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Category: Middle School Action Required

Published on

DATE: 
May 9, 2018

TO: 
All Principals, Administrative Assistants, and Custodians

FROM: 
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Staff Assistant of Auxiliary Services
Dave Rostrom, Director of Facilities Services
Sandi Abplanalp, Facility Systems Coordinator

SUBJECT:    
Summer Card Access Scheduling

With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, the need to re-evaluate current access levels of your staff may be necessary.  Employees with 24/7 access will remain the same, however, access may need to be altered for your teachers, staff and sweepers.  Please be aware that if teachers retain their current access levels during summer months their badge will allow them access into the building regardless of whether or not the building has been disarmed.  If your sweepers will be working days, let Sandi Abplanalp know what hours they are authorized to have access.

Please note that District Maintenance workers and District delivery drivers’ access will remain the same (7:00 am-5:00 pm). Please contact Sandi and let her know what days the building will be closed so their access can be removed.

Time zones assigned to the doors will be removed after the last bell on the last day of school. If you want your main door left open or have summer programs running during the summer months, contact Sandi to adjust the schedule.   You will be receiving a report which includes a list of employees with access to your building and their access times and passes.  If you have employees that will not be returning in the fall, please collect their badges as part of their final check out and return them to Sandi in the Facilities Services Department.  If an employee is transferring, email Sandi their names and new locations as soon as possible so she can assign them to their new location.  Please account for all of the lockout/unlock cards, portable passes, recess passes, office passes, elevator passes and substitute passes that are listed in this report.

Please be aware that employees with extended building access will revert back to regular access when the school year ends (with the exception of the head administrative assistants and custodians) and a new Building/Card Access-Administrator Authorization form will need to be submitted when the new school year begins.  Please call Sandi with any questions or concerns.

Sandi Abplanalp
Jordan School District
Facility Systems Coordinator
801-567-8616
sandi.abplanalp@jordandistrict.org

Cc: 
Jordan School District Cabinet Members

Published on

DATE:     
Thursday, May 3, 2018

TO:  
All Principals

FROM:   
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Michael Heaps, Director of Information Systems

SUBJECT:
AAPPL Testing Issue using Chromebooks

We are finding that the connection to the LTI AAPPL server using Chromebooks isn’t stable enough to support voice recording during the AAPPL speaking test without removing some of the network filtering. To test with fewer filtering restrictions requires that a special Google account and login be created. Since these special logins allow students access they wouldn’t normally have, the responsibility of schools and teachers to maintain network security and safety for students will be heightened.

What this means for schools and teachers is that students using a Chromebook will need to be logged in with xxxlang@my.jordandistrict.org (where xxx is the school number) whenever an AAPPL test is being administered on a Chromebook. We do NOT want the user name and password for xxxlang@my.jordandistrict.org to be given to students. Otherwise, students would have access to certain websites that would normally be blocked. This means that the teachers will have to log into that account for every Chromebook that a student will use to complete an AAPPL test.

We ask that principals speak with their dual language immersion and foreign language teachers about this issue and request that they log into the xxxlang@my.jordandistrict.org account themselves rather than having students log in.

For the future, the IS department is working on a more permanent and secure solution.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability at 801-567-8243 or ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org or Michael Heaps in Information Systems at 801-567-8271 or Michael.heaps@jordandistrict.org with any questions or concerns.

Published on

DATE:    
May 2, 2018

TO:   
School Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT:  
Principal Year-End Check Out Materials for 2017-2018

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

  • Items highlighted in purple 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 and will no longer be on a separate website.
  • 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.

MA/nt

Published on

DATE:  
April 26, 2018

TO:
Jordan District Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Time Schedule for the Last Day of School

The Transportation Department has made every effort to accommodate dismissal times for the last day of school. Please review attached memo carefully for your dismissal time, and convey that information to your students and parents. Once again, we extend our appreciation to the administration and employees who work in the Transportation Department for assisting in the transportation adjustment required to accommodate these changes.

