Lauren Kottenstette in AR&D turned her patio into an ice castle after the blizzard.
Check out more blizzard pics in the Top 5!
|
|
|
|
Gearing Up for Open Enrollment: What You Need to Know about HSAs and FSAs
|
|
|
|
Did you know DPS’ medical plans come with optional Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)? Each account saves money on a pre-tax basis and can be applied to eligible medical related expenses.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
HSAs act like personal savings accounts. Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), they have no annual roll-over caps and they stay with you if you leave DPS. DPS contributes $27.92 per paycheck ($670 annually) to employees’ HSA accounts, and employees can make additional contributions up to the maximum yearly amount. Note: HSAs are only available with high-deductible medical plans. Learn more and compare to the FSA.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
FSAs are benefit-spending accounts that help you pay less in taxes for eligible medical expenses. This account works best when you have planned expenses during the medical plan year (July through June). FSAs have annual roll-over caps, and you must spend your funds by Sept. 1 or risk losing them. Unlike the HSA, this account is available for any medical coverage plan. Learn more and compare to the HSA.
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment -- happening April 19-May 7 -- is the one time each year that employees can make changes to their benefits without a qualifying life event (marriage, birth of a child, etc). All benefits-eligible employees must take action by enrolling or waiving their benefits. Get prepared now to make your benefit selections by visiting the Open Enrollment page on The Commons.
|
|
|
|
CollaboRATE Leadership Feedback Portion Launching April 5
|
|
|
|
The engagement portion of CollaboRATE, DPS’ all-employee survey, closed last month -- and we heard from 66% of team members who shared their voice and provided feedback on DPS as an organization. Thank you for your support! We will share more about the findings soon.
Looking ahead, we are getting ready to launch the leadership-feedback portion of the survey starting April 5. Please make time to complete this important portion of the survey. We know this has been a unique and challenging year. We ask that everyone keep in mind these challenges, and our crisis priorities and the equity cornerstone as you complete the survey. This is an opportunity for team members to identify celebrations and lessons learned from this past year.
|
|
|
|
In the spirit of our Shared Core Value, it was Fun to see how team members got creative in the snow from last week's blizzard. Thank you to everyone who shared photos of how they spent their snow day. See more in the blizzard pics photo gallery here.
|
|
|
|
5. “Anyone can build a snowman so I made a tribute to the statues of Easter Island.”
-- Rebecca Sposato, Nursing
|
|
4. “This is a snow pile comparison of me after the blizzard in March 2003 and my four-year-old daughter after our recent storm. She initially resisted my request for her to sit on the snow pile near the mailbox but she thought seeing the pictures side by side was really fun!” -- Liz McLauthlin, HR
|
|
|
|
3. “Being six and a half months pregnant doesn't stop me from playing in the snow! Created a snow family with a little baby snowperson on the way. It was a fun little announcement to any other friends or family who have not yet heard the news.”
-- Samantha Terry Southwell, Marrama
|
|
2. “Chillin’ (literally) and grillin’. What better way to beat the blizzard than with a nice juicy steak! Two feet of snow can’t keep us from a nice steak dinner!”
-- Michelle Morales, Stephen Knight Center for Early Education
|
|
|
|
1. “Hallett Academy has a very small parking lot, so most of our team members park around the neighborhood. Here is a TikTok video of my team supporting each other by digging and pushing cars that got stuck parking on the street. This was the best impromptu team building exercise. Way to go, HAWKS!” -- Julia Scott, Hallett Academy
|
|
|
|
DPS Transitioning from Infor
|
|
|
|
DPS will be transitioning from InforLawson to a new, cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system over the next two years. This shift -- led by the At Your Service (AYS) Project Team within HR, Finance, and DoTS -- is focused on putting people at the center of Human Resources and Finance Services, while optimizing operational and technical functions. Modernization of our ERP system will improve efficiency, deliver an intuitive user experience, increase system reliability and support DPS as an equitable, data-driven organization.
This transition will have an impact on work across the district, and the AYS Project Team will provide training and support for teams along the way. More information, including timelines and engagement opportunities, will be shared soon.
|
|
|
|
Voices of the Vaccine: Ilse Mijares
|
|
|
|
"I have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and I am incredibly grateful that DPS made this a priority and gave us multiple avenues for getting vaccinated. I lost a dear friend to COVID, and I almost lost one of my aunts who was hospitalized for nearly a month. Some of my family members and friends are recovering from the post-COVID symptoms and others must live with permanent organ damage.
Being fully vaccinated brings me peace of mind and a sense of freedom as I continue to take all necessary precautions to stay and keep others safe. Being vaccinated means that I will soon be able to visit and hug family and friends. It means that I am taking action to stop the spread." -- Ilse Mijares, West Early College
|
|
|
|
You’re Invited to DPS Foundation's Films for the Future Event
|
|
|
|
Join DPS Foundation for Films for the Future: Raising the Curtain on the Need to Listen Attentively. A virtual screening of the narrative film “Listen” will be available to stream from April 7-13, then on April 14 we will gather virtually at 5 p.m. for an hourlong interactive discussion led by filmmaker, Erahm Christopher. The discussion will give us a deeper understanding of youth mental health challenges and tangible solutions to help address social emotional needs in the community. Space is limited to ensure quality interactive discussions give the audience valuable takeaways.
|
|
|
|
Nominate a Teacher for the Schomp Automotive Teacher of the Year Program
|
|
|
|
This year, Schomp Automotive is expanding their annual Teacher of the Year program to include all Schomp dealerships in Colorado and surrounding school districts in the Denver Metro area.
One deserving teacher will win a three-year lease on a new car of their choice, with a maximum value of $500 per month! They'll also receive complimentary maintenance for the duration of the lease, and Schomp will make a $5,000 donation to the charity or scholastic program of the teacher's choice. Click here to learn more and nominate an educator by March 26.
|
|
|
|
Sign up for an Introduction to Medicare Seminar
|
|
|
|
Are you getting ready to retire? Or are you turning 65 and exploring your Medicare options? Join Kaiser Permanente for a free, informational webinar just for DPS employees to learn more about Medicare and the retiree health care insurance offered through PERA. We will discuss the basics of Medicare, as well as changes to the retiree coverage for 2021.
Available sessions:
|
|
|
|
Fatuma Ali
School Crossing Guard, College View
Accountability
"Fatuma has been a crossing guard for our school community for seven years. She has had several children attend College View from ECE through fifth-grade. This year, even though her daughter is attending school virtually, she comes to school (rain, shine or snow) for arrival and dismissal to ensure our students, families and community members are safe. Thanks for your dedication, Fatuma!" -- Joey Denoncourt, College View
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|