Spring 2024 Multilingual Family Nights
Language & Culture Services is inviting parents to come out to their feeder high school to learn about English language learning in our District. Use the following links to find the flyer for your feeder school.
All events will take place at the high schools from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
- Multilingual Family Night - Bingham Feeder System Flyer
- Multilingual Family Night - Copper Hills Feeder System Flyer
- Multilingual Family Night - Herriman Feeder System Flyer
- Multilingual Family Night - Mountain Ridge Feeder System Flyer
- Multilingual Family Night - Riverton Feeder System Flyer
- Multilingual Family Night - West Jordan Feeder System Flyer
JPLS Retiring on June 20
We are writing to inform you of an important update to our professional learning registration system, JPLS. Starting with the 2024-25 school year, we will be transitioning from JPLS to Canvas Catalog for all in-district professional development class registration and transcript records for those classes.
Action Required: To ensure a smooth transition, we ask each teacher to take the following steps by June 20, 2024:
- Log into JPLS and download an archive of your transcript
- Save these records in a secure location for your reference
Why This Change? This decision was made after careful consideration to enhance our professional learning experience. Canvas Catalog offers a more user-friendly interface for end users and provides additional features that we believe will significantly benefit our teachers. We understand that change can be challenging, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Detailed instructions on downloading your transcript from JPLS is available using the link below.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to Chris Westra in Teaching and Learning, christine.westra@jordandistrict.org or Jared Covili, Admin - Digital Teaching and Learning, jared.covili@jordandistrict.org.
What’s the Latest with Teaching & Learning in March 2024
Check out the attached flyer for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for March. Learn about March conferences, Sign Up for Upcoming PD, and Learn about Important Updates from the T & L team.
- Teaching & Learning
T & L Newsletter - Digital Teaching and Learning
Level up with the ISTE standards Webinar
Digital Discovery - Math
Secondary Math
Elementary Math - Science
Elementary Science - English Language Arts
Elementary ELA - Health & PE
Look What’s Happening in Health and PE - Dual Language Immersion
DLI NEWS - Gifted & Talented
What’s new in GT
Heroes Among Us
Jordan School District invites all faculty, students, and families to Heroes Among Us to hear the inspiring stories of remarkable individuals who have shown unwavering dedication to our community. Join us at West Jordan Middle from 5-7 pm on April 3rd to hear our speakers share their struggles, successes, and life lessons. Bring your questions about mentoring, career paths, and internship opportunities for your students.
Pizza dinner will be served! RSVP below to secure your spot!
Please see the attached flyer for more information!
2024 JAESP Principal Award Winners
Each year, principals are recognized by the Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals (JAESP). We congratulate these principals for their excellence in school leadership.
- Distinguished Principal of the Year - Jennifer Ludlow
- Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year - Veronica Holyoke
- Community Leader Principal of the Year - Tiffany Smith
- Student Advocate Principal of the Year - Candie Checketts
- Rookie Principal of the Year - Jerilyn Schaffer
- Instructional Leader Principal of the Year - Jessica Stowe
- Mentor Principal of the Year - Ken Westwood
- Innovator Principal of the Year - Suzie Williams
March 2024 Blomquist Hale Workshops
Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in March! See attached for workshop flyers and details outlined below.
- Topic: Monthly Divorce/Separation/Singles Support Group
Date: March 21 – Dec. 19 (third Thursday of every month)
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. MT
Location: Online! - Topic: Self-Love
Date: March 25
Time: 12 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Online!
To register for any of our upcoming workshops, please visit our website at blomquisthale.com/workshops.
Calculator & Visual Representation Accommodations Policy Grades 3-6
Evaluation, Research & Accountability wanted to provide some clarification around calculation device and visual representation accommodations on the Summative RISE Math assessment.
Calculation Devices
When it comes to the use of calculation devices or computation tables as an accommodation on the RISE Math assessment in grades 3-6, school administrators, testing coordinators and special education caseworkers should take note of the following stipulations from the Utah Participation and Accommodations Policy:
“All students are allowed to use the online calculation device when it is embedded during the allowed segments of a math assessment… For students in grade 6, the use of a handheld calculation device or printable computation table is considered an accommodation and may be provided (based on need documented in the IEP) during the allowed segment of the assessment. For students in grades 3-5, the use of a handheld calculation device or printable computation table is not allowed during any segment of the math assessment. If provided, the test must be reported as modified, and the student will receive a score of non-proficient and be considered a non-participant for accountability” (see page 40).
