See document below for important dates and reminders.
Language Arts Planning Meeting for Elementary Sixth-Grade and Seventh-Grade Language Arts Teachers – March 13, 2018
Elementary and Middle School Principals:
March 13, 2018 – ASB Auditorium -- Language Arts planning meeting for elementary sixth grade and seventh grade Language Arts teachers. From 8:00am to 12:30pm, seventh grade Language Arts and ELA Special Education teachers will meet with their sixth grade elementary feeders to help better prepare middle school teachers and students for next year. See attached schedule and be sure that one 6th grade or 7th grade Language Arts and ELA Special Education teacher from your school arranges to attend. The Curriculum Department will pay the cost of a half-day substitute. Please direct any question to Becky Gerber (Elementary) at 88087 or Mindy Dummer (Middle School) at 88152.
Elementary Parent Teacher Conference Report Form – Spring 2018
Elementary Principals:
Please return the attached form to Cari Minnesota (cari.minnesota@jordandistrict.org) within two weeks after your conference dates.
Chemistry Teacher Research Experience with BYU – Application Deadline is March 15, 2018
February 18, 2018
Dear Chemistry Teachers,
We want to let you know about an exciting new professional development opportunity available for chemistry teachers with at least five years of experience. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brigham Young University has secured funding to host a Research Experience for Teachers summer program. Our inaugural summer program begins on June 4th, 2018 and runs for ten weeks through August 10th, 2018. We understand that some flexibility may be required due to your academic year schedules.
If you are selected to participate, you will be paired with a faculty mentor who will help you engage in an original research project in chemistry or biochemistry. Along with the Research Experience for Undergraduate participants, you will visit several industrial sites to learn about the careers available to Utah students after graduation. You will also have time set aside to translate your research experience into classroom activities to take back to your school during the academic year, and to interface with our BYU Chem and BioChem Camps for youth ages 9-14.
The program is fully supported, so you will receive a $6,000 stipend, along with an allowance for housing and travel. If desired, you may earn graduate credit through the BYU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. It will also be possible for you to present the results of your research and/or the classroom experiments that you design at a regional or national meeting such as the American Chemical Society or National Science Teachers Association annual meetings.
More information about the program, descriptions of possible research projects, and the online application are available at our website: https://reu.chem.byu.edu. The application deadline is March 15, 2018. We welcome your inquiries and look forward to working with you this summer!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Sansom Daniel Ess
rsansom@chem.byu.edu dhe@chem.byu.edu
(801) 422-9089 (801) 422-9164
RET Program Director REU Program Director
2018 Outstanding Classified Employee Nomination Form is Available Online
For nomination form and scoring rubric click here: https://www.jordaneducationfoundation.org/
Submission Deadline: Monday, March 26, 2018
See attached flyer for more details.
Nominations Open – Three Utah Schools to be Gifted a $100,000 Don’t Quit! Fitness Center
THREE SCHOOLS IN UTAH WILL BE GIFTED A $100,000 DON’T QUIT! FITNESS CENTER FROM THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNORS’ FITNESS COUNCILS
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
Salt Lake City, UT – Continuing his goal of ending childhood obesity, fitness icon Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), has kicked off 2018 by selecting the State of Utah for its 2018 DON’T QUIT! fitness campaign. The NFGFC will deliver a state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center to three schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping their students fit. The nomination process opens today and will run through Friday, April 6, 2018. Anyone can nominate a school by visiting www.natgovfit.org.
“Childhood obesity is a serious problem that can follow a child into adulthood. I’ve declared war on this preventable disease and I’m inspired to see elected leaders like Governor Herbert immediately jump on board to join the battle and welcome us into his state. Every state leader that I’ve met with recognizes that obesity is neither a democrat nor republican issue, it’s a kids issue and all have vowed to do everything possible to help,” said Jake Steinfeld. “So far we’ve delivered DON’T QUIT! Fitness Centers in 24 states and Washington, DC and the response from students, teachers and communities has been unbelievable. Kids are excited about working out and being physically active and, as a result, their academic performance and self-esteem has skyrocketed. Now, Utah schools have an opportunity to make a change that will have a lasting impact on kids well into their future.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity for our schools,” said Gov. Gary R. Herbert. “Health and wellness are key to both success and happiness, and we want to help our students establish habits that will give them bright and strong futures.”
The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils program will make its way into all 50 states in the coming years. Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Anthem Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. TuffStuff Fitness International provides all of the fitness equipment, which is manufactured right here in the United States. The Foundation’s goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world.
“I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact fitness centers have had on students and their communities. When you provide schools with the tools and inspiration, you’ll be amazed by the changes that take place,” continued Steinfeld. “Our children are our most precious resource and by providing them with a strong foundation in health and fitness, we can feel confident that they’ll excel beyond their wildest dreams.”
