Beginning of the Year Interims are due October 31, 2020. Remember that this includes the following: self-evaluation, 3 required goals (UETS goal, JPAS goal, Stakeholder & Student Growth goal), and administrator approval with date. Interims for all educators (teachers, teacher specialists, psychologists, secondary counselors, etc.) will be found on JPLS.
Category: Elementary Schools
Student Data Privacy Updates and Reminders – October 2020
DATE:
Thursday, October 15, 2020
TO:
All Principals
All District Department Heads and Directors
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
Michael Heaps, Director of Information Systems
SUBJECT:
Student Data Privacy Updates and Reminders
Principals are asked to read and then communicate the following information to their faculty.
We cannot buy or use websites, apps, or software without checking into how they collect, manage, and use student data. If we do, we run the risk of breaking state and federal laws. Because of this, we are asking that all purchases related to website subscriptions, apps, or software go through Purchasing. This includes purchases made with teacher money and p-cards.
We cannot let children under 13 use websites or apps that collect their data without parent notification. This can be done in disclosure documents, emails to parents or other means of communication. Some websites, software, and apps do not allow children under 13 to use their services even with parent permission. These are prohibited by the district for grades K-7. Some websites, software, and apps do not allow children under 18 to use their services. These are prohibited by the district for all students.
Current processes for purchasing websites, apps, and software: 2020-2021
- The school submits the requisition for the purchase of an app or program to Purchasing.
- Website, app, or software is vetted for student data privacy.
- Purchasing will send the district’s data privacy agreement (DPA) to the vendor to sign if needed.
- Once the vendor signs the DPA, the purchasing process is completed.
- If a vendor chooses not to sign or does not respond, the purchase of the app or program is halted and Information Systems is asked to block the website or application. There are currently two apps that have been blocked because of student data privacy reasons:
- Quizlet
- Beano
At a later date, Evaluation, Research & Accountability will be contacting digital teaching and learning coaches at each building in order to train them on vetting apps and programs. In addition, together with Teaching & Learning, we are working to develop an interactive website where schools and teachers may go to see what apps and programs have been approved and denied.
Please email the district student data privacy managers if you have any questions.
Holly L. Allen: holly.allen@jordandistrict.org
Steven Harwood: steven.harwood@jordandistrict.org
Important October 2020 Payroll Information for All Employees
Due to the District Office closing for Fall Recess at the end of the day on Thursday, Oct. 22, and not returning until Monday, Oct. 26, the Payroll Department is making the following recommendations:
- If you need to close your bank account, please call Payroll immediately.
- If you are a True Time employee, make sure your time is submitted. If you are a True Time approver, please make sure all time is approved.
- Paychecks are available for viewing in Employee Access on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Please review your pay check and call Payroll immediately with any questions or concerns. (801) 567-8155.
If you need help logging into your Employee Access, call the help desk at 801-567-8737. - Payday is on Oct. 22nd.
The Payroll Department will resume work on Oct. 26, 2020 and will be available if you have any questions.
Thank you for your efforts in assisting Payroll.
Reading Inventory (formerly SRI) Update – October 2020
DATE:
Thursday, October 15, 2020
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Reading Inventory (formerly SRI) Update
Principals are asked to pass this information on to their teachers who will be using Reading Inventory.
We are very happy to announce that Teaching & Learning has now completed the purchase process for SRI, and it will be available to teachers this week. SRI is no longer run by Scholastic, and is now just Reading Inventory, or RI. It is a product of Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt.
To access the SAM server to view student scores and run reports, go to this link: https://h100005970.education.scholastic.com/
As schools begin to use RI, Information Systems would like you to remember the following information:
For Chromebooks, IS has pushed the link https://h100005970.education.scholastic.com/ to the Chromebooks. It will show as RI. Schools that want to use RI on non-Chrome devices will need to see if their tech can put the link above on whatever device will be used. They’ll need to be aware to use that exact link and not the redirect.
If you find any missing courses, cannot log in, or have other problems, please contact Kira Jensen at kira.jensen@jordandistrict.org. As so many students change enrollments at the beginning of the year, Info Systems will upload another round of rosters at the beginning of each quarter.
