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Category: Elementary Schools

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.

Published on

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 6, 2021

TO:  
Building Administrators

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

SUBJECT:    
Reporting Hiring on the Enrollment Dashboard

In previous school years, building administrators submitted an “FTE Staffing Worksheet” form to Planning & Enrollment to report their hiring using 0050/FTE allocations. This form has been discontinued.

All administrators must report their hiring using 0050/FTE allocations on their Enrollment Dashboard. This report must be completed with current hiring by Friday, May 7, 2021. If changes in hiring or funding sources for staff are made, these changes should immediately be noted on the Enrollment Dashboard.

When entering hiring numbers, be sure to use the “2021-22” tab to enter all totals!

Elementary Schools: Enter hiring in rows 42-52. Use the correct columns (columns I through M) for the funding source used.

Middle Schools: Enter hiring using 0050 in rows 44-55. Enter hiring using alternative funding sources in rows 61-72. Please note that some rows require you to enter the number of individuals and some rows require you to enter the number of periods.

High Schools: Enter hiring using 0050 in rows 44-61. Enter hiring using alternative funding sources in rows 67-81. Please note that some rows require you to enter the number of individuals and some rows require you to enter the number of periods.

Again, building administrators should have their school’s hiring updated on the “2021-22” tab of the Enrollment Dashboard by Friday, May 7, 2021. Changes that take place after May 7 should be noted on the dashboard without delay. Thank you to all schools who have already completed their hiring updates.

Please contact Planning & Enrollment (x88183) with any questions or concerns.

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Please advise your staff that Insurance Open Enrollment for this year will be May 15 - June 15.  Let your staff know that they need to get a confirmation that they have gone in and updated or verified that everything is correct.   Attached are the Open Enrollment Highlights.

Insurance Open Enrollment May 15 - June 15 for a September Effective Date.

InfinityHR/Arcoro ( https://www.infinityhr.com/login ) will be used for all benefit eligible employees to make benefit elections offered at Open Enrollment and for newly eligible employees. All benefit eligible employees should log into the online system to verify dependents, beneficiaries and benefit elections.  Included in the attached Open Enrollment Highlights are online enrollment instructions.

The following changes may be made during the open enrollment period.

  • Enroll in a new insurance plan
  • Change or cancel an existing insurance plan
  • Add or cancel members from an existing plan
  • Flexible Spending election (new elections must be made each year you wish to participate)

Published on

DATE:    
May 3, 2021

TO:   
Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:  
Legislative Supply Envelopes – Due May 1, 2021

We thought a few reminders might be helpful as you collect legislative envelopes.

1)   Carry-Over of Unused Supply Funds.  Principal approval is required if a teacher would like to carry-over unused funds to the next school year. If approval is given, the principal should sign the envelope in the bottom right-hand box.  The Guidelines state that “As a general rule, balances less than $50 should be carried over to the next year.” However, carry-over amounts are at the principal’s discretion. Also, if a teacher has an amount remaining at the end of the year of $5 or less, no return of the funds is needed.

A list of all teachers who have carry-over amounts should be kept so this information can be written on the teacher’s envelope for the 2021-22 school year and added to the amount of the current year funds. As a reminder, if a teacher with a carry-over amount transfers to a different school within the District and the principal allows the teacher to use the carry-over funds at the new school, please communicate this to the administrative assistant at the new school so they can record the information on the teacher’s envelope. If the principal does not approve the use of funds at the new school, the teacher will need to return the unused funds.

2)   Payroll Deductions.  For teachers not approved to carry over unused funds, a payroll deduction will be needed. The request for a payroll deduction should be sent to Sarah Palmer, director of Payroll, and can be emailed to her at: sarah.palmer@jordandistrict.org. Please provide Sarah with the employee name(s), school location, amount of the deduction, and an explanation about the need for the deduction. Please provide this information by May 10 for the May 25 paycheck or by June 10 for the June 25 paycheck.

3)   Principal Use of Unused Supply Funds.  Unused supply money that is returned to the District via payroll deduction or other means (check or cash) will be made available to the principal to use at his/her discretion. After a payroll deduction is completed, the Payroll Department will provide the Accounting Department with the school location and amount and a journal entry will be done to transfer the funds to the school’s 2000 account.

4)   Teachers that Resign During the School Year.  If a teacher resigns during the school year, please ask for the return of his/her legislative supply envelope before they leave. If there is a balance remaining of unspent funds, this money needs to be returned to the District via a payroll deduction made before the employee receives his/her final paycheck. If your school has a check-out procedure for teachers that resign, it might be helpful to add the return of the envelope to the procedures to insure the legislative envelope and unused funds are returned.

5)   Storing Legislative Envelopes.  After collecting the envelopes on May 1, please keep them in a secure location at the school for a period of four years. The envelopes are subject to random audits by District auditors.

