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Category: Elementary Info

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Dear Administrators,

We're excited to invite your teachers to a professional learning session hosted by the elementary math team: Using Open Up Centers in Your Classroom.

When: November 13th (District PD Day), 1:30–3:00 PM
Where: Bingham High Tech Atrium
Registration: Canvas Course

In this engaging, practical session, we'll explore how to make the most of Open Up Math Centers in the classroom, with strategies for:

Organization – smooth routines and center management
Engagement – keeping students active and invested
Fluency – building automaticity with purpose
Deeper learning – extending student thinking

Teachers will walk away with ready-to-use ideas and tools they can apply the very next day.

Because space is limited, we encourage teachers to register early to secure their spot. Please share the link above with your teams.

Thank you for your support in getting this opportunity to your teachers!

Published on

TO:
Elementary Principals and Elementary Assistant Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Todd Theobald, Teaching and Learning

Grade Transmittal Day is Oct. 19, and all elementary teachers are expected to review student evidence and record Quarter 1 proficiency levels in Skyward. Quarter 1 provides an important snapshot of where students are in their learning at this point in the year, even though a formal report card is not generated until Semester 1. Teachers should record a current proficiency level for each strand where they have enough meaningful evidence to make a reasonable determination, using the full-year proficiency scale as the reference point. Please review the JSD Elementary Grade Transmittal Expectations for a quick overview of what to record, why these snapshots matter, and how expectations progress throughout the year.

JSD Elementary Grade Transmittal Expectations
Grade Transmittal Day provides teachers with dedicated time to review student evidence, reconcile proficiency levels, and ensure that Skyward accurately reflects each student’s current learning. The goal is not to create a perfect or final judgment of student performance. The goal is to provide an accurate snapshot of where each student is at that point in time.

What should teachers do?
For each subject area, review the overall strand proficiency level in Skyward and ask: “Based on the evidence I have right now, what is the best description of this student’s current proficiency?”

The proficiency level recorded should reflect the student’s current performance in relation to the full grade-level standard and proficiency scale, even if every portion of the standard has not yet been taught.

Teachers should enter a proficiency level whenever they have enough meaningful evidence to make a reasonable determination. This does not require perfect or exhaustive evidence. If the evidence available provides a reasonable picture of where the student currently is, that information should be recorded.

A blank should generally indicate that there is not yet enough evidence to make a reasonable determination.

Why does this matter?
Quarterly proficiency levels create a record of student learning over time.

Even though elementary report cards are only generated at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2, Quarter 1 and Quarter 3 scores still provide valuable snapshots. These records can:

  • Help document student growth across the year,
  • Provide useful information if a student transfers to another school or district,
  • Support communication with parents and future teachers, and
  • Ensure that reported proficiency levels accurately reflect what students currently know and can do.

Ideally, the information entered in Skyward should not be a surprise to families. Teachers should be communicating student progress early, often, and consistently throughout the year.

What should be recorded at each checkpoint?
Quarter 1 - Snapshot - Record current proficiency levels for the strands where you have meaningful evidence. Students are still early in the learning process, so Level 1 and Level 2 scores may be entirely appropriate.

Semester 1 - Semester Picture - Review and reconcile the Semester 1 proficiency level for each strand that has been meaningfully measured. In English Language Arts, students should have a proficiency level for all three strands: Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening.

Some areas in other subjects may still be blank if they have not yet been sufficiently measured.

Quarter 3 - Updated Snapshot - Update proficiency levels based on the evidence collected since Semester 1. The picture of student learning should continue to become more complete as the year progresses.

Semester 2 - Complete Picture - By the end of the year, the full grade-level core should have been taught, and teachers should generally have a proficiency level recorded for every strand.

There may be rare circumstances where an exception is appropriate. In those cases, teachers should work with their administrator.

One important reminder
A proficiency level is not based on whether a student is “on track for this time of year.” It is based on the full-year proficiency scale.

For example, if a student has successfully learned everything that has been taught so far but their current evidence places them at Level 2 on the full standard, Level 2 is the accurate proficiency level to report.

The purpose of Grade Transmittal Day is simple:

Review the evidence → Reconcile the overall proficiency level → Document where the student is right now.

