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Category: Other Admin Info

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Spring has arrived, and with it comes a sense of renewal and hope for a brighter future. As we move into the month of May, we have much to look forward to in our schools and within our community. Enjoy our newsletter as you learn about Asian and Pacific Island Heritage Month, gain some teaching tools to assist students in reading in a different language other than their native language, and celebrate our bilingual psychologists with us.

The full newsletter can be found at the link below. Stories include:

Student Monitoring - After students score proficient on their WIDA test, they are monitored for four years. If you have any students in monitoring, you will be asked to complete a monitoring form each quarter for them. This quick check-in allows you to communicate any concerns you might have with students who have exited EL services but who continue to be monitored for four years after their exit date. When you log into ELLevation, you will see a red flag above the "Monitoring" tab on your screen. This tells you how many forms you need to complete, and when you click, it will take you to your unfinished forms. Make sure you complete these before the year ends!

Immersive Reader in Canvas - The Immersive Reader is an add-on in Canvas that students can set up to help them understand your Canvas content. Immersive Reader will do the following:

  • Translate text (show students how to do this--they'll have to adjust each time they open immersive reader) If they click a word, a picture will pop up
  • They can adjust font size, background color, and have it highlight line-by-line reading.
  • It will read text to them, can speed or slow audio, change audio to male/female voice, and has different dialects or accents students can choose.
  • Here are the instructions for students to add it the Immersive Reader button to their Canvas page. It might be helpful to walk them through it by doing it on your own:
  • Go to "Account" on left side of Canvas screen. Click "settings"
  • Scroll down to the list of "Feature Options"
  • Click the red X next to "Microsoft immersive reader," click "enabled," and turn it to a green check.
  • Bonus: Students can also turn on auto-captions for Canvas Media in the "Feature Options" list

Culture Corner - May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This month is an opportunity to learn about the rich history, diverse cultures, and significant contributions that AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout our country's history. It's a time to reflect on the challenges faced by AAPI people, including discrimination and racism, and to promote inclusivity, understanding, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their background. As a district community, let's take this month to celebrate the AAPI heritage and continue to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Reflective Questions - As we end the year, think about the following:

  • How can I build a stronger community that encourages and engages ALL students in my classroom?
  • What went well this year? What do I want to improve?
  • How can I use ELLevation in August to help me prepare for the new group of students I will teach?
  • What can I do for me this summer that helps me decompress and relax after my busy teaching year?
  • What can I plan for next year to help me support my and my student's social and emotional health as the year goes on?

Celebrating our Bilingual Psychs this year! - We have 747 ML's in our district who have IEP's. To help with testing, we have two wonderful bilingual psychologists working nonstop to help test our multilingual students throughout the district. Monica Amador and Angie Mar Velez Matias have had their busiest year yet trying to get students tested for special ed services.
They've tested nearly 300 students this year between the two of them. They do new student referrals and re-evals for students from out of district, state, or country. They are a valuable connection between Special Ed and Language and Culture, and we couldn't do it without them!

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Beginning July 2023, Skylert will have an updated look! From the new interface you can create templates, view the success rate of recent broadcasts, quickly access favorite broadcasts, and create one message to go out via phone, email, and text. Take a sneak peek at the new Skylert!

Skylert: New User Interface

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DATE:  
May 5, 2023

TO:  
All Principals and Directors

FROM:   
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator of Human Resources
Brent Burge, Human Resource Administrator

SUBJECT: 
Education Support Professionals (Non-Exempt) Employee Overtime Reminder

Please see the memo below.

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The administration of the Jordan School District, in consultation with the Board of Education and employee groups, is pleased to begin observance of the official state holiday for the Juneteenth National Freedom Day. This year, Juneteenth National Freedom Day will be observed on Monday, June 19, 2023. District offices and locations will be closed on this day. This change will impact the current year calendar for contracted and hourly employees on 242- and 245-day contracts, as well as CTE Coordinators on 207-day contracts.

Utah Code 63G-1-301(1)(f) outlines the scheduling of Juneteenth in Utah:
(f)(i) The Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on June 19, if that day is a Monday.
(ii) If June 19 is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately preceding Monday.
(iii) If June 19 is on a Saturday or Sunday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately following Monday.

Updated employee calendars may be accessed at https://planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/. Employees should direct questions to their immediate supervisors.

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National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.

Administrators: How do you celebrate National School Nurses Day? Please help our School Nurses know that they are loved and appreciated for all they do for you and our students!

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22,000 students responded to the winter Panorama SEL Survey and reflected on belonging, self-management, social awareness, emotion regulation, and self-efficacy. The attached document highlights the results for the District. You may access your school's results directly in the Panorama dashboard. See the District highlights attached. 

