MARCH 2005

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 17. To participate in the dinner, your retirement letter must be received by May 3.

Special Education Open House
     The Special Education Department is holding a recruitment open house April 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the District Office, Board Room B. Employees are encouraged to invite anyone who might be interested in a Special Education position with the District. Special Education staff will be on hand to provide information about working for Jordan District.

Teacher Published
     Julie Baker, second-grade teacher at Westland Elementary, will have her article, Kindergarten Time, published in Volume 9, Issue 1 (2005) of Teacher Development. Baker has taught in Jordan District since 2002.

Teacher in Who’s Who
     Zeke Totland, Language Arts teacher at Indian Hills Middle, was selected a second time as one of America’s top teachers by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Totland has been a teacher nine years.

Third Graders Taste New Menu Items
     About 200 students from 12 Utah school districts taste tested new breakfast and lunch items during the annual Food Fair March 18 at Jordan District's Auxiliary Services Building. Students from Alpine, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Emery, Jordan, Logan, Murray, Ogden, Provo, Sevier and Tooele School Districts tasted and rated new items being considered for 2005-06 school menus. The 12 districts are part of the Utah Cooperative Acquiring Resources Efficiently (U-CARE) organization, formed several years ago in an effort to save money by purchasing breakfast and lunch items for schools in volume.

Thank-a-Soldier Day
     Students from West Jordan High and Copper Hills High organized the first Thank-A-Soldier Day rally March 19 at West Jordan High. The rally featured speakers including Major General Brian L. Tarbet of Utah National Guard; Brian Halliday, Mayor of West Jordan; Peter Carroon, Mayor of Salt Lake County; and Congressman Chris Cannon. Entertainment was provided by the Jazz Dancers, the West Jordan High Band, the Copper Hills High Drill Team, singer Whitney Layne, country music group Diamondback, and others. Colonel Ed Willis, a science teacher at West Jordan High who returned two weeks ago from serving a year in Iraq with the Utah National Guard, received a special recognition. Attractions included a Blackhawk helicopter and a rock climbing wall from the Utah National Guard, camouflage face painting, food, games and exhibits from local businesses and the West Jordan Police Department.

Top Food Donor
     The Utah Food Bank recognized Monte Vista Elementary as the top holiday food donor for 2004. Students and staff collected 3,398 pounds of food during the school’s holiday food drive.

National Geographic Bee
     Eighteen students from Jordan District schools qualified to participate in the State Finals of the National Geographic Bee on April 1 at Thanksgiving Point. Schools represented include: Eastmont, Joel P. Jensen, Midvale, South Hills, and West Jordan Middle Schools, and Alta View, Bell View, Bella Vista, Canyon View, Hayden Peak, Peruvian Park, Rosamond, Rose Creek, South Jordan, Sprucewood, Welby, West Jordan, and Westland Elementary Schools.

No Current Next Week
    Due to the Spring Break recess, there will be no Current next week. The next issue of Current will be sent by e-mail and available online April 5. Please submit items for this issue by April 1.

District Calendar
      View the District Calendar at www.jordandistrict.org/calendar

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

History Academy of Teachers
     Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Jordan History Academy of Teachers. History teachers, English teachers who collaborate with history teachers, and special education teachers are invited to apply. The Academy will run June 15-July 22, for 25 days. Participants must complete a reflective portfolio and attend all days to receive the $2,500 stipend. Optional graduate credit (with a fee) is also available. Applications are due by March 30 and can be accessed by clicking on forms at www.jordandistrict.org/depts/curriculum/socialstudies/index.htm. Send completed forms to Pam Su'a at the District Office or Sandra Dahl-Houlihan at West Jordan High. Please contact Su'a, (801) 567-8320, or Dahl-Houlihan, (801) 256-5663, with any questions.

Outstanding Administrator
     Catherine Jensen, principal at the new middle school in West Jordan, was recognized by the Utah Middle Level Association (UMLA) with the Outstanding Middle Level Administrator Award. The award is given to an exemplary administrator who has fostered effective middle level practice and recognizes the leader who makes a difference, who implements middle level philosophy and actively promotes middle level reform in a school or district. The award was presented at the UMLA annual conference March 5.

Employee of the Month
     The March Custodial Department Employee of the Month is Les Brown, head custodian at Crescent View Middle. Brown started with the District in 1981.

Improved School Environment Recognized
     The State Board of Education recently recognized Union Middle for advances it has made in improving the school environment and student behavior through positive behavior supports. The school achieved a 50 percent reduction in referrals during the 2004-05 school year.

