The Dot
QUICK AND TO THE POINT... UPDATES FROM DPS #61
Heart of the District Winners!
What nominators said about our Heart Award Winners:
Here is the link to watch our Heart of the District video highlight: https://youtu.be/aORuAyThDSk
Marek has been a dedicated and extremely hard working student during virtual learning. He has been present everyday working hard and even spending extra time with me when he needs additional help outside the classroom hours. His family has also been dedicated to his learning and growth this last semester. They have all worked so hard, and I couldn’t be more proud of him!
Jim Dellert deserves the “Heart of the District” award for putting his HEART into his job. Jim volunteered to work over Christmas break, delivering meals to our DPS61 families, to ensure that nobody would go hungry while our schools were closed over break. However, Jim went above and beyond the call of duty, as he spread his sunshine and the holiday spirit to many of our DPS children, putting huge smiles on many faces. Jim dressed up as Santa Claus and passed out candy to excited children and parents, while completing the delivery of meals on his route, and he picked up a few extra deliveries each day. Jim Dellert is an exemplary employee of DPS and SDMS. His mission to bring joy to others and spread kindness, is something that he strives to do not only during the holidays, but everyday. Jim expects nothing in return, but his huge HEART has a positive impact on our DPS children and families.
Adam Banner has continually shown dedication to our students, staff, and community in his role as a security officer. Adam takes pride in providing quality service to the district. Adam can be counted on to provide calm and care while securing our schools, community gatherings, and BOE meetings.
Mr. Terise Bryson is great with kids and staff. I’ve seen him go out his way to do anything for a student and it goes unnoticed. Teachers and coaches have all depended on Mr Bryson for help in either help discipline a student, get a student in class or go pick student up to get him/her to school. Kids and staff love Mr Bryson. He coaches boys basketball and football. He’s constantly checking players grades, and it doesn’t matter if it’s basketball, football, track, girls basketball. He interacts with all the coaches, admin, teachers and students. He feels good when he lends a helping hand. A player at Eisenhower excepted a scholarship to play college ball. Mr Bryson played a huge part in getting that kid in school. He enjoys helping students. He truly needs to put that degree he has to work and get in somebody’s class room. The district really needs to invest in this guy. They won’t regret it. His value is much greater than a security guard for our district. Somebody will give him an offer he can’t refuse if the district doesn’t step up and invest in this guy.
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Anyone may submit nomination, as long as the nominee is NOT a family member. These awards are not intended to be a popularity contest. Those submitting nominations are encouraged to consider the impact the nominee has on students, staff, and our district community. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee monthly, and winners will be featured in a future DOT newsletter!
To nominate someone for a future Heart of the District Award, visit www.dps61.org/heartnomination
As previously announced on Friday, December 4:
At this time, DPS plans to welcome students back in person starting Tuesday, January 19, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on January 18. We do continue to monitor the health and safety of our community; therefore, this plan is tentative and will be reevaluated following the holiday break.
Students who have declared they want in-person learning will be assigned one day per week to attend in person for January 19 – February 5. In-person students will be divided into two groups, A and B; in-person students will be notified by their school which group they are divided into.
- Group A students will attend in-person on Tuesdays; Group B students will attend in-person on Thursdays.
- All students will continue to attend school virtually on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Those who selected to continue with virtual learning only will still receive assignments on Tuesday and Thursdays; those who selected in-person learning will receive assignments on the day of school they are not in-person.
Only those students who previously declared through Skyward that they would attend in person will attend for January 19 – February 5.
Skyward Form Now Open for Parents to Select their Choice for February 8 Return: DEADLINE January 8
Parents Must Make A Selection for In-Person or Virtual Learning for a February 8 return. Parents much designate: in-person or virtual learning for each child using Skyward Family Access. Students for whom a selection is not made will automatically be placed in virtual learning only. If you need assistance, contact your school's office.
To help you make your selection, you can view the District's COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols plan by clicking here.
- December 21- January 1 | NO SCHOOL Winter Break
- December 24 & 25 | District Offices CLOSED
- January 1 | District Offices CLOSED
- January 4 | NO SCHOOL for Students; Teacher Work Day
- January 8 | Skyward Selection Deadline for Feb 8 Return
- January 18 | NO SCHOOL; District Offices CLOSED (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday)
Contact Us
Email: WeListen@dps61.org
Website: https://www.dps61.org
Location: 101 West Cerro Gordo Street, Decatur, IL 62523, USA
Phone: 217.362.3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decaturpublicschools/
Twitter: @DPS61Decatur