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Category: Middle Schools

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Dear Educators,

We would like to share a new professional learning opportunity with you called Utah Microcredentials. This resource is supported and funded by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and is available to all educators in Utah’s public education system, including teachers, instructional coaches, paraprofessionals, counselors, related service providers, administrators, and other educators.

Microcredentials acknowledge all the different types of professional learning that educators do, both formal, traditional courses and independent, self-directed learning. Realizing that educators are continually honing their craft, Utah Microcredentials provides a way to recognize that learning. Microcredentials represent instructional skills and concepts. A microcredential is competency-based recognition that the holder has demonstrated effective and consistent use of the target skill or concept as a part of their practice. Microcredentials are not earned through seat time, assignments, or tests. They are earned by submitting the required evidence for a specific microcredential on the target skill or concept.

Each Utah Microcredential is worth a 0.5 USBE credit, which may be used for relicensing and for salary changes in certain districts/charters. The cost for each is $20. Earning microcredentials is also a way to demonstrate leadership. Posting earned microcredentials on your webpage, social media, and even outside your door is an invitation to share your skills with others. For more information, you can use these resources:

  • A narrated video that provides an overview of microcredentials,
  • The UEN website for Utah’s Microcredentials,
  • A one-pager of the most frequently asked questions about microcredentials.

You can start earning Utah Microcredentials on MIDAS. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to supporting learning for our Utah students.

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Davis School District is hosting their Intermountain AP Summer Institute in an online format. This could be an option to offer your faculty quality professional development approved by the College Board at a significant cost savings compared to the typical on-site offerings.

Please see the following information for the Intermountain AP Summer Institute This local institute for 4 days of instruction from some of the best College Board consultants.  The institute will be held online from Tuesday, July 6 to Friday, July 9 and the cost is only $500.  Two hours of graduate credit is available for only $30.

There are also additional institutes available Please see the following link for more details on institutes https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/professional-development/workshops-summer-institutes/about-summer-institutes

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DATE:   
May 6, 2021

TO:  
Building Administrators

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:    
Reporting Hiring on the Enrollment Dashboard

In previous school years, building administrators submitted an “FTE Staffing Worksheet” form to Planning & Enrollment to report their hiring using 0050/FTE allocations. This form has been discontinued.

All administrators must report their hiring using 0050/FTE allocations on their Enrollment Dashboard. This report must be completed with current hiring by Friday, May 7, 2021. If changes in hiring or funding sources for staff are made, these changes should immediately be noted on the Enrollment Dashboard.

When entering hiring numbers, be sure to use the “2021-22” tab to enter all totals!

Elementary Schools: Enter hiring in rows 42-52. Use the correct columns (columns I through M) for the funding source used.

Middle Schools: Enter hiring using 0050 in rows 44-55. Enter hiring using alternative funding sources in rows 61-72. Please note that some rows require you to enter the number of individuals and some rows require you to enter the number of periods.

High Schools: Enter hiring using 0050 in rows 44-61. Enter hiring using alternative funding sources in rows 67-81. Please note that some rows require you to enter the number of individuals and some rows require you to enter the number of periods.

Again, building administrators should have their school’s hiring updated on the “2021-22” tab of the Enrollment Dashboard by Friday, May 7, 2021. Changes that take place after May 7 should be noted on the dashboard without delay. Thank you to all schools who have already completed their hiring updates.

Please contact Planning & Enrollment (x88183) with any questions or concerns.

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Due to student demand, JSD has added a second location for Code to Success. This six-week, summer coding camp will be held at Fort Herriman Middle School. Classes are Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM during the six weeks from June 14 to July 23. The program is open to current 7th - 12th grade students.

Please post the flyer (image file) on your website and use the video as part of your school announcements.

Students can register online at https://www.ctsutah.org/apps/student/

Please contact Kami Taylor if you have questions.
801-567-8621
kami.taylor@jordandistrict.org

Link to Flyer (image format)
Link to Video (youtube video)

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Please advise your staff that Insurance Open Enrollment for this year will be May 15 - June 15.  Let your staff know that they need to get a confirmation that they have gone in and updated or verified that everything is correct.   Attached are the Open Enrollment Highlights.

