Jordan School District
DATE:
September 3, 2021
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Consultant, Planning and Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning and Enrollment
SUBJECT:
10th Day Enrollment versus the Estimate
Please see memo below.
What's New School LAND Trust Program 2021 2022 - YouTube
"What's New" Training: this 15 minute video covers the most important changes to the program and announcements and reminders.
*Please take note that the deadlines listed in JAM last week are the deadlines Jordan School District will be following.
DATE:
September 2, 2021
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, PhD, Teaching and Learning Administrator
Norman R. Emerson, Fine Arts Consultant
SUBJECT:
Assemblies by Artistic Resources for Teachers and Students, Inc. (ARTS, Inc.)
ARTS, Inc., now in its sixty-second year of operation, was founded in 1959 and has provided performances in all forty-one school districts in Utah, reaching more than 250 schools each year with professional arts and education programming. We welcome their artists in our schools again for the 2021-22 school year.
Click this link to find:
The artists have been instructed to contact you at least two weeks prior to their assembly to verify starting times and specific needs for their performance. If the date selected for the music group to perform at your school does not work with your schedule, please contact the music group as soon as possible to reschedule. The name and phone number of the contact person for each group have been provided.
If you have any questions, please contact Norman Emerson at 801-567-8364.
DATE:
Thursday, September 9, 2021
TO:
All Elementary and Middle School Administrators
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Opportunity to Learn Survey Results
As part of RISE and Utah Aspire Plus summative testing for grades 3-10, students participated in an Opportunity to Learn (OTL) survey from USBE. The purpose of the survey was to add context around how shifting learning environments affected students’ achievement on the summative assessments.
The OTL questions used on the survey are attached with this memo. A dashboard that shows the results from this survey for the district and individual schools may be found here, including OTL responses tied to math and reading proficiency level. Additional information and data dashboards will be added in the future.
If you have questions about the survey or the OTL dashboards, please contact Brooke Anderson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability.
See attached flyer.
See attached flyer.
JSD employees are encouraged to take every safety precaution possible to protect themselves and others. Please see flyer below for important information.
Kindergarten Night Out will be held on September 8 from 4:15 - 5:15 in the auditorium at the ASB. Please invite all kindergarten teachers to attend. We will be learning some tips and tricks to use in Walk to Read for students who are above level. This is a time to collaborate and get some freebies for the classroom.
There is a new curriculum planning tool available for third-grade teachers who are using HD Word Plus called the HD Word Plus Weekly Road Map. This map will help guide teachers through the resources available in HD Word Plus and it serves as a helpful day-to-day planning guide. This resource will continue to be developed throughout this school year. Please be sure to share this HD Word Plus Weekly Road Map link with all third-grade teachers and all building coaches.
The literacy department is hosting a weekly literacy Q&A every Thursday in September from 3:30-4:30. An updated link to this meeting is included. Please share this information with your teachers and coaches and feel free to join us if you have any literacy questions. Please be sure to use this updated link to access the meetings. Literacy Q & A
We have added another make up session for the Literacy Launch for anyone who still needs to attend the training. The new dates are September 27th and 29th and these dates are now available in JPLS.
We have two additional dates for Heggerty and MSRC training scheduled for September 7th and 14th for anyone still needing this training. The classes are available for sign up on JPLS.
We are expecting the additional Really Great Reading teacher manuals and student workbooks to arrive this Friday by 7:00 pm. We will send them out to schools next week as long as they arrive on time. The student workboards are still on backorder.
Each school should have received or should be receiving shortly, a shipment of phonics decodable readers from High Noon Books/Academic Therapies Publications. These were mentioned during Literacy Launch training. These books are perfect for upper-grade students who are working on building decoding skills. These books should be stored in a central location where all teachers can have access to them. The set of books will include 8 different series with a total of 86 books. The series are listed below:
Magic Belt Series (12 books)
Alba Series (12 books)
Totem Series (12 books)
Talisman Series One (10 books)
Rescue Series (10 books)
Titan's Gauntlets Series (10 books)
Talisman Series Two (10 books)
Amber Guardians Series (10 books)
We have a few schools who have not responded to the Google form that was sent out by Sara Henderson regarding the need for Think Central for literacy. If we do not hear from schools by September 7th we will assume that you do not need Think Central subscriptions for your school. This will not affect math subscriptions to Think Central. The link to the Google form can be accessed through this Google Form for Think Central link.
