Jordan School District
Join us for a special Kindergarten Night Out where we will focus on ways to make Wit & Wisdom successful in the kindergarten classroom on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the ASB Auditorium, starting at 4:15 p.m.
We will be diving into planning strategies. There will be giveaways and prizes. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please sign up at pd.jordandistrict.org.
Explore topics essential to your financial future from the convenience of your home or office. Come with questions! These interactive presentations will help you maximize URS benefits and retirement planning.
www.urs.org/us/webinars >> See all upcoming and recorded webinars.
Let URS help you understand your benefits and plan a bright future. Whether you're age 20 or 90, whether you have three months or 30 years until retirement... This is for you.
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. All sessions will be from 4 – 5:30 p.m. and held in the media center.
Beginning of the year requirements:
For questions contact Rebecca Lee at rebecca.lee@jordandistrict.org.
Check out the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for October. Learn Tips and Tricks, Sign Up for Upcoming PD, and Learn about Important Updates from the T & L team.
School-Based Associates Opportunity
Jordan School District is excited to announce the School-Based Associates (SBA) program for the 2024-25 school year. For many years, past Associate participants have asked about bringing the powerful learning experiences within Associates back to their colleagues in the classroom. School-Based Associates will now make that desire a possibility!
The mini grant application is a streamlined Google form. Administrators or teachers can initiate this grant. Use the application guide to help you keep things simple. Call Chris Richards-Khong with questions 801-567-8158.
Zoom Link Q & A Drop-in Sessions Available
Information Systems is excited to announce that they will implement Google accounts as a convenient and secure way for users to access Skyward systems. This new method will streamline your login process and enhance the overall security of your Skyward account.
In the Skyward Finance system, logging in with Google will be REQUIRED for all staff with a JSD Google account on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. In the Skyward Student system, logging in with Google will be REQUIRED for all staff with a JSD Google account on Friday, Nov. 1.
Two Easy Methods to Login to Skyward Using Google
Benefits of Using Google for Skyward
If you encounter any issues accessing Skyward with your Google account or have questions, please contact the Information Systems help desk at 801-567-8737.
The 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:
Sightlines - Students function optimally when they can see the interpreter (if they use one) and the speaker in the same line of sight. This saves time and energy from shifting their focus. Especially if the speaker is referencing things visually instead
of orally. This doesn’t mean the student must sit in the front row, just where they have visual access. Please keep this line of vision clear.
Eye Contact - Maintaining eye contact with the class instead of talking while you are turned toward the board, allows students to read lips, see your facial expression, and understand your body language.
Dual-Tasks - DHH students often struggle to complete tasks which require them to rely on their vision for two things
simultaneously, like taking notes while watching captioning, an interpreter, or lip-reading. You can provide accommodations by assigning a note-taker, giving the student a copy of your notes, a copy of the transcript, and/or access to slides.
Direct Communication - Show you value your student as an individual by talking directly to them instead of to the interpreter if they have one.
Closed Captioning - Just a friendly reminder to make sure all videos are accessible by turning on closed captioning or subtitles.
Payroll Due: Oct. 2
view Your Paycheck: Oct.19
Payday: Oct. 23
FALL RECESS:
All Traditional, 206/207 Contracts: Oct. 21 - Oct. 25
All 242, 245 Contracts: Oct. 24 - Oct. 25
CRITICAL DAYS: October 18 & October 29
Applies to all Licensed & ESP Employees
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.
Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences: Oct. 2-3
As per DP335(B) and DP335 NEG: Annual/Personal leave shall not be used during Parent Teacher Conferences.
If Parent Teacher Conference is missed, a leave day (sick or No Pay) should be entered on the Comp Day Oct. 4, 2024.
Secondary Professional Development Day: Oct. 4 - No Students
GRADE TRANSMITTAL DAY: Oct. 28
All 206, 242 & 245 employees must record a leave day if not in attendance
Sub Payroll Deadlines
Pay Period: Sept. 16 - Sept. 30 Due: Oct. 2 Payday: Oct. 10
Pay Period: Oct. 1 - 15 Due: Oct. 16 Payday: Oct. 23
SCHOOLS: Please ensure Subs are verified weekly
True Time Deadlines:
Pay Period: Sept. 2 - Oct.6
EMPLOYEES: Please submit your timesheets at the end of each work week
APPROVERS: Please ensure you are approving time sheets weekly for accuracy
With the beginning of the new school year comes new pay rates along with new deductions. All employees are encouraged to log in to Employee Access and review their salary placement, FTE, insurance premiums, deductions, name and address. This information can all be located under the EMPLOYEE INFORMATION tab.
