MAY 2006

The Jordan High Madrigals perform during a Board of Education dinner for retirees at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Salute to Retirees       When Sharon Hansen, fifth-grade teacher at West Jordan Elementary, began her Jordan District career in 1966, 19,300 students were enrolled in the District’s 26 schools. This year, 87 schools serve more than 77,000 students. In 1966, a teacher’s average yearly salary and benefits was about $7,600. Today the average is nearly $56,000.       With 40 years of service, Hansen is the longest-serving of the 290 employees honored by the Board of Education during retirement dinners May 16 and 17.      “There will be others to fill your jobs, but we will not soon fill the void created by losing your collective years of wisdom and experience,” said Superintendent Barry L. Newbold to retirees attending the dinner. “Although the number of students filling our schools’ halls will continue to grow, the District will be a much emptier place without you.”       A complete list of retirees honored at the dinner is available on the Board Retirement Page.       Retirees are also being honored at open house events scheduled throughout the District. Information about retiree open houses can be found in the online version of Current.

Computer System Update       The Information Systems Department is continuing its efforts to replace the Delta System with a new software program called Skyward. The first phase of the transition involves the financial module. Beginning in July, all warehouse requisitions, purchase order requisitions, fixed-asset tracking and budget tracking will take place on the new system. Training will be provided through June, July and August to accommodate those who use these applications. A schedule and information about signing up is available online at www.jordandistrict.org/   general/skyward. Contact Mike Glenn, Information Systems, (801) 567-8312, with any questions about the transition or training. Computer System Rollout Schedule July 2006: Financial System (Inventory Requisitions, Purchasing Requisitions, Online Receiving, Budget/ Account Inquiry, Fixed Assets) November 2007: Student System January 2009: Human Resources/ Payroll System

• Teacher Appreciation
        Nine Jordan District teachers were among those nominated and selected in radio station KOSY 106.5’s Fourth Annual Teacher Appreciation:
• Craig Hansen, computers and keyboard, West Jordan Middle
• Jan Vanderhooft, chemistry and science, Brighton High (Cottonwood Heights)
• Jenni Wright, kindergarten, East Sandy Elementary
• Kaye Flanery, fourth grade, South Jordan Elementary
• Paul Hunter, fourth grade, Sandy Elementary
• Rick Minor, wood shop, West Jordan High
• Robert Geertsen, world civilization, Riverton High
• Sue North, first grade, Oakdale Elementary (Sandy)
• Terri Roylance, sixth grade, Canyon View Elementary (Cottonwood Heights)
•      These educators will be honored at an awards dinner June 7 at the Salt Lake Airport Hilton.

Safety Recognition
      A first-grade class project on improving the sidewalk safety near the school received special recognition at the Project Citizen State Showcase in conjunction with the “We the People” program. Rebecca West’s first-grade class at Westvale Elementary (West Jordan) worked to get power poles, which had been imbedded in sidewalks, removed.

Elementary School University
      Fourth-grade classes at Quail Hollow Elementary (Sandy) recently hosted University of Learning graduations. Students had the opportunity to earn technical, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees during the year. Through this program, students get credit for investigating topics. Doctoral students read 12 Beehive nominee books, completed 10 credits (15 hours) of research on a student-chosen topic(s), prepared at least one product for each topic and completed a service project (an additional 15 hours). At the graduations, doctoral candidates offered speeches and performed musical numbers. Some students used PowerPoint presentations to highlight their service projects.

Broadway in South Jordan
      More than 200 students performed Broadway song and dance numbers, including 15 solos, during the Elk Meadows Elementary (South Jordan) “100 years of Broadway” presentation. Teachers Lani Vigil, Liz Taylor and Laura Packard conducted hours of practice with students who “performed flawlessly” according to Principal Stephen Burnside.