USBE has requested that teachers participate in a brief survey. This survey will be sent out to teachers through Canvas and participation in the survey is encouraged.
Please see the attached flyer.
In an effort to help everyone be aware of everything they need to know about LETRS, we have added a page on the Teaching & Learning home page that is dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on all things LETRS. If there are things you’d appreciate being added to the page, please reach out to Ronna Hoffman at 88242 or ronna.hoffman@jordandistrict.org. This page is intended to be a helpful resource to you and your teachers. Check it out!! Tell your teachers about it!!
See the attached flowchart for clarification on marking COVID-related absences.
Attached is a flyer with information regarding COVID-19 testing being done at Elk Ridge Middle.
This letter is an optional tool for you to use.
Please see the letter by going HERE.
DATE:
August 26, 2021
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Student Support Consultant
SUBJECT:
Youth Services Early Intervention Program
The Utah Department of Human Services Youth Services Model is an early intervention program targeting youth who are struggling in school (grades, attendance, behavior), at home and/or otherwise at risk for getting involved in the Court system. The program supports families by helping them gain access to services in the community that they may otherwise be unaware of or unable to afford.
The services can include psych evaluations, individual therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Families First in-home intervention services, and referrals to other wrap around services. The Department has the funding to provide these services due to recent justice reform efforts.
There is an online referral process that makes it simple for youth ages 10-18, primarily in need of services due to the child’s behavior to get the support they need. Someone from Youth Services will respond to the referral within 48 business hours of submission. To refer a youth, visit: https://jjs.utah.gov/referral.
A program flyer accompanies this memo.
DATE:
August 25, 2021
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Student Support Consultant
SUBJECT:
AS90-Illegal Substances
On Tuesday August 24, 2021 the Board approved changes to District Policy AS90-Illegal Substances (formerly AS90-Drugs and Alcohol). There were several changes and it is encouraged that you familiarize yourself with the new policy (attached).
The “Consequences Chart” and the “I Form – Illegal Substances Violation” form have been updated on the Student Support website (https://studentsupport.jordandistrict.org/drugs-alcohol-forms/) to reflect the policy changes. A Spanish version will be uploaded soon.
Several trainings will occur over the next month regarding the changes within the policy.
Please address any questions you may have to Sharon Jensen in Student Support at sharon.jensen@jordandistrict.org or 801.567.8236.
When will the textbooks arrive?
Textbooks are here and will be delivered to schools beginning Friday, August 27!! Hooray!!! Any not delivered on Friday, will be delivered next week.
What do I need to know about the shipment?
Your school’s shipment will arrive in 2-5 different boxes. It should include: teacher textbooks for Units 1-4, Teacher textbooks for Units 5-8, Administrator textbooks (A PRINCIPAL’S PRIMER FOR RAISING READING ACHIEVEMENT), and a school list of teachers.
What if I have teachers who do not have a username and password?
Please let Ronna know!! Chances are, if they are on your school list, their username and password are in the process of being created. However, we would hate to have someone slip through the cracks. As you hire new teachers (those of you who are still trying to fill positions), please let Ronna know asap so we can get them set up as quickly as possible.
What if I have teachers who are not on the list, but should be?
Please let Ronna know!! Some orders were already being packed when we received your updated lists. We tried to make the changes, but there were a few schools that we missed updating the list before it was packed with the books.
What if I have teachers who are on the list, but should not be?
Please let Ronna know!! We will update that information. If you have extra textbooks, Ronna will happily pick them up from you (see next FAQ).
What if I have extra textbooks?
Please let Ronna know!! She will happily pick them up from you and will most likely have a chocolatey treat in exchange.
What if I need more textbooks?
Please let Ronna know!! If other schools have extras, we’ll get you what you need from the extras. Otherwise, we’ll order more through USBE. We automatically order textbooks when we request a username and password for someone.
Will there be compensation for completing LETRS training?
Teachers, coaches, and school psychs will be paid $400 per completed unit. This includes completing the online modules and attending the course. There is an extra $100 incentive for all of the above who complete Unit 1 by the end of October.
