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Pet insurance and other voluntary benefits you can get through DSST

In this blog, we want to spotlight our voluntary benefits, including pet insurance through Spot! We know that pets are an important part of your family and we are so excited about this addition. Note that your enrollment in pet insurance is outside of Workday. You can get a quote or enroll in pet insurance benefits directly with Spot using this DSST-specific link.

DSST is now offering fertility benefits and adoption reimbursement

DSST has some new benefit offerings we are really excited about. This year, we are proud to offer fertility benefits as well as a new adoption reimbursement policy that will go into effect with the new plan year on July 1, 2023. 

It's Senior Signing Day for DSST seniors

Denver 7 highlighted DSST's Senior Signing Day and shared some of the awesome things we are doing as a network.

We were so excited to be able to showcase just how energetic and inspiring this day can be!

Symposium shows students possibilities in aviation industry

The nonprofit Shades of Blue, along with partners from local aerospace agencies, hosted a two-day symposium that culminated Monday to introduce the next generation to a variety of career opportunities in the aviation industry.

Students ages 13 to 21 talked with professionals from United, Delta, Southwest, other airlines and aviation-related organizations about the possibilities in aviation and aerospace.

Adrien Smallwood, 17, is an 11th-grader at DSST Byers and who's looking to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. He said the symposium was an opportunity he was waiting for.

Survey: Gun violence becoming normalized for some Denver students

A survey being conducted at DSST Elevate Northeast and East High School shows a large number of kids are being exposed to gun violence.

The school’s survey showed 81% of students said they felt gun violence was normal, 72% said youth violence affected their learning and 64% said they were personally affected by gun violence.

So far, 47 students have been surveyed according to Jason McBride, Struggle of Love Foundation Secondary Violence Prevention Specialist.

Youth violence sparks action among 8th graders

A group of 8th graders is organizing for change after recent gun violence affecting the Denver East High School community. Vicente Arenas spoke with the students about their goals.

What to know now that DSST Benefits Open Enrollment is live

DSST’s annual Benefits Open Enrollment kicked off Monday, May 1 and will go through May 31. 

NPS results: An in-depth look at what we learned

We hope you all had a wonderful time off for Spring Break. We wanted to welcome you back with some information on what we heard for the Network Pulse survey that was sent out in March. 

Post-Covid, DSST teachers chart long journey back to reading proficiency

Every day of our lives almost all of us will spend time reading. It could be a work of fact or fiction, a magazine or newspaper, or something online.

Through the written word we gain new knowledge. We combine these 26 symbols based upon the sounds they represent, or where they appear in a sequence and instantaneously recognize a word. As a species, it’s one of our most amazing skills.

Through reading, we quietly entertain or inform ourselves; are magically transported to other times—past, present and future; meet both real and imagined characters who exist in their own universe and are memorialized on the pages of books. Indeed, reading is the fuel that propels wonder.

What can be gained through reading is what literacy interventionists like Kelly Francisco and Samantha Hakes work on daily to impart to dozens of young minds at DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School and Aurora Science and Tech Middle School, respectively.

FYI on DEI: A look at how DSST is working on creating a diverse and equal environment

Welcome to the FYI on DEI - winter edition. This will provide snapshots and updates of the DEI work at DSST Public Schools. The FYI includes an update on our overall DEI department goal, identified success and opportunities for improvement, our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization and a look ahead to the remainder of the school year and toward 2023-2024.