Jordan Employee Memos

The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family is excited to welcome the community to the annual free Christmas Carol Sing-Along Event featuring The National Parks. Guests will enjoy performances from national recording artists, The National Parks, and guest emcee, Yahosh Bonner of the Bonner Family. Music will be provided by the West Valley Symphony of Utah, under the direction of Donny Gilbert. Sterling Poulson will be our guest conductor. Santa Claus and the Jazz Bear will also stop by to join in on the festivities.

• WHEN: Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 at 7 p.m.
• WHERE: Delta Center | 301 S Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84101
• WHAT: Larry H. Miller Holiday Concert and Community Sing-Along event | Free to the public | Holiday treats and complimentary gift coupons while supplies last | Song lyrics provided via QR code and displayed throughout the show

• Delta Center Events | 39th Annual Larry H. Miller Christmas Carol Sing-Along

Licensed employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year, that give official early notification of resignation/retirement, will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, notification must be submitted online on or before the following dates:

• Dec. 15, 2023 $500.00
• Jan. 15, 2024 $300.00
• Feb. 15, 2024 $200.00

The incentive will be paid on the last regular paycheck. Notifications of resignation or retirement received after the dates listed above will not qualify for an incentive. The official District resignation/retirement notification form is found in Skyward under “Employee Access”. Please see District policy DP318 or DP319 for more detailed information regarding resignations and/or retirements. If you do not know your Skyward username or password please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.

Check out the attached flyer or use the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for December. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.

• Digital Teaching and Learning
  Level up with the ISTE standards Webinar
  Digital Discovery
• Math
  Secondary Math
  Elementary Math
• Science
  Secondary Science
  Elementary Science 
• English Language Arts
  Secondary ELA
  Elementary ELA
• Health & PE
  Look What’s Happening in Health and PE
• Dual Language Immersion
  DLI NEWS
• Social Studies
  Elementary Social Studies
• Gifted & Talented
  What’s new in GT
• Fine Arts
  Fine Arts News
• Assessment
  Secondary
  Middle
  Elementary

• Dec. 2023 Teaching & Learning Newsletter (Canva)

Welcome back to another exciting school year! A lot is happening this quarter. Winter is closely approaching us, along with all the holidays. Daylight savings has made our days seem shorter.We will soon start to see colder weather, and hopefully some rain and snow.

We at LCS hope you and your loved ones can enjoy this holiday season that is quickly approaching us.

The full newsletter can be found at the link below. Stories include:

• ELLevation Tips and Tricks - Did you know??? If you have an activity that you like, you can choose the Example tab, and select a grade level and content area. It will then give you ideas for incorporating that activity into your lesson!
• Culture Corner - Teaching about different cultural holidays helps promote awareness, acceptance and diversity in our classrooms. How can you incorporate more culture in your classroom? November: Native American Heritage Month December: Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah
• Teaching Strategies - Have you ever used the Magic Switch setting on Canva? This allows you to translate a document that was made within Canva by a click of a button. You can choose from 130 different languages. Also, it allows you to translate certain part of your document, while other parts can be in a different language. This really allows educators to translate documents for our ML students easily.
• Reflective Questions - How much do I really listen to my learners? Do I engage in active observation in my classroom, paying attention to subtle nuances and dynamics among my learners? In my interactions with my learners? Can I describe my own cultural conditioning? For example, what cultural values affect how I behave and communicate with others? What are some of my core beliefs and how have they been culturally influenced?
• ELD Lead Celebration - Heidi Rivera is a kindergarten teacher & ELD Lead at Riverton Elementary. She works closely with the ML students and helps them develop language proficiency and prepares them for WIDA. She has done a great job of creating a sense of belonging among the ML students and has contributed to a great sense of community and culture among Riverton Elementary.

• Dec. 2023 Language & Culture Services Newsletter

The Jordan Ethnic Advisory Committee, Language and Culture Services, and Equity Diversity and Inclusion cannot wait to see you at the annual "What I Wish You Knew Conference"

Save the date for Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Bingham High school. More information to come.

Jordan School District Aspiring Coach Pathway
2024-25 Instructional Coaching Endorsement  (Cohort 2)

The postings for next year's BYU CFA for Elementary are now open.  It is required that you apply for both the internal Jordan School District posting, found on AppliTrack, and the BYU posting on Yjobs.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred
• Public school teaching experience in grades K-6. Experience as a mentor/cooperating teacher to teacher candidates
• Submit application to Jordan job posting
• Attach three letters of recommendation
• Attach a current resume or vita, AND
• Submit application to BYU Yjobs posting

Applications are due by 5pm on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. For additional information about this position please see the description on BYU Yjobs.

