Skip to content

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, October 12, 2023

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, 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 Monday, October 30 and closes Friday, December 1. 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 Skylert 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 Evaluation, 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 Evaluation, Research & Accountability or Rebecca Smith and Taryn Cox in Gifted & Talented.

Forward this Memo

Published on

If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave before or after Thanksgiving on a “Critical Day” for any reason not listed in policy DP335NEG or DP335B, you must submit a request as follows:

How to Request

During the window, the employee must send the request through email. Please include your name, school, position, and the date you are requesting the leave. Requests left on voicemail or over the phone will NOT be accepted.

Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

Education Support Professionals submit their request to classifiedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

The employee will receive an email confirmation within two working days after submitting the request. If the employee does not receive a confirmation email, then Human Resources has NOT received your request and your leave will not be approved.

School Holiday Date of Holiday Critical Days Window
Thanksgiving Recess     (Licensed) November 22-24, 2023 Nov. 21 and 27, 2023 Oct. 8 – Oct. 18, 2023
Thanksgiving Recess     (242, 245 Contracts) November 23-24, 2023 Nov. 21 and 27, 2023 Oct. 9 – Oct. 19, 2023
Thanksgiving Recess     (ESP 180, 184, 187, 206 Contracts) November 22-24, 2023 Nov. 21 and 27, 2023 Oct. 8 – Oct. 18, 2023

Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2023-2024

ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 2023-2024

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE: 
October 12, 2023

TO: 
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT: 
October School Psychologist Guidance Meeting

A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2023, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Presentations will address Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, the Mental Health Access Program, and Section 504.

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

cc:
Principals

Forward this Memo

Published on

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.

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, October 12, 2023

TO: 
All School Administrators

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: Understanding the Relationship Among Professional Learning Community Engagement, Collective Efficacy, and Perceived Mattering in Physical Education

Applicant: Zack Beddoes and Keven Prusak

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The research team will send a recruitment email directly to PE teachers throughout the district. Participation in the study is at each teacher’s discretion. If school administrators have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:  
October 4, 20233

TO: 
All Principals

FROM:  
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator

SUBJECT: 
Round 2: Optional Unique & Inspire Professional Development

For those that attended the first optional PD on September 22nd, this is the second session.

There are two optional trainings available on October 13, 2023.

  • Unique is for all self-contained classrooms (all grade levels - if you cannot make this training, other dates and times will be released soon)
  • Inspire is for elementary resource classrooms (secondary content to come soon).

Unique Professional Development (all grade levels for self-contained teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Valley High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Inspire Professional Development (All elementary resource teachers)

  • Friday, October 13, 2023 at Bingham High School from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Please sign up on JPLS to confirm your attendance.

 Unique- VHS
Course #101963
Section #127787

Inspire- BHS
Course # 101964
Section #127786

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, October 12, 2023

TO:
Elementary School Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Rebecca Smith, Consultant, Gifted & Talented

SUBJECT:
6th Grade CogAT Test Administration Training

The test administration window for the 6th grade CogAT opens October 23rd and closes December 1st. 6th grade teachers, in collaboration with school test coordinators, can administer this assessment to their classes.

A test administration training is being offered to school test coordinators as well as 6th grade teachers. School administrators may attend a training session, but it is not required. Testing pool hours may be used for ESPs who are attending a training session outside of their usual hours. There is no funding for substitutes; thus, schools will need to cover the cost of a substitute if a classroom teacher is attending a training session. Attendees should bring a device to the training.

Below are the training session dates, times, and locations. Those who are planning to attend a training session should sign up here.

Date Time Location
Tuesday, October 17 9:00 – 10:30 am Presentation Room
7905 South Redwood Rd., West Jordan
Entrance C
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Wednesday, October 18 9:00 – 10:30 am
12:30 – 2:00 pm

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability or Rebecca Smith and Taryn Cox in Gifted & Talented with questions.

Forward this Memo

Published on

Jordan School District employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all district policies and procedures. The crucial policy review is available to district employees in Skyward through “Online Forms.” As a condition of continued employment, all employees (i.e. Licensed, ESP, Substitutes, Coaches, Miscellaneous adults, etc.), with the exception of minor students, will be required to complete this training. We ask your assistance in notifying your employees of this required training and ask that this training be completed by November 1, 2023.  

