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Category: Middle School Info

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist

If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave before or after Thanksgiving on a “Critical Day” for any reason not listed in policy DP335NEG or DP335B, you must submit a request as follows:  

How to Request

During the window, the employee must send the request through email. Please include your name, school, position, and the date you are requesting the leave. Requests left on voicemail or over the phone will NOT be accepted.

Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

Education Support Professionals submit their request to classifiedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org 

The employee will receive an email confirmation within two working days after submitting the request. If the employee does not receive a confirmation email, then Human Resources has NOT received your request and your leave will not be approved.

School Holiday Date of Holiday Critical Days* Window
Thanksgiving Recess

(Licensed)          

 Nov. 26-28, 2025 Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, 2025 Oct. 12 – Oct. 22, 2025
Thanksgiving Recess

(ESP) 

 Nov. 27-28, 2025 Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, 2025 Oct. 13 – Oct. 23, 2025

*Critical Days are the first student attendance days before or after a school holiday. If a non-student attendance day falls before or after a school holiday, the Critical Day is the day before or after that non-student attendance day when students are in attendance.

Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2025-2026

ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2025-2026

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Teachers and Staff

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services

Language & Culture Services wants to celebrate our 2025 WIDA graduates. Our students work hard and we want to celebrate their linguistic greatness in reaching level 4.2 overall and level 3.5 on the speaking section in WIDA.

Come and watch our students receive awards and see them perform. Find out about parent resources, information about WIDA and get a free dinner.

Please come out and celebrate with your students and their families.

  • When: Oct. 16 | 6 - 8 p.m.
  • Where: West Jordan Middle

Published on

DATE:   
September 29, 2025

TO:  
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT:   
October School Psychologist Meeting

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2025 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Trevor Olsen, Associate Director of the University of Utah School-Based Mental Health program, will provide us with a presentation on Four-Directional Peacemaking, an integrative framework for building peace.

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 2, 2025

TO:  
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Suicide Prevention Funds and Conference Registration

Suicide Prevention Grant funds are available for allowable expenses up to $1,000 per school. Schools may use these funds to pay for HopeSquad or Sources of Strength program renewal fees or to conduct suicide prevention training. These funds cannot be used to purchase supplies or food related to suicide prevention programming (NO T-shirts, incentives, fidgets, etc.). For questions, contact McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org) in Student Services.

As part of this allocation, schools may choose to register relevant staff members (school psychologists, school counselors, clinical support/social workers) for the Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference and code (see below) the P-Card registration fee to the grant.

Here is the registration link for the Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference. It is held on December 2nd & 3rd at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, UT. Please note that the early bird registration deadline for this event is October 31st.

Schools may register one individual for elementary, three individuals for middle school, and up to five individuals for high school, using the grant. Administrators can code the expense to program 5674 on the P-Card Reconciliation. There will not be District personnel registering school staff this year.

If school staff have already been registered and your school would like to be reimbursed, contact Carmen Covarrubias (carmen.covarrubias@jordandistrict.org).

Published on

TO:
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

Attached is the Special Ed Newsletter for October 2025.

Published on

TO:
Directors
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist, Leave Benefits

Please see the attached overviews for Administrative, Licensed and Educational Support Professionals leave policies.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Curtis Jenson, Administrator at South Jordan Middle
BYU CITIES School Partnership

Centering Student Joy: Stop Surviving, Start Thriving

Don't miss the Learning Edge Annual Administrator Conference, themed "Centering Student Joy: Helping Them Thrive, Not Just Survive". This essential professional development opportunity for Elementary, Secondary, District Administrators, Teachers, Teacher Leaders, and Student Support Providers is designed to provide actionable strategies for educators.

The conference is scheduled for November 11, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Provo Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

You'll hear from keynote speakers including:

  • Lauren Porosoff, founder of EMPOWER Forwards, who will discuss making school a source of meaning, vitality, and community.
  • Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and former US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology leader, known for his book Digital for Good.
  • Antonio Sacre, a bilingual Cuban and Irish-American writer whose work focuses on multicultural family dynamics.

