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DATE:
August 27, 2024

TO:
All Jordan School District Principals (with bus route students)

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kathy Jones, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator

SUBJECT:
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2024-2025


State-required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this September. This applies to those students who ride the bus daily to and from school.

The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:
Monday, September 9 through Friday, September 13, 2024

Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation as they drop your students off in the morning, one day during that week. This procedure will take place at your school and within the student’s regular bus drop off/pick up zone. All professional school bus drivers who transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Bus evacuation will be through the rear door, side door, front door, or any combination of the three. Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.

Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation drill quickly, safely, and effectively.

We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.

DATE:
August 29, 2024

TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Prevention Specialist, Student Services

SUBJECT:
Attendance Awareness Month Materials 2024 & The Importance of September Attendance


We would like to invite your school to participate with us as we celebrate Attendance Awareness Month to shine attention on the importance of attending school every day. We have chosen Be Present, Be Powerful as our campaign slogan. You can find ready-made resources to help you plan and celebrate here. Teachers can access a teaching attendance toolkit from Attendance Works. Take advantage of Parent Square to send out information. Also included in the resources are attendance motivations and “Did you know?” facts you can share with your school community.

DATE:
August 16, 2024

TO:
All Principals

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

SUBJECT:
Professional Development Opportunities for September and October


Below is a listing of all the professional development opportunities for Special Education Licensed Staff for September and October. A link to sign up for each training will be sent to all Special Education Licensed Staff Members.

 

DATE:
August 26, 2024

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, 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-fifth year of operation, was founded in 1959. It has provided performances in all forty-one school districts in Utah, reaching more than 250 schools yearly with professional arts and education programming. We welcome their artists to our schools again for the 2024-25  school year. 

Click this link to find:

  • The assembly schedule with the date and time the artists will be at your school.
  • The contact information for the performing group coming to your school.

The artists have been instructed to contact you at least two weeks before their assembly to verify starting times and specific needs for their performance. If the date selected for the performing group at your school does not work with your schedule, please contact them 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, August 29, 2024

TO:
All School Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
Data Gateway Updates and School Report Card Project Release Dates


Data Gateway Updates

The state’s Data Gateway has been updated with 2023-24 RISE, Utah Aspire Plus, DLM, and ACT proficiency results. In addition, student growth (SGPs/MGPs) have also been updated for the 2023-24 school year. Here are some helpful pages on the state’s Data Gateway:

  • Data Gateway Login Page – If administrators don’t have an account or their account is locked or deleted, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
  • Student Proficiency – Administrators can see proficiency by test type (RISE, Utah Aspire Plus, or DLM), grade level, district, or school.
  • Compare Schools Report – Administrators can compare both proficiency and growth (MGP or median growth percentile) for demographically similar schools.
  • Student Growth – Administrators can compare proficiency and growth on a scatterplot.
  • Test Scores by Teacher – Found under My Tools once administrators have logged into their account, this report allows them to see RISE, Utah Aspire Plus or DLM data for their teachers’ 2023-24 classes as well as current year students.
  • WIDA ACCESS Reports – Found under My Tools once administrators have logged into their account, this feature allows administrators to download the 2024 WIDA score reports for their currently enrolled English learners.

School Accountability Report Card Projected Release Dates

USBE expects to release school accountability report cards to the public on September 24, 2024. A secure release to school district officials and school administrators is expected to begin on September 5th and conclude on September 18th.

Targeted School Improvement (TSI), Additional Targeted School Improvement (ATSI), and Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) designations and exits are expected to be released on September 24th as well. As a reminder, schools designated as TSI are eligible for exit annually. The schools designated as ATSI that are eligible for exit were identified in the fall of 2019 or earlier (cohorts 1 and 2).

For questions about the Data Gateway reports, individual administrator Data Gateway accounts, school accountability report cards, or TSI/ATSI/CSI designations, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

TO:
All Employees

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll


URS doesn’t discourage members from using third-party advisors. However, be cautious of any non-URS advisor or financial planner who claims to represent URS or have expertise in URS benefits. URS does not contract with or otherwise outsource investment advising to any third-party for any reason.

