Category: Other Admin Info

We hope you all had time to relax and recuperate during your winter break. Whether that means time with family, or time alone--all of us deserve the break. The December student sillies are over, and now we move into testing season. The WIDA Window is open--which means you will see your ML students being pulled out of class to participate in the yearly WIDA test. Encourage them to do their best, especially in secondary.

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

• ELLevation Tips and Tricks - After pulling up an activity that you would like to try in your classroom, scroll down on the activity information page to find the "Student Support" section. This section will have a list of all your ML students and their levels. It will then show you what modifications or accommodations you should make for a student at this level and tell you which students need these modifications/accomodations.
• Culture Corner - "Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is an educator's ability to recognize students' cultural displays of learning and meaning-making and respond positively and constructively with teaching moves that use cultural knowledge as a scaffold to connect what the student knows to new concepts and content in order to promote effective information processing. All the while, the educator understands the importance of being in a relationship and having a social-emotional connection with the student in order to create a safe space for learning."
• WIDA Window January 5 - March 3 - The WIDA Window is the time period in which schools administer the WIDA language test to all ML students who are a level 1-4.9. Your students will periodically be pulled from class to take this test, so be understanding if they miss some class time. The test can take a while and be tiring, so be positive and understanding if they are feeling a little burned out or tired. If they test a 5 or above they never have to take it again, which can be motivating to many students--so encourage them to do their best!
• ELD Lead Celebration - Mountain Shadows Elementary ELD Lead, Susan Allen, has put together a "Dream Team" of students excelling at learning English. They help other students around the school. Every 15 days, their ML students are tested and placed in new Walk to Read groups. For the next cycle, they are having their ML's in a group that focuses on reading, writing, speaking, and listening and they will be speaking into a computer and doing the WIDA practice test.

You all learned what students really wished we knew, now let’s continue to transform our learning environments for students to thrive. There will be amazing keynotes to challenge all Jordan District employees to lead and create positive relationships with our students.

DATE:
January 5, 2023

TO:
Principals

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

SUBJECT:
District Enrollment as of January 3, 2023

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Please see the attached memo.

DP318A Resignations – Administrators and DP318 – Resignations – Licensed both state:

“Employees resigning during the contract year will be assessed the cost of a long-term substitute for any leave days used during the last [sixty (60) days for Administrators and thirty (30) days for Licensed employees] of their employment except in the case of an immediate, verified medical reason or emergency.”

Below are some clarifications on this policy:

• If the employee is resigning at the end of their contract year (June 30^th for Administrators and June 5^th for 2022-2023 school year for Licensed employees), or leaving due to retirement, a leave of absence, long-term disability, or military service the charge for the cost of a long-term substitute is not applied.
• “Leave days” as used in this policy includes sick, personal, and annual leave days.
• If there is an immediate, verified medical reason or emergency, the applicable days are not charged the cost of a long-term substitute.
• Bereavement, FMLA, sick bank, jury duty, excused professional days, workers’ compensation, maternity/paternity, and military days are not included when this policy is applied.
• Administrator vacation days are accrued days and are not included when this policy is applied. However, if the Administrator has taken more vacation days than earned when the Administrator leaves, they will need to repay their full daily rate for those days. Please see DP375 – Vacation Schedule for Administrative Personnel for questions on this policy.
• The cost of a long-term substitute is $144 for the 2022-23 school year and is applied regardless of whether a substitute is needed or not.

DATE:
December 21, 2022

TO:
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT:
January School Psychologist Guidance Meeting

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A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, January 6, 2023, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Deb Bilder, M.D. will provide us with a presentation on medications used with children and adolescents. We will also have a representative from the Stabilization and Mobile Response Team provide us with a presentation regarding their program.

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

cc: Principals

 

Due to the District Office closing for Winter Recess at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 23 and not returning until Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Payroll Department is making the following recommendations:

1. If you need to close your bank account, please call Payroll immediately.
2. Paychecks are available for viewing in Employee Access on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Please review your paycheck and call Payroll immediately with any questions or concerns at (801) 567-8154.  Instructions are attached on how to view your paycheck.
   If you need help logging into your Employee Access, call the help desk at 801-567-8737.
3. If you are a True Time employee, instructions are attached to view your True Time to make certain it has been processed through to Payroll.
4. Payday is on Dec. 23.

• True Time Status/History - Employee Instructions
• How to View Your Pay Check Two Days Prior

You all learned what students really wished we knew, now let’s continue to transform our learning environments for students to thrive. There will be amazing keynotes to challenge all Jordan District employees to lead and create positive relationships with our students.