Most of the in-person session dates for Unit 1 are contract days. Subs will be provided. Teachers can use the “LETRS Training” option when putting in for a sub. The budget code will be coming soon!! If a teacher chooses to attend the in-person session on a non-contract day, they will be compensated for that rather than having a sub. Please have them fill out a time sheet.
**Please note that Grade Transmittal Days are contract days. Teachers are welcome to choose to attend a session on that day, but will not receive compensation.
Do DLI target-language teachers participate in LETRS?
No. Only the English side teachers of DLI participate.
Do EXCEL/Cluster/SCSC teachers participate in LETRS?
No. If there is an unusual situation and you would like your SCSC teacher(s) to participate, please contact Ronna Hoffman or Shelley Nordick.
Can teachers complete the in-person (via zoom) session from home?
Teachers will need a sub for the in-person sessions, but since they are now via zoom, they are welcome to participate from home. If teams want to participate together, they are welcome to do that as well.
Do teams have to work on each unit together?
No. Though it may be helpful, it’s not required to complete the units as a team.
Is there a timeline to complete the units?
Yes, but there is some flexibility. Unit 1 MUST be started by February 2022!! Otherwise, everyone can take this on his/her own timetable as long as all eight units are completed by the end of the 2022-23 school year.
What do my teachers need to know about registering for the in-person session in MIDAS?
There are only 40 seats per session that we share with many other districts. If a session is full, teachers will have to find another date that works for them.
Please make sure your teachers understand that they should NOT register for a course in MIDAS until they have their username and login AND can complete the entire unit BEFORE the in-person session. Doing so will take seats away from other teachers. If teachers need to un-schedule a session, the MIDAS helpline number is 801-538-7807.
Did you know that the Safety Patrol program began in the U.S in 1920? AAA Exchange formed this organization over 100 years ago to give students an opportunity to serve their fellow classmates by helping to provide increased campus safety as they go to and from school. AAA provides lots of free resources to schools, such as guide books, videos and supplies to help your school build and maintain a successful Safety Patrol program.
A Safety Patrol Program requires school staff oversight and support. Safety Patrollers can only help with safety on campus. They should never be allowed to stop vehicles and cross students on campus without constant staff supervision and direction. Off campus safety is the responsibility of the city, police and crossing guards.
It is recommended that AAA Exchange be utilized to register and organize a program at your school. Website link: AAA Safety Patrol Website
For traffic cones, handheld stop signs, or related campus signs and paint, please contact Risk Management Coordinator Jeff Beesley at 801-567-8876, Jeffrey.beesley@jordandistrict.org, or Emergency Operations Manager Lance Everill at 801-567-8623, lance.everill@jordandistrict.org
DATE:
August 25, 2021
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
SUBJECT:
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG)
The required Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guideline (CSTAG) training conducted in July consists of two “levels”. Level 1 is a 7-8 hour training conducted online and Level 2 is an in-person training. A Level 2 training was conducted in July and other dates and times will be provided in coming weeks. In order to complete the CSTAG training you must complete both Level 1 and Level 2.
Each school should have already received the manual “Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines: Intervention and Support to Prevent Violence” (1 per school). This manual provides resources to assist you as incidents occur. If your school has not received the manual, please contact Student Services at 801.567.8259. Additional manuals may be purchased for $45 each.
Threat assessments are conducted when there is some reason to be concerned about the behavior. It is not feasible nor necessary to conduct an assessment for insignificant behavior such as playful bantering or joking. However, for behavior that is concerning, the CSTAG manual contains forms to assist you in conducting a threat assessment.
For your convenience, the Threat Assessment Forms from the manual are included with this memo. They are fillable for your convenience. Please note that these forms may also be found online at https://www.schoolta.com/manual. The CSTAG Forms and other resources/documents will also be posted on the Student Support website.
Should you want other staff members in your school to receive the CSTAG training, such as campus monitors, SRO’s, or others, please send an email with their firstname,lastname and district email address to Travis @ travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org. The cost of the training is $85 per person.
The following are anticipated payment dates for literacy stipends.
Additional information about stipends for LETRS training will be coming soon.
All kindergarten teachers are invited to join us for a kindergarten night out on September 8th at 4:15 in the auditorium at the ASB. This month we will be talking about strategies to use for our students who need extensions in literacy. This is a great time to collaborate with other kindergarten teachers in the district and also get some free materials. Teachers can sign up on JPLS. We hope to see everyone there!
