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Elementary Principals: Please pass this information, along with the materials included with this memo, to your kindergarten teachers as soon as possible.

 

Trauma-Responsive Learning Modules:

 Trauma-Responsive Learning Modules:

Through a collaborative effort between the USBE Safe & Healthy Schools Team, USBE Prevention Team, and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), we are excited to announce the release of Phase 2: Trauma-Responsive Learning Modules online coursework in Canvas. The Trauma-Responsive Learning Modules are a continuation of the Trauma-Informed Learning Modules (Phase 1) and are designed to move participants from being trauma-informed to developing a trauma-responsive approach.

Both Phase 1: Trauma-Informed Learning Modules and Phase 2: Trauma-Responsive Learning Modules are open to all school personnel (certified and classified) and are designed to support students Pre-K through Grade 12.  More details, including registration information, can be found on the Trauma-Sensitive Schools Professional Development page of the USBE website (https://www.schools.utah.gov/safehealthyschools/resources/eventstrainings).

Health and Wellness has started a new initiative using funds from Project AWARE. The purpose of the initiative is to increase educator wellness by enhancing wellness education and mental health awareness among teachers. As part of the initiative, each school may nominate one teacher per school as a wellness representative. Review the information below if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity:

-Each wellness representative will receive a $500 stipend (paid in September) to be a resource for your school's staff.

-Each school that selects a wellness representative will have access to a set of wellness supplies that could be used to support your teacher wellness initiative. Your school's representative will work with your school and the health and wellness team to identify and use supplies according to school needs.

-Representatives will attend monthly meetings/trainings which will be held virtually with the Health and Wellness team on the second Wednesday of every month from 3:30-4:30  beginning on September 9th.

-It will be expected that your school's wellness representative will work with your school's administration to set goals and be a resource in communicating essential wellness information and supporting wellness initiatives with your school's staff.

We are excited to use this group to disseminate great information and provide tools and strategies to help your school staff maintain wellness during this unique school year.

To select a wellness representative, please fill out this short Google Form by September 4th. If you have questions, please contact McKinley Withers, 801-567-8245.

DATE: 
August 13, 2020

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Administrators of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Consultant, Student Support Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT: 
Marking Attendance for Quarantining or Isolating Students


Until the resolution of the current pandemic, it is highly likely that students will be excluded due to quarantine or self-isolation from in-person participation in classroom instructional activities. Many of these students and their parents will desire continued access and participation in these instructional activities during their quarantine or self-isolation periods. It is imperative that students who temporarily cease in-person attendance but continue participation in instructional activities are appropriately marked in Skyward so that they are counted in attendance for average daily membership (ADM) totals.

Please read the complete memo below.

 

To assist all users logging in jsd.instructure.com Canvas, a Google single sign-on authentication has been enabled. When navigating to jsd.instructure.com the landing page will have the option to login as a student, teacher, or parent. When logging in as a teacher or student you will use your JSD provided email username and password. With this change, a new site has been set up for all
https://digitallearning.jordandistrict.org/canvaslogin/ If you are already logged into your JSD email and navigate to jsd.instructure.com you will be automatically signed in. Additionally, as a Google user, you will be able to access jsd.instructure.com by clicking on the Google waffle icon and locating the Canvas icon.

During this past summer, JSD teachers created curriculum content to use while teaching in the online option for Fall 2020. This content is available to all teachers. To access the content created, follow the directions on the website Instructions for Online Content. As you have questions or need further assistance, please contact your school Coach or Digital Learning Specialist.

 

The Instructional Coaching Institute is intended to create a united vision and purpose in Jordan School District in order to better support teachers. All district and school instructional leaders, including instructional coaches, Title I coaches, BYU/UVU facilitators, and T&L specialists and consultants are considered part of the Instructional Coaching Institute and attend meetings.

Originally, these meetings were scheduled from 10:00-2:00 every Friday with an adjusted schedule of 8:00-12:00 for the August 7th and August 14th meetings.  In an effort to prioritize coaches being available to support the Professional Learning Communities and PD at the school with the new Friday schedule, we have changed the time to 11:00-2:00 beginning August 28th.  We will keep the original 10:00-2:00 schedule for the meeting on August 21st.  Participants are welcome to bring lunch and eat during the meetings as well as take a 30 min. lunch prior to the start time or after we dismiss.

This weekly communication is intended to inform you about topics and discussions that will be covered in the weekly meetings.  If you would like to attend and receive the information alongside your coach(es) you are welcome to do so.  Parts of the meetings will be recorded and links to the recordings will be included each week in this communication. We will do our best to have the agenda ready each Thursday for you to preview prior to the meeting on Friday.  Please click the link to see the agenda.  Elementary Instructional Coaching Institute (ICI) Weekly Agenda

DATE:   
Thursday, August 13, 2020

TO:    
Elementary Principals

FROM:    
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Changes in School Acadience Reading Assessment Dates


With the change in schedule approved by the Jordan School District Board of Education, the dates previously set for testers to come administer Acadience Reading benchmarks to K-3 students are no longer valid. USBE approved an extension of the beginning of the year testing window for Acadience Reading in their board meeting last week and will be releasing specific dates in the near future. Evaluation, Research & Accountability will contact each principal directly with a new Acadience Reading assessment date as soon as we confirm the testing window with the state.

Please contact Shannon Johnson at 801-567-8873 or shannon.johnson@jordandistrict.org  with any questions.

DATE: 
Thursday, August 13, 2020

TO: 
High School Principals

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Fall ACT Voucher Release


High school test coordinators received the last round of ACT vouchers to be used for this fall’s national testing dates. Here is the information school administrators need to know about these vouchers:

  • They may only be used by students who were 11th graders during the 2019-20 school year that did not take the ACT with the rest of the district in March and who did not take advantage of the vouchers distributed in June.
  • Students must register for the ACT test at a national testing site. They may use the voucher as the form of payment.
  • Your test coordinators received the fall vouchers for your school on August 10th.
  • Test coordinators may send vouchers to eligible students along with the cover letter and supplemental instructions included with this memo.

Please contact Brooke Anderson or Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions.

Attached are all forms and documents distributed during the level meetings at the annual Administrative Leadership Conference held August 5, 2020

Attached are all forms and documents distributed during the level meetings at the annual Administrative Leadership Conference held August 5, 2020

DATE: 
August 6, 2020

TO: 
Principals
All Special Education Staff

FROM: 
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:     
Update Contact Information for Office of Special Education


Please be advised that all questions and concerns regarding Special Education are to be directed to Amanda Hamblin effective immediately. Amanda may be contacted via phone at 801-567-8176 or by email at amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org. You may also contact the teacher specialist assigned to your school with any questions. Please work with your teacher specialist for your materials requests as well as any equipment needs or requests. The current teacher specialist assignments are attached here for your reference.

We are offering ongoing training for existing programs. Teachers can register in JPLS. If you have a larger number of teachers who have not been trained in these programs and would like to request a school training please contact Michelle Lovell or Mandy Thurman.

Heggerty
Wednesday, August 12 4:30 - 7:30
Monday, August 17 5:00 - 8:00

MSRC
Thursday, August 13 4:00 - 7:00
Thursday, August 20 1:00 - 4:00
Thursday, August 20 4:00 - 7:00