Career and College Success Executive Director Samantha Haviland (center) and school counselors -- Katherine Howes (left) and Becky Swanson (right) -- from McAulliffe International Middle School celebrate National School Counselor Appreciation Week. Thank you to all of our school counselors for everything you do for our kids! 
Feb. 4, 2021
Supporting Team DPS in Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines
Dear Team DPS,

Last week, Gov. Polis announced new state guidelines that make frontline essential educators -- including teachers, other school-based staff and child care workers, as well as those 65-69 years old -- eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Feb. 8. We are working hard to quickly and equitably support all DPS educators who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to get it, in collaboration with our trusted partners at Children’s Colorado, Denver Health and others around the city. 

With so much information happening fast, we wanted to share the most recent updates, as well as some key resources, to support all members of Team DPS in understanding the process. 

Who will get the vaccine first? 
We will prioritize team members who are frontline essential educators -- those who are critical to the operations of the school and work with our students every day -- such as teachers, paras, afterschool staff, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians and school administrators. In addition, over the initial weeks of vaccination, we will also prioritize vaccinations for school-based individuals over the age of 65 and those who are on health-related accommodations (either this semester or last semester). Note: An employee’s accommodation will not be canceled because they got the vaccine.
 
When will I know it’s my turn to get the vaccine?
With a focus on equity and highest need, we have prioritized the order of which schools will receive the vaccine first based on each school’s free or reduced-price meals (FRL) percentage rate. See the list of our highest-percentage schools
 
Our partners at Children’s Colorado and Denver Health are opening available slots as quickly as possible, based on vaccine availability. You will receive information directly from one of these health care providers when there is a spot for you to receive the vaccine, if you shared with us through the survey that you definitely want one. Please do not reach out to Children’s Colorado or Denver Health directly to schedule an appointment. Learn more about the process at Children’s Colorado in this FAQ
 
I have questions about the vaccine. Where can I learn more? 
Children’s Colorado has put together an extensive FAQ about the vaccine. Read that here. Additionally, we encourage all members of Team DPS who have questions about the vaccine to reach out to their own health care provider. 
 
Where can I learn more?
All of this information and more is available on the Vaccine Information page on The Commons. Check back here for the latest updates. Additionally, mark your calendar for the DPS Employee Tele Town Hall from 4-5 p.m. Feb. 8, when you’ll receive a phone call to join a discussion with DPS and health leaders to talk through questions and concerns you may have.
Top 5 Callout: Central Office Team Member Shoutouts
Thank you to the hundreds of Central Office team members who have stepped out of their typical roles and been supporting schools' transition to in-person learning by mentoring, assisting teachers, helping with lunch duty and much more!

Want to thank a Central Office team member for their support at your school? Submit your shoutout through this form and we'll share it in next week's edition!
Learn More About Your EOBs and Plan Documents
When it comes to your health insurance, there are a lot of important documents to review, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are the top two insurance documents you should be familiar with: 

  • Explanation of Benefits (EOBs): Every time you visit a provider, you receive an EOB. These explain what services you received, key dates, and how much your carrier paid. These are not bills. Providers will send invoices directly to you if anything is owed. 


Get engaged with your benefits now and be prepared for Open Enrollment April 19-May 7. Visit the Open Enrollment page on The Commons for more information.
Share Your Feedback on Health and Safety
Thank you to all of our DPS employees who have returned to their buildings in the transition to in-person learning and to those who are returning in the near future. To best help you, we want to learn more about what you are experiencing and what supports you need. Please take two minutes to provide feedback via this anonymous form.
Upcoming Webinar: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth
Join the DPS Prevention Services Team and Levi Arithson, LGBTQ+ Program Manager at DPS, for a high-level review of LGBTQ+ policies in DPS on Feb. 17. Learn why LGBTQ+ inclusive schools create more equitable schools for all students, and what you can do in your home and community to support LGBTQ+ youth. Sign up to attend the webinar here. (Tambien estamos ofreciendo interpretación en Español.)

The DPS Prevention Services team hosts webinars on the third Wednesday of every month at noon. Each webinar is facilitated by experts from the Denver community. Sign up for more information about future webinars here and view past webinars here.
Sign Up for the YOU Revolution Program by Feb. 12
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Ready to kick start your healthy lifestyle in 2021? Sign up for the eight-week YOU Revolution Program. YOU Revolution has been a successful class offered to DPS employees for over five years from Michelle Zellner, founder of Better Beings. Learn more about Michelle here.

Topics covered in the weekly classes include setting realistic goals, understanding your "why," forming healthy habits, learning the importance of nutrition, physical activity and mindfulness, and more. Plus, participants have the opportunity to receive one-on-one guidance from a health coach. The program is free for participants and occurs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning Feb. 23. Click here to secure your spot by Feb. 12. Questions? Email staffwellness@dpsk12.org.
Apply to Join the DPS District Accountability Committee
Team DPS members are invited to apply and join the DPS District Accountability Committee (DAC). The mission of the DAC is to assist in the improvement of DPS by advising the Board of Education on the adequacy and cost-effectiveness of educational programs and policies. The DAC is open to DPS parents, staff, and community members interested in the improvement of our schools to ensure Every Child Succeeds.

For more information and to download the application, click here. Email your completed application to Nelvis Alvarez by March 5 or call 720-423-3135.
Living Our DPS Honoree
Carol Wilcox
Literacy/ELD Teacher, Bryant Webster
Equity

"Dr. Wilcox loves reading, and she loves to get students reading more. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that all students have books in their hands as much as possible. From organizing library volunteers to getting the bookmobile on campus and inviting Denver Public Library (DPL) staff to collaborate closely with our staff, to finding funding for students to participate in Book Trust (and the list goes on) -- Dr. Wilcox has instilled a love of reading into our students and created opportunities for all kids to have new, high-quality texts. As a result of her work over the last several years, our students have been awarded an entire library of graphic novels, visited with popular authors, taken home thousands of free books, and been honored for having the highest number of DPL library checkouts from any DPS school. Thank you for building equity in access to books and helping us have fun reading them!" -- Gwen Frank, Bryant Webster Dual Language School
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