March 4, 2003

Superintendent’s OfficePossible Anti-War ProtestsThe possibility exists for student walkouts tomorrow (Wednesday, March 5) in connection with nationally organized anti-war protests. Flyers encouraging a walkout have been seen in middle and high schools. Schools (principals, teachers, staff) should not condone or prohibit such events. Existing policies for unexcused absences should apply. If a large-scale walkout occurs in your school, you may need to work with the Security Office or Denver Police Department to ensure student safety on or off your school grounds. Please work with Area Superintendents to decide how to notify parents about individual students who walked out.

Teaching Controversial or Sensitive IssuesThe Board of Education Policy IMB covers teaching controversial or sensitive issues in the classroom. Both newspaper and television reporters have shown considerable interest in any potential violations of this policy especially as it pertains to the possible war in Iraq. Be sure your teachers and staff are aware that if they determine that discussions are appropriate to the curriculum, “the teacher and class shall:

1. Gather facts and opinions that represent various viewpoints on the question,2. Discuss the authority and reliability of facts and opinions, and3. Observe respect for every person who discusses any aspect of the issue.”

Teachers should recognize that freedom to deal with controversial issues is not license to propagandize, but rather an opportunity to stimulate discussion and improve students’ critical thinking skills so they can form their own opinions.

Curriculum and InstructionMiddle School Principals: Please distribute the attached information about middle school summer professional development opportunities to your science and mathematics teachers. NSF Engineering Our World —Ten spots are available; first come, first served.

Teachers must be assigned to teach mathematics or science at the middle school level or physical science in high school (usually taught to ninth grade students). The application must be submitted by close of business day on March 11.

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Teaching about Force, Motion, and Simple Machines —Fifteen spots are available; first come, first served. Science teachers in grades 4–12 are eligible. The application must be submitted by close of business day on March 18.

Elementary Principals: Please see the attached flyer regarding a free color printer for your school from Lexmark International.

Gifted and Talented Education All Option 3 elementary and middle schools need to spend the funds budgeted for

Gifted and Talented Education in 2002–2003 by March 31, 2003. If your school is an Option 3 school, please see the attachment.

Packets explaining elementary and middle school options for Gifted and Talented Education will be sent to schools this month as a part of the budget planning process for next year.

Each site of the magnet Highly Gifted Program needs to provide appropriate materials and supplies for the advanced learners in this program from resources provided to schools for per-pupil expenditures for the school as a whole.

Please call Barbara Neyrinck at 303-405-8273 if you have any questions or refer to the contacts listed in the attachment.

Human ResourcesNegotiations Preparation Discussion VideoA District-Union Negotiations Preparation Meeting was held on Friday, February 21, in the First Floor Board Room of the Administration Building. Representatives from district negotiations’ teams plus representatives from the various union/bargaining groups attended. Discussion centered around district goals and challenges, as well as a fiscal overview for bargaining purposes and an overview of interest-based bargaining.

This session was videotaped and is available to employees and interested parties. If you are interested in checking out a copy of the video, please contact Dennis Clayton of the Educational Resource Service Department at 303-405-8127. A copy of the video is also being provided to each bargaining team.

Last Teacher Transfer Process Informational SessionThe last informational session about the 2003–2004 teacher transfer process will be Wednesday, March 12, 2003, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the South High School library. This year, the process is completely automated and very simple. The meeting will cover timelines and the process and is an opportunity to ask questions. Information is also available on the Human Resources Web site at http://hr.dpsk12.org. Click on Teacher Staffing 2003–2004 Information.

Teacher Absence Reporting on the Substitute System (SEMS)Please Share This Information With Your SecretaryRecently, there have been some clerical errors using the SEMS system to report teacher absences and create substitute jobs. While 99.5% of the teacher absences are filled

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without a problem, we do feel these narrow areas need to be addressed as they can result in additional cost to the school. Take a moment to review the following information.

If a job is created for a teacher that has a pre-determined substitute teacher, that specific substitute must be entered into the SEMS system as a “pre-arranged” substitute. If the substitute is entered as the specified sub and not as a “pre-arranged” substitute, the system will call that substitute and offer him or her the job. However, if the substitute does not accept the job or does not receive the phone call, the system offers the job to another qualified substitute teacher, which may result in two substitutes showing up for the same job. If this error occurs, policy requires the original or “specified” substitute keep the job and the other substitute must be paid for four hours, which comes out of the school substitute budget. The schools can keep the extra substitute for the four hours, let them go, or call the HR Service Center to try to reassign the substitute for the day.

Additionally, if a job is entered with an incorrect start time or day, the substitute teacher must be paid for four hours for making the good faith effort of showing up to the assignment. It is up to the discretion of the school if the substitute is to stay and work in another capacity or is to be sent home to return at the intended start time.

