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Category: Elementary Info

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Principals:

This year we have made a change to the format of the pretest and benchmarks for first-grade. Rather than a traditional paper/pencil assessment, the new format will allow teachers to give the test as a series of tasks where the teacher will ask students to give oral responses to questions. The reason for this change is that the core specifies that students will demonstrate their knowledge by reading words, responding orally, and producing words and sounds. A paper/pencil test does not lend itself very well to measuring these important standards. There are a variety of ways teachers could choose to administer the test to students. Teachers could give the tasks in a small-group setting or individually and they could choose to give a task each day or complete several tasks in a day. Each task is designed to take a very short amount of time and should be easy for teachers to administer. We are asking the coaches to meet with the first-grade teams at their respective schools as soon as possible in order to give the teachers the information they will need to make this a smooth transition.

Our kindergarten teachers will give the KEEP test as required by the state the same as last year. However, the kindergarten benchmarks will also be in the new format.

We appreciate your help and support and we are excited about this school year. Please let us know if there are ways we can support you and your teachers.

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DATE:
September 18, 2018

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Shelley Nordick, PhD, Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services Consultant

SUBJECT:
Elementary Media Assistants Guidelines

The top priority of elementary media assistants is to administer the school library. Under normal circumstances, they should not be given additional responsibilities outside of the media center. If additional responsibilities or changes are being considered, the Instructional Support Services Consultant should first be contacted to provide an assessment of the library program to determine if it is functioning in a manner that will allow the change without compromising the library program.

All Jordan School District library schedules should be arranged to deliver the following:

  • An open checkout time for students to independently come into the library to exchange books Monday through Friday.
  • An assigned library time for each class which should be at least 30 minutes. The library time should include check out and instruction time (which includes story time and library curriculum lessons that are based on the Utah Library Media Core).
  • A schedule that avoids having more than one class at a time in the media center.
  • Sufficient time for book reshelving and maintenance.
  • A two-hour weekly collaboration time for media assistants to work together to plan book promotions, displays, curriculum scheduling, and district projects.
  • Time for library upkeep (including processing books and orders, repairs, overdue books reports, etc.).

Also, please be aware that assistants who are scheduled to work more than five (5) hours per day are entitled to a 30-minute duty-free lunch (not included in the 17-hour paid schedule).

During the school year, four training meetings for the media assistants are held. Please work with your assistants in making arrangements so that both of the assistants can attend each of these meetings.

Please contact Norman Emerson at 801-567-8364 if you have any questions about these guidelines.

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The following are new administrative assignments effective August 1, 2019:

Allyson Stovall, teacher at Terra Linda Elementary, appointed administrator on special assignment in the Teaching & Learning Department.

Mandy Thurman, currently assistant principal at Hayden Peak & Bluffdale Elementaries, appointed consultant in the Teaching & Learning Department.

Elizabeth Felt, teacher specialist in the Teaching & Learning Department, appointed assistant principal at Blackridge & South Jordan Elementary Schools.

Ami Shah, teacher specialist in the Special Education Department, appointed assistant principal at Riverton & West Jordan Elementary Schools.

Nicole Johnson, currently on a leave of absence, appointed assistant principal at Columbia, Copper Canyon, Rosamond, Westvale, Jordan Hills & Westland Elementary Schools.

Cathy Ford, currently assistant principal at South Jordan & Blackridge Elementaries, appointed assistant principal at Hayden Peak, Falcon Ridge & Mountain Shadows Elementary Schools.

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DATE:  
July 25, 2019

TO:   
Principals
Elementary and Middle School Resource Team Leaders
High School Special Education Team Leaders
Self-contained Support Class Teachers

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Special Education Director

SUBJECT:  
Instructional Assistant Trainings

The Special Education Department is offering training sessions for instructional assistants.  There are several options for instructional assistants to choose from in topics of trainings and dates these trainings are available.  These trainings are for all instructional assistants regardless of the number of hours they work.

Each instructional assistant should attend ONE half-day session and within that half-day, choose two sessions to attend.  Every Session runs 90 minutes.  The sessions cover behavior, data collection, instructional practices and the inside out of a special education classroom.

The dates and training schedules are as follows: (pick only one day and either the AM Sessions or the PM Sessions)

August 19, 2019 – ASB

  • AM Session 8:00am to 9:30am and 9:35am to 11:05am (every session runs for 90 minutes each)
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 102
    • Instructional Practices – PDC Room 103
    • Inside Out of a special education classroom – PDC Room 113
  • PM Session 12:00pm to 1:30pm and 1:35pm to 3:05pm
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 102
    • Instructional Practices – PDC Room 103
    • Inside Out of a special education classroom – PDC Room 113

September 12, 2019 - ASB

  • AM Session 8:00am to 9:30am and 9:35am to 11:05am (every session runs for 90 minutes each)
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 103
    • Inside Out of a special education instructional Practices – PDC Room 113
  • PM Session 12:00pm to 1:30pm and 1:35pm to 3:05pm
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 103
    • Inside Out of a special education instructional Practices – PDC Room 113

September 13, 2019 - ASB

  • AM Session 8:00am to 9:30am and 9:35am to 11:05am (every session runs for 90 minutes each)
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 102
    • Inside Out of a special education instructional Practices – PDC Room 113
  • PM Session 12:00pm to 1:30pm and 1:35pm to 3:05pm
    • Behavior and Class Management – PDC Room 101
    • Data Collection – PDC Room 102
    • Inside Out of a special education instructional Practices – PDC Room 113

To register for this training please contact Amanda Hamblin at 801-567-8176 or amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org with your session and class choices and which school you work in.

