Jordan Employee Memos

LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling)
In an effort to help everyone be aware of everything they need to know about LETRS, we have added a page on the Teaching & Learning site that is dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on all things LETRS. If there are things you’d appreciate being added to the page, please reach out to Ronna Hoffman at 88242 or ronna.hoffman@jordandistrict.org. This page is intended to be a helpful resource. Check it out!!!

• LETRS Information

Kindergarten Night Out
Kindergarten Night Out will be held on Sept. 8 from 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. in the ASB auditorium.  Please invite all kindergarten teachers to attend.  We will be learning some tips and tricks to use in Walk to Read for students who are above level.  This is a time to collaborate and get some freebies for the classroom.

HD Word Plus Weekly Road Map
There is a new curriculum planning tool available for third-grade teachers who are using HD Word Plus called the HD Word Plus Weekly Road Map.  This map will help guide teachers through the resources available in HD Word Plus and it serves as a helpful day-to-day planning guide.  This resource will continue to be developed throughout this school year.

• HD Word Plus Weekly Road Map

Literacy Q&A
The literacy department is hosting a weekly literacy Q&A every Thursday in September from 3:30-4:30.  An updated link to this meeting is included. Please share this information with your teachers and coaches and feel free to join us if you have any literacy questions. Please be sure to use the link below to access the meetings.

• Literacy Q & A

Literacy Launch Session
Another make up session of the Literacy Launch has been added for anyone who still needs to attend the training.  The new dates are September 27th and 29th and these dates are now available in JPLS.

Heggerty and MSRC Training
Two additional dates for Heggerty and MSRC training have been scheduled for September 7th and 14th for anyone still needing this training.  The classes are available for sign up on JPLS.

Really Great Reading
We are expecting the additional Really Great Reading teacher manuals and student workbooks to arrive this Friday, September 3rd by 7:00 pm.  They will be sent out to schools next week as long as they arrive on time.  The student workboards are still on backorder.

Phonics Decodable Readers
Each school should have received or should be receiving shortly, a shipment of phonics decodable readers from High Noon Books/Academic Therapies Publications. These were mentioned during Literacy Launch training.  These books are perfect for upper-grade students who are working on building decoding skills.  These books should be stored in a central location where all teachers can have access to them.  The set of books will include 8 different series with a total of 86 books.  The series are listed below:

• • Magic Belt Series (12 books)
  • Alba Series (12 books)
  • Totem Series (12 books)
  • Talisman Series One (10 books)
  • Rescue Series (10 books)
  • Titan's Gauntlets Series (10 books)
  • Talisman Series Two (10 books)
  • Amber Guardians Series (10 books)

USBE Survey
USBE has requested that teachers participate in a brief survey.  This survey will be sent out to teachers through Canvas and participation in the survey is encouraged.

Check out the Sept. 2021 Be Well newsletter from EMI. Stories include:

• Grains: The Whole Truth - If you love oatmeal, brown rice and whole-grain bread, you’re in luck. Whole-grain foods are fiber- rich, loaded with vitamins and good for overall health. However, most Americans choose refined grains (such as white bread or white rice) instead of nutrient- dense whole-grain options.
• Get ready for the 2021-2022 flu season - Everyone should receive a yearly flu vaccine starting at age six months. Vaccination not only protects you from potential serious illness — it also helps reduce the strain on our health care systems. The safety of flu vaccines is backed by 50 years of extensive research. Get updates at cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm.
• Food Close to Home - Supporting local farmers has gained momentum in the past ten years. Here’s what you need to know about buying locally grown food. Local food doesn’t always have a predetermined distance, but it’s generally accepted that it’s produced within your area or state. From fresh produce to locally raised meat, choosing local has several benefits. It helps create jobs and economic growth in your community, helps the environment by decreasing the carbon footprint, and builds relationships between food growers and consumers.
• Understanding Teens - Teenagers go through massive changes, and their developing brains don’t fully mature until their mid- twenties. Check out a quick guide to what constitutes typical teen behavior, and red flags for serious problems.

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

• Sept. 2021 EMI Be Well Newsletter

Join us on Monday, Aug. 30 from 4  - 6 pm. at the ASB Hub (South end - Entrance D). The district STEM consultants and specialists will be on hand to work through the Jordan Educational Foundation grant writing process with you!

