Legislative Update HB74: School Impact Fees - This bill authorizes school districts to impose an impact fee, subject to voter approval. S: USBE, USBA, JBE. Key: S=Support, O=Oppose |
District Science Fair
The fifth- and sixth-grade District Science Fair was held Feb. 16 at Daybreak Elementary (South Jordan). During the fair, 118 projects were selected from 26 elementary schools to represent Jordan District at the Central Utah Science and Engineering Fair at BYU on March 28.
District Monster Math
A change in procedures for this year’s District Monster Math contest provided an opportunity for advanced math students from each grade level to work together on completing the challenging contest problems. Students from ALPS classes participated with students from the grade level above their placement. Thanks to all teachers who participated in this year’s contest and congratulations to the following contest winners:
4th grade: Alta View Elementary (Sandy)
5th grade: Peruvian Park Elementary (Sandy)
6th grade: Willow Canyon Elementary (Sandy)
7th grade: Westland Elementary—sixth-grade ALPS class (West Jordan)
Educators of the Month
The Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Credit Union honored Debra Jensen, science teacher at Union Middle, and Barbara Gondor, fifth-grade teacher at Edgemont Elementary, as Educators of the Month for February. These awards were presented at a luncheon Feb. 23.
Named a School to Watch
Sunset Ridge Middle (West Jordan) was recognized by the Utah State Board of Education as a “School to Watch.” In its first year as a Schools to Watch state, only three schools in Utah will be awarded this prestigious national designation. Schools to Watch is an initiative launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Through the initiative, schools are identified across the United States that are well on their way to meeting the criteria for high performance. Schools to Watch schools serve as mentors for other schools seeking to attain improved performance while continuing their own quest toward excellence.
Jazz Player Visits School
Quail Hollow Elementary (Sandy) was a winning school in the Utah Jazz Reading Contest. Jazz player Louis Amundson visited the school, read two stories to students and answered questions. The school celebrated with balloons, banners, and ice cream (provided by the Utah Jazz).
Wax Museum Biographies
Third-grade students at Copper Canyon Elementary (West Jordan) participated in a unique book report assignment. After spending several weeks reading biographies and collecting information, students presented a speech as if they were the individual they studied. They then presented a “wax museum” for the entire school to view, where the students dressed like the subject of their book reports.
Assistance with Health Care
The Jordan District Health Services Department reminds teachers to be aware of those who may be without health insurance or proper health care. Primary Care Network (PCN) will open enrollment for all uninsured adults, age 19-64, beginning March 1. The cost to enroll is $50, $25 or $15 depending on income. For more information, visit www.jordan.k12.ut.us/healthservices/index.htm or call Kami Ridd, (801) 412-2522. The Health Services Deparment is located in the portable buildings behind Jordan Valley School (Midvale).
Retirement Planning Seminar
The Jordan Education Foundation is sponsoring a retirement seminar that provides information to help prepare for a financially secure retirement, maximize income and get the most from investments. The material is relevant to those in the early stages of retirement planning as well as those who are close to retirement. The registration fee of $59 includes all course materials. Those registered may also bring a spouse or one guest at no extra charge. Course instructor Gregory Williams draws from a rich educational background and extensive experience in investment, retirement and estate planning. The course runs three nights, March 15, 22 and 29, 6:30-9 p.m., at the District Office, Board Room A. Class sizes are limited. For additional information or to register, please call (801) 453-2340.
Master’s Degree
National University is offering a Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in National Board Certification/Teacher Leadership. An information meeting will be held March 21, 3:30 p.m., in Board Room B at the District Office. At this meeting, information will be available on the master’s curriculum, application process, cost, National Board Certification and timeline for the program. This is a one-year program. Also, teachers who are interested in National Board Certification may attend this meeting to get information and apply for program fee scholarships. For more information, contact Pam Su'a, Curriculum Department, (801) 567-8320.
History Training
Applications are now available for the Jordan History Academy of Teachers (JHAT) 2007 summer session. The five-week opportunity for history/social studies teachers (and language arts/special ed teachers who collaborate) will increase U.S. history content knowledge and pedagogical skills. Teachers who successfully complete this program receive a $2,500 stipend. The dates for the program are June 11 through July 18. Participants must agree to attend all days and complete all readings and assignments. Principals will receive applications through District mail. Applications are due to by April 16. Space is limited as this is the last year for JHAT I. For more information, contact Pam Su'a, Curriculum Department, (801) 567-8320, or Whitney Child, whitney.child@jordan.k12.ut.us
Item Needed
South Park Academy (Draper) is looking for a working Cerlox binding machine. Please contact Paula Ivie, head secretary, (801) 576-8249.
