Jordan Administrative Memos

DATE:
January 10, 2022

TO:  
All Elementary Principals

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts Consultant

SUBJECT: 
Covid Guidelines for 5th Grade Utah Symphony Performances at Abravanel Hall

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We are looking forward to the Utah Symphony performances on February 8th and 9th. As a result of the recent Salt Lake County health mandates, please be aware of the following:

• The concerts are being presented in a Salt Lake County facility. As a result, face masks will be required for all attendees.
• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of the performance will be required for those 12 and older. This will apply to all teachers and chaperones.

Please convey this information to your 5th grade teachers as soon as possible. In addition, in order to facilitate communication with your school’s 5th grade teachers, please have your administrative assistant complete this brief survey that will provide information that is needed by the Symphony staff.

DATE:
Thursday, January 13, 2022

TO:  
Elementary Administrators

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

SUBJECT: 
Acadience Reading and Math Testing for the MOY and EOY Windows

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The Acadience Reading and Math middle-of-the-year (MOY) window will close on Monday, January 31, 2022. As a department, Evaluation, Research & Accountability will continue to do all it can to ensure that our assessment assistants are able to complete K-3 testing at the remaining elementary schools. As has been the practice for the last two years, we will continue to use department personnel to fill gaps on assessment teams so that we can test each class scheduled for that day.

There are many possibilities which may render us unable to complete testing at a school such as another snow day, illness, staff shortages, or a high rate of student absenteeism. With 41 elementary schools and a short testing window, if we miss testing at a school due to a snow day or cannot finish a school in the allotted time, we may be unable to come back and complete testing. In such situations, the school would need to complete testing on its own.

Here are a few ways that, together with your help, we can mitigate this situation as a possibility:

• Ensure that your testing schedule allows for some flexibility. Second and third grade classes test quickly because we only administer the Acadience Reading measures while kindergarten and first grade take longer because we also administer the Acadience Math measures. Because of this, it is helpful if teachers can be ready to come early or late.
• Avoid scheduling kindergarten and first grade classes back to back, when possible. Because these grade levels participate in both reading and math testing, they take longer to finish for each student.
• We have asked instructional coaches to assist us on testing days. On occasions where the coach is unavailable, we may not have enough staffing even with department personnel to complete testing in a timely manner.
• We have asked that schools provide at least one adult runner. When schools are not able to do so, one of the assessment assistants assumes this responsibility, which means that tester isn’t testing as many students and we once again may not be able to complete testing in a timely manner. Parent volunteers who know classroom locations are acceptable runners.

In the event that there is another snow day, a high rate of student absenteeism, or we cannot complete testing at a school, the following steps will be taken:

• Because the state requires grades 1-3 testing, we will leave the remaining kindergarten classes to the school to be tested and focus on grades 1-3 if we have another day scheduled at that school.
• Schools will need to put together and coordinate a testing team to complete testing of remaining untested students.
• All instructional coaches have been trained on both Acadience Reading and Math test administration and can provide training to school personnel.
• Schools may also use the Canvas training courses to train personnel on test administration. The Acadience Reading Canvas course may be accessed here: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/E4MAF7  The Acadience Math Canvas course may be accessed here: https://usbe.instructure.com/enroll/96NGXW
• Principals may also contact Ben Jameson to set up a training as well.

We recognize the depth and breadth of what we are asking schools to do if we cannot complete testing. Having schools complete their own testing is a last resort and every effort will be made to avoid it.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions or concerns.

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

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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.