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Category: Middle Schools

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The Utah State Board of Education School and Student Safety Office has informed the District that regular fire evacuation drills (going outside) are to resume as of March 1, 2021. You can no longer substitute evacuation instruction in lieu of an actual exercise. Please practice Covid-19 safety precautions during all drills.

Questions, contact:  Lance Everill, Emergency Operations Manager 801-567-8623, lance.everill@jordandistrict.org

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The 2021 School Safety Survey will be administered to building administrators, through Qualtrics, beginning April 12th and closing May 21st. Please schedule some time to complete this survey.

The School Safety Survey is the current method of gathering state-wide data on the implementation of best-practices, challenges, programs being used, innovations, and current issues in school safety. The topics include (but are not limited to) building security, law enforcement partnerships, school-based mental health efforts, student threat assessment, and prevention programs. The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Safe and Healthy Schools Team will be sending out additional information and details in the next month.

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DATE:    
Thursday, March 4, 2021

TO:    
All Principals

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Kim Gibson, Licensed Administrator, Elementary
Wyatt Bentley, Licensed Administrator, Secondary

SUBJECT:  
Pedagogical Performance Assessment Parental Permission Forms

To become a teacher licensed by the State of Utah, student teachers, intern teachers, and teacher candidates must submit to a pedagogical performance assessment (PPA) (see R277-502-3-(4)).  A PPA assesses the basic competencies of all newly licensed Utah teachers regardless of their university preparation program, thus ensuring that all K-12 students have access to competent teachers.  The PPA requires the teacher candidate to submit the following:

  • A video of the teacher candidate providing instruction to students
  • Written commentaries and analysis of the instruction
  • Student artifacts and work samples from regular classroom activities

Whenever students are part of a video recording or their classroom work is given to a third party outside of the school district, we are required to obtain parent signed permission (see R277-487-3).  As of the date of this memo, there are two state-approved programs that provide a pedagogical performance assessment product:

  • ETS provides the PPAT
  • Pearson provides the edTPA

ETS uses their own permission form, which satisfies the requirement to obtain signed parent permission (sample copy attached with this memo).  Pearson, and perhaps other vendors that are eventually approved by the state, rely upon districts to use their own forms.  As such, a new Teacher Pedagogical Performance Assessment (PPA) for Pre-service Teacher Candidates parent permission form has been created to fill that need.  This form is attached with this memo and should be used unless the ETS form is being used.

All permission forms for a pedagogical performance assessment should be kept, either physically or digitally, on file by the school for three years.

For any questions about teacher candidate licensure or pedagogical performance assessments, please contact Wyatt Bentley at 801-567-8215 or wyatt.bentley@jordandistrict.org or Kim Gibson at 801-567-8216 or kim.gibson@jordandistrict.org   For any questions about permission forms or student data privacy, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243 or ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org.

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The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective as soon as possible:

  • Staci Moore, assistant principal at Jordan Ridge and Majestic Elementary appointed assistant principal at Majestic Elementary.
  • Jayme Gandara, Facilitator in Provo School District appointed assistant principal at Jordan Ridge and South Jordan Elementary.
  • Kimberly Ranney, assistant principal at Rose Creek and South Jordan Elementary appointed assistant principal at Rose Creek Elementary.
  • Jared Covili, Product Manager/Instructor at Utah Education Network appointed Consultant, Digital Teaching and Learning.

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The  ESPIC (Educational Support Personnel Improvement Committee) is looking for courses that would be appropriate and effective for ESP professional learning. We are seeking your input regarding skills and knowledge that would be helpful for various ESP job categories. We would appreciate you taking 10-20 minutes to complete this survey. Survey link: https://jordandistrict.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b44jgy9K3VEMqx0

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The Utah Department of Health as issued an updated State Public Health Order.  The School Manual and School Manual Summary have also been updated.

Utah Department of Health School Manual

This information can also be found by clicking HERE and going to Moving Forward at Jordan District.

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One of the board rule requirements of being able to use LEA-specific licenses (Formerly known as letters of authorization) is that we post the percentage of the different types of licenses that are used in the individual schools. Chad Margetts has worked behind the scenes to help us get this requirement fulfilled. (Thank you, Chad!!) You may notice an additional link at the bottom of your school website “Educator Licensing”. This link will take you to the HR website with some additional licensing information including the required information on LEA-Specific licenses.

Short video with additional information.

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Reduction In Staff (RIS) resources for administrators are included below.  Please contact an HR administrator and/or your respective AOS with any questions.

  1. District Policy : Reduction In Licensed Staff - DP327 NEG

This policy includes a link to the RIS Guidelines (RIS Rubric Criteria for Teachers and Counselors)

  1. Reduction In Staff Licensed Employee Request Form

By February 26, 2021, principal are to submit their RIS recommendation(s) to their Administrator of Schools and the Administrator of Human Resources for approval. However, if additional time is needed, please contact your AOS and respective HR Administrator. Once RIS requests are approved, principals will then receive a letter from an HR administrator for each approved RIS, which will prompt principals to meet with the RIS’d employee, complete the Right To Return Form, obtain signatures and return this form to the respective HR administrator.