Physical activity and exercise are shown to help prevent and treat more than 40 chronic diseases, enhance individual health and quality of life, and reduce health care costs. In schools, studies show that physical activity improves academic achievement, increases confidence and self-esteem, reduces discipline problems, cuts absenteeism, and fosters better interpersonal relationships.
For more information about the NFGFC or to download a nomination form, visit www.natgovfit.org.
Research Project – Social and Emotional Education in Primary Schools
DATE:
February 27, 2018
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
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: "Social and Emotional Education in Primary Schools"
Applicant: Jordan Smeltzer
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, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.
The project will involve a one hour interview with a willing teacher in your school with two or more years of experience.
Thank you for your assistance.
Copy and Print Toner/Ink Contracts – March 2018
Copy & Print Toner
JSD has a copy machine and printer toner contract that has been competitively solicited for use by all schools and departments within the district. Because we purchase as a whole district more than $50,000 annually of this one type of item on a regular basis, it necessitates additional steps under the law. This is intended to save time and money for the district and its employees. If you use the toner contract for the first time you may want to review all vendors and their prices before making a purchasing decision. Prices are based on a percentage off discount of retail price.
For ease of use and to ensure best value to the district, any purchase over $1000.00 requires two documented quotes, put on as a requisition in Skyward. Award may be on an all or nothing basis or you may want to award per printer model to get the best value. Any purchase under $1000.00 will not require competitive quotes.
The preferred method of ordering toner is with the district P-card or an open purchase order is acceptable also. Open purchase orders can be for the fiscal year or the length of the contract whichever is preferable. Please reference the contract number on the purchase order. A list of toner contracts can be found on the Purchasing Department website.
Please note when getting quotes from Coast to Coast their Diamond Series is not OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). This means Brother, Epson, HP, Lexmark, etc. brands. Diamond Series would be considered remanufactured not OEM.
Special Education Budget Closeout for the 2017-18 School Year
DATE:
February 23, 2018
TO:
Principals
Special Education Staff
School Secretaries
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist
Courtney Titus, Program Specialist
SUBJECT:
Special Education Budget Closeout for the 2017-18 School Year
Please note that Special Education purchase orders/requisitions for the 2017-18 school year must be received by Friday, April 13, 2018 @ 5:00 p.m. Please remember the following:
- Budgets are not carried over from one year to the next.
- Remember to deduct any previously submitted amounts from your Special Education budget (so that you know your balance) before submitting new orders. This includes reimbursements submitted through your school. No orders will be processed that exceed your budgeted allocation.
- Please check with your school secretary to make sure all Special Education reimbursements have been submitted to the Special Education Department by the April 13th deadline. We have provided each secretary with a spreadsheet of currently recorded purchases/reimbursements for the total special education department at your school up through February 23, 2018.
- When ordering supplies, follow Skyward procedures.
- Be sure to follow the ordering guidelines outlined in the attached budget information page, as you close out your current year budgets.
Staff will be notified of the new budget allocation amount prior to the start of the new school year. Keep in mind that new purchase orders/requisitions will not be processed until mid-July when all of the current year’s budgets have been closed out.
As you close out your budgets for the current school year, please note the following:
- All purchase orders/requisitions should be routed to Debbie Fairbourn in the Special Education Department.
- Use the following codes for purchase orders/requisitions and NPOs submitted through the year.
Coding for Purchase Orders/Requisitions and NPO’s:
| FUND | TYPE | LOCATION | PROGRAM | FUNCTION | OBJECT |
| 10 | E | (School #) | 1295 | 1090 | Use object code |
If you have questions regarding your Special Education budget, please call Debbie Fairbourn at
(801) 567-8177.
2017-2018 State Risk Self-Inspection Survey
DATE:
February 28, 2018
TO:
All School Principals
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator, Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Staff Assistant, Auxiliary Services
Lance Everill, Facility Staff Assistant, Operations
Ron Boshard, Coordinator, Risk Management
SUBJECT:
2017-2018 State Risk Self-Inspection Survey
The Self-inspection Survey for 2017-2018, from the State Office of Risk Management is available online. These surveys are designed to heighten safety awareness and to encourage school and District personnel to be proactive in hazard mitigation. Please go to the following Web site: risk.utah.gov
The responsible person or “Surveyor” is the school principal. As in the past, this assignment can be delegated to the department head, lunch manager, custodian, etc. for specific surveys as you see fit. However, all principals will be the responsible person to see that this survey is completed on time.
As with previous years, you will be prompted to fill in a corrective action plan. Please specify Work Order #, date submitted, who will follow through from your school, a target completion date and any other important information pertaining to specific questions.
