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Category: Middle Schools

Published on

DATE:  
April 10, 2024

TO:   
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT: 
Great Utah Shake Out Earthquake Drill 2024

On Thursday, April 18 2024, at 10:15 A.M. a million Utahns will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the annual Great Utah Shake Out Earthquake Drill.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill, or to conduct an earthquake drill sometime in the month of April. This is an opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and to include proper ways to protect oneself during an earthquake.

The Jordan School District has registered as a whole to participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut. You can find more information at: The Great Utah ShakeOut!

Please review the Jordan School District Safety Manual - Earthquake Action Plan and Standard Operating Guidelines on pages 28-31 for planning, drilling and responding to an earthquake.

For additional information or guidance please contact the District School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8623.

Published on

DATE:
April 10, 2024

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:  
Safe Routes To School Meeting Sign Up (Riverton Schools ONLY)

The City of Riverton has reviewed the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) forms we submitted and is prepared to meet with each administration to discuss them.

The meetings will be held on April 26th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM over ZOOM. Each meeting will be held in 15-minute increments. Please select a time slot on the SIGN-UP sheet provided. Times are on a first come first served basis. Feel free to work with one another as needed.

If more time is required to discuss an issue in depth, then we will schedule a time with the city soon after to do so.

Take a moment to review your maps on the new website, found at Safe Routes Utah, please ensure the routes are accurate and complete.

For any additional assistance or clarification please contact Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8623.

ZOOM Link

SIGN-UP Link

Published on

TO:
School Administrators

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

The USBE Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant provides opportunities and tools for teachers in Jordan School District to address and close student achievement gaps through the use of high quality instruction that integrates technology. This survey will help us determine technology training and hardware/software needs for the 2024-2025 school year.

Click HERE to complete the end of year DTL Survey from USBE. Survey is due by 4/29/24.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources

Administrative Professionals do amazing work – often just outside the spotlight. Western Governors University recognizes the unique skills of Administrative Professionals during the month of April. In honor of Administrative Professionals, WGU is offering two great opportunities this month.

This year, Administrative Professionals Day is April 24th. To help recognize the important work these professionals do in YOUR organization, I invite you to nominate a colleague who embodies the qualities of an outstanding administrative professional: engaging, organized, and driven. By filling out this short, nomination form, your colleague will be eligible to receive a $200 Tango gift card. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2024.

WGU is also making Administrative Professionals Day extra special – and helping to unlock full potential in the workplace! To celebrate, WGU is proud to offer the Administrative Professionals Scholarship. We will award multiple scholarships – each valued up to $4,000 – to motivated executive assistants, secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals ready to achieve the dream of a university education. Scholarship applications are being accepted now through June 30th.

Help us say thank you to Administrative Professionals for their hard work and tireless efforts! Make a difference today by nominating a colleague for a Tango gift card and by sharing the news about WGU’s Administrative Professionals Scholarship.

Thank you!

Melissa
Melissa Jensen, MSML
Strategic Partnership Manager - Utah
Western Governors University
C: 801-310-2339
melissa.jensen@wgu.edu

wgu.edu

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services

Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Insurance Services.

Worker's Compensation insurance costs are based on numbers submitted by schools. It is important that this information be accurate and complete.

PTA Figures must be separate from other volunteer hours.

Attached is a copy of the Volunteer Report for the period December 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Please complete this form and return it to Insurance Services by April 26, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Nkele 801-567-8146 / Emily.nkele@jordandistrict.com or Bonnie Brennan 801-567-8285 / bonnie.brennan@jordandistrict.org

Thank you.

Published on

DATE: 
April 11, 2023

TO:   
All Principals / Department Directors / School Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources
Brittany Bauer, HR Recruiting, Licensing & Hiring

SUBJECT:  
Requests for 2024-2025 Special Calendars – Licensed Only

Your assistance is requested, as the Human Resource Department is preparing special calendars for the 2024-2025 academic year for licensed employees. Special calendars are essential to ensuring appropriate contract pay, time entry, emergency protocols and temporary employee tracking. Employees who meet certain criteria, as listed below, should have a special calendar on file with the Human Resource Department.

A list of licensed employees at your school/department location who are currently on a special calendar for the 2023-2024 contract year will be emailed to you for review on Monday, April 15, 2024. If needed, please make all appropriate additions, corrections, or other changes by submitting an online Hire/Change form in Skyward to the Human Resource Department. Please follow the additional instructions below.