Thank you for your help with legislative supply money. If you have questions, please contact my administrative assistant, Jeri Clayton, at 801-567-8120 or email: jeri.clayton@jordandistrict.org.

jc/jl

Attachment:  Helpful Information About Legislative Supply Money (This document has the information listed above, as well as other important information about legislative supply money.)

Published on

DATE: 
May 5, 2021

TO:   
All School and District Administrators

FROM: 
Administrator of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services

SUBJECT:   
Behavior Survival Training for Administrators

A required training is scheduled for all administrators that will provide, within a restorative MTSS framework, background information pertaining to why problematic behaviors occur, basic information about behavioral resources that are available, an understanding of basic behavioral concepts, and strategies for effectively dealing with crisis behaviors.

Positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS) are a cornerstone of any restorative MTSS culture. This training will provide the background and understanding to adequately and appropriately manage behavior issues in a supportive environment.

The training will take approximately four (4) hours and will be provided on three different days with five (5) different sessions to choose from (you only need to attend one session – all sessions will provide the same content). All sessions will be held in the auditorium at Elk Ridge Middle School (3659 W 9800 S, South Jordan, UT.).

Please select one of the following dates/times to attend:

Tuesday June 8:                7:30-11:30am, or 12:00-4:00pm 

Tuesday June 15:              7:30-11:30am, or 12:00-4:00pm 

Thursday June 17:            7:30-11:30am

Click HERE to register for the Behavior Survival Training for Administrators or go to https://forms.gle/ndFyh1w1kMW1UzkN6

Published on

DATE:
April 29, 2021

TO:      
School Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Principal Year-End Check Out Materials for 2020-21

Attached is the list of all forms and items to be completed for principal check out.

  • Items highlighted in yellow will be reviewed at check out with your Administrator of Schools.
  • Items highlighted in green require you to bring the requested items to your checkout.
  • Forms provided by the District for principal check out are included with this JAM.
  • You should turn in one completed copy of each form and keep a copy on file in your school for easy reference as you prepare the check out for the next school year.

If you have any questions, please contact your Administrator of Schools’ administrative assistant.

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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The literacy department is inviting all administrators to come to a question and answer/work session to plan and prepare for the Literacy Launch that will take place in the 2021-2022 school year. The sessions will be held on May 5th and 6th from 9:00 to 11:00 or from 1:00 to 3:00 (sessions will be repeated and you can choose to come to one or more). Members of the T&L department will be available in the sessions to answer questions about training, programs and will provide support in creating a master schedule for the coming school year. All sessions will be held in PDC room 103.

Administrators are also encouraged to sign up and come to the Teacher Literacy Launch training in the summer.  Each session consists of 2 days of training and principals and assistant principals will find day 2 to be especially helpful because it will cover all the details of the Walk to Read Intervention Model by 95% Group.  Day 1 training will be similar to the training that was recently provided for principals and assistant principals in April.  In JPLS the option is to sign up for 2 days of training, but administrators can choose to come to one or both days.

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The state has again received grant money for schools to continue use of early intervention software programs for literacy in the 2021-2022 school year. Schools in the Jordan School District may choose from Lexia, iReady, and Imagine Learning. Please note that the district will be able to do the initial student upload for schools using Lexia. If iReady or Imagine Learning are selected, the schools will need to work with the companies to have the initial student upload completed. Please indicate the choice for your school by filling out the attached form. If you have any questions please contact Mandy Thurman or Michelle Lovell.

Early Intervention Software Survey

Published on

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.

Published on

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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Reminder: The plan will be reviewed with assigned AOS during the end-of-year check out. The final version of the 2021-22 TSSA Plan is due to your AOS by June 25, 2021.

The JSD Board’s TSSA Framework establishes three priorities schools are to use in developing a TSSA Plan. The priorities include coaching, professional development, and school-based initiatives.

Each school has a personally-created School Planning folder in Google Drive that includes both last year’s and this year’s plans. TSSA Plans and the School Planning Folder can be accessed from 2021-2022 School Planning Tools. Following the School Planning Tool will ensure compliance with TSSA requirements.

The first tab in the School Planning Tool labeled “TSSA Overview and Checklist” provides guidelines and a checklist for completing plans. A quick checklist is provided below. The actual plan is found in the tab labeled “TSSA Plan.” 2021-2022 allocations are pre-loaded into each school’s plan.

Quick TSSA Plan Checklist

  • Share planning tool if desired. (Currently only principals have editing access.)
  • Summarize 2020-2021 TSSA Plan. (Focus on implementation and growth if limited data is available.)
  • Review data. (Review data that is available.)
  • Determine school goal(s) for 2021-2022.
  • (TSI Schools) Complete TSI data review, identify needs, and create goal(s).
  • Record plans and action steps for instructional coaching, professional development, and school-based initiatives.
  • Complete budget.

The plan will be reviewed with assigned AOS during the end-of-year check out.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your AOS.
If you have technical issues, please feel free to contact Nadine Page 801-567-8182 or Chris Westra at 801-567-8657.