APRIL 2004

April 6 | April 20 | April 27

Summer Pay Arrangements
     • Verify Address: All employees should verify the address on your checks or deposit statements in May, since many summer paychecks are mailed.
     • Payroll Changes: If you want to make payroll changes (i.e.: change deduction amounts for 401(k) or credit union accounts, change bank accounts, or change W-4 tax exemptions) for the summer, these changes must be in place for the June pay period (due June 10). Changes cannot be made to many employees' July or August checks.
     • Resignation/Leave of Absence: Employees at traditional schools who plan to resign or take a leave of absence at the end of the 2003-04 contract year may receive their summer pay early if desired. To have pay for July and August added to your June check, submit a letter of resignation or leave request to the Human Resources Department and a written request for early summer pay to the Payroll Department prior to June 10. The early pay does not apply to year-round employees since their work will not be completed by payday, June 25. Year-round teachers leaving after the current school year will receive their final paycheck on July 25. Those retiring at the end of the contract year will receive their final paychecks in June, in order to send all money to the Utah Retirement System.
     • Direct Deposit: As we look forward to the summer months, we remind you that all checks to traditional locations are mailed. The Payroll Department strongly encourages each employee to sign up for direct deposit for Jordan District wages. Any time a check is lost, the Payroll Department cannot reissue the check for five working days. When you have direct deposit, your money is available as soon as your financial institution opens on payday. It takes two months for the direct deposit to take effect, so we encourage you to sign up today. A sign-up form for direct deposit is available from your school secretary or on the Web at www.jordandistrict.org/depts/payroll . Please note that in December 2004, payday will be Dec. 22. Traditional schools dismiss for winter recess Dec. 17. Checks for employees at traditional locations will be mailed in December. With the high volume of mail at that time, we highly recommend you sign up for direct deposit.

Tax Withholding Requirements
     Jordan District employees are paid once a month. IRS regulations require that extra checks have taxes adjusted to the regular paycheck or are withheld at 25 percent federal taxes for other wages. Please note that any employee receiving two District paychecks in July or August will have the second check figured with the federal withholding at 25 percent to meet IRS regulations.

Retiring This Year?
     Employees who plan to retire at the end of the contract year must contact the Utah Retirement System, (801) 366-7770, and submit a retirement letter to the Human Resources Department. If you have not met with Judy Burton, payroll director, or do not have an appointment, please call her at (801) 567-8202. The Board of Education will host a retirement dinner for retirees on May 18. To participate in the dinner, your retirement letter must be received by May 4.

Utah Celebrates School Psychology Week
     On April 21, Gov. Olene Walker signed a proclamation designating the week of April 26-30 as School Psychology Week in Utah. The Jordan School District currently employs a staff of 75 school psychologists who work with regular education and special education students, teachers, administrators and families across a wide variety of settings. Please take a few moments this week to recognize and thank your school psychologist.

Adviser of the Year
     Gerry Young, family and consumer sciences teacher at West Jordan High , was named Region Five FCCLA Adviser of the Year. The West Jordan FCCLA chapter has been very active this year, and completed numerous community service projects under Young's direction.

Students Walk for Parkinson's
     Canyon View Elementary students ended a charitable fundraiser for Parkinson's disease by marching around the school to the beat of drums. This event occurred April 21, the same day that Gov. Olene Walker signed a proclamation declaring April as Parkinson Disease Awareness month. The American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) helped students by providing flyers for the community and donating water bottles. Other local businesses also donated items.

Retirement Open House
     Rose Pena is retiring after 29 years of teaching at Majestic Elementary. An open house will be held in her honor May 20, 4-5:30 p.m., at the school's media center.

Read with Your Bunny
     The Copperview Elementary first-grade team hosted an Accelerated Reader (AR) night called “Read With Your Bunny.” Students could either bring their favorite stuffed bunny from home or borrow one from the library. Throughout the evening, everyone students read AR books and took AR tests. Principal June LeMaster says Copperview students have been working diligently to reach their individual AR goals so they can attend a special AR activity.

District Calendar
      View the District Calendar at www.jordandistrict.org/calendar for upcoming events.

Employment Opportunities
      See current job openings posted by the Human Resources Department at www.jordandistrict.org/hr .

