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Based on policy AA421B, education support professionals may request to take a course to improve their skills or learn new skills that support their work. You are encouraged to review courses through organizations such as  Ed 2 Go/Salt Lake Community College or Fred Pryor Institute Courses and then work with your principal if you find a course that interests you. The ESP Professional Improvement Committee (ESPPIC) will cover the cost of approved courses up to $300. Visit the ESPPIC website for more information and instructions for registering for a course.
The ESP Professional Improvement Committee hopes you'll take advantage of this great opportunity!

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Jordan School District Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The annual crucial policy review is available to District employees in Skyward through "Online Forms."   As a condition of continued employment, all employees, with the exception of minor students, are required to complete the crucial policy review by November 1, 2021.

Employees may access this policy review via their Employee Access in Skyward. If you need assistance in accessing Skyward, please call the help desk at 801-567-USER (8737).

2021-22 Crucial Concerns Annual Policy Review
Jordan School District Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The crucial policy review is available to District employees in Skyward through "Online Forms." As a condition of continued employment, all employees (i.e. Licensed, ESP, Substitutes, Coaches, Miscellaneous adults, etc.), with the exception of minor students, will be required to complete this training. We ask your assistance in notifying your employees of this required training and ask that this training be completed by November 1, 2021.

A message will appear upon login of Skyward Employee Access for the employee to complete an “Online Form.” Employees can complete the steps at that time or can return to the review at another time by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”

Reports of completion will be available through Skyward so you can verify that your staff members have completed this process. A tutorial is attached for your reference. If you or any staff members need technical help, please call the help desk at 801-567-USER (8737).

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Cybersecurity is something we all need to be aware of throughout the year and Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to reflect on everyone’s role regarding internet safety and security. Any employee can be a target, and cybercrime is more common than you might think.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Get to Know Phishing Email Red Flags
Ever get an email that just seemed off? An invitation to click on a link from a stranger or an odd request from a usually trustworthy source? Chances are these are cybercriminals attempting to manipulate, influence or deceive you into taking some action that isn’t in your own best interest or in the best interest of Jordan School District. Watch out for the following:

  • An email coming from an unknown address is a red flag. If you know the sender (or the organization) but the email is unexpected or out of character, it’s a red flag. Also, pay attention to the “Reply-To:” address. If it doesn’t match the “From:” address, that’s a red flag.
  • If you receive an email that you would usually get during normal business hours, but it was sent outside of normal business hours, this is a red flag.
  • Any attachment you receive that you aren’t expecting or doesn’t make sense in relation to the rest of the message is a red flag. Attachments that want to “enable external access” or have you enter in your username and password before opening are red flags.
  • Being asked to take some action to avoid a negative consequence is a favorite trick of hackers. So, if the sender is asking you to click on a link or open an attachment, be on alert—especially if the request is made with a sense of urgency.
  • Look for misspellings in the link — for example, Arnazon instead of Amazon. Anytime you see a link that contains misspellings to make it look like a real link, that’s a red flag. Hover your mouse over the hyperlink. If the link address is for a different website, this is a BIG red flag.

Ransomware
What is ransomware and how can I protect the District from ransomware?

  • Ransomware is a type of malicious software that takes over your computer and prevents you from accessing files until you pay a ransom.
  • Although Information Systems maintains controls to help protect our networks and computers from this type of attack, we also rely on you to be our first line of defense.
  • The most common way ransomware enters corporate networks is through email. Often, scammers will include malicious links or attachments in emails that look harmless. To avoid this trap, here are some simple things you can do:
    • Do not click on links or attachments from senders you do not recognize. Be especially wary of .zip or other compressed or application file types.
    • Do not provide sensitive personal information (like usernames and passwords or student data) if requested in an email.
    • Watch for email senders that use suspicious or misleading web addresses.
    • If you can’t tell if an email is legitimate or not, please share it with your school technician or forward it to security@jordandistrict.org.
    • Be especially cautious when opening attachments or clicking links if you receive an email containing a warning banner indicating that it originated from an external source.

