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Category: Elementary Deadline

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We are pleased to announce that the 2021 nomination and application cycle for the Sorenson Legacy Awards for Excellence in Arts Education is now open. We would like to enlist your help to increase awareness of this prestigious award to those in your area before our April 2, 2021 nomination deadline.

Philanthropist Beverley Taylor Sorenson worked tirelessly to promote the arts as an avenue for Utah’s students to develop voice, sustain engagement in school, and evoke reflection and response. Through support from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Art Works for Kids, and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), the Sorenson Legacy Awards for Excellence in Arts Education recognize the essential nature of education in the arts for Utah’s students, distinguish those educators who embrace the arts with excellence in their practice, and ensure that Beverley's legacy will continue on.

Following are several ways you can help us spread the word:

  • Nominate an arts teacher within your district.
  • Post the attached award announcement in your faculty lounge or other communal areas.
  • Include information about the Sorenson Legacy Awards on your district or school website.
  • Share information about the awards at faculty or community meetings.

Administrators, teachers, parents, students, and other community members are all welcome to submit a nomination. Nominees must be licensed and endorsed public school educators. We also encourage re-nomination  of those who may have been previously nominated but not selected. Individuals are not allowed to nominate themselves.

Complete information and a link to the nomination form can be found on the Utah State Board of Education website at: https://schools.utah.gov/curr/finearts?mid=4609&tid=8

Questions? Contact Cathy Jensen, Utah State Board of Education cathy.jensen@schools.utah.gov | 801-538-7793

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Dear Principals:

It is time to order student Math Expressions workbooks for the 2021-2022 school year. Student consumables for K-5th grade were included in the 2019 math adoption. Each school site has already pre-paid for 5 years of these materials.  We are currently in year 2 and the orders placed will be for year 3 of the 5 year purchase. In order to be ready to start the 2021-2022 school year, Mtn. States has asked that we submit the refill orders now with expected delivery prior to the end of the year.  They have given us a firm deadline of February 28.

An administrative assistant from the Teaching and Learning Department will reach out to you next week to confirm your refill orders and student numbers for each grade level. They will have the total number of books ordered for your school for 2020-2021 and the expected enrollment for 2021-2022. We realize these numbers are projected numbers. Please account for growth, understanding that orders surpassing the initial order will still need to be paid for. If you had significant changes to your school population please work with your area administrator to determine how your school budget will reflect those changes.

6th Grade textbooks will not be purchased through the grant, so 6th grade numbers are not necessary.  Teachers have access to PDFs and Word docs for all student materials in the Open Up Resources Program, including Spanish resources.  Additionally, there is a robust Canvas course, including MasteryConnect practice problems, Cool Downs, videos and slideshows for every lesson.  Many lessons also include Desmos, Geogebra, and Nearpod tasks that teachers can adapt and use as they like.  If your school would still like to order student workbooks for 6th grade, we can share the order information with your administrative assistant and they can handle that directly.

In order to facilitate this process, please work with your school administrative assistant to ensure that the numbers are ready to report.  When contacted, each school will need to provide:

  • The number of student workbooks needed for each grade K-5 (please account for expected growth). The refill orders will be submitted at the district level based on the numbers you provide and will be delivered to your school prior to the end of the year.
  • If new teacher orders for K-5 need to be placed, T&L will prepare a buy guide for you that will need to be submitted to purchasing at the school level.

Thank you for your support as we work to have all materials in place for the beginning of the school year.

Sincerely,

Melissa Garber
Elementary Mathematics Specialists
melissa.garber@jordandistrict.org 801-567-8170

Orla Ryan Davis
Elementary Mathematics Specialists
orla.ryandavis@jordandistrict.org 801-567-8668

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DATE: 
January 28, 2021

TO:   
All Principals
Department Directors

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director Planning & Student Services

SUBJECT:  
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG)

The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) have been adopted by USBE as “the” threat assessment to be used in Utah (R277-403, HB120, §53E-3-401(4)). While there is no implementation deadline, each school will need to have a threat assessment team with at least one (1) CSTAG trained individual. The CSTAG model utilizes multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS), trauma informed responses, and social-emotional learning (SEL). The focus of the CSTAG model is making decisions within a restorative framework for prevention rather than crisis response.

Student Services has arranged for some initial trainings and there is an opportunity for you or your designee(s) to receive CSTAG training. The training is a ‘trainer of trainers’ model and consists of two (2) levels:

  1. Level 1 – 8 hours of online self-paced training. ($166.00 each participant)
  2. Level 2 – Virtual ‘in-person’ training with Dr. Cornell (the developer of CSTAG) and/or his staff in late March or early April 2021. (Paid by Student Services)

The Level 1 cost per-person is $166 – which the school or department would need to pay. There is also an optional manual that costs $50 each. Each school should consider having at least one manual on hand. Student Services will pay for Level 2 training in March 2021.

Space is limited. If you are interested please email Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org) with the name(s) and email address(s) of those you would like to receive the training on or before Friday February 4th 2021. After Student Services sets up Level 1 training participants will receive an email with the information to begin. Level 1 training must be completed prior to receiving Level 2 training in late March or early April (date TBD).

