Thursday, March 16, 2017
A student explores learning on an iPad at DCIS at Ford Elementary.
Don't Miss a Beat -- Update Your Contact Information Today
Everyone wants to be in-the-know -- and here's your opportunity to make sure you're staying updated on important DPS information coming your way. Open Enrollment -- the time when employees select, change or waive benefits coverage for the coming year -- is right around the corner (April 24-May 12) so there has never been a better time to make sure your information is up-to-date in Infor HR (formerly GHR). 

Make sure you're receiving Open Enrollment and other important information from DPS by updating your contact information -- including your home address, personal telephone number and personal email address -- in Infor HR today. This will help us:
  • Send you information about Open Enrollment and our benefits options
  • Send mailers and important tax documents (including your W2s) to your current home address and
  • Reach out by phone or email (only when it's necessary).
Follow these instructions and spend five minutes updating your information in Infor HR before March 27. If you have questions, call HR Connect at 720-423-3900.
Know a Great Team? Say 'Thanks' with a Nomination
Team DPS is made up of hundreds of small and mighty teams, each one working hard to accomplish goals and make a difference in the lives of our students. Recognize the teams you've seen making a difference for the Excellence in Team Award. These teams of three to 12 people are able to successfully achieve goals with impactful results while bringing the Shared Core Values to life.

Whether it's a school's grade-level team, departmental team, project team or cross-functional team, please take the time to recognize an amazing group of people you work with by submitting a nomination for the  Excellence in Team Award. See examples of past Excellence in Team honorees. Nominations are due Friday, March 24. Questions? Email [email protected].
Top 5 Callout: Kid Compliments
Recognition is in full swing, with Night of Honor nominations closing March 24. In the spirit of kudos, we want to hear the best compliment you've received from a kid -- one of your own, or one in the classroom. Kids certainly have a way with words, so send those kid compliments to [email protected]. We'll select the Top 5, and one lucky reader will win a prize!
Try These Tips for Managing Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs
Some surprises are fun. But out-of-the-blue health care costs? Not so much -- especially when you're sick or injured. To manage your out-of-pocket health care costs, take a look these options:
  • Supplemental Insurance: Employees who enroll in critical illness, accident and hospitalization insurance through Aflac are paid directly when they become sick, have an accident or are hospitalized.
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Employees who enroll in an HSA or FSA can set aside pre-tax dollars to help pay for health care expenses.  
  • Denver Teachers' Club Assistance Fund:  Founded in 1897, the Denver Teachers' Club offers DPS employees and their immediate family members access to free medical devices including wheelchairs, crutches and other equipment.
  • Sick Leave Bank (SLB): The SLB provides additional paid time off when an extended personal illness keeps you from working. This year, SLB enrollment will happen during Open Enrollment for benefits, April 24-May 12.
Check Out the New and Improved Infor HR Resources
The platform formerly known as GHR Talent Management -- now  Infor HR -- has been updated and is live, and it's ready for you to start clicking around. To make the most of the site, check out these resources available in Learning Space:
  • Step-by-Step User Guides: All Infor HR step-by-step guides have been updated to reflect the new look-and-feel of the system. Guides exist for common tasks such as: changing personal information, submitting education and more. Log in to Learning Space to access these new and improved resources. 
  • Intro to Infor HR Resources Webinars: This webinar will introduce the updated tools available and show you how to easily find and utilize the resources you need to complete tasks in Infor HR. Click here to register for an upcoming session. (Use your DPS username/password.)
  • Infor HR 101: An Introduction to Infor Human Resources: Click here to register for this self-paced eLearning. (Use your DPS username/password.)
Note: Teachers, guest teachers and temporary employees who do not have access to Learning Space can access these resources by  clicking here . Questions? Email [email protected] .
Year-End Finance and Purchasing Deadlines Are Approaching
It's that time of year again. Finance and purchasing deadlines are coming up as early as April 12. Check out the cut-off dates for accounting, budget, purchasing, accounts payable and warehouse transactions for the 2017 fiscal year.
Living Our DPS Honoree:
Michelle Rosen
Teacher, George Washington High School
Equity
 
"Michelle Rosen has worked as a history teacher and AVID teacher for many years at George Washington High School. She is a recognized leader in our school for students, teachers and administrators, and believes every student deserves access to a quality education. Ms. Rosen leads several clubs including AVID, Black Student Alliance and Expressions, and created two new courses -- Black Experience Today and Social Issues Today -- because she is passionate about Equity and saw a void in our curriculum. She has continued seeking her own advanced education in an effort to strengthen the content of these courses.
 
Ms. Rosen's students in AVID report that she builds a challenging and supportive environment in her classroom that they call a family. She works incredibly hard to support the social-emotional aspects of her students, collaborates with the school support staff and always pays attention to safety situations to help students receive appropriate resources. 
 
Ms. Rosen also runs the social committee at GWHS and puts a lot of passion into FUN!  This creates a positive culture for our teachers. She was the first teacher to welcome me to GW 10 years ago and became a leader first and foremost because of her passion for teaching!"

  -- Sarah Hartman, George Washington High School

Nominate one of your colleagues to be featured as a Living Our DPS honoree.
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Note: We send many DPS communications via this platform. Please do not unsubscribe from these messages or you will not receive future and important messages. If a specific message doesn't interest you, simply delete it and stay tuned for a future communication that will be of more interest. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].