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Category: Elementary Info

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In an effort to keep you informed about changes in current technology support, Information Systems is announcing the following:

  • Information Systems is now able to support the new Apple operating system, OS 11, also called Big Sur, for devices that are capable of running it. Upgrading to this new operating system will need to be a technician assisted process. To determine if your computer is capable of accepting this upgrade, and to begin the process where applicable, please contact your building computer technician.
  • The newest generation of Apple computers using the M1 chip are now supported. Please see your building computer technician for further assistance with getting these devices deployed.
  • Information Systems is changing the district's antivirus from Sophos to Trend Micro. If you have any questions about this change, please consult your building computer technician.

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DATE:  
Thursday, May 27, 2021

TO: 
Elementary Administrators

FROM: 
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Amy Kinder, Math Consultant

SUBJECT:  
State-Mandated Early Numeracy Assessment: Acadience Math

In the 2020 Legislative session, the Legislature passed a law (53E-4-307.5) requiring the administration of an early numeracy assessment.  Due to the pandemic, this requirement was suspended for the 2020-21 school year, but the assessment will be administered beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Please see complete memo below.

Published on

DATE:   
May 20, 2021

TO: 
Elementary Principals
Elementary Head Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Jill Durrant, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT:   
Summer Pool Hours for Elementary Head Administrative Assistants

As a reminder, elementary school head administrative assistants have up to forty (40) hours to use during the summer months.  These hours remain optional and flexible and are to be used in coordination with the school principal.

It is suggested the hours be spread out over the summer months and be used to keep registration current in Skyward and address other matters that typically build up over the summer months (voicemails, purchase verifications, timesheets, etc.).  These hours should not be used for summer school coverage.  The hope is that these summer hours will aid the school in a successful opening for the students.

The hours should be reported through True Time under the heading “Contract Pool Hours” and will be charged to account number: 10 E xxx 0050 2483 152.

JL/jc

cc:
Cabinet
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

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Each school may spend up to $300 for summer school supplies from ESSER II funds. This is a per school allocation and not a per teacher allocation. The $300 summer school allocation from the ESSER II funds must have expenses coded directly to the 7215 program number. All purchases must have original documentation (scans if submitting an echeck in the Skyward system) attached for auditing purposes. Include a clear description of items purchased on the check request or on the p-card so purchases are easily identifiable. Include in the description that the supplies are being used for summer school. Purchases can include supplies and materials directly tied to summer school. Purchases cannot include food, incentives, toys, or clothing.

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DATE:
May 19, 2021

TO:
Elementary, Middle, High Schools Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
“NEW Behavioral and Mental Health Crisis Resource”

The Utah Department of Human Services has recently created the Stabilization and Mobile Response Team. This is meant to be an alternative to the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT). This resource is available for children and families from 7am-11pm. This resource can be reached by calling 1-833-SAFE-FAM (1-833-723-3326). This resource is meant for any parent or caregiver that is experiencing any of the following challenges with a child: threatens to inflict harm on self or others, is verbally or physically aggressive, uses substances, destroys or steals property, has difficulty in school, often runs away, bullies or is bullied, demonstrates severe changes in mood, experiences depression or anxiety, is withdrawn from friends and peers.

Here is a brief description of how this team will assist with these challenges.

Mobile Response Services

Provided to you in your home or at school to ease an immediate challenge and provide support.

  • Minimize the impact of the challenge on you and your family
  • Create safety plans
  • Connect you and your family to other helpful resources

Stabilization Services

Short-term services may be provided in addition to mobile response to help ensure your family’s long-term success.

  • Teach skills to improve family functioning
  • Create plans that prepare you for and prevent future challenges
  • Prevent the need for out-of-home services
  • Equip you with ongoing resources and support

For more information visit their website and review the attached flyer.

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Health Special Risk, Inc. is offering two options for supplemental accident insurance, at-school coverage and 24-hour coverage. See attached flyer (English and Spanish) for additional information. Please consider including the information in  your school packets.

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Schools have the option of having teachers track their summer school work time in True Time rather than on timesheets. If you would like to do this, please send a list of your teachers to Keelee Leuluai and note that the list is for summer school. Instructions for using True Time can be found here.