The Open House format will allow you to come and refine ideas, get support, and leave with your grant application complete and submitted for approval.

Questions?
Lynn Gutzwiller
lynn.gutzwiller@jordandistrict.org
Rachael Coleman
rachael.coleman@jordandistrict.org

• Grant Writing Flyer

The following are anticipated payment dates for literacy stipends.

• Literacy Launch 2-day training stipend ($300.00 for each day attended):  August 25, 2021
• Really Great Reading training for grades K-3 ($300.00):  September 25, 2021
  • *We will pay the stipend after units 1 and 2 are completed.  Teachers will need to continue to complete all training modules as they become available throughout the year.
• Additional bonus stipend for implementation of new curriculum in grades K-6 for all teachers responsible for tier 1 instruction ($300.00):  October 25, 2021
  • *Principals will receive a form to fill out from Sara Henderson indicating which teachers in their building have started the implementation of Literacy Launch curriculum for their grade level.
• Additional information about stipends for LETRS training will be coming soon.

How to access the Student Annotation feature in Assignments
Watch this 2:45 minute video on how to access the Student Annotation feature in Canvas Assignments.

Student Annotation Guide | How do I annotate a file as an assignment submission in Canvas?

Canvas Comment Library in SpeedGrader
Watch this 2:25 minute video on how to utilize the new Comment Library in SpeedGrader

Comment Library Guide | How do I use the Comment Library in SpeedGrader?

• What's New in Canvas for 2021 Flyer

Brought to you by your Digital Learning Specialists in Teaching & Learning

Take the first step toward a secure retirement by attending an informative URS seminar.

These free seminars are tailored to your retirement horizon, whether you’re early in your career, plan to retire soon, or are already retired. To register and learn more, log into myURS and click on the Education tab.

The following seminars are available this summer for URS members to attend:

• Pre-Retirement Seminar - July 16, Aug. 6, or Nov. 5 | 8:30 a.m. - Noon
  Is retirement sneaking up on you? The following topics will be addressed – Retirement Income/Pension; 401(k), 457, and IRAs, and Social Security. Other topics, like Estate Planning, Investor Fraud Protection, and Creating Your Retirement Lifestyle, will be pre-recorded.
• Early to Mid-Career Seminar - Oct. 8 | 9 - 11 a.m.
  Now’s the time to get serious about your financial future. The following topics will be addressed – You URS Pension and 401(k), 457 and IRAs. Other topics like College Savings Plans and Estate Planning, will be pre-recorded. 
• Retiree Seminar - Sept.10 | 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
  Learn important tips and strategies for retirees. The following topics will be addressed – Your Pension, Accessing Your Money, Retiree Services, and Legal and Estate Planning

USBE is seeking your feedback on early literacy and math professional learning opportunities. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this brief pre-survey. A post survey will be sent in September.

• USBE Survey for PreK to 3rd Grade General Education & Special Education Teachers 

Join Michelle and Mandy on Thursdays for a Literacy Launch Q & A.  Michelle and Mandy will be available through ZOOM from 3:30 - 4:30 to answer your questions, help solve your challenges, and celebrate your successes.

• When: Aug. 26, Sept. 2, Sept.9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23, and Sept. 30
• Time: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m
• Where: Online in ZOOM

Dear Educator,

What do you need to make this an amazing school year? Fresh ways to engage students? Time-saving strategies? Ways to boost creativity or a growth mindset? Something else? Your colleagues at the Utah Education Network have answers based on input from educators like you.

UEN’s Digital Locker is designed to help you find just what you need quickly and easily. UEN curated dozens of free-to-you resources and arranged them by teacher need. It’s UEN’s newest resource to help you make 2021-22 your best year ever!

Sincerely,
Rich Finlinson, APR
Director, Communication
Utah Education and Telehealth Network

Thank you for the great start to the year. Join us for an ESP open house social.

