SEPTEMBER 2005

2006 Teacher of the Year       Patricia Drake always admired her teachers. She noticed when her teachers really cared for her and wanted her to succeed. And, she thought, teaching would be an enjoyable, challenging career. But, after one year of college, Drake chose being a wife and mother over teaching outside the home.       Still, being involved with her own children's education, made Drake reconsider her desire to teach. “I wanted to be that teacher who could make a difference in someone’s life…that teacher who could help children become motivated to achieve their dreams…that teacher who could share the love of learning with others.” So, 15 years after she left college, Drake became a student once more. She is now a kindergarten teacher at Hayden Peak Elementary, and was selected as the 2006 Jordan District Teacher of the Year.       Drake’s principal, Jodi Stewart-Browning, says everyone who knows Drake is touched by her true dedication to learning and teaching. “When I was appointed principal at Hayden Peak last spring, many people in the District commented how lucky I was to go to Pat Drake’s school…how right they were,” Stewart-Browning wrote in a recommendation letter.      “The high expectations Pat has for her students is one of the most important contributions she makes to each one of them,” wrote Jennifer Bowen, first-grade teacher at Hayden Peak. “She expects every one of her students to perform at his or her best…and she always has a sense of what that is for each individual child.”       Now a 22-year teaching veteran, Drake serves as a District consulting educator, is a member of the Elementary CORE Academy Staff for Utah State University, is a master trainer for the state’s “I Can Read” program, is a District Balanced Literacy trainer, and has presented at numerous statewide teacher conferences and workshops.       When asked what she considers her greatest contributions, Drake wrote, “I would hope that one of my greatest contributions to education is to instill a love of learning in young people, to help them be successful and productive, to encourage them to be the best they can be and to keep trying even when it gets difficult.”

Employees Published
      District employees Dana Bickmore, executive director for the Alta K-12 Feeder System, and Steven Bickmore, English teacher at Riverton High, co-wrote an article for the National Association of Secondary School Principals monthly newsletter titled Interdisciplinary Teaming as an Induction Practice. The article was published in the September 2005 Issue. Steven also wrote an article titled “Language at the Heart of the Matter” the Symbolic Language and Ideology in The Heart of a Chief, which was published in The Alan Review, a publication for the National Council of Teachers of English. Both Bickmores received their Ph.D. degrees in education from the University of Georgia this year.

Educators of the Month
      The Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Credit Union honored Emily Vimahi, fifth-grade teacher at East Sandy Elementary, and Marshall Garner, fourth-grade teacher at Sunrise Elementary, Sandy, as Educators of the Month for September. The awards were presented at a luncheon held in their honor.

City Choice Award
      Riverton City presented its September Riverton City Choice Award for Education to Belann Earley, English teacher at Oquirrh Hills Middle, Riverton. The award was presented by the mayor and city council at a regular city council meeting.

Cards for Seniors/Soldiers
      At West Hills Middle, West Jordan, students participating in the CATS (Character, Academics, Talent and Service) program made holiday cards for residents of an assisted living center and have written letters of thanks and encouragement to U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

• More Hurricane Relief Efforts
• In just three days, students at Mountain Shadows Elementary, West Jordan, gathered more than $400 in spare change and a classroom full of stuffed animals for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds were donated to the Utah Chapter of the American Red Cross.
• Lone Peak Elementary, Sandy, students set aside their traditional Spirit Week activities and chose to lift school spirit through an act of service. In cooperation with the State Health Department and the Red Cross, students collected items for refugees of Hurricane Katrina. In addition to donating more than 100 boxes of clothing, toys and books, students raised $2,250 in cash, including a $1,000 contribution from Albertsons.
• Students at Westland Elementary, West Jordan, raised $3,364 in one week, including a match from business partner Smiths. One first-grade student held a garage sale, selling every toy she owned and donating the proceeds, $500, to the effort.

Science Week
      Science teachers at Joel P. Jensen Middle, West Jordan, treated students to activities including a science assembly, teacher and student displays, and rocket- and car-building competitions during the school’s ninth annual Science Week. Teachers Tim Heumann and Mark Stanley wowed students with experiments that included exploding hydrogen balloons, luminescence and electricity. Displays and activities were designed to get students interested in science.

Fulbright Exchange
      Through the Fulbright Exchange Program, Jordan District is hosting an administrator from the country of Jordan. Fatima Al-Fazza is shadowing Sue Malone, principal at Hillcrest High, Midvale, and Cora Jckowski, principal at Majestic Elementary, West Jordan, in an experience that will allow her to see how administrators deal with issues and help students achieve success. Al-Fazza is the headmistress of Dair-Allah Secondary School in Dair-Allah, an all-girls school with 600 students.