Insurance Open Enrollment May 15 - June 15 for a September Effective Date.

InfinityHR/Arcoro ( https://www.infinityhr.com/login ) will be used for all benefit eligible employees to make benefit elections offered at Open Enrollment and for newly eligible employees. All benefit eligible employees should log into the online system to verify dependents, beneficiaries and benefit elections.  Included in the attached Open Enrollment Highlights are online enrollment instructions.

The following changes may be made during the open enrollment period.

  • Enroll in a new insurance plan
  • Change or cancel an existing insurance plan
  • Add or cancel members from an existing plan
  • Flexible Spending election (new elections must be made each year you wish to participate)

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DATE:    
May 3, 2021

TO:   
Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:  
Legislative Supply Envelopes – Due May 1, 2021

We thought a few reminders might be helpful as you collect legislative envelopes.

1)   Carry-Over of Unused Supply Funds.  Principal approval is required if a teacher would like to carry-over unused funds to the next school year. If approval is given, the principal should sign the envelope in the bottom right-hand box.  The Guidelines state that “As a general rule, balances less than $50 should be carried over to the next year.” However, carry-over amounts are at the principal’s discretion. Also, if a teacher has an amount remaining at the end of the year of $5 or less, no return of the funds is needed.

A list of all teachers who have carry-over amounts should be kept so this information can be written on the teacher’s envelope for the 2021-22 school year and added to the amount of the current year funds. As a reminder, if a teacher with a carry-over amount transfers to a different school within the District and the principal allows the teacher to use the carry-over funds at the new school, please communicate this to the administrative assistant at the new school so they can record the information on the teacher’s envelope. If the principal does not approve the use of funds at the new school, the teacher will need to return the unused funds.

2)   Payroll Deductions.  For teachers not approved to carry over unused funds, a payroll deduction will be needed. The request for a payroll deduction should be sent to Sarah Palmer, director of Payroll, and can be emailed to her at: sarah.palmer@jordandistrict.org. Please provide Sarah with the employee name(s), school location, amount of the deduction, and an explanation about the need for the deduction. Please provide this information by May 10 for the May 25 paycheck or by June 10 for the June 25 paycheck.

3)   Principal Use of Unused Supply Funds.  Unused supply money that is returned to the District via payroll deduction or other means (check or cash) will be made available to the principal to use at his/her discretion. After a payroll deduction is completed, the Payroll Department will provide the Accounting Department with the school location and amount and a journal entry will be done to transfer the funds to the school’s 2000 account.

4)   Teachers that Resign During the School Year.  If a teacher resigns during the school year, please ask for the return of his/her legislative supply envelope before they leave. If there is a balance remaining of unspent funds, this money needs to be returned to the District via a payroll deduction made before the employee receives his/her final paycheck. If your school has a check-out procedure for teachers that resign, it might be helpful to add the return of the envelope to the procedures to insure the legislative envelope and unused funds are returned.

5)   Storing Legislative Envelopes.  After collecting the envelopes on May 1, please keep them in a secure location at the school for a period of four years. The envelopes are subject to random audits by District auditors.

Thank you for your help with legislative supply money. If you have questions, please contact my administrative assistant, Jeri Clayton, at 801-567-8120 or email: jeri.clayton@jordandistrict.org.

jc/jl

Attachment:  Helpful Information About Legislative Supply Money (This document has the information listed above, as well as other important information about legislative supply money.)

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DATE: 
May 5, 2021

TO:   
All School and District Administrators

FROM: 
Administrator of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services

SUBJECT:   
Behavior Survival Training for Administrators

A required training is scheduled for all administrators that will provide, within a restorative MTSS framework, background information pertaining to why problematic behaviors occur, basic information about behavioral resources that are available, an understanding of basic behavioral concepts, and strategies for effectively dealing with crisis behaviors.

Positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS) are a cornerstone of any restorative MTSS culture. This training will provide the background and understanding to adequately and appropriately manage behavior issues in a supportive environment.

The training will take approximately four (4) hours and will be provided on three different days with five (5) different sessions to choose from (you only need to attend one session – all sessions will provide the same content). All sessions will be held in the auditorium at Elk Ridge Middle School (3659 W 9800 S, South Jordan, UT.).