Dolls for Young Surgery Patients
     Students at Elk Meadows Elementary recently donated about 1,000 “surgery buddies” dolls to Primary Children’s Medical Center. Students stitched the dolls, each outfitted in a colorful hospital gown, as part of a character education project on love and service. Additional dolls will be donated once the next group of students comes back on track. Primary Children’s Medical Center Foundation staff said the donation was the largest doll donation in to the Center in years. A story about the project appeared in the Deseret Morning News on March 8: deseretnews.com/dn/view2/1,4382,600117032,00.html. The school’s project was also featured on CBS News.

Beanie Sales Cap Fund-Raising Event
     Senior Pride and National Honor Society students at Hillcrest High recently raised more than $1,000 for a kindergarten teacher at West Elementary in St. George who lost her home in the January flooding. To raise the funds, students learned to crochet beanie hats and sold them to faculty, students and parents. About 50 students took part in the fund-raising project, some by making beanies, some by selling and some by financially contributing.

More Tsunami Relief
Butler Elementary student-body officers raised more than $1,000 for victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami. The money was donated to the Red Cross.

Classified Employee Awards
     Nominations are now being accepted for the Jordan District Outstanding Classified Employee Awards, sponsored by the Jordan Education Foundation. Any full-time classified employee is eligible to participate, either by nominating a peer or being nominated by the department director, school principal or the local PTA. Each school or department may submit only one individual nominee to the Foundation. The nomination form must be received in the Foundation office by March 15. The Foundation Board of Directors, along with other financial sponsors, will select six individuals to recognize and honor with a cash award of $1,000 each. Nomination forms and additional information are available at www.jordandistrict.org/foundation.

Circle of Fame
     George Welch, executive director of Human Resources, was accepted into the Utah High School Activities Association Circle of Fame. The Circle of Fame honors outstanding contributors to Utah high school activities and the youth those activities serve. The award was presented during half time of the Boys 5A State Basketball championship game at the Dee Events Center March 5. Three individuals are inducted each year.

FCCLA Award
     The local Region 3 Chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) named Linda Stokes, sewing and fashion strategies teacher at Riverton High, Adviser of the Year. The award is given to individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to the organization’s goals and purposes and encourage individual members' growth and development.

Outstanding Business Educator
     Oquirrh Hills Middle business and computer teacher Tara Haslam received the Outstanding Business Educator Award for secondary schools from the Western Business and Information Technology Educators. The award is given to educators who demonstrate dedication both inside and outside their classrooms by improving technology and business applications.

Influential Teacher
     April Squires, English and journalism teacher at Riverton High, received a certificate of appreciation for “Most Influential Teacher” from the National Honor Roll.

Food Bank Donation
     The Rose Creek Elementary student council recently collected more than 5,000 food items for the Utah Food Bank, doubling its original goal. The Utah Food Bank reported to the student council this donation would provide more than 2,000 meals for Utahns in need.

Grant Provides Keyboarding Program
     The 100% For Kids Credit Union Education Foundation awarded $6,000 to Jordan Hills Elementary to help purchase a keyboarding program. The AlphaSmart program helps students practice and improve keyboarding skills, participate in writing lessons to improve their reading and writing skills.

Super Literacy Saturday
     Reading and writing were the order of the day when more than 500 students and parents at Draper Elementary celebrated their first-ever Super Literacy Saturday. Mark Buehner, illustrator of many popular books, opened the event with a review of some of his work. Participants then chose three separate workshops from a menu of 16. Topics ranged from alphabet studies to cultural traditions to story creation and featured activities families could use at home. Students worked at writing fairy tales, poetry, gathering information from non-fiction books and alliteration.

Former Gov. Olene Walker was one of many guest readers at Monte Vista Elementary March 2 during a Dr. Seuss birthday celebration. Many elelmentary schools participated in Dr. Seuss reading events that day.

District Calendar
      View the District Calendar at www.jordandistrict.org/calendar

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

Thanks For Your Input
     Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey of Current readers during the past month. We received nearly 500 responses. For the most part, it appears readers are very satisfied with Current in its present form. Nearly 88 percent of readers said the information was timely, 85 percent felt it was easy to read and 82 percent liked the frequency. The preferred format for readers is overwhelmingly e-mail—83 percent compared to 10 percent for print and seven percent online. The most interesting topics for readers are District and school news and announcements. The "comments" sections of the survey contained some very helpful ideas and suggestions that will help direct improvements in Current over the next few months.

