Jordan School District
DATE:
May 24, 2018
TO:
Principals
Elementary and Middle School Resource Team Leaders
High School Special Education Team Leaders
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Admin. of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist
Courtney Titus, Program Specialist
SUBJECT:
Information Regarding Beginning of 2018-19 School Year
Please see attached memo.
The Information Systems Department is open at 7:00 a.m. each day. If you need IT help at your school please call x88737 to reach the HELP Desk.
The County Library has just added a new digital collection of Spanish eBooks & eAudiobooks for all ages. This is perfect for English learners in Spanish speaking families. Spanish literacy skills will help students maintain their native language and these literacy skills will support their English language development. These books are also good for students who are studying in our Spanish courses. Books are available at https://slcolibrary.odilo.us
Visual Art SLO Revision
Facilitated by Mindy Lokey, District Office
June 14, 11:30am to 3:30pm
Interested teachers may revise existing district SLO assessments as well as adapt older assessments previously used with outdated core standards. Inservice pay; sign up on JPLS.
Language Arts & Reading SLO Revision
Facilitated by Mindy Lokey, District Office
June 18, 11:30am to 3:30pm
Interested teachers may revise existing district SLO assessments. Inservice pay; sign up on JPLS.
Standards-Aligned Novel Unit Workshop
Facilitated by Mindy Lokey, District Office
June 19, 8am to 4pm
Interested reading and language arts teachers bring a text and a partner to write an anchor text unit that addresses every standard. Units are shared throughout the district. Inservice pay; email mindy.lokey@jordandistrict.org with your text and partner name to sign up.
Depth of Knowledge
Facilitated by Mindy Lokey, District Office
June 20, 8am to 4pm
Depth of Knowledge (DOK) assures that your course and your assessments have rigor -- and that your students gain lasting understanding. This course will teach the basics of Depth of Knowledge and give you the tools to make your curriculum more rigorous. Participants should bring an assignment or assessment they would like to improve. It is also beneficial if you attend with a PLC colleague. Open to all subject areas. Inservice pay; sign up on JPLS.
Employing Socratic Seminar
Facilitated by Josh Brothers, Copper Hills High School
July 11, 9am – 12pm; August 9, 9am – 12pm
One of the key goals of 21st Century Education is to foster critical thinking and expression in our students. This means that teachers need to model and then get out of the way as they allow students to practice using academic conversation skills to hone their critical thinking skills. Using Socratic Seminar is one of the oldest and most effective means to teach these skills while also helping students internalize information and develop a stronger classroom culture. Come learn how to employ this useful tactic in any grade level. Inservice pay; sign up on JPLS for one date only.
Questions? Email Mindy.Lokey@jordandistrict.org
June 18-19, 2018
Utah Valley Convention Center
Provo, UT
Please see flyer for details.
DATE:
May 1, 2018
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Planning and Student Services
SUBJECT:
Student Enrollment for April 2018
Please see attached memo.
Please click on the link below for the new Administrative Assignments for 2018-19
https://jordandistrict.org/2018/05/administrative-assignments-for-2018-19/
Information Systems has begun rolling out a new Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware solution. The new product is called Sophos. This will replace Symantec's anti-virus that is currently installed on all Windows computers. Additionally all Macintosh computers will also have the new software installed. We are initially targeting only faculty and staff machines. This is to avoid interruptions during testing. Student machines will be migrated to the new software over the summer. Impact to users should be minimal. At most they will receive a prompt to reboot. Like most software updates this prompt can be postponed to a time that is convenient to the users. Finally Macintosh computers running OSX 10.13.2 will need to accept the installation. Please refer to the included PDF instructions on how to accept the installation for these machines. District IS staff are working with school techs to schedule installations for each building. Please make faculty and staff aware or these changes. For any questions or concerns please contact your school tech or the help desk at 88737 (801-567-8737).
DATE:
May 15, 2018
TO:
Principals
All Certified Special Education Staff
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Admin of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist
Courtney Titus, Program Specialist
SUBJECT:
Year-End Checkout for Traditional Schools/Year-Round Schools
Please see attached memo.
Administrators:
Several questions have been raised regarding school-based activities. In an effort to assist you in determining whether an activity is approved or not approved, an Approved-Not Approved Activity & Procedural Guidelines folder will be shared with each of you on Google Drive. The folder contains a Quick Reference Guide, as well as, supporting guidelines for all approved activities mentioned on the list. All considered activities should continue to be approved through your respective AOS.
Please keep in mind, the list and guidelines may be updated on a regular basis to address other Utah State Risk concerns or considerations.
The Approved-Not Approved Activity & Procedural Guidelines folder can be accessed by the following steps:
-Shared with me
-Approved-Not Approved Activity & Procedural Guidelines
DATE:
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
2018 UEPC School Climate Survey Results
The 2018 UEPC School Climate Reports are being prepared. Before distributing these survey results, principals are required to agree to follow three directions regarding access to, and disclosure of, UEPC survey data:
Principals are asked to please download, initial, and sign the attached document entitled Data Access and Disclosure Requirements. Please return the initialed and signed copy to me via email or through District Mail. Once the 2018-18 UEPC School Climate Survey becomes available and I have the signed Data Access and Disclosure Requirements form initialed and signed by you, I will send your school’s survey report to you via a MoveIT email file.
Once you receive your 2018 UEPC School Climate Survey Report, please distribute a copy of the results pages to each educator so that they may include it in the portfolio portion of their JPAS.
