Jordan School District
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Brandon Conti, Risk Management Coordinator
Many workers are injured or killed on aerial lifts each year. Please see the attached fact sheet from OSHA which provides information to help employers and workers recognize and avoid safety hazards they may encounter when they use aerial lifts.
DATE:
September 5th, 2024
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness
SUBJECT:
Employee Wellness Rep Training 9/18 & Last Call!
As a reminder, each school or department is invited to select an employee wellness representative! The Employee Wellness Representatives will support faculty/staff wellness efforts within your school or department. If you haven’t already, please nominate your Employee Wellness Representative for the 24-25 school year!
The first of two trainings for Employee Wellness Representatives will occur on 9/18 where each rep will be able to benefit from the following:
Please forward the attached invitation to your selected Employee Wellness Representative.
As a reminder, the cost of substitutes is covered by the school. One substitute is a worthwhile investment for improving wellness in your school or department!
DATE:
September 5th, 2024
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
Schedule Your School’s “Wellness Check-up!”
Student and Staff Wellness, as a pillar of the Board’s Strategic Plan, continues to be a priority in our District and schools. In support of this priority, the Wellness Team will be conducting “Wellness Check-Ups” to deeply understand the current wellness efforts of the hardworking people in JSD (like you!).
The Wellness Team wants to learn from you! We would like to stop by in person to let you show off your wellness work. This might include visits to wellness rooms, meeting staff members, hearing about curriculum offerings, understanding current needs and programs, or any other concern or celebration. Mostly, we’ll be admiring your hard work!
Our intention with Wellness Check-Ups is not to take a lot of time, or add anything to your plate, it is to more deeply understand our school’s efforts, needs, and goals. This will allow the Wellness Team to better advocate and support you in your work!
Calendar a time at this link or email McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, 801-567-8245) for alternative arrangements.
We look forward to learning from your school!
DATE:
Thursday, September 5, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Record of August 13th Professional Learning Day Attendees
________________________________________________________________________________
School administrators may access a Tableau dashboard that contains a record of all educators who signed in using the QR codes for both the morning keynote sessions and the afternoon breakout sessions during the August 13th professional learning day. The dashboard may be accessed here. Administrators may also filter the list by conference location.
For questions about this dashboard, please refer to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
TO:
All Secondary Principals
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator
Please see the attached document for the 2024-2025 special education PLC schedule.
TO:
All Administrators
Finance Departments
School and Department Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems
We are excited to announce that we will implement Google as a convenient and secure way for users to access our Skyward systems on September 6, 2024. This new method will streamline your login process and enhance the overall security of your Skyward account.
In the Skyward Finance system, logging in with Google will be REQUIRED for departments, administrators, and school office staff, and optional for employee access users. In the Skyward Student system, logging in with Google will be optional for all staff.
Two Easy Methods to Login to Skyward Using Google
Benefits of Using Google for Skyward
If you encounter any issues accessing Skyward with your Google account or have questions, please contact the Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Secondary Principals
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Fine Arts Consultant
SUBJECT:
Ballet West 2024-25 Student In-Theater Presentations
Ballet West is again providing free presentations of the following ballets in the Capitol Theater:
Each program begins with an educational introduction and is followed by a portion of the repertoire currently being performed for the general public.
Further information may be found at Ballet West Student In-Theatre Performances and in this flyer.
If any of your teachers are interested in having their classes attend any of the performances, please have them contact Sydney Hamblin at sydney.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8296. Seating is limited and performance slots will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
Transportation fees and bus scheduling are to be taken care of by individual schools. Neither Ballet West nor the Teaching and Learning Department will cover transportation costs.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
We are excited for our annual Fall Family Fair on Thursday, Sept. 5 from 4 - 7 p.m. at the the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan. All Jordan District students and their families are invited to come celebrate back to school with us and become familiar with the District and the Community.
Special music guests, "Superintendents of Rock", featuring our very own Dr. Godfrey, will be performing. Come out with your family, enjoy snacks from the food trucks, win prizes, and get to know the district community.