Public Law:  R277. Education, Administration   R277-419-2.Definitions   R277. Public Accounting

“School day” means a minimum of two hours per day per session in Kindergarten; and a minimum of four hours per day in grades one through twelve. All school day calculations shall exclude lunch periods and pass-time between classes.

MA/nt

Attachments

Published on

DATE:   
April 11, 2018

TO: 
All Middle School Principals
All Middle School Assistant Principals

FROM:
Herb Jensen, Director of Transportation
Sula Bearden, Coordinator
Kittisack Soumpholphakdy, Field Trip office

SUBJECT: 
LAGOON DAY THURSDAY, May 31, 2018

We are looking forward to helping you provide an exciting, successful, and safe experience for your students this year. Following the same procedure as last year, it is okay to load the first bus at your school and let it depart without waiting for the other buses. As each bus is loaded and a chaperone is on board, please let it depart for Lagoon. Your help with this last year helped alleviate some of the waiting on the bus and congestion at the ticket gates.

Please remind your teachers and staff only 9th graders from your school and adult chaperones may ride the bus. Children of chaperones are not allowed to ride the bus. Per Policy (AA416D-14)

This year the park will close at 5:00 p.m.  The buses will be taking the students home at the same time as last year, which will be 5:00 p.m. For the safety of everyone, please have those persons you have designated as chaperones report to their assigned school bus loading area at 4:45 p.m. The students will load at 5:00 p.m. All buses will be gone by 5:15 p.m. As a reminder, there will be instructions and signs posted on the South side of the roller coaster at Lagoon for the afternoon return to school.

The map and instructions are to be used by your staff traveling to Lagoon and will help keep a safe environment for the students on this special day. Please feel free to make any copies you need of the map and the instructions for your staff to use that day.

Published on

DATE:   
April 4, 2018

TO: 
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:   
Permanent Records – Transfer Processes and Procedures

Year-End Permanent Record Transfers:
Permanent records for students leaving the school (either a boundary change or 6th and 9th grade advancement) need to be delivered in person to the appropriate school by the sending schools staff. Records need to be delivered on or before:

Traditional Schools:   June 8, 2018

Year-Round schools:  July 6, 2018

The receiving school will need to check the student list against each permanent record to assure all permanent records were received. Each bundle must be accompanied by two (2) alphabetized lists which includes the name of the sending school and receiving school. Computer lists or PDM’s may be used. Dead files should be provided to receiving schools separately in their own box.

General Permanent Record Transfer Procedures (District policy AS61):

  • A parent release is not required when transferring student records from one school to another.
  • Any school receiving a written request to forward a copy of a transferring student’s record to the new school shall comply within 30 days of the request, and within 10 days of the request for a military child’s records, unless the record has been flagged as a “Missing child,” in which case the copy may not be forwarded and the requested school shall notify the police department.
  • Transfer the ORIGINAL records for students in grades K through 8.
  • A CERTIFIED COPY of the cumulative/permanent record along with the original health record (Utah School Immunization Record) of students in grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to requesting schools outside of Jordan School District. The ORIGINAL RECORDS and a copy of the health record of students in grades 9 through 12 shall be archived at the Jordan District high school.
  • Maintain a record of the date the record transfer request was received and the date and school where the record was sent.

Published on

DATE:   
April 4, 2018

TO:  
Principals
High School Registrars

FROM:   
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services

SUBJECT:  
Transfer of K-8 Student Files for Retention at the State Records Center and for Permanent Archives

Please see memo below.

Published on

Principals: Please forward the attached flyer to teachers who may be interested in this opportunity.

Brigham Young University School Leadership Program
Aspiring Principals Academy
Learn the Principles of being a Principal

Apply by June 15, 2018 at: education.byu.edu/edlf/aspiring_principals.html

Published on

DATE: 
March 19, 2018

TO:   
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants (Financial and Membership)
All Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
Travis Hamblin, Planning and Student Services
Michael Heaps, Support Services Manager

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Jason Mott, Accountant/Internal Auditor

SUBJECT:
External Audit Visits

Please see attached memo.