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"A Better Understanding of Your Native American Students"- An interactive PD opportunity for our teachers and administrators to learn about Native Communities and Cultures, Cultural Appropriation, and insight on teaching sensitive historical topics.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the ASB Presentation Room. Please scan the QR code on the flyer to RSVP.

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DATE:
April 27, 2023

TO:
Building Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

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

SUBJECT:
Utah’s “Safe at Home” Program & School Enrollment

The State of Utah has created a confidential address program for victims of abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, stalking, or sexual assault. The program, now called “Safe at Home,” is authorized by Utah Code 77-38. 

Participants in the program are issued a legal substitute address that they may use for any purpose, including receiving mail and school registration, to keep their actual address confidential. The substitute address is the address of a state office building and includes an “apartment number” unique to each participant. It is anticipated that this program will begin in late summer or fall of 2023.

Participants in the program are issued an authorization card that will include their name, substitute address, and contact information for the Safe at Home program. Schools are required under Utah Code 77-38-611 to accept this address and use it for school enrollment. When presented with a card, school staff should call the number of the Safe at Home program on the card. Program staffers will verify for the school that the individual lives within the boundaries of the school but will not release the actual address. School staff should then enter the substitute address as the legal address for the family in Skyward. It will likely be necessary for schools to manually add the “H” permit code to the student’s record to avoid Skyward flagging the student as living outside the school’s boundary. School staff MAY NOT ask or require the program participant to reveal their actual address.

At enrollment, schools may ask if the family lives in the bus eligible areas of the school boundary, when applicable. If the family is bus eligible, the school may assist the family in identifying nearby bus stops, either using a map of current bus stops or by identifying stops by a landmark or other location in the vicinity of the family’s address. 

Schools may not see large numbers of participants in the program, but should prepare all those who process new enrollments to be aware of the program so they can respond appropriately.

Additional information on Safe at Home can be found at https://crimevictim.utah.gov/safe-at-home/

 

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DATE:
April 20, 2023

TO:
All Administrators & Threat Assessment Teams

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness
Angie Rasmussen, Student Safety & Wellness Specialist

SUBJECT:
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) Level 1 Workshop Opportunity

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) is a school violence prevention program. Training consists of two (2) levels and both levels must be completed by all administrators and is recommended for school threat assessment team members.

Structure:  The CSTAG Level 1 training consists of six (6) hour web-based training from Navigate360. 

Target Audience: In addition to administrators, this workshop will benefit teachers, mental health clinicians, school psychologists, school resources officers, and counselors, or any school employee who serves on the school’s threat assessment multidisciplinary team.  

Content: CSTAG level 1 can assist in developing an awareness of threat assessments and use of the CSTAG model at your school. Here are specific descriptions of the six modules that will be taught in the training.

Why: This workshop will increase awareness about school violence prevention, provide procedures/methodology for determining threat levels, assist in determining responses to threats, and will give your school trained educators to include on a threat assessment team. 

Registration: If you are interested in having any staff trained in CSTAG Level 1, please direct them to complete this form. Student services will be funding the tuition for each participant as long as they are registered by the end of this school year. Once registered, the participant will receive an email with information about how to access the training. Those who complete level 1 before June 9th can then register for CSTAG Level 2. 

An upcoming session for the level 2 workshop will be offered as an in-person training on June 9, 2023.  Select the link for JPLS to register for a session of CSTAG Level 2 training. The course number is 101883. Section # 117422

Should you have any questions please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

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As we approach the end of the 2022-23 school year, it is important to make sure your location has reported all drills, actual emergencies, and related planning and debrief meetings for this school year using the Google Form, link: 2022-23 REPORT EMERGENCY - DRILLS, ACTUAL EVENTS, or MEETINGS.  Please include all related details.  

The Board of Education has asked to receive quarterly reports on all drills and actual emergencies throughout the district.  Information submitted using the report form will be used for this purpose. 

For help or questions, contact Facility Operations at Auxiliary Services:
Judy Bird, Administrative Assistant: 801-567-8625, judy.bird@jordandistrict.org
Teresa Lyon, Administrative Assistant: 801-567-8626, teresa.lyon@jordandistrict.org
Jeff Beesley, Risk Management Coordinator: 801-567-8876, jeffrey.beesley@jordandistrict.org
Lance Everill, Emergency Operations Manager: 801-567-8623, lance.everill@jordandistrict.org

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We have created training videos for every sweeper route and posted them to our Custodial Website.

You will also find other training videos that will help all of our employees become knowledgeable in their field.

We also have under the Documents/Forms/Logs tab, a link to all the forms the Head Custodian, Lead Custodian and/or Adult Night Supervisor should be using to check on the sweepers and adult custodians to make sure they are getting their jobs done each night.