DATE:
August 29th, 2024
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
PBIS Stipend Clarification
Administrators,
This memo is an update to a previous JAM regarding PBIS and Suicide Prevention Funds. There were no other changes to this information other than the stipend amount received, stipends have been amended to account for the benefits cost on our grant. The original Positive Behaviors Plan 2024-2025 form stated a $3000 stipend is available to pay up to three licensed individuals. $3000 is the amount before benefits are deducted.
Individuals will receive the following amounts:
You may select one person to receive-$2250.00
You may select two people to receive- $1125.00 each
You may select three people to receive-$750.00 each
The stipends will be paid out in November or March. Please submit the form to Janie Hyde by October 2, 2024, to have the stipends paid on the November paycheck, or please submit it by February 4, 2025, to have the stipends paid on the March paycheck.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
Health, CTE, and Psychology Teachers
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
SUBJECT:
Required Law and Policy Training for Teaching Sex Ed Topics
Law and policy training is mandatory for all new or newly assigned educators of sex education topics and must be renewed every three years. All health and certain CTE, science, and psychology educators must complete this training. CTE, science, and psychology teachers should complete this training if they teach eligible courses like Child Development, Health Science, Medical Anatomy, Human Development, Genetics, or any course with instruction on sex education as defined in Utah Code 53G-10-403. The USBE offers a free online training which can be found on the health education webpage.
A list of courses the USBE staff believe require law and policy training can be found below. Principals, please direct the teachers who teach these courses to do the training.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Preparation (SECURE)
Our monthly drill preparation will be held on September 4th at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. This month we will be covering SECURE. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrators assigned to oversee school safety. All other administrators are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also opened to any staff who may be interested.
After each monthly training all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.
Information regarding the SECURE response protocol can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on pages 8-11. We will discuss how to implement and execute the drill. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.
We will be holding this meeting over ZOOM so please join using this link.
TO:
Directors
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, Administrator/Evaluations
Please take a look at the September Evaluations newsletter below.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Building Principals
Assistant Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Registrars
Secondary Attendance Secretaries.
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT:
Enrollment of Returning Charter School Students
In the February 2022 Principal Meeting, school principals were directed to consult with and receive permission from their AOS before denying enrollment to a student who lives in the school's boundary and wishes to return at any point in the school year from a charter school. This guidance remains in effect for principals and assistant principals at all levels.
This information should be communicated to individuals who have responsibility for enrolling students at each school location.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Attendance/Prevention Specialist
SUBJECT:
Attendance Resources for Labor Day
Thank you for your tremendous efforts to warmly welcome our students and families back into our buildings and back to school. Attendance Works notes that these warm, welcoming environments make a big difference with attendance:
“Research and experience shows that attendance improves when a school community offers a warm and welcoming environment that engages students and families and provides enriching learning opportunities. Students are more likely to come to school when they feel safe, know that someone at the school cares about them, and when there are exciting and relevant lessons. Families are more likely to make sure their children are in class every day when they know school staff are looking out for their children’s best interest and when they understand the potentially adverse impact of absences, even just two days a month, on academic success.”
Help families plan ahead and make sure their child is back in school directly following a school holiday by posting alerts using Parent Square, school websites, and social media. Ready-made resources are available in English and Spanish here. If you would like to customize the announcement with your school logo or have any questions, please contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or (801)567-8205.
We still have FREE banners and stickers available in case you missed it in the last JAM.
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:
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:
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.
DATE:
August 29, 2024
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Panorama Survey Coordinators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
SUBJECT:
Panorama Student Feedback Survey Opt-In Report
Panorama (Early Warning System) and social-emotional surveys may only be administered to students whose parents have opted-in. Parents are asked to opt-in to the student feedback survey during the registration process. When the online registration process closes on Oct. 1 schools will manually enter the opt-in information into Skyward.
The Survey window is August 30-September 20, 2024. The following information is provided to inform and assist you as you administer student surveys:
Survey coordinators and administrators should view the Administering Panorama Survey presentation for information, instructions, and guidance regarding the student feedback surveys. Other Panorama information may be found on the Student Serves website here.
Should you have any questions please reach out to Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org) or Michelle Reyes (michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org).
