Our DPS Weekly: DPS ❤️ Teachers!

May 7, 2021

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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Dear Team DPS,

This week marks National Teacher Appreciation Week, and there has never been a better time to say a big THANK YOU to all of our educators!

Our teachers have always gone above and beyond for our kids, and that’s never been more noticeable or more meaningful than this year. In these times like never before, our teachers have responded for our kids and our community with resilience, adaptability and compassion. And with so much change and fear all around, they have been a constant, supportive presence in our students’ lives.

Don’t take it from me -- this Teacher Appreciation Week, we received more shout-outs for teachers from our students than ever before, each one casting another ripple in the ocean of gratitude we have for our teachers. Here are just a handful of these heartfelt words of thanks:

“I love my teacher because he has always helped me

and always has been kind no matter what.”

-- Jorge Olivas, 8th grader at Hamilton Middle School; teacher Eric Lund

“A teacher is a person who values your growth and education

and pushes to have a strong connection with you.”

-- Spencer Knoll, 10th grader at Denver School of the Arts; teacher Cameron Hays

“My teacher has taught me to be more open

and to make sure that I feel open enough to let people in.”

-- Yareli Lozano, CEC Early College; teacher Louis Montoya

“My teacher has inspired me to become an aerospace engineer because she proved to me that I can keep pushing even when it gets hard.”

-- Jaasiel, 11th grader at Northeast Early College; teacher Anamaria Criste

“I love my teacher because she helps me when I need it

and she makes school so much fun!”

-- Imogen Fulford, 1st grader at Teller Elementary; teacher Beth Horowitz

“My teacher has taught me that having an encouraging, positive and ambitious attitude matters more than anything else.

Even during this tough time period when students feel isolated, the world around us is crazy, and Ms. Peterca's dog passed away, she still manages to come to class.”

-- Zoe Smith-Holladay, 11th grader at Denver School of the Arts;

teacher Tess Peterca

We also know that behind every great teacher is a supportive school leader. With National School Principal’s Day on May 1, we also wanted to extend a tremendous thank-you to our dedicated leaders at the helm of each school, who are always there for our educators, students and families. Our school leaders are the glue that holds our school communities together, especially through these difficult times. Thank you for all you do!

See more of the DPS Teacher Appreciation celebrations at teacherappreciation.dpsk12.org, including this video highlighting some of our amazing educators, and the winners of our random giveaways, including a $5,000 grant for innovation in the classroom to Melanie Rios at West Leadership Academy!

To our teachers -- thank you. Thank you for giving the best you can each day for our students. Thank you for being a supportive adult in their lives. Thank you for helping build a brighter future, for our students and our entire community.

Teacher Appreciation may be, officially, only one week out of the year, but please know what you do today, and every day, is deeply appreciated and makes a real difference in the lives of our children and the strength of our community.

Sincerely,

Dwight Jones

Interim Superintendent

Planning Return for Fall: In-person Learning and Remote Learning Program Available

DPS is planning for a return to full-time in-person learning in the fall. This means all students would be able to attend school in person at their assigned school every day for the 2021-22 school year.

This plan is dependent on health conditions and guidance from our health partners, but we remain optimistic our schools will be back to full strength next year. To help make this a reality, we are strongly encouraging all staff, families and students who are eligible to get vaccinated before the fall return.

Families whose students will be returning to full-time in-person learning next year do not need to take any action, and their students will automatically be enrolled in in-person learning at their assigned school.

Families who would like to enroll their student in the remote learning program for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year should complete the Learning Option Selection form on the Parent Portal between May 10 and June 4. They can also call their current school’s front office to complete a paper form or complete the process over the phone during this window. (There will only be an in-person option for ECE students.)

Note that in many cases, remote learning may present particular challenges for students with disabilities. For students with IEPs and 504 Plans, the district will need to work with families individually to determine if the remote learning program is the right option for their student.

If families have questions, they can call the DPS Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Helpline at 720-423-3054, or email FACEHelpline@dpsk12.org.

DPS Superintendent Search: Finalists Announced

As the DPS Board of Education shared, we have now entered the finalist stage in the superintendent search process and are collecting interview question ideas from all DPS stakeholders. We hope that staff, families and community members take advantage of the opportunities to participate and that DPS team members will communicate the importance of this step with their teams. Visit the Superintendent Search website to submit your interview questions, see interview dates, and read more information about each finalist.

Touchdown for Teachers!

The Denver Broncos, in partnership with Delta Dental of Colorado, launched a program called Touchdown for Teachers that recognizes local MVTs (Most Valuable Teachers). Thank you to everyone who nominated one of our educators! We are excited to share that seven DPS teachers were honored for outstanding service to their schools and communities:

Kerry Dehning, Johnson Elementary
Stacey Hervey, CEC Early College High School
Julia Jones, Denver Discovery School
William Kocher, Northfield High School
Paulina Lerma, Green Valley Elementary
Morgan Mendez, John F. Kennedy High School
Lucy Roberts, Manual High School

Read more about the Touchdown for Teachers program here!

Class of 2021: Submit Your Story to The Denver Post

The Denver Post is looking for stories from Class of 2021 graduates on how the pandemic has shaped this past school year, as well as plans for the future. Graduating seniors are encouraged to share their experiences, both the challenges and the triumphs, of their final year. Students who are interested in contributing can fill out this form. Note: Any information shared may be published in The Denver Post.

Submit to The Denver Post

Share Student Work and Art for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Throughout the month of May, we will be joining in local and national celebrations of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We want to feature how our students are learning about, connecting with, interpreting and celebrating this cultural moment through their writing, artwork, music, photos and videos. We’ll share submissions on our website and social media channels at the end of the month. Submitted content may be screened for a focus on highlighting the moment and grounding in our vision of equity, inclusion and belonging for all students and community. Please email your submissions to DPSEquity@dpsk12.org by May 21 for consideration.

Join the MLE DAC Meeting on May 12

DPS invites all our English Language Acquisition (ELA) families to a virtual Multilingual Education Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting on Wednesday, May 12, from 5-6:30 p.m.

At this session, you will receive important information about:

Fitness and how it impacts the health and well-being of our students. We will share some important tips and tricks on how to make fitness fun and engaging!
Want to improve your student’s grades? Join us to learn more about credit recovery and the courses available during the summer.
What is it to paint a picture with words? Learn from our DPS Spellbinders storytellers. Oral storytelling enhances literacy, encourages character development, and builds intergenerational communities.

communications@dpsk12.org

www.dpsk12.org

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