The surveys are to be completed by March 30, 2018. Note that when the survey is submitted, it is locked and you are unable to reopen to make changes.
Please feel free to call or email Ron Boshard, 801-567-8876, ron.boshard@jordandistrict.org
Reminder emails will be sent out from SIS@utah.gov, please look for this email address.
Thank you for your support.
Cc:
Patrice A. Johnson, Superintendent
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Administrators of Schools
Visible Learning Institute June 11-12, 2018 in Salt Lake City
Post-High Transition Training 2018
DATE:
February 13, 2018
TO:
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
Special Educators
Speech Language Pathologists
School Psychologists
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./ Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist
SUBJECT:
Post-High Transition Training
Post-High Transition Training will be provided for all secondary special educators, Speech Language Pathologists, and School Psychologists. The training will focus on ways to make the process more student- centered as well as highlight the changes to the Utah State Special Education Rules, and provides as much clarification as possible on the diploma options. This half-day training will be conducted by combining high school feeders. In order to give school teams the opportunity to participate in a group while still providing for student learning, the training has been set up so that each school will send half of their staff in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Please plan for the full day substitute teachers to switch between morning and afternoon groups. We recognize that Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) may work in multiple buildings and may not be available to attend the training on the assigned day of the secondary feeder. If the SLP works in 2 secondary schools, the SLP should attend with their home base school. If the SLP splits between elementary and secondary, and is scheduled at an elementary the day of the secondary training, the SLP can attend with another feeder. Staff that are not available for trainings with their feeders on March 6th or 7th should attend the March 8th training, as this is a single feeder system. School Team Leaders, please send a list of morning and afternoon participants to the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school by March 1st. Special Education will cover the substitute costs for training (Budget code: 1292). For more information, please contact Julie Brown at julie.brown@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8200.
BHS and WJHS Feeder: March 6th at WJHS in the Tech Atrium
Morning session: 7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session: 11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
HHS and RHS Feeder: March 7th at RHS in the Tech Atrium
Morning session: 7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session: 11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
CHHS Feeder and Make-Up: March 8th at WHMS in the Media Center
Morning session: 7:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Afternoon session: 11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
WJHS: 8136 S. 2700 W. West Jordan
RHS: 12476 S. Silverwolf Way (2700 W.) Riverton
WHMS: 8270 S Grizzly Way (5400 W.) West Jordan
SAGE Grades 6-8 Science SEEd Testing Updates – February 2018
DATE:
Thursday, February 22, 2018
TO:
Elementary and Middle School Principals
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
SAGE Grades 6-8 Science SEEd Testing Updates
Now that USBE has completed field testing for the new grades 6-8 SAGE Science test that incorporates the new SEEd standards, we have been given some updated information regarding the expected time it will take for students to complete the test with its cluster questions. During previous SAGE science administrations, students have been expected to complete the test in a 60-90 minute window. We are asked to plan at least 100 minutes for students to take the SAGE science test in grades 6-8. USBE is also recommending that we break the SAGE science test for grades 6-8 into more than one testing session to avoid testing fatigue.
There will be two clusters for every strand within the new SEEd core. Students will need to finish all of the questions within a cluster before logging off. If they log off before answering all of the questions, they will not be able to answer those questions when they log back on. The platform will automatically move them to the next cluster.
Because the science standards for grades 6-8 have changed, the end-of-year SAGE Science test has also changed to match the new SEEd science standards. When the SAGE test assesses new standards, the first year of implementation will require a rubric validation, standard setting and data review process to ensure the validity and reliability of the new test. Once this process has been completed, the State Board of Education will need to ratify the results. This process will impact several things worth noting:
- Grades 6-8 SAGE science scores will not be available for students or educators until the fall of 2018.
- Because SAGE science score reporting will be delayed for grades 6-8, this will likely delay the release of school accountability report cards for all levels – elementary, middle and high school. Currently, USBE is anticipating that school report cards, under the newly developed school accountability system, will be released in October 2018.
- With the new SAGE science test in grades 6-8, it would be inappropriate to compare the 2018 results with previous years’ data. In essence, the 2018 administration of the SACE science test in grades 6-8 will be a baseline year as the same test will be administered under another name and with a new platform beginning in the 2018-19 school year.
Please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department with any questions.
Free URS Individual Retirement Planning – March 21, 2018 (ASB North Training Room A105)
Utah Retirement Systems will be available for one-on-one retirement planning sessions at the Jordan School District Auxiliary Services building in the North Training Room A105 on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. See the instructions below to register for an appointment. Counseling sessions are available at other locations that are also listed on the URS website. See flyer below.
1. Go to www.urs.org.
2. Log into your myurs account by clicking on LOGIN in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Click on the Education Tab.