Please attend JEAC, LCS, and EDIs 2nd annual conference on Jan. 17, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 pm. at West Jordan High. Attendees not on contract time will be paid their hourly rate. For those wishing to attend during contract time, please communicate with your supervisor regarding job coverage.

• 2023 Know More Conference Signup Form
• 2023 Know More Conference Flyer

All teachers new to the district that will be administering the alternative assessment (Dynamic Learning Maps) DLM are required to attend one of the in-person training sessions that are being provided Friday, January 6, 2023 at South Valley School in classroom 9. There are two sessions.

Session 1: 7:30a.m.-10:30a.m. (Secondary)

Session 2: 12:30 p.m- 3:30p.m. (Elementary)

Please direct any questions or concerns to Jen Birrell at 801-567-8905 or Mikaylee Krebs 801-567-8356.  jennifer.birrell@jordandistrict.org, mikaylee.krebs@jordandistrict.org

 

Please share this in your Skylerts or parent newsletters. Newcomer parents do not have to go to Aspen elementary to attend this informational open house. 

The central warehouse now has a limited quantity of free at-home SARS-CoV-2 test kits. They are the Access Bio On/Go Covid-19 tests using nasal swabs and reagent vials. There are 2 tests per box and they expire May 2023 (the box says May 2022, but they have been given a one-year extension.)

If any school or department is interested in having some tests on hand for employee use, then please let the Purchasing department know and we will make sure to order enough. Test kits are available immediately, so first come first serve until we receive more within 2-3 business days. Right now, there are limited quantities, so a limit of 5 boxes will be allowed for any one location. There will be opportunity for more as demand is identified.

Please email kurt.prusse@jordandistrict.org to request quantities. If this is something that is in high demand, then they will be made available through the Skyward inventory system at $0 cost.

 

The holiday season is here! We are all excited to celebrate and relax with our families and friends over our long winter break. This is a great time to talk to students about traditions they do celebrate with their families--whether they fall in this month or not. Enjoy the season!

The full newsletter can be found at the link below.

• Dec. 2022 Language & Culture Services ML Monthly Memo

We want to warm you with WIDA Wonders. ELD leads are to attend this meeting Dec. 8th at the ASB from 1-3p.m. Administrators are also welcome.

Christmas for Kids provides a little bit of Christmas cheer for students in Jordan District that 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 for more information and to register to chaperone or donate.

You can find our newsletter attached and on our website. Click HERE

• The WIDA testing  Window is open from Jan. 5th – Mar. 3rd
  • Make sure all students have been identified as a language learner and been given the screener so they can take the WIDA during this testing window.
• Admin workshops for compliance (District Office, rooms 122 & 123)  
  • Dec. 1st, 9 AM-12 PM
  • Jan. 5th 9 AM-12 PM
  • Jan. 12th 9 AM-12 PM (D.O. room 129 A)
• ELD Quarterly meeting
  • Thursday, Dec. 8th, 1 PM-3 PM
• Title III Compliance due
  • Friday, January 13, 2023

District allocations for individual schools were updated in Skyward on November 15.  Adjustments were made based on the October 1 headcount.  Carryforward balances and transfer requests are included in the total allocation.  See the following attachments:

• Student estimate compared to October 1 headcount.
• Estimated District Allocation compared to October 1 adjustment.

Please review these adjustments and contact Natalie Grange (801) 567-8312 with any questions or concerns.

DATE:
November 10, 2022

TO: 
Jordan School District Employees

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Teaching and Learning Administrator
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services Consultant

SUBJECT:  
Liquidation and Distribution of District Instructional Media Materials

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As a result of the availability of digital instructional media, the District IMC will discontinue its collection of recorded media materials, consisting mainly of DVDs and VHS cassettes that have been available for checkout. Schools and District employees who are interested in any of these materials may obtain them according to the schedule outlined below (instructions on how to view the collection’s contents may be found here). Since school media collections are managed by teacher-librarians and media assistants, they will be given the first opportunity to select materials on a first come, first served basis. After that, any other District employees who are interested in obtaining the materials for classroom use may do so.

The collection is housed at the Auxiliary Services Building (Entrance D) and items will be available for pickup from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. according to the schedule below. Upon arrival at the ASB, individuals should check in with Susy Peterson, who will provide assistance in locating the desired items. Those wishing to pick up materials must come with the titles and catalog numbers of the items they want.

The liquidation will take place as follows:

• December 5-9, 2022 Teacher-librarians and media assistants may select and remove materials for their schools’ media collections.
• December 12-16, 2022 Teachers and other District employees may select and remove materials for their classroom media collections.

Any IMC materials remaining after December 16, 2022 will be surplused and materials will no longer be available for checkout.

Please contact Norman Emerson at 801-567-8364 if you have any questions.