Registration is only $99 per person, and includes both breakfast and lunch. Register today, and bring a few teachers with you! The conference is a collaborative event held by the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling (CITES) at Brigham Young University, and features some of our own JSD all-stars like Jared Covili, Marianne Johansen, and Melanie Dawson.

 

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Brandon Conti, Risk Management Coordinator

What are some facts you should know about extension cord use and limitations? Check out the document below for all the details!

Published on

DATE:     
September 25, 2025

TO:   
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:      
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
Michelle Reyes, Attendance/Prevention Specialist, Student Services

SUBJECT:   
Fall Attendance Resources and Panorama Data

Please see the document below for all the attendance resources.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Jared Covili, Digital Teaching and Learning

As previously mentioned, in order to make the most of the available features in our district-wide Canva deployment, we are migrating to a new Canva structure on Friday 9/26. No content has been lost; as part of this migration you have been added to one or more new Canva teams, corresponding to the school(s) with which you’re associated (or a “Staff & Admin” team, for staff not based at a school).

Here’s what you need to know:

We have re-labeled our existing district team to “Archive: Jordan School District”. You’ll always be able to access this content by toggling between teams. You’ll also be able to access your new school-based team by toggling in the same way. See attached guide for information on switching between teams.

We recommend you copy your content from this Archive team over to your new school-based team. You’ll get the best Canva features in these new teams, and will best able to collaborate in your school team with the students and staff associated with that school. View attached guide for instructions on how to copy Canva content to your new team.

District-wide staff: you may not have been automatically added to your new Staff & Admin team. Please log out and log back in to Canva in order to be added to this team.

If you encounter any other issues with Canva, please contact our Digital Teaching and Learning Team or the Canva Support team.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Director Teaching & Learning
Kaye Rizzuto, Social Studies Consultant

As we approach America 250, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we have a unique opportunity to engage students in meaningful learning and memorable celebrations throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Activities and Engagement
We encourage each school to incorporate America 250 into the curriculum and school culture, making this milestone year unforgettable for all students.

Student Award Opportunity
Students also have the option to participate in a special America 250 Award program, designed to recognize student engagement, research, and creativity related to the anniversary. Details and how to participate can be found HERE.

Let’s work together to make America 250 a vibrant and inclusive celebration in every school. Thank you for your leadership and support in creating memorable learning experiences for our students.

If you have questions or want to share your school’s plans, please reach out.

Kaye Rizzuto
Social Studies Consultant
Carolyn Gough
Director Teaching & Learning

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, September 25, 2025

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: General and Special Education Teachers’ Literacy Survey: Opinions, Practice, Training, and Confidence

Applicant: Kristie Calvin, East Tennessee State University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Teachers who choose to participate will take a survey that asks about their training, knowledge, and practices in the areas of reading and literacy.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE:    
Thursday, September 25, 2025

TO:   
Middle and High School Principals

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Secondary Administration of Dual Language Immersion Programs in Utah: Program Implementation, Fidelity, and Leadership

Applicant: Beth McGarry, Utah State University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Principals of secondary DLI schools will be asked to participate in an interview regarding their experience implementing the DLI program.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, September 25, 2025

TO:  
All School Administrators

FROM:  
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Caregiver – School Collaboration Throughout the IEP Process

Applicant: Kayleigh Brennan, University of Utah

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Special education service providers, such as teachers, school psychologists, and speech language pathologists may be asked to complete a survey on the IEP process and the factors that contribute to stronger collaboration and partnerships with families.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, September 25, 2025

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Talking Teaching for Change: How Productive Teacher Collaborations Contribute to Teacher Efficacy Beliefs

Applicant: Joy Zhang, Brigham Young University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee.  The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project.  Participation in the study is at your discretion.  If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Participating teachers will take a survey about their collaboration experiences, structural components of their collaboration, perceived sense of collaborative culture, and their perceived efficacy beliefs regarding instruction.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE:    
September 25, 2025

TO:   
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Mike Anderson, Assistant Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Melanie Dawson, Program Administrator of Behavior
Amanda Bollinger, T&L Associate Administrator
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Administrator
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services

SUBJECT:
MTSS/PBIS Teacher Specialists

We are excited to announce a new team of MTSS/PBIS teacher specialists dedicated to supporting school-wide implementation of positive behavior supports. Please see the attached flyer to see which of the following specialists is assigned to your school.

