March 24, 2022
Top 5: Spring Favorites
Spring has sprung, and it's time to start enjoying all this season has to offer! Thank you to the team members who shared their favorite parts of spring. Check out the Top 5 below:
5. “My favorite spring activity is Spring Break!” -- Jessica Hernandez, Green Valley Elementary
4. "The best part of spring is the end-of-year celebrations. I love seeing and sharing photos of DPS proms, continuations and graduations!" -- Selena Nakamura, Communications
3. “Baseball! What is better on a gorgeous spring afternoon? Proud of my junior, Leo, for being the starting pitcher at his new school.” -- Shelley Boberschmidt, College View Elementary
2. “About two years ago my sister and I planted about 300 spring bulbs. One of my favorite things about spring is watching them pop back up. It was such a pain planting them, but now we get to just enjoy them for years to come.”-- Kate Antea, Nursing
1. “I moved from the Savannah, Georgia area to teach for DPS in 2019. One of my favorite spring traditions is participating in Savannah's huge St. Patrick's Day celebration. After missing out the last two years, I was finally able to enjoy Denver's parade. It wasn't quite as large as the celebration I'm used to, but there were significantly more Jeeps and Star Wars characters than in Savannah's parade! Denver feels a little more like home now!” -- Tara Crewe, Denison Montessori
Upcoming Lunchtime Webinar: Strategies for Connecting with Youth
Spend your lunch hour with the DPS Behavior Strategies Team and the Prevention Services Team for their monthly Lunchtime Learning Webinar Series at noon on April 6. During the session, experts from our teams will provide parents and other trusted adults with strategies that they can use to connect with the youth in their lives. Register here.

Can’t make this webinar? Webinar recordings are available here to watch later.
Know your Benefits: Important Key Terms
Be prepared to enroll or waive benefits during Open Enrollment (April 18-May 6) by visiting The Commons for virtual resources, one-on-one support, the Benefits Guide (available in English and Spanish) and more! 

As you prepare for Open Enrollment, here are some important key terms:

  • Deductible: The amount you pay for covered health services before your insurance starts to pay.

  • Out-of-Pocket Maximum: The most you can pay for covered health services in one plan year.

  • Benefit Credit: The amount that DPS contributes toward your health insurance premiums.

  • Premium: The amount you pay per month for health insurance.

As a reminder, every benefits-eligible employee must enroll or waive benefits during Open Enrollment, regardless of what they elected last year. Employees who do not take action will be auto-enrolled in the lowest cost Aetna plan (employee only, post-tax with an HSA.)
Get Your Tickets to the 2022 DPS Foundation Achieve Gala
The Achieve Gala is the Denver Public Schools Foundation’s annual fundraiser, generating nearly $1 million each year to support the more than 90,000 students in DPS. This event boasts more student participation than any other event of its kind, with a student emcee who will also be performing a comedy skit, inspiring student speakers, student entertainment groups and a cheer team performance! Help us cheer on DPS students together!

Join us Thursday, April 14 for a 5:30 p.m. reception with dinner and program at 7 p.m. Find more information and buy tickets here.
Living Our DPS Honoree
Irving Garcia
Custodian, Traylor Academy
Integrity

"Our school has been very short staffed this year and the upstairs classrooms have been the ones that have missed out on regular cleaning. Irving is always there every morning, and if I need anything, he will take care of it in a timely manner and with a smile. Aside from doing a good job, Irving is one of the most positive people I encounter every day. Greeting him every morning always brings a smile to my face. I appreciate Irving for his positive attitude, his follow-through and commitment to his job and for setting an example of how to build a positive school culture. He shows up every day with a positive attitude, he is kind to our students and he keeps our school clean."

-- Marnie Gonzalez and Josefina Garcia, Traylor
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