Catering by Caley's Catering Dinner Includes:

JESPA members no cost. Others $10.00 paid at the event
* If you join, at the event, no cost.*
Significant Other, Partner, Spouse $10.00 paid at the event

RSVP by August 24th, so we can order the food, at: https://tinyurl.com/ESPSocial

Check out the Aug. 2021 Be Well newsletter from EMI. Stories include:

• Positive Body Image - Many Americans are dissatisfied with their appearance. Girls, and children of parents who diet or have poor body image, are more likely to develop a poor body image. The intense societal focus on how girls and women look, combined with unrealistic media standards of beauty, may contribute to body image issues; boys and men can be affected as well. Being underweight or overweight, or being teased or bullied about your appearance, can also lead to a negative self-image.
• Tanning is skin damage - a reminder during Summer Sun Safety Month to protect your skin and health with sunscreen, now and any time of year you are outdoors exposed to sunshine for extended periods. The best prescription: Apply one ounce of broad- spectrum sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 30 to your exposed skin and reapply every two hours. Healthy skin is protected skin.
• Fish and Seafood - Add fish and seafood to your menu at least twice a week, especially if you have a history of vascular disease. A recent study shows that having two servings (175g total) of fish — especially oily fish, such as salmon, trout, oysters and albacore tuna — help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, especially if you have pre-existing heart disease.
• Keto Diet: Pros and Cons - The most-searched diet trend in 2021 to date is the ketogenic diet, casually known as keto. This diet plan is very low in carbohydrates but is very high in fat (keto is about 75% fat, and the USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend only 25% fat). The goal of the diet is to get your body into a state of ketosis, where you burn fat as energy instead of carbohydrates.

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

• Aug. 2021 EMI Be Well Newsletter

New teachers to Jordan District that would like a Zoom account, please fill out this short form and Digital Teaching and Learning will work with the Utah Education Network to set up your access.

• Request for Zoom Account

For teachers who may be unsure if they activated their Zoom account last year, they can find out if they have an active account by following these directions:

1. Go to zoom.us and log in using Google.  
2. Check the Profile and look under the Meeting section.  The Personal Meeting ID should be similar to the image below.  
3. If you cannot log into Zoom or if the Personal Meeting ID does not show UETN, that would indicate that you do not have an active Zoom account.
4. If you want a Zoom account, you can then fill out the above form.  If you do not want a Zoom account, then no action is required.

If Digital Teaching and Learning can be of any help with teachers regarding their Zoom account, please contact Bonnie Muir, Digital Learning Specialist.

Each month a newsletter will be added in elementary teacher Literacy Launch Canvas courses. You will be able to get some quick and easy ways to include social studies in your classrooms. Each newsletter will include several social studies informational texts that are based on the grade level core. There will also be ideas and lesson activities that are tied to the literacy standards.

This month you will find informational texts on School (1st Grade), Helen Keller (2nd Grade), Geography (3rd Grade), Longitude and Latitude (4th Grade), Indian Peter: an Indentured Servant (5th Grade), and Sophie Scholl (6th Grade). There is also a list of picture books that you could use to talk about the 20th anniversary of 9-11 or to celebrate Constitution and Citizenship day on Sep 17th. Teachers can find a vocabulary game, a summarizing activity, and a retelling activity that are tied to a social studies picture book.

• Aug./Sept 2021 Elementary Social Studies Toolbox Newsletter

The following are new administrative assignments effective for the 2021-22 academic year:

• Tami Pyfer, Chief of Staff for Unite and former Education Advisor to Governor Herbert, appointed part-time Community Engagement Specialist.
• Kenneth Auld, former principal of Logan High, appointed Human Resource Administrator.
• Sally Wilde, Language Arts teacher at Herriman High, assigned to Bingham High as an Administrative Intern.
• Chad Stolle, Geography/Spanish teacher at Mountain Creek Middle, assigned to Sunset Ridge Middle and Southpointe Adult High as an Administrative Intern.
• Trudy Jack, Director at Franklin Discovery Academy, assigned to Ridge View Elementary and Rosamond Elementary as an Administrative Intern.
• Paulina Labra, Instructional Coach in Granite School District, assigned to Oquirrh Elementary as an Administrative Intern.
• April Thompson, Instructional Coach at Butterfield Canyon Elementary, assigned to Aspen Elementary and Terra Linda Elementary as an Administrative Intern.
• Veronica Holyoke, Instructional Coach at Aspen Elementary, assigned to Bastian Elementary and Butterfield Canyon Elementary as an Administrative Intern.

