Please see document below for important dates and reminders.
Author: npage
District Office, Auxiliary Services Building, and Transportation Facilities Halloween Activities 2020
DATE:
September 28, 2020
TO:
Employees in the District Office, Auxiliary Services Building, and Transportation Facilities
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Shelley Nordick, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
SUBJECT:
Halloween Activities
Some departments and buildings have had a tradition of employees bringing their children and grandchildren into the building on Halloween for trick-or-treating. This activity has many merits and benefits to our groups and teams. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to maintain safety for all employees and their family members, we will not be having these types of activities this year.
We know this may be a disappointment to many who look forward to this each year. However, many employees and/or those they go home to each evening have health concerns that make such activities unwise during a pandemic.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the cancellation of these Halloween activities, please communicate them through your supervisor to their Cabinet level supervisor.
As a general reminder:
- do your best to maintain a six foot distance between yourself and others;
- always wear a mask when you are around others and/or when you move about the building;
- wash your hands thoroughly and regularly; and
- never come to work if you feel ill or exhibit symptoms as indicated in the attached document
Research Project – Teacher Hope During the COVID-19 Pandemic
DATE:
Thursday, October 1, 2020
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Research Project
The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.
Project Title: Teacher Hope During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Applicant: Dr. Suzanne Jones, USU
The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.
The researcher will send a recruitment email to teachers. The project will involve a 25-minute survey administered to teachers who wish to participate.
Thank you for your assistance.
Elementary Halloween Information 2020-21
In order to maintain safety for all students, we will not be having Halloween parades this year. All activities need to maintain social distancing and contact tracing guidelines.
School Halloween activity ideas might include:
- Virtual parades
- Students wearing their favorite Halloween shirt to school
- Activities in the classroom run by the teacher or a volunteer
If you have further questions, please contact your Administrator of Schools.
Links to State COVID-19 Manual (August 6 Update) in English, Spanish and Other Languages
Please use the following links to access the State COVID-19 Manual in a multitude of languages, along with other flyers and information sheets produced the the State Health Department.
ENGLISH: https://jam.jordandistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/COVID-19-School-Manual-FINAL.pdf
OTHER LANGUAGE RESOURCES for COVID-19 are available here. The COVID-19 Manual is translated into Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Thai, and Vietnamese. Portuguese is coming soon. This site also has many of the other COVID flyers and information sheets produced by the State Health Department: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/multilingual-resources/
School LAND Trust Fall Reports Due October 20, 2020
The State LAND Trust fall reports are due October 20, 2020. Please see information below regarding what reports are due and how to complete them. Due to the State website going offline for upgrades, the Final Report for 2019-2020 won't be due until February 5, 2021. The State website should be back up by January 15 for you to begin entering your Final Report. Please call Nadine Page with any questions you may have, 801.567.8186 (x88186).
Update for Mandatory Assistant Principal Meetings for November and December 2020
There has been a change to the process for attending and signing up for the mandatory assistant principal meetings for November and December 2020. As a reminder you only need to attend one of the sessions offered per month. Both sessions will provide the same information. The dates are the same November 5 (1:00-3:30pm), November 10 (8:00-10:30am), December 3 (1:00-3:30pm), and December 8 (8:00-10:30am). All meetings will be held in-person at the JATC-S. If you signed up in JPLS for the November meetings I have added your name to the session you had previously signed up for. If you haven't signed up for November, and everyone will need to sign up for December, please CLICK HERE and it will take you to the Google Doc that has the sign up sheets. If you have any questions please call Nadine Page at 801.567.8186 (x88186). Thank you!
Revised Agenda – Optional Training for Office Staff by Business and Auxiliary Services Departments – October 1, 5, and 15, 2020
A revised agenda for the optional training sessions for office and administrative staff of schools and District departments is attached. The October 1st and 15th sessions will be held in the morning and the October 5th session in the afternoon (same information presented at each session). If you would like to participate in one of the sessions, please send an email to Jeri Clayton at jeri.clayton@jordandistrict.org and let her know which date you would like to sign-up to attend. Attendees of each session will receive an email the day prior to the training with instructions for connecting to the Zoom meeting.
District Chromebooks Available on Short-Term Basis for Students in Quarantine
The District ordered and has now received 1,000 Chromebooks for the purpose loaning these Chromebooks out to schools for short-term needs. Primarily the purpose of the short-term loan of the Chromebooks is for students in quarantine to use when the school does not have sufficient numbers for quarantined student use.
If your school has such a need for a temporary short-term use of additional Chromebooks, please call Mark Sowa at 801.567.8392 (x88392) to make arrangements. With only 1,000 Chromebooks to loan out, it is imperative that every school return the loaned Chromebooks as soon as possible with the intent of not being out longer than one month so we can assist other schools experiencing temporary increases in demand due to quarantines. Any device not returned will need to be reimbursed to the loaner program.
Mental Health Screening and Tuesday Wellness Tips for Students and Families – September & October 2020
You are invited to share the following parent outreach information with your school community as you see fit.
- Jordan’s Health and Wellness team will be conducting a mental health screening event on October 7th. You are invited to forward this flyer to parents in your community as you see fit.
- Jordan’s Health and Wellness team has been conducting Tuesday Wellness Tips live meetings for parents to attend a virtual “lunch n’ learn” for less than 30 minutes every Tuesday at 12pm. You are invited to forward this flyer to parents and families in your community as you see fit.
Jordan “Return to Learn” Guidelines 2020-21
Please review the attached guidelines for students returning to school from mental health treatment, suspension, or other, high-need absence.