Please remember that your UEPC School Climate Survey Report may include potentially sensitive information as a result of opinions and comments expressed by survey respondents. Make certain you carefully follow the above requirements when sharing this information and use great discretion when doing so.
Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions or concerns.
Principals:
The fourth and final notification of expiring licenses was sent to 224 licensed employees on April 20, 2018. This final letter serves as a notification of termination if they choose not to complete the process by June 30, 2018. We requested your assistance in notifying the employees, securing their signature and returning the form to HR by May 11, 2018.
To date, HR has received 102 of the 224 letters sent out to licensed employees with expiring licenses. According to CACTUS, there are 113 educators that have not yet completed their license renewal, 19 of which have not yet begun their background check process. Principals will be receiving an email with status details for those educators in their building who still haven’t completed the license renewal process.
If educators still have questions after reviewing the instructions contained in previous notifications, they should contact Jill or Stacy immediately for assistance.
Please provide encouragement to your educators to act quickly to avoid termination, as licensure is a condition of employment. HR needs the form returned by all who received it regardless of their current renewal status. Thank you in advance for encouraging those in your building with expiring licenses to take care of this as soon as possible.
The PowerPoint Presentations given, by Ben Jameson, in the May 8th Principal Meeting are attached below. Please see the appropriate file for your level.
DATE:
Thursday, May 10, 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:
Nextera Fall Trainings
Please see memo below for information and dates.
In collaboration with the Friday Institute, USBE, and UEN, JSD will provide a “Leadership in Blended and Digital Learning (LBDL) Academy,” designed specifically for administrators to lead schools toward blended and digital learning through research-based content and job-embedded experiences. The program will follow a blended-learning model with an online course in Canvas and five face-to-face sessions. Participants completing the LBDL Academy will receive the State’s Ed Tech Endorsement.
The face-to-face sessions will be held at the ASB from 8:00 – 3:30 on the dates listed below. A brief description of each session is included as well.
Thursday, September 13, 2018, Session 1: Blended Learning. This session explores and extends upon leadership research and various blended and digital learning models and definitions from leading sources in the field (Michael Fullan, The Christensen Institute, etc.)
Tuesday, November 13, 2018, Session 2: Creating a Culture for Blended Learning. This session will focus on the important culture shifts for all stakeholders including activities around managing complex change (Knoster’s Model), engaging in critical conversations, and engaging stakeholders.
Thursday, January 17, 2019, Session 3: Shifting Teaching and Learning. This session will focus on the key changes in curriculum and instruction in a blended learning environment, including frameworks for instruction such as TPACK and SAMR, and other essential topics such as Digital Content and Tools.
Thursday, March 14, 2019, Session 4: Supporting Teachers Through Professional Learning. This session will focus on the competencies of a blended learning educator and professional learning models which draws on the ISTE and iNACOL standards and also explores various models of professional learning such as competency-based PD.
Thursday, April 4, 2019, Session 5: Implementing and Sustaining Blended Learning. This session will focus on the nuts and bolts of shifting to a blended learning model and implementation strategies. Topics include budget, space, technology & devices, communications, data, and evaluation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Through legislation, additional funding was added to the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant for the 2018-2019 school year. In an effort to expand blended learning opportunities and build capacity within schools, administrators participating in the LBDL Academy will have the option to apply for 1:1 devices, training, and support for a team of technology teacher leaders. Applications will be available once the budget has been confirmed from USBE. (This is a one-year opportunity only.)
If you would like to be registered for the LBDL Academy, please contact Shelley Nordick before June 1. 801-567-8110 shelley.nordick@jordandistrict.org
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
DATE:
April 9, 2018
TO:
School Principal and Lunch Manager
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator, Auxiliary Services
Jana Cruz, Director of Nutrition Services
SUBJECT:
Records to be kept for the school lunch program
The records below are necessary to be kept on file.
2014-15 Skyward: Daily Activity and Monthly Payment Totals Report
2015-16 Skyward: Daily Activity and Monthly Payment Totals Report
2016-17 Skyward: Daily Activity and Monthly Payment Totals Report
2017-18 Skyward: Daily Activity and Monthly Payment Totals Report
We certify that the above records for this year and the preceding three years are on file in the school where they will be accessible for review by the District, State and Federal officials involved in the school lunch program of the Jordan School District.
School Name ___________________________________________________________________
Principal's Signature_______________________________ Date_________________
Manager's Signature_______________________________ Date_________________
Please return to the Nutrition Services Department by:
Traditional Schools – June 1, 2018
Year Round Schools – July 3, 2018
Laura Finlinson, currently Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development, is being transferred as a part of organizational restructuring, to be an Administrator of Schools - Elementary. This transfer will be effective July 1, 2018.
Date:
May 2, 2018
To:
Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals and Administrative Assistants
From:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets, and Audits
Jason Mott, Accountant/Internal Auditor
Subject:
Check Phishing Scam
It has recently come to our attention that there may be an information phishing scam occurring within the District. The scam consists of schools receiving a donation check with no information regarding who donated the funds. Schools are then encouraged to set up an account to view the donors and set up an ACH service for future donations.
These checks are from YourCause, LLC and claim to be for a Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign. If you have received any of these checks:
As a reminder, never give any of your personal information, bank information, or passwords to anyone. No one from the District should ask for your password to log into any of the District systems. School bank information should never be given out to set up ACH payment or receipt transactions.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call Dan Ellis at (801) 567-8389.
Thank you.
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.
