Skip to content

Category: Elementary Schools

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Rebecca Smith, Consultant, Gifted & Talented

SUBJECT: 
6th Grade CogAT Test Administration Training

The test administration window for the 6th grade CogAT opens October 23rd and closes December 1st. 6th grade teachers, in collaboration with school test coordinators, can administer this assessment to their classes.

A test administration training is being offered to school test coordinators as well as 6th grade teachers. School administrators may attend a training session, but it is not required. Testing pool hours may be used for ESPs who are attending a training session outside of their usual hours. There is no funding for substitutes; thus, schools will need to cover the cost of a substitute if a classroom teacher is attending a training session. Attendees should bring a device to the training.

Below are the training session dates, times, and locations. Those who are planning to attend a training session should sign up here.

Date Time Location
Tuesday, October 17 9:00 – 10:30 am Presentation Room

7905 South Redwood Rd., West Jordan

Entrance C
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Wednesday, October 18 9:00 – 10:30 am
12:30 – 2:00 pm

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability or Rebecca Smith and Taryn Cox in Gifted & Talented with questions.

Published on

Utah State Senate Bill 150 requires schools to assess students in grades 1-3 three times per year (fall, winter, & spring) and inform their parents/guardians of whether or not their child is reading on grade level. Please use the attached letter templates to send information home to all parents/guardians of students in grades 1-3 by October 18, 2023.

In addition, schools are being asked to print the Home Connection letter that can be downloaded from Acadience Reading to send home with the required parent letters. The Home Connection letters give parents more details about their child's reading progress and gives some helpful tips parents can use at home to support their child in reading.

Please see the attachment for instructions to print the Home Connection letters from Acadience Reading.

 

Published on

We are happy to give you assistance with conferences with your Spanish families. Please see the form for your interpreter assignment. Virtual assignments need to use the form provided so we have the teacher's zoom link and information. You can share this information with your faculty as needed. Additional languages can be supported, however, they will also be virtual.

Published on

Language and Culture Services would like to share some amazing community resources that have been sent to us. From Hispanic Heritage month to field trips for students.

  • Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15)
    Our second largest community in Jordan District is the Hispanic Community and we want to look for ways to celebrate and recognize this month at your school. Announcements, music, flyers home. Bring parents in as volunteers to share their culture. Let us know how you’re celebrating. Here are a few resources to help you.
  • The Bopsim Korean Festival on Friday, Sept. 29. In collaboration with Korean government-operated entities and the University of Utah, they present this festival which carries special significance as it commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Republic of Korea-US Alliance. Field trip for students from 11 - 2:30 p.m. Please email jh@cupboptruck.com for coupons and vouchers for yummy cup bop.
  • Calling all 7th - 9th grade students and educators in Utah! - The Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs is excited to host the Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit — a free and virtual youth leadership event—on Monday, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 from 9-11 a.m. The program will be the same on both days to accommodate more school schedules. This annual program aims to motivate students of diverse identities to explore college and career pathways, financial empowerment, and leadership development.  Schools can bring their students together and participate. Learn more at the 2023 Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit page.
  • Men and Women of Promise - Men and Women of Promise Conferences expose students to a different way of life through a one-day corporate experience with professionals who listen and help cast a vision for their lives. The Men of Promise Conference will be held on Oct. 3rd and the Women of Promise Conference on Oct. 4th. Contact Marty Carter for permission slips and sign ups. For more information visit the DBU Global Men & Women of Promise page.
  • For 9th - 12th grades Expect the Great - Expect The Great is a free event focusing on college and career awareness and readiness for African, African-American, and Black students and communities in the state of Utah. The theme of this initiative is “Build, Invest, Connect”. Registration is available on the SUU Expect The Great site.  Charter busses will be available.

Published on

SUU is offering endorsements for free with a USBE Grant if you are currently teaching K-12 In Utah

  • Educational Technology
  • Elementary Stem
  • Elementary Science
  • Elementary Math
  • Elementary Math Specialist

Other endorsements are available for only $300 per class:

  • Gate (6 classes)
  • ESL (6 classes)
  • K12 Literacy Specialist (6 classes)

Ready To Learn More? Join a quick 30 minute Zoom With SUU to learn how to apply and why you should capitalize on this enrichment opportunity.

