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SUBJECT: Week In Review - November 13-17, 2023
November 17, 2023
It’s hard to believe we are already coming up on Thanksgiving Break - where is the time going? I am so incredibly grateful for our students, staff, families and community. And I want to say thank you again to our community for choosing to invest in our teachers and staff by voting yes on 5A - a $66 million Mill Levy Override. Our employees have already received statements outlining what their new compensation will be and they are over the moon. Watch this compilation video from some of our teachers and staff where they thank our community and talk about what the passage of 5A means to them.
Of course, the fact that 5B - our $484 million Bond did not pass means we do have some challenges to overcome. However, we are committed to continuing to educate our community about the need for Bond funding. In the meantime, DCSD will use reserves and available resources for emergency capital needs and will do everything possible to provide our students and staff with comfortable and safe buildings to learn and work. We will work with our community to find creative solutions to overcrowded schools in areas where neighborhoods are quickly growing. We have work to do and we are thankful for our engaged community and will be coming to you for feedback on solutions in the coming year.
Douglas County is such an amazing place to work and live and I am absolutely humbled and honored to serve as your Superintendent.
I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you are able to spend it with family, friends and other loved ones. It’s an amazing time to reflect on all we have to be grateful for in this incredible community. We can’t wait to see our students and staff back on Monday, November 27.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
Erin Kane
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND DCSD
Highlands Ranch High School’s Keri Stuebinger Named Colorado Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year
Congratulations Keri Stuebinger on being named the 2024 Colorado Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Boards. This is a huge honor! More information about this award will be coming out from CASE in the near future. Way to go Keri!
Tornado Creates a New Outdoor Learning Space at Sand Creek Elementary
After a tornado hit the area last June, Sand Creek Elementary School’s principal Pam Pekarek and Occupational Therapist Michelle Rudolf decided to turn tree stumps into an outdoor learning space. At the start of the school year, Sand Creek had 24 stumps for the outdoor learning area. Michelle requested a few more tree stumps on social media and a business responded, with Lee's Trees delivering five more to the school. The tree stumps are covered with felt cushions and plastic in case the stumps are wet or dirty. The space quickly became a hit with teachers and students. Read more. >>
Summit View Elementary Recognized for Inclusive Efforts
Congratulations to Brittany Kinder, Professional Learning Specialist and Amber Reynolds, Physical Education Teacher at Summit View Elementary. Brittany and Amber were nominated as Best Buddies Champions of the Year for their inclusion efforts. Amber and Brittany were celebrated and recognized at the Best Buddies Gala on November 11th. With the support of so many staff and students, Summit View Elementary’s inclusive efforts resulted in the school being recognized as a Colorado Chapter of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year. Best Buddies empowers the special abilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. Read more about Brittany and Amber’s nomination.
Share Your School’s Good News!
We will continue to send these celebratory emails out each week. If we missed a celebration or you have good news to share, please submit it here.
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR PARENTS
Mental Health Resource
Holiday Break Mental Health Resources
Below is a list of resources, should you have a concern that a loved one (or yourself) may be experiencing behavioral changes, mood swings, depression, or suicidal thoughts over the holiday break.
Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others
Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Literacy
Parent University: The Importance of Literacy in Early Childhood Development
Hosted by Douglas County School District and Sky Ridge Medical Center
Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual/Webinar
Hear from DCSD's Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment to learn why Literacy is so important in Early Child Development. In this webinar, presenters will discuss developmental stages of early literacy, along with strategies for supporting oral language and early literacy. Register for the webinar here.
EVENTS
Venture Academy of Entrepreneurship and Leadership (VALE) Information Nights
Thursday, November 16 and Tuesday, December 12 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
VALE, 15653 Brookstone Drive Parker
Step inside and discover the gifts of Douglas County School District’s newest high school. www.vale.dcsdk12.org.
Community Input Session: Special Education Programming at Leman Academy
Hosted by the DCSD Special Education Department
Tuesday, November 28 | 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Virtual/Webinar
Click here to RSVP in order to receive the webinar link.
2023 Computer Science Expo
Hosted by Mountain Vista HS Engineering and Computer Science Department, Coding Club, and Cybersecurity Club
Tuesday, December 5 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Mountain Vista High School, Room U213 and U214
10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Douglas County Gifted Advisory Council Seeks Members
The Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council (DCGEAC) is seeking members with a variety of backgrounds and expertise. If you are a parent/guardian of a student identified for gifted services OR a high school student who has been identified as gifted, please consider joining us DCGEAC by completing the DCGEAC Self Nomination Form. DCGEAC meets quarterly throughout the year.
Please see additional information on the flIer:
Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council
Join the DCSD Family
DCSD is hiring for a variety of positions, including bus drivers, transportation assistants, educational assistants, BASE workers, kitchen assistants, building engineers, security dispatchers, grounds and maintenance and so much more. Learn more and apply today at www.dcsdk12.org/careers.