Opportunities to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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Dear Educators,
While classes are not in session on Monday, Jan. 15, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this day offers us time and opportunity to reflect on Dr. King's tremendous impact both individually and collectively. On this day, I recall the following passage authored by Dr. King in 1963 in a call to action through his Letter From a Birmingham Jail:
“In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be...This is the inter-related structure of reality.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
By participating in activities honoring Dr. King's legacy, we recognize his contribution to equality and justice. Engaging in community activities not only celebrates his impact but also reinforces the idea that the holiday is a symbolic day, not a day of rest, emphasizing service and commitment to positive change. This celebration, and how we choose to engage, sets the tone for the generations to come and sets them on the path to living in a society where social justice and equality are a destiny realized, not a dream deferred.
Below are some upcoming events and community opportunities that you and your students can participate in:
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City of Denver events: View all Denver events and activities for January.
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Building Trust Summit: The Department of Justice is hosting the summit on Friday, Jan. 12.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 40th Annual Marade: Please join us on Monday, Jan. 15 at 9:30 a.m. for the two-mile (Marade) walk. We will meet at the MLK statue in City Park at 9 a.m. Sign-up here. The first 20 volunteers will receive a 40th Anniversary commemorative t-shirt! We will meet at the MLK statue in City Park at 9 a.m. Look for DPS signage and feel free to bring your family and friends. If you have questions, please contact Angela Faison.
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Volunteer at the Marade: Two groups of volunteers are needed for the (1) human barrier chain (Marshal Training) or (2) face painting and water distribution:
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Marshal Training (human barrier chain): Saturday, Jan. 13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Stout Street Foundation (7251 E. 49th Ave. Commerce City 80222). Lunch will be provided. Marshal training is only offered in person.
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Virtual Training for all other volunteers: Saturday, Jan. 13 from 6-7 p.m. Email Mindi Onwuegbu if you have questions.
We would love to see Team DPS represented and celebrating around the Denver metro area. Email Mindi Onwuegbu if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Dr. Tony Smith
Deputy Superintendent
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This Week's Top 5 Things to Know |
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CollaboRATE Closes Friday, Jan. 12 |
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CollaboRATE closes this Friday, Jan. 12. The CollaboRATE survey is one of the most important tools that you can use to provide your leader, team and DPS as a whole with confidential feedback.
You should have received an email from K12 Insights, with your unique link to the survey, on Tuesday, Jan. 2. If you did not receive the survey link from K12, please email surveys@dpsk12.net.
Please complete the survey as soon as possible. The survey takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. There will be prizes for the schools and departments with the highest completion rate when the survey closes on Jan. 12. For more information, visit the CollaboRATE page on The Commons.
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Now Hiring: AEA Teachers, Affinity Community Partners and Other Support Roles |
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The Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA) is a cultural summer program that highlights the experiences of Black/African-American, Latinx, Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Native American/Indigenous families, students and educators. The program serves as a district initiative to support and encourage the development of students of marginalized identities. All incoming ninth- through 11th-graders are welcome to apply.
Are you a knowledgeable, passionate and culturally responsive educator? Are you skilled at safely supporting young adult learners through racial, ethnic and/or culture-based conversations? Are you intentionally collaborative and a lifelong learner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, learn more about an AEA teaching, community partner or support role here and apply by Friday, Jan. 12.
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Share Free SAT Prep Program with 11th-Graders |
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Empower your 11th-grade students with our free eight-week SAT prep program! Led by live, expert teachers, this virtual program aims to elevate SAT scores and enhance college admission prospects. Access this toolkit to share more information with your students and families. Registration is open Jan. 8-19 for sessions happening Jan. 29-March 23 and Feb. 5-April 5. Visit the registration page for more information.
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Student Perception Surveys: Second Administration Opt-In |
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The second round of Student Perception Surveys will run Feb 1-23. Teachers who have results from the fall can decide whether or not to opt-in. Fall results can be found in the LEAP Application Tool under the SPS tab. Please use this link to opt-in. SALs will also send the link. The deadline to opt in is Friday, Jan. 26. Teachers who do not have data from the fall (on leave, late hire, insufficient students available to survey) will automatically be included in the February administration. Note: For opt-ins, all results from the February administration are aggregated with fall results. If you have questions, email LEAP@dpsk12.org.
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RSVP to the Second Annual Black Student Alliance District Banquet |
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Black Student Alliance (BSA) clubs are invited to attend our Second Annual Black Student Alliance Banquet. We will celebrate outstanding student performances and accomplishments by presenting honorary awards in various categories. The banquet will be held on Feb. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Tivoli Auraria. The event is free to attendees. Transportation will be provided by filling out the request form. This year's theme is, "African Americans and the Arts." We would love for your school and club to be represented! Free swag will also be handed out.
Step 1: Please complete this interest form (if you haven't already).
Step 2. Select your students who will receive awards using this form.
Step 3. We will send you a Google Sheet to add students or sponsors who are attending
If you have questions about the event, please contact Paulina Lerma.
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Additional Resources and Information |
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Additional resources and opportunities can be found here. |
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- Centrally-led Professional Development Day is Feb. 16
- Generation Teach Leadership Academy
- Happy New Year from the Ombuds Office
- Transformative Social Emotional Learning (tSEL)
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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.
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