Jordan School District
Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in February. See attached for the workshop flyers and details outlined below.
To register for any of our upcoming workshops, please visit our website at blomquisthale.com/workshops/.
Throughout February we will highlight some of our dedicated Jordan School District CTE educators, CTSO’s, local industry leaders, and share some of our amazing CTE student stories.
Follow along as Jordan CTE celebrates CTE Month 2025.
Sponsored by the Utah State Board of Education and the Utah Association for Career and Technical Education.
Beginning with the 2025 summative assessments, RISE ELA and math question items will be presented to students in a cluster format, similar to the RISE Science assessment. Cluster questions will appear in summative assessments for all grade levels in both content areas. Beginning Feb. 18, cluster questions will also be available on the RISE Benchmarks for both ELA and math.
For RISE ELA, students will be presented with reading passages and will be required to answer several sections or clusters of questions that are both related to the passages and to each other. For example, a student will be asked to identify a main idea from the story in one question. Then another question will ask students to select sentences from the passage that support their answer to the first question. In addition, students will be presented with a variety of question types, including multiple choice, multi-selection, sentence selections, drop-down menus, tables, timelines, etc.
Similarly for RISE math, students will be presented with a math task accompanied by several sections or clusters of questions. Question items may be multiple choice, multi-select, drop-down menus, inputting numbers or equations, drag and drop, graphing/plotting, etc.
For a sample of how question items will work, please refer to the Training Tests on the RISE Portal. Please see these step-by-step instructions for accessing the Training Tests.
Teachers are strongly encouraged to set apart some instructional time to allow students to practice this new question format by using the Training Tests in the RISE Portal. Teachers are also encouraged to administer the RISE Benchmarks to students. There are several benefits to administering the RISE Benchmarks, besides just practicing how to use the testing platform:
For questions about the RISE assessment, please contact Ben Jameson or Kassidy Towery in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
The Utah Aspire Plus testing window is from March 3 - May 9, 2025. Each school determines their own testing schedule within this window.
As testing is nearly underway, please make sure you complete the yearly Utah Aspire Plus test administration training. Only teachers who will administer the Utah Aspire Plus test need to be trained. For your reference, here is a link to the Testing Ethics Policy.
Your school is responsible for making sure you get trained in the Utah Aspire Plus test administration. Should your school administrators choose to hold a training at your school, this fulfills the training requirement. There are two other training options available:
Utah Aspire Plus Canvas Course
The Utah Aspire Plus test administration training requirement can be fulfilled by completing the Canvas course online. All teachers in grades 9-10 have been added to the course, should you choose this method. (If you did not receive the course invitation and are involved in this test administration, you can self-enroll in the course by clicking the link above.) If you received a course invitation and you are not involved in testing, please disregard.
Zoom Utah Aspire Plus Training
Teachers can attend one of the virtual Utah Aspire Plus trainings through Zoom to fulfill the training requirement.
Here is the Zoom link for these trainings:
uetn-org.zoom.us/j/5266134800
Meeting ID: 526 613 4800
Please check with your school administrators to see which training they would like you to complete.
For questions about Utah Aspire Plus testing or training, please contact Kassidy Towery in Assessment, Research & Accountability at kassidy.towery@jordandistrict.org.
The RISE summative testing window this year is from April 7 - May 30, 2025. RISE passwords get reset each year, so please be sure to log in and reset your password for this year at utahrise.org.
As testing is getting closer, please make sure you complete the yearly RISE test administration training. Many teachers only use the RISE systems once a year, so yearly training on how it all works is needed. Only teachers who will administer the RISE test need to be trained. For your reference, here is a link to the Testing Ethics Policy.
Your school is responsible for making sure you get trained in RISE test administration. Should your school administrators choose to hold a training at your school, this fulfills the training requirement.
RISE Canvas Course
The RISE test administration training requirement can be fulfilled by completing the Canvas course online. You can self-enroll in the course by using the link above.
Zoom RISE Training
Teachers can attend one of the Zoom RISE trainings to fulfill the training requirement.
Here is the Zoom link for these trainings:
uetn-org.zoom.us/j/5266134800
Meeting ID: 526 613 4800
Please check with your school administrators to see which training they would like you to complete.
For questions about RISE testing or training, please contact Kassidy Towery in Assessment, Research & Accountability at kassidy.towery@jordandistrict.org.
NEW License Renewal Instructions for All Jordan School District Educators
This document outlines the steps necessary to renew an educator license with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) in order to maintain employment with the Jordan School District. If your current educator license is set to expire on June 30, 2025. Please review the following instructions carefully to ensure a seamless renewal process.