 

 

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, March 22, 2018

TO:    
All Principals

FROM:  
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
USBE Guiding Document for R277-404 SAGE Opt-in Changes

Principals are asked to communicate the following information as well as provide the USBE Guiding Document that accompanies this memo to their teachers.

On January 4, 2018, the State Board of Education amended R277-404 to read: “In accordance with Subsection 53G-15-1403(1)(a), an LEA shall reasonably accommodate a parent’s or guardian’s request to allow a student’s demonstration of proficiency on a state required assessment to fulfill a requirement in a course.”  This opened a 30-day public comment period, which closed on March 12, 2018.  This amendment has since become official and USBE has provided a guiding document to assist schools and teachers as they implement this change in Board Rule.

The guiding document is comprised of two sections.  The first section discusses the various components of Board Rule and Utah Code that play into the Board’s decision to ratify this change.  This section is meant for LEA and school administrators.  Specifically, because of provisions in Utah Code 53G-6-803 that allow parents to have the “right to reasonable academic accommodations from the student’s LEA” including an accommodation that “shall allow a student to earn course credit towards high school graduation without completing a course in school by testing out of the course; or demonstrating competency in course standards.”  It was the consideration of this statute in particular that led the USBE to pass the amendment to R277-404.

The second section is meant for teachers to use as an example of how they might word this amendment in an addendum to their disclosure for this year and their disclosure statement for next year.  Essentially, teachers can choose the course requirement in which they will accept a student’s proficiency rating of a 3 or 4 on the SAGE as a substitute.  Please note that a 3 or 4 on the SAGE for that content area would mean that the student received 100% of the value of the selected course requirement.  If a student does not score a 3 or higher, the score from the course requirement will be used.  Teachers must have a parent’s signature opting their student into this procedure.  Teachers also need to provide a copy of the signed form for the student’s CUM file just like we do for an opt-out form.

As teachers implement this change, the other rules surrounding the administration of state-mandated tests apply.

Teachers may NOT:

  • Use statewide assessments to reward or punish a student.
  • Allow a statewide assessment to have a negative impact on the student’s academic grade.
  • Penalize a student who has been opted out of the statewide assessment.
  • Independent of the parent or guardian, use the demonstrated proficiency of a student on a statewide assessment to fulfill a requirement in a course.

Teachers are not required to implement this amendment to Board Rule; however, they are required to reasonably accommodate a parent’s request to allow demonstrated proficiency on a statewide assessment to fulfill a course requirement.  If teachers do not articulate up front what the reasonable accommodation is for their course, they will need to determine what is reasonable on a case-by-case basis at the request of parents.

Please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability department with any questions.

Published on

The Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

On April 19, 2018, hundreds of thousands of Utahns will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill, or to conduct an earthquake drill sometime in the month of April. Please take this opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and teach proper ways to protect oneself during an earthquake.  The drill will help us to be prepared for a catastrophic disaster in our area.

We encourage all schools to register at www.ShakeOut.org/Utah. After you register your school, please click on the “Resources” tab; where you will find a Shakeout Drill Manual for K-12 schools. This manual will provide you great information for your school’s exercise.

Please review the Jordan School District Incident Command procedures for the Earthquake Action Plan and Standard Operating Guidelines.

Please plan and prepare to take part in this statewide earthquake response exercise.

Published on

DATE:  
March 12, 2018

TO: 
Building Administrators

FROM:   
Scott Thomas, Administrator
Paul Bergera, Staff Assistant
Lance Everill, Facility Operations Coordinator
Ron Boshard, Risk Management Coordinator

SUBJECT: 
Great Utah Shake Out

On April 19, 2018, hundreds of thousands of Utahan’s will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the Great Utah Shake Out.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill or hold an earthquake drill in the month of April. Please take this opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and teach proper ways to protect yourself during an earthquake.  The drill will help us to be prepared for a catastrophe disaster in our area.

We encourage all schools to register at www.ShakeOut.org/Utah. After you register your school, please click on the “Resources” tab; here you will find a Shakeout Drill Manual for K-12 schools. This 17 page manual will provide you great information for your schools exercise.