While Embrace allows caseworkers to input a calculator accommodation for students on the Summative RISE Math assessment (with a footnote calling attention to the Utah Participation and Accommodations Policy), it is still not an allowable accommodation on the RISE Math assessment.
The policy also states, “During instruction, it is important to determine whether the use of a calculation device or computation table is a matter of convenience or a necessary accommodation. It is also important to know the goal of instruction and assessment before making decisions about the use of calculation devices or computation tables. In some cases, calculators may be adapted with large keys or voice output (talking calculators). Examples of calculation devices are calculators, slide rules, and abacuses. Examples of computation tables are number lines and multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction charts” (see pages 40-41).
For more information on calculation devices, please see USBE’s guidance document.
Visual Representations
Please note that computation tables are not visual representations as defined in the Utah Participation and Accommodations Policy. Visual representations “are manipulatives such as cubes, tiles, rods, blocks, models, etc. They may be used on all sections of the mathematics assessment if they are included in the student’s IEP or 504 Plan” (see page 55).
Please contact Kassidy Towery (kassidy.towery@jordandistrict.org) in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with questions about RISE accommodations.
Utah Waterways Training from Central Utah Water
Central Utah Water Conservancy District has partnered with Jordan School District to provide an Inservice that focuses on the connection between water and Utah's ecosystems. During the program educators will explore issues related to the Great Salt Lake, Colorado River, and more.
Friday, April 19, 2024 | 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. | PDC 103 at the Auxiliary Services Building
Hands-on Lesson Blocks Include:
- Who Gets The Water - Exploring water law along the Colorado River
- Will I Get Eaten - Exploring how invasive species affect native species in Utah Lake
- Safe Salinity - Exploring how the percentage of salt in the water in the Great Salt Lake affects its ecosystems
- Snacks
- Enroll on JPLS
The course #102018
2 relicensure points - Utah Waterways Flyer
URS Training at Your Workplace
Come learn about your URS benefits. Open to ALL full and part-time employees. Each session will cover URS savings plans along with Tier 1 and Tier 2 pension systems. Each date will have a 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. session to accommodate everyone and will be held in the school media centers.
- Bingham High - Wednesday, March 13
Join Us for Free URS Retirement Planning Sessions
Utah Retirement Systems will be available for one-on-one retirement planning sessions in March. Scheduling will be available on the Utah Retirement Systems website on Monday, March 11 at 7 a.m. Sessions will be held on March 21 at the District Office and on March 27 at the Auxiliary Services Building. This is a great time to recap, regroup, and focus on retirement planning and financial wellness. Appointments fill quickly so don’t delay.
Advanced registration is required so please see the instructions below to register for an appointment on the URS website.
- Go to www.urs.org.
- Log into your myURS account by clicking on LOGIN in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click on the Education Tab.
- Click on “Individual Retirement Planning Sessions”.
- Find the session that works best for you. Select the session to reserve your appointment.
- Please be sure to bring your estimated annual income, retirement account statements (including non-URS), Social Security Statement (get yours at www.ssa.gov) and your investor profile (take the questionnaire at myURS).
Employee Attendance at Relative’s Graduation 2024
The dates for the Jordan School District High School Graduation exercises for Copper Hills High School, West Jordan High School, and Valley High School are scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Graduation exercises for Bingham High School, Herriman High School, Kings Peak High School, and Mountain Ridge High School are on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Graduation plans and times will vary from school to school.
Principals and Directors are encouraged to provide flexibility to parents or grandparents requesting the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremonies of family members.
Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the Frontline Absence Management System, if applicable. In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add “graduation” along with his/her relationship to the graduate.
For additional assistance, please contact the Sub Office at 801-567-8219.
Newcomer Parent Orientation Meeting & Open House
Language & Cultural Services is holding a Newcomer Parent Orientation Meeting & Open House on Wednesday, March 6 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Copper Mountain Middle School FEC Portable, behind the school.
Please share this flyer with students and parents who are new to our country. They can come and learn what Jordan Schools District can offer their family. There will be information, sign-ups, and community resources, all for FREE!
For more information, please email Ics@jordandistrict.org or visit the L&CS website.
Earn the Seal of Biliteracy Today!
