Jordan School District
TO:
All Kindergarten Teachers, Coaches, and Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts, Teaching & Learning
Prepare to explore Open Up Resources (O.U.R.), a top rated curriculum crafted to spark curiosity, enhance critical thinking, and promote active engagement.
Sign up HERE
DATE:
Thursday, November 7, 2024
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Improving Efficacy in Identification of Students’ Well-being and Behavioral Risks and Access to Services: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Applicant: Maggie Chan, 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.
Teachers will be invited to participate in a survey about student well-being and a select few will also participate in virtual interviews.
Thank you for your assistance.
TO:
All Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator
Please see the attached newsletter.
DATE:
11/5/2024
TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Resource & Cluster)
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Testing Checklist
Attached is the DLM checklist for all special education teachers who are administering the DLM assessment to any of their students for the 2024-25 school year. You are required to complete and return the checklist to Jen Birrell for all Elementary teachers and Mikaylee Krebs for all Secondary teachers at the District Office by Friday, December 20, 2024. This form is also available online at specialed.jordandistrict.org/staff/forms on the Special Education website.
Please direct any questions or concerns to Jen Birrell for Elementary Teachers and Mikaylee Krebs for Secondary teachers.
Jen Birrell: 801-567-8905 or jennifer.birrell@jordandistrict.org
Mikaylee Krebs: 801-567-8356 or mikaylee.krebs@jordandistrict.org
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Please see the updated FAQ document. Changes are in red.
TO:
Elementary Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Amy Kinder, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning
Dear Administrators,
Jordan School District invites you to preview the Open Up Resources K-5 Mathematics curriculum, which is under consideration for adoption following the discontinuation of our current Math Expressions program. After 11 years, this transition reflects our commitment to providing the most effective educational tools for our students.
In making this decision, we took feedback from many different stakeholders, including math leads, principals, instructional coaches, and district specialists. This is something we took very seriously, and this is the next step in refining and advancing our teaching practices in mathematics, ultimately benefiting our students.
The open house will take place at the Jordan School District Auxiliary Building, Entrance D, 7905 S Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah, on the following dates:
We encourage you to explore its features, which align with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards, emphasizing mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and conceptual understanding.
To further explore the curriculum and access additional resources online, please use the following links.
To access teacher materials, please sign up using your Jordan District email. It is quick and easy to sign up.
Your feedback is invaluable as the Jordan School District School Board will make a final decision regarding this proposed curriculum at the Board meeting on November 26, 2024. Public comments are welcome in person or via email at the Board meetings. Email contact information for Board members can be found on our Board of Education page.
Thank you for your dedication to educational excellence and for participating in this important review process.
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Please see the document below.
TO:
Elementary Principals
Elementary Assistant Principals
FROM:
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Schools
Garett York, JAESP Committee Member
Please submit concerns to be discussed by JAESP committee and cabinet by November 6, 2024. You may submit concerns or questions using the Google Form OR you may send items to be discussed directly to Ann Pessetto at Westland, Megan Cox at Midas Creek, Kaleb Yates at Juniper Elementary, or Garett York at Southland.
All items will be discussed anonymously as we work to provide clarification and solutions to concerns of elementary administrators.
Notes of the discussions will be published on a Google Doc titled "JAESP Committee Notes 2024-25" which will be shared with Elementary Administrators.
TO:
High School Administrators
FROM:
Ami Shah, Officer
Ashley Heaton (Counselor at Herriman High) will present information on scholarship opportunities for our Native students. Licensed employees will receive in-service pay and earn licensure points. Middle and High school Native students and their families are invited to attend. Click HERE to register.
DATE:
October 31, 2024
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Preparation (SHELTER)
Our monthly drill preparation will be held on November 6th at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. This month we will be covering SHELTER. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrators assigned to oversee school safety. All other administrators are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also open to any staff who may be interested.
After each monthly training all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.
Information regarding the SHELTER response protocol can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on pages 20-24. We will discuss how to implement and execute the drill. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.
We will be holding this meeting over ZOOM so please join using this link.
TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator
District allocations for individual schools were updated in Skyward on October 29.
Adjustments were made based on the October 1 headcounts. The online schools were not adjusted. Carryforward balances and transfer requests are included in the total allocation. See the following attachments:
1) Estimated District Allocation compared to October 1 adjustment.
2) Student estimate compared to October 1 headcount.
3) Budget Transfer form.
Budget adjustments can be submitted, using the attached form, to Natalie.Grange@jordandistrict.org. Budget transfers must be submitted before February.
Please review these adjustments and contact Natalie Grange (801) 567-8312 with any questions or concerns.
TO:
All Administrators
All Office Staff
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems
Just a reminder that our annual Utah Skyward User Conference is scheduled for next Wednesday, November 6th. The conference will be held at Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building. Please see the attached agenda for additional details. We hope to see you there!
This conference is an opportunity to learn about Skyward directly from the source as most sessions are presented by Skyward staff. There are some fantastic sessions being offered this year, including Data Mining for Beginners, Data Mining for Advanced Users, Admin Bootcamp, Skyward Tips & Tricks, Grade Analysis, and Qmlativ Business sessions.
During these sessions, you’re welcome to ask questions. However, if you have an issue that may take more time to resolve, we suggest you call our help desk for additional support.
We hope you make the most out of this year's conference by discovering fresh insights, learning valuable tips and tricks, getting your questions answered, and exploring new possibilities within Skyward. If you have any questions about attending the conference, please feel free to call the help desk at ext. 88737.