Please review Incident Command procedures relevant to earthquake drills.

Please plan and prepare to take part in this statewide earthquake response exercise.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, March 8, 2018

TO:  
All Principals

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Extension of UEPC School Climate Survey Window

Because of the delayed start and other issues we experienced during the beginning of the UEPC School Climate Survey, the window has been extended to Friday, March 23, 2018. Principals are encouraged to remind parents and faculty members again about the survey and to ensure that all students second grade and up have the opportunity to take the survey.

Also, as a reminder, here are the links for you to track respondent participation in the student, parent and faculty/staff surveys:

Parent Survey:  https://co1.qualtrics.com/reports/public/dWVwYy01YTdkZjIyNzhhM2M0MjAwMGQ0NDg0M2ItVVJfOU5zdmU3OTRNTDVCWVFB

Student Survey: https://co1.qualtrics.com/reports/public/dWVwYy01YTdkZmE1Y2U2ODY5MTAwMTgyMDM4NjktVVJfOU5zdmU3OTRNTDVCWVFB

Faculty Survey: https://co1.qualtrics.com/reports/public/dWVwYy01YTdkZmI4NWM3NzZhNDAwMTQ0NzY3MzEtVVJfOU5zdmU3OTRNTDVCWVFB

Published on

Elementary and Middle School Principals:

March 13, 2018 – ASB Auditorium -- Language Arts planning meeting for elementary sixth grade and seventh grade Language Arts teachers. From 8:00am to 12:30pm, seventh grade Language Arts and ELA Special Education teachers will meet with their sixth grade elementary feeders to help better prepare middle school teachers and students for next year. See attached schedule and be sure that one 6th grade or 7th grade Language Arts and ELA Special Education teacher from your school arranges to attend. The Curriculum Department will pay the cost of a half-day substitute. Please direct any question to Becky Gerber (Elementary) at 88087 or Mindy Dummer (Middle School) at 88152.

Published on

DATE:     
February 13, 2018

TO:  
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
Special Educators
Speech Language Pathologists
School Psychologists

FROM:  
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./ Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist

SUBJECT: 
Post-High Transition Training

Post-High Transition Training will be provided for all secondary special educators, Speech Language Pathologists, and School Psychologists. The training will focus on ways to make the process more student- centered as well as highlight the changes to the Utah State Special Education Rules, and provides as much clarification as possible on the diploma options. This half-day training will be conducted by combining high school feeders. In order to give school teams the opportunity to participate in a group while still providing for student learning, the training has been set up so that each school will send half of their staff in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Please plan for the full day substitute teachers to switch between morning and afternoon groups. We recognize that Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) may work in multiple buildings and may not be available to attend the training on the assigned day of the secondary feeder. If the SLP works in 2 secondary schools, the SLP should attend with their home base school. If the SLP splits between elementary and secondary, and is scheduled at an elementary the day of the secondary training, the SLP can attend with another feeder. Staff that are not available for trainings with their feeders on March 6th or 7th should attend the March 8th training, as this is a single feeder system. School Team Leaders, please send a list of morning and afternoon participants to the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school by March 1st. Special Education will cover the substitute costs for training (Budget code: 1292). For more information, please contact Julie Brown at julie.brown@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8200.

BHS and WJHS Feeder: March 6th at WJHS in the Tech Atrium
Morning session:         7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session:      11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

HHS and RHS Feeder:  March 7th at RHS in the Tech Atrium
Morning session:         7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session:      11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

CHHS Feeder and Make-Up:  March 8th at WHMS in the Media Center
Morning session:         7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session:      11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

WJHS:      8136 S. 2700 W. West Jordan
RHS:       12476 S. Silverwolf Way (2700 W.) Riverton
WHMS:    8270 S Grizzly Way (5400 W.) West Jordan

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, February 22, 2018

TO:    
Elementary and Middle School Principals

FROM:    
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
SAGE Grades 6-8 Science SEEd Testing Updates

Now that USBE has completed field testing for the new grades 6-8 SAGE Science test that incorporates the new SEEd standards, we have been given some updated information regarding the expected time it will take for students to complete the test with its cluster questions.  During previous SAGE science administrations, students have been expected to complete the test in a 60-90 minute window.  We are asked to plan at least 100 minutes for students to take the SAGE science test in grades 6-8.  USBE is also recommending that we break the SAGE science test for grades 6-8 into more than one testing session to avoid testing fatigue.

