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The Jordan Ethnic Advisory Committee, Language and Culture Services, and Equity Diversity and Inclusion cannot wait to see you at the annual "What I Wish You Knew Conference"!

Save the date for Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Bingham High school. More information to come.

Welcome back to another exciting school year! A lot is happening this quarter. Winter is closely approaching us, along with all the holidays. Daylight savings has made our days seem shorter.We will soon start to see colder weather, and hopefully some rain and snow.

We at LCS hope you and your loved ones can enjoy this holiday season that is quickly approaching us.

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

  • ELLevation Tips and Tricks - Did you know??? If you have an activity that you like, you can choose the Example tab, and select a grade level and content area. It will then give you ideas for incorporating that activity into your lesson!
  • Culture Corner - Teaching about different cultural holidays helps promote awareness, acceptance and diversity in our classrooms. How can you incorporate more culture in your classroom? November: Native American Heritage Month December: Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah
  • Teaching Strategies - Have you ever used the Magic Switch setting on Canva? This allows you to translate a document that was made within Canva by a click of a button. You can choose from 130 different languages. Also, it allows you to translate certain part of your document, while other parts can be in a different language. This really allows educators to translate documents for our ML students easily.
  • Reflective Questions - How much do I really listen to my learners? Do I engage in active observation in my classroom, paying attention to subtle nuances and dynamics among my learners? In my interactions with my learners? Can I describe my own cultural conditioning? For example, what cultural values affect how I behave and communicate with others? What are some of my core beliefs and how have they been culturally influenced?
  • ELD Lead Celebration - Heidi Rivera is a kindergarten teacher & ELD Lead at Riverton Elementary. She works closely with the ML students and helps them develop language proficiency and prepares them for WIDA. She has done a great job of creating a sense of belonging among the ML students and has contributed to a great sense of community and culture among Riverton Elementary.

DATE:     
December 1, 2023

TO:   
High School and Center-Based School Principals
High School Special Education Team Leaders

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

SUBJECT:  
Destruction of Special Education Records


As of January 31, 2024, such notice will have been advertised to parents for students whose birthdates are prior to September 1996 (i.e., students who are 27 years of age). Any records for students over the age of 22 will be stored off site until they are ready to be destroyed when the student turns 27 years of age.

See the full memo below.

Language and Culture Services is excited to open our second Family Engagement Center for Jordan District.

Please join us as we celebrate the opening of our West Jordan location on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Joel P. Jensen media center.

DATE:   
November 29, 2023

TO: 
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
FREE! Well-Being Course with Practical Strategies


Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2024 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity for all JSD employees to address their own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Participants will collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as they work towards meeting their own wellness goals.

This course is FREE for JSD employees and Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity!

The class will meet on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 over Zoom:

January 11, 18, 25
February 1, 8, 15, 20
March 7, 14, 21

Participants can earn continuing education, lane-change, and re-licensure hours from SUU (up to 3 college credits).

Sign up using the attached flier and share this information with professionals in your schools who may be interested in this opportunity.

 

Update to policy DP380 Maternity/Parent Leave

Last night, after careful consideration, the Board has reduced the length of the contract requirement following the use of maternity/paternity days.

Retroactive applied to 07/01/2023, an employee using maternity/paternity leave days shall agree in writing to repay compensation at his/her daily rate of pay for maternity/parent leave used or granted if he/she terminates employment with the District for other than medical reasons before completion of the current contract year. All other provisions listed in the Maternity/Parent Leave Policy still apply.

If you have further questions, please see the updated policy DP380-Maternity/Parent Leave or contact the HR Generalist at rebecca.eastman@jordandistrict.org.

DATE:
November 27, 2023

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits

SUBJECT:
Gift Card/Certificate Purchasing Policy


As a reminder, the purchase of gift cards, e-gift cards, prepaid credit cards, or anything with a stated cash value that functions like a gift card is not allowable with funds managed by the district, school, or department, including grants.

Please review the District Financial Accounting Manual for further information.

Jordan School District Board authorizes up to four (4) full-time employees to be selected for leave.

Sabbatical Leave
Sabbatical leave provides a 1-year leave for professional study. Educators who have completed at least 7 years of continuous service in JSD may apply. Employees on sabbatical leave receive one-half of their salary. Please read Policy DP333 Neg – Sabbatical Leave for complete information. Applications are reviewed by the Local Professional Improvement Committee and approved by the Board.

Educational Leave
Educators who have worked in Jordan School District for at least three (3) consecutive years may apply for an Educational Leave. Educational leaves are for continued study and must include an outline of studies along with the application. Please read Policy DP332 NEG – Educational Leave for complete information. Educational Leave is without pay.