      • https://employment.jordandistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/RIS-Request-2017-fillable-2.pdf

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This is a reminder that there are plenty of Chromebooks available for temporary loan. If you are in need while waiting for an existing order to be fulfilled, or for any other reason, please contact Mark Sowa. Keep in mind, these will still be loaner machines that will need to be returned at the end of the school year.

Similarly, the Loaner Kajeet Program has many devices still available. If a student has Internet access concerns (such as slow Internet, or too many people in the home trying to share limited bandwidth, or even student travel that would necessitate mobile Internet access), these could be solved with an additional point of Internet access. If you believe any of your students could benefit from having  Kajeet devices at no cost to the school or students, please contact Mark Sowa to make arrangements for a loan.

Mark can be reached at mark.sowa@jordandistrict.org, or at 801-567-8392.

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DATE:   
Thursday, February 25, 2021

TO: 
All Principals

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
USBE School Climate Survey

Please see the attached memo and documents that are mentioned in the memo.

 

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DATE:  
Thursday, February 25, 2021

TO: 
Middle School Principals
High School Principals

FROM:    
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:    
Teacher Training for Utah Aspire Plus Testing

With end-of-year testing season starting in a month (or two), it’s a good time to plan for teacher training. Please work with testing coordinators and administrators to schedule or facilitate faculty training at school. The format of the training is flexible and can be done as an all-in-one meeting, or you can ask teachers to complete the UT Aspire Plus Canvas course, or a combination thereof. All administrators, elementary coaches and grade 9 & 10 core teachers will be added to the Utah Aspire Plus Canvas course, so each teacher has access to the same resources: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/8D4KK4

If you’d like Brooke Anderson to lead a 45-minute overview of UT Aspire Plus testing, please join her via Zoom during one of the dates & times below:

Friday, March 5 @ 9 AM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89059597166?pwd=ZmpIYW95U3luNllGWml2YWxiNWpkUT09

Meeting ID: 890 5959 7166
Passcode: 033639

Friday, March 12 @ 11 AM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/87669950276?pwd=cXNra05palhKRUpZQzQwSmk0b1lFQT09

Meeting ID: 876 6995 0276
Passcode: 136046

Friday, March 19 @ 11 AM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/87650171550?pwd=RUZTeWZnQXBPOVU1cHpqY3IyeC81UT09

Meeting ID: 876 5017 1550
Passcode: 253584

Please contact Brooke Anderson at 801-567-8393 or brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org if you need to set up another training at a different time/date than the ones above.

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DATE:  
Thursday, February 25, 2021

TO: 
Elementary School Principals
Middle School Principals

FROM:    
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Teacher Training for RISE Summative Testing

With end-of-year testing season starting in a month (or two), it’s a good time to plan for teacher training. Please work with testing coordinators and administrators to schedule or facilitate faculty training at school. The format of the training is flexible and can be done as an all-in-one meeting, or you can ask teachers to complete the RISE Canvas course, or a combination thereof. All administrators, elementary coaches and RISE-testing teachers will be added to the RISE Canvas course, so each teacher has access to the same resources: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/6XW9EE

If you’d like Brooke Anderson to lead a 45-minute overview of RISE testing, please join her via Zoom during one of the dates & times below:

Wednesday, March 10 @ 4:00 PM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89177570866?pwd=bElTZWJsZkN4YWYwOGh0d3lRZ05YUT09

Meeting ID: 891 7757 0866
Passcode: 414957

Friday, March 12 @ 8:30 AM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89781595565?pwd=T2VOVlgxci9LL2o4L21PN0hoTWtPUT09

Meeting ID: 897 8159 5565
Passcode: 784457

Friday, March 19 @ 9:00 AM:
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/82987533837?pwd=cmwwZ2VTTXhkTk5SUm1RYjhjUXordz09

Meeting ID: 829 8753 3837
Passcode: 508653

Please contact Brooke Anderson at 801-567-8393 or brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org if you need to set up another training at a different time/date than the ones listed above.

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DATE:   
February 22, 2021

TO:      
Principals
Special Education Staff
School Secretaries

FROM:   
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:    
Special Education Budget Closeout for the 2020-21 School Year

Please note that Special Education purchase orders/requisitions for the 2020-21 school year must be received by Friday, April 16, 2021 @ 5:00 p.m. Please remember the following:

  • Budgets are not carried over from one year to the next.
  • Remember to deduct any previously submitted amounts from your Special Education budget (so that you know your balance) before submitting new orders. This includes reimbursements submitted through your school. No orders will be processed that exceed your budgeted allocation.
  • Please check with your school secretary to make sure all Special Education reimbursements have been submitted to the Special Education Department by the April 16th deadline. We have provided each secretary with a spreadsheet of currently recorded purchases/reimbursements for the total special education department at your school up through February 16, 2021.
  • When ordering supplies, follow Skyward procedures.
  • Be sure to follow the ordering guidelines outlined in the attached budget information page, as you close out your current year budgets.