• Retirement Open Houses
• A retirement open house will be held May 31, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Mount Jordan Middle (Sandy):
  • Ed Alba, principal, 26 years
  • Dennis Budge, art teacher, 29 years
  • Lela Newey, English teacher, 26 years
  • Fran Woodford, science teacher, 17 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 31, 4-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Crescent Elementary (Sandy):
  • Jennifer Coyle, third-grade teacher, 29 years
  • Mary Jo Duncombe, fourth-grade teacher, 30 years
  • Edna Henshaw, fifth-grade teacher, 33 years
  • John Paras, fourth-grade teacher, 30 years
  • Cathy Spuck, second-grade teacher, 27 years
  • Deanna Taylor, first-grade teacher, 25 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 2-4 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Copperview Elementary (Midvale):
  • Leilani Asay, Nutrition Services manager, 30 years
  • Brenda Williams, literacy specialist, 16 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 2:30-3:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Westvale Elementary (West Jordan):
  • Sue Madsen, first-grade teacher, 21 years
  • Carol Weibell, first-grade teacher, 30 years
  • Judie Sherratt, fourth-grade teacher, 28 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 3-5 p.m., at the East Transportation Office to honor the following Transportation Department employees:
  • Randy Bringhurst, Special Education route coordinator, 30 years
  • Jeanne Chabre, bus driver, 25 years
  • Anna Clark, bus driver, 20 years
  • Mary Lou Gardner, bus driver, 30 years
  • Mary Garn, bus attendant, 18 years
  • Ramond Garn, bus driver, 7 years
  • Theron Jensen, bus driver, 31 years
  • Launie Johnson, bus driver, 26 years
  • Jackie Larsen, bus driver, 30 years
  • Barbara Myers, bus attendant, 10 years
  • KayeLynn Smart, bus driver, 30 years
  • Terry Wanner, bus driver, 30 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 13, 3:30-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Terra Linda Elementary (West Jordan):
  • JDee Birkeland, resource teacher, 27 years
  • Debra Snow, literacy specialist, 31 years
  • Susan Nichols, first-grade teacher, 22 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 16, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Rose Creek Elementary (Riverton):
  • Betsy Smith, resource teacher, 27 years
  • Kathy Saleh, computer teacher, 35 years
  • Judy Nash, fifth-grade teacher, 24 years

Special Ed Software Training
     One copy of the software program SOLO was purchased for each secondary school by the Special Education Department. SOLO is a four-part software program for reading, writing, organizing and editing across the curriculum. In order to receive the SOLO software, at least one staff member from a school will need to attend the training. The training will be conducted by Don Johnston Inc. on June 8, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., and June 9, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at Riverside Elementary (8737 S. 1220 West, West Jordan). To register for this in-service training or for more information, please call Julie Brown, (801) 565-7584, or Judy Roberts, (801) 565-7484.

Utah Education Law Conference
      Generous funding from the Utah Bar's Education Law Section and the BYU Journal of Education and Law has allowed BYU to offer its eighth annual Utah Education Law and Policy Institute program to Jordan District faculty, administrators and school board members without the typical $35 registration fee. (There is a fee for those attending the luncheon session.) The conference is June 9, 8:50 a.m.-4 p.m. at the BYU Conference Center. For more information or to register, visit the conference Web site at edlaw.byu.edu. Contact Scott Ferrin, (801) 422-4291, ferrin@byu.edu, with any questions.

• Retiring or Taking a Leave of Absence
        If you are planning on retiring at the end of this contract year, you must submit your letter of retirement to the Human Resources Department by May 30 to avoid the $300 fine. After July 1, the penalty increases to $500.
        If you are planning to request a year’s leave of absence, you should be aware of the following requirements:
• Leaves of absence require 30 days notice; otherwise, the leave will be denied.
• Provisional employees in their first or second years of employment with Jordan School District will not be considered for a leave of absence except for instances that are the result of illness or injury.
•      The last day for teacher transfers is Aug. 9 for traditional schools and July 3 for year-round schools.

Educator of the Month
      Margaret Denton, literacy facilitator at Silver Mesa Elementary (Sandy), was named Educator of the Month by the Midvale Kiwanis and Jordan Education Association. She was honored at a luncheon May 16.

Western Round-Up
      On May 19, Jordan Valley School (Midvale) held a Western Round-Up Carnival and Information Fair for students and families. The evening included information booths for families of disabled students from more than 65 area agencies, dinner, Dutch oven demonstrations, carnival games, prize giveaways and entertainment by Firewood, the headline act at This is the Place Heritage Park.