Published on

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, School Psychology Administrator

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for
Friday, October 30, 2026 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Please bring your laptops to this meeting. Buddy Alger and Jeff Morris will provide us with training on Ken Ginsburg’s Reaching Teens materials. Julia Connelly, Ph.D., Director of Spectropolis, will provide us with a presentation on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).

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

Published on

TO:
All Employees

FROM:
Mike Anderson, Associate Superintendent

The 6th annual Health and Wellness Day is back again, will be bigger than ever, and will be here before we know it! Employees can look forward to connecting with colleagues and prioritizing their well-being through a variety of wellness offers across the District. Mark your calendar because you won’t want to miss this!

Published on

DATE:
October 15, 2026

TO: 
All Administrators & Threat Assessment Teams

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Angie Rasmussen, CARE Team Specialist

SUBJECT:  
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) Training

CSTAG training consists of two (2) training levels, Level 1 and Level 2. Both levels must be completed by all administrators and threat assessment team members.  CSTAG Level 2 training is for all who have completed the Level 1 training (the web-based training from Navigate360). Level 2 training builds upon your knowledge of threat assessment by providing practical application and implementation of the CSTAG process in your school.

New Administrators and Administrative Interns are encouraged to attend.

Select the link to register for a session of CSTAG Level 2 training.

In-Person CSTAG Level Two Training:
Friday, November 13th (In-Person) 1-3PM
District Office Room 129
Registration Link

Other important CSTAG reminders: If your school wants to train a staff member or threat assessment team member that is not an administrator in CSTAG level 1, please email angie.rassumussen@jordandistrict.org the request with the person’s name, title, and email address. CSTAG Level 1 is web-based through Navigate 360 and costs $100 per person. A request for reimbursement will be sent to the school after the staff member has been added.

To access CSTAG documents and resources use this link: CSTAG Resources

We look forward to learning more about your school's violence prevention initiatives and CSTAG implementation, or assisting you with customized training needs. To schedule a meeting, please contact Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

TO:
All School Administrators
All School Admin Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Steffany Ellsworth, Assistant Director, Information Systems

ParentSquare Pointers – New Feature Alert!

New Contact Log for Principals and School Admin

Need to confirm a parent received the message? The Contact Log puts 60 days of  communication history right at your fingertips. Principals and School Admins can easily search  contact history for staff, parent, or student’s – filtering by type, site, and date range to verify  what was sent in seconds.

To find this new feature make sure you are in the Admin tab, located in the upper left-hand corner, then follow these four steps:

  • find Data Assistant
  • click on either Students, Parents, or Staff
  • search and click on the name of the user
  • under Activity in the left sidebar, click Contact Log

If you have any questions please reach out to Information Systems Help Desk, (801) 567-8737  – ext. 88737. Or for Contact Log FAQs from ParentSquare just click here!

Published on

TO:
Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning

JSD Content Proficiency Scales

Following Jan Hoegh’s presentation to school-level administrators at the Principals Meeting on October 6, we would like to reshare our JSD Content Proficiency Scales.

Together, district teacher teams and Teaching & Learning have developed power standards and corresponding proficiency scales for Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, Health, and Music. These scales serve as exemplars and anchors for grade-level expectations, ensuring Level 3 indicators align precisely with the depth and rigor of the Utah Core Standards.

To access the standards, scales, and integration resources for planning, instruction, assessment, and feedback, enroll in the new JSD Content Proficiency Scales Canvas course.

⚠️ Important Note on Math Standards: The State Board of Education (USBE) is currently reviewing math standards and is expected to release updates soon. Consequently, the development of math power standards and proficiency scales is paused until those official updates are released.

Published on

TO:
JSD Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Curtis Jenson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning

We had the chance in this week’s Principal meeting to spend the day with Jan Hoegh talking about how our work over the past year with Proficiency Scales translates into next steps with assessment and reporting. While we do that work, we have the unique chance to participate in a book study with Jan this spring using her book Planning & Teaching in the Standards-Based Classroom.

 The book study will happen during three 75-minute virtual sessions with Jan Hoegh. While dates are still being finalized, they will occur in February, March and April of 2027. We will provide all participants with a copy of the book to use throughout the book study and beyond. All JSD administrators are invited to participate in this optional book study.

Interested? Let us know here and we’ll get you a copy of the book.

