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DATE:  
Thursday, January 6, 2021

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
REMINDER: WIDA ACCESS 2.0 Test Administration Training for Schools


Please see memo below regarding mandatory training dates and times.

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DATE:
January 6, 2022

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
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, 2022


Please see attached memo.

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DATE:  
January 6, 2022

TO: 
Elementary Principals
Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:  
Guidelines to Establish Kindergarten Enrollment


It is the responsibility of each school to obtain a kindergarten roster for the upcoming school year. This roster helps facilitate kindergarten staffing and establish budgets for supplies and materials. Typically, efforts to establish kindergarten rosters begin in December or January. A timely start to kindergarten registration continues to be especially important this year as we deal with the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

The following steps should be used to establish a kindergarten roster:

  1. Send a flyer home with every student.
  2. Publicize in the school newsletter – communicate (several times) the importance of getting accurate kindergarten counts.
  3. Use all other resources available to you (Skylert, social media, etc.).
  4. NOTE: New Student Online Enrollment (NSOE) for the 2022-23 school year enrollment will not be available until after the Skyward pre-enroll. If applications were entered prior to pre-enrollment, they need to be inactive for the current year and active for next year. This can be done during the approval process in NSOE.
  5. Schedule kindergarten orientation as soon as possible. After the January pre-enroll, check your New Student Online Enrollment to see if there are any pending applications that need follow up.
  6. Hang banners announcing Kindergarten Registration being accepted for the following school year.

Please schedule your kindergarten orientation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Optional Ideas:

  1. Make a block contact with every home using PTA support.
  2. Contact preschools in the attendance area of your school.
  3. Use a telephone tree operated by parent volunteers with a list of questions for consistency.
  4. Contact neighbors who can identify new move-ins.
  5. Contact community members who do not have children enrolled in school.
  6. Avoid forwarding kindergarten orientation letters to new addresses if a family has moved from your boundary area. Delete that name from your list.

Please be diligent in recruiting all the kindergarten students within your school boundary.

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  1. Ronna Hoffman is no longer the person to contact with questions about LETRS. BEV GRIFFITH is the new LETRS contact. Her number is 801-567-8466.
  2. Please check the LETRS Information web page (access from Teaching & Learning Home page or the T&L Literacy page) for additional LETRS Information.
  3. Please remind your teachers that they MUST complete the LETRS Unit 1 in-person session by the end of February 2022. 
  4. Here is some information from USBE:

A quick reminder that our LETRS for Admin sections in MIDAS still have room for enrollment for those that want to get their admin LETRS training out of the way. This is our first run, and we plan on having another one sometime in 2022 and one last one in 2023.

LETRS for Admin consists of only 2 cohorts and is intended for Principals, Vice Principals and Psychologists. If you have your usernames and Principals Primer book but have not signed up, please do so now as our last sections for this first session will end in January 2022. Please remember that you are only allowed to participate in our LETRS PL (LETRS 3rd Edition or LETRS for Admin).

 LETRS In-Person Session 1 #60389

LETRS In-Person Session 2 #60446

Click here for helpful information about LETRS for Admin

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Licensed employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year, that give official early notification of resignation/retirement, will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, notification must be submitted online on or before the following dates:

  • January 15, 2022     $300.00
  • February 15, 2022     $200.00

The incentive will be paid on the last regular paycheck. Notifications of resignation or retirement received after the dates listed above will not qualify for an incentive. The official District resignation/retirement notification form is found in Skyward under “Employee Access”. Please see District policy DP318 or DP319 for more detailed information regarding resignations and/or retirements. If you do not know your Skyward username or password please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.

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T&L is pleased to offer a workshop with Kelly Gallagher for ELA teachers on February 3, 2022. Identical sessions will be presented in the morning and afternoon. Subs will be provided for up to four teachers per school. It is anticipated two teachers will share a full-day sub, one teacher attending the a.m. session and one teacher attending the p.m. session. Additional teachers may attend if schools provide the sub. Registration is now open in JPLS, Course #101874. Please see the attached flyer for more information. Contact Rebecca Smith @ 88368 with questions you may have.