Students Teaching Students
      On May 17, the West Hills Middle (West Jordan) gym was a rainbow of color filled with laughter and learning. In one corner, seventh-grade students were having a picnic under a giant umbrella and reading stories to first-grade students from Hayden Peak Elementary (West Jordan). In another corner, students were running an obstacle course at a mini police academy. These and nearly 40 other activities were a part of a service learning project by West Hills’ seventh-grade language arts students. Several weeks prior to the event, the middle school students wrote papers connecting selected books and activities to lessons.  They then created plays, puppet shows, giant story books, games, and other creative presentations and learning activities for their elementary school friends.

• Grants Enhance Learning Opportunities
        The 100% For Kids Credit Union Education Foundation recently awarded more than $13,000 to four Jordan District schools.
• Midvalley Elementary (Midvale) received $4,684 to purchase books for a leveled library with books that cover science, social studies and math.
• Oquirrh Elementary (West Jordan) received $3,860 to begin a Next Steps Leveled Library for a tutoring program for kindergarten through sixth-grade students.
• Terra Linda Elementary (West Jordan) received $3,000 to create a home reading check-out library for kindergarten through sixth grade ESL students, with books in both Spanish and English.
• Jordan High (Sandy) received $1,812 to purchase TI-84 graphing calculators equipped with Algebra software.

Books Needed
      Mona Thomas, literacy facilitator at Oquirrh Elementary (West Jordan) is looking for several old Basal titles. Please contact her at (801) 575-7474 or e-mail mona.thomas@jordan.k12.ut.us if you can provide any of the following:
Laidlaw Publisher: Blue Tailed Horse, Toothless Dragon, Tricky Troll, Wide-Eyed Detectives, Whispering Ghosts, Thundering Giants Holt Publisher: A Place for Me, A Time for Friends, People Need People, Way of the World, Never Give Up.

• Retirement Open Houses
• A retirement open house will be held May 24, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s atrium to honor the following employees at Hillcrest High (Midvale):
  • Suzanne Asay, English teacher, 27 years
  • Sharlene Beck, English teacher, 31 years
  • John Bromley, science teacher, 21 years
  • Sandra Clark, English teacher, 34 years
  • Scott Cowdell, custodian, 33 years
  • Nancy Gillette, English teacher
  • Thomas Godfrey, English teacher, 29 years
  • Marie Halpin, business teacher, 28 years
  • Susan Hawkins, English teacher
  • Frank Iacobazzi, history teacher
  • Steve Margetts, math teacher, 33 years
  • Karen Mitchell, secretary, 23 years
  • Robyn Mousley, dance teacher, 30 years
  • Mary Ann Payne, English teacher
• A retirement open house will be held May 24, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Union Middle (Sandy):
  • Myrna Ball, Nutrition Services worker, 23 years
  • Marilyn Brown, Nutrition Services worker, 24 years
  • Bobbi Burton, English teacher, 27 years
  • Dave Hanson, CTE teacher, 37 years
  • Jeanne Johnson, English teacher, 27 years
  • Dorothy Marchant, Nutrition Services manager, 30 years
  • Todd Shoemaker, social studies teacher, 30 years
  • Robert Shelton, media specialist, 26 years
  • Penny Smith, special education teacher, 27 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 25, 3-4:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Albion Middle (Sandy):
• John Adams, English and drama teacher, 22 years
• Judy Shields, head secretary, 35 years
• Phyllis Griffiths, geography teacher, 21 years
• Phil Ochoa, head custodian, 20 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 25, 3-4 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Eastmont Middle (Sandy):
  • Robyn Johnson, P.E. and dance teacher, 30 years
  • Martha Reyes, Nutrition Services worker, 30 years
  • Paul Wayman, science and photography teacher, 26 years
  • Max Weiss, math and science teacher, 22 years
  • John White, special education teacher, 36 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 30, 2:30-4 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Alta High (Sandy):
  • Sandra Earl, special education teacher, 24 years
  • Diana Hendricksen, internship coordinator, 25 years
  • Dan Halladay, U.S. History teacher, 32 years
  • James Miller, math teacher, 33 years
  • Susan Nielsen, business teacher, 31 years
  • Brent Palmer, math teacher, 31 years
  • Valerie Peterson, math teacher, 33 years
  • Kathy Van Wyngaarden, counselor, 26 years
  • Weber Walker, math teacher, 34 years
  • Susan Wrathall, art teacher, 26 years
• Terry Smith, assistant principal at Crescent View Middle (Sandy), is retiring after 30 years of service. An open house will be held in his honor May 31, 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the school’s media center.
• Karen Welch, buyer in the Purchasing Department, is retiring after 22 years of service. A retirement open house will be held in her honor June 1, 3-5:15 p.m. in the Auxiliary Services Building auditorium.
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 2-3:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Jordan Ridge Elementary (South Jordan):
  • Joy Campbell, BYU liaison, 30 years
  • Nancy Larsen, BYU CFA, 29 years
  • Allene Ross, kindergarten teacher, 29 years
  • Diane Tree, third-grade teacher, 30 years
• Nadine Terry, fourth-grade teacher at Sprucewood Elementary (Sandy), is retiring after 30 years of service. An open house will be held in her honor June 2, 2-4 p.m. in the school’s media center.
• Gregg Nelson, second-grade teacher at Midvalley Elementary (Midvale) is retiring after 34 years with Jordan District. An open house will be held in his honor June 2, 3-4:30 p.m., in the school’s media center.
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 4-5:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Southland Elementary (Riverton):
  • Gary Avery, fifth-grade teacher, 33 years
  • Beverly Barnson, third-grade teacher, 19 years
  • Margie Canning, sixth-grade teacher, 23 years
  • Karen Jacobson, third-grade teacher, 28 years
  • Elaine Pinney, first-grade teacher, 23 years
  • Kathy Swenson, second-grade teacher, 31 years
  • Joan Winn, kindergarten teacher, 34 years
• A retirement open house will be held June 2, 2-4 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Copperview Elementary (Midvale):
  