We’ll keep you posted on exact dates and times for the book study. We just want it to be on your radar while it’s fresh. It’s unusual to get the chance to talk in this setting with the leading expert in the field while we’re actually doing the things she’s writing about. If you’re interested, let us know and we’ll get the book for you. If the final dates for the book study don’t work for you, at least you have access to the source material.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
McKinley Withers, Administrator of Employee Experience and Wellness

Administrators,

You’re invited to a special 30-minute mindfulness session created FOR YOU, the hard-working leaders of our schools and district. The Employee Experience & Wellness Team is offering a quick virtual mindfulness reset for Administrators once per month throughout the school year, come once or come every month. Each session will be led by Anna Smyth and will occur live, virtually, from 12:30-1:00 on the dates listed below.

We acknowledge that there isn’t an easy time for administrators to attend to their own wellness, but we hope that you can carve out 30-minutes one time per month to center on your needs. If multiple administrators would like to attend from a school site, we suggest rotating supervision obligations to accommodate attendance on different months. We hope to see you sometime this year!

Use this link to add October’s session to your Google Calendar.

Come as you are! No experience necessary. Zoom information and future dates are pasted below: 

Mindful Leadership: A Monthly Reset

Give yourself 30 minutes to pause, recharge, and reconnect with how you want to lead. These monthly drop-in Zoom sessions offer school and district administrators a space to rest, reset, and gather practical tools for navigating challenges with greater clarity, steadiness, and compassion.

 Anna Smyth is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Mindful Leadership: A Monthly Reset
Time: Oct 14, 2026 12:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting
https://slcc-edu.zoom.us/j/89897030325?pwd=DLw8BU3IIb9BUpJlqO1aeiB4adtABt.1

 Meeting ID: 898 9703 0325
Passcode: 990803

October 14, 2026 @ 12:30-1:00 February 17, 2027
November 11, 2026 March 17, 2027
December 9, 2026 April 21, 2027
January 13, 2027 May 19, 2027

 

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brittany Bauer, Administrator of Data & Operations

Administrators who are resigning or retiring effective at the end of the current contract or calendar year may be eligible for a tiered early-notification incentive. To qualify, administrators must submit their official resignation or retirement notification online on or before the applicable deadline listed below.

The incentive amount will be based on the date the official online notification is received.

Mid-Year Resignation (December) Notification:

  • August 15, 2026 $1,000.00
  • September 15, 2026 $600.00
  • October 15, 2026 $200.00

End of Contract Year Resignation (June) Notification:

  • December 1, 2026 $1,000.00
  • January 15, 2026 $600.00
  • February 15, 2026 $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 Qmlativ under “Employee Access”. Please see District policy DP318 or DP319 for more detailed information regarding resignations and/or retirements. If you do not know your Qmlativ username or password, please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.


Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of HR
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist

If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave before or after Thanksgiving on a “Critical Day” for any reason not listed in policy DP335NEG or DP335B, you must submit a request as follows:

How to Request

During the window, the employee must send the request through email. Please include your name, school, position, and the date you are requesting the leave. Requests left on voicemail or over the phone will NOT be accepted.

Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

Education Support Professionals submit their request to classifiedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

The employee will receive an email confirmation within two working days after submitting the request. If the employee does not receive a confirmation email, then Human Resources has NOT received your request and your leave will not be approved.

*Critical Days are the first student attendance days before or after a school holiday. If a non-student attendance day falls before or after a school holiday, the Critical Day is the day before or after that non-student attendance day when students are in attendance.

Licensed
Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

ESP
ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

Published on

DATE: 
October 8, 2026

TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals

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

SUBJECT:  
Wearable Emergency Alert Devices

2026 Utah H.B. 84 requires silent wearable alert devices in schools. The District has elected to work with Centegix for the new wearable emergency alert devices. We want to make you aware that as part of the grant process, individual school administrators were listed as points of contact per the form requirements. However, this grant and rollout will be handled at the district level through Student Services, Facilities, and Information Systems. More information regarding the rollout, training, and implementation of the devices will be coming in the future. No action on the part of the schools is required at this time.

If you are contacted by Centegix or USBE directly, please refer them to Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator, or Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services.

For questions or concerns, contact the School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz, at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at (801) 567-8623.

Published on

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Principals,

New teachers will attend Day 2 of our Open Up Math training, scheduled for October 26th (grades 4–6) and October 28th (grades K–3), both in the ASB Presentation Room.

Day 2 will deepen teachers' understanding of the structure of an Open Up Math lesson (L.E.D.S.).