Educators of the Month
     The Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Credit Union honored Shanda Wootton, fifth-grade teacher at Peruvian Park Elementary, and Bill Garber, fifth-grade teacher at Bell View Elementary, as Educators of the Month for February. The awards were presented at a luncheon in their honor.
     Tamara Schiveley, literacy specialist at Monte Vista Elementary, was recognized as the Jordan Education Association Educator of the Month for February.
     Jeri Johnson, fifth-grade teacher at Monte Vista Elementary, was recognized by the South Jordan Chamber of Commerce in a teacher appreciation luncheon Feb. 24.

Custodian of the Month
     Mike Loretz, head custodian at West Jordan High, was named Custodian of the Month for February by the Custodial Department Advisory Committee. Loretz has been with the District since 1988.

Employee of the Month
     Darlene Lewis, accounting clerk in the Accounting Department, was named District Office Support Staff Employee of the Month for February. Lewis has been with the District since 2000.

Financial Strategies Class
     "Successful Financial Strategies” provides classroom instruction for anyone preparing for financial independence. Sponsored by the Jordan Education Foundation, the seminar is held in two sessions:
     • Thursdays: March 3, 10, and 17, or
     • Tuesdays: March 22, 29, and April 5
     All sessions are held from 6-9 p.m. in Board Room A at the District Office (except the March 22 class will be held in the ISC Conference Room). A $59 registration fee includes all course materials. A spouse or guest may attend at no additional charge. Register by phone: (801) 453-2215, fax: (801) 733-9565, or e-mail: gwwilliams@finsvcs.com. For more information call (801) 453-2215.

District Retirement Seminar
     Thinking about retiring or just want to know about your 401(k) and 457 investment options? The next District Retirement Seminar will be held March 14 at the District Office in Board Room A, 4-6 p.m. Judy Burton, director of Payroll, will address the group. A representative from the Utah State Retirement System will also discuss benefit details of the pension plan, timing retirement and more. Please register by calling Lorna Evans at (801) 256-5750. Spouses are welcome. The cost is $5 per person.

Tsunami Fund Raising
     Student Council officers at Park Lane Elementary organized a schoolwide fund raising drive for victims of the Southeast Asian Tsunami. They chose the theme, motivated the students and organized all the materials. The theme was “Extra Change Can Make a Change.” Students raised nearly $2,500, which was donated to the Red Cross.
     Brighton High sold wristbands bearing the words “Tsunami Relief” to raise funds for orphanages. A total of $4,500 was donated to UNICEF.

10,000 Cans for Food Bank
     Students at Indian Hills Middle opted for a mid-February food drive. Utah Food Bank officials say they get plenty of donations during the holidays, but pantry stocks begin to dwindle by February. Students based their food drive on a “14-day” theme, beginning Feb. 14 and continuing for 14 days. More than 10,000 cans were collected.

Guest Readers on Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
     Former Gov. Olene Walker, First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman, Salt Lake Mayor Peter Corroon, Miss South Jordan and others will be reading to students at Monte Vista Elementary March 2 during a Dr. Seuss birthday celebration. South Jordan City officials, South Jordan Police and Fire Department representatives, Board of Education members and District administrators have also been invited as guest readers.
     Other elementary schools will also be celebrating with a variety of activities:
     • Cottonwood Heights will provide a light breakfast while parents read with their children in the morning.
     • Jordan Hills will begin the day with DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Dr. Seuss time. Guest readers, including community representatives, parents, high school tutors, firefighters and police officers, will read to classes throughout the day. The day will culminate with a celebrity guest reader and a Dr. Seuss birthday cake in the gym.
     • Midvale will host former Gov. Olene Walker as she reads Dr. Seuss stories to students. Each class will create a reading page and present it in the form of a book to the former governor as a thank-you gift.
     • Quail Hollow kindergarten students will have a breakfast of green eggs and ham. Later, sixth-grade students will read them Dr. Seuss books. Each grade will celebrate with a variety of activities ranging from making bookmarks to designing book jackets.
     • Willow Canyon is hosting a crazy hat and tie day. Parents, teachers and students will read over the PA system hourly and the PTA will give away books. During February, students read to earn strips to build a hat for the Cat in the Hat, winding through the entire school.

ARCHIVED NEWS

To submit an item for Current, send an e-mail to Michael Kelley at michael.kelley@jordan.k12.ut.us or contact him at (801) 567-8337.