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DATE:   
Thursday, March 7, 2024

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

FROM:  
Carolyn Gough, 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: Finding Bright Spots: Elementary Teachers Who Learn Science SMK Through Teaching Experience

Applicant: Ryan Nixon, Brigham Young University-Provo

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant will send a recruitment email to elementary teachers inviting them to participate in a survey. Some participants may also be asked to participate in an interview and up to two science lesson observations by a member of the research team. Teacher participation is at principal discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources


The dates for the Jordan School District High School Graduation exercises for Copper Hills High School, West Jordan High School, and Valley High School are scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, 2024.  Graduation exercises for Bingham High School, Herriman High School, Kings Peak High School, and Mountain Ridge High School are on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Graduation plans and times will vary from school to school.

Principals and Directors are encouraged to provide flexibility to parents or grandparents requesting the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremonies of family members.

Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the Frontline Absence Management System, if applicable. In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add “graduation” along with his/her relationship to the graduate.

For additional assistance, please contact the Sub Office at 801-567-8219.

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Nadine Page, Administrative Assistant


Take note of the following monthly newsletters with important communication about the School LAND Trust (SLT) Program.

Please share the February newsletter with your school community council members.

The newsletters are also accessible online on the USBE Website with different language options.

DATE: 
February 29, 2024

TO:  
All Administrators

FROM:  
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:   
Social and Emotional Skill Curriculum EXPO – March 5th!!


Don’t miss the Social and Emotional Skill Curriculum EXPO on March 5th at JATC South Auditorium! 

In 2.5 hours you will be able to do a deep dive with up to 7 curriculum and implementation experts. Not even ChatGPT could give you that kind of information in 2.5 hours!

This event is a part of supporting each school’s mandatory prevention efforts as implementing a Tier One, school-wide curriculum is an evidence-based approach to reducing problematic behavior, improving academic outcomes, and most importantly, enhancing student well-being!

There are Two Sessions: 8:30-11:00, 12:30-3:00
This event is a hybrid of an open house and a vendor EXPO. There will be various vendors representing curriculum options and expert insights hosting timed, round-table discussions to help you determine which program best fits your school’s needs.

This format will allow school leaders to maximize their time and gather information with intention as they prepare for the upcoming school year! We intend to support school leaders and teams in meeting their unique social and emotional skill development goals.**Substitutes can be paid for upon request. 

RSVP Here

Please get in touch with McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org) for additional information and questions.

 

DATE:   
February 29, 2024

TO: 
All Administrators

FROM:  
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:  
Mandatory Prevention Plan Updates, Workshops and Support Available!


Throughout March school teams have an opportunity to efficiently update, enhance, and complete their mandatory prevention plans related to suicide, bullying, and violence prevention. Stop by a Prevention Planning Workshop in March to take advantage of the support available.

Dates Available: March 6, 11, 14 (pm only), 15, & 18
All sessions will take place at ASB Presentation Room (entrance C)
Two sessions Each Day (pm session only on the 14th):
 8:30-11:00, 12:30-3:00
Choose a workshop time to update and enhance your school’s prevention plan. There will also be targeted support for accessing grant funds that are available for your school’s unique prevention efforts. Substitute costs can be covered so a full team can attend! RSVP for a session here!

Stop by even if you don’t RSVP for support in updating and enhancing your school’s prevention plan.

*As a reminder, each school is required to maintain and update prevention plans annually. These funds and upcoming workshops are meant to support each school’s prevention plan.

The Social and Emotional Skill Curriculum EXPO on March 5th at JATC South is intended to support each school’s prevention plan. A fundamental part of each school’s prevention plan is implementing a Tier One, school-wide social and emotional skill curriculum. Tier One skill building is an evidence-based approach to reducing problematic behavior; improving academic outcomes; preventing suicide, bullying, and violence; and most importantly, enhancing student well-being!

This is our 3rd meeting of the year. Prior to the 1 p.m. meeting, we have a work group for secondary at 12:30 p.m. and elementary at 3:00 p.m. The sub code is on the attached flyer.

Admin, this meeting is optional for you, but please encourage and support your ELD lead in attending this meeting. We will have the Digital Learning team sharing great information.

Language & Cultural Services is holding a Newcomer Parent Orientation Meeting & Open House on Wednesday, March 6 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Copper Mountain Middle School FEC Portable, behind the school.

Please share this flyer with students and parents who are new to our country. They can come and learn what Jordan Schools District can offer their family. There will be information, sign-ups, and community resources, all for FREE!

For more information, please email Ics@jordandistrict.org or visit the L&CS website.

Calling All Bilingual Teachers, Admin, & Staff! Show your students that being Multilingual is a superpower by earning a Seal of Biliteracy.

