We asked DPS team members what makes them smile -- and it's hard to read these without cracking a grin yourself! Read all the smiles here and congratulations to our winner, Kaci Sintek of Denver Online High School!

5. "I like to feel the sun over my face and the wind! Thankful for this beautiful weather!"

-- Erika Esteban, Transportation

4."This cute puppy always puts a smile on my face. He is adorable and makes me feel that if you have someone like him to come home to, it's all good." -- Rashmi Gaitonde, Green Valley

3."I get so happy it makes me laugh to see my handsome great-grandson in his shield and mask. He is the cutest!" -- Daisy Garrison-Davis, FACE/CESA Team

2."My running partner, Zelda, makes me smile all the time. Some days I don't want to run; however, she always wants to run! Once we get started, I can't help but smile because she is just so darn cute and an awesome lead dog. I call her my 'Toy Husky.'" -- Vicky Thrasher, Valverde (pictured above)

1. "Denver Online High School started weekly shout-outs when students, parents and teachers all submit individuals who have gone above and beyond! These celebrations are posted onto Schoology, and it's so encouraging to see so much love and appreciation being thrown around!" -- Kaci Sintek, Denver Online High School

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we want to know what you are grateful for this year. Fill out this form to share what makes you thankful this year (pictures are welcomed!) and you'll be entered to win a prize.

Getting a flu vaccine this fall is more important than ever. Reducing flu cases will support healthcare providers and hospital systems already overburdened by the COVID pandemic. Denver Public Health (DPH) and DPS' healthcare providers, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente, are urging everyone six months and older to get a flu shot.

Feeling sick? Many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, which can make it hard to tell the difference based on symptoms alone. They are both contagious respiratory illnesses that are caused by different viruses. If you have symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or others, we recommend you get a COVID-19 test.  

Schedule your regular COVID-19 test and help slow spread and enable in-person learning. Make your appointment today!

Implicit and explicit biases are impacting our relationships with others every minute of every day. This training is designed for individuals who have already participated in the Disrupting Bias workshop and are ready to do more advanced work in identifying and changing implicit biases. In this session, we will continue to build on the self-awareness tools, and participants will have the opportunity to examine bias within themselves and the environment they live in. We will explore strategies to recognize and manage bias, and everyone will leave with action steps to support their work with students and colleagues.

Join us virtually 9-11 a.m. on Nov. 18. Click here to register.

Thank you, Team DPS, for continuing to put students first during these ever-changing times. We are so grateful for your dedication. DPS Foundation is continuing to identify emerging needs and working to support students, educators and staff. A gift to DPS Foundation can support these emerging needs as well as programs like the A to Z Fund classroom grant for educators. For those who can, please join the I Give for Team DPS employee giving campaign by making a donation to the DPS Foundation. If you join by 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, you’ll be entered to win a week of free meals from Peak Fitness Meals. Learn more at dpsfoundation.org/dpsemployees.

Team members who access Business Information Systems (BIS) or Infinite Campus reports -- this tip is for you! Users will still be able to download reports as Excel files and upload them directly to Google.

Check out these resources to learn more:

We all know that postsecondary education has never been more critical to future job opportunities, but it can be very expensive and is often financed through some form of borrowing. That debt could persist for many years after graduation. Join financial experts from AIG -- DPS' supplemental retirement plan provider -- at 4 p.m. on Nov. 16 as they discuss strategies that can assist, lessen or even eliminate student loan debt. This informational webinar is open to non-AIG and AIG members. Register here today!

"Mr. Smith will always go above and beyond to meet necessities at Garden Place, even if they don't pertain to his job title. If he hears that help is needed, he will go out of his way to volunteer. He always is on top of making sure all of our students have access to logging in online to make sure they aren't left out of learning. If Mr. Smith hears of a student not having a laptop, or a laptop is not working, he will do everything in his power to get them set up with one as soon as possible to make sure their learning is not interrupted. In these times of online learning, he also made sure to get hotspots for anyone who didn't have access to internet.

Mr. Smith also helps out with our bus students, making sure they are all on the right bus and that we are not missing anyone at the end of the day. If the bus student was in school, he makes sure that they don't miss their bus. Rain or snow, he will be out there until the last bus student is put on the bus safely. If we have a staff absence in the school and Mr. Smith is asked to help cover an area, he does it with no questions asked, even if that means he has to change his schedule."

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