We all continue to have lingering questions around what next year will look like. While the situation continues to develop, and every day brings different news, we want to ensure that we stay in touch and keep you as informed as possible.
When we began the school year in August, no one imagined that we would have to quickly pivot to distance learning in just a few short weeks, essentially creating a whole new school. And yet that is just what this team did, and more. From ensuring that students felt supported and seen during this turbulent time, to raising money to support our community members in need, and everything in between, we are so proud of how this team has come together during this crisis.
Thank you so much for joining us last Friday for our all-staff Teams meeting! We received over 60 thoughtful and timely live questions during the meeting in addition to the questions that were submitted from team members across the network in advance. Please see a summary of our conversation that includes our team’s responses to the questions and themes we weren’t able to cover during the live meeting.
Biscuit needs a lot of support to stay fabulous just like we all do. Biscuit asks lots of questions and uses all of his available resources to make sure he stays healthy. You can do the same by using the Aetna Concierge or Health Advocate for support with benefits questions or concerns. Health Advocate is an additional free and trusted resource that can help you with the following:
In light of the recent communications and concern around government funding for education and the inevitable budget cuts, many of you have been asking how you can help advocate for the funding we need more than ever. Thank you for offering your support, among all the other things going on! The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) has already forecasted a $3.3 billion budget deficit across the state, meaning that that state funding for our schools could decline between 5-15%, or more. While we wait for the final state budget to be passed, sometime around June 15, here are a few things you can do right now to show your support of education funding in Colorado:
Check out this week's winners of the penultimate Project: Create challenge!
Many of us have been spending more time in our homes curled up with a good book, or maybe exploring our neighborhoods on (so many) walks, and this week’s FINAL challenge combines the two. Students will have the opportunity to create their own nonfiction children’s book, covering a topic specific to their community, with either a STEM or Arts focus. This could range from a book covering local environmental issues or highlighting social challenges in the community. For some, a 2020 reboot of Germs Make Me Sick may immediately come to mind.
As the commerce of our nation struggles to recover from the tight grip of the coronavirus pandemic, many are finding themselves suddenly unable to provide for themselves and their families. During times of uncertainty and crisis, people come together to support one another. With greater than 12% of our state’s workforce seeking unemployment and businesses continuing to close, paying for food, rent, and utilities has become difficult –if not impossible for many in our communities. In response to this unprecedented event, we established the DSST COVID Family Relief Fund to provide food and rent assistance to families impacted by the economic devastation caused by the pandemic.