A message will appear upon login of Skyward Employee Access for the employee to complete an “Online Form.” Employees can complete the steps at that time or can return to the review at another time by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”  Attached is a tutorial to assist in completing the review.

Reports of completion will be available through Skyward so you can verify that your staff members have completed this process. A tutorial is attached for your reference. If you or any staff members need technical help, please call the help desk at 801-567-USER (8737).

 

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:
October 7, 2023

TO: 
Principals
All Special Educators and Related Service Providers

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:
Important Deadline--Please Read Immediately
SCRAM Data Due by the end of day Monday, November 6, 2023
Updating SCRAM for December 1 Funding Count

We are fast approaching our December 1 SCRAM count deadline. Special Education Resource and SCSC Team Leaders will soon receive a SCRAM report via District Mail of all students who are currently receiving services through your school’s special education program(s). Please pay special attention to the students with the “SCRAM School” highlighted. These students have obvious errors and will need a new SCRAM submitted. These errors are students who are new to your school and are not yet scrammed at your location, likely because they came from preschool or a different school in the district. All team members and service providers need to verify each student on this list as either correct, changed, exited/moved, and/or incomplete. Since only one copy is being sent per “team” (i.e., Resource and SCSC), it is important that resource teams, SCSC teams, SLPs, Guidance Specialists and other itinerant providers work together to check and complete the requested information. It is important to verify every student. Each team member must review and initial the report before returning it to the Special Education Department. Please only return the one original report with all signatures and updated SCRAM documents, please do not send in multiple copies of the report.

We realize that our timeline is VERY tight. Please only send in SCRAM documents for those students who have an error or need a change or correction in services, not those on the report that are already correct. The service provider can be changed on the report without sending in a new scram document by crossing out the current provider and writing in the new one.

All Corrections and SCRAM reports are Due:  By 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, October 4, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:
2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey – Preparation and Administration Details

The 2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey will be administered to parents, school employees, and students in grades K-12 beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and ending Tuesday, November 21, 2023. All parents, licensed educators, education support professionals and students should be invited and encouraged to participate in the survey.

Survey respondents have the opportunity to take part of the survey for school individual principals, assistant principals, classroom teachers and licensed support staff (i.e., instructional coaches, counselors, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, library media coordinators, cluster leaders, etc.). Thus, we need to ensure that the survey contains an accurate list of each school’s licensed educators for whom respondents can take the survey.

The table below contains a unique link for each school that will direct viewers to a list of licensed staff that has been downloaded from Skyward. Administrative assistants are asked to verify the accuracy of that list, adding or deleting licensed educators as necessary. Staff verification lists need to be verified by Friday, October 13, 2023. This will allow enough time for Evaluation, Research & Accountability to upload the staff lists into the survey. Once the survey begins, we will be unable to add or delete any staff, so it is essential that administrative assistants carefully verify the accuracy of these lists.

The staff verification list should contain all licensed educators:

  • Principal
  • Assistant principals
  • Counselors and social workers
  • Teachers
  • School psychologists
  • Speech language pathologists
  • Library media specialists/coordinators
  • Cluster leaders
  • Instructional, technology, literacy, Title I or any other licensed academic coaches (non-licensed or athletic coaches need not be included unless they fill one of the above listed roles)
  • Any other licensed and certified educators at your school

Please see the table in the attachment to access your school’s staff verification list.

Forward this Memo

Published on

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.

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:
September 22, 2023

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

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 Thursday, December 21, 2023. This form is also available online at specialed.jordandistrict.org/staff/forms on the Special Education website.

If you need help completing any portion of this checklist, please contact the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.

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

Forward this Memo

Published on

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.

 

Forward this Memo

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, October 5, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Earbud Orders for State Testing

Students will have the option to have text read to them on the RISE Summative and Utah Aspire Plus Summative testing systems once again this year. For students in grades 3-6, the Acadience Reading Daze test will also have audio functions. Principals or their designee are encouraged to place an order for student earbuds. Please place your order by Wednesday, November 1st.

To place an order, please click here.

Earbuds may be used for other district- or state-mandated tests, but schools will need to create a system by which the same student uses the same earbuds throughout the year as there is no additional funding to purchase more than one pair of earbuds per student.

If schools wish to purchase additional earbuds for other uses, school administrators are welcome to contact Gaylene Miller in Evaluation, Research & Accountability at 801-567-8185 who can share the purchasing information and quotes used to acquire these earbuds.

Forward this Memo