  • Leilani Asay, Nutrition Services manager, 30 years
    
  • Brenda Williams, literacy specialist, 16 years

• Important Pay Reminders
• Make sure the correct address appears on your May deposit statement, since many summer deposit statements will be mailed. If you need to make an address change or correction, please submit it to the Payroll Department on an Employee Change of Address form. The form may be obtained from your school office or on the District Web site at http://www.jordandistrict.org/depts/payroll/index.htm .
• Any changes for summer pay such as tax shelter or credit union deductions, adjustments to W-4’s, or switching bank accounts must be in place for the June pay period (due by June 10). Employees with contracts beginning in August or September should not close accounts or change financial institutions during July or August as the deposits for those months are processed in June.
• Employees at traditional schools who plan to resign or take a leave of absence at the end of the 2005-06 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 23. Year- round teachers 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.
• IMPORTANT NOTICE: Jordan School 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 employees receiving two District paychecks in July or August will have the second check figured with federal withholding at 25 percent.

Teacher of the Year
      The Draper Wal-Mart honored Rebecca Bibo, fourth-grade teacher at Draper Elementary, as the Teacher of the Year. She was presented with a certificate, a $100 gift card and a Wal-Mart T-shirt. Draper Elementary was also given two eMachine computers and $1,000 in her honor. Bibo was nominated by students and parents in the community to receive this honor.

Multimedia Educator of the Year
      Lisa Wadzeck, multimedia teacher at Jordan Applied Technology Center, Sandy Campus, was named Multimedia Teacher of the Year. The award was presented during the Utah Multimedia Arts Festival May 11 at Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus.

Commission on Youth Award
      Susan Chilton, program specialist in the Student Intervention Services Department, will be honored with the fifth annual COY Award in the Individual Adult category. Award recipients are judged to represent the ideals and mission statement of the Salt Lake County Commission on Youth (COY). The award will be presented by Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon May 23.

Employee of the Month
      Jay Dee Bateman, part-time custodian in the District Office, was named Employee of the Month for May by the District Office Support Staff. Bateman began working for Jordan District in 1999.

Amazing Race
      Teams of middle school geography teachers recently participated in the Jordan District Amazing Race. Geography teachers who had received District training on using GPS technology competed as school teams. They ran a course that led through the historic Jordan District, and at each station completed a geography-related task. Three schools won sets of GPS units for classroom use: The Elk Ridge Middle (South Jordan) team of Steve Pollock, Janene Crane, Jon LeBarre and Nancy Schleiger won for best time; the Midvale Middle team of Anthony Godfrey, Mandy George, Sheradee Bradfield and Jolette Bush won for most points; and the Crescent View Middle (Sandy) team of Rick Bowman, Brooke Haydock, Emily Nance and April Gtettenbauer won for best combination of points and time.