DATE:
October 31, 2024
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
Suicide Prevention Funds & Conference Registration
Administrators,
This memo is an update to a previous JAM regarding PBIS and Suicide Prevention Funds.
Suicide Prevention Grant funds are now available for allowable expenses up to $1,000 per school. Schools may use these funds to pay for HopeSquad or Sources of Strength program renewal fees or to conduct suicide prevention training. These funds cannot be used to purchase supplies or food related to suicide prevention programming (NO T-shirts, incentives, fidgets, etc.). For questions, contact McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org) or Angie Rasmussen (angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org) in Student Services.
As part of this allocation, schools may choose to register relevant staff members (school psychologists, school counselors, clinical support/social workers) for the Rocky Mountain Suicide Prevention Conference and code the P-Card registration fee to the grant.
Schools may register one individual for Elementary, three individuals for middle school, and up to five individuals for high school using the grant. Administrators can code the expense to program 5674 on the P-Card Reconciliation. There will not be District personnel registering school staff this year.
If school staff have already been registered and your school would like to be reimbursed, contact Carmen Covarrubias (carmen.covarrubias@jordandistrict.org).
DATE:
October 31, 2024
TO:
Building Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Kim Lloyd, Director, Special Education
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Clarification on Enrollment Releases for Students with IEPs
The District has seen an increase this year in requests from parents of students with IEPs to release the student from enrollment for a portion of the day. These requests can be for reasons directly connected to the disability documented on the IEP (such as therapy) or may be for traditional “non-academic” reasons.
When a student on an IEP is released from enrollment, the service minutes specified in the IEP do not decrease. As a result, the District is responsible for providing the same amount of service in a reduced amount of time (and with reduced funding due to the release).
When a release is requested for reasons connected to the disability identified in the IEP, the building principal and the IEP team should determine how those services can be provided during the school day. If the parent continues to desire outside providers to provide the service during the school day, the parent will need to check the student out each time the service occurs.
When a release is requested for “non-academic” reasons, the release should not be approved until after consultation with the IEP team on potential impacts to the services specified in the IEP.
Additional questions on this topic may be directed to the Special Education Department or Planning & Enrollment.
TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator, Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, Administrator, Evaluations
NOVEMBER SUB INCENTIVE BONUS INFORMATION
Below is the information regarding the November 2024 Substitute Teacher Incentive Bonus. Remember, to qualify for this monthly bonus there are two eligibility requirements:
1) ZERO cancellations
2) Work the number of days to receive the associated bonus (see details for days and amounts below).
These bonuses are paid on the paycheck issued near the 10th of the month.
NOVEMBER 2024
15 days worked- $250
12 days worked- $150
10 days worked- $100
7 days worked- $50
If you have any questions regarding the substitute teacher incentive bonus please email the Sub Office at suboffice@jordandistrict.org.
TO:
All Level Administrators
FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator, Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, Administrator, Evaluations
Please see the attached newsletter.
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator, Human Resources
Rebecca Lee, Administrator, Evaluations
Please see the attached newsletter.
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Mike Haynes, Director, Jordan Education Foundation
This virtual clinic is for all elementary classrooms in Utah. Classrooms can join via zoom* or participate as a school from your gymnasium. Kids and teachers will take part in various fun events following along with Utah Jazz player, dancers, coach, Bear, and others. There will be fun exercises you can do in place as well as other mental and physical activities. BE SURE TO SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER!
*Note, the zoom link will be provided prior to the event.
DATE:
Thursday, October 24, 2024
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
Rebecca Smith, Consultant, Gifted & Talented
SUBJECT:
CogAT Sample Parent Notification Letter and Parental Exclusion Form
The 6th grade CogAT testing window opens Tuesday, October 29 and closes Friday, December 6. In preparation for testing, school administrators may wish to communicate with parents about CogAT testing. To facilitate this, a sample parent notification letter in both English and Spanish has been attached with this memo. School administrators are welcome to use the sample letter as it is written or add additional information as they see fit. It is recommended that school administrators send the parent notification letter via ParentSquare to 6th grade parents rather than sending the note home with students.
If parents express a desire to exclude their student from CogAT testing, the parental exclusion form on the main page of Assessment, Research & Accountability’s website may be used. That parental exclusion form may be found here.
Questions regarding the 6th grade CogAT may be referred to Kassidy Towery in Assessment, Research & Accountability or Rebecca Smith and Taryn Cox in Gifted & Talented.
DATE:
Thursday, October 24, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Schools At Risk for Being Designated for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI)
When a school has one or more low-performing student groups for two consecutive years, the state designates that school for Targeted Support and Improvement or TSI. The state identifies a low-performing student group by calculating a school accountability report card score for each student group. Low-performing is defined as a student group that accrues a percentage of school accountability report card points that is less than the state’s bottom 5% threshold of Title I schools. In other words, that student group is performing below the bottom 5% of Title I schools from across the state.
The student groups that can be designated for TSI are as follows:
Recently, USBE released TSI calculations for the 2023-24 school year for each student group in every school in the state. A Tableau dashboard contains two views that will help you determine if any of your student groups are at risk for being designated as TSI:
While individual report card scores for student groups at each school are not published on the state’s school report card website, the school accountability report card for an entire school population may be found here.
Please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions about Utah’s school accountability system or TSI.
