Posted February 12, 2022
2.11
Update from Principal Thomas
Dear Denver South Students and Families,
As we continue celebrating Black History Month here at Denver South, we want to recognize a leader and an innovator who had a tremendous impact on the community of Denver. Dorothy Ann Witt King was a community service and civil rights activist who took action to right a wrong. She lived to be 100 years old, and 70 years of her life was spent advocating for economic opportunity and education for African Americans in Denver. Dorothy King’s legacy includes her work with girls in the Denver Parks and Recreation and the Whittier Recreation Center, including the CANTEEN, a place where girls could dance, have fun and learn, and SHOWAGON, a traveling talent show that made its rounds in Denver parks. She brought to life The Silhouettes in Black History that featured performers portraying activists, scientists, cowboys, and famous African American leaders. She insisted that The Silhouettes be presented at segregated elementary schools and neighborhoods throughout Denver. King’s unfamiliar legacy is the creation of Personal Services, Inc., in the 1970s. Personal Services was a laundry and custom ironing service in the Denver area that employed women who had limited skills and income. Thank you for paving the way, Mrs. King.
As we shared earlier this week, the city’s public health order requiring masks in schools will expire at the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 25. Masks are still required in all indoor school settings through that date. The decision by DDPHE means that, beginning Monday, Feb. 28, masks will no longer be required but will be strongly recommended for all students, staff, and visitors across DPS. Schools are asked to please continue to strongly encourage masks, beginning Monday, Feb. 28, but not require them. As soon as we hear more information, we will communicate any updates as we receive them from DPS.
Denver South is piloting the increase of spectator limits in Athletics. Although we won’t be at full capacity, we did secure significant increases to our limits. Each program now has 4 slots per player/coach – This can include family members, friends and community members. Separately, we will be offering 100 Student Tickets – a Google form will go out to the student body for kids to sign up on a first come, first serve basis. This will serve as a gate list for our student body to get into the games. The mask mandate has not changed yet, so we will continue to enforce it at our games. We will continue to follow the directives given by DPS and update the community of any changes. We look forward to returning to a fun and exciting atmosphere for our students and community! Go Ravens!
If you have any questions, you may submit them here and a staff member will be in touch.
Go Ravens!
We are Denver South!
Sincerely,
Principal Thomas
Upcoming Dates for 2021-2022 School Year:
February 14-18: Ravens Week
February 21-22: No School
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The Colorado Sun: DPS Students Train to Become EMTs
Denver South High School and Denver Health have teamed up to expose 55 students to careers in emergency medicine as the pandemic drains hospital resources.
The school acts as a satellite location of Denver Health’s paramedic school, preparing students to respond to moments of peril and ultimately save lives. Piquing students’ interest in emergency medical roles has become more critical during the pandemic, especially in recent months as Colorado’s hospitals have struggled to keep up with the pace of COVID patients and those needing emergency medical attention for accidents and other diseases.
Students who complete medical health sciences courses don’t have to take any other EMT classes on the path to certification, giving them a head start. As soon as they turn 18, they can take the skills they’ve gained in high school and apply them to a practicum assessment at Denver Health.
Learn more in this story by The Colorado Sun.
SAT
Tuesday, February 15 is the deadline for your 11th grade student to opt in to the SAT essay portion of the test! Our 11th grade students will take the SAT in April. They have the option to take the essay portion of the test. The students must opt in for the essay. The essay registration window is Jan. 17 – Feb. 15, 2022. This will be the only opportunity for students who wish to take the optional essay to add it to their April school day test registration. Students may add the essay to their registration through their online College Board account or by calling the College Board.
Vision and Hearing Testing
There will be vision and hearing testing for all students starting 2/18. Families will have the choice to opt out. Please click here to access opt-out forms in multiple languages.
Recurring News
PTSA
SAVE THE DATE
Join SuperBowl Champion Denver Bronco Ryan Harris Talk to our Denver South Parent and Student Community about parent engagement and leadership on February 16 at 6p on Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3038323200?pwd=Q2NlaUE5emZRUWo4anhacDQxcEFvZz09
Launching the Denver South Business Directory
New This Year: Help us put together a business directory of Denver South-owned/managed businesses.
After all – We Are Denver South!
Please complete the enclosed form.
Parent and Caregiver Education
February 23 Webinar with Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, Parenting Expert
Register for our February Webinar on February 23 at 6:30 on Parenting Teens by Dr. Sheryl Ziegler.
Dr. Ziegler has appeared as a mental health expert in 100+ news related shows including The Today Show with Megyn Kelly, The Katie Couric Show, The Jenny McCarthy Show, The Doctors, CNN, CNBC, Headline News Weekend Express with Lynn Smith, Morning Express with Robin Meade, and more. Articles she has contributed to have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, TIME, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Real Simple, Huffington Post and more. Her book has been translated into several different languages. She is an international speaker in countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Germany and Australia. For more about Dr. Ziegler, her podcast, book and more check out her website.
Update to COVID Family Notification Process
As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, DPS will no longer require schools to send general COVID-19 notification letters to families when there is a COVID-19 case reported in a school or workplace. Instead, we are encouraging families to check the COVID-19 Dashboard to see the latest updates regarding DPS cases.
Note: The dashboard will only show cases that are considered active. Active cases are those that are still within five days of symptom onset or the date of testing (whichever came first). After five days, cases will no longer appear on the dashboard.
Quarantine notification letters will still need to be shared with students and staff who will need to quarantine after an in-school exposure.
Linked here is a letter for families, which is available in English and Spanish now, with all consent decree languages coming soon.
As a reminder, please encourage your students to continue following the DPS 5 and the DPS COVID-19 Guidance for Parents and Caregivers.
Additionally, as you may know, the Denver mask mandate ended Thursday; however, please note there continues to be a standing Public Health Order in Denver that requires all individuals two or older to wear a mask in school settings. DPS will continue to abide by that order until further notice. At this time, masking in schools allows our students to be exempt from required quarantines when they are identified as a close contact, which in turn maximizes in-person learning days for all DPS students.
Giving Grocery
If you and your family need extra groceries for the week, The Giving Grocery provides free groceries to South Families. For More information click here!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL GIVING GROCERY!