Please select one of the following dates/times to attend:

Tuesday June 8:                7:30-11:30am, or 12:00-4:00pm 

Tuesday June 15:              7:30-11:30am, or 12:00-4:00pm 

Thursday June 17:            7:30-11:30am

Click HERE to register for the Behavior Survival Training for Administrators or go to https://forms.gle/ndFyh1w1kMW1UzkN6

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DATE:
April 29, 2021

TO:      
School Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Principal Year-End Check Out Materials for 2020-21

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

  • Items highlighted in yellow 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.
  • 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.

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DATE: 
May 3, 2021

TO: 
School Psychologists, Elementary Counselors, and School Social Workers

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

SUBJECT:   
May School Psychologist, Elementary Counselor, and School Social Workers Meeting

A virtual meeting for school psychologists, elementary counselors, and school social workers has been scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Melissa Heath, Ph.D. will provide us with a presentation on Strengthening Youth with Supportive Stories and Metaphors, and Ben Springer, Ph.D., BCBA-D will provide us with the following presentation: Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face.

Part-time Staff:  I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.

cc:
Principals

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Attention Secondary Schools:

We have excess corrugated plastic in 4' x 8' sheets that we are collecting from the elementary schools. These would be great to use by clubs, organizations, teams, theater groups, etc. to make signs. Corrugated plastic can be scored and cut on one side and then folded to make 3-dimensional barriers. They are most familiar as yard signs for student activities recognition or political advertising. If you are interested, please contact Kris Wishart in Purchasing with quantities you would be interested in. Otherwise we will surplus to the public and sell them.

Attached is a photo of what we have available.

Regards,
Central Warehouse

 

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Teachers can work with a JSD Cohort to complete the Professional Level USBE Programming & Software Development Endorsement. Cohort begins May 10, 2021. Some of the endorsement requirements are waived through working in this cohort. Plan is approved by USBE and USU. One college course will be taken per semester, with the Professional Level Endorsement completed by Summer 2023. Tuition costs may be reimbursable through the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program.

Interested teachers should complete the Cohort Survey by May 5th. Link to Survey

If you need more information or have questions, please reach out to Kami Taylor, kami.taylor@jordandistrict.org, 801-567-8621.

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Multiple Federal agencies are investigating numerous fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance (UI) programs across the United States.  Fraudsters, some of which are transnational criminal organizations, are using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens to open accounts and file fraudulent claims for benefits, exploiting the unprecedented expansion of the benefits provided in response to economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Many victims of this crime have no knowledge that criminals have applied for UI benefits in their name.  You may only discover that you were a victim of this crime upon seeing the following red flags:

  1. You are told by a current or former employer that a UI claim has been submitted with your information;
  2. You did not apply for UI benefits, but you receive a determination letter from your state or another state regarding a UI claim filed under your name;
  3. You receive a notification that you failed the security verification process for your UI claim;
  4. You file a lawful UI claim and you receive a notice that your claim was rejected because the state has already received a claim under your name.

The District Human Resource department is taking immediate steps to address suspected fraudulent claims.  These include:

  • Contacting current employees to verify if the employee filed a UI claim.
  • Immediately notifying the state agency of confirmed fraud claims.
  • Providing impacted employees steps to follow to report fraud.

For more information or if you believe you may be impacted, please visit the following websites for information on reporting fraud and protecting your credit.

Utah Attorney General (https://www.identitytheft.gov/UnemploymentInsurance)

“Unemployment Insurance Fraud Consumer Protection Guide” (https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/Unemployment%20Insurance%20Fraud%20Consumer%20Protection%20Guide,%20Final.pdf)

Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/media/DOL-OIG%20UI%20Fraud%20Alert.pdf)

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DATE:  
April 27, 2021

TO:     
Secondary Principals
Secondary Media Specialists

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Shelley Nordick, Administrator, Curriculum/Staff Development
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts Consultant

SUBJECT:    
Networking Meetings for Secondary Media Specialists

In order to prepare and train secondary library media specialists to effectively provide services to their schools and to build consistency across the District’s library programs, several networking meetings have been scheduled for the 2021-22 school year. The participation of your media specialists in these meetings is appreciated.