If your computer is infected with ransomware, you will typically be locked out of all programs and a “ransom screen” will appear. In the unfortunate event that you click a link or attachment that you suspect is malware or ransomware, please notify Information Systems immediately.

To contact Information Systems, please speak with your school technician or call the Help Desk at 801-567-8737. Thanks for helping to keep our network and employees safe from potential cyber threats. Please let us know if you have any questions.

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November is Native American Heritage Month.  Our newsletter will include some literacy activities that you can do in honor of this month.  In addition to Thanksgiving we have another important holiday, Veteran’s Day.  This is a great opportunity for elementary teachers to teach about patriotism and love of the country as we take time to honor the Veterans who defend and protect us.  This Veteran’s Day is also the 100th anniversary of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We have a fun lesson activity in the newsletter based off of a brand new picture book about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This month you will find informational texts on Soldiers (1st Grade), Fry Bread (2nd Grade), Arctic Tundra (3rd Grade), Navajo Code Talkers (4th Grade), The Sugar Act (5th Grade), and WW1 Poppies (6th Grade). There is also a list of picture books that you could use to talk about the anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Veteran’s Day, and Native American Heritage Month. Teachers can find a visualization activity, an image analysis activity, and a comparing viewpoints activity that are tied to your literacy standards and a social studies picture book.

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Cyprus Mini-Grant FlyerCyprus Credit Union Mini-Grants are now available for teachers to fund innovative and creative classroom projects that enrich standard curriculum and enhance learning opportunities for students. Funds may also be used to purchase supplemental supplies.

Cyprus will fund up to $250 per teacher/educator. The grants can be combined for use toward a larger grant amount if specified. For example, four teachers can combine and apply for a $1,000 grant for a group project with each teacher submitting a separate application for their $250 allotment. Applications are limited to one $250 grant per teacher for the school year and two applications per school per month, either individually or with a team.

Mini-Grant applications will be accepted from Monday, August 9, 2021 through Thursday, April 15, 2022. Up to eight Mini-Grants will be awarded each month, and all applications must be received prior to the 15th of the month to receive funding the following month.

Restrictions: The following categories are not eligible for funding: Salaries, professional development, honorariums, stipends, and educator travel.

The Mini-Grant program is exclusively available to licensed educators in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Tooele counties.

If you have any questions about the application or funding process, please call the Relationship Development Department at (801) 260-7600, ext. 5951 or ext. 5952

Apply online at the Cyprus Credit Union Educators Mini-Grant Site.

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Oct. 2021 Be Well Newsletter CoverCheck out the Oct. 2021 Be Well newsletter from EMI. Stories include:

  • Wellness Checklist - Why care about wellness? Going well beyond lack of illness, personal wellness is pivotal to protecting your mental health, staying physically sound and maintaining balance in everyday life. Ultimately, wellness can help you build resilience against serious challenges, maximize your personal potential and enjoy your life to the fullest.
  • One-Dish Meals - Saving time in the kitchen — but still getting a nutritious meal on the table — is a goal for many people. One quick solution is to make sheet pan dinners or one-pot meals. The idea is simple: All of the ingredients are conveniently cooked at the same time. It means fewer pots and pans, which leads to less cleanup.
  • Home Office Ergonomics - Ergonomics is the way your body fits and functions in your workspace. Whether you are telecommuting or catching up on work at home, good ergonomics are important for productivity and your health.
  • Helping a Family Member Who’s Depressed - Though it can be distressing to see a family member suffer from depression, there are many ways to help. First, learn about depression to better understand the symptoms and treatment. Surprisingly, some people don’t even recognize that they are depressed. Some feel ashamed or believe that they need to recover through sheer willpower.
  • October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - A reminder to learn how to protect your identity, passwords and other information when you shop, bank, socialize — everything you do online. The internet makes life easier but sometimes unsafe. Learn more about reducing your risk of becoming a cybercrime victim at cisa. gov/cybersecurity.

