent consent is received.
- If you plan to record with Zoom, notify parents in a communication.
- School staff members should set up the account. (Students should not set up their own accounts, per the Zoom Privacy Policy; however, this may occur and we do not have visibility into these accounts).
- If you’re interested in purchasing Zoom, work with your school leader to contact Strategic Sourcing for educational pricing, paid out of the school budget.
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Review the Employment Practice Manual |
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We are pleased to announce the release of the DPS' Employment Practice Manual. This manual provides managers and employees with guidance around key Human Resources practices. By familiarizing yourself with the Employment Practice Manual, you will raise your awareness of Board policies, practices and expectations. There are three particularly important things that we want to call your attention to:
- The COVID addendum that contains our mutual obligations to ensure that we can keep our staff and students safe.
- Our commitment to being anti-racist in our policies and actions, as well as information about the systems we have for addressing discrimination and harassment.
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Please note that there are updates to the Title IX complaint process (for concerns about sex-based discrimination or sexual harassment) this year that can be found in Regulation AC-R3.
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Additional Resources and Information |
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Click here to learn more about these resources and opportunities:
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- PDU Proposals Due Sept. 1
- Apply to be a PDU Peer Reviewer in 2020-21
- Cisco Jabber for Remote Phone Access
- Back-to-School Family and Student Surveys Launch Next Week
- Remote Learning Lesson Examples and Additional Supporting Resources
- Literacy Capstone Updates
- Eighth-Grade Literacy Curriculum Update
- Update on Balarat During Remote Learning
- Grief Support for Students and Staff
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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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