Published on

PURPOSE
Ensure compliance with state law and district policy

HELPFUL RESOURCES

  • Please share with your SCC
    • Creating School Community Councils and holding the first meeting, 6:00 minute video - Video
    • Here’s what’s new, 2:00 minute Training Video  -  Video
    • Updated Timeline with Website Information - Timeline
    • Jordan District - Beginning of Year Documents
    • Folder with sample documents from JSD schools can be found in the “Beginning of the Year Documents”

RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE
Feedback from State LAND Trust Office: 

  • Each SCC needs to hold elections according to  R277-491 and 53G-7-1202
  • Minimum number of parents/school employees on an SCC is in UTAH CODE, and is under 53G-7-1202 (4).
    • High School - six parent members and four school employee members, including the principal.
    • Elem & Middle - four parent members and two school employee members including the principal. 
  • A SCC may determine the size of the SCC by a majority vote of a quorum of the SCC provided that: the membership includes two or more parent members than the number of school employee members; and there are at least two school employee members on the SCC. 
    • Any change takes place for the following year and should remain in effect for four years. 
  • Clarify how many parents and school employees will serve and add the election process into the Rules of Order and Procedure.
    • Be specific in how many seats. Don’t use “at least” or “maximum number”. All seats that are listed in the Rules of Order and Procedure must be filled each year. Look at even and odd years. Assign if necessary. If all seats are not filled during the election then parents need to be appointed. Review this document yearly at your first meeting.
  • Clarify how many spots will be open every year. It wouldn't hurt to also put in more information about their election process. When and how do they post notices? What is the format for applying to be a candidate, and how are ballots managed. 
  • No email voting. 

 Elections of School Community Council Members: A Checklist

PAYING FOR TEACHERS
Reminder: If you state in your plan that you will be paying for a math teacher then you must pay for a math teacher. It can be the lowest paid math teacher but must match what subject matter is in the goal.

RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Can be found in the Beginning of Year Documents

WEBSITE UPDATE
Must be completed no later than October 20th. See attachment in JAM and also in Beginning of the Year Documents

CARRYOVER

  • Best Practices Sheet - found in Beginning of the Year Documents
  • No more than 10% of allocated monies every year. 
  • As a reminder TSSA funds should also follow the 10% carryover guidelines. 

APPROPRIATE EXPENDITURES
Reminder: No food, no memberships, no school store items from either Land Trust or TSSA.

FUNDING CHANGES - AMENDMENTS

  • All principals need to look at the 2023-24 Land Trust Plan on the State Website, at the bottom of the plan for comments. 
    • Not all need to make changes to their plan
      • State is requiring us to be more specific in what is listed within the plan as well as at the bottom under “Funding Changes”. 
    • Most comments are asking for more clarification on:
      • PD
      • Software 
      • Field trips
      • Technology purchases
    • The State is asking for more exact clarification on what is being purchased. They are requesting that amendments be done if you weren’t clear enough in your action steps and/or Funding Changes portions of your Land Trust Plan.
  • Steps for Amendment: 
    • Add it to your Plan on the State Website
    • Notify Nadine that you have an amendment waiting
    • AOS reviews the amendment
    • The amendment is sent to the Board member over your area for review. 
    • The amendment is placed on the next Board Meeting agenda as a consent item.
    • The State LAND Trust Committee is notified that there is an amendment waiting for their approval
    • Once the State has done their approval you may start to spend the money as outlined in the amendment. 

REVIEW WITH SCC MID-YEAR
If it looks like you won’t be spending as planned, “We can’t hire assistants…what are we going to do differently”? Review in your SCC meeting, come up with a new plan, and do an amendment if needed. Don’t wait until the end of the year to decide you need to spend your money differently. This depends on the wording under “Funding Changes” on your current plan. 