Criteria for determining if an employee requires a special calendar:

  • 187 Modified/207 Modified-educator who is less than a 1.0 FTE working a schedule that is modified by hours per day or number of days during the wee (i.e. .50 FTE working 8 hours every other day, for example)
  • Multiple Location Employees- employees split between two or more locations.
  • Elementary Job Shares

If you have an employee you would like to review to determine if they may need a special calendar, you may contact the Human Resources Department, HR Assistant Seniors, for assistance. If a list is not included, there are currently no employees on a special calendar at this location. However, if you anticipate a special calendar for a licensed employee, please follow the instructions below.

Instructions for Special Calendar Requests:

  1. Principals set up a meeting with employee(s) who meet the criteria for a special calendar. Attached is an optional email template that can be modified to fit each employee; however essential information should remain unchanged.
  2. Collaborate with each employee and complete the appropriate calendar for any/all licensed employee(s) on a special calendar found on the HR Connection These calendars are fillable and will self-calculate.
  3. Print the completed calendar, sign and obtain signatures from the employee(s).
  4. Return the original calendar to the Human Resource Department by May 3, 2024 for processing.
  5. If a licensed employee will not continue on a special calendar, an online change form must be completed at the school/department and submitted to the Human Resource Department in Skyward.

Important Reminders:

  • Special Calendars may only be changed twice per contract year. Revisions must be pre-approved and signed by the principal/director.
  • Special calendars must be followed as outlined. If a calendared day is missed, the appropriate allocated leave time must be entered in Skyward for that day. (The calendar has a calculator to assist with time entry.)
  • Trade days are problematic and require a change to the employee’s special calendar, written approval by the supervisor, and notification to an HR Administrator, prior to taking leave or modifying their calendar.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Failure to follow these procedures may cause an employee to be paid incorrectly. Any questions about this procedure or completing a special calendar should be directed to Julie Sharp, HR Senior Asst Elementary, at (801) 567-8230 or Lisa Garner, HR Senior Asst Secondary, at (801) 567-8226.

JL/bb

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources

If you are a contracted employee (Benefit eligible) and need to take Annual/Personal Leave on a Critical Day before or after Memorial 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 Impacted Days Window
Memorial Day May 27, 2024 May 24 and 28, 2024 April 12 – April 22, 2024

Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2023-2024

ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2023-2024

Published on

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.

Published on

DATE:
April 4, 2024                      

 TO:
Jordan District Administrators, Directors

 FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
 Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT:
 Time Schedule for the Last Day of School  

Please review this memo carefully for your school dismissal time, and convey this information to your students and parents.

Published on

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.

 

Published on

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.

 

Published on

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).

Published on

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.

Published on

DATE:    
April 4, 2024

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
SEL Testing Coordinators

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

SUBJECT:  
Early Warning (Panorama) Spring SEL Survey

The final SEL survey window for the 2023-24 school year will open on Monday, April 15, 2024 and close on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 12am. Please ensure that you are following the guidance provided in the August 10, 2023 JAM (found here) regarding SEL survey windows, administration, and communication with parents. Please know that you may share the survey questions, with anyone interested, that are included in the August 10, 2023 JAM link above.

It is strongly encouraged that schools administer this survey at least twice a year.

Published on

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.

Published on

DATE:
April 3, 2024

TO:
Principals
All Certified Special Education Staff

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

SUBJECT:
End of Year SCRAM Detail Report

All SCRAM reports and SCRAM document changes must be received by the Special Education Office no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

See the memo below for all instructions.

Published on

DATE:  
April 4, 2024

TO:  
Principal
Assistant Principal

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:  
Safe Routes To School Meeting Sign Up (Herriman Schools ONLY)

The City of Herriman has reviewed the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) forms we submitted and is prepared to meet with each administration to discuss them.

The meetings will be held on April 15th from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM over ZOOM. Each meeting will be held in 15-minute increments. Please select a time slot on the SIGN-UP sheet provided. Times are on a first come first served basis. Feel free to work with one another as needed.

If more time is required to discuss an issue in depth, then we will schedule a time with the city soon after to do so.

Take a moment to review your maps on the new website, found at Safe Routes Utah, please ensure the routes are accurate and complete.

For any additional assistance or clarification please contact Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8623.

ZOOM Link

SIGN-UP Link