Valued Licensed Employee:

The Human Resource Department is contacting you with important information regarding upcoming events and opportunities.

LICENSE RENEWAL
Teachers and other educators whose educator license will expire on June 30, 2024, are encouraged to begin the license renewal process IMMEDIATELY by going to the USBE website.  You may begin reviewing the videos and forms; however, license renewals cannot be submitted to the USBE before January 2024. The District HR Department will send you reminders in November, January, and March.  A FINAL reminder will be sent to you in April as a 4^th and FINAL NOTICE & NOTICE OF TERMINATION should you not receive your license renewal certification in CACTUS by June 30, 2024.

DON’T DELAY – START THE PROCESS NOW!

TEACHER TRANSFER FAIR
This year, the annual Teacher Transfer Fair is open to all CURRENT JSD teacher/educators AND student teachers, interns and those on a 1-year agreement.  This event is for current Jordan School District teachers/educators seeking a new teaching/assignment opportunity! The transfer fair will be combined for both elementary and secondary teachers/educators.

Please come prepared with:

• Your JSD ID badge – required to gain entry, AND
• Copies of your resume available to distribute.

Come explore your options in JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT!

• 2023-24 Teacher Transfer Fair Poster

Don't take the bait! Watch this catchy video to learn how to NOT get caught by a phishing attack!  Here are some helpful hints to avoid getting hooked:

• Verify the sender's identity with a 2nd method of communication.
• Remember, phone numbers and email addresses can be spoofed.
• Report suspicious emails to security@jordandistrict.org or call the help desk at 801-567-8737.

Kindergarten Night Out will be held on Dec. 14, 2023 in the ASB Presentation Room at 4:15 pm. All teachers, coaches, and administrators are invited!

As requested, we will have some of your fellow kindergarten teachers present some ideas on how they are successfully teaching ELA and managing their classrooms.

Please see the attached flier and share it with anyone who may be interested in coming to this event.

• Dec. 2023 Kindergarten Night Out Invitation

Sign up for a free educator well-being course and earn re-licensure hours and college credit! Space is limited! 

Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2024 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity for all JSD employees to address their own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Participants will collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as they work towards meeting their own wellness goals.

This course is FREE for JSD employees and Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity!

The class will meet on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 over Zoom:

• Jan. 11, 18, 25
• Feb. 1, 8, 15, 20
• March 7, 14, 21

Participants can earn continuing education, lane-change, and re-licensure hours from SUU (up to 3 college credits).

Sign up using the link below and share this information with professionals in your schools who may be interested in this opportunity.

• Focus Education Group In Focus Educator Well-Being Course Signup Form
• Focus Education Group In Focus Educator Well-Being Course Flyer

The registration for the 2024 EdTech Endorsement is now open. Classes start in January.

Ed Tech Endorsement

Please contact Deanna Taylor, Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist, with questions at dtaylor@jordandistrict.org

• 2024 Jordan District EdTech Endorsement Poster

Our next ELD meeting is Dec. 14 in the Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium from 1-3 p.m. There will be resources, tools and strategies shared. We also have ELD Meetings scheduled for March 7 and May 9.

Please give time during your faculty meetings after for your ELD lead to share the information.  For additional questions, please contact your Teacher Specialist or Michelle Love-Day in Language and Culture Services.

• Dec. 2023 ELD Meeting Flyer

Language and Culture Services is excited to open our second Family Engagement Center for Jordan District.

Please join us as we celebrate the opening of our West Jordan location on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Joel P. Jensen media center.

• West Jordan Family Engagement Center Open House Invitations (English & Expañol)

On Nov. 28, after careful consideration, the Board has reduced the length of the contract requirement following the use of maternity/paternity days.

Retroactive applied to 07/01/2023, an employee using maternity/paternity leave days shall agree in writing to repay compensation at his/her daily rate of pay for maternity/parent leave used or granted if he/she terminates employment with the District for other than medical reasons before completion of the current contract year.  All other provisions listed in the Maternity/Parent Leave Policy still apply.

If you have further questions, please see the updated policy DP380-Maternity/Parent Leave or contact the HR Generalist at rebecca.eastman@jordandistrict.org.

If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave on a Critical Day before or after the MLK recess 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.

*Licensed Only - January 17, 2024 will not be considered a Critical Day for the 2023-2024 school year.

• Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken Before or After a Holiday
• ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken Before or After a Holiday

• Winter Recess
  Traditional and 206 contracts Dec. 22 – Jan. 1
  242 contracts Dec. 25 – Jan. 1
  245 contracts Dec. 25, 26 & Jan. 1
  *Work resumes for all employees on Jan 2, 2024
  (Professional Day, no students - If absent, a leave day is required in Skyward)
• Critical Days
  Licensed Dec. 21 only
  ESP Dec. 21 & Jan. 3

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 for further clarification.

• Payroll Due: Dec. 4
• Direct Deposit Changes by Dec. 8
• View Paycheck: Dec. 20
• Pay Day: Dec. 22

*The Payroll Dept will be closed at the end of Dec. 22- Jan. 1

True Time Deadlines

• Date Range Nov. 6 – Dec. 3
  *True Time should be submitted and approved weekly
• Employee Submittal: Dec. 6
• First Approva: Dec. 8
• Final Approval: Dec. 12

Substitute Deadlines

Safety during the Holiday Season
Holiday decorations add a joyous and festive mood to the holiday season, but when holiday decorations are not used properly they can turn from festive to fiery in a split second.

Jordan School District would like everyone to follow a few safety tips when decorating to avoid a tragic holiday and keep everyone safe.

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

• All decorations must not exceed the fire code requirements for combustible materials in schools, no more than 20% of the hallways and 50% of the classroom can be covered with combustible materials, with no combustible path from the floor to the ceiling. Three-dimensional decorations (crumpled paper trees, ceiling suspended decorations, etc.) should not be permitted within the school.
• Do not place decorations in areas where it will obstruct or hinder persons exiting the area in the event of an emergency.
• Do not use open flame candles, candle warmers, or wax melting devices in JSD buildings.
• Christmas, string, twinkle lights must be used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and should not be plugged in when unattended. The use of LED lights is recommended over incandescent bulbs (due to the lack of heat buildup). The lights should also be UL Listed. Lights are to be used on a temporary basis.
• Inspect all lights, light cords and extension cords before using and replace any frayed or damaged cords and/or worn sets of lights or those with loose connections.
• Live Christmas Trees and Live wreaths are prohibited. Flame resistant artificial Christmas trees and other decorations are allowed but cannot block or impede emergency egress.
• Keep all decorations and displays away from ignition sources such as electrical panels, heating services or anything that may produce an open flame or high heat.
• Maintain an 18” clearance between sprinkler heads and decorations.
• No decorations or lights may be attached or hung across ceilings, from sprinkler heads, sprinkler system piping, smoke detectors or heat detectors. Decorations may be hung on perimeter walls.
• Decorations cannot obstruct access to or visibility of exits, exit signs, fire alarm pull stations, alarm panels or fire extinguishers.
• Decorations must be affixed or mounted in such a way as to prevent damage to doors, ceilings, walls or
  floors.

These are some tips to follow to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

• Holiday Decorations Safety Flyer

As an employee of Jordan School District (JSD), you are entitled to take advantage of federal law which allows employees to improve their retirement benefits by voluntarily participating in their own Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) program. With a TSA, you can set aside a certain amount of tax-deferred money each month toward your retirement.

Utah Retirement Systems (URS)
All employees are able to contribute into a retirement savings plan. If you are a contracted employee, a portion of your state retirement plan with the Utah Retirement Systems (URS) is in the form of a percentage contribution paid by the District into a 401(k) account. Also, all employees can increase their retirement benefit by contributing funds into a URS 401(k) account, a URS 457 plan, as well as a post-tax Roth or Traditional IRA. As an employee of JSD, these services are provided free of charge. URS does not endorse any outside financial advisors. Please beware of any financial advisor claiming to be affiliated with URS, or attempting to provide detailed information about URS. Information and forms regarding the 401(k), 457, Roth and Traditional IRA savings plans are available at www.urs.org.

403(b) Plan
You also have the option to begin a 403(b) plan with one of the various companies offering TSA programs. You may visit JSD’s third party administrator, National Benefit Services (nbs), website at nbsbenefits.com/403b for additional information.

Jordan School District does not endorse nor guarantee the performance of any TSA plan or company. Your participation is strictly voluntary and at your own risk.

We understand employees have been receiving emails, phone calls, and even personal visits to schools from individuals claiming to be associated with JSD or URS. As a reminder, vendors are not to solicit business from individuals during contract time. Furthermore, we strongly encourage employees to contact URS with their questions about URS benefits. The safety and security of our employees and their sensitive information is a paramount concern for Jordan School District (JSD). With an uptick in scams, please remember to be on the lookout and take extra precautions before responding to requests for information.