There will be two clusters for every strand within the new SEEd core.  Students will need to finish all of the questions within a cluster before logging off.  If they log off before answering all of the questions, they will not be able to answer those questions when they log back on.  The platform will automatically move them to the next cluster.

Because the science standards for grades 6-8 have changed, the end-of-year SAGE Science test has also changed to match the new SEEd science standards.  When the SAGE test assesses new standards, the first year of implementation will require a rubric validation, standard setting and data review process to ensure the validity and reliability of the new test.  Once this process has been completed, the State Board of Education will need to ratify the results.  This process will impact several things worth noting:

  • Grades 6-8 SAGE science scores will not be available for students or educators until the fall of 2018.
  • Because SAGE science score reporting will be delayed for grades 6-8, this will likely delay the release of school accountability report cards for all levels – elementary, middle and high school. Currently, USBE is anticipating that school report cards, under the newly developed school accountability system, will be released in October 2018.
  • With the new SAGE science test in grades 6-8, it would be inappropriate to compare the 2018 results with previous years’ data. In essence, the 2018 administration of the SACE science test in grades 6-8 will be a baseline year as the same test will be administered under another name and with a new platform beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

Please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department with any questions.

 

Published on

Principals:  Please send the attached flyer to each School Community Council member, all parents are invited to attend.

Jordan Parent University
Legislative Forum
Thursday, February 8, 2018
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Elk Ridge Middle - 3659 W 9800 S, South Jordan

 

Published on

DATE:       
January 10, 2018

TO:  
Principals
Resource Team Leaders

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Admin. of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:  
Projected Caseload Process for 2018-19 Resource Allocations

Based on Administrative recommendations, the hiring window has been moved up to meet the increasing demands caused by teacher shortages, particularly in specific job categories. The Staffing 2.0 allocations are scheduled to be released by mid-February. To address this advanced timeline, the Special Education Department will be making resource staffing allocations differently than in the past. This method should make the workload on special education teachers and team leaders much easier. Please read through this information carefully because it is a new process. If you have any questions, please contact your assigned teacher specialist.

Caseload Information

  • No mid-year SCRAM report will be required. Please continue to send in SCRAM changes as they occur throughout the year. You will still be completing an End-of-Year SCRAM report.
  • Your December 1 SCRAM report will be used as the baseline for next year’s caseload estimate.
  • A 3-year average of incoming students to your school has been calculated to provide an estimate of incoming students in the youngest grade at your school. This number was added to your December 1 SCRAM numbers.
  • The number of students leaving your school in the exiting grade has been calculated. This number was subtracted from your December 1 SCRAM numbers.
  • Finally, we’ve maintained a trend line (for some schools since the 2002-03 SY) that shows estimated caseload versus actual caseloads on Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 SCRAM. We will use this trend line to make adjustments to estimates as needed.
  • All allocations will be conservative and may be re-evaluated at the end of this school year or after the Oct. 1 2018 count has been finalized.

Timeline

  • Initial allocations of certified special education FTE will be provided to the Human Resources Department in time for your 2.0 FTE Allocation.
  • Each Principal will receive a letter outlining their estimated caseload numbers for 2018-19 and the projected resource FTE allocation for 2018-19.
  • We will only be sending the allocation letter to each school’s principal.

Requests for Resource Instructional Assistants

In April, we will send a packet of information to each Resource and Support Class team to request instructional assistants for 2018-19. This will include a regular resource assistant allocation and the information needed to request Critical Needs Instructional Assistants. This timeline should allow your teams to have a better idea of which students with additional staffing needs will be attending your school for 2018-19.