Please contact Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801.567.8439) with any questions.

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DATE:
January 21, 2021

TO: 
Principals
Special Education Staff

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, Teacher Specialist-SLP/A, ESY Coordinator

SUBJECT:  
Extended School Year (ESY) Qualification Procedures and Timelines

ESY packets should be submitted by March 25, 2021. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS BEFORE SPRING BREAK. Guidelines and instructions are included in the memo.

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Elementary and Middle School Principals:

All 2021-22 Safe Routes Utah Plans for elementary and middle schools are DUE TO RISK MANAGEMENT AT AUXILIARY SERVICES BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021.

Please refer to the November 19, 2020 JAM for the JSD Safe Routes to School Plan Form 2021-22, Municipal Representatives Contact Info. and the municipal meeting dates for final plan review.

JAM link: https://jam.jordandistrict.org/2020/11/19/2021-22-safe-routes-utah-plan-form/

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Jordan Education Foundation recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers are among a select few highlighted as Outstanding Educators who are making a difference in the classroom. The annual JEF Outstanding Educators Awards publicly honor and recognize educators who raise the bar of their profession.

2020 has certainly brought its share of challenges. We recognize with so many unique educational & life situations, a 2021 JEF Outstanding Educator may look much different as compared to previous years. 

Please reference the new 2021 application questions as a guideline for your 2020-21 outstanding educator nomination from your school, not the rubric from previous years. Recipients can be nominated by a principal, school administrators and/or colleagues. But all nominations must be approved by the school principal.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.JORDANEDUCATIONFOUNDATION.ORG for more information and to nominate a teacher.

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Employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year, that give official early notification of resignations/retirement, will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, notifications must be submitted online on or before the follow dates:

December 15, 2020 - $500.00
January 15, 2021 - $300.00
February 15, 2021 - $200.00

The incentive will be paid on the last regular paycheck. Notifications of resignation or retirement received after the dates listed above will not qualify for an incentive. The official District resignation/retirement notification form is found in Skyward under "My Access."  Please see District policy DP318 for more detailed information regarding resignations. If you do not know your Skyward username or password, please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.

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The purpose of the Educational Support Professionals Improvement Committee is to encourage, guide, and reward the professional development of education support professionals staff (https://policy.jordandistrict.org/aa421b/). We encourage ESPs to improve their skills and knowledge. As such, ESPs may find development opportunities on the following website:

Educational Support Professionals Professional Improvement!

If there is a course that ESPs would like to take that is within the realm of their position in the Jordan School District, they may submit a request to have the committee pay for the course (up to $300 per year). The committee meets once a month to review and approve requests.

If you would like to take a course, please fill out the following form and submit it to Chris Westra in the Teaching and Learning department:

https://tl.jordandistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2020-21-Classified-Prof-Dev-Form-fillable.pdf

For further questions, please contact Chris Westra in Teaching and Learning at 801-567-8657 or christine.westra@jordandistrict.org.

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DATE:  
December 10, 2020

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants
Attendance Secretaries

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:  
Changes to Marking Attendance for COVID-19

This information supersedes the information given in the August 13, 2020 memo “Marking Attendance for Quarantining or Isolating Students 2020-21”

In most schools this year, there are as many as three instructional models in use:

  • In-Person Classes
  • Virtual Classes
  • Hybrid / Blended Classes (at student discretion, meaning the student is able to decide, on any given day, if they attend class in-person or virtually. A hybrid/blended class may also have mandatory instruction days.)

A student, particularly at the secondary level, may have a combination of in-person or virtual classes throughout the day. The way attendance should be marked will change based on the instructional model of the class the student is participating in at any given moment.

Attendance is a legal requirement to indicate a student’s compliance with compulsory education laws, and it may not be used to determine a student’s academic grade (attendance may impact participation in a course, which can in turn impact a grade, but the attendance marking by itself may not directly influence a grade).

Four attendance codes (E, G, H, and P) come into play when considering the impact of COVID-19 isolation and quarantines on the three instructional models. Other attendance codes continue to be used as warranted based on a student’s attendance and activity. Their usage and meaning is unchanged.

In general, remember the following when marking attendance for COVID-19 related absences:

  • E is an EXCUSED ABSENCE. It does not “count against” a student for average daily membership or for 10-day accounting. Work has – and should continue to be – provided to students marked with an E as requested by the parent. The school determines the process and timetable for gathering and providing work. This code will begin to be used effective December 14, 2020 to indicate certain parent-directed COVID absences (family-related quarantines and confirmed cases).
  • G is a GUARDIAN-EXCUSED ABSENCE. It does “count against” a student for average daily membership and excessive consecutive totals of G absences may result in a 10-day drop. Work has been – and should continue to be – provided to students marked with an G as requested by the parent. The school determines the process and timetable for gathering and providing work. This code will begin to be used effective December 14, 2020 to indicate certain times when a parent is opting their child out of participation in school that are not the direct consequence of a COVID illness or quarantine.
  • H is for HOME AND HOSPTIAL INSTRUCTION. It indicates – as it has always done – that the District is maintaining its obligation to provide instruction to this student. For quarantines at the direction of the Salt Lake County Health Department, this obligation can be met through packets of prepared work, work prepared and available in a digital platform, or synchronous learning activities.
  • P can be used to mean two things, depending on the context and date it is used, as outlined in the table included with this memo.