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The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective July 1, 2023:

  • Jessica Hayes, administrator intern at the Child Development Center appointed assistant principal at the Child Development Center.
  • Thyme Meleisea-Vea, administrator intern at Oak Leaf Elementary appointed assistant principal at Oak Leaf Elementary.
  • Teresa Rossetti, administrator intern at Rosamond Elementary appointed assistant principal at Rosamond Elementary.
  • Angela Solum, assistant principal at Riley Elementary in Salt Lake School District appointed assistant principal at Heartland Elementary.
  • Jessica Wilson, administrator intern at South Valley and South Hills Middle appointed assistant principal at South Valley.
  • Janae Young, administrator intern at Aspen Elementary appointed assistant principal at Silver Crest Elementary.

Transfers effective July 1, 2023:

  • Kim Andersen, assistant principal at West Jordan Elementary assigned assistant principal at Welby Elementary.
  • TJ Davenport, assistant principal at Rose Creek Elementary assigned assistant principal at Daybreak Elementary.
  • Natalie Gleave, assistant principal at Eastlake Elementary assigned assistant principal at Rose Creek Elementary.
  • John Sassman, assistant principal at Midas Creek Elementary assigned assistant principal at Copper Canyon Elementary.
  • Allyson Stovall, assistant principal at Southland Elementary assigned assistant principal at Eastlake Elementary.

New Elementary Administrative Intern Assignments effective July 1, 2023:

  • Holly Bagley, instructional coach at Plymouth Elementary in Granite School District assigned administrative intern at Southland Elementary.
  • Cammie Chang, teacher at Antelope Canyon Elementary assigned administrative intern at Jordan Hills Elementary.
  • Betsy Lopez, teacher at Daybreak Elementary assigned administrative intern at Aspen Elementary.
  • Lauren Nalder, instructional coach at Riverside Elementary assigned administrative intern at Midas Creek Elementary.

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DATE: 
April 12, 2023

TO:  
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT: 
May School Psychologist and School Psychology Interns Meeting

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2023, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). We will start at 12:00 p.m. with a luncheon. Jamison Law, Ed.D., Director of Clinical Education for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at UVU, will provide us with a presentation that addresses Secondary Trauma and Compassion Fatigue.

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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DATE:       
April 12, 2023

TO: 
Administrators
All Current or Future Panorama Users

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

SUBJECT:   
Panorama for Positive Behavior Training Sessions

Training sessions for Panorama’s Positive Behavior have been scheduled to assist all schools using or interested in using the Positive Behavior module in Panorama. The sessions are designed to provide navigational support for teachers and administrators. Each session will include a demonstration from a Panorama product expert and former educator, practice time, and valuable leave behind resources to support immediate action in your daily work.

Please see memo below for dates and times of the training sessions.

The attached document has more detailed information and may also be accessed here.

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DATE:      
April 6, 2023

TO: 
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
You and your staff are invited to a Wellness Accelerator Event!

You and your staff are invited to a Wellness Accelerator Event at JATC South Auditorium on April 14th, from 1:30-3:30.

The 2023 Wellness Accelerator is an opportunity to learn from passionate educators like you. There will be a variety of topics covered through brief, prepared table-top discussions from educators around Jordan District on strategies for student and staff wellness. Participants should plan on walking away with practical ways to enhance wellness for yourself and others!

Who should attend? You! Jordan School District administrators, school leaders, and staff committed to SEL/wellness initiatives (substitutes can be provided upon request) are invited to attend.

Review the attached flyer and share with those that would benefit from attending.

Please contact McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org) for additional information and questions.

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A notification was sent in the Jordan Employee Memos on March 2, 2023 indicating the need to submit a request for the lottery to use Annual or Personal leave for the day before/after the April 24, 2023 Mid Spring non-contract day.

Due to the nature of this new leave day, employees WILL NOT be required to request the day before/after April 24, 2023 as part of the lottery process. Any employee requesting to use an Annual or Personal leave day before/after April 24, 2023 may do so without penalty.

Those who submitted a lottery request for April 24, 2023 will also be emailed individually. We apologize for any inconvenience this miscommunication may have caused.

2022-23 Personal Leave Before/After a Holiday - Updated

 

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DATE:   
April 5, 2023

TO:  
All Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

SUBJECT:  
Substitute Bonus (extra pay) Charged to Budgets

 Each month, substitutes can receive a bonus (extra pay) based on the number of days they substitute for the District without cancelling a scheduled day. This bonus is intended to increase the wage rate for substitutes who work these extra days. As such, this bonus is charged proportionately to the budgets which paid for the base substitute wages during the month. Therefore, you may see a charge to your budgets for this extra pay for substitutes your budget paid for during the month if the substitute qualified for the bonus.