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If you were an employee that had ordered and paid for glasses or contacts through Standard Optical using your Opticare of Utah policy and never received your order, the State of Utah has stepped in and will be assisting with the liquidation process.

Attached are the instructions on how to file a claim along with the claim form.  This must be completed and received no later than March 31, 2025 at 5:00pm.  We want to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Please feel free to contact Insurance Services if you need further assistance or have any questions please call 801-567-8146 or email insurance@jordandistrict.org.

Thank you.

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Jan. 2025 Health Insights NewsletterWhat’s in Your Drink?
Many people enjoy energy drinks for that quick boost of energy they provide. However, these drinks can have negative impacts on your health and heart. Energy drinks are very easy to get, and many people drink them without thinking about the effect on their health.

With the rise in popularity of these drinks, you should take a moment to learn about the potential heart risks involved. This is especially true for people with heart problems or high blood pressure.

For questions about this article, please contact the Population Health team at wellness@moreton.com. If you have any other questions, please contact Jordan Insurance Services at 801-567-8146 or insurance@jordandistrict.org.

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Jan. 2025 Incidental Learning NewsletterThe JSD Teachers for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Team has created a monthly newsletter.  The full newsletter for this month can be found at the link below. Stories include:

Building Community - Making friends is hard! Add a communication barrier, and it compounds the difficulty. Things you can do: Choose agreeable and patient partners. Give an extra measure of time for group work. Provide communication tools like a fingerspelling chart. Allow the interpreter to explain their role for interpreting among peers. Hold the DHH student accountable for their portion of the work. Encourage play vs isolation. Keep groups small, the interpreter isn’t part of the group. Explicitly teach the skills for clear communication.

Tips for Clear Communication - Always face the student you are addressing; Make sure you have the student’s attention before you start speaking; Do not speak too loudly or exaggerate lip movements for the student who is lip-reading; Repeat or rephrase the message if the student seems confused; Write down the message you are trying to communicate; Act out the message or use visual cues or symbols; Do not become frustrated, aggravated, or say “never mind” when communication is difficult; Look for activities where less talk is required, such as sports, puzzles, computers, or board games.

Closed Captioning - Just a friendly reminder to make sure all videos are accessible by turning on closed captioning or subtitles.

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The First 100 Years BooksUPDATE: Book requests are now closed.

District employees can request a free copy of the book, "The First 100 Years: A History of Jordan School District," written by former Bingham High School history and political science teacher Scott Crump. The book profiles the history of Jordan School District from its inception in 1905 to the District's centennial in 2005.

To request a copy, fill out the form below. The Office of Communications will send the books through District mail to any current JSD employee free of charge.  There are about 200 copies available.

 

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Dear Employees,

This holiday season, members of the Jordan Board of Education would like to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one of you. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for education have been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless students within our district. Your impact will be felt for years to come.

We are filled with gratitude for your resilience and commitment to education. Your work truly is the foundation for the success of students. Whether you are a teacher inspiring young minds, an education support professional keeping our schools clean and running smoothly, a bus driver transporting students, a Nutrition Services worker in our cafeterias providing nutritious meals, or an administrator leading with vision, your efforts make a difference every single day. We are immensely grateful for all of your contributions.

May the holiday season bring you peace, happiness, joy, and some much needed rest. Thank you for all you do. We look forward to another wonderful year ahead.

Happy Holidays!

Jordan Board of Education
Tracy J. Miller, President
Niki George, First Vice President
Darrell Robinson, Second Vice President
Brian W. Barnett, Member
Lisa Dean, Member
Bryce Dunford, Member
Marilyn Richards, Member

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Jan. 2025 Important Payroll InformationSchool Holidays

Winter Recess/New Year’s Day:
242 & 245 day employees:  return to work Jan. 2
All other employees:  return to work Jan. 6

Critical Day:
Jan. 6 - All Licensed & ESP

Martin Luther King Jr: January 20
Critical Days: Jan. 17 & 22 - All Licensed & ESP

As per DP335(B) and DP335 NEG: Licensed & ESP employees who have not been approved by Human Resources for using an annual/personal day on Critical Days may be docked (licensed $161 or ESP 40% of their daily rate) unless the leave reason is listed as an exception in policy. If applicable, the reason & the policy exception must be written in the time off description box. View the Critical Days FAQ here.

Grade Transmittal Day: January 21
All 206, 242 & 245 employees must record a leave day if not in attendance.