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DATE: 
December 10, 2020

TO:  
Elementary Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Planning and Enrollment Consultant

SUBJECT:    
Guidelines to Establish Kindergarten Enrollment

It is the responsibility of each school to obtain a kindergarten roster for the upcoming school year. This roster helps facilitate kindergarten staffing and establish budgets for supplies and materials. Typically, efforts to establish kindergarten rosters begin in December. A timely start to kindergarten registration will be especially important this year as we attempt to adjust FTE projections to account for the impacts of the pandemic.

The following steps should be used to establish a kindergarten roster:

  1. Send a flyer home with every student.
  2. Publicize in the school newsletter – communicate (several times) the importance of getting accurate kindergarten counts.
  3. Use all other resources available to you (Skylert, social media, etc.).
  4. NOTE: New Student Online Enrollment (NSOE) for the 2021-22 school year enrollment will not be available until after the Skyward pre-enroll. If applications were entered prior to pre-enrollment, they need to be inactive for the current year and active for next year. This can be done during the approval process in NSOE.
  5. Schedule kindergarten orientation as soon as possible. After the January pre-enroll, check your New Student Online Enrollment to see if there are any pending applications that need follow up.
  6. Hang banners announcing Kindergarten Registration being accepted for the following school year.

Please schedule your kindergarten orientation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 

Optional Ideas:

  1. Make a block contact with every home using PTA support.
  2. Contact preschools in the attendance area of your school.
  3. Use a telephone tree operated by parent volunteers with a list of questions for consistency.
  4. Contact neighbors who can identify new move-ins.
  5. Contact community members who do not have children enrolled in school.
  6. Avoid forwarding kindergarten orientation letters to new addresses if a family has moved from your boundary area. Delete that name from your list.

Please be diligent in recruiting all the kindergarten students within your school boundary.

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Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Insurance Services.

Workers' Compensation insurance costs are based on numbers submitted by schools. It is important that this information be accurate and complete.

PTA figures must be separate from other volunteer hours.

Attached is a copy of the Volunteer Report for the period from August 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020.

Please complete this form and return it to Cheryl Matson, Director of Insurance Services, by December 22, 2020.

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DATE:   
December 1, 2020

TO:
All Elementary, Middle, and Traditional High School Principals

FROM: 
Derek Anderson, Director of Accounting, Budgets, and Audits

SUBJECT: 
December 2020 Budget Transfer Request

If you would like to transfer budget between your postage, supply, textbook, technology supply and equipment budgets, please complete the form below, sign and return to Derek by January 4, 2021. If Derek does not receive this back from you by January 4, 2021, Derek will assume no transfer is requested. The next opportunity to make such a transfer is June 2021.

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Attached is the DLM checklist for all special education teachers who are administering the DLM assessment to any of their students. The completed checklist must be completed and returned to Jen Birrell at the District Office by January 20, 2021.

Please direct any questions to Jen Birrell at 801-567-8905 or jennifer.birrell@jordandistrict.org

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All Elementary and Middle School Principals:

It’s that time of year to start the process of developing your school’s Safe Routes Utah Plan for next school year.  The 2021-22 Safe Routes Utah Plan Form (Word doc) is attached, as well as a PDF form with municipal representatives contact information. Your school’s municipal representative (city engineer) would like to be included in the initial planning process if possible.  As you work with your safety team and school community council, please feel free to invite your municipal representative to the planning/SCC meeting.

The attached 2021-22 Safe Routes Utah Plan Form Word doc must be downloaded to begin working on it.

All 2021-22 Safe Routes Utah Plans for elementary and middle schools are DUE TO RISK MANAGEMENT AT AUXILIARY SERVICES BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021.

Due to Covid-19, this year Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Jordan schools plans will be reviewed in a virtual meeting with each respective city.  The District will schedule an approximate 15-minute virtual appointment with each school administrator for the day of the meeting.

Save the date:
South Jordan City schools will be on Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Riverton City schools will be on Wednesday, February 24, 2021
West Jordan City schools will be on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Bluffdale City schools will be on Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Herriman City schools will be on Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Please contact Risk Management Coordinator Jeff Beesley 801-567-8876 jeffrey.beesley@jordandistrict.org, or Administrative Assistant Judy Bird 801-567-8625 judy.bird@jordandistrict.org, with any questions.

For assistance with the Safe Routes Utah UDOT mapping software, contact Stacy Allen of Penna Powers, sallen@pennapowers.com, 801-487-4800, cell 801-694-7710.  Her contact information is also included on the attached Municipal Representatives Contact document.

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All administrators will be moved to an interim evaluation for the 2020-2021 academic school year. The interim will be completed online in Perform. As part of the evaluation administrators will need to complete the Beginning of the Year form located in Perform under My Folder-Tasks. The form includes the self-evaluation and the required 3 goals in one complete form. Please review the attachment with this notice for logging in and more information.