Checks that are not direct deposit will be held in Payroll for pickup. You can sign up for direct deposit via employee access, here are instructions.
Your actual paycheck is available to view up to two (2) days prior to payday each month in Check History.
If you have questions please contact the following:
Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in October! See attached for the workshop flyers and details outlined below.
To register for any of our upcoming workshops, please visit the BH workshop website at blomquisthale.com/workshops/.
If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Insurance Services at 801-567-8146 or insurance@jordandistrict.org.
The following are new administrative assignments:
Assignments effective October 7, 2024:
If you or your spouse are getting close or already over age 65, this information is very important for you to be aware of. If you plan on signing up for Medicare in the next 12 months, you will need to print and save a copy of this notice. This confirms that our plans are considered creditable compared to a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. What that means to you is that you will not be assessed a penalty for a Medicare Part D (prescription) plan that you elect.
For any employee, you need to be aware of this information once you become Medicare eligible. We are required to test our plans annually. If at any point our plan becomes Non-Creditable, you will need to look at your options to AVOID a lifetime MEDICARE premium penalty.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Insurance Services 801-567-8146 or contact Medicare directly 1-800-633-4227.
CREDITABLE COVERAGE DISCLOSURE NOTICE
Important Notice from Jordan School District About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Jordan School District Health Plan and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.
There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage:
When Can You Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.
What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current Jordan School District coverage will not be affected. If you join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current Jordan School District coverage, be aware that you and your dependents may not be able to get this coverage back.
When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
You should also know that if you drop or lose your current coverage with Jordan School District Health Plan and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.
If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join.
For More Information About This Notice Or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…
Contact the person listed below for further information. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through Jordan School District changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.
For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You’ll get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.
For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).
Tired of SPAM? This new feature will give you greater control over the spam emails you receive.
This summer, we upgraded our email security system to better protect you from malicious emails. We’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of the "End User Digest," which will give you greater control over the spam emails you receive.
You may have noticed some emails with "SPAM?" in the subject line. These emails will no longer appear in your Google inbox; instead, they will be quarantined. Each morning, you’ll receive an “End User Digest” email listing any new quarantined messages.
If you wish to receive a specific email from this list, simply click the “Release” link. To allow future messages from the same sender, select the “Release and Allow Sender” option. If you choose not to act, emails will remain in quarantine for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Information Systems help desk at 801-567-8737.
If you choose the Hybrid Option, you’ll be required to make a member contribution equal to 0.7% of your salary to fund your benefit in 2024-25.
As you weigh your retirement benefit decision, be aware of an upcoming change that affects one of your options.
If you choose the Hybrid Option, the yearly pension contribution rate directly impacts your benefit. If it exceeds a set amount, you’re required to contribute from your paycheck to help fund your retirement benefit.
(Go to www.urs.org/rates to learn more about contribution rates, how they’re determined, and how they impact the Hybrid Option benefit.)
*Effective July 2024, the pension contribution rate will increase into the range to require a member contribution equal to 0.7% of your salary.
This means you’ll have to pay a small amount from your paycheck to fund your benefit if you choose the Hybrid Option.
Your retirement system was designed from the beginning to require a member contribution in the event of rising costs. For perspective, nearly all public employee pension plans throughout the country require employees to contribute.
Questions? Consider These Free Webinars:
Tier 2 Choice Overview - Join us if you have questions about contribution rates or want to better understand your Tier 2 retirement choice.
Member Contributions - How the Tier 2 system is designed to ensure adequate funding and why member contributions will be required.
In addition to daytime performances for students, Ballet West offers "First Look" evening performances for middle and high school students and all educators. Before the public openings of each production, students may attend pre-performance offerings, gaining insights into ballet's inner workings. They accept groups as small as one or two students, teachers attending on their own, or large groups attending together. Parent chaperones are welcome as well. This must be arranged through the teacher of any particular group. The program showcases complete ballets and repertory programs. Ballet West grants students an exclusive view of a performance's final dress rehearsal. A Ballet West education staff member leads pre-presentation discussions and intermission chats. In order to arrange for these performances, teachers need to contact Ballet West on their own, as instructed on the informational flyer (attached).
First Look is a program aimed at Jr. High and High school students. Each year, students are invited to a preview performance of Ballet West’s current show. Students get an inside look at the inner workings of a ballet performance before the show opens to the public, a unique opportunity to sit in on Dress Rehearsals of Ballet West active repertory.