Park Lane Principal Karen Medlin shoots in a contest with the Jazz Bear as the school was awarded the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. Photo: Laura Seitz, Deseret Morning News

Physically Fit School
      Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. personally presented the Presidential Physical Fitness Award to Park Lane Elementary April 26. The award is presented to the school with the most students achieving the top fitness level, outperforming 85 percent of a norm group’s skills in curl-ups or partial curl-ups, shuttle run, endurance run/walk, pull-ups or right angle push-ups, and V-sit or sit and reach. The Sandy school has won the award for 10 straight years.

Students Watch/Learn Dance
      Dancers from the BYU dance group Kinnect spent the day May 10 performing and teaching students at Oakcrest Elementary (West Jordan) different dance forms. It was an opportunity for the elementary students to participate in the arts, as well as be entertained.

Diabetes Walk
      Students at Welby Elementary (South Jordan) participated in the American Diabetes Association School Walk for Diabetes, raising more than $6,500 to prevent and find a cure for the disease. Students ran/walked a combined 1,300 miles in one day for the cause. Local businesses donated prizes for the students.

Middle School Bard
      On April 27, Oquirrh Hills Middle’s (Riverton) theater department presented a condensed version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play was under the direction of theater teacher Carol Lasson. Intermediate theater students helped by directing, costuming, acting, doing make-up and helping with props.

Save-A-Heart Success
      Students at Elk Meadows Elementary (South Jordan) recently completed a successful fundraising drive during the Utah Heart Association’s annual Save-A-Heart program. The $9,000 collected by students, parents and staff earned the school a trophy for raising the most money. This is the third straight year the school has won the honor.

Science Writing Teams
      There are openings on the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade Jordan District Integrated Science Writing Teams to write science curriculum integrated with Balanced Literacy. Participants will be paid for the summer writing, teaching the concepts that you wrote, and attending an Integrated Science Writing Class that meets monthly through the 2006-07 year. You need to have a high interest in science, as well as good writing and presentation skills. If you feel you qualify, please e-mail Paul Nance at paul.nance@jordan.k12.ut.us.

Anniversary Celebration
      Alumni, former teachers and administrators are invited to help Draper Elementary commemorate 30 years of the current school, 100 years of Jordan School District and 80 years of the Draper Art Collection during a “Rock n’ Rolling through Our History” celebration. There will be a live band, fun activities and art displays, as well as family photo opportunities on May 25, 6-8 p.m. Meal deals will be available for $2 per person.

• Retirement Open Houses
• A retirement open house will be held May 19, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Brighton High (Cottonwood Heights):
  • Mike Guarino, physics teacher, 20 years
  • Doug Howard, biology teacher, 28 years
  • Corinne Nasella, computer tech teacher, 28 years
  • Jill Pond, pre-school and child development teacher, 29 years
  • Pat Russell, English teacher, 25 years
  • ReNae Smith, counselor, 28 years
  • Robert Sproul, principal, 29 years
  • Thomas Wood, art teacher, 28 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 19, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Jordan High (Sandy):
  • Dan Boskovich, Spanish and ballroom dance teacher, 32 years
  • Val Cazier, AP history teacher, 16 years
  • Rose Elkins, secretary, 28 years
  • Katie Frost, biology teacher, 24 years
  • Cheryl Groot, counselor, 30 years
  • Denna Hollinger, U.S. history teacher, 31 years
  • Beth Johnson, AP English teacher, 31 years
  • Suzanne Oakeson, counselor, 30 years
  • Caralyn Skousen, English teacher, 20 years
  • Peggy Whitney, English teacher, 32 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 22, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Riverton High:
  • Rick Bojack, psychology/PE teacher, 30 years
  • Nancy Selack, CTE/business teacher, 32 years
  • Susan Hyde, art/ceramics teacher, 27 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 23, 2:45-4:30 p.m., on the school’s cafeteria patio to honor the following employees at Copper Hills High (West Jordan):
• Tom Watrous, English teacher, 25 years
• Joan Street, Nutrition Services worker, 29 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 24, 3:15-5:15 p.m., to honor the following employees at Elk Ridge Middle (South Jordan):
  • Ellen McDonald, math teacher, 35 years (media center)
  • Allan Cook, band and German teacher, 35 years (band room)
• A retirement open house will be held May 25, 3-4 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Eastmont Middle (Sandy):
  • Robyn Johnson, PE and dance teacher, 30 years
  • Eldon Palmer, TLC and tech lab teacher, 34 years
  • Paul Wayman, science and photography teacher, 26 years
  • Max Weiss, math and science teacher, 22 years
  • John White, special education teacher, 36 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 31, 3:30-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Alta View Elementary (Sandy):
  • Kathleen Atkinson, third-grade teacher, 30 years
  • Carol Peterson, lunch manager, 31 years
  • Virginia Rothstein, fifth-grade teacher, 27 years