Students and rosters can be managed manually as well. For more information on how to manage class rosters, add students, and view reports in RI, please use the video tutorials:
- Video tutorials for RI school coordinators: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLksXzQH4TCgjtP-K_2WBQO5sKuumJCiUz
- Video tutorials for teachers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLksXzQH4TCgjDIz57L4AEhBArMEnEsTUS
Additional information about RI may be found on the Evaluation, Research & Accountability website:
https://assessments.jordandistrict.org/assessments/ri/
Updated Quarantine Protocol – This Change Takes Place Immediately
Dear Administrators,
The Utah Department of Health, under the direction of Governor Herbert, has approved adjustments to the 14-day quarantine. Students and employees who have been quarantined due to an in-school exposure, while wearing a mask, may return to school if they are symptom-free, and have a negative test result after day 7 of quarantine. The test may be taken on day 7. State officials and medical experts indicate that this new guidance aligns with the best medical practice.
The following are key points provided by the State:
- Masks are effective at preventing transmission in classroom settings
- This only applies to mask on mask exposure
- Only applies to exposures that occurred in school
- % of individuals who will develop symptoms do so on:
- Day 7 -75%,
- Day 9 - 90%
- Day 11- 95%
- Testing picks up positive cases two days before symptoms onset; therefore, testing on day 7 means there is less than a 10% chance that an individual will contract after day 7
- This is for individual exposures, and does not pertain to the threshold recommendations for classroom or school virtual learning
The COVID-19 School Manual will be updated to reflect this change but the change takes effect immediately.
Please carefully read the attached Low Risk Test and Return guidance document found below.
More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
State School Community Council 2020 Virtual Fall Training
Please take note of the USBE State LAND Trust virtual trainings to be held during the month of October. Training materials will be posted on the state website after the last training is held on October 28, 2020. You can also access last years training videos HERE. We would encourage you to use these resources in working with and training School Community Council members for the 2020-21 school year.
December 2020 JELL Sessions
Mark your calendars! Our next JELL Sessions will be in December. The sessions will be through ZOOM but will be smaller sessions. Each school will have an assigned date (see below). We anticipate substitutes may still be an issue and social distancing will still be practiced; therefore, T&L will cover the costs of 3 substitutes per school. You may choose to include the same group from September’s session, rotate leadership team members or cover the substitute costs for additional leadership team members. Add the date to your calendar, reserve your substitutes, and watch for more information.
Thursday, December 3 | Tuesday, December 8 | Thursday, December 10 |
Becky and Lisa | Jill | Doree |
Antelope Canyon | Bastian | Blackridge |
Bluffdale | Elk Meadows | Butterfield Canyon |
Columbia | Falcon Ridge | Copper Canyon |
Daybreak | Fox Hollow | Eastlake |
Heartland | Golden Fields | Foothills |
Majestic | Hayden Peak | Herriman |
Oakcrest | Jordan Hills | Jordan Ridge |
Oquirrh | Midas Creek | Monte Vista |
Riverside | Mountain Shadows | Mountain Point |
South Jordan | Rose Creek | Ridge View |
Terra Linda | Southland | Riverton |
West Jordan | Welby | Rosamond |
Westland | CDC | Silver Crest |
Westvale |
Elementary Report Card Update – October 2020
We want to acknowledge the standards-based grading work that you have been doing with your teachers. We know your efforts to intentionally identify power standards and create explicit proficiency scales will help students learn and reach their highest potential. We had originally hoped to begin new report cards this year but feel that the timing is not conducive to implementing something so important. We will continue standards-based work throughout the year and hope to let the process drive the implementation of new report cards.
The report cards will include the same skills as in the past, with one minor change. Teachers will notice in their grading books that reading and writing are now two separate categories. In the creation of the online content, reading and writing were designed as two separate courses, and Skyward requires that each course be its own category for grading purposes. The skills within the categories have not changed. If a skill is included in both categories, teachers may choose to mark each one or may mark the category that is most appropriate based on classroom assignments and/or instruction.