This invitation is extended to Students from Grades 7 and Higher, as well as Teachers from any level of teaching.
First Look features the entire evening of repertory, with a pre-performance discussion led by a member of the Ballet West Education staff. We have the ability to accept groups as small as one or two students, teachers attending on their own or large groups attending together. Parent chaperones are welcome as well. We’re very flexible. This must be arranged through the teacher of any particular group. Please share this opportunity with other faculty members who may be interested in taking advantage of this unique event for their students and themselves.
All Performances are at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theater, 50 West 200 South, SLC, Utah Reserve early - seating is limited. To reserve seats or for questions, please contact us at 801-869-6911 or education@balletwest.org
JEKYLL & HYDE (REQUIRED 18+) - Based on the 19th-century story by Robert Louis Stevenson comes a new, full-length ballet of Jekyll & Hyde. Following the smash success of last year’s Dracula comes the next gripping production exploring the dark side of the human psyche. Come witness the dynamic portrayal of Dr. Jekyll and his evil split personality in this horror classic. Seating limited to Public school Faculty, University Students also invited Oct 24, 2024, Thurs. 6:30
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION - Featuring Alexei Ratmansky’s intimate suite of dances to Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition This provides a unique opportunity to connect across curriculums for dance, music and art. How do we use multiple disciplines of art to inspire and create new and unique perspectives? The notable and recognizable music of Mussorgsky, along with Kandinsky’s “Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles” help to set the backdrop for Ratmansky’s unique and exciting choreography. Nov 7, 2024, Thurs. 6:30
CINDERELLA - In a world where anything is possible, Cinderella comes to life in the hopes of a lowly maid, with the love of a prince and the magic of a wand. Sir Frederick Ashton’s world-renowned production of Cinderella is a lavish and extravagant telling of the classic fairytale, with comedic twists and turns. FEATURING NEW SETS AND COSTUMES, from London’s Royal Ballet, never before seen in Utah. This production is a treat for the entire family. Feb 6, 2025, Thurs. 6:30
FAIRY TALE THEATER: ALADDIN - Join us as the world-famous Ballet West dancers bring one of the most beloved of fairy tales to life through the magic of ballet. This lively and entertaining performance will provide proof that there’s more than one way to help our children understand how and why a classic fairy tale becomes a “classic”. Mar 27, 2025, Thur. 6:00
THE RIGHT OF SPRING - An Evening of Stravinsky! Three incredible ballets in one night: Apollo, Balanchine’s 1928 ballet of a young God coming into his own, the Ballet West premiere of Jiří Kylián’s emotional Symphony of Psalms (Ballet West premiere), which takes us on a spiritual journey with a full chorus of singers and orchestra, and the return of Nicolo Fonte’s popular The Right of Spring a primal exploration of life, death, and rebirth with contemporary choreography. Experience Stravinsky’s extraordinary range of evocative music that breathes life into captivating dance narratives. April 3, 2025, Thur. 6:30 pm.
ELD Leads, please mark your calendar. The information shared in these meetings are encouraged to be shared at your faculty meetings.
The sub code is 7628 for half-day sub only. For additional information or questions, please reach out to your Language Teacher Specialist at lcs.jordandistrict.org/language.
The following are new administrative assignments:
New Assignment effective Sept. 17, 2024:
Megan Daly, administrative intern at Mountain Ridge High, transferred as administrative intern at Copper Canyon Elementary.
New Assignment effective Oct. 28, 2024:
Jacob Rollins, teacher at Copper Hills High, appointed assistant principal at Mountain Ridge High, replacing Megan Daly.
All educators in Utah can receive a Pro Zoom account through Utah Education and Telehealth Network. Pro Zoom accounts help you to work with students and parents online during Parent Conferences or Virtual Learning Days, without time limits for your sessions.
To get a FREE Pro Zoom account please fill out the following Google Form. For additional information or questions please contact Deanna Taylor at dtaylor@jordandistrict.org
PLEASE NOTE: This service is only for employees who are using their JSD medical insurance benefits.
Insurance Services has been working with Blomquist Hale to make your employee benefits package more robust, and the most recent addition is Aiberry.
Aiberry is an AI mental health assessment tool that allows you to quickly check-in and monitor your mental health, anytime, anywhere, with only your cell phone! No boring forms, just Botberry!
In just 1-3 minutes, a Botberry check-in provides personalized wellness insights, tracks your progress, and offers access to extra support if needed.