To receive the monthly Be Well Newsletter via email and check out back issues, please visit the EMI Hope Health Newsletter page.

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Online Anxiety Group FlyerIf you are experiencing Anxiety, Nervousness, Stress, OCD or PTSD, Blomquist Hale has a wonderful program for you! This program is a research based program that involves some class and group work that will give you the tools you need. The therapist that is running the program will also meet with you individually to set up a plan for you. Group members will better understand anxiety in a closed, confidential and structured program. Members will also gain understanding of their own personal target issue, triggers, and coping skills through DBT and CBT techniques. The online Anxiety Group is open to all employees and their family members.

Each week, Group #1 and Group #2 will cover the same information. Participants only need to register for one group, but have access to attend either one that week (whichever is more convenient for their schedule).

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The District website will be down for scheduled maintenance on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 1 - 10 p.m. This maintenance will only affect the main District website. Department and school websites as well as online services such as Skyward will not be effected.

You can go to websites.jordandistrict.org to access most of the features of the website. The full site, including documents and forms, will be available when the maintenance has concluded.

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Oct. 2021 Benefit Education FlyerUtah Retirement Systems is offering one-hour presentations, via video conferencing, regarding retirement for Tier I and Tier II.

After the one-hour presentation, URS representatives will be available to answer questions.

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September-October Elementary Social Studies Toolbox Newsletter
September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month.  Our newsletter will include some literacy activities that you can do in honor of this month.  October is also the 135th anniversary of dedication of the Statue of Liberty.  Many of the Utah State Social Studies Core Standards for the younger grades teach about symbols of the United States.  October would be a great time to teach about the Statue of Liberty.  October is also the 160th anniversary of the transcontinental telegraph.  You could teach students about Samuel F. B. Morse, the invention of the telegraph, and Morse Code.  This topic would be a great time to do some cross curricular activities with social studies, science, and literacy.

This month you will find informational texts on Ellen Ochoa, the first Female Hispanic Astronaut (1st Grade), The Salad Bowl Theory (2nd Grade), The Telegraph (3rd Grade), Paiutes (4th Grade), Samuel F.B. Morse (5th Grade), and the Hammurabi Code(6th Grade). There is also a list of picture books that you could use to talk about the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, the transcontinental telegraph, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Teachers can find a comparing and contrasting activity, a personification activity, and an inference game that are tied to a social studies picture book.

October Elementary Social Studies Toolbox Newsletter

LETRS In-person Sessions
Schedule for LETRS Unit 2 in-person sessions is now available on MIDAS!! Use #60077

Update from USBE
Unit 2 in MIDAS is now available and is ready for enrollment, please use course #60077.    Sections are still being added - this unit will run through December 17th.  When sharing this information with your participants kindly remind them of the following:

  • Unit 1 face-to-face training must be completed prior to attending unit 2.
  • Online work for Unit 2 must be completed prior to attending their face-to-face training.
  • When participants enroll through MIDAS, they must:
    • Search for course ID #60077
    • Complete their registration (Check Out) from their MIDAS Cart
      • Participants must enroll for ONE section only - If a participant chooses to attend on a different date other than the one they originally enrolled in, they must first unenroll from the previous section before enrolling on to another.
      • Once a section has filled up to the max of 40, no additional participants will be allowed.
      • If a participant received an email stating they are Waitlisted, they are not enrolled and must find a different date to attend. No exceptions.
  • Participants must NOT SHARE ZOOM LINKS.  Every participant must be logged in to Zoom from their own laptop.  No sharing screens, or zoom links is allowed.
  • To be awarded USBE credit a participant must be successfully enrolled in MIDAS, being waitlisted does not count.

LETRS Update
Please check the LETRS Information web page often, as this is how we can communicate the most updated information as changes happen. Look through the various tabs. The two that get updated most frequently are the FAQs page and our new newest tab, “Information from USBE”. You’ll also find links to the unit completion form, teacher survey, and more!! Access the page from the Teaching & Learning Home page. 