The meetings will be held on the following dates from 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.:

  • September 8, 2021
  • October 13, 2021 (Viridian Center)
  • November 17, 2021
  • January 12, 2022
  • February 23, 2022
  • March 2020 (UELMA Conference)
  • April 13, 2022
  • May 18, 2022

Please share this information with your school’s teacher-librarian.

Please feel free to contact Norman Emerson (801-567-8364) if further information is needed. Thank you for your continued support of the library media programs in Jordan District.

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We appreciate the efforts you’ve made as you plan for summer school. Reach out if you have questions or need resources. Please review the following informational items regarding summer school

  • SUMMER SCHOOL SCHEDULING -- Remember to identify one individual to set up your school’s summer school program in Skyward. Please complete this form before Friday, May 7.
  • SUMMER SCHOOL MATERIALS
    • Summer School Supplies – Because this is a federal grant that will be audited, we need to be very detailed in regards to all orders. If you purchase supplies for summer school, please code all charges directly to the ESSER II program budget. (Contact Noreen Samowitz for budget information.) Schools can use up to $300 for supplies.
  • TEACHER COMPENSATION
    • Preparation – Participating teachers can be paid for 1 day (8 hours) of preparation.
    • Recruiting – Teachers can be paid for 1 day (8 hours) to identify students for participation in summer school and for recruiting students.
    • Timesheets -- Schools are responsible for recording, tracking, and submitting timesheets. Have teachers fill out a timesheet with descriptions such as: Summer School Prep; Summer School Recruiting; Summer School Instruction, etc. Please code Summer School timesheets to the ESSER II program budget. (Contact Noreen Samowitz for budget information.)
  • CROSSING GUARDS AND TRANSPORTATION
    • Crossing guards will not be available for summer school. Please plan accordingly.
    • Information regarding buses (Middle School only) should be available within 2 weeks.

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Reminder: The plan will be reviewed with assigned AOS during the end-of-year check out. The final version of the 2021-22 TSSA Plan is due to your AOS by June 25, 2021.

The JSD Board’s TSSA Framework establishes three priorities schools are to use in developing a TSSA Plan. The priorities include coaching, professional development, and school-based initiatives.

Each school has a personally-created School Planning folder in Google Drive that includes both last year’s and this year’s plans. TSSA Plans and the School Planning Folder can be accessed from 2021-2022 School Planning Tools. Following the School Planning Tool will ensure compliance with TSSA requirements.

The first tab in the School Planning Tool labeled “TSSA Overview and Checklist” provides guidelines and a checklist for completing plans. A quick checklist is provided below. The actual plan is found in the tab labeled “TSSA Plan.” 2021-2022 allocations are pre-loaded into each school’s plan.

Quick TSSA Plan Checklist

  • Share planning tool if desired. (Currently only principals have editing access.)
  • Summarize 2020-2021 TSSA Plan. (Focus on implementation and growth if limited data is available.)
  • Review data. (Review data that is available.)
  • Determine school goal(s) for 2021-2022.
  • (TSI Schools) Complete TSI data review, identify needs, and create goal(s).
  • Record plans and action steps for instructional coaching, professional development, and school-based initiatives.
  • Complete budget.

The plan will be reviewed with assigned AOS during the end-of-year check out.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your AOS.
If you have technical issues, please feel free to contact Nadine Page 801-567-8182 or Chris Westra at 801-567-8657.

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Administrators & Program Directors:

As we are beginning to make plans for the 2021-22 school year, we wanted to remind you about the master calendar for the district. You can find it on mastercal.jordandistrict.org. This calendar is intended to inform Principals, Administrators & District personnel of district events and due dates (it does not include individual school events).

If you would like to copy anything on this calendar to your personal google calendar, simply click on the “see more details” link and then copy it using the 3 vertical dot (options) button.

To search for an item in the master calendar, you can use Command+F (Apple) or Control+F (PC). This will bring up a search bar where you can type a few key words to help you find the information you are seeking.

if you would like to add a district event or make a revision to the master calendar, please contact Lisa LeStarge at 801-567-8186 or lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org.