In order to increase security to Jordan School District computer systems, password requirements for both Active Directory (the account used to log in to Windows and Mac computers) and Google accounts will be updated. You may be required to change these passwords to meet the new requirements.

If you have any questions, please contact the Information Systems help desk at 801-567-8737.

As a reminder, Information Systems will NEVER ask you for your password over the phone or via email. If you receive a phone call or email asking you to provide your login information, it is most likely a phishing scam and should be reported.

Phishing is the practice of sending emails or phone calls purporting to be a trusted source in order to trick victims into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, etc. In general, you should never respond to emails or phone calls seeking this type of information. Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message. If you suspect an email is a phishing attempt look up the company’s phone number on your own (don’t use the one a potential scammer is providing), and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate. If you receive a suspected phishing email through the district’s email system report it to Information Systems. For more information visit www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/spoofing-and-phishing or www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams#protect

Check out the July 2021 Be Well newsletter from EMI. Stories include:

• Sun Safety: Get the Facts - When it comes to protecting yourself from sun damage, do you know fact from fiction? Review the basics from the American Cancer Society and CDC.
• Food Waste No More - Ready for a shocking statistic? It’s estimated that between 30% to 40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted — that’s more than $240 billion worth of food. About a third of this food waste could be rescued and sent to communities in need. While this problem includes waste at the farm, factory, restaurant and grocery level, there’s also plenty of food wasted in homes across North America. The average family wastes $1,866 worth of food each year.
• When Adult Kids Move In - Grown children moving in with their parents is no longer unusual. In fact, the number of young adults living with one or more parents has surpassed the number living in multi generational households during the Great Depression, according to Pew Research. There are numerous reasons why adult children return home, including a job loss, apartment woes or a relationship breakup. While the new living situation may be fine for a while, it can disrupt the parents’ home life and cause stress for all family members.
• Smartphone Tendonitis - Smartphones help make work and personal lives easier in multiple ways, but it can be a pain — literally. Specifically, it can cause smartphone tendonitis: pain in your hand, wrist and thumb. Tendonitis is inflammation of tendons connecting muscles to bones. It’s not an uncommon condition and typically occurs in people who do repetitive activities, such as playing tennis or certain musical instruments. Now daily use of smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices has been added to that list.

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

• July 2021 Be Well Newsletter

Jordan School District has an immediate opening for a Human Resource Administrator supporting Licensed employees.   Please refer to the details below:

General Function:
The Human Resource Administrator – Licensed is responsible for the recruitment, employment, placement, retention and licensure of licensed personnel and for the management of related personnel services.  Will provide guidance and assistance to administrators and employees regarding employment, recruitment, employee discipline, training, leaves, policy interpretation or other related areas.  Will assist in the development, implementation and direction of programs under the supervision of the administrator.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in human resources, business or an administrative license in education with an interest in human resources.
• Five years of administrative or leadership experience in human resources, business or education.
• Knowledge of USBE licensing guidelines preferred.

Position Closes July 2, 2021 or until filled.  Selected applicants will be interviewed.

• If you are interested in this HR Administrator opening, apply using the link below.
• Apply today!
• Frontline application tutorial

We hope you’re enjoying your summer and getting some much needed and deserved rest. In preparation for the 2021-22 school year, we wanted to make you aware of a couple of items.  As you know, Jordan School District will no longer have any year-round schools this fall. As a result, it becomes possible to align calendars at all levels to provide clarity and consistency for families and employees.  In order to accomplish this, elementary schools will be adjusting from a trimester to a quarter calendar. We will continue to have parent teacher conferences twice a year at approximately the end of first and third quarter. An updated 2021-22 calendar is available on the Planning & Enrollment Calendars page. More details will be provided at the beginning of the school year.

Thank you for your dedicated work on behalf of students.

The following are new administrative assignments effective July 1, 2021:

• Jarom Airhart, administrative intern at Academy Park and Plymouth Elementary in Granite School District, appointed assistant principal at Aspen and Terra Linda Elementary.      
• Aubri Moench, teacher at Fox Hollow Elementary, appointed assistant principal at Riverton and Jordan Hills Elementary.