Most importantly, THANK YOU for the time and effort you are putting into LETRS and the other literacy initiatives this year!! What a positive life-changing difference you can make in the lives of our students!! 

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Q3 Blomquist Hale Newsletter CoverThe Blomquist Hale Newsletter for the 3rd Quarter has arrived.  In this issue, you will find articles on:

  • Get Better Sleep: Can’t put that racing mind to bed? Whether it’s stopping you from quickly falling asleep or staying asleep, there’s no question an unsettled mind can be a major obstacle to slumber. Insomnia can occur in anyone, given the right circumstances. Particularly during periods of stress or anxiety, difficulty falling or staying asleep may manifest.
  • How to Use ‘Scheduled Worry Time’: If you have a major project due at work in two weeks, this may cause you to have increased stress. It may seem insurmountable. Rather than being overwhelmed, break it down into manageable chunks—and then get to work.
  • Stop a Racing Mind: Don’t Stay in Bed, Calm Your Mind and Keep it Positive.
  • Focus on Your Senses: Create a Wind-Down Routine for your senses of Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste and Sound.
  • Falling Asleep Quickly: Tips include - Lower the Temperature, Eat a Healthy Dinner, Focus on Breathing Exercise Daily, Get on a Schedule, No Electronics, Practice Meditation Limit Caffeine, and Avoid Naps Read Something.

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Fall 2021 Course Offerings FlyerLooking for a great class to help you blend technology and learning?  Sign up in JPLS today for a Digital Teaching and Learning Fall Course starting Sept. 27. Learn about Canvas, Nearpod, Google and more. Search DTL in JPLS to see the summer catalog of courses.

  • Nearpod
    • Nearpod Certified Educator
  • Canvas
    • Canvas for Elementary Teachers
    • Canvas for Secondary Teachers
  • Google
    • Google Certified Educator Level 1
    • Google Certified Educator Level 2
  • Tech Tools Cafe
    Explore a variety of tech tips for teachers

    • Especially for Digital Coaches
    • Get ideas for Tech Tuesdays
  • Graphic Design Basics For Secondary
    • Explore basic principles of graphic design
    • Explore tech tools (Spark, Canva, Photoshop/Illustrator)
    • Make classroom and content visually appealing
  • MasteryConnect
    • Mastering MasteryConnect

To register for a course, use the following link or go to JPLS and search for "DTL"

Questions?  Contact Jared Covili at 801-567-8191 or jared.covili@jordandistrict.org

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Utah State University is excited to announce a recent redesign of their Instructional Leadership coursework which allowed them to compact the curriculum and reduce the credit requirements for the M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership and the Administrative/Supervisory Concentration (ASC) Licensure Programs.

If you're interested in learning more, you can find most of your answers on the USU Instructional Leadership website.

You may also email Alison Lavigne at alyson.lavigne@usu.edu.  She would be happy to answer any questions you may have after reviewing the website.  If you decide to apply for the program, the deadline for Spring 2022 is Oct. 29, 2021. The deadline for Summer 2022 is March 4, 2022.

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Dear Teachers,

Thank you for your enthusiastic participation in LETRS training! You are a pleasure to work with!! We look forward, with you, to see your efforts pay off as students reach their full potential in reading.

In order to help us with the tracking of the completion of Units for compensation, we’re asking each participant to fill out a google form (available on LETRS Information web page) for EACH Unit completed.

Completed forms will be submitted at the end of each month for compensation in the following month’s paycheck.

Please reach out to Ronna Hoffman 801-567-8242 or ronna.hoffman@jordandistrict.org with any questions you may have.

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UEN Plan Tool Transition PageGreat news! UEN is updating how we support hosting and sharing lesson plans. The new method uses Open Author on eMedia to provide better flexibility and features such as comments, core alignments and more.  