Teachers will:

• Participate in a model lesson from the student perspective
• Analyze video clips from model lessons to better understand lesson structure
• Use backward design to plan a lesson

This information will also be shared in a JEM and emailed directly to teachers.

Schedule:

Grades 4–6 Register here
Monday, October 26th
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
ASB Presentation Room

Grades K–3: Register here
Wednesday, October 28th
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
ASB Presentation Room

We look forward to continuing to build a strong mathematics community!

Published on

DATE:
October 8, 2026

TO: 
All Elementary Administration

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Making Sense of Standardized Proficiency Scales: A Case Study

Applicant: Carolyn Gough, University of Utah

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.  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.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Published on

TO:
School Principals

FROM:
Mike Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Lisa LeStarge, Administrative Assistant

The Trust Lands Funds Contest is back! Every fall, the Trust Lands Administration gives one lucky school an extra $2,500 for their School Community Council or Charter Council to use toward academic needs. The contest kicks off on October 1st!

Read the instructions on how to enter on social media (@utahtrustlands) or by visiting the Trust Lands Administration website.

Published on

DATE:
October 1, 2026

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Preparation (LOCKDOWN)

Our monthly drill preparation meeting will be held on October 7th at 2:40 PM, 3:10 PM, and again at 3:40 PM. Each session will last about 20 minutes. This month we will be covering LOCKDOWN.  Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrators assigned to oversee school safety.  All other administrators are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also open to any staff who may be interested.

After each monthly training, all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.

Information regarding the LOCKDOWN response protocol can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on pages 12-14.  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.

 

Published on

DATE:
October 1, 2026

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Jodee Packer, CARE Team Specialist

We are excited to share with you a new data tracking program for wellness rooms across the district: The Wellness Room Assessment Program (WRAP) is free for all schools and available immediately to your Wellness Room Coordinators by completing the attached Google Form. The student data will be shared in a separate email to you and your other mental health team members once your form is created and shared with your Wellness Room Coordinators.  

Tracking this data is essential to improving your student support systems. By utilizing WRAP, you will be able to:

  • Serve as a prevention indicator to better and earlier identify students who may be struggling before issues escalate.
  • Pinpoint student needs and tailor tier 2 & 3 individualized interventions.
  • Identify Patterns & Trends as a school to better allocate staff and resources.
  • Ensure wellness spaces are being utilized effectively for their intended purposes and avoid any misuse. 

Please complete the Google Form and get access to your school’s WRAP portal. 

Thank you for your leadership and dedication to supporting our students' well-being. Please reach out to Jodee Packer, one of our CARE Specialists, if you have any questions regarding access or setup. She can be reached at jodee.packer@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8193

Published on

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director, Student Services
Scott Festin, Student Services Administrator of Planning

Student Services will be hosting training opportunities for staff to prepare for the 2027-28 permit season on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The Open Enrollment window opens on Sunday, November 15, 2026 this year. This training will be geared towards Administrators overseeing permits in their building and office staff that process applications. It is especially appropriate for administrators and staff that are new to permits. Sessions will not be targeted at any specific audience, so individuals are welcome to attend either session.

Both sessions will be held at the District Office, Room 129. Due to updated security protocols at the District Office, please remember to bring your ID badge.

Please register for all sessions using this link: 2027-28 Permit Training Signup

Date Time Location
Wednesday, October 28 9:00-11:00 AM District Office, Room 129
Wednesday, October 28 1:00-3:00 PM District Office, Room 129

Permit questions should be addressed to Scott Festin, Student Services Administrator of Planning, scott.festin@jordandistrict.org, x88370

Published on

TO:
Elementary Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Megan Cox- Rose Creek Elementary
Garett York- Bastian Elementary
Ronna Hoffman- Oak Leaf Elementary
Bryce Eardley- Mountain Shadows Elementary

Please submit questions to be discussed by the JAESP committee and cabinet by Wednesday, October 7th.

You may submit concerns or questions using this Google Form, OR you may send items to be discussed directly to Megan Cox at Rose Creek, Garett York at Bastian, Ronna Hoffman at Oak Leaf, or Bryce Eardley at Mountain Shadows.

Contact information is optional but will allow a committee member to reach out to you if more information is needed. All items will be discussed anonymously as we work to provide clarification and solutions to concerns of elementary administrators.