Interviews for Principal Positions – November 2020
Cabinet members will be interviewing all administrators currently employed by Jordan School District who wish to be considered for an elementary, middle or high school principal position between now and October 2021. Your participation in these interviews is the way for you to declare your interest in a principalship. Similar interviews will be held each fall for anyone who has not interviewed previously. This year’s interviews will be held on Thursday, November 19th and Friday, November 20th.
Any administrator interested in being interviewed this year should email Angela Montague at angela.montague@jordandistrict.org by Monday, October 19th at 5:00 p.m. Please indicate whether you would like to be considered for an elementary, middle or high school principal position. This process is not designed to select principals for newly-constructed schools nor any school in particular. No application or documentation is required.
Any questions should be directed to a Cabinet member. We look forward to getting to know you better.
STAR Program for Students Struggling with Substance Abuse 2020-21
Please see flyer below for more information regarding the STAR Program - Short Term Adolescent Recovery Program
Sprocket Tutorial Worksheets – October 2020
We have had many requests for a tutorial on how to create a Special Project or create a Work Order in Sprocket. Attached you will find the step-by-step tutorial in a PDF. Please share this with your custodians and head administrative assistants. Only principals can create Special Projects.
If you feel you would like a more in-depth training, you are welcome to contact:
Judy Bird (801)567-8625 or Teresa Lyon (801)567-8626
They are located at the Auxiliary Services Building and would be happy to have you stop by anytime.
Acadience Letters for Parents – October 2020
Each year, we are required to inform parents of their student’s Acadience testing results after each testing window closes. The included letters can be placed on school letterhead and signed by the school administrator. The letters, to parents, should be sent home with students by October 30. Letters may be sent home with students and do not need to be mailed.
Brand New “Recovery Couch” Being Offered For Sale
Principals:
Jordan Ridge Elementary has a brand new “recovery couch” that they would like to offer to any school who might have a need. Here are the specifications:
Vendor: School Furniture 4 Less
Custom made, 24” (gunmetal gray) Vinyl with Chrome legs- 250 lb capacity
Price: 347.99
If you are interested in obtaining this for your school, please contact Jordan Ridge Elementary. You will then need to complete a Journal Entry for the purchase and fill out a transfer form so fixed assets can arrange for pickup and delivery.
Common Trauma Symptoms in Students and Helpful Strategies for Educators – October 2020
Trauma can have a detrimental impact on students' functioning in the school setting. Educators need tools to identify and support students who may have experienced or are currently experiencing traumatic stress. Please see the attachment below for helpful information and strategies.
Last Opportunity for Office and Administrative Staff to attend the Optional Training by Business and Auxiliary Services Departments – October 15, 2020
The final session of the optional training for office and administrative staff of schools and District offices will be held Thursday, October 15, 2020, beginning at 8:00 a.m. There is space available for an additional 50 attendees. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Jeri Clayton at jeri.clayton@jordandistrict.org and let her know you would like to sign-up to attend. Attendees will receive an email the day prior to the training with instructions for connecting to the Zoom meeting. The agenda is attached.
Custodial Share – Winterizing Evaporative Coolers 2020-21
Administrators/Directors/Principals:
Please share this post with your building custodian(s). Thank you!
Custodial Share – Winterizing Sprinklers 2020-21
Administrators/Directors/Principals:
Please share this post with your building custodian(s). Thank you!
Questions and Answers for K-12 Public Schools in the Current COVID-19 Environment – October 2020
Administrators, Special Education teachers, those that work with building access, those that deal with 504's, and other compliance issues please take special note of this document.
The document below is from the Officer for Civil Rights and is regarding K-12 public schools in relation to meeting the needs of all students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidelines for Who Should Attend the State’s Title IX Training
Please see the attached document for information on who should attend this training.
For the previously shared JAM, regarding this training, click HERE.
Online Elementary Student Weekly Attendance – October 2020
In support of the JSD Policy AA432, an informational DOCUMENT specific for online elementary teachers has been created for additional guidance. Teachers will need to follow the steps in the document to verify student attendance. Upon verification teachers will submit absences for only students who do not meet minimum attendance requirements. Additionally teachers will complete this FORM. An email will be sent to school assigned administrators of students who have not met minimum attendance requirements for follow up and increased involvement if needed.
If you have questions, please contact Ross Menlove at ross.menlove@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8192.