Staff will be notified of the new budget allocation amount prior to the start of the new school year.  Keep in mind that new purchase orders/requisitions will not be processed until mid-July when all of the current year’s budgets have been closed out.

As you close out your budgets for the current school year, please note the following:

  1. All purchase orders/requisitions, should be routed to Debbie Fairbourn in the Special Education Department.
  2. Use the following codes for Purchase Orders/Requisitions, NPOs, P-Cards, and ECHECKS, submitted through the year.

Coding for P.O.s/Requisitions, NPOs, P-Cards, ECHECKS:

FUND TYPE LOCATION PROGRAM FUNCTION OBJECT
10 E (School #) 1295 1090 Use object code

If you have questions regarding your Special Education budget, please call Debbie Fairbourn at
(801) 567-8177.

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The Utah State Board of Education, Utah Department of Health, SafeUT at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Utah Department of Public Safety, and the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health are pleased to announce the Safe & Healthy Schools Webinar Series!

This webinar series is intended for any professionals who would benefit from the information provided. There is no registration required or cost to attend. One relicensure point/hour is available through completion of a required questionnaire following the presentation (details will be provided at the end of the webinar). The questionnaire for each event will be open for one month following the presentation date. 

 

Save the date for the March webinar:

“Mental Health, Trauma, COVID-19 and the Value of Schools”

Presenter: Marci Hertz, Senior Behavioral Scientist for the Division of Adolescent and School Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Date: March 23, 2021

Time: 11:00AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom link: TBA

More information will be posted on the Safe and Healthy Schools website, Events and Trainings page (https://www.schools.utah.gov/safehealthyschools/resources/eventstrainings). 

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Just a reminder to fill out your EL funding request (EARS money) so we can do a budget transfer to your school. Please use this form.

We will need the information by Monday, February 22 so accounting can do the transfer by the end of February. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Love-Day or contact Andrea Schneiter, admin assistant at 88124.

Here is the EL count for the schools, just in case you need. (Note: ML is the new term for our English Language Learners- Multi Language Learner).

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District Science Lab/Chemical Clean Up
One-time disposal opportunity!

Principals:

Jordan District is initiating a science lab review, clean up and sign off to ensure the safety of teachers and students as well as mitigating expensive disposal fees.

The district is offering a one-time disposal opportunity for chemicals that are expired and/or no longer used requiring specialized disposal.

Most of the chemicals in schools can be safely disposed of on site as long as appropriate protocols are followed. Understanding that some teachers may not feel comfortable disposing of certain chemicals without some verification and/or support, experienced teachers are happy to help. Simply reach out to Jane Harward and arrangements will be made.

The final deadline for lab review, clean up and sign off is June 11th, 2021. Sign offs can occur anytime between now and then. Early signoff is highly encouraged and appreciated.

Science teams can refer to the following process to guide their work.

  1. Take inventory of all chemicals and ensure they are stored in appropriate/required locations.
  2. Safely dispose of chemicals and materials that are expired or no longer used.
  1. Update SDS books with current sheets.
    • The MSDS books are outdated and need to be replaced with new SDS books and sheets.
    • If you need a new SDS book please email Jeff Beesley.

If chemicals are identified requiring specialized disposal please contact Jane Harward and Jeff Beesley.

When all tasks are complete and the lab is ready for sign off please email Jane Harward and Jeff Beesley.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and help.

Jane

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Organizers of the conference have opened a new window for Jordan School District. The conference platform will be open and participants will have access to all speakers from April 3 - April 12, 2021. (This is a change from the original dates of March 25 - April 3.)

Schools are encouraged to participate in this unique opportunity to participate in the Instructional Leadership Conference. This year’s conference will be held virtually and will include keynote speakers Doug Fisher, Anthony Muhammad and Gerry Brooks, along with many other well-known and motivating speakers. Cost for the conference is $150/person or $1,500 for all school faculty members. This provides a unique opportunity to join a conference in creative ways anytime during the week.

  • Bring staff together and listen to one of the speakers as a group.
  • Invite grade levels or departments to watch a speaker together.
  • Invite teachers to watch a specific speaker and meet together to discuss.
  • Invite teachers to watch speakers of their choice.

This conference will be well worth the cost, even if you’re not able to watch all speakers. See the attached brochure for session and registration information. Take note that the dates on the brochure are the original dates for the conference. To accommodate Jordan's spring break our dates will be April 3-12, 2021.

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Thank you for your participation in the Virtual Teacher Transfer Fair! We hope it was a valuable experience. To help continually improve future fairs, we would appreciate your genuine feedback. Please complete the following brief survey https://forms.gle/cVad2HeUmSxSbhk9A.