Jordan School District
Log on to learn about the supplemental services you can use with your multilingual students. Language & Culture Services will have training for teachers grades K-6 on Imagine Learning and 7-12 on National Geographic.
Check out the April 2024 Moreton & Company Health Insights newsletter. Stories include:
Decaffeinating for Sleep - According to a recent SleepFoundation.org survey, 94% of Americans drink ca einated beverages, with 64% consuming them daily–and 56% drinking four or more 8-ounce cups in a 24-hour timespan. The vast majority of those are co ee lovers, with the consumption of soda, tea, and energy drinks trailing behind.
Screenless Sleep - The personal electronic devices that help make your daily life easier may be making your nightly rest harder. If you’re having a hard time falling and staying asleep, devices like your cellphone, TV and tablet may be to blame. Researchers at Harvard identifed three main ways that using your phone, or any electronic device, before going to bed can derail your sleep schedule.
Lowering Your Risk of Depression - A recent international study published in the Nature Mental Health journal found that certain lifestyle factors can reduce the risk of depression by 57%. This study, which examined data from nearly 290,000 people over a nine-year period, found that there are seven lifestyle factors associated with a lower risk of depression, and sleep was at the top of the list.
Lights Out Challenge - This month’s challenge invites you to go to bed at the same time for 4 days each week in the month of April. Being consistent with your sleep schedule will reset your body’s internal clock, allowing you to fall asleep easier and have more deep, restful sleep. You might even consider tracking your sleeping habits and setting goals to improve them. Throughout this challenge, you will be given some different ideas to improve sleep. Try them out, find what works for you, and establish a regular sleeping routine.
The LOG/TIMESHEET must be turned in to the school no later than April 5, 2024 so that amounts may be paid in the May 2024 paycheck. Payroll will take the information for payment from the Google Sheet.
Please make sure to total the hours listed on the Log/Timesheet and put this number on the Google Sheet. Double check to make sure ALL employees to be paid are listed and that their hours worked are correct. If you have questions please reach out to Nadine Page at x88182 or nadine.page@jordandistrict.org.
Below you will find the original documents sent out at the beginning of the school year with all the guidelines.
Dates were revised to have Log/Timesheets due on April 1 in order to provide payment on the May payroll.
The final PD of the year is on April 11, 2024, at the JATC South from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Prof. Dusty Jensen from USU will present on understanding the culture and needs of our Native American students.
All licensed employees will receive 2 hours of in-service pay and licensure points. The administrators are encouraged to attend.
Check out the latest HR Connections newsletter from Human Relations. The full newsletter can be found at the link below. Stories include:
A proposed USBE rule change would have required the District to count the Health & Wellness Day as a teacher professional development day. The 2024-25 calendar was created and approved with this rule change in mind. The rule change was ultimately not passed, which allows the District to continue to count the Health & Wellness Day as a virtual instruction day AND frees up an allowed teacher professional development day to be used elsewhere in the year.
To reduce the impact on students and employees, the following change was approved by the Jordan Board of Education:
This change allows for an additional teacher professional day for teachers while also creating more consistent days off for students and families.
Updated calendars can be accessed at the link below.
We are excited to share our ML Memo with you. In this newsletter, we have important dates, ML parent nights along with SIOP and ELLevation tips and resources. We hope that as you continue to support students you will gain insight in our cultural corner about Ramadan and celebrate our teacher spotlight.
The full newsletter can be found at the link below. Stories include:
Health & Wellness is hosting a parent event on April 10 at Riverton High School. This conference-style event aims to bring together professionals and education experts in the field of mental health and well-being to share their knowledge, insights, and research with parents in our JSD communities. This event aims to help parents to be best equipped to support their children with well-being.
We will offer resource booths near the entrance of the school from 5:30 - 6 p.m. and throughout transition time for parents to gain insight and information on helpful resources.
We will offer three 30-minutes sessions between 6 - 8 p.m. to maximize learning for parent participants. Some sessions will repeat more than once.
Topics will include best practices, research insights, or information that would be useful to parents of school-aged children. Including mental health issues in the schools and associated issues (bullying, stress, perfectionism, social pressures, etc.), risk, prevention, grief, resilience and ways in which parents can help support their students.
Please share the attached flyer and encourage parents in your communities to attend!
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 p.m. 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!
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.
Each year, principals are recognized by the Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals (JAESP). We congratulate these principals for their excellence in school leadership.
Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in March! See attached for workshop flyers and details outlined below.
To register for any of our upcoming workshops, please visit our website at blomquisthale.com/workshops.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |