Jordan School District
The following are new administrative assignments:
The Jordan Education Foundation received a large donation of notebooks/journals with pens from SnugZ and we still have about 4,000 left. These come in boxes of 30 and are available in black and blue. If you would like some delivered to your schools (or departments), please email foundation@jordandistrict.org and let us know how many you would like.
Language & Culture Services is inviting parents who are newcomers (refugee, immigrant, or asylee) to attend a parent orientation to receive information on how they can best help their child in school. Interpreters will be provided. Please distribute to your community.
For more info, call 801-567-8124 or visit compliance.jordandistrict.org/lcs.
DATE:
October 17, 2023
TO:
All Principals, Directors and Supervisors
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
SUBJECT:
DP375 – Vacation Schedule for Administrative Personnel
Clarification of administrator vacation days carryover:
Therefore, as of December 31, 2023, any unused vacation days above 40 days will be forfeited. These 40 days consist of the 20 days that were frontloaded on July 1, 2023 for the 2023-24 year, as well as up to 20 unused earned days that are allowed to be carried over from the previous 2022-23 year.
The annual Business and Auxiliary Services Training was recorded on October 12, 2023. To access the Zoom recording, click on this link: Training Meetings 2023
DATE:
October 11, 2023
TO:
All Administrators and Financial Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
John Larsen, Business Administrator
SUBJECT:
Staff Appreciation Funds (formerly known as Staff Discretionary Funds)
Please see the attached, revised, document for updates to the Staff Appreciation (Discretionary) memo.
Digital Citizenship Week is October 16 - 20 and the Digital Teaching and Learning team is excited to share some resources with you to celebrate six areas of Digital Citizenship mastery.
Positive Online Behavior
Using Technology Responsibly
Protecting Private Information
Using Reliable Sources
Passwords that Protect
Understanding the Impact of Digital Interactions
DTL has created a new page of resources to help your teachers and students demonstrate appropriate digital citizenship skills. On our site, you’ll find a level-specific list of short lessons and learning activities that teachers can use each day as part of Digital Citizenship Week. Click HERE to check out all of the available resources.
DATE:
October 10, 2023
TO:
District Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Planning Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT:
Fall Enrollment as of October 1, 2023 - REVISED
Please see the attached memo.
The Health and Wellness Team has worked very hard with principals over the past couple of years nominating a wellness representative at each school that is interested. We wanted to make you are aware of some resources that they have access to. They were introduced to each of these during the recent Wellness Representative Retreat.
PEHP Wellness can help JSD Wellness Reps by offering grant money of up to $400 every 2 years to help with wellness initiatives to benefit all employees. They have customizable pre-made wellness challenges (Grab & Go Guides) on a variety of topics you can use to implement monthly challenges. They have over 50 webinars available for employees to view on their own time or as a group. They are available to brainstorm wellness ideas or activities.
Blomquist Hale is a confidential and free mental health benefit provided for the employees and family members covered by the medical plan. This resource helps address a broad range of personal difficulties that may be causing distress. Most services are available by appointment. Assistance is available for life threatening emergencies 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. They are happy to provide the wellness representatives with marketing supplies (flyers, business cards, posters, magnets, etc), benefit presentations and any other support needed. In addition, wellness representatives have access to their Blomquist Hale app (available on all iOS and Android devices) and their online webinars that can be found by searching Blomquist Hale on Youtube.com or by clicking HERE.
The Moreton & Company Population Health Team can help them create a comprehensive wellness strategy that improves your employees’ overall health and well-being. They can help provide educational campaigns on relevant health topics, coordinate wellness initiatives with community partners, create wellness challenges, and more. If our Wellness Representatives have any questions, they can reach out to populationhealth@moreton.com.
DATE:
October 12, 2023
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)/Incident Command Training
Training for the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Incident Command will be held at the JATC South on the following dates (choose only one date and one time):
This training is for any who have responsibility within the Incident Command system (including schools, District Office, ASB, Transportation, or other location). Administrators assigned as the school safety administrator and all School Safety Specialists should attend.
The training will be focused on SRP and Incident Command as well as the roles/responsibilities of the School Safety Specialist and school administrator. School-based safety administrators and specialists will receive materials and information to conduct SRP/Incident Command trainings in schools.
No sign up required to attend. Please mark on your calendars the date and time that best works for you and your school.
Please forward this information to your School Safety Specialist or others you deem appropriate.
Happy October!
Apple Crunch Day is coming up on Thursday, October 19th. This is a great opportunity for us to increase our students’ exposure to local produce here in Utah. We have purchased fresh apples from Pyne Farms in Payson to celebrate this day and share apples district wide.
As part of the promotion, in addition to fresh apples, our department will provide your kitchen managers with activity pages, fun nutrition facts and a video that can be shared with your teachers and school community. Take this opportunity to make the most of Utah's Apple Crunch Day!
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that every year more than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment because of ladder accidents.
Falls from ladders at any height can result in serious or even fatal injuries.
See the attached document on ways to follow safe work practices when using a ladder.
DATE:
October 12, 2023
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Rescue Task Force Training Opportunity
West Jordan Police and Fire Departments are conducting a Rescue Task Force training at Sunset Ridge Middle School on October 18th beginning at 4:00 PM. They are inviting any interested district employee(s) to attend and closely observe the training as it is conducted in real-time scenarios. WJPD is also in need of volunteers to participate in the training as “role players” as well.
Rescue Task Force is the most up to date standard of response to active attacker related events. This consists of both police and firefighters cohesively entering the building with the goal of immediately addressing the threat (police) and quickly providing medical treatment to patients (firefighters). This new standard greatly increases survivability to all involved.
Even though this training is meant for First Responders, our participation better prepares district employees of what to expect and helps provide the best possible training to our First Responder partners. Given the training is geared toward First Responders it will be fairly realistic in nature. The use of real firearms firing blanks or “simunition” (a small paintball fired from a real gun) are to be expected along with make-up to dress victims. The creation of stress is intentional and can be felt by those observing.
For those wanting to observe, please feel free to arrive at the school by 4:00 PM. If anyone is interested in participating in the training, please contact Matt Alvernaz (School Safety Coordinator) at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623. A headcount is needed for participation and employees would be expected to arrive early.
Please see the attached newsletter.
DATE:
October 2, 2023
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness
SUBJECT:
FREE! Teacher Well-Being Course with Practical Strategies
Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2023 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity to address your own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as you work towards meeting your own wellness goals.
This course is FREE for JSD employees and Fall, Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity! 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.
Please see the attached newsletter.
The BYU CITES Learning Edge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Building Relationships, Connecting Through Content.” Our own Dr. Godfrey will be a featured presenter, along with national and local voices. The conference flier is attached, and you can also learn more about it at this link.
This is an optional conference. Teaching and Learning will cover the registration for one admin per school. Contact Camille Kartchner to submit the admin name for registration: camille.kartchner@jordandistrict.org or 88138. Additional registrations and any incurring substitute costs will be paid from school funds, such as TSSA.
Check out the attached flyer or use the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for October. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.
LINK to flyer
Employee Health and Wellness Day is back for 2024! There will be free offers, discounts, in-person, and virtual activities on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.
We are very appreciative of community partners who are supporting our Health and Wellness Day!
More details for Health and Wellness Day will be coming soon. Watch for updates in JAM!
One way to streamline communication despite language barriers is by showing parents and guardians how to translate Skyward into any language. Each user can translate the Skyward site into their preferred language with just a few clicks in Google Chrome. Check out the video below to see how.
*Hint - This tool works on other websites too! Be sure to share this link with families and guardians.
