TO:
Directors
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, Administrator/Evaluations
Please take a look at the October Evaluations newsletter below.
Category: Elementary Info
Fall Break Resources to Aid Communication, Engagement & Attendance
DATE:
September 23, 2024
TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Prevention Specialist, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Fall Break Resources to Aid Communication, Engagement & Attendance
Family Engagement, Communication, & Attendance
Family engagement has been found to have a big impact on improved student attendance. One of the ways we can promote family engagement is through communication. “Strong relationships (and trust) are built on successful communication.… Positive communication is perhaps the most powerful tool that you can use with families. Effective communication helps to inform, reassure, and engage families, which all helps establish and build a strong partnership between staff and families.” Communicating with families about upcoming school events and holidays can help prevent unwanted absences from school.
Begin communicating with families early about our upcoming fall break, clearly stating when students will not come to school and when school resumes following the holiday. Utilize a variety of methods to get the word out including email, social media, school and teacher newsletters, and Parent Square. Parent Square lends us the opportunity to communicate with families in their preferred language. Consider using personalized messages with families who are struggling with attendance to help strengthen relationships.
Premade Resources to Communicate with Families about Fall Break
English-
Fall Break Reminder
Facebook Post
Instagram Post
Spanish-
Fall Break Reminder
Facebook Post
Instagram Post
Questions? Contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8205.
Skyward Finance Will Be Unavailable After 4:00 pm on Oct. 2, 2024
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager
The Skyward finance system will be unavailable for yearly maintenance on Wednesday, October 2, at 4:00 pm. This process will log you out of Web Finance and you will not be able to log in while we are running these year-end processes. If you have access to PaC, please logout before 4:00 pm. This process is expected to take one hour, at which time the system will be restored.
Administrative Assignments – September 2024
The following are new administrative assignments:
New Assignment effective Sept. 17, 2024:
Megan Daly, administrative intern at Mountain Ridge High, transferred as administrative intern at Copper Canyon Elementary.
New Assignment effective Oct. 28, 2024:
Jacob Rollins, teacher at Copper Hills High, appointed assistant principal at Mountain Ridge High, replacing Megan Daly
Custodial Share – Pest Control
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Please see information regarding the introduction of an Integrated Pest Management Program.
WIDA Exit Interviews
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Yearly Exit Interviews should be completed each fall. They are only conducted for students who tested proficient on WIDA the previous Spring (overall composite of at least 4.2 and a speaking score of at least 3.5). Exit Interviews are only completed once for a student and are done to move students into monitoring after testing proficient on WIDA. Please see this form for steps on how to print the forms on ELLevation.
Making the Most of Parent Teacher Conferences & Attendance
DATE:
September 17, 2024
TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Prevention Specialist, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences & Attendance
Tailoring Conversations to Students’ Attendance Status
Parent-teacher conferences, or student-led conferences, can be an ideal time for teachers to talk about the importance and benefits of regular school attendance. Teachers can use this one-on-one time with families or caregivers to update them on their student’s attendance and emphasize the benefits of daily attendance such as opportunities for students to connect with their peers and caring adults, participate in hands on learning, and remain on track academically. Holding parent teacher conferences twice a year provides an opportunity to establish and maintain two-way communication with families and integrate attendance into planned meetings without adding a new activity.
A Step-By-Step Guide for Teachers to Make the Most of Parent Teacher Conferences
Attendance Works, a national non-profit attendance initiative, has produced a step-by-step guide for teachers to use at parent teacher conferences to build trusting relationships with families/caregivers and learn how to partner together to help support their student.
Questions? Contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8205.
Grant Pre-Approval Process Through Skyward
TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Natalie Grange, Accountant/CPA
As was discussed in principals meeting, all classroom, school, and district grants must have a Cabinet sponsor. Please use the grant pre-approval process in Skyward before anyone applies for a grant. Only Admin Assistants can start the Skyward pre-approval process. Instructions are attached. The only current exception to the grant pre-approval process are applications for classroom grants through JEF and Donors Choose.
2024-25 10th Day Enrollment vs. the Estimate
DATE:
September 12, 2024
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Scott Festin, Planning Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT:
10th Day Enrollment vs. the Estimate for All Schools
The 2024-25 enrollment for all schools on the tenth day is 57,136. See the attached memo for more details.
2024-25 Parent Exclusion from State Assessments Form
DATE:
Thursday, September 19, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
2024-25 Parental Exclusion Forms
2024-25 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments forms have been released by the state. Elementary and secondary versions may be found attached with this memo (including Spanish versions for each level). In addition, the forms may be found on the Assessment, Research & Accountability website.
Parents must notify schools of their desire to opt their student out of a state-mandated assessment on an annual basis. Parental exclusions should be recorded on your school’s opt out log so that both school and district personnel have one source of truth for all parental exclusions. Schools are discouraged from keeping parental exclusion lists that are separate or different from the opt out log received from Assessment, Research & Accountability.
Please direct questions about parental exclusions to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
Research Project – State of Recess Survey
DATE:
Thursday, September 19, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
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: State of Recess Survey
Applicant: Kimberly Clevenger, Utah State University
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 and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. 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.