Published on

Language and Culture Services will be offering a virtual PD on Sept 22 at 1 p.m.  LCS will be offering training on how to use the ELLevation website, a great resource for schools and teachers in supporting their ML students!

  • Site overview
  • How to access information about your ML students in one place.
  • Teaching strategies to support ML students during instruction.
  • Opportunities for PD through ELLevation and earning USBE Credit.

ELLevation via Zoom Meeting ID: 830 0071 9835
Passcode: language

Published on

Hilda Lloyd has requested your McKinney-Vento Aide's attendance at the Mckinney-Vento Aides Training Meeting for Elementary, Middle, and High School aides.

When: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Where: District Office - Training room 129

If your aide is unable to attend, please send an assistant principal to receive the 23-24 information and training. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Published on

Common issues or frequently asked questions regarding discipline logging that have been identified by the Discipline Review Committee or raised by administrators will be communicated monthly (or as needed) in a "Discipline Notes" document. The documents are accessible by current school administrators only.

September's "Discipline Notes" may be accessed at this LINK.

Administrators may access previous "Discipline Notes" via this LINK to the Discipline Notes folder.

Published on

DATE:        
Thursday, September 21, 2023

TO:  
All School Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:  
2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey – Preparation and Administration Details

The 2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey will be administered to parents, school employees, and students in grades K-12 beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and ending Tuesday, November 21, 2023. All parents, licensed educators, education support professionals and students should be invited and encouraged to participate in the survey.

Survey respondents have the opportunity to take part of the survey for school individual principals, assistant principals, classroom teachers and licensed support staff (i.e., instructional coaches, counselors, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, library media coordinators, cluster leaders, etc.). Thus, we need to ensure that the survey contains an accurate list of each school’s licensed educators for whom respondents can take the survey.

The table below contains a unique link for each school that will direct viewers to a list of licensed staff that has been downloaded from Skyward. Administrative assistants are asked to verify the accuracy of that list, adding or deleting licensed educators as necessary. Staff verification lists need to be verified by Friday, October 13, 2023. This will allow enough time for Evaluation, Research & Accountability to upload the staff lists into the survey. Once the survey begins, we will be unable to add or delete any staff, so it is essential that administrative assistants carefully verify the accuracy of these lists.

The staff verification list should contain all licensed educators:

  • Principal
  • Assistant principals
  • Counselors and social workers
  • Teachers
  • School psychologists
  • Speech language pathologists
  • Library media specialists/coordinators
  • Cluster leaders
  • Instructional, technology, literacy, Title I or any other licensed academic coaches (non-licensed or athletic coaches need not be included unless they fill one of the above listed roles)
  • Any other licensed and certified educators at your school

Please see the table below to access your school’s staff verification list.

Administrative assistants, please click the link next to your school to view and verify your staff list for accuracy. Contact Ben Jameson (ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org) with questions. Please check the following items for accuracy:

  1. Position Assignment Description: Use the drop-down menu to indicate if the licensed educator is an administrator or classroom teacher. For all other licensed positions for staff members that are not administrators or classroom teachers, please use the Licensed Support Staff designation.
  2. Grade Level: For elementary schools, please verify the accuracy of the grade level for classroom teachers. This is because there is a different survey for students in grades K-3 and grades 4-6.
  3. Missing Teachers: If a teacher in your building does not appear on the list, please add their name on the left side of the list. Elementary administrative assistants will need to add preschool teachers to their list since Skyward does not connect them to their elementary school.

