Thanksgiving Break Message

Thanksgiving Break Message
Posted on 11/21/2020
Traditional Thanksgiving Graphic

Dear DCSD Families,

We wish you all a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving. While current circumstances are less than ideal, there is still so much to be grateful for. We thank our students, families, teachers, staff, and community for your continued support and partnership during these challenging times.

During the Thanksgiving Break, all DCSD schools will be closed and no direct instruction will take place (this includes eLearning). If your child attends a DCSD charter school, please check in with them directly about their schedule for next week.

As our schools will be closed, we will not have office staff available in our schools to take phone calls, or to check voicemails or emails. Should your child receive a positive COVID-19 test, or exhibit symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, please isolate your child in accordance with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE’s) Isolation and Quarantine Protocols, and contact your medical provider for additional guidance.

If your child is currently in quarantine, please follow that quarantine through the end date.

With DCSD schools closed next week, we may not know if a staff member or student tests positive or becomes symptomatic during the break, and thus may not be able to notify families if their children were exposed to a positive or symptomatic person. Therefore we ask families to use caution and continue to follow health and safety guidelines during the break such as wearing a face covering in public, avoiding social gatherings, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache/body aches, and new loss of taste or smell. If you have a concern, please contact your medical provider for guidance.


COVID Testing Sites

There are a variety of free COVID-19 Testing Sites available in Douglas County. Click here for more information.

Mental Health Resources

Last, but certainly not least, holidays can be stressful for families and children but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be feelings of loss associated with being unable to travel or gather with family or friends. In addition, the holidays can trigger memories of the loss of loved ones and other traumatic events.

If you are concerned that your child or other loved one may be experiencing changes in their mood or suicidal behaviors, please reach out to one of the resources listed below. If there is an immediate threat to your child or others, please call 911.

Thank you for doing your part in keeping our students and staff healthy and safe. We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Douglas County School District

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).