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Category: High School Info

Published on

DATE: 
October 12, 2023

TO: 
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

FROM:  
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance

SUBJECT: 
October School Psychologist Guidance Meeting

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2023, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Presentations will address Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, the Mental Health Access Program, and Section 504.

Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.

cc:
Principals

Published on

DATE:  
October 12, 2023

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:  
Rescue Task Force Training Opportunity

West Jordan Police and Fire Departments are conducting a Rescue Task Force training at Sunset Ridge Middle School on October 18th beginning at 4:00 PM. They are inviting any interested district employee(s) to attend and closely observe the training as it is conducted in real-time scenarios. WJPD is also in need of volunteers to participate in the training as “role players” as well.

Rescue Task Force is the most up to date standard of response to active attacker related events. This consists of both police and firefighters cohesively entering the building with the goal of immediately addressing the threat (police) and quickly providing medical treatment to patients (firefighters). This new standard greatly increases survivability to all involved.

Even though this training is meant for First Responders, our participation better prepares district employees of what to expect and helps provide the best possible training to our First Responder partners. Given the training is geared toward First Responders it will be fairly realistic in nature. The use of real firearms firing blanks or “simunition” (a small paintball fired from a real gun) are to be expected along with make-up to dress victims. The creation of stress is intentional and can be felt by those observing.

For those wanting to observe, please feel free to arrive at the school by 4:00 PM. If anyone is interested in participating in the training, please contact Matt Alvernaz (School Safety Coordinator) at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623. A headcount is needed for participation and employees would be expected to arrive early.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, October 12, 2023

TO: 
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT: 
Research Project

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Understanding the Relationship Among Professional Learning Community Engagement, Collective Efficacy, and Perceived Mattering in Physical Education

Applicant: Zack Beddoes and Keven Prusak

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The research team will send a recruitment email directly to PE teachers throughout the district. Participation in the study is at each teacher’s discretion. If school administrators have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE:  
October 4, 20233

TO: 
All Principals

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

SUBJECT: 
Round 2: Optional Unique & Inspire Professional Development

For those that attended the first optional PD on September 22nd, this is the second session.

There are two optional trainings available on October 13, 2023.

  • Unique is for all self-contained classrooms (all grade levels - if you cannot make this training, other dates and times will be released soon)
  • Inspire is for elementary resource classrooms (secondary content to come soon).

Unique Professional Development (all grade levels for self-contained teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Valley High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Inspire Professional Development (All elementary resource teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Bingham High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Please sign up on JPLS to confirm your attendance.

 Unique- VHS
Course #101963
Section #127787

Inspire- BHS
Course # 101964
Section #127786

Published on

DATE:
October 2, 2023

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:
FREE! Teacher Well-Being Course with Practical Strategies

Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2023 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity to address your own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as you work towards meeting your own wellness goals.

This course is FREE for JSD employees and Fall, Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity! Participants can earn continuing education, lane-change, and re-licensure hours from SUU (up to 3 college credits).

Sign up using the attached flier and share this information with professionals in your schools who may be interested in this opportunity.

Published on

The BYU CITES Learning Edge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Building Relationships, Connecting Through Content.” Our own Dr. Godfrey will be a featured presenter, along with national and local voices. The conference flier is attached, and you can also learn more about it at this link.

This is an optional conference. Teaching and Learning will cover the registration for one admin per school. Contact Camille Kartchner to submit the admin name for registration: camille.kartchner@jordandistrict.org or 88138. Additional registrations and any incurring substitute costs will be paid from school funds, such as TSSA.

 

Published on

Employee Health and Wellness Day is back for 2024! There will be free offers, discounts, in-person, and virtual activities on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.

We are very appreciative of community partners who are supporting our Health and Wellness Day!

More details for Health and Wellness Day will be coming soon. Watch for updates in JAM!

Published on

One way to streamline communication despite language barriers is by showing parents and guardians how to translate Skyward into any language. Each user can translate the Skyward site into their preferred language with just a few clicks in Google Chrome. Check out the video below to see how.

Skyward in Any Language

*Hint - This tool works on other websites too! Be sure to share this link with families and guardians.

Published on

DATE:    
September 27, 2023

TO:  
School Administrators

FROM:     
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:  
SRO Training Follow-Up

A training for School Resource Officers (SRO’s) was held on September 8, 2023 in the ASB presentation room. Below is the video recording of that training for your convenience.

ACCESS THE VIDEO HERE

Published on

DATE:  
September 29, 2023

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:  
Suicide Prevention Conference Opportunities

Student Services is continuing to offer training opportunities for school mental health team members with suicide prevention funds. We will be sponsoring the registration fees for school-based mental health staff for either the upcoming UVU Conference on Mental Health (taking place during Fall Break) or the Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference (register for one of the two days or both days). It is expected that staff members receive permission from their administration before registering and ensure that their schools have adequate coverage. An email will be sent to school-based mental health team members with a form to register for one or the other. Please be advised that we are not sponsoring the online or virtual option. This is for in-person attendance only which may be verified after the conference as per grant requirements.

Here is more information about each conference.

2023 UVU Conference on Mental Health, October 27

Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference,  December 4 & 5 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo UT

The deadline to respond is October 18, 2023 by 5:00 pm.

If any of your school’s mental health team members (school counselors, school psychologists, or clinical support/social workers) would like to attend, please share the form or have them reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

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

DATE:  
September 19, 2023

TO: 
All Secondary Principals

FROM:  
Mike Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Steven Harwood, Information Systems Support Services & Programming Mgr.
Stacee Worthen, Counselor Consultant

SUBJECT:  
USBE Drop Out Reporting
USBE Prevention and Recovery Survey

USBE Drop Out Reporting

USBE Drop Out Reporting is conducted by registrars at the middle and high school levels. During the course of the school year, registrars clean the Drop Out Report as they note student transfers and withdrawals. Registrars document notes within the report to indicate prospective receiving schools, 10-day drops, SSID errors, as well as transfers to GED programs and Adult High School. Upon the completion of the school year, registrars continue to clean and vet the report for accuracy. Registrars submit the final draft report for their school to Stacee Worthen, Brooke Anderson, and Steven Harwood. Steven prepares the data to be submitted to the USBE. Brooke reviews the information for data accuracy and Stacee Worthen uses the data and documentation notes within the draft reports to complete the USBE Prevention and Drop Out Recovery Survey.

USBE Prevention and Drop Out Recovery Survey

This survey is generated by the USBE Student Support and Prevention Specialist as required by Utah State Code 53G-9-802. CRK uses the draft reporting data and compares results with the SLO Reports generated by school guidance counselors, which track students with deficient credits progressively through each academic quarter (Grades 9-12). In preparing the survey responses, student comparisons are made between Quarter 1 - graduation, as well as graduation through the summer academic session prior to the beginning of the next school year. Stacee Worthen also collects intervention data for the survey, with each high school reporting intervention programs available to students at the school and the associated program costs.

sjw/th

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.