Fourth-graders at Johnson Elementary took a field trip to the History Colorado Center and learned about our state's history through interactive exhibits. Head to the Top 5 for more field trip favorites! |
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Free At-home COVID Tests Available through Insurance Companies |
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Did you know insurance companies and group health plans are now required to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests? Covered members are eligible to receive up to eight FDA-approved/EAU-cleared at-home COVID tests per month, at no cost. See more about these coverage options from our DPS health-care providers, Kaiser and Aetna:
Aetna:
Under new federal guidelines, Aetna members with individual, employer-sponsored and student health commercial health insurance now have coverage for over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests. Check out this one-pager for more information about what is covered, and the steps to submit a reimbursement claim.
Kaiser:
Through Kaiser’s partnership with OptumRx, members can now get at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free at network pharmacies:
- Walmart
- RiteAid
- Sam’s Club
Get reimbursed for a home test purchased on or after Jan. 15, 2022, outside of Kaiser Permanente health plans by submitting a claim.
Additional Testing Options:
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Order free COVID-19 self-tests at covidtests.gov and get them delivered right to your door! Note: Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests.
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COVIDCheck Colorado has multiple test sites located throughout Colorado that are available to community members.
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Last Call to Complete the ‘Your Voice/Tu Voz’ Survey: Win Free Lunch for Your Team! |
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The mid-year “Your Voice/Tu Voz Survey” closes tomorrow, Feb. 4! An email sent from Superintendent Marrero to your DPS email address on Jan. 24 contains your unique link to complete the survey. As a reminder, the schools and teams with highest participation by Feb. 4 will win lunch delivery or $500 for supplies!
Congratulations to the school and department survey midpoint prize winners:
- Inspire Elementary
- North Engagement Center
- Thomas Jefferson High School
- Communications
- Finance
- Portfolio Management
Encourage your team to share their voice by completing the survey now!
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Top 5: Favorite Field Trips |
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Field trips are a fun way to explore and learn outside of the classroom. Thanks to the team members who shared favorite field trips of their own and trips their students have recently taken! |
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5. “I almost tagged along with our fifth-graders who went to Balarat this past week. I went as a student and loved it so much that I went back four more times as a high school leader. It was the best experience! I can only imagine what it felt like as a teacher! Maybe one day we can have our kindergartners visit for the day!”
-- Jennifer Sanchez, CMS
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4. “Balarat for fifth-graders has to be one of my favorite field trips. It's a transformational experience for families and their children (sometimes their first overnight experience apart) as well as teachers and students -- and is especially great for establishing a classroom community. Student engagement is high and it was a great opportunity for me as a teacher to notice my students as an observer rather than a teacher.” -- Stefanie Bashaula, Holm
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3. “We went to the National Western Stock Show this year with our kindergartners and had a blast! We learned about animals, farming, ranching, rodeos and so many other things. After all of that fun, most students said their favorite part of the trip was the bus ride. They were so excited to ride in a real yellow school bus. Thank you to the bus drivers and chaperones who helped make this trip possible!”
-- Shelby Finney, Inspire
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2. “As part of our Spark Career Exploration programming, we took students from DCIS Montbello Middle School to Bel-Rea Vet Tech school. They got to pet a goat and met a lot of other animals too!” -- Laura Eley, Career and College Success
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1. “My favorite field trip was during the 2009-10 school year. I was in eighth grade attending DMLK and we went to visit CSU for a tour. It had snowed a couple of inches and it was very cold but I just remember it being a beautiful campus and I fell in love with it. Later on, I graduated from CSU and now I am back at my middle school and high school working with the students that come from the community I grew up in.”
-- Estefany Montoya Fuentes, DMLK
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Top 5 Callout: What Do You Love about Your Team? |
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Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so let's spread some ❤️! Tell us what you love about your team through this form, and your submission may be featured in next week’s edition!
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Prioritize Your Self-care this Month |
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Throughout the month of February, the Culture, Equity and Leadership Team is offering brief sessions designed to give you time and space to prioritize your self-care. All sessions will be held virtually from 4-4:30 p.m., and are open to all members of Team DPS.
Sessions include:
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Mindfulness and Meditation: Thursday, Feb. 3
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Self-Care Optimism Strategies: Tuesday, Feb. 8
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Office Physiology: Thursday, Feb. 10
- Radical Self-Care: TBD
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Know Your Benefits: Dependents and Your Health Insurance |
Do you have dependents who require coverage with your insurance health plan? We offer coverage for two types of dependents:
- Children (under 26 years old)
- Spouses, common law spouses, and civil union partners
- Note: Grandchildren, grandparents, divorcees, siblings and parents are not authorized dependents and will be removed from your health insurance.
When making your benefit selections for your family, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Deductibles: Family deductibles do not change based on the number of dependents on your plan.
- Individual vs Family Maximums: Individual maximums count toward your family maximum.
- Double check that your pediatrician and primary care provider are in network.
Need to access specific details about your current health insurance plan? Visit the Medical Insurance page on The Commons > Additional Resources > select the plan summary for your plan.
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Sign Up for the YOU Revolution Program by Feb. 11 |
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Are you ready to kick start a healthy lifestyle? Sign up for the eight-week YOU Revolution Program, exclusively for Team DPS! YOU Revolution has been a successful class offered to DPS employees for over five years by Michelle Zellner, the founder of Better Beings. This program includes weekly, small-group health education classes and one-on-one support with Michelle.
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
This program is free and has virtual sessions once a week on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning March 1. Click here to secure your spot by Feb. 11 (only 75 spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.) Questions? Email the Wellness Team.
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Kalyn McGinnis
STL and Interventionist,
Carson Elementary
Equity and Collaboration
"Kalyn McGinnis is a strong leader at Carson Elementary! She embodies DPS' Shared Core Value of Equity by advocating for every student's need in the building. She also champions to reduce race and gender barriers to learning while establishing an inclusive environment for all staff and students. Kalyn is an incredible, collaborative person. She is always willing to listen with an open mind and heart while encouraging others to stay resilient in the face of adversity. I hope everyone on Team DPS has the chance to meet Kalyn because she is a shining light. Thank you, Kalyn, for everything you do and more!"
-- Joelle Hernandez, Carson
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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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