It is expected that all ESP employees will use True Time to track their work for summer school. Please send a list of ESP employees participating in summer school to Keelee Leuluai.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, May 13, 2021

TO:  
Elementary School Administrators
Middle School Administrators

FROM: 
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
RISE Reporting Features and Functions

Accessing the reporting feature on the RISE Portal will allow you to view RISE proficiency in real time as well as access student level raw data. Please follow the step-by-step instructions on the documents below to access both reporting features.

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Arts Are Core: Building Community Online Conference Register Now!

Arts Are Core presents an online conference experience with hands-on arts integration workshops in visual art, dance, music, drama, and poetry. Participate in teacher-created workshops and engaging presentations centered around our conference theme, Building Community. Participants will chat with presenters and fellow educators throughout the conference, walking away with enriched lesson plans connected to core curriculum, including downloadable resources to start the coming school year with creativity and energy!

Keynote Presenter: Glenis Redmond, Award-Winning Poet and Kennedy Center Teaching Artist

  • 8:30AM-2:30PM, August 4th, Online Conference presented by the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Program for Elementary Arts Education at Utah State University
  • Network with fellow educators, live Q&A with presenters, post-conference access to all recorded sessions, handouts, and resources
  • For a detailed schedule, presenter list, workshop descriptions, and additional conference information see the Arts Are Core: Building Community website
  • Join our conference Facebook Group to chat with other conference attendees

 Registration Costs:

  • $25.00 for Educators
  • $10.00 for University Students

 Re-licensure points, CEU credit, and SUU academic credit available!

For more info visit the Conference Website: Arts Are Core 2021: Building Community and see the attached flyer. Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and Instagram!

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Dear Educators,

We would like to share a new professional learning opportunity with you called Utah Microcredentials. This resource is supported and funded by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and is available to all educators in Utah’s public education system, including teachers, instructional coaches, paraprofessionals, counselors, related service providers, administrators, and other educators.

Microcredentials acknowledge all the different types of professional learning that educators do, both formal, traditional courses and independent, self-directed learning. Realizing that educators are continually honing their craft, Utah Microcredentials provides a way to recognize that learning. Microcredentials represent instructional skills and concepts. A microcredential is competency-based recognition that the holder has demonstrated effective and consistent use of the target skill or concept as a part of their practice. Microcredentials are not earned through seat time, assignments, or tests. They are earned by submitting the required evidence for a specific microcredential on the target skill or concept.

Each Utah Microcredential is worth a 0.5 USBE credit, which may be used for relicensing and for salary changes in certain districts/charters. The cost for each is $20. Earning microcredentials is also a way to demonstrate leadership. Posting earned microcredentials on your webpage, social media, and even outside your door is an invitation to share your skills with others. For more information, you can use these resources:

  • A narrated video that provides an overview of microcredentials,
  • The UEN website for Utah’s Microcredentials,
  • A one-pager of the most frequently asked questions about microcredentials.

You can start earning Utah Microcredentials on MIDAS. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to supporting learning for our Utah students.

Published on

DATE: 
May 3, 2021

TO: 
School Psychologists, Elementary Counselors, and School Social Workers

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

SUBJECT:   
May School Psychologist, Elementary Counselor, and School Social Workers Meeting

A virtual meeting for school psychologists, elementary counselors, and school social workers has been scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Melissa Heath, Ph.D. will provide us with a presentation on Strengthening Youth with Supportive Stories and Metaphors, and Ben Springer, Ph.D., BCBA-D will provide us with the following presentation: Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face.

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

cc:
Principals

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Multiple Federal agencies are investigating numerous fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance (UI) programs across the United States.  Fraudsters, some of which are transnational criminal organizations, are using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens to open accounts and file fraudulent claims for benefits, exploiting the unprecedented expansion of the benefits provided in response to economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Many victims of this crime have no knowledge that criminals have applied for UI benefits in their name.  You may only discover that you were a victim of this crime upon seeing the following red flags:

  1. You are told by a current or former employer that a UI claim has been submitted with your information;
  2. You did not apply for UI benefits, but you receive a determination letter from your state or another state regarding a UI claim filed under your name;
  3. You receive a notification that you failed the security verification process for your UI claim;
  4. You file a lawful UI claim and you receive a notice that your claim was rejected because the state has already received a claim under your name.

The District Human Resource department is taking immediate steps to address suspected fraudulent claims.  These include:

  • Contacting current employees to verify if the employee filed a UI claim.
  • Immediately notifying the state agency of confirmed fraud claims.
  • Providing impacted employees steps to follow to report fraud.

