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DATE:  
October 12, 2023

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:  
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)/Incident Command Training


Training for the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Incident Command will be held at the JATC South on the following dates (choose only one date and one time):

  • Wednesday, November 15, 2023
    • 11:00am – 1:00pm
    • 1:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Friday, November 17, 2023
    • 8:30am – 10:30am **UPDATED**
    • 11:00am – 1:00pm **UPDATED**

This training is for any who have responsibility within the Incident Command system (including schools, District Office, ASB, Transportation, or other location). Administrators assigned as the school safety administrator and all School Safety Specialists should attend.

The training will be focused on SRP and Incident Command as well as the roles/responsibilities of the School Safety Specialist and school administrator. School-based safety administrators and specialists will receive materials and information to conduct SRP/Incident Command trainings in schools.

No sign up required to attend. Please mark on your calendars the date and time that best works for you and your school.

Please forward this information to your School Safety Specialist or others you deem appropriate.

Happy October!

Apple Crunch Day is coming up on Thursday, October 19th. This is a great opportunity for us to increase our students’ exposure to local produce here in Utah. We have purchased fresh apples from Pyne Farms in Payson to celebrate this day and share apples district wide.

As part of the promotion, in addition to fresh apples, our department will provide your kitchen managers with activity pages, fun nutrition facts and a video that can be shared with your teachers and school community. Take this opportunity to make the most of Utah's Apple Crunch Day!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that every year more than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment because of ladder accidents.

Falls from ladders at any height can result in serious or even fatal injuries.

See the attached document on ways to follow safe work practices when using a ladder.

DATE: 
October 12, 2023

TO: 
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT: 
October School Psychologist Guidance Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2023, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Presentations will address Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, the Mental Health Access Program, and Section 504.

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

cc:
Principals

DATE:  
October 12, 2023

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:  
Rescue Task Force Training Opportunity


West Jordan Police and Fire Departments are conducting a Rescue Task Force training at Sunset Ridge Middle School on October 18th beginning at 4:00 PM. They are inviting any interested district employee(s) to attend and closely observe the training as it is conducted in real-time scenarios. WJPD is also in need of volunteers to participate in the training as “role players” as well.

Rescue Task Force is the most up to date standard of response to active attacker related events. This consists of both police and firefighters cohesively entering the building with the goal of immediately addressing the threat (police) and quickly providing medical treatment to patients (firefighters). This new standard greatly increases survivability to all involved.

Even though this training is meant for First Responders, our participation better prepares district employees of what to expect and helps provide the best possible training to our First Responder partners. Given the training is geared toward First Responders it will be fairly realistic in nature. The use of real firearms firing blanks or “simunition” (a small paintball fired from a real gun) are to be expected along with make-up to dress victims. The creation of stress is intentional and can be felt by those observing.

For those wanting to observe, please feel free to arrive at the school by 4:00 PM. If anyone is interested in participating in the training, please contact Matt Alvernaz (School Safety Coordinator) at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623. A headcount is needed for participation and employees would be expected to arrive early.

DATE:  
October 4, 20233

TO: 
All Principals

FROM:  
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator

SUBJECT: 
Round 2: Optional Unique & Inspire Professional Development


For those that attended the first optional PD on September 22nd, this is the second session.

There are two optional trainings available on October 13, 2023.

  • Unique is for all self-contained classrooms (all grade levels - if you cannot make this training, other dates and times will be released soon)
  • Inspire is for elementary resource classrooms (secondary content to come soon).

Unique Professional Development (all grade levels for self-contained teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Valley High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Inspire Professional Development (All elementary resource teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Bingham High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Please sign up on JPLS to confirm your attendance.

 Unique- VHS
Course #101963
Section #127787

Inspire- BHS
Course # 101964
Section #127786

DATE:
October 2, 2023

TO:
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
FREE! Teacher Well-Being Course with Practical Strategies


Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2023 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity to address your own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as you work towards meeting your own wellness goals.

This course is FREE for JSD employees and Fall, Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity! Participants can earn continuing education, lane-change, and re-licensure hours from SUU (up to 3 college credits).

Sign up using the attached flier and share this information with professionals in your schools who may be interested in this opportunity.

The BYU CITES Learning Edge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Building Relationships, Connecting Through Content.” Our own Dr. Godfrey will be a featured presenter, along with national and local voices. The conference flier is attached, and you can also learn more about it at this link.

This is an optional conference. Teaching and Learning will cover the registration for one admin per school. Contact Camille Kartchner to submit the admin name for registration: camille.kartchner@jordandistrict.org or 88138. Additional registrations and any incurring substitute costs will be paid from school funds, such as TSSA.

 

DATE:  
Thursday, October 5, 2023

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: Teacher Self-Efficacy in the Moral Work of Teaching

Applicant: Sarah Clark and Rich Osguthorpe, BYU-Provo

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. Teachers will receive an emailed invitation to participate in a survey. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

Employee Health and Wellness Day is back for 2024! There will be free offers, discounts, in-person, and virtual activities on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.

We are very appreciative of community partners who are supporting our Health and Wellness Day!

More details for Health and Wellness Day will be coming soon. Watch for updates in JAM!

One way to streamline communication despite language barriers is by showing parents and guardians how to translate Skyward into any language. Each user can translate the Skyward site into their preferred language with just a few clicks in Google Chrome. Check out the video below to see how.

Skyward in Any Language

*Hint - This tool works on other websites too! Be sure to share this link with families and guardians.

DATE:    
September 27, 2023

TO:  
School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
SRO Training Follow-Up


A training for School Resource Officers (SRO’s) was held on September 8, 2023 in the ASB presentation room. Below is the video recording of that training for your convenience.

ACCESS THE VIDEO HERE

DATE:  
September 29, 2023

TO: 
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Suicide Prevention Conference Opportunities


Student Services is continuing to offer training opportunities for school mental health team members with suicide prevention funds. We will be sponsoring the registration fees for school-based mental health staff for either the upcoming UVU Conference on Mental Health (taking place during Fall Break) or the Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference (register for one of the two days or both days). It is expected that staff members receive permission from their administration before registering and ensure that their schools have adequate coverage. An email will be sent to school-based mental health team members with a form to register for one or the other. Please be advised that we are not sponsoring the online or virtual option. This is for in-person attendance only which may be verified after the conference as per grant requirements.

Here is more information about each conference.

2023 UVU Conference on Mental Health, October 27

Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference,  December 4 & 5 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo UT

The deadline to respond is October 18, 2023 by 5:00 pm.

If any of your school’s mental health team members (school counselors, school psychologists, or clinical support/social workers) would like to attend, please share the form or have them reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.