The purpose of the re-entry (or “return to learn”) process is to empower students and their support system to enhance social, emotional, and academic wellness throughout the transition back to school
If you would like more information on implementing these guidelines or follow-up please contact McKinley Withers. This follow-up could include:
- In-person visit to an MTSS or School Mental Health Team Meeting to talk through the guidelines with your team
- A staff training on “EveryDay Strong” which would take less than one hour to give your entire school staff a foundational understanding of how to meet student’s social and emotional needs. This is foundational to every transition plan.
- Making an individual “student wellness plan” with your school team for a student who is returning to school or who has been suspended to familiarize you with the process
A Free, Blended Trauma-Informed Training Series – September & October 2020
Our District has access to quality training covering the following topics:
- Understand the impact that trauma, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, has on our students.
- Learn proactive strategies and tools to implement with students in all grade levels.
- Gain insights into the “language of trauma” and how to successfully de-escalate students.
Any staff member can sign up who is interested and will be able to earn credit for attending. We invite you to share the registration link and flyer with individuals in your school who could benefit from this training.
ARTS, Inc. Survey 2020-21 – Your Feedback is Needed!
Principals:
ARTS, Inc., now in its fifty-ninth year of operation, was founded in 1961 and has provided performances in all forty-one school districts in Utah, reaching more than 250 schools each year with professional arts and education programming. Jordan District elementary audiences have enjoyed performances by Sounding Brass, Tunes and Tales Trio, and Vocal Dimension, to mention just a few of the artists in their roster.
This year, while striving to keep everyone safe and while maintaining the importance of a live performance, they would like to do two 20-minute live-stream performances per school (one for upper grades and one for lower grades). The performances would be scheduled as they have been in the past, but schools would be provided with a link for them to log on when it is time for their "assembly".
In order to facilitate the planning process for this year's ARTS, Inc. performances, please take a moment to answer the questions in this survey.
Thanks,
Norm Emerson
Byrdseed TV License 2020-21
Please see attached information regarding online lessons that get brains thinking!
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2020-2021
DATE:
September 21, 2020
TO:
All Jordan School District Principals (with bus route students)
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kathy Jones, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator
SUBJECT:
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2020-2021
State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this fall. This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.
The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:
Monday, September 28, 2020 through Friday, October 2, 2020.
Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation as they drop your students off in the morning, one day during that week. This drill will take place at the school and within the students’ regular bus drop off/pick up zone. All professional school bus drivers that transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Bus evacuation will be through the front door this year. Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.
Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation drill quickly, safely and effectively.
We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.
Say Boo to the Flu 2020
For those who will be having a "Say Book to the Flu" event this year, please see the attached flyer. Note that the flyer provides an active link allowing the recipient to view current Say Boo schedules by District. Thank you for your patience as we have adapted our process from individual District flyers in an attempt to respond to changing needs within your buildings.
5th Grade Maturation Program for 2020-21
Administrators, please share with parents and guardians:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our 5th grade maturation program as part of our health and wellness curriculum for 5th grade will be held online for the 2020-2021 school year. Our maturation program is presented in an online video format presented by health care providers. While this is not a mandatory program, this is presented as an opportunity for you to watch the program together. Students are encouraged to talk to their trusted adults for questions or concerns that they may have. Our presentation can be found online at: https://pe.jordandistrict.org/healthandwellness/
Sincerely,
___________________________________
Vision Screening for 2020-21
Administrators, please share with parents and guardians:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Due to COVID-19 and attempts to decrease the possible spread of the virus, the Utah Department of Health has recommended that mass vision screenings be suspended for the health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents are encouraged to take their child to their physician for a thorough eye screening. Students who are in special ed., getting a new special ed. evaluation, or a re-evaluation will be screened using appropriate distancing guidelines. Parents and teachers may contact their school nurse to request a vision screening on all other students that they may have a concern about.
Instructional Coaching Institute (ICI) and T&L Updates Document
Instructional Coaching Institute (ICI)
and
Supports for Administrators
The Instructional Coaching Institute is intended to create a united vision and purpose in Jordan School District in order to better support teachers. Meetings are held weekly at the ASB from 11:00-1:30 with the exception of a few that will be held virtually due to limited space availability. All district and school instructional leaders are considered part of the Instructional Coaching Institute and attend meetings. This includes:
- Instructional Coaches
- Title I Coaches
- BYU/UVU Facilitators
- T&L Specialists
- T&L Consultants
This weekly communication is intended to inform you about topics and discussions that will be covered in the weekly meetings as well as on updates from Teaching and Learning. If you would like to attend and receive the information alongside your coach(es) you are welcome to do so or can join virtually. Parts of the meetings will be recorded and available after the meeting as well. Links to join virtually or to watch the recordings can be found inside the link below.
Helpful Links
- Weekly Agenda/Zoom Link/Recording
- Weekly T&L Updates
- Assessment
- Online Program
- Literacy
- Math
- Science
- GT
- ELS
- Other
Non-Engaged Students in Online Learning
In an effort to support students, teachers, and administrators in online learning, T&L will provide an extra contact to encourage participation for students who are not engaged in the learning process. Teachers who have students who are not participating in class meetings, who have not logged into the Canvas course, and who have not responded to teacher communications are asked to complete this FORM. Efforts will be made to contact the parents. Schools will be notified if there are special circumstances or other important information. It is expected that a teacher uses multiple methods of communication prior to completing the form. If you have questions, please contact Kimberly Navratil at kimberly.navratil@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8131