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DATE: 
April 18, 2024

TO: 
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
FREE Parent Coaching available for all families


Administrators,

In partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection, Jordan District offers FREE parent coaching to ALL District families in Spanish and English. Instructions on how families can access these services are in the attached flyer.

The Health and Wellness Team will be delivering posters and promotional materials for schools to use to inform families of this service. Please promote these services when possible. Thank you!

 

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services


When we say school nutrition professionals are heroes, we mean it! That's why we celebrate them every spring with the National School Lunch Hero Day. Join schools across the country that are recognizing the difference these team members make for every child who comes through their cafeteria.

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Mike Haynes, Director of Jordan Education Foundation


THE CHALLENGE OBSTACLE RUN is a family-friendly fundraising obstacle course run open to all ages and created to make a difference in Jordan District Classrooms! Sponsored by local businesses and Jordan Education Foundation, 100% of proceeds go directly toward Classroom Grants benefiting students & teachers in Jordan District!

The Challenge Run is open to the community with participation from all 67 of our schools.

The run begins at 9 am, Saturday, May 11th and ends with a (free), fun family festival with lots of free giveaways. You can participate in any one of the events (Obstacle Run, Festival, Fundraising) or in all three! Bring your family and friends and neighbors for a super fun day!

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Rebecca Smith, Consultant in Teaching & Learning


Jordan District will begin a new GT Endorsement cohort in August 2024. Classes are open to all licensed personnel in Jordan District. Please see the flyers for detailed information and a class schedule. Contact Rebecca Smith (88368) with question you may have.

DATE: 
Thursday, April 11, 2024

TO:
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
State Testing Reminders


The following are friendly reminders from the state’s testing ethics policy:

  • “Utah LEAs and Licensed Utah educators may use a student’s score from a statewide assessment to improve the student’s academic grade for or demonstrate the student’s competency within a relevant course.”
  • “Licensed Utah educators shall ensure that:
    • “Students are not penalized who have been exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment
    • “Students aren’t provided a nonacademic award for participating in or performing well on a statewide assessment
    • “Students are provided an alternate learning activity if they are exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment”

The following additional guidance may help address specific questions that arise from the part of the state’s testing ethics policy quoted above:

  • Using a student’s score from a state assessment can only improve a student’s grade – not hurt it.
  • Educators may not use a student’s score on a state assessment to determine an overall grade for the course. It can be used in conjunction with other evidence to help determine a student’s overall grade.
  • Educators may not assign participation points on students’ grades for taking a state assessment.
  • The alternate learning activity for students whose parents have opted them out of taking the state assessment can be an alternate assessment. That said, using a student’s score on the alternate assessment or activity on a student’s grade can only improve the student’s grade – not hurt it.
    • In addition, if the incentive is that a student who demonstrates proficiency on a state assessment means that they don’t have to take the class final exam, then students who have been opted out would also need two opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. For instance, if a student who was opted out demonstrated proficiency on the alternate assessment (administered while other students took the state assessment), then they wouldn’t have to take the class final exam.

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

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services


Accidents can occur when working in unfamiliar areas because employees are unfamiliar of the hazards in the area. See the document below for ways to pay attention to your surroundings.

 

DATE:    
April 4, 2024

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Student Support Consultant

SUBJECT:  
Safe School Due Process Hearings


Beginning April 2024 the procedures for District Safe School Due Process Hearings have been updated. You may find the updated process and documents to request a Safe School Due Process Hearing on the Student Support website here. Each Safe School Due Process Hearing form is a fillable pdf. The updated process outline is as follows on the attached memo.

 

DATE:  
April 4, 2024

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:   
Early Warning System – Panorama


During this year’s legislative session HB84 – School Safety was passed requiring each school within an LEA (District) to implement a Student Intervention Early Warning System (53F-4-207). Panorama meets all the criteria established by HB84-School Safety and will be the District’s early warning system.

Panorama is $2,000 per school annually. For the 2024-2025 school year the cost of Panorama will be paid by Student Services.

Optionally, Panorama has a PBIS module that may be purchased by each school separately for $1.40 per student. If you are interested in implementing or learning more about the Panorama positive behavior module please contact Travis Hamblin in Student Services at travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org.

In-person and virtual trainings will be set up in the fall to ensure administrators and school leadership teams are trained in the use of Panorama. School administrators may request additional Panorama trainings for their school’s administrative team, school leadership teams and/or teachers and staff by contacting Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org).

Log on to learn about the supplemental services you can use with your multilingual students. Language & Culture Services will have training for teachers grades K-6 on Imagine Learning and 7-12 on National Geographic.


TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

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


Language & Culture Services is inviting parents to come out to their feeder high school to learn about English language learning in our District. JOIN US as we CELEBRATE student successes, LEARN about the WIDA test and what the results mean for students, and GROW our multilingual community. Please use this canva link to access flyers to share with families and to create additional languages you may need.

All events will take place at the high schools from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

NASA - How to Safely View the April 8, 2024, TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSETO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Communication Department


As you may be aware, a partial solar eclipse will pass over Utah on Monday, April 8, 2024, at approximately 12:32 p.m.

We encourage everyone to know the safety risks associated with viewing an eclipse.

Please make sure your students and staff know the importance of wearing the proper safety glasses when viewing the eclipse and the importance of not looking directly at the sun.

Below is information from NASA that may be of assistance to you in answering any questions you may have or questions that may come your way regarding safety during the eclipse.

DATE: 
April 4, 2024

TO: 
All Principals and All Counselors

FROM:  
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Stacee Worthen, School Counselor Consultant

SUBJECT: 
2024-2025 Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) Calendar


Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) dates are planned so that individual counseling teams may include them in their school and CSCP calendars. It is essential that counselors prioritize and attend CSCP meetings as they work to perform their other duties and tasks assigned to them. This allows counselors to enhance their skills, understand responsibilities and expectations, gain mastery on compliance-related items and improve upon best practices and positive workflow.

See the full schedule on the memo below.

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Communications Department


Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation is offering the My County Rec Pass to Salt Lake County residents, ages 5–18. The My County Rec Pass includes free access to use Salt Lake County operated recreation centers and amenities, including:

  • 18 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor)
  • 3 ice centers
  • 2 climbing walls
  • Gyms
  • Weight rooms
  • Fitness areas
  • Walking tracks

Pre-Registration Opens: April 1 and pass activates June 1. Parents/guardians may sign up their 5–18 year old(s) at a Salt Lake County operated recreation center. Both child and guardian must register in person. Parent/guardian must bring ID or proof of Salt Lake County residency.

DATE:     
April 4, 2024

TO:  
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Empowering Parents: A Conference on Wellbeing


The Health and Wellness Department, in Student Services is hosting a parent event scheduled for April 10th, 2024 at Riverton High School. This conference- style event aims to bring together professionals and education experts in the field of mental health and well-being to share their knowledge, insights, and research with parents in our JSD communities. This event aims to help parents to be best equipped to support their children with well-being.

We will offer resource booths near the entrance of the school from 5:30-6pm, and throughout transition time for parents to gain insight and information on helpful resources.

We will offer three(3) 30-minutes sessions between 6pm-8pm to maximize learning for parent participants. Some sessions will repeat more than once.

Topics will include best practices, research insights, or information that would be useful to parents of school-aged children. Including mental health issues in the schools and associated issues (bullying, stress, perfectionism, social pressures, etc.), risk, prevention, resilience and ways in which parents can help support their students. See attachment for more details about resource tables and breakout sessions.

There is a digital copy of more information attached(for printing and sharing), but a hard copy will also be sent to your school.

Please consider posting this flyer somewhere with high parent traffic (maybe the main office entrance).

Share with PTA!

Encourage parents in your communities to attend!

DATE:
April 1, 2024

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:  
April 12, 2024 - Optional Special Education PD Provided by JBAT


The Special Education Department will be hosting our final optional PD for the school year. The Jordan Behavior Assistance Team (JBAT) will be leading this professional development session. The focus will be foundational classroom management and behavior strategies. The professional development session will be held at Herriman High School April 12, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is for elementary and secondary special education teachers. Please sign up on JPLS for this awesome opportunity.

JBAT Professional Development
Herriman HS- Auditorium
JPLS Info
Course #102021
Section #128091

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources


IN HONOR OF JSD PARAEDUCATORS!

April 3rd was the official Paraeducator Appreciation Day and Western Governors’ University (WGU) is excited to announce a special initiative to honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions of paraeducators in Jordan School District.

We know the vital role Paraeducators play in supporting students, teachers, and the entire school community. Their dedication, compassion and hard work make a significant difference in the lives of students every day. In recognition of their outstanding efforts, WGU is promoting a paraeducator recognition program.

All JSD employees are encouraged to nominate a paraeducator that exemplifies excellence, goes above and beyond in their role and demonstrates a commitment to student success. This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those employees who make a profound impact in the classroom and beyond!

Nominations can be submitted through this online form - [SUBMIT NOMINEE HERE] and the deadline for submission is April 5th. Paraeducators that are nominated for this recognition will be put into a drawing for a special prize as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.