If the training session attended is outside of regular paid contract time, compensation will be provided.

If you have questions please call the special education department at 801-567-8177.

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Useful information will be presented for all administrative levels, including elementary.

Training will be provided for Elementary and Secondary Principals, Assistant Principals and School Resource Officers.

Friday, August 9, 2019
JATC South Auditorium
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

See flyer for more details.

Published on

DATE:  
July 18, 2019

TO:  
All Principals

FROM: 
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Revised Dates for Data Dives with School Administrators

Because of a scheduling conflict and Questar’s inability to provide student level RISE data by its July 15th deadline, the principal data dive schedule for August 5th has been postponed. Additional elementary sections have also been added.

 

School administrators – principals and assistant principals – need only attend one of the available sessions:

Level Date Time Location
Elementary Sep. 10, 2019 8:00-11:30 am ASB Computer Lab D112
Elementary Sep. 10, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm ASB Computer Lab D112
Secondary Sep. 18, 2019 8:00-11:30 am PDC 103
Elementary Sep. 18, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm PDC 103
Secondary Sep. 24, 2019 8:00-11:30 am PDC 101
Secondary Sep. 24, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm PDC 101
Elementary Sep. 25, 2019 8:00-11:30 am ASB Computer Lab D112
Elementary Sep. 25, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm ASB Computer Lab D112

 

For elementary school administrators, we will dive into the following data:

  • Demographic enrollment for the 2019-20 school year
  • Acadience Reading performance data
  • RISE performance data
  • KEEP performance data
  • WIDA performance data

 

For secondary school administrators, we will dive into the following data:

  • Demographic enrollment for the 2019-20 school year
  • RISE performance data (middle schools)
  • Utah Aspire Plus data
  • ACT 11th Grade Administration (middle schools will be able to see ACT results for their previous students)
  • AP results and performance
  • WIDA performance data

 

School administrators will need to bring a laptop (except for the sessions in the ASB computer lab) and their Tableau login credentials.  Assistant principals will need to use their principal’s login credentials.

 

Please contact Ben Jameson with any questions about these trainings.

Published on

DATE: 
July 15, 2019

TO:   
Principals
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-Language Technicians
Audiologists

FROM: 
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, CCC-SLP, TS, Speech-Language-Audiology Program

SUBJECT: 
2019-20 Speech-Language-Audiology Assignments

Attached are the Speech-Language-Audiology Assignments for K-12, current as of July 15, 2019. These assignments are subject to change.

Please read these assignments carefully and direct any questions or concerns to Kristin Norris @ 801-567-8372 or kristin.norris@jordandistrict.org. Thank you for your attention to these issues.

Attachments

 

Published on

DATE:  
July 15, 2019

TO: 
Principals
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-Language Technicians
Audiologists

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, CCC-SLP, TS, Speech-Language-Audiology Program

SUBJECT: 
2019-20 Professional Development Dates

Attached are the dates and location that have been determined for Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Professional Development. Attendance is optional with principal permission.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, July 11, 2019

TO:   
All Principals

FROM:
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Data Dives with School Administrators

An opportunity to dive into your school’s data has been made available. There are two sessions for elementary level and two sessions for secondary principals and assistant principals. School administrators need only to attend one of the available sessions:

Level Date Time Location
Elementary Aug. 5, 2019 8:00-11:30 am ASB Computer Lab D112
Elementary Aug. 5, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm ASB Computer Lab D112
Secondary Sep. 18, 2019 8:00-11:30 am PDC 103
Elementary Sep. 18, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm PDC 103
Secondary Sep. 24, 2019 8:00-11:30 am PDC 101
Secondary Sep. 24, 2019 12:00-3:30 pm PDC 101

For elementary school administrators, we will dive into the following data:

  • Demographic enrollment for the 2019-20 school year
  • Acadience Reading performance data
  • RISE performance data
  • KEEP performance data
  • WIDA performance data

For secondary school administrators, we will dive into the following data:

  • Demographic enrollment for the 2019-20 school year
  • RISE performance data (middle schools)
  • Utah Aspire Plus data
  • ACT 11th Grade Administration (middle schools will be able to see ACT results for their previous students)
  • AP results and performance
  • WIDA performance data

School administrators will need to bring a laptop (except the Aug. 5th session) and their Tableau login credentials. Assistant principals will need to use their principal’s login credentials.