Elementary Schools

School Link to Staff Verification List
Antelope Canyon Elementary Link
Aspen Elementary Link
Bastian Elementary Link
Blackridge Elementary Link
Bluffdale Elementary Link
Butterfield Canyon Elementary Link
Columbia Elementary Link
Copper Canyon Elementary Link
Daybreak Elementary Link
Eastlake Elementary Link
Elk Meadows Elementary Link
Falcon Ridge Elementary Link
Foothills Elementary Link
Fox Hollow Elementary Link
Golden Fields Elementary Link
Hayden Peak Elementary Link
Heartland Elementary Link
Herriman Elementary Link
Jordan Hills Elementary Link
Jordan Ridge Elementary Link
Majestic Elementary Link
Midas Creek Elementary Link
Monte Vista Elementary Link
Mountain Point Elementary Link
Mountain Shadows Elementary Link
Oak Leaf Elementary Link
Oakcrest Elementary Link
Oquirrh Elementary Link
Ridge View Elementary Link
Riverside Elementary Link
Riverton Elementary Link
Rocky Peak Elementary Link
Rosamond Elementary Link
Rose Creek Elementary Link
Silver Crest Elementary Link
South Jordan Elementary Link
Southland Elementary Link
Terra Linda Elementary Link
Welby Elementary Link
Westland Elementary Link
Westvale Elementary Link

 

Middle Schools

School Link to Staff Verification List
Copper Mountain Middle Link
Elk Ridge Middle Link
Fort Herriman Middle Link
Hidden Valley Middle Link
Joel P. Jensen Middle Link
Kelsey Peak Middle Link
Mountain Creek Middle Link
Oquirrh Hills Middle Link
South Hills Middle Link
South Jordan Middle Link
Sunset Ridge Middle Link
West Hills Middle Link
West Jordan Middle Link

 

High Schools

School Link to Staff Verification List
Bingham High Link
Copper Hills High Link
Herriman High Link
JATC North Link
JATC South Link
Kings Peak High Link
Mountain Ridge High Link
Riverton High Link
Valley High Link
West Jordan High Link

 

Special Schools

School Link to Staff Verification List
Kauri Sue Hamilton School Link
River’s Edge School Link
South Valley School Link

Published on

The following are reminders to keep in mind when completing evaluations.

Full UETS-based JPAS -- Educators on a full UETS-based JPAS will upload student growth with data and stakeholder directly into the Perform system. Educators can upload the documents directly from their computer by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Evidence” -- “Add Artifact.” Educators are asked to name the file and can then choose to upload a document from the computer or add a URL.

Student growth with data must include the following:

  • The core standard
  • A growth target with reflection
  • Pre assessment information (include dates and scores)
  • Post assessment information (include dates and scores)

Stakeholder input could include climate survey information with reflection, teacher initiated email chain with parents or other stakeholders, or descriptive phone logs (must include date, who talked with, summary of discussions). The intent is to show personalized communication with parents.

Administrators may access evidence by logging into Perform and selecting “My Staff” -- “Staff” -- the individual teacher’s folder -- “Evidence.”

The first cycle for provisional teachers is due December 22, 2023.

Please contact the JES office as soon as possible when you know you may have trouble meeting deadlines.

Interim -- Educators on an Interim JPAS will complete a self evaluation and 3 required goals at the beginning of the year and reflect on the 3 required goals at the end of the year. Educators can access the evaluation by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Tasks” -- “Beginning of Year Interim Form.” Educators must click on the “Save and Submit” button once they have completed the beginning of the year form so that the evaluator can access the form for approval.

Administrators may access and approve Interim Evaluations by logging into Perform and selecting “Signatures.” Evaluations will not be available for approval until after the educator has “Saved and Submitted.”

Beginning of the year requirements and approval are due October 31, 2023.

Educators on an Interim JPAS will complete an end-of-year reflection by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Tasks” -- “End of Year Interim Form.” Student growth with data and stakeholder input are uploaded at this time.

Student growth with data must include the following:

  • The core standard
  • A growth target with reflection
  • Pre assessment information (include dates and scores)
  • Post assessment information (include dates and scores)

Stakeholder input could include climate survey information with reflection, teacher initiated email chain with parents or other stakeholders, or descriptive phone logs (must include date, who talked with, summary of discussions). The intent is to show personalized communication with parents.

Deadline for completion of End of the Year Interim Evaluations is May 31, 2024.

Published on

Please use the attached flyer(s) to promote the upcoming clinic at your school. If you want to show the list of all available clinics, use the one with the QR code. If you want to be more specific to your clinic, use the editable English and Spanish versions.