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll


Important: Annual or Personal Leave During the First Five Days of School
All Licensed and ESP Employees

8/21/24-8/27/24    Elementary Schools
8/20/24-8/26/24    Secondary Schools
8/20/24-8/26/24    District Offices & Auxiliary Services

Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the first five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If these exceptions are not applicable, your annual or personal leave day will be changed to a no-pay day as per policy.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals

  1. Annual leave shall not be taken during the first five (5) days that students are in school except under the following conditions: 
  1. To attend the wedding of a near relative including child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparents or same to one’s spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household as the employee.
  2. To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee’s control.
  3. First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Michelle Lovell, Consultant in Teaching and Learning


Due to a delay in printing, the first Wit & Wisdom book called My Five Senses by Margaret Miller has not yet arrived. However, the literacy teacher specialists have created a digital book which will be used in place of My Five Senses for this year only. The digital book aligns with all the lessons in the teacher manual.

Teachers can use the digital book and the lessons for whole-class instruction to avoid printing and copying the book. The digital book can be accessed directly here, and also on the elementary literacy website under programs, and then under Wit and Wisdom. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Michelle Lovell or Mandy Thurman.

TO:
Elementary Administrators
Elementary Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell and Mandy Thurman, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts

SUBJECT:
5th Grade Module 1 Workbooks to be Printed


Elementary Administrators and Teachers,

We previously sent instructions and a tutorial on how to access the new Wit and Wisdom 5th Grade Module 1 and Student Handouts. 

How to Access NEW W&W 5th Grade Module 1 Tutorial

Student Handouts (All Pages)

In order to streamline the use of these materials, the Teaching and Learning Department will be printing handouts for lessons 13-35 in Module 1 for use with all 5th grade students. Schools can use the published workbooks that they should have received, for the first 12 lessons of Module 1. 

Module 0 will take approximately one week. The first 12 lessons of Module 1 should take approximately 3 weeks. This schedule should allow 4 weeks to get the materials printed and delivered to schools.

Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to 

Michelle Lovell - 801-567-8087
Mandy Thurman - 801-567-8276

Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work.

DATE:
August 20, 2024

TO:
District Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Scott Festin, Planning Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:
1st Day Enrollment vs. the Estimate for All Schools


Please see the attached document.

TO:
Directors
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources


Check out the information regarding a scholarship opportunity. Valued at up to $2,500! Apply by December 15, 2024.

TO:
All School and District Administrators

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator Human Resources


Current JSD administrators are eligible for principal assignment consideration at any time, however Cabinet will conduct an optional interest interview every four years for current administrators in the district.

DATE:  December 3rd
TIME:  To Be Determined
LOCATION:  Executive Conference Room, District Office

Application Window Closes November 15th

See the flyer below for all the details on how to apply.

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent


One more training to be held this year. Hope to see you on Zoom!

All new principals and new SCC Chairs need to attend one of the SCC Trainings for this year. Two trainings will be held in a Zoom format. For specific questions or topics you would like to have covered, please submit them through email to Nadine Page (nadine.page@jordandistrict.org) before the meeting dates. For any other questions contact Nadine Page, nadine.page@jordandistrict.org or 801.567.8182 (x88182).

October 30, 2024 - 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting     LINK

October 9, 2024 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Previously held

TO:
School Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services


Your ELD lead will have four meetings this year. The two Task force meetings are for a school team, including the administrator over compliance to also attend.

Our department will only pay for one sub for the ELD lead.

Administrators, the two ELD meetings are optional for you, but please encourage and support your ELD lead in coming and providing time in your faculty meetings after for your ELD lead to share the information.

ELD Lead

  • Nov. 13 | Juniper Elementary|12:30 - 1 p.m. Secondary PLC | 3 - 3:30 p.m Elementary PLC
  • March 26 | JATC South | 12:30 - 1 p.m. Secondary PLC | 3 - 3:30 p.m Elementary PLC

Task Force

  • Sept. 25 | ASB Auditorium | Secondary 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Elementary 1:30 - 3:30 p.m
  • Jan. 29 |ASB Auditorium | Secondary 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Elementary 12:30 - 3:30 p.m

The sub code is 7628 for half-day sub only. For additional information or questions, please reach out to your Language Teacher Specialist at lcs.jordandistrict.org/language.

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services


After many years of successful Pan Sales, Nutrition Services is saying goodbye to our annual Pan Sale. Unfortunately the kitchen supply company that we have worked with will no longer be able to provide us equipment to sell to the public. We want to thank you and we appreciate all the support to our Pan Sale over years!

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Spencer Campbell, Principal of Kelsey Peak Virtual


Thanks for the opportunity to help train the administrators and admin assistants. The average Zoom attendance was 35 people per session, and attendees were administrators and administrative assistants throughout the district, including building-level employees, HR, the district office, teaching and learning, and other auxiliary offices. It was helpful on multiple levels. I sent out PD certificates to those who attended for re-licensure. Again, thanks for the opportunity.

2024 Recordings Folder Link