Sub Payroll Deadlines
Pay Period: 12/16-12/20
Due: 12/20
Payday: 1/10
Pay Period: 1/6-1/15
Due: 1/16
Payday: 1/24

SCHOOLS: Please ensure Subs are verified weekly

True Time Deadlines:
Pay Period: 12/2/24-1/5/25

EMPLOYEES: Please submit your timesheets at the end of each work week
APPROVERS: Please ensure you are approving time sheets weekly for accuracy

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Q4 2024 Blomquist Hale NewsletterThe Blomquist Hale Newsletter for the quarter has arrived. In this issue, you will find articles on:

Suicide Prevention: Why Talking About “It” Is Essential - Suicide touches all of us. Most of us have known or loved at least one person who took their life or who lives in the aftermath of losing a friend or family member to suicide. However, most of us feel very uncomfortable talking to someone about whether they are having thoughts about harming themselves.

Understanding Suicide - People who experience suicidal thoughts often don’t want to die but desperately want to escape unbearable suffering. A suicidal person can’t see any way out of their excruciating pain except through death. Despite their desire for the pain to stop, they are deeply conflicted about the act of suicide and wish there was an alternative. Most people who die by suicide talk about ending their lives prior to taking action. Thus, any mention of suicidal thoughts or plans should be taken seriously. Studies also show that hopelessness is a strong predictor of suicide. People who feel hopeless talk of unbearable feelings, a bleak future and having nothing to look forward to.

Help is Available - There is Hope! - Dial or text “988” for a 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Three-digit, nationwide phone number will connect you directly to the prevention and crisis lifeline. For more information, please visit: www.988lifeline.org.

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The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective January 2, 2025:

  • Odette Desmarais, principal at Westvale Elementary appointed elementary school level Administrator of Schools.
  • Angela Solum, assistant principal at Heartland Elementary appointed principal at Westvale Elementary.
  • Rachelle Smith, administrative intern at Joel P. Jensen Middle and South Hills Middle transferred as full-time administrative intern to Heartland Elementary.
  • Meredith Doleac, principal at Ridge View Elementary appointed elementary school level Administrator of Schools.
  • Molly Morgan, assistant principal at Elk Meadows Elementary appointed principal at Ridge View Elementary.
  • Stacie Thompson, administrative intern at Hidden Valley Middle and Sunset Ridge Middle transferred as full-time administrative intern at Elk Meadows Elementary.
  • Jarom Airhart, assistant principal at Midas Creek Elementary transferred as assistant principal at South Hills Middle and Sunset Ridge Middle.
  • Ami Anderson, teacher specialist in Teaching & Learning appointed assistant principal at Midas Creek Elementary.

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K-5 Open Up Math Learning Series flyerWe have adopted Open Up Resources K-5 Math as our new math curriculum for the 2025-26 school year.

We are kicking off our new K-5 math adoption of Open Up K-5 Resources with a district-wide Professional Development series. All K-5 and special education teachers will engage in 2 full professional learning days with an optional planning day.

Teachers will receive TWO comprehensive professional learning sessions, delving into effective routines, math practices, and student discourse on Day One and focusing on scaffolding, engagement, and rigor on Day Two. These sessions offer evidence-based strategies to enrich your student-centered learning environment and refine lesson structures.

Additionally, there is an opportunity to sign up for an optional 3rd full day of team-based planning to integrate your new insights into the curriculum, ensuring a dynamic and inclusive classroom experience.

See the flyer below for more detailed information with a link at the bottom to sign up for training.

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Dec. 2024 JPAS NewsletterHuman Resources has created a monthly JPAS Evaluation newsletter. The full newsletter for this month can be found at the link below. Stories include:

Due Date - First full evaluation cycle for provisional and probationary educators. Dec. 20, 2024

Lesson Objective - A lesson objective is a specific, measurable statement outlining what students are expected to learn and demonstrate by the end of a lesson. It guides instruction and assessment, ensuring alignment with broader educational goals.

Sample Lesson Objectives - Science: students will be able to explain the process of photosynthesis, including the roles of
Sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, and illustrate this process through a labeled diagram. Language Arts: students will be able to identify and analyze the main theme of a short story, Providing evidence from the text to support their interpretation.
Math: students will be able to solve multi-step word problems involving addition and Subtraction of fractions, demonstrating their understanding through written explanations and diagrams.

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Money IconThe District Office will be closing for Winter Recess at the end of the day on Monday, Dec. 23 and will not return until Thursday, Jan. 2. To avoid any delays in receiving your paycheck during this break, the Payroll Department is making the following recommendations:

  1. If you need to close your bank account, please call Payroll immediately.
  2. Paychecks are available for viewing in Employee Access on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Please review your paycheck and contact Payroll immediately with any questions or concerns at 801-567-8154 or email payroll@jordandistrict.org.  Instructions are attached on how to view your paycheck. If you need help logging into your Employee Access, please call the help desk at 801-567-8737.
  3. If you are a True Time employee, instructions are attached on how to view your True Time to make certain it has been approved and processed by Payroll.
  4. Payday is on Dec. 20, 2024.