  • Cammie Chang
  • Taryn Cox
  • Christina Jacobs
  • Stephanie Johnson
  • Amy Slack

The primary role of these specialists is to support school-wide implementation of positive behavior supports. Some of their key roles and responsibilities include:

  • Collaborating with leadership teams to ensure research-based behavior practices are consistently in place at the universal (Tier 1) level across all areas of the school.
  • Guiding and supporting school teams as they identify and implement targeted (Tier 2) behavior supports.
  • Assisting school teams in monitoring schoolwide data to drive ongoing improvement of behavior support systems.
  • Identifying behavior training needs and collaborating with school teams in providing relevant professional development.

For classroom-specific concerns, please collaborate with your instructional coach. For individual student concerns for those on an IEP, reach out to the Jordan Behavior Assistance Team (JBAT).

We look forward to a successful year of SWPBIS implementation in your schools! Should you have any questions please reach out to Melanie Dawson at melanie.dawson@jordandistrict.org.

 

Published on

DATE:  
September 25, 2025

TO:   
All Secondary Principals

FROM:    
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts Consultant

SUBJECT:  
Utah Symphony Performance for Secondary Students

We are thrilled to announce a new, optional opportunity for secondary students in the Jordan District. The Utah Symphony will be performing specifically for our secondary students for the first time on March 4, 2026.

Concert Details:

  • Location: West Jordan High School
  • Date: March 4, 2026
  • Time: 9:45 a.m.
  • Performance Duration: 45 minutes

Logistics:

  • Student Participation: Each school is allowed to send up to 60 students.
  • Supervision: Each school must ensure sufficient adult supervision, with a minimum of one adult chaperone per 30 students.
  • Funding: School-based budgets will cover the cost of substitute teachers (if needed), while the Teaching and Learning Department will handle busing fees.

Action Required:

  1. Google Form Submission: To participate, complete the attached Google Form by October 15, 2025.
  2. Transportation Request: Your school’s administrative assistant should submit a transportation request via Skyward. Include the number of teachers and chaperones in your school's final count. Ensure your bus request includes the correct group name (e.g., South Hills, 115 Curr) to facilitate coverage of the bus fee by the Teaching and Learning Department.

Preparation: Utah Symphony will provide study materials to help prepare students and enhance their experience. We strongly encourage utilizing these resources to maximize the educational value of the performance.

For any further information or assistance, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to your school’s participation in this enriching musical experience.

Published on

DATE:
September 25, 2025

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems

SUBJECT:
Introducing the iBoss Parent Portal App for Parents/Guardians

As we settle into the 2025-26 school year, Information Systems is excited to announce a new tool for our families: the iBoss Parent Portal App. This application is designed to give parents and guardians more control and visibility over their student’s internet use on their school-issued Chromebook. The application can be downloaded from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, simply search for “iBoss Parent Portal” to find it.

The iBoss Parent Portal App will allow parents to guide their student’s internet use in two primary ways:

  1. View Browsing History: Parents will be able to review their student’s browsing history on the school Chromebook.
  2. Scheduling Internet Access Outside of School Hours: The app allows parents to set specific schedules to restrict internet access on the device during designated times. This feature is particularly useful for establishing “no-screen” time overnight.

Attached to this memo, you will find a copy of the iBoss Parent Portal Quick Start Guide. This guide will be sent to parents from the office of Communications in the coming weeks. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this guide.

Should parents have questions, they should be instructed to contact the school directly. For any questions you are unable to answer, please contact the Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737 or extension 88737. You can also reach out to your school’s assigned tech for assistance with the app. We are here to support you in helping our families with this new tool.

 

Published on

TO:
School Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant, Digital Learning, Teaching & Learning

Digital Teaching and Learning wants to help your teachers become Big Six certified this year. Nominate ONE teacher (preferably someone where technology is an area of growth) to participate this year. Our program includes stipends as teachers complete various steps in working with Big Six tools in their classrooms. As they complete each step in order, your teacher will receive that stipend.

Click on the PDF for more information