The project will involve voluntary participation in a survey about school recess administered to school administrators and teachers.
Thank you for your assistance.
Research Approval – RUBIES Strategy for Behavioral Skills Intervention
DATE:
Thursday, September 19, 2024
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
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: Iterative Redesign of a Multifaceted Implementation Strategy for a School-based Behavioral Skills Intervention
Applicant: Jill Locke, University of Washington
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 and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. 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.
PD Opportunity – Strategies for Teaching Multilingual Learners
TO:
Principals
Teachers
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Language And Culture Services has an opportunity for educators to join us to learn strategies for teaching Multilingual Students. If you missed our summer SIOP workshop, then this is the professional development for you! Please use this link to register: Fall 2024 ML Support PD Signup Form
Options to Create Screencast Learning Videos
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Our YuJa contract is set to expire on October 1, 2024. As a district, we’ve chosen not to renew the contract as there are many new options available to teachers and students to create screencast learning videos. Here are some of the best options for creating a video:
- Screencast by Google - This tool has recently been made FREE on any Chromebook device. The videos save directly into Google Drive and you have unlimited access to create and store videos. Unfortunately, you can only create ScreenCast videos on a Chromebook device, not using Google Chrome on a Mac or PC. Learn more about creating videos using Screencast.
- Canva - One of underutilized tools from Canvas is a video creation tool. You can use AI to help you create some elements of videos and use the Canva collections to add callouts, text, etc. to your projects. Check out a Canva video tutorial.
- Loom - This tool allows you access to a pro educational account for creating videos. Simple to use and edit your videos, loom is a great option for teachers using their Mac or PC. Find out more about Loom.
- Built in Tools on your Mac or PC - Both Mac and PC provide options for you to create screencast videos. You can use QuickTime Pro or Command +Shift+ 5 to create a quick video as well. These must be uploaded into Google Drive or Canvas to share with students. Similar options are available for the PC - here’s an article describing some of your options on the PC.
Please note you can still download any videos from YuJa you need for your classroom. These must be downloaded by Oct. 1, 2024 to ensure you have access to your video content. Instructions on downloading videos can be found on the YuJa website.
Open Office Hours for Elementary Special Education Teacher Specialists
DATE:
September 12, 2024
TO:
Elementary Principals
Elementary Special Education Teachers
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Open Office Hours for Elementary Teacher Specialists
The special education elementary teacher specialists will be available one Friday each month for “Open Office Hours” in order to assist teams and individual teachers with IEP paperwork and related questions. If a teacher would like to take advantage of this opportunity, you may come in person or you may join a Zoom in order to get the assistance that they need.
As always, teachers may also contact the special education teacher specialist assigned to their school to schedule an individual consultation as needed.
The schedule for Open Office Hours as well as locations or zoom link can be found below:
- Friday, September 20th from 1:30-3:30, ASB PDC 101
○ 1:30-2:30 How to create an IEP in Embrace (step-by-step)
○ 2:30-2:45 Data review and consent demonstration
○ 2:45-3:30 Individual consultation - Friday, October 18th from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 129
- Friday, November 22nd from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 129
- Friday, December 13th from 1:30-3:30, ASB PDC 101
- Friday, January 17th from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 129
- Friday, February 21st from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 129
- Friday, March 21st from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 129
- Friday, April 25th from 1:30-3:30, ASB PDC 101
- Friday, May 16th from 1:30-3:30, District Office Room 100 Main Entrance
Zoom Link for those who would like to attend virtually.
Interpreters for Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences – Fall 2024
TO:
Elementary Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Please use this form to help you plan for the October 2024 Parent/Teacher conferences. If your school is not listed on the attached memo, please request Spanish interpretation using this link.
Fall 2024 Multilingual Family Nights
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Language & Culture Services wants to celebrate our 2024 WIDA graduates. Our students work hard and we want to celebrate their linguistic greatness in reaching level 4.2 overall and level 3.5 on the speaking section in WIDA. Please come out and celebrate with your students and their families. Each feeder system has a special date.
- Sept. 23, Mountain Ridge High, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 9, Bingham High, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 30, Herriman High, 7 p.m.
- Nov.7, West Jordan High, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 21, Copper Hills High, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 2, Riverton High, 7 p.m.
You can access your individual feeder system flyer using this link:
Email Security Program Upgrade
DATE:
Thursday, September 5, 2024
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager in Information Systems
David Bowman, Systems and Security Manager
Information Systems is excited to announce that on September 12th, we'll be implementing a new email security system to enhance your online safety. This upgrade will reduce the amount of spam and scams you receive. As we fine-tune the system, some emails will have "SPAM?" in the subject line.
If you're expecting an email that hasn't arrived, please don't hesitate to contact the Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737. We're committed to providing you with the best possible email experience.
What’s New in Teaching and Learning?
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Check out the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for September. Learn Tips and Tricks, Sign Up for Upcoming PD, and Learn about Important Updates from the T & L team.
32 Hours PD Options from Teaching and Learning
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Teaching and Learning (T&L) is here to help you with your 32 hours of educator-directed learning. You'll find lots of great classes, workshops, and conferences that can provide you with the learning and hours you'll need to meet the 32-hour stipend requirement.