Medical Claims Due May 31
     Any medical insurance claims with a date of service Sept. 1, 2001, through Aug. 31, 2003, must be submitted to Educators Mutual Insurance Association (EMIA) prior to May 31, 2004. After May 31, any claims for medical services prior to Sept. 1, 2003, will be denied. PEHP and Altius will not pay any claims with a date of service prior to Sept. 1, 2003.

Board Recognized for Support of NBCT
      The Jordan Board of Education was recently recognized in the Utah School Boards Association newsletter for its support of National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) standards. The article, titled Jordan School Board: Making a Difference to our Teachers Who Make a Difference, said the “Jordan School Board was the first in Utah to recognize the potential impact of NBCTs in their district, and began honoring their National Board Certified Teachers with an annual stipend and recognition at a school board meeting.” Realizing many teachers, though qualified, were unable to afford the $2,300 program fee, the Jordan Board provides full scholarships for up to 10 teachers per year who are willing to complete the year-long NBCT process.

Five-Star Award
     The nomination deadline for the Board of Education's Five-Star Award program is April 30. Nominations are accepted in the following categories:
     - Two elementary teachers
     - One middle school teacher
     - One high school teacher
     - One certificated employee at-large
     - Four classified employees
     - One administrator
     - Two schools (public relations)
      Recipients of the Five-Star Award will receive $2,500, be recognized during a Board of Education meeting in October and be honored at an exclusive recognition banquet. The criteria and nomination forms are available on the District Web site at http://www.jordandistrict.org/award .

2004 High School Graduation Schedule
      Graduation ceremonies for Jordan School District's 10 high school programs are scheduled for June 3 at the following times and locations:

Gateway to Learning Educator Workshop
      Tanner Humanities Center will present a workshop for all educators titled, “Utah and the Latin American Diaspora in Historical Perspective.” The sessions will be presented each day, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for one week June 14-18. All sessions will be held at the Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah. This course is eligible for three graduate-level University of Utah continuing education credits, or provides 24 in-class contact hours. Teachers, principals, assistant principals, counselors and school administrators from all Utah school districts can participate. Class size is limited to 30 people. The workshop is offered free of charge and will include all books, parking permits and meals. There is a $50 registration fee for educators who want university credit. Housing on the University of Utah campus is available for registered educators. For more information or registration contact Rich Tuttle, Tanner Humanities Center, (801) 581-3732, or e-mail r.tuttle@mail.hum.utah.edu .

Students Raise Funds to Help AIDS Victims
      Butler Elementary students raised $1,252 for the Oprah Angel Network. The money is used to help the children in AIDS-stricken South Africa. This fund-raising activity was under the direction of the Butler Elementary Student Council and its adviser, Bonnie Welch.

Saturday Math Program
      For the second straight year, Copperview Elementary implemented a Saturday Math Program. This year, 45 students in grades three through six were selected through a variety of criteria, including 2003 CRT results, CCC lab data and teacher recommendation. The six-week math intervention program includes fun-filled activities designed to increase math skills. Throughout the morning, students learn measurement skills through a cooking class, complete a variety of problem-solving tasks, learn test-taking strategies and practice math facts using music. Pre- and post-test results provided valuable information regarding the gain scores of these students.

2004 Athens Paralympics Essay Contest
      The Paralympic Academy and its state partner the National Ability Center invite students to participate in the 2004 National “Ability” Essay Contest. The winning participant will be sent to Athens, Greece, along with a parent and coach.
      The contest is open to all physically disabled students ages 12-18 attending junior high or high schools in the U.S. First-place state winners receive an all expense paid trip to the International Academy in Athens and will attend four days of Paralympic Events, including:
     - Reception with selected U.S. Paralympic Team members
     - The Opening Ceremony
     - Two days of competition
      Participants must submit their essays by May 10 for consideration. A participant and coach will be selected by June 21. For more information, contact the National Ability Center, (435) 649-3991, e-mail info@nac1985.org .

Retiring This Year?
      Employees who plan to retire at the end of the contract year must contact the Utah Retirement System, (801) 366-7770, and submit a retirement letter to the Human Resources Department. If you have not met with Judy Burton, Payroll director, or do not have an appointment, please call her at (801) 567-8202. The Board of Education will host a retirement dinner for retirees on May 18. To participate in the dinner, your retirement letter must be received by May 4.