4. Click on “Individual Retirement Planning Sessions”.
5. Find the session that works best for you. Select the session to reserve your appointment.
6. Please be sure to bring your estimated annual salary, any retirement plan balances outside of URS, and your Social Security statement (get yours at www.ssa.gov).
Utah ICAC Task Force – Internet Crimes Against Children Meeting – March 8, 2018
Hosted by Student Intervention Services - See attached flyer
Overview of Taskforce Investigations 20 Minutes
Prevention 20 Minutes
Q&A Session 20 Minutes
JSD Administrators and
Parents of JSD Students are Invited
March 8, 2018
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium
7905 South Redwood Road
West Jordan
Elementary, Middle and High School Non-Transferred Student Files Retention Schedule 2018
DATE:
February 14, 2018
TO:
Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Registrars
FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services
SUBJECT:
Elementary, Middle and High School Non-Transferred Student Files Retention Schedule
Please see attached memo.
February 2018 School Psychologists’ Meeting
DATE:
February 12, 2018
TO:
School Psychologists
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
SUBJECT:
February School Psychologists’ Meeting
A school psychologists’ meeting has been scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2018, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium (7905 South Redwood Road). Cathy Davis, Suicide Prevention Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education, will provide us with a presentation on creating safety during a suicidal crisis. She will be sharing recent data re: suicide among youth ages 10-17 in Utah. We will also meet in our PLC groups according to level. Many of you have talked to me about activities or programs that you are using with your students. I would like you to share these ideas or materials in your groups. If you have information about something you’re using that you’d like copied, please email them to Cheryl Powell and she will make copies for everyone.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc:
Principals
OBC Teacher Training Workshop – March 10, 2018
Elementary Principals:
Please share the attached flyer with your teachers.
School Counselor and Rookie School Counselor of the Year Nominations 2018
Call for Nominations:
In each of our counseling departments there are phenomenal school counselors that deserve recognition for the work that they are doing in their schools. We encourage you to recognize those in your departments and nominate them for either the School Counselor of the Year or the Rookie Counselor of the Year.
Award Descriptions:
The School Counselor of the Year Award (5+ years experience) honors the best counselors who are running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program at either the elementary, middle, or high school level. They are working to provide the best outcomes for each of their students, are leaders in their counseling centers, and a positive influence in their school.
The Rookie School Counselor of the Year Award honors the best of our new counselors (1 - 4 years of experience) at either the elementary, middle, or high school level. These rookie counselors bring new ideas, new enthusiasm, and change for the better in their counseling departments, while still learning from other counselors' experiences.
Nomination Details:
Nominations for the School Counselor of the Year and the Rookie Counselor of the Year are due February 28th.
Those who have been nominated for the School Counselor of the Year will be notified at the beginning of March and will be required to submit an application containing: a resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and a few short answer questions about their school counseling program. The winner(s) of the School Counselor of the Year Award (Elementary, Middle/Junior and High School) will be nominated for the National Counselor of the Year award and will also be required to fill out the NCOY application.
The Rookie Counselor of the Year will not be required to submit any other paperwork.
To nominate a school counselor you work with, please choose the award below and click on the link the the appropriate google form.
School Counselor of the Year: https://goo.gl/forms/z2eJ64zs3EQCoNzg1
Rookie Counselor of the Year: https://goo.gl/forms/6D6y1pTAQNSfy7ol2
Award Information:
The State winner of NCOY will be awarded a free trip to the American School Counselor Association Conference June 29 - July 2, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rookie Counselor of the Year will be awarded a free 2018 USCA Membership and free attendance to the 2018 USCA Fall Conference.
Thank you for your nominations and we look forward to honoring the inspiring counselors among us!
Important Lockout Protocol Revision for All Levels – Incident Command Manual
IMPORTANT
Incident Command Manual - Violence Action Plan
Lockout Protocol Revision for All Levels
When a threat of external violence occurs within close proximity to a school campus, it is common for that school (and potentially other schools in the vicinity) to go into a Lockout. This is typically executed at the direction of law enforcement.
After consulting with multiple law enforcement agencies, a revision has been made to the Lockout protocol, as outlined in the Jordan School District Incident Command Manual.
The District has been advised that once a Lockout is implemented and students and staff members that are outside for PE or recess have been brought safely into the building, no entrance into or exit from school should be allowed until the Lockout has ended.
The Incident Command manual has been edited to reflect this revision, and is available to administrators on the Google Drive, in: ASB - Website Docs and Forms, select Safety/Security, select Incident Command, then: PDF JSD ICS Manual Rev. February 2018.
For your convenience, a Lockout sign has been created, which can be posted on the main doors at the school entrance during a Lockout event. This sign in available on the Drive, in same location as the updated Incident Command Manual.