Huntsman Award Winners
     Three of this year’s 10 recipients of Huntsman Awards for Excellence in Education are from Jordan School District. The purpose of the award is to recognize, inspire and reward the best teachers, school administrators and volunteers in Utah for continually seeking ways to improve the quality of education in our public school system. Each of the following award winners received $10,000 and will attend a banquet held in their honor May 12:
     - Jeff Arbogast, English teacher/athletic coach, Bingham High (South Jordan)
     - Laine Hall, first-grade teacher, Rosamond Elementary (Riverton)
     - Steve Park, principal, Riverton High

Educator of the Month
      The Sandy Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Credit Union honored Camille Osborne, sixth-grade teacher at Willow Canyon Elementary as Educator of the Month. The award was presented at a luncheon April 27.

Itineris High to Graduate First Class
      On May 5, 32 seniors at Itineris Early College High School (West Jordan) graduated from Salt Lake Community College with associate degrees: four received Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology degrees, 29 received Associate of Science in General Studies degrees, and one student earned both degrees. These seniors have amassed more than 2,000 units of college credit in just under two years, each student saving about $7,000 in tuition and $2,500 in textbook costs. These seniors will join 25 others in the first graduation ceremony of Itineris Early College High School on June 6, 11 a.m. at the Larry H. Miller Campus of the Salt Lake Community College, 9750 S. 300 West, Sandy. Itineris is a charter school sponsored by the Jordan Board of Education.

Book Affair
     Valley High (Sandy) will celebrate reading during its second annual Book Affair to be held on May 24, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at the school. The Book Affair is under the direction of Terry Jensen, literacy specialist. During the event, faculty and others who have recommended books give brief presentations of the books to the entire student body. A drawing is held at the end of each hour and the books presented during that hour are given away to students. The Book Affair instills in students and participants that reading is a lifelong activity.

Latin Dance Event
     Bingham High (South Jordan) hosted the Second Annual Latin Dance April 28 for all Spanish Clubs in the District. The event, organized by teacher LaRue Urquhart’s Spanish Club, attracted about 150 students who learned to dance to Salsa, Merengue, and Cha Cha music. Kathi Goodfellow, Spanish teacher at Alta High (Sandy), assisted with music and D.J. duties.

Businesses Support Teachers
     Local businesses in the Cottonwood Heights area donated more than $300 in gifts and gift certificates to make Teacher Appreciation Week, May 1-5, a special one for teachers at Oakdale Elementary (Sandy). Representatives from the school’s PTA collected the donations and sponsored drawings each day during the week.

Abravanel Hall Performance
     The school choir from Lone Peak Elementary (Sandy) was invited to participate in the Children’s Museum of Utah Guild Spring Concert held at Abravanel Hall May 3. The choir consists of students in all elementary grades and meets each week after school to prepare for performances.

Shopping Promotion Donation
     South Towne Center, in cooperation with partners U.S. Bank and Qwest, presented a $2,000 gift to Sandy Elementary May 5 as part of its “Teacher’s Supply Closet” program. The Salt Lake Bee’s mascot greeted students and awarded each teacher a ticket to the May 22 baseball game.

National School Nurse Day
     In recognition of National School Nurse Day May 10, the school nurses of Jordan District extend their appreciation to secretaries, teachers, classroom aides, principals, parent volunteers and many others who help meet the health needs of District students. Medical procedures, medication administration, first aid and emergency response, vision and scoliosis screenings, communicable disease follow up and many more health-related activities are accomplished through joint efforts with school nurses. Jordan District has seven regular education school nurses, two special education nurses, and three school nurses at Jordan Valley School (Midvale).