Teachers of the Year
      The Utah FFA named Sonja Ferrufino, science teacher at Riverton High, Agriscience Teacher of the Year. She was nominated by the State FFA Comittee for her service and example.
      Mark Peterson, science teacher at Jordan High, won the 2004 Radio Shack National Teacher of the Year Award.
      Jenicee Jacobson, social science teacher at Riverton High, was named Teacher of the Year by the Utah Council for Social Studies.

National Choral Honors
      The Riverton High Choral Department, under the direction of LeAnna Willmore, won the Sweepstakes Award at the National Music Festival in Anaheim, Calif. Madrigal, A Cappella, Men's Choir and Women's Choir also won first place. The groups will receive invitations to the National Festival of Gold.

School Recognized for Diversity Efforts
      The Midvale City mayor and city council enacted an official proclamation recognizing Copperview Elementary Principal June LeMaster, school staff and volunteers for their efforts in building bridges of understanding among cultures. The proclamation recognized the school's diversity and its recent Cultural Fair attended by more than 700 students, parents and community members.

Art a la Carte
      Students at Granite Elementary were recently treated to a week of Art a la Carte. Each day of the week the children were involved in an assembly or activity that featured an area of the arts. Activities included square dancing, Operalympics presented by the Utah Symphony, a presentation of Pinocchio by two actors from New Hampshire, and a dance production by the Odyssey dancers. Students were also challenged to enter an art contest.

Teacher Feature
      Michelle Griner, resource teacher at Willow Canyon Elementary, was recognized March 30 on the KSL Teacher Feature program. She was nominated for the honor by parents who said she goes above and beyond the call of duty in the education of students including staying after school to help with reading, arranging for special tutoring on Saturdays and traveling to the new school of children who move to meet their teachers and help them get the best education possible in their new setting.

Living History
      History was brought to life at Crescent View Middle when the theater class performed Voices of the Holocaust . The play, adapted from the stories of Anne Frank and Eli Wiesel, shared the experiences of two Jewish teen-agers during World War II. Seats were placed inside a “fence” for the audience and the stories of the people hiding and those taken to the concentration camps were acted out all around them. More than 1,000 students participated in the event.

Gold Medalist Inspires Students
      Olympic speed skating gold medalist and world-record holder Derek Parra joined West Hills Middle students for an assembly to help honor students of the quarter and to encourage students to set goals. Parra shared personal stories of goal setting as he prepared for the Winter Olympic Games. He gave the library a copy of a novel he has written that hasn't been released in stores yet. He passed around his gold and silver medals so every student could touch them.

Hair Loss in Riverton
      Two Riverton High student-body officers, Linsi Harward and Amy Skousen recently cut their waist length hair as a donation to the Locks of Love Foundation. Torey Carroll, secretary, and Stephanie Rich, fifth-grade teacher, both at Rosemond Elementary followed their example last week and cut their hair as well. Carroll had been growing and measuring her hair for months just for the donation. Locks of Love uses donated hair to make wigs for children with a permanent hair loss caused by disease ( www.locksoflove.org ).

National Occupational Therapy Month
      The American Occupational Therapy Association is recognizing April as National Occupational Therapy Month. Jordan District's occupational therapists help children with varying disabilities make the most of their talents in school and life using purposeful activities to address skills such as feeding, writing, motor control, dressing and play. Jordan District was the first district in Utah to have an occupational therapist on staff in 1975. Currently the District has 10 therapists based at the Jordan Resource Center serving more than 700 students in 70 schools and an additional five therapists based at Jordan Valley.
      For more information on occupational therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association Web site at www.promoteot.org .

Access E-mail on the Web
      Employees can access their District e-mail account from any computer with Internet access. From the “Employees” drop-down menu at www.jordandistrict.org, select “Employee Web Mail.” Your “userid” is your District e-mail name (e.g: john.smith). The password is initially set to your first name and should be changed after you log in for the first time.

Next Issue of Current
      Due to Spring Recess, there will be no Current on April 13. The next issue will be posted online April 20. Please submit items for Current by noon each Friday.