Dear DPS Community,
We hope that you and your family had a safe and enjoyable spring break, and that your first week back has been a good one. We’re so appreciative of all of the effort that our students, families and educators have put into following health and safety protocols throughout this challenging year. And as we move through the final few months of the school year, we remain committed to supporting safe classrooms and schools throughout the district by following the science-based guidance of our partners at the CDC, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Denver Health.
Increasing middle and high school in-person learning
Our secondary school leaders and educators have been working hard to be able to welcome more students back to in-person learning over the coming weeks. We know that our school leaders and educators are best positioned to tackle the challenges and opportunities unique to their school building and community, as there is no one-size-fits-all plan that will work for every school. Please look for more information from your school for more details on the specific plan for your student.
General public now has access to COVID-19 vaccines across Colorado
One of the most exciting recent developments in our state is that everyone age 16 and older is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We respect that the decision about whether to receive a vaccine is a personal one. Our health partners remind us that vaccination helps protect all of us — our loved ones, our communities, and our schools — and the more we vaccinate, the fewer COVID-19 variants there will be in our community. If you or your family members are interested in getting a vaccine, here are some ways you can access it:
- Sign up with your health care provider.
- Check the City of Denver’s vaccination website for community clinics.
- Call the City’s COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926)
- Contact your neighborhood pharmacy.
- For students ages 16 and older, contact our School-Based Health Centers at 303-602-8958.
Additionally, DPS is partnering with Denver Health to offer vaccination clinics to students 16 and over who wish to receive it. Eligible students and their parents will receive an email with more information next week.
Connect students with mental health support
Even with these positive developments in the pandemic, we know that many students are still dealing with significant stress and trauma. We want to remind families that students can access mental health and counseling support through their school counselor, school psychologist or social worker, through your school’s community mental health partners, or at our School-Based Health Centers — all at no cost to your family.
As always, thank you for your continued perseverance, patience and optimism.