If you have any questions regarding the SEMS system, please contact the HR Service Center at 303-764-3900.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

DAEOP-DPS Mentoring ProgramThe mentoring program for DAEOP Bargaining Unit members is underway. The district and the Denver Association of Educational Office Professionals (DAEOP) have jointly developed a mentor program for DAEOP Bargaining Unit members. This program will provide mentors for newly hired employees, for employees needing assistance with specific job duties, and those who may be on a Plan for Improvement. The goal is to provide assistance, which instills confidence in employees, enhances skill levels and customer service, and creates a more productive workforce.

If you would like a mentor to work with you, please complete the attached form and send it to Carla Lawson (303-764-3641) in Human Resources. A mentor will be assigned to you and will contact you soon.

If you have DAEOP questions, please email Pauline Garcia.

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Community RelationsCDM Gathering IIIThe CDM Gathering III is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Denver Marriott Southeast, 6363 East Hampden Avenue (Hampden and I-25). The morning promises to be filled with fellowship as the variety of people who make up our CDM committees will be together. A breakfast buffet will be served.

The gathering will consist of workshops including “Parents: Recruitment and Retention” and “No Child Left Behind.” Garland Yates of the Annie E. Casey Foundation will speak, as will several others who will be confirmed shortly.

Watch for flyers and registration information coming to your school soon.

Public InformationExtra Million Word PostersAre you interested in more posters for your Million Word campaign? Call Judy Shannon at 303-764-3989 to make arrangements.

School MarketingTip of the week: Marketing your school is a process. It’s great to have spiffy brochures and a useful Web site. But marketing is also developing strong relationships with all those who interact with the school—and some that don’t. Do you meet regularly with your neighborhood organization? Or the service agencies, churches, and major real estate agencies that are active in your neighborhood? Do you plan each year for regular visits to feeder schools (including licensed daycare centers and preschools)? Consider making regular visits. Become part of the community conversation. Find out what information is out there about your school that might need correcting and offer a strong, clear, positive picture of your school’s efforts and success.

TUESDAY TELEGRAM ARCHIVEhttp://www.dpsk12.org/docs/tuesday_telegram/tue_tele_archive.shtml

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Teaching About Force, Motion,and Simple Machines

An Inquiry-Based Workshop for Science Teachers in Grades 4–12

What topics will be covered?Hands-on activities will enhance teaching effectiveness and increase understanding of the basic concepts of force, motion, and simple machines.

When and where will the workshop be conducted?Five six-hour sessions will be held Monday–Friday, June 2–6, 2003, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Room 201, Wheat Ridge High School, 9505 West 32nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Please bring a sack lunch as only a 30-minute, onsite lunch is scheduled, so we can end each session by 3:00 p.m.

What’s the cost and what will I get?A $200 workshop participation fee is required, half of which must be paid when you register. The other half is due on the first day of the workshop. All workshop participants will receive:

various take-home materials, equipment, and activity guides; permission to copy for use in your own classroom; selected Urban-PTRA published student materials; and two hours of Continuing Education credit from Colorado School of Mines.

DPS participants will also receive a $300 stipend for completing all five sessions.

Who will conduct this workshop?The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), through the Urban Physics Teacher Resource Agent (PTRA) program, sponsor this workshop. The members of the Colorado Urban-PTRA team are:

Margaret Brinker, Chaparral High School, Douglas County Public Schools Curtis Miller, Wheat Ridge High School, Jefferson County Public Schools Bob Stair, Dakota Ridge High School, Jefferson County Public Schools Al Thompson, Ponderosa High School, Douglas County Public Schools

How do I register for this workshop?Complete the registration form below and return it by Monday, May 9, along with a non-refundable $100 deposit (payable to “Al Thompson”) to: Al Thompson, 11198 South Cambridge Court, Parker, CO 80138.

For more information, contact Al Thompson at home (303-841-9899), voicemail (303-805-6371),fax (303-805-6203), or email al_thompson@ceo.cudenver.edu.

JUNE 2003—TEACHING ABOUT FORCE, MOTION, AND SIMPLE MACHINESWorkshop Registration Form

Name_____________________________________Subject(s) You Teach_________________________________

School_____________________________________Grade Level(s) You Teach____________________________

Home Phone Number (_________)____________________Email Address_________________________________

Mailing Address (Include City, State, Zip)___________________________________________________________

(Back)NSF-SPONSORED PROJECTENGINEERING OUR WORLD

SUMMER AND FALL 2003Mathematics and Science Teachers

Benefits $500 honorarium $200 for classroom supplies Earn continuing education credits at the Colorado School of Mines A Colorado School of Mines representative providing direct classroom assistance

throughout the fall of 2003.

Project DescriptionThe first phase is a two-week teacher-training program (for continuing education credit) for middle school science and/or mathematics teachers during the summer followed by in-class visits by CSM faculty and students during the fall. The teacher training includes introductions to various fields of engineering (chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical, environmental, and computer) and explains how these are intimately tied in to the science and mathematics curriculum you teach. We will also provide teachers with demonstrations and hands-on projects they can work on with their classes that not only reinforce science and math content, but also teach problem-solving techniques and emphasize communication and writing skills. We will provide teachers with background and Web-based resources for additional information. The course also includes a field trip to a local industry to interact with engineers from various fields to learn about what their real-world jobs entail.