Can you speak, read, & write one of these languages?
Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swahili ,Yoruba

Language not Listed?
Visit this link below to view other languages & approved tests.

Once you receive your passing test results, apply on the Global Seal website to submit your test scores and proof of proficiency in your first language. From there, the Global Seal Team will handle the rest and mail you your certificate once it is ready

For additional questions, please email info@theglobalseal.com

DATE:   
February 29, 2024

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT: 
Monthly Drill Preparation (SECURE)


Our monthly drill preparation will be held on March 6th at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. This month we will be covering SECURE. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrations assigned to oversee school safety. All other administrations are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also opened to any staff who may be interested.

Information regarding the SECURE response protocol can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on pages 8-11. We will discuss how to implement and execute the drill. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.

We will be holding this meeting over Zoom so please join using this link.

DATE:   
February 21, 2024

TO:  
Directors, Principals, and Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting

SUBJECT:   
Independent Contractors and URS


Retirees receiving a monthly benefit from Utah Retirement Services have restrictions when returning to work. Reemployment includes work or service performed as an employee (paid through Payroll) OR on a contract (as a business or independent contractor paid through Accounting) for a participating employer if the retiree is listed as the contractor; owner, partner, or principal of the contractor (business).

Utah code section 49-11-1207(2) states: “If a retiree or participating employer failed to report reemployment in violation of Section 49-11-1206, the retiree, participating employer, or both, who are found to be responsible for the failure to report, are liable to the (URS) office for the amount of any overpayment resulting from the violation.”

Therefore, in order to protect the retiree and the District, it is crucial that the attached URS Post- Retired Verification form is completed by the Independent Contractors along with their W-9’s. Please submit both of these forms to the Accounting Department.

If you have any questions, please email payroll@jordandistrict.org or call the Payroll Department at (801) 567-8154.

Thank you.

Last fall the Jordan Education Foundation applied for a grant from the Arby's Foundation to go towards student lunch debt in the district. Recently the Foundation was made aware that they were awarded the Arby's grant and our district would receive $103,822.00. This generous donation amount was based off of the 2023 District October First Quarter deficit amount for student lunch accounts.

Clerks have been sent procedures, approved by the accounting department and have been instructed to pay off student debts based on the October 2023 Month End deficit reports for their school.

No donated funds may be used to pay off adult lunch deficits.

For student lunch accounts which have already been paid and are in a positive amount, these funds will be deposited in your school's donated account to be used in the future for payment of student deficits.

If you have questions, touch base with your clerk or Lori at 801-567-8767 in Nutrition Services. Thanks

The following optional virtual trainings are open for ANYONE in your school. Please share this information with your staff.

Using Data in an Early Warning System
February 26th | 3 PM MT

Using Data to Support Student Attendance
February 27th | 3 PM MT

Using Data to Support School Safety
February 28th | 3 PM MT

Register Here

USBE will be offering two cohorts (total of 50 participants) of the NEW LETRS for Administrators Professional Learning. These cohorts are intended for principals and assistant principals. The professional learning includes a manual, online learning, and live sessions. This will be a first come, first serve offer. Please see the attached flyer for more information and the link to register.

TO:
Elementary Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell, Consultant in Teaching & Learning


As you are aware, at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, the KEEP test is no longer required for kindergarten students in the state of Utah. Teachers may still use the KEEP test, but it should only be administered beginning on August 1st to avoid any conflicts with the administration of the PEEP test which is still required for preschool. If schools would like to test students prior to August 1st, they may use the JPEP (Jordan Pre Entry Profile) Full-day Kindergarten Pre Assessment. A copy of the JPEP and a link to a spreadsheet for data storage is attached.

Data Spreadsheet Link

DATE:    
February 21, 2024

TO: 
School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns

FROM:  
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance

SUBJECT:   
March School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, March 1, 2024, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cassie Helferich, LCSW, from Wasatch Behavioral Health, will provide us with a presentation on brief interventions for a school-based setting.

Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.

cc:
Principals

Reading is an integral part of a student’s education and has always been and will continue to be a priority in Jordan School District. Teacher knowledge of the science of reading and classroom implementation of best practices is a critical component of student success.

It is a state and district expectation that teachers in grades K-3 and SPED receive LETRS training and that they are able to master the content. In order to ensure content mastery, an acceptable passing rate for teachers in Jordan School District is to receive 75% or higher on the units and assessments provided in LETRS.

Teachers who are currently involved in LETRS training will need to reach this threshold to be able to teach literacy in grades K-3 and SPED classrooms. Teachers who have finished the training but have not received this level of proficiency will receive help and support through an additional opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content.