This briefing will be sent every day to all employees as we work our way through the next few weeks. Please review this briefing and both the
internal COVID-19 webpage
and the
external COVID-19 webpage
for additional information. We are also publishing FAQs for families and staff on these pages as questions arise. If you still have an unanswered question, speak to your supervisor first, and if you still can’t find the answer, please email
COVID19jps@jeffco.k12.co.us
. We are trying to answer all questions through these three resources and hope that our employees will find them helpful.
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At-Risk Student Supports
If you encounter students/families who may be experiencing homelessness and require additional support, please contact
Naomi.Xayavongsa@jeffco.k12.co.us
. Naomi is Jeffco’s Coordinator of Community and Family Connections/ McKinney-Vento.
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Internet Hot Spots Update
Jeffco IT had a very limited number (less than 200) of mobile hotspots available for Phase I distribution. Forty-six schools had put in requests for 372 devices for students and 40 devices for staff. We prioritized distribution for free and reduced lunch students from the requests we received; 23 schools received the full number they requested, 8 received partial fulfillment, and 15 did not receive any.
Jeffco has ordered 300 more hotspots that have an estimated delivery date of April 2. However, due to a nation-wide shortage of these devices, we do not know when or even if we will receive them. You may submit a request for hotspots (if you haven’t already) or for more if you find you may need more, should they become available. In the meantime, please continue to point your families to the resources we have published for
low-cost and free internet access
. We will continue to add to this page as we hear of more options that are available.
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Teachers Connecting Across the District
Yesterday was an exciting day to see teachers and students connecting across the district. We also want to be sure that your teachers are aware that they can connect with other teachers, central-based TOSAs, and other district teams, to share resources, ask questions, and receive timely support. We are using grade-level, content, and role-based Schoology groups as a way to connect during remote learning.
Linked here
is a list of most Schoology groups if you'd like to share with your staff. Let us know what you need, we're all in this together.
EdTech Team.
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Jeffco Public Schools Employee Assistance Program is open year round, and professional EAP counselors are available to support employees. This is a free, confidential counseling/consultation service for employees and their household family members age 15 and older. Please
visit our website
for a wide-variety of resources:
or call 303-982-0377 for a confidential appointment.
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Trending FAQ’s: DID YOU KNOW?
… that you can donate to Jeffco families in need during this time?
… that there is a protocol for staff if they bring their child to school right now?
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Staff Members' Children in Buildings
Due to facilities work including construction, cleaning/maintenance of the school site, and the lack of supervision for children in buildings, bringing your child to school is discouraged for the safety of students and staff. However, we recognize that staff may need to bring their own child because of individual circumstances. If this need arises, the child must be in close proximity and under the supervision of the staff member at all times. In order to follow best-practices related to social distancing and to help control the spread of COVID-19, children in the school should not be allowed to play or co-mingle together. No staff members should come to school or bring students if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
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Values Awards Update
The Values Awards recognition event has been cancelled. However, we still want to identify and recognize our exceptional employees!
- Please continue to submit winners as you are able (for both Values Awards and Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards).
- The submission form will not be available to those working from home without VPN access.
- The submission form will remain open until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and everyone is back in their buildings. At that time, we will communicate a new closing date.
- Following the new closing date, the winners will receive their certificate, gift, and recognition.
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Special Education
The Special Education Assistive Technology Team (ATAT) is available to support questions regarding assistive technology support for students with disabilities. Case managers are set up in the following regions:
Special Education Coaches are available to support you remotely to discuss instructional strategies, accessibility, accommodations, and progress monitoring in an online environment via Schoology Group (Code: 63PJ-NTX6-BJ3SZ) and by email. You can expect answers within 24 hours. For more information please visit the
Special Education Instructional Coach's page
.
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Budgeting Tool
Principals and Department Leads – Hyperion budgeting tool will close at 4pm on Friday March 20th. This budget will be incorporated into the Proposed Budget to go to the Board of Education in early May. If you are struggling to access and/or complete please reach out directly to your budget analyst for support.
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Title I Principals
During this time of uncertainty, we appreciate the difficult work you are doing to best support our families. We have heard from several Title I principals that at this time, FELs are a critical connection for families to school and community resources, especially given quickly changing information. Because of this,
Title I FELs are approved to “return to work”
at your discretion starting immediately
. Some schools have asked their FELs to work already. If your school hasn’t, then please be aware that FELs are approved to work, if principals need them.
Per the recent JESPA MOU, FELs who choose to return to work will be paid time and a half. Title I will continue to pay at their current rate and the remaining .5 salary will come from district funds, not school funds.
Read more
.
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School Counselors - Google Classroom
If you haven’t already, please join the
Jeffco School Counselor Google Classroo
m
. The access code is
l5uz5fu
. Directions:
Click this link
or type Google Classroom in your search engine. The second option will likely be Google Classroom. Click that link and select the + sign to the right of your screen and select Join class. You will be prompted to add the following class code:
l5uz5fu
- Here is the start of a resource guide. This provides specific support that will help you in your transition to a virtual platform.
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SELS
We have created a document,
The SELS Daily
,
as a platform to communicate with you on a daily basis and as a means for you to have an archived copy of these communications at your fingertips. We currently have a goal to hold an All SELS virtual meeting on March 30th. Please understand that this goal is subject to change as information and guidance changes daily. Please remember we are here for you -we will continue to reach out, stay connected, and over communicate.
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Mental Health Tip from EAP - Coping With Workplace Uncertainty
Our workplace in Jeffco Public Schools has been moving into many unknowns and challenges we need to adapt to daily. We suddenly are required to accommodate working remotely, limiting meetings and other gatherings, and reducing time in our schools and offices. This means we have to think creatively and promote resourcefulness rather than relying on past solutions. For many of us, these challenges can lead to stress and anxiety, as we don’t have our usual connections. This brief time in our lives may also be an opportunity to build our resiliency. Here are some considerations to boost your resiliency at work during the coming weeks.
Read the entire article
.
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Meal Service Update
There is forecasted inclement weather starting Thursday March 18 and continuing to Friday March 19. Students and families may pick up double meals on Thursday March 18 in anticipation of possibly having to close sites on Friday. More information on possible Friday closures will be provided tomorrow.
Grab and Go meals are available at no cost to all children ages 18 and under at the following locations for
Breakfast (8:00-9:00am) and Lunch (11:30am-12:30pm)
- Alameda High School - New 3/19
- Arvada K-8
- Colorow
- Edgewater
- Foothills
- Lasley
- Parr
- Wayne Carle - New 3/19
- Welchester - New 3/19
- West Jefferson Elementary
- Wheat Ridge High School - New 3/19
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