Nov. 14, 2024
Celebrating National School Psychology Week
This week, schools across the country celebrated National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the important work of school psychologists in helping students succeed. In DPS, more than 200 licensed school psychologists and graduate students support student success through both big-picture efforts and one-on-one services.
School psychologists work on prevention and intervention at all levels and lead mental health screening efforts like the BESS. They assess, support and consult on special education evaluations, especially in areas like cognitive assessments. They also mentor new school psychologists and supervise graduate students, guiding the next generation of providers.
Our school psychologists are not only leaders in our schools -- they also share their expertise by presenting at state and national conferences and serving on the board of the Colorado Society of School Psychologists. Thank you for your hard work and incredible contributions to our colleagues, students, families and the Denver community.
Check out some of the amazing school psychologists recognitions below!
Top 5 Call Out Results: School Psychologist
Last week, we asked you to submit shout outs for school psychologists in your buildings and you delivered! Check out our top 5 shout outs below and see each submission here.
5.“Northfield could not have gotten luckier when Alec Trussell made her way to us. Alec continues to find data-driven solutions to complex problems and excels at putting equity and our students first, ensuring they get the best supports possible. We love you, Alec!”
-- Northfield High School
4.“Lauren Lyon is an impeccable school psychologist who manages to support the social and emotional needs of all the students at Denver Montessori. She carried the IEP program and was the only provider in the school for almost two years during a SPED teacher shortage. She maintains a calm and positive vibe despite the many stressors that come her way. We wouldn't be surviving without you, Lauren!” -- Denver Montessori Middle School
3.“I would love to call out our school psychologist, Jaclyn Terrell! She always supports our students and has been so on top of our 504 plans, not letting any student slip through the cracks. She does all this while mentoring her grad school intern, making sure she gets the best education possible. Thank you, Jaclyn, for your hard work and passion. You make all the educators around you that much better all the time!” -- Lena Aaron, Denver Justice High School
2.“Happy School Psychologist Week to the one and only, Hana Vujeva! The Slavens community is incredibly grateful for the wealth of knowledge, creativity and positivity she brings to everything she does. Hana’s unwavering support for students, families and colleagues, along with her willingness to jump into problem-solving discussions, makes a huge impact. She balances it all with grace, always going above and beyond, and her deep understanding of our kids and families is truly a gift. Thank you, Hana, for being an amazing collaborator, friend and all-around superstar!”
-- Tara Boersma, Slavens K-8
1.“Sabin World Elementary is so incredibly lucky to have Ms. Sara Pena as our school psychologist. She goes above and beyond every single day for our students, families and staff. She's always willing to collaborate, brainstorm and jump in to help and observe. Ms. Sara is an integral part of our wonderful SPED Team. She puts her heart and soul into her work, and it’s seen in our building and community. Ms. Sara also serves as a member of DPS' Latine Education Advisory Council (LEAC) Team and welcomes others to join in for meetings and events. She is a behavioral guru and I learn from her every single day. You're amazing, Ms. Sara!” -- Kira Romero, Sabin World Elementary
ICYMI: Upcoming Transition from Infor HR to Oracle
DPS is excited to announce the transition of all functions on Infor HR and Lawson to the cloud-based software, Oracle. To ensure a complete and seamless transition, some Human Resources and Payroll tasks will be temporarily unavailable to DPS employees in Infor HR in November and December. Although the last day to transact in Infor HR will be Tuesday, Nov. 26, some functions will stop being available before then! See the key dates calendar, information deck and printable flyer for more details.
For more information on the transition, visit the New Employee Space page on The Commons. If you have any questions, please speak with your supervisor, email HR_Connect@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-3900.
Older Apple Devices Losing DoTS Support
The Apple devices listed below will lose DoTS support at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Unsupported devices will not be able to install apps or be allowed on the network. Please work with your school or department to plan accordingly for a replacement device before Fall 2025.
If you need a quote or have questions, please contact DoTS at dotshelp.dpsk12.org.
Call Out: How Are You Giving Back This Thanksgiving Season?
Thanksgiving is around the corner! Spread the gift of giving thanks and let us know how you are giving back this November. If sign-ups are still open, please feel free to share the link with your submission to this form.
Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) 101: Requested Documents
Last year, the district received 527 public document/CORA requests. There is no limitation to what the public can request via CORA, but there are exemptions to what can be released. Student and personal information are not released to the general public. Other exemptions include draft documents, attorney advice, health information and copyrighted documents.
Frequently requested documents are:
Financial documents such as budgets, expenditures, and purchasing/bid documents.
Employee data such as rosters (name, position title, salary, etc), demographics and email addresses.
Student data, such as enrollment, demographics, discipline, etc.
Communications, such as emails, text messages, google chats, etc.
If you received a request for any document that is not publicly available online, direct the requester to the CORA website. If you have any questions, email CORA@dpsk12.org.
Resources for Teaching about Climate Change
The DPS Sustainability Department invites all teachers and admin to check out the CLEAN network, a resource hub of the best K-12 lessons about climate change for all content areas. Reach out if you have questions, would like to get involved or want to celebrate green initiatives at your school! Sign up for the Sustainability Department newsletter, a quarterly publication full of resources and updates on the DPS Climate Action Plan.
Celebrate Gratitude Week Nov. 18-22
Join us next week, Nov. 18-22, in celebrating a culture of gratitude and belonging by participating in the #DPSGratitudeChallenge. Expressing gratitude can make a meaningful difference for both the giver and receiver, strengthening bonds within our community. Take this opportunity to show your appreciation and share the spirit of gratitude. Capture your gratitude week activities with photos, videos or slideshows, and upload them for a chance to win a catered breakfast for your school or department! Use the Gratitude Bingo Cards to support your teams in Gratitude Week.