ESL Endorsement Applications
     Applications for the 2006-07 ESL endorsement program are now available. Pick up a two-page information memo and an application from your principal or download the information from the ALS Web site at web.jordan.k12.ut.us/als/endorsement0607.html . Space is available for approximately 100 participants. Applicants will be placed as their signed application is received in the ALS office. Applications will be accepted through July 5 or until space is filled. If you have questions, please e-mail Deborah Brey, teacher specialist, at deborah.brey@jordan.k12.ut.us .

Resource Materials Due
     Utah Augmentative Alternative Assistive Communication and Technology Teams (UAAACT) would like all software checked out from the library at Jordan Resource Center returned by May 19. Materials can be returned via District mail or directly to the library at 322 W. Center, Midvale. Call UAAACT at (801) 565-7584 with any questions.

• Retirement Open Houses
• A retirement open house will be held May 15, 3:15-4:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at South Jordan Middle:
  • Dixie Dansie, business teacher, 20 years
  • Mike Glenn, math teacher, 30 years
  • Gloria Noble, attendance secretary, 28 years
  • Elaine Petersen, history teacher, 26 years
  • Sandy Watts, English teacher, 24 years
  • Polly Yates, English teacher, 22 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 22, 3-5:30 p.m., in the Jordan High (Sandy) Tech Atrium, to honor the following District Office employees:
  • Kevin Branch, secondary guidance specialist, 30 years;
  • Julie Christofferson, curriculum consultant, 30 years;
  • Phyllis Embley, curriculum consultant, 27 years;
  • Sharon Gregory, administrative secretary, Office of the Superintendent, 25 years;
  • Dorothy McMurray, office manager, Accounting Department, 30 years;
  • Marjean Nielson, administrative secretary, Office of the Deputy Superintendent for Instructional Services, 31 years;
  • Nedra Perkins, administrative secretary, Curriculum and Staff Development, 30 years;
  • Marilyn Richards, director, Planning and Student Services, 34 years;
  • Craig Stark, executive director, West Jordan K-12 Feeder System, 31 years;
  • Pat Thompson, administrative secretary, Brighton K-12 Feeder System, 28 years;
  • Shirley Ulibarri, area clerk, Instructional Media Center, 22 years.
• A retirement open house will be held May 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at Willow Canyon Elementary (Sandy):
  • Jackie Curtis, fourth-grade teacher, 30 years
  • Linda Frischknecht, literacy specialist, 25 years
  • Lee Miller, fourth-grade teacher, 33 years
  • Sandie Peck, sixth-grade teacher, 32 years
  • Mary Pusey, sixth-grade teacher, 35 years
  • Marj Smith, third-grade teacher, 16 years
  • Jeanette Workman, second-grade teacher, 22 years
• A retirement open house will be held May 24, 3-5 p.m., in the school’s media center to honor the following employees at West Jordan Middle:
  • Don Funk, social studies teacher, 35 years
  • Stewart Wallace, special education teacher, 32 years
  • Shirley Rawlins, Spanish/English teacher, 19 years
  • Gene Sartain, Math/guitar teacher, 16 years
• Margo Richards, principal at Ridgecrest Elementary (Cottonwood Heights), is retiring after 26 years with the District. An open house will be held in her honor May 24, 4-6 p.m., in the school’s media center.

Nationally Ranked Graduation Rate
      Jordan School District has the fifth highest graduation rate among the country’s 100 largest school districts, according to a report recently released by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. According to the study, Jordan has a graduation rate of 82 percent compared to the state average of 77 percent and the national average of 70 percent. The graduation rates overall are calculated by race, and by gender, using the most recent available data (the class of 2003). The full report is available online at www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_48.htm.

P.E. Teacher of the Year
      Bruce Brinkman, District elementary P.E. teacher specialist, was named Utah Elementary P.E. Teacher of the Year by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The award was presented at the organization’s conference in Salt Lake City.

Music Educator of the Year
      Sherri Freestone, fourth-grade teacher at Canyon View Elementary (Cottonwood Heights), was honored as the Utah and National Music Educator of the Year during the National Convention of Music Educators in Salt Lake City. Freestone has directed the Canyon View Chorus for 20 years and is the founder and director of the Canyon View Percussion Ensemble and the Bell Choir.

Science Teacher Awards
      At the Utah Science Teachers Association Annual Conference held Feb. 17 in Cedar City, Paul Nance, District elementary science teacher specialist, was named Utah’s Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher of the Year. Diane Holland, fourth-grade teacher at Daybreak Elementary (South Jordan), was honored as the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year for Region IV.
     