Applications for 2024-2025 Sabbatical and Educational Leaves are due February 1, 2024. Additional questions can be referred to Chris Westra, 801-567-8657.

DATE: 
November 14, 2023

TO:  
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT: 
December School Psychologist Guidance Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, December 1, 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 lunch. You have the option of participating in our pot-luck luncheon, or bringing lunch for yourself if that’s your preference. Christy Kane, PsyD, CMHC, will provide us with a presentation titled The Social Anti-Social Brain--How Social Media is Impacting the Mental Health of Kids.

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

cc:
Principals

DATE:   
November 9, 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 2 & 3 Training Dates


Traditionally, CSTAG training consists of two (2) training levels and both levels must be completed by all administrators and threat assessment team members. The CSTAG Level 2 workshop is for all who have completed the Level 1 training (the six (6) hour web-based training from Navigate360). This workshop will build upon your knowledge of threat assessment by providing practical application and implementation of the CSTAG process in your school.

If you have already completed level 2, we are excited to announce a new training opportunity, CSTAG level three (3).

This in person Level 2 workshop will:

  1. Review CSTAG level 1
  2. Focus on implementation and use of the threat assessment process
  3. Focus on sustainable ways to use CSTAG in your school
  4. Review and training on the decision tree
  5. Review the CSTAG forms and best practices for documentation
  6. Practice using real-world scenarios.

Level 2 Course #101883 Friday, December 1, 2023

District Office Room 129
8:00am-10:00am Section #127887 or 1:30pm-3:30pm Section #127888

Level 2 Course #101883 Friday, March 1, 2024

District Office Room 129
8:00am-10:00am Section #127889 or 1:30pm-3:30pm Section # 127890

NEW Level 3 In-Person Training

Wednesday, June 5th
District Office Room 129
10:00am-12:00pm Course #101984 and Section # 127891

Please sign up using JPLS for the session you will be attending. Select this  to register for level 2 or 3 sessions of CSTAG training.

If you are not certain about having completed the CSTAG Level 1 or 2 courses or should you have any questions please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

Attention Principals,

New/updated Labor Law posters have been distributed to all principals/buildings.  We are required by law to post these in a location where employees have ready access to review them (i.e. Faculty rooms).

If you have a need for additional posters in English or Spanish, please contact Human Resources.

Thank you for your assistance.

What are Critical Days?
Critical Days are the days before or after a school holiday when students are in attendance

What if I use an Annual/Personal leave day on a Critical Day?
Employees using annual/personal leave on Critical Days will be docked on their next paycheck as listed below:

  • Licensed - $156, equivalent to 50% of the daily rate of a licensed employee on salary level one
  • ESP - 40% of the employee’s daily rate

Will I still be docked if I don’t need a substitute?
Yes, this is not to cover the cost of a sub

Are there any exceptions in the policy to having my paycheck docked?
Annual/personal leave may be taken on a Critical Day without being docked for the following specific reasons:

  • Observance of religious holidays which fall on a regularly scheduled school calendar workday.
  • Family weddings of near relatives including children, father, mother, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, grandparents, or the same to one's spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household
    as the employee.
  • Graduations of near relatives as defined above.
  • Required court appearances,
  • Deaths not covered by DP330 NEG Bereavement Leave - Licensed.
  • Conferences and conventions which relate to the individual employee's work assignment and are not
    covered by policy DP339 – Released Time—Professional.
  • To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is
    beyond the employee’s control.
  • First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.
  • Applying for the Critical Days “lottery” during the appropriate time window and being randomly selected as one of the  imited number of employees allowed. Employees are only eligible for this exemption once per contract year. More information about this “lottery” request process can be found in JEM and at https://employment.jordandistrict.org/annualleave.

What if the reason I’m using annual/personal leave on a Critical Day is an exception in policy as listed above?
The specific reason and exception in the policy must be added in the Skyward time off description

Will I still be docked if my supervisor gives me permission and approves my time off request?
Yes, unless the reason and above listed exception is applicable and entered in the time off description

How do I know when Critical Days are?
Information regarding the use of annual/personal leave on Critical Days is posted on the Human Resource Department’s website at https://employment.jordandistrict.org/annualleave, and is sent in JEM. The Payroll Department also posts these Critical Days on their website at https://payroll.jordandistrict.org, and sends them in JEM during the applicable months.

The holiday season is fast approaching! And with that comes one of the best events of the year! JEF CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS! Christmas for Kids provides a little bit of Christmas cheer for students in Jordan District who would otherwise go without during the holiday season. These deserving students are carefully selected by school counselors, administrators, and Jordan School District specialists due to extreme need and personal circumstances. Please consider giving your time and resources this year to support a deserving middle or high school student in Jordan District! Visit our website www.jefchristmasforkids org for more information and to register to chaperone or donate.