Please contact Ben Jameson with any questions about these trainings.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, July 11, 2019

TO: 
Elementary Principals

FROM:   
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:   
2019 Acadience Data Dashboards Release

A new series of dashboards have been released to your Tableau Viewer account that contain Acadience Reading data from the 2015-16 school year to the 2018-19 school year. These dashboards are located under the project folder entitled '2019 Acadience Reading EOY Analysis.' You will be able to see proficiency and growth data for each benchmark window and measure. In addition, you will be able to compare your results to demographically similar schools in the district. Please note that the demographic comparison is based off of a simplified comparison and calculation of your demographics. Finally, you will be able to see proficiency, growth, and measure data for each of your 2018-19 students.

In addition to these dashboards, you will also be able to look at progress monitoring fidelity for Below Benchmark and Well Below Benchmark students during the 2018-19 school year.

The dashboards will allow you to filter by socioeconomic status, ELL status, special education status, chronic absenteeism, and race. Many of the dashboards will also allow you to filter by proficiency and growth. If you want to download or print any of your dashboards, I have attached step-by-step instructions below.

If you are interested, I would love to meet with you individually to learn how to manipulate your dashboards, peruse your data, and answer any questions you may have.

To access the Tableau login page: https://sso.online.tableau.com/public/idp/SSO

Please contact Ben Jameson with any questions about these dashboards.

Published on

DATE: 
June 26, 2019

TO: 
Principals
New and 2nd Year Special Educators
Special Ed Mentors

FROM:  
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist

SUBJECT: 
Special Education New Teacher Induction Training

The Special Education Department has scheduled a series of trainings for special educators that are new to Jordan School District as well as other trainings for Special Educators in their 2nd year with Jordan School District. There are also training opportunities for special education mentors. Please release these special educators so that they may attend these important training opportunities. However, attendance is at the principal’s discretion. Special education will cover the substitute costs for trainings that occur during the school day (Budget code: 1292).  If the training occurs after school, the special educators will be paid at inservice rate.

Please see the attached training schedule for details on dates, locations and registration information.

For more information, please contact Robin Silatolu at robin.silatolu@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8352.

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In order to better manage and maintain iPads in the district, schools will be required to purchase a JAMF School iPad management software license for each new iPad. This is similar to what is required for all Chromebook purchases. The license is a onetime purchase from Apple and would be included on your Apple iPad order (part number HL2M2LL/A). The current price of the license is $17.50 per iPad. Information Systems has purchased 2,500 licenses that school techs will be installing on iPads that were purchased in the last three years.

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The district-wide Licensed Educator Professional Development Day is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 2019 from 8:00 - 3:30 pm at the Mountain America Expo Center, located at 9575 State Street, Sandy UT. We will have two national speakers on the program and lunch will be provided.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, June 20, 2019

TO:  
All Principals

FROM:  
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
WIDA Data Dashboards Now Available on Principal Tableau Viewer Accounts

The Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department is pleased to announce that a series of data dashboards containing WIDA Access 2.0 achievement data from the last three school years have been pushed out to principal Tableau Viewer Accounts.

There are four subtests that students take as part of the WIDA: Listening, reading, speaking and writing. Students earn a Language Proficiency Level (LPL) of 1-6, with LPLs of 5 or 6 being the ultimate goal:

  • 1 = Entering
  • 2 = Emerging
  • 3 = Developing
  • 4 = Expanding
  • 5 = Bridging
  • 6 = Reaching

Below is a summary of what the dashboards contain at both the district level and individual school level:

  • WIDA Summary Indicators, 2017-2019: WIDA LPLs are reported by summary indicator: Comprehension (made up scores from the reading and listening subtests), Literacy (made up of scores from the reading and writing subtests), Oral (made up of the listening and speaking subtests), and Overall Composite (made up of the listening, reading, speaking and writing subtests).
  • WIDA Subtests, 2017-2019: LPLs are reported in each of the four subtests.
  • Number of Students Who WIDA Tested, 2017-2019: This dashboard is a breakdown of the number of students who took the WIDA test for each school year.
  • 2019 WIDA Proficiency by Student and Grade: This is a crosstabulation of each student enrolled in your school during the 2018-19 school year who took the 2019 WIDA test. The table contains each student’s overall composite score, summary indicator score, and subtest score. This list will be helpful in targeting students for extra time and support.

In the near future, we will push out an additional dashboard that will contain the years of service each EL student has received and whether or not they met their growth target for the School Accountability Report Card.

Please contact Ben Jameson if you have any questions about these data or about how to use Tableau. If you have not set up your Tableau Viewer account, please contact Ben Jameson for instructions on how to do so (or see the step-by-step instructions attached with this memo). Please see the attached document for instructions on how to download and print any of the dashboards in your viewer account.

Principals may share their Tableau login credentials with their assistant principals.

To log into your Tableau account, please click here: https://sso.online.tableau.com/public/idp/SSO

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This course is for anyone who wants to learn how to do more with spreadsheets. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects, but sample files and projects will be available during the workshop. All tasks can be completed in either Excel or Google Sheets, and it will be up to the participants to choose an application. Each day of the workshop will focus on 3-4 of the topics listed below. Sign up in JPLS: course number 101427.

For course descriptions and dates please see document below.