Basic Steps for License Renewal For Educators with 5+ Years of Experience
Educators holding a Professional Educator License with experience in a Utah public school district or charter for the past five years will find the renewal process streamlined. You are not required to complete the license renewal form or obtain an administrator’s signature. However, you must complete the following:
Basic Steps for License Renewal For Educators with Less Than 5 Years of Experience
If you have not worked for all of the previous five years, you must follow the additional steps below:
Important Notes
Should you have questions please contact Human Resources at 801-567-8150 or hr@jordandistrict.org.
We are very excited to announce the fourth annual Health and Wellness Day Friday, February 7, for employees and students. Students will not attend school in person on this day, which will allow employees to focus on their own Health and Wellness.
You can review all the Health & Wellness Day information at wellnessday.jordandistrict.org.
Signup for events will begin on Thursday, January 30, at 6 p.m.
What is Wellness Day?
An opportunity for JSD employees to prioritize their personal wellness by being:
The District will again be providing a Health and Wellness curriculum directly to parents and students so employees can take the day to focus on their own Health and Wellness. For information on this curriculum, visit wellness.jordandistrict.org/resources.
As an employee, you can choose to participate in Health and Wellness Day in a number of ways.
The Health and Wellness Day is for every employee. The Board has allocated funds for each school and department to provide a breakfast or lunch for employees sometime between January 31 and February 6.
In addition, Between Friday, February 7 and Thursday, February 13, we have arranged with SWIG for each employee to receive ONE free menu item when you show up, IN-PERSON, displaying your personal District ID badge at any participating SWIG location in Jordan District boundaries.
***SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS may obtain a temporary ID badge for Health & Wellness Day offers from a District receptionist at the District Office (7387 S. Campus View Drive, West Jordan) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication.
Enjoy Health and Wellness Day 2025!
Thank you for everything you are doing to make each student feel welcome and valued. Jordan School District is committed to providing a supportive and safe environment for every child.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding the recently-announced changes in U.S. Department of Homeland Security immigration procedures, please contact your school principal. Additionally, if you are experiencing any issues regarding a student’s education, including concerns over attendance, please reach out to your principal. District staff members are providing support to school administrators as they work with individual families to address questions and concerns.
With the changes to the literacy core this past year, it has been necessary for USBE to update the benchmark and RISE assessments, including RISE Writing. In order for the scoring engine to be trained, each new writing prompt requires 5,000 student responses. Teachers and students in Jordan District are invited to test the prompts and get a sneak peek into the benchmark that may be used in the future. If you choose to participate, the benchmark prompts will be available on the RISE portal from February 18-June 6, 2025. Here’s what you need to know:
If you are interested, please complete the survey to participate in the Writing Benchmark Field Test.
Join us for a special Wit & Wisdom workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 4:15 - 6:15 p.m., where we will be diving into multilingual resources to identify supports and scaffolds for ML learners and other striving students. Teachers will have time to collaborate and plan.
Language and Culture Services will be joining the literacy team to help answer questions and provide support for this special workshop that you will not want to miss!
JAESP is proud to announce our 2025 Award Winners to the following, and all-around amazing, elementary administrators!
Congratulations! Members of the JAESP Committee were impressed by this year's nominees and want to thank each of them for their hard work, dedication, determination, empathy, and their skill. Additionally, we would like to thank each person that took the time to submit nominations.
Payroll Due: Feb. 4
view Your Paycheck: Feb. 21
Payday: Feb. 25
Health & Wellness Virtual Day - Feb. 7
All employees must record a leave day if absent
School Holidays
Washington & Lincoln Day Recess - Feb. 17
Critical Days - Feb. 14 & 18
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.
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Elementary - Feb. 19 & 20 | Teacher Comp Day - Feb. 21
Middle & High - Feb.12 & 13 | Teacher Comp Day - Feb. 14
As Per 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.
Sub Payroll Deadlines
Pay Period: Jan. 16 - 31
Due: Feb. 3
Payday: Feb. 10
Pay Period: Feb. 3 - 14 Due: Feb. 14
Payday: Feb. 25
SCHOOLS: Please ensure Subs are verified weekly
True Time Deadlines:
Pay Period: Jan. 6 - Feb. 2
EMPLOYEES: Please submit your timesheets at the end of each work week
APPROVERS: Please ensure you are approving time sheets weekly for accuracy
Donate Blood on Wellness Day!
This year we are going to be holding a blood draw with ARUP. This will be happening at Mountain Ridge High School from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Come be someone's hero and you will be entered in a drawing for several $20 Amazon gift cards. If you have any questions about if you qualify as a blood donor, email robert.fox@aruplab.com or call 801-584-5272.