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Fall 2024 Work Based Learning NewsletterWhat's happening in Work Based Learning? On Oct. 1 & 2 we welcomed over 4,500 7th Grade Students to the Bastian Agricultural Center in South Jordan to learn about agriculture careers. Students watched sheep being shorn, learned about different types of tractors, and tasted fresh produce. Special thanks to our incredible FFA students. Read on to check it out!  Here's what's inside:

  • New to our Team
  • Elementary Career Lessons
  • YouScience
  • Safety Tips & Tricks
  • Internships
  • WBL Events
  • Social Media Links

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Registration for the 2024 EdTech Cohort is now open. The new cohort courses will begin January, 2025.

To register for our new cohort, use the link below.

Jordan District provides the Educational Technology Endorsement Program (ETEP) in partnership with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), Utah Education Network (UEN), and Southern Utah University (SUU).

It is a 1.5-year program that focuses on the following goals:

  • Enhance teacher instructional practices by using technology seamlessly in classrooms
  • Emphasize project-based learning, constructivist approaches, and student-centered classrooms
  • Enrich instructional effectiveness
  • Increase student academic achievement

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BYOB Bingo CardThe Health and Wellness Team invites employees to Build Your Own Wellness Bingo (BYOB) Card, designed to enhance your well-being over Winter Break. We will guide you through possible ideas that address different aspects of our wellness on our Instagram (@jordanhealthandwellness) during the first week of December. Print off the template and follow along.

Be sure to enter your Winter Break BYOB Card for a chance to win a prize!

We wish you a healthy holiday season and a hopeful New Year!

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Teaching and Learning - Dec. 2024 NewsletterCheck out 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.

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Dec. 2024 DHH NewsletterThe JSD Teachers for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Team has created a monthly newsletter.  The full newsletter for this month can be found at the link below. Stories include:

Ambient Noise - You just heard the classroom door close. As a hearing person, you glean information from this. You learn that someone just entered or exited the room. Maybe this means it’s okay to use the restroom… or someone is going home sick… or a service provider has taken a student out of class… What information would you be missing if you never heard this noise?

You hear students whispering in the corner of the room. Perhaps they are telling a joke… maybe sharing answers on the quiz… maybe they are poking fun at someone… What information is being missed if you don’t have access to this conversation?

Incidental Learning - Incidental learning happens any time a student gleans information beyond the learning outcome. Because DHH students don’t overhear conversations, they miss out on a lot of incidental learning. Thus, it is vital that no question be considered inappropriate. You may be the only exposure the student has had to this information.

Closed Captioning - Just a friendly reminder to make sure all videos are accessible by turning on closed captioning or subtitles.

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Each year, the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals (UAESP) gives the Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals (JAESP) the opportunity to celebrate elementary principals for the great work they are doing in their schools. The categories are:

  • Distinguished Principal of the Year
  • Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Innovator of the Year
  • Community Leader of the Year
  • Student Advocate Principal of the Year
  • Instructional Leader of the Year
  • Principal Mentor of the Year

If you feel that an elementary principal or assistant principal has done exceptional work, we invite you to nominate them for an award by clicking on the link below.

This survey closes on Dec. 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

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Save the Date! - Show Up for Teachers ConferenceFirst Lady Abby Cox and the Ivory Foundation are dedicated to supporting and advocating for Utah's educators throughout the year. The pinnacle of their efforts is the annual Show Up for Teachers Conference, where teachers come together to empower and celebrate the education community.

The 4th Annual conference, focused on educator mental health and well-being, will be held on July 10, 2025 at the Mountain America Expo Center.

Full-time educators throughout Utah are invited to register beginning on March 3, 2025.

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A Note from Utah First Lady Abby CoxDear Teacher Friends,

Thank you for your incredible dedication in the classroom, our community, and your homes. I deeply appreciate your efforts in every aspect of your lives – not only for your students, but for everyone in your sphere of influence. As the busy holiday season approaches, I hope you find joy and support in your connections with colleagues, family, and friends.

My teacher training has given me a glimpse into the challenges you face daily, and I'm committed to providing you with the support and resources you need to thrive. My goal is to empower you, ignite your resilience, and positively transform the narrative surrounding the teaching profession.

As we look ahead to the 2025 legislative session, I encourage you to reach out to your local legislators and build relationships with them. Share your personal stories, classroom successes, and ideas for how they can support you. By collectively sharing the positive impact educators have on our state, we can forge strong alliances with policymakers and community leaders.

Wishing you a joyful and rejuvenating Thanksgiving season.

Warmly,
Abby Cox