Teacher of the Year
      Sue Tenhor, third-grade teacher at Monte Vista Elementary (South Jordan) was named the Utah Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year and was nominated for the Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture National Award Program. She was also named the local West Jordan Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year and will advance to the national competition. For the Wal-Mart award, Tenhor received a $100 gift certificate for her class and a $1,000 award for her school.

Outstanding Employee Awards
      Two Jordan District employees will be honored at the annual Utah School Employees Association Delegate Conference May 5 in Park City. Patricia Thompson, administrative secretary for the Brighton K-12 Feeder System, will be named Outstanding Secretary for the State of Utah. Randy Bringhurst, special needs route coordinator for the Transportation Department, will be named Outstanding Transportation Employee for the State of Utah. Nominations for these awards included letters of recommendation from members of the Jordan Classified Professional Association (JCPA) and District administrators, and were adjudicated against other applications submitted by school districts throughout the state.

Educators of the Month
      The Sandy Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Credit Union honored Karrie Wilbur, literacy specialist at Sprucewood Elementary and Boyd Ricks, band teacher at Mount Jordan Middle as Educators of the Month. The awards were presented at a luncheon April 27.

• Literary Magazine Awards
        Literary magazines from three Jordan District schools received a rank of Excellent in the National Council of Teachers of English’s (NCTE) Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines (PRESLM):
  
• Euphony, Alta High (Sandy), Sally Wilde, faculty adviser;
  
• Living Details, Bingham High (South Jordan), Rich Hallstrom, faculty adviser;
  
• Tabula Rasa, Riverton High, Claudette Rush, faculty adviser.
•       PRESLM honors quality literary magazines from middle schools and high schools. NCTE’s listing of all ranked magazines and 2006 program information are available at www.ncte.org/about/awards/student.

Duck Stamp Contest
     Alta High (Sandy) art students, under the direction of art teacher Doug Allen, again won 12 awards in the Utah State Junior Duck Stamp Contest for 2006, including Best of Show. Allen’s students have won the state award each year and the national award twice over the program’s 10-year history.

Super Literacy Saturday
     Draper Elementary recently held its second-annual Super Literacy Saturday. The event began with a keynote presentation by local author and illustrator Lily Toy Hong. Hong shared with parents and students the skills necessary to be a good author. More than 800 participants then attended a variety of classes taught by BYU professors, curriculum specialists and local teachers. Classes focused on reading, writing and technology skills to enhance learning in the classroom and at home. The participants were also treated to presentations by a local spinster who demonstrated how to spin silk into thread as discussed in Hong’s book “The Empress and the Silkworm.”

• Anniversary Celebrations
• Crescent Elementary (Sandy) is commemorating its 25th year with a celebration May 19. Teachers who have taught at Crescent for 25 years will be honored, as well as those who are retiring. The honored teachers will be Deanna Taylor, first grade; Cathy Spuck, second grade; Jennifer Coyle, third grade; MaryJo Duncombe, resource; John Paras, fourth grade; and Edna Henshaw, fifth grade.
• Brookwood Elementary (Sandy) will celebrate its 30th anniversary May 18 with singing and dancing. Any previous Brookwood teachers, faculty and families are invited to attend. The party begins at 6 p.m. on the school’s west lawn. After the program, bricks purchased by neighborhood families will be laid to begin the school’s “Pathway to Learning.” Bricks may also be purchased after the celebration. All proceeds go directly to the individual classroom libraries. Refreshments and a short tour of the building to see the “Halls of Memories” will conclude the evening's events. As parking is limited, walking and car pooling are encouraged. Please bring a blanket for sitting.

Books for Hurricane-Ravaged School
      A fifth-grade math class at Canyon View Elementary (Cottonwood Heights) collected more than 2,100 books during April for a Louisiana school that lost all its school materials to Hurricane Katrina. Students made posters, created commercials and collected donated books. The books will be packaged and shipped to Vincent Settlement Elementary School in New Orleans’ ninth parish.

Seeking Books
      Kindergarten teachers at Mountain Shadows Elementary (West Jordan) are in need of Houghton Mifflin Reading Practice Books. Please send any extra blue Kindergarten Practice Books to Mountain Shadows.

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

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.