Calling All Bilingual Teachers, Admin, & Staff! Show your students that being Multilingual is a superpower by earning a Seal of Biliteracy.
Can you speak, read, & write one of these languages?
Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swahili ,Yoruba
Language not Listed?
Visit this link below to view other languages & approved tests.
Once you receive your passing test results, apply on the Global Seal website to submit your test scores and proof of proficiency in your first language. From there, the Global Seal Team will handle the rest and mail you your certificate once it is ready
For additional questions, please email info@theglobalseal.com
Upcoming ELD Meetings
Our next ELD meeting is March 7 in the Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium from 1-3 p.m. We also have work groups for secondary at 12:30 p.m. and elementary at 3:00 p.m. There will be resources, tools and strategies shared. We also have an ELD Meeting scheduled May 9. The sub code 7628 is for a half day only.
Please give time during your faculty meetings after for your ELD lead to share the information. Administrators, this meeting is optional for you, but please encourage and support your ELD lead in coming. We will have the Digital Learning team coming to share ideas and resources.
For additional questions, please contact your Teacher Specialist or Michelle Love-Day in Language and Culture Services.
Jordan Ethnic Advisory Committee Open House
The Jordan Ethnic Advisory Committee is holding an Open House for staff, students, and families. Come and meet our student leaders in our multicultural clubs. Bring your ideas of what is working in JSD and celebrations of what is going well in your school.
- When: March 6, 2024
- Where: JATC South
- Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Come and meet our student leaders in our multicultural clubs.
- Bring your ideas of what is working in JSD and celebrations.
We are a committee successfully educating, supporting, and empowering the Jordan School District community by moving the ‘equity work’ from theory to practice, and developing district policies with a strong equity lens. Questions or concerns? Send us a message at JEAC@jordandistrict.org.
March 2024 Payroll Newsletter
Spring Recess
Traditional, 206 day contracts: March 26-29
242, 245 contracts: March 28-29
Critical Days
Licensed & ESP: March 22 & April 1
As Per DP335B and DP335NEG: Licensed and ESP employees using an Annual/Personal leave day on Critical Days will be docked (Licensed $156 or ESP 40% of their daily rate) unless the leave reason and the policy exception are written in the time off description box.
Please refer to policy links above, or use the Critical Days FAQ for further clarification.
Grade Transmittal Day
All Levels: March 25
All 206, 242 and 245 contract employees must record a leave day if not in attendance.
- Payroll Due: March 4
- Direct Dep Changes by March 10
- View Paycheck: March 21
- Pay Day: March 25
True Time Deadlines
Date Range Feb 5 – Mar 3
*True Time should be submitted and approved weekly
Employee Submittal: March 6
First Approval: March 8
Final Approval: March 12
Substitute Deadlines
Date Range | Due | Payday |
---|---|---|
Feb. 16-29 | March 1 | March 8 |
March 1-15 | March 15 | March 25 |
2024 Literacy Promise Conference
Mark your calendar and save the date to attend the Literacy Promise Conference. There are some fantastic presenters in attendance this year that you will not want to miss.
T & L will pay for up to three individuals from each school to attend the Literacy Promise Conference held on March 20 - 22. This can include administration, coaches or teachers. Schools are not required to participate or may choose to send less than three individuals. Responses will be accepted through March 8. Please click on the link below and fill out the form to list the individuals who will be paid for through T&L. If your school would like to send more than three individuals, registration can also be done at the school or individual level using the QR link on the enclosed flyer.
The conference is March 20 - 22, 2024 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah.
- 2024 Literacy Promise Conference Registration - Use this link to register individuals to be paid by T&L.
- 2024 Literacy Promise Conference Brochure
Paid PD Opportunity- “Understanding your Native Students”- March 7
March 2024 Kindergarten Night Out
Kindergarten Night Out will be held on March 14, 2024 in the ASB Presentation Room at 4:15 p.m. All teachers, coaches, and administrators are invited!
Are you ready to knock your math teaching stategies out of the park? The elementary math specialists would love to have you join our lineup for an exclusive training session focused on building a strong. foundation in number sense for our young learners. Let's cover all our bases to ensure our students hit a home run in early mathematics!
Please sign up on JPLS ASAP. Collaboration will be held from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.
Please see the attached flier and share it with anyone who may be interested in coming to this event.