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Jordan Education Foundation recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers are among a select few highlighted as Outstanding Educators who are making a difference in the classroom. The annual JEF Outstanding Educators Awards publicly honor and recognize educators who raise the bar of their profession.

Nominations (one per school) are due January 19, 2022

Please see the attached document for more information.

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The collection and expenditure of parking permit fee revenue in high schools is being adjusted to ensure compliance with State school fee law. Adjustments have been made to the accounting process and in lieu budgets for each school. The following memo outlines the modifications that will be made this year.

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

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School districts are required to keep special education records five years past the student’s twenty-second birthday. In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Jordan School District must notify parents and afford them the opportunity to receive special education records before destruction of those records can occur.

As of January 31, 2022, such notice will have been advertised to parents for students whose birthdates are prior to September 1994 (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.

Please see the attached memo for instructions for storage and destruction of Special Education Records.

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DATE:  
Thursday, January 6, 2022

TO: 
High School Principals
Middle School Principals
Elementary School Principals

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Research Project


The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Empowering Teachers to Support Self-Regulated Learning

Applicant: Greg Callan, Utah State University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

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DATE:  
Thursday, January 6, 2022

TO: 
Middle School Principals
High School Principals

FROM:   
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:    
Research Project


The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: The Impact of Professional Development that Focuses Technology on Science Teachers’ Learning and Practice

Applicant: Nashmiah Alfuraydi, Westminster College

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

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DATE:    
Thursday, January 6, 2022

TO:   
High School Principals

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Research Project


The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Validation of Metacognitive Instruments in High School and Community College Students and Instructors

Applicant: Anton Tolman, Utah Valley University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

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During the months of October, November and December 2021 the Jordan School District teacher substitutes worked extra hours to provide coverage for teacher absences!  The willingness of our teacher substitutes to increase the number of days worked during the past several months was remarkable and greatly appreciated.

The teacher substitute bonuses were distributed to the substitutes who qualified. If there are any questions regarding the teacher substitute bonus, please contact Juli Martin at juli.martin@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8219.

The 2021 teacher substitute bonus was so successful that it is being EXTENDED through the end of the school year, with bonuses announced each month for the following month. For January, teacher substitutes with NO CANCELLATIONS and who qualify as outlined below, will be paid on February 10, 2022. The January substitute tiered incentives are as follows:

16 days worked in January = $275

14 days worked in January = $175

11 days worked in January = $100

8 days worked in January = $50

Benefit eligible teacher substitutes working full time at various schools throughout the Jordan School District, DO NOT QUALIFY for the monthly substitute bonus, since they are required to work every school (contract) day.

Please help us show appreciation to our valued substitutes for their dedication, assistance and service to Jordan School District.

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Here are recent updates to the testing locations in Salt Lake County. These locations can also be found on the Salt Lake County Health Department website and the Utah Department of Health testing map.

South Hills Middle School
13508 4000 W, Riverton, UT 84065
Monday through Friday
3:45 to 6:00 p.m.
Testing in portable by bus circle at south end of the school.

(Due to Winter Break no testing will be done from December 20th to January 2nd)


Salt Lake Public Health Center
610 South 200 East
Monday through Friday
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ENTER FROM 200 EAST under "TB Clinic" sign. Park on street or in lot west of building. DO NOT ENTER on west side.


Rose Park Elementary
1105 West 1000 North
Monday through Friday
2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Testing in back room near Intermountain Health Care's Family Health Center. Park on 1000 North and walk in.

(Due to Winter Break no testing will be done from December 20th to January 2nd)


Thomas Jefferson Jr. High
5850 South 5600 West
Monday through Friday
2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Testing in seminary building on NE corner of property. Park in school or seminary lot.