As we say hello to a fresh new way to manage lesson plans online, we’ll be saying good-bye to the old Lesson Plan tool this November, so please be sure to download any lesson plans and attachments you wish to keep by November 30. Use the following link for detailed instructions.

  • UEN Lesson Plan Tool Transition

If you’d like to add them to the new platform, it’s ready to go right now, with dozens of new lesson plans and a template you can customize with your content. 

Please contact Jared Covili, Digital Teaching and Learning Consultant, with questions at jared.covili@jordandistrict.org

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Dear Employees,

Jordan Years of Service PinsWe recently sent a notice to all schools and departments requesting information regarding individual employee years of service. We are using this information to recognize individuals for their time spent working here, with Jordan School District “Years of Service” Pin Sets.

The pin sets are being given to every employee based on the number of years they have worked for the District.  We are asking employees for their years of service so that we can be as accurate as possible.  Remember to include part-time and full-time years!

Thank you for your assistance as we recognize all of you, our valued employees, for your years of service in JSD. Enjoy your pin sets!

Samples of years of service pins

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2021-22 FOSS Training MenuALL THE TRAININGS BELOW ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SCHOOLS! PLEASE REACH OUTTO ONE OF THE SCIENCE SPECIALISTS TO SCHEDULE A TRAINING!

PLANNING & MATERIALS - This working training will provide participants with guidance on how to navigate a FOSS manual in order to plan a lesson. Guidance and support will be given in pulling supplies for upcoming investigations and insuring teachers are ready to jump into teachingFOSS when the training is complete. (3 hours)

DIGITAL SUPPORTS WITH FOSS IN THE CLASSROOM - Designed for teachers who have not yet delved in to the FOSS digital resources, this training will review all the instructional supports available for both teachers and students. (1 hour)

FOSS & SEED STANDARDS ALIGNMENT - One of the most significant questions about theFOSS curriculum is how it aligns with the Utah SEEdStandards. This training will address that question, as well as review cluster questions from the RISE test and discuss how the FOSS curriculum helps students understand cluster question expectations. (1 hour) 

FOSSMAP ONLINE TESTING - In this training participants will explore the FOSSmap online testing platform. Setting up individual classes, assigning assessments, grading, and navigating the reports will all be included. Teachers will come away with the ability to use FOSSmap for online assessment in the upcoming school year. (1.5 hours)

INTRODUCTION TO FOSS - Offered specifically for teachers new to teaching or new to Jordan School District, this training will review the SEEd Standards, provide background for why the district has chosen FOSS, review a lesson, and explore the resources available. This is the 2020-21 initial FOSS training. (1.5 hours)

USING SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS AND ASSESSMENTS IN K-2 - Ever wonder how K-2 students could navigate a science notebook? Puzzled about what a good lower-grade notebook entry would look like? Come to this training to understand more about how to get K-2 students really doing and recording science. (1 hour)

CUSTOMIZED SCHOOL TRAININGS - The science specialists would be more than happy to tailor ANY training time to best meet the needs of your faculty. They will gladly come to meet with individuals, PLC teams, or entire faculty groups.

SCIENCE SPECIALISTS
RACHAEL COLEMAN - RACHAEL.COLEMAN@JORDANDISTRICT.ORG
LYNN GUTZWILLER - LYNN.GUTZWILLER@JORDANDISTRICT.ORG

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Blomquist Hale has three workshops scheduled for the month of September! See attached for workshop flyers and details outlined below.

  • Topic: Team Building
    Date: Sept. 14
    Date: 12 – 1 p.m. MT
    Location: Online!
    Register at: blomquisthale.com/workshops/
  • Topic: Parenting – Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
    Date: Sept. 14
    Date: 2 – 3 p.m. MT
    Location: Online!
    Register at: blomquisthale.com/workshops/
  • Topic: Parenting – Divorce & Coping With Change
    Date: September 28th
    Date: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. MT
    Location: Online!
    Register at: blomquisthale.com/workshops/