In the second phase, we will continue to work with teachers during the fall of the school year to help them implement the material covered in the summer training course in their classrooms. We will visit each teacher one day a month and work with them and their students to perform an engineering/ science-based hands-on module. The CSM representatives will be available as a resource to teachers and students to answer questions, place the material in context of its application to both engineering and science, and support teachers’ efforts to increase the use of inquiry-based learning techniques.

Time Commitment Summer workshops will be held July 7–18 on the CSM campus. Throughout the fall, you will have three classroom visits.

Qualifications Must be assigned to teach mathematics or science at the middle school level for the

academic year 2003–2004.

Interested teachers should complete the one-page application on the next page.

NSF Engineering Our WorldApplication

Please type the following information.

Name___________________________________________________________________________Last First Middle

School___________________________________________________________________________

District___________________________________________________________________________

Years Teaching at Current School_____________________________________________________

Years Teaching Experience__________________________________________________________

Work Phone______________________________________________________________________

Work Address_____________________________________________________________________

City, State, and Zip_________________________________________________________________

Email Address_____________________________________________________________________

Subjects you will teach next fall

Computer Science Mathematics Science

Submit this application to your school representative by March 11, 2003.

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DAEOP/DPS Mentor Request Form

Date: __________

Name of person to be mentored: __________________________________

Areas needing to be mentored (check all boxes that apply):

Office Manatee SASI Outlook SFG Other (specify)Word Excel

Work location: ____________________ Phone: ______________

Mentor requested by: ____________________ Phone: ______________

Supervisor Signature: ____________________

Action taken: HR representative ________________

Mentee: __________________ Mentor: __________________

Date: ___________________

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Attention Elementary Art Teachers and PrincipalsDenver Public Schools

in partnership with Lexmark Internationalannounces the Print Art Educational Program

This national, philanthropic initiative is designed to expand and enrich the art and cultural education resources in elementary schools. To enhance the educational experience of students, Lexmark has developed teacher support materials to bridge to the teaching of humanities, language, and culture.

Lexmark International will donate color printers to any elementary school participating in their program, which has no strings attached. Teachers can use the printer and the program as often as they want.

The donation package consists of: A Lexmark Z53 inkjet printer

The hardware comes with a warranty and the proper cabling, so there’s no hassle. Print Gallery CD-ROM

This product is the result of an exclusive collaboration between Lexmark and the largest art museum consortium in Europe. The disk includes software and approximately 100 high-resolution works of art that allow the students to view, explore, and learn about art masterpieces from the great museums of Europe.

A teacher’s guide with sample lesson plans is also provided for each school. This guide includes academic exercises that put the CD to use in virtually every discipline, from art, to language, to social studies, to math and science.

If you would like to be part of this program, please email the following information before March 14 to Maruca Salazar, Visual Arts Coordinator at maruca_salazar@dpsk12.org.

Names and contact information of the teachers who will use the Print Art Program

Principal’s name

Type of printer cables needed in your school—USB, parallel, or serial

Please direct questions to Maruca Salazar at 303-764-3752.

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GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR OPTION 3 SCHOOLS

2002–2003 OPTION 3 SCHOOLSAmesse Henry MS SabinColumbine Hill MS SchenckDenison Holm SchmittEagleton Kunsmiller MS SlavensEbert Lake MS Smiley MSGarden Place McKinley-Thatcher SouthmoorGodsman McMeen ValdezGove MS Moore WymanGreenlee PalmerGreenwood Rishel MS

This is a reminder that your Option 3 2002–2003 Gifted and Talented Education fundsare to be spent or encumbered by March 31, 2003.

Please share this information with the person in your school who handles your purchases and payroll.

This information is also being shared with your in-school GT representative.

Please refer to balances remaining in your specific GT grant account numbers and your school’s Gifted and Talented plan and budget as submitted and approved last spring. Your GT budget is in a grant account with grant account numbers.

If you need more information about your GT budget or account numbers, please contact your Budget Office representative or your central GT representative (Pam Morris, NE and NW, 303-405-8277 or Brooke Walker, SE and SW, 303-405-8275).

GT Teacher Stipends: To use GT funds for stipends, you need to pay second semester GT teacher stipends on the March or April payroll.

If other school accounts have been used for GT expenses or GT funds have been used for non-GT expenses: If purchases or payments have been made for GT with other school funds, please make budget transfers or journal entries to correct the expenditures and attribute them to your GT account numbers that have funds available. If non-GT expenses have been paid with GT funds, please make similar corrections.

Approved expenses after March 31: If your school’s approved budget includes expenses for field trips or activities that occur after March 31 and before the end of the school year, you may still spend your funds on these items. Your school will be responsible for paying for any non-budgeted expenditures or expenditures after the dates specified.

Please remember that you cannot carry over GT funds to the next school year.