 

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The next Assistant Principal meetings will be held on January 20 (8:00-11:00am) and January 25 (8:00-11:00am). All meetings will be held in-person at the JATC-S. A beverage service will be provided, beginning at 7:30am at each of the meetings. As a reminder you only need to attend one of the sessions offered per month. Both sessions will provide the same information. If you haven't had a chance to sign up please CLICK HERE and it will take you to the Google Doc. If you have any questions please call Nadine Page at 801.567.8182 (x88182). Thank you!

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Please invite all kindergarten teachers to join us for Kindergarten Night Out! McKinley Withers, from the Health and Wellness department, will be joining to give us some tips and tricks to manage behavior in the kindergarten classroom. As a special bonus, kindergarten teachers will be paid to attend this session. We will meet in the ASB auditorium on January 12 from 4:15-5:15. Teachers are encouraged to sign up on JPLS.

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Dear Teachers and Counselors, 

Jordan School District is committed to providing high-quality mathematics instruction for every student. All students are capable of learning and succeeding in mathematics. During the upcoming registration for middle school classes, your 6th-grade students may choose their mathematics courses. Students may choose 7th Grade Mathematics or 7th Grade Mathematics Honors. The core standards are exactly the same for both courses. However, the honors course may move a little faster and/or go a little deeper than the regular math course. It is important that students are given the opportunity to access the math course which best fits their needs. Please encourage your students to discuss their options with their parents/guardians. 

The recommended pathway is for all students to take a 7th Grade Mathematics course. 

In light of the education experiences surrounding COVID-19, we see a greater need for students to solidify understanding and build a solid mathematical foundation. 7th grade mathematics is the cornerstone for understanding algebra, geometry, ratios and proportional reasoning, which are critical to the understanding of trigonometry and calculus. 

Jordan School District’s honors courses begin in seventh grade and continue through high school.
Students will have access to AP Calculus, AP Statistics and Concurrent Enrollment courses, regardless of what mathematics courses they are enrolled in during 7th-grade.  

Students can join the Honors Pathway at ANYTIME with no prerequisites.

Jordan District has seen an ongoing pattern, supported by data, showing that students who accelerate through content without a solid foundation in mathematics understanding and skill tend to leave the accelerated pathway. Please note that the Jordan School District has designed opportunities for students to have access to honors courses at every level without having to skip grade levels. Utah Law (Utah R-277.515) states that honors courses now have no prerequisite; however there are requirements for skipping grade levels.  

Alternate Accelerated Pathway
For students who are able to demonstrate mastery of 6th and 7th-grade mathematics standards, an alternative pathway is available. In order to access this pathway, students may choose to take an assessment to determine their readiness for 8th Grade Mathematics Honors. The testing window will be between now and February 24, 2022. Students will take this assessment AT HOME, not in your classroom. Students will receive  the link to the test in a parent letter. 

If students choose to select 8th grade Honors, we will not be able to provide summer courses unlike previous years due to funding being reallocated. Students will have to be fully prepared to begin 8th grade curriculum in August. Many times, they are placed in classes with a majority of 8th grade students. 

Here is an outline of the three options. 

7th grade Mathematics 7th Grade Honors Mathematics 8th Grade Honors Mathematics
This course is recommended 

for the majority of 

incoming students. 

It will provide a solid foundation for developing understanding of mathematics in middle school and beyond. 

This course is recommended for about 80-95% of the population

This course is recommended for highly motivated students. 

It has the SAME standards as

 7th grade mathematics, however it is fast paced and goes into greater depth with the content. 

This course is recommended for 

10-20% of the population. 

This course is an 8th grade level honors course. Students will need to enter having mastered the sixth and seventh grade curriculum. Without a solid foundation of 7th grade standards, students will struggle. 

This course is recommended for 3%-5% of the population.

This is a

Parent and Student Choice

This is a

Parent and Student Choice

This requires:

Score of 80% or better on a 7th Grade Assessment

Questions
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Amy Kinder, Math Consultant Amy.Kinder@jordandistrict.org (801) 567-8469

Sincerely,
Amy Kinder
Amy Kinder, MS Ed, NBCT
Math Consultant
Jordan School District

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