No Student Should Go Without Health Care
      The Health Services Department is a new District department located in a portable office building behind Jordan Valley School, Midvale. Through a partnership with the State of Utah, a Bureau of Eligibility Services worker for the Department of Health also has an office in the building. Department staff is able to assist families in the application process for Medicaid and CHIP.  For information, call Kami Ridd, (801) 412-2522, or go to www.jordan.k12.ut.us/healthservices/index.htm .

Master’s Program Available
      The Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations and Jordan School District recently announced the 21st year of the BYU Leadership Preparation Program (LPP). LPP is a one-year program for granting students a Master’s of Education degree and eligibility for a Utah Administrative/Supervisory License. Licensed educators interested in participating in this program should attend one of the following orientations: Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m. in Board Room B at the District Office; or Oct. 17, 5-7 p.m. at the BYU Harman Building, Room 2265, 900 E. University Parkway in Provo. Application packets will be distributed at the orientation meetings. Some information is available from school principals. For further information about the application process, eligibility, etc., contact Joe Matthews, (801) 422-6388, or Ellen Williams, (801) 422-1709.

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District Recognized for Conservation Efforts
      The Governor's Water Conservation Team recognized Jordan District with a "Juniper Award" for the District's efforts in water conservation. Despite growth in its number of buildings, the District reduced water usage by more than 10 percent. The reduction saved about 34 million gallons of water.

Educator of the Month
      Colleen Wheeler, literacy facilitator at South Jordan Elementary, was selected by her school colleagues as recipient of the Midvale Kiwanis Educator of the Month award.  Wheeler will be honored at tonight’s meeting of the Midvale Kiwanis.

Outstanding Cooperating Teacher
      The Brigham Young University Department of Spanish and Portuguese recognized Sheila Ainsworth, Spanish teacher at Riverton High, as its outstanding cooperating teacher. The award recognizes excellence in mentoring student teachers during their clinical experience.

Wal-Mart Grant
      Southpointe High, Sandy, the District's adult high school, received a $1,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation. The grant will be used for adult literacy programs.

• Schools Contribute to Katrina Relief Efforts
• Students at Oakdale Elementary, Sandy, raised $900 and collected toys for Katrina victims. Students collected so many toys and clothes they were able to donate extra items to families from Midvale Elementary who recently lost their homes and belongings to a fire.
• At West Hills Middle, West Jordan, students participating in the C.A.T.S. (Character, Academics, Talent and Service) program made welcome cards and books for the students at Camp Williams. The books were based on a value such as taking care of yourself, making good choices or being a friend.
• Students and staff at Midvalley Elementary, Midvale, are collecting "Koins for Katrina" until flags are raised to full-staff again on Sept. 21.
• The Welby Elementary, South Jordan, Spirit Club is collecting money to send to the Red Cross. Students are encouraged to do a job or two around the house to earn the money to donate.
• The Riverton High Car Cruiser Club hosted a car show Sept. 9-10, raising $600 for hurricane victims. Jay Hales, auto shop teacher, organized the event.
• Susan Holtkamp's sixth-grade class at Jordan Hills Elementary, West Jordan, is running a "Bear Hugs from Bear Cubs" drive. They are collecting new teddy bears for children displaced by the hurricane.
• Sunrise Elementary, Sandy, students collected $805 for the American Red Cross.
• Students and staff at Valley High, Sandy, conducted a fund-raising drive which raised $308 for the American Red Cross. The program was part of character education at the school.
• Students at Silver Mesa Elementary, Sandy, designed posters with ideas on how they can earn money to donate to the Red Cross and are following up on their ideas. 
• Student officers at Jordan High, Sandy, are raising money for Habitat For Humanity's Operation Home Delivery. The project will help rebuild homes lost in Hurricane Katrina. Cheerleaders will donate $5 from each ticket sold to the school’s homecoming dance and student body officers will donate $5 from each ticket sold to the Dogpatch dance. The school will also host a benefit concert Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the drill team, dance company, jazz band and cheerleaders, among others.

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Principal Named UASSP President-Elect
      Stephen Park, principal at Riverton High, was named president-elect of the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals (UASSP) during the organization’s annual meeting. He will serve as the association’s president during the 2006-07 school year.

Teacher Feature Honor
      Suzette Kinzer, humanities teacher at Riverton High, was recognized on the KSL Radio “Teacher Feature” program. She was nominated by students in her class.

District counselors and teachers provide education-related activities for school-age hurricane evacuees at Camp Williams.

Helping Katrina Victims
      Members of the Alternative Language Services Department and Student Intervention Services have been at Camp Williams since Sept. 3 providing services for school-age students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Counselors and teachers are currently providing a variety of educational and crisis counseling services to about 25 students at the facility. State agencies are working to move families into more permanent housing, which may mean welcoming some of these students into District schools.
      After hearing of the devastation sustained in the gulf-coast region, students at Jordan Resource Center, Midvale, pledged money from their future jobsite earnings to buy bottled water. In all, Jordan Resource Center students and staff donated more than 200 cases of water at Smith’s where a truck, provided by Godfrey Trucking, Inc., was waiting to deliver collected goods. Students helped load not only the water, but other donated supplies as well.
      Jordan High, Sandy, faculty and staff contributed two large boxes of school supplies for victims of hurricane Katrina displaced here in Utah.
      The Jordan Education Association, together with the Utah Education Association, established the Children At-Risk Foundation to purchase supplies and clothes for displaced students. Those wishing to donate can call (801) 266-4461.
      If your school or department has conducted or is currently conducting a hurricane relief effort, please e-mail Mike Kelley, michael.kelley@jordan.k12.ut.us, so we can recognize your efforts in Current.

Retirement Open House
      Joyce Gardner, resource teacher at West Jordan Elementary, is retiring after 30 years in Jordan District. An open house will be held in her honor Sept. 22, 3:30-5 p.m., in the school’s media center.

History Seminar
      Jordan District is sponsoring the seminar “Turning Points in History” for all District social studies and history teachers Sept. 17, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Mount Jordan Middle, Sandy. The keynote speaker is David Faber, a Holocaust survivor. Other speakers include professors from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Participants can receive 0.5 credit hours for attending. The cost is $15, which includes breakfast and lunch.

Day Care Available
      The day care at Bingham High, South Jordan, has a limited number of openings for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Please contact Laurie deJong, (801) 256-5145, for times and costs.

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Katrina Victims Arrive in Jordan District
      About 600 victims of hurricane Katrina have arrived at Camp Williams, including nearly 40 school-age children. Since the Bluffdale base is within District boundaries, Jordan District staff has mobilized to educate and provide counseling services for these evacuees. Please watch for a "Current Bulletin" by e-mail later today with more details as additional information becomes available.

District E-mail Disrupted
      The District e-mail server was shut down for two days last week due to internal viruses and external attacks on the system. The Information Systems Department restored service early Aug. 31. To reduce the risk of future disruption, employees are reminded to update desktop operating systems (Windows users are encouraged to turn on “Automatic Updates”) and anti-virus software. Also, never open unexpected attachments. For more information, contact Information Systems, (801) 567-8737.

Classified Employees Ratify Agreement
      Following negotiations with a Federal mediator, the Jordan Classified Professionals Association (JCPA) voted to ratify a negotiated agreement Aug. 29. A salary increase of 3.04 percent for classified employees went into effect Aug. 30. For additional details of the agreement, go to http://www.jordandistrict.org/negotiations070805.html.

Lunch Accounts Accessible Online
      The Nutrition Services Department has initiated a parent account management system for student lunch accounts. Parents can access student lunch accounts by registering online at www.paypams.com using the student's school ID number. There is no charge to view account balances, however, the vendor charges 5.6 percent to deposit money to the account online. Parents can continue to deposit money at the school for no charge as usual.

Staff from Majestic Elementary and South Towne Center unload school supplies donated through the shopping center's "Teachers Supply Closet" supply drive.

Anniversary Celebrations
      • Midvale Middle will hold its 50th Anniversary celebration Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. All Jordan District faculty, staff and administration are invited to join in the celebration. The program will feature a student-produced documentary highlighting the students, faculty, staff and community members that have made Midvale Middle great.
      • In recognition of its 25th year, Altara Elementary, Sandy, invites current and former students, parents and staff to a “Silver Celebration” open house Sept. 30, 2-3:30 p.m. Activities and a group service project are planned for the entire week.

Supply Drive Benefits School
      During the month of August, South Towne Center mall displayed a mini school bus in its center court with signs showing a list of needed school supplies. Majestic Elementary, West Jordan, was selected as the beneficiary of the supplies donated by mall patrons. By the end of the drive, the bus contained 8,000 school supplies, including $6,900 in supplies from Central Office Suppliers and 2,250 spiral notebooks from Ethan Allen Furniture. The supplies were delivered to Majestic Elementary (escorted by members of the South Towne Center Management Team) Sept. 1.

Dietitian Available to Teach
      The Nutrition Services Department has a dietetic intern available to teach nutrition education in elementary and secondary schools. The intern, Sabastian Varas, is a recent graduate currently working to become a registered dietitian. He can be scheduled to teach by calling Nutrition Services, (801) 567-8760.

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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.