If you work for the district and are under the age of 18, please click on the link to the Parent/Guardian Consent form
The FDA has made several recent changes that may allow people that were previously deferred to now be eligible to donate blood. Help us make our blood drive a huge success!!
We are looking for teachers in secondary math, health/PE, and computer science to create modified canvas courses for our Language Learners. Stipends available. The teacher must be ESL endorsed. Please see the flyer and info below for more details.
Requirements
Responsibilities
Divide existing content into 4 quarters. Ensure all existing links work. Add scaffolds, strategies, and/or modifications, as needed, to existing (already created) Canvas assignments:
Create/modify assessments for each quarter
Answer Keys for each assignment and assessment.
To Apply
Direct questions or inquiries to letitia.vigil@jordandistrict.org
In this LCS newsletter, want to remind you of cultural celebrations happening this winter and have information on:
Special Education is excited to announce an in-person, Special Education Transition Fair for 2025. There will be over twenty community resources attending to help answer any post-secondary questions for our students and families.
The Transition Fair will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 from 4 - 7 p.m. at South Jordan Middle School. For questions please contact Ashley Calhoun at 801-567-8208 or ashley.calhoun@jordandistrict.org
Please make sure to send the fliers out to your community.
URS is holding one -on-one sessions on Feb. 5 in the Payroll Conference Room at the District Office. Employees may schedule an appointment starting on Jan. 29. To reserve a session, Log in to myURS at www.urs.org and Click "Education" in the top-right corner of the myURS homepage. Next, click "Individual Retirement Planning Sessions"from the menu at left.
Also on Feb. 5, from 12 - 1 p.m., URS will hold a lunch meeting in the Payroll Conference Room for any employees that would like to attend. They will be discussing Tier 1 & 2 Pension Systems Plus URS Savings Plans.
Explore Adobe, Canvas, Google, Nearpod, and Canva, Mastery Connect, and SchoolAI with the DTL team. Register to participate at pd.jordandistrict.org. Search for DTL.
Classes begin on Feb. 3, 2025. Contact Jared Covili, jared.covili@jordandistrict.org, with any questions.
Digital Learning in 2024-25
Step 1 - Complete a Technology Course through JSD
Digital Teaching and Learning appreciates your interest in our digital learning program during the 24-25' school year. Our program includes stipends as you complete three steps in working with technology in your classroom. As you complete each step, in order, you will receive that stipend. You should have applied for one of our district technology courses duringJanuary. These classes use a flex model - with elements both synchronous and asynchronous to complete the course. You must complete all assignments and submit them in Canvas to qualify for the stipend ($200). You can receive one set of stipends per session, so only sign up for one course at a time.
Step 2 - Work with your Digital Learning Specialist to develop and teach a tech-enhanced lesson
After completing your technology course, connect with your Digital LearningSpecialist to develop a tech-enhanced lesson using an activity with the digital tool from your course. These lessons should be reviewed by the specialist and submitted in Canvas along with a reflection about your teaching experience ($350).
Step 3 - Teach your peers in a Tech PD Training
The final step in your technology journey involves teaching your colleagues in aPD in-service. Share your technology knowledge by leading a Tech Training in your building about the skill (s) you developed this year. Work with yourDigital/Instructional Coach to coordinate your presentation and submit your assignment/reflection in Canvas ($250).
View your financial future through an informed lens. Learn more about free URS seminars and see location and registration details at www.urs.org/us/seminars.
Early to Mid-Career Seminars - In-Person
July 30 | 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Murray City Hall | 10 East 4800 South, Murray
Early to Mid-Career Seminars - Virtual
October 10 | 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Pre-Retirement Seminars - In-Person
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
May 30 | Orem City Center | 56 North State St., Orem
June 5 | Canyon View High School | 166 West 1925 North, Cedar City
June 13 | Tooele City Hall | 90 North Main St., Tooele
June 20 |West Field High School | 2007 South 4300 West, Ogden
June 25 | Granite Education Center | 2500 South State St., South Salt Lake
June 27 | Wasatch High School | 930 South 500 East, Heber City
July 11 | Cache County School District Office | 84 East 2400 North, Logan
July 18 | Davis County Admin Bldg | 61 S Main St., Farmington
July 31 | Richfield High School | 495 W Center St., Richfield
Sept. 12 | Murray City Hall | 10 East 4800 South, Murray
Retiree Seminars - In-Person
Sept. 26 | 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Granite Education Center | 2500 South State St.
Retiree Seminars - Virtual
Nov. 7 | 8:30 -11:30 a.m.
If you or a family member are getting close to retirement come learn about Medicare and Social Security. These are very complex subjects so come get your questions answered by the experts. These are not sales presentations so you won't feel any pressure.
If you have any questions, please contact Insurance Services at 801-567-8146.