For more information or if you believe you may be impacted, please visit the following websites for information on reporting fraud and protecting your credit.

Utah Attorney General (https://www.identitytheft.gov/UnemploymentInsurance)

“Unemployment Insurance Fraud Consumer Protection Guide” (https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/Unemployment%20Insurance%20Fraud%20Consumer%20Protection%20Guide,%20Final.pdf)

Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/media/DOL-OIG%20UI%20Fraud%20Alert.pdf)

Published on

DATE:  
April 27, 2021

TO: 
Elementary Principals
Elementary Media Assistants

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Shelley Nordick, Administrator, Curriculum/Staff Development
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts     Consultant

SUBJECT: 
Quarterly Training Meetings for Elementary Media Assistants

In order to prepare and train elementary library media assistants to effectively provide services to elementary schools and to build consistency across elementary library programs, several training meetings have been scheduled for the 2021-22 school year. The participation of both of your library assistants in these meetings is appreciated and expected. The meetings are to be included in the assistants' allotted 17 hours. With the exception of August 17, 2021, the meetings have been scheduled on Fridays.

The meetings will be held at the venues shown below from 9:30-11:30 a.m.:

  • August 17, 2021 - JATC South
  • October 8, 2021 - JATC South
  • January 14, 2022 - Viridian Event Center
  • April 8, 2022 - JATC South

Please share this information with your school’s elementary media assistants.

Please feel free to contact Norman Emerson (801-567-8364) if further information is needed. Thank you for your continued support of the library media program in Jordan District.

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We appreciate the efforts you’ve made to create your schedule for summer school. Hopefully you’ve completed several other steps on your summer school planning list. Reach out if you have questions or need resources.

Please review the following informational items regarding summer school

  • SUMMER SCHOOL MATERIALS
    • Summer School Supplies – Because this is a federal grant that will be audited, we need to be very detailed in regards to all orders. If you purchase supplies, please code all charges directly to the ESSER II program budget. (Contact Noreen Samowitz for budget information.) Schools can use up to $300 for supplies.
    • Building Fact Fluency Kits – Purchasing information has been emailed to school admin assistants from Melissa Garber.
    • SORing to Summer School Success Student Practice Books – The student practice books can be ordered through the ISC for teachers who have received the Really Great Reading training. Email your school order (number of practice books) to isc@jordandistrict.org. The student practice books will be copied and sent to your school.
  • TEACHER COMPENSATION
    • Training and Preparation – Participating teachers can be paid for 1 day (8 hours) of preparation. Training is included as part of the 8 hours.
      • SORing to Summer School Success webinar. (3 hours online)
      • Building Fact Fluency Kit training. Register in JPLS. (2 hours)
        • May 19 4:00 – 6:00 (Via ZOOM)
        • May 21 8:30 – 10:30 (Via ZOOM)
        • May 21 2:00 – 4:00 (Via ZOOM)
    • Recruiting – Teachers can be paid for 1 day (8 hours) to identify students for participation in summer school and for recruiting students.
    • Timesheets -- Schools are responsible for recording, tracking, and submitting timesheets. Have teachers fill out a timesheet with descriptions such as: Summer School Prep; Summer School Recruiting; Summer School Instruction, etc. Please code Summer School timesheets to the ESSER II program budget. (Contact Noreen Samowitz for budget information.)
  • CROSSING GUARDS AND TRANSPORTATION
    • Crossing guards will not be available for summer school. Please plan accordingly.
    • Information regarding buses should be available within 2 weeks.

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Administrators & Program Directors:

As we are beginning to make plans for the 2021-22 school year, we wanted to remind you about the master calendar for the district. You can find it on mastercal.jordandistrict.org. This calendar is intended to inform Principals, Administrators & District personnel of district events and due dates (it does not include individual school events).

If you would like to copy anything on this calendar to your personal google calendar, simply click on the “see more details” link and then copy it using the 3 vertical dot (options) button.

To search for an item in the master calendar, you can use Command+F (Apple) or Control+F (PC). This will bring up a search bar where you can type a few key words to help you find the information you are seeking.

if you would like to add a district event or make a revision to the master calendar, please contact Lisa LeStarge at 801-567-8186 or lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org.