PTA Family Award
As part of PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week celebration last week, representatives from the national PTA office presented Fort Herriman Middle with $1,897 to assist in the school’s plans for parent involvement. Fort Herriman is one of just 16 schools nationwide to be recognized. The school was recognized for planning activities that are innovative, inclusive, promote parent and family involvement in schools, emphasize the link between involvement and student achievement and further PTA’s mission.
Grants Awarded
The Qwest Foundation and the Utah State Office of Education awarded 20 grants to Utah teachers through the 2007 Qwest Teachers and Technology grant program. Two Jordan District teachers were among those receiving grants: Ruth Ann Abbott, math teacher at Jordan High (Sandy), received a $2,450 grant for math portfolios using multi-media; and Deborah Owens, third-grade teacher at Draper Elementary, received a $1,910 grant for a projecting knowledge project. The Qwest Teachers and Technology grant program recognizes and rewards public school teachers who use innovative technology in the classroom to improve the education experience for students.
Students Helping Students
Peer leadership team members from Hillcrest High (Midvale) are assisting Oakdale Elementary (Sandy) students with reading. Twice each week, the high school students spend 30 minutes tutoring struggling fifth- and sixth-grade students. The elementary students are experiencing gains in reading fluency and comprehension while gaining a positive attitude about their own reading ability.
Literacy Fair
Elk Ridge Middle (South Jordan) recently hosted its second annual literacy fair. The event included an assembly featuring Holocaust survivor David Faber. The community was invited to an evening of literacy-promoting activities including book making, teacher and student readings, and a book fair for visitors to purchase books at discounted prices. A special children's corner was offered, where youngsters were read to and were given the opportunity to make character puppets from stories they read. Salt Lake County librarians were also on hand to answer questions about services they offer to the public.
President Lincoln Visits School
Students at Park Lane Elementary (Sandy) received a visit from Abraham Lincoln on the morning of his birthday, Feb. 12. Honest Abe visited classrooms urging students to study diligently, reach their full potential, be involved in school and government, and to be honest.
Students to Present Comedy
Students at Alta High (Sandy) will present Oscar Wilde’s comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” Feb. 23, 24 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now available at the Alta High Main Office for $6. The price is $7 at the door.
NetSafe Utah: Cybersafe Your Teens
Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation for home computer use, with computers in more than 74 percent of households, and fifth highest for Internet use in the home. Cybersafe Your Teens, a one-hour discussion forum airing Feb. 26, 9 p.m., on KUED-Channel 7, explores practical ways parents can keep their children safe on the Internet. The program will be repeated March 1, 8 p.m., and March 3, 7 p.m. on UEN-Channel 9. The show is part of NetSafe Utah, a year-long project led by KUED, KUEN and the University of Utah College of Education and involving the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and NetSmartz. Additional information and resources are available online at www.netsafeutah.org.
Science Fair
The Jordan District Secondary Science Fair will be held Feb. 21 in the Tech Atrium at Riverton High. The fair is open to the public 7-8:30 pm. There will be more than 100 projects from secondary schools throughout the District.
We the People
The state finals for the We the People competition were recently held at the University of Utah. Alta High (Sandy) and Riverton High participated in the event, with Riverton earning a third-place finish. The We the People competition is an elite event where students research topics related to the U.S. Constitution and government then compete in various events.
Service Learning Mini-Grants Still Available
Do you want to provide meaning and substance to what you are teaching in the classroom? Do you want to empower students with the ability to impact their community? Try a service-learning project in your classroom. Student Intervention Services is still offering service learning grants from $200-$500 for classroom projects connected to curriculum objectives. Grants will be awarded all year, as long as the projects are completed by May 5. For the grant application, e-mail or call Jeani Mulliner, jeani.mulliner@jordan.k12.ut.us, (801) 412-2953.
Prevention Dimension Reminder
Teachers in grades K-9 who received the new Prevention Dimensions curriculum within the last 5 years, please respond to the monthly usage survey. The survey comes from Rodney Hopkins, University of Utah, and takes only a few minutes to complete. The survey will help measure the effectiveness of the program. Fourth-grade teachers who received the MinD Over Matter CDs in December, please distribute those to students as soon as possible and return the homework assignments in the envelope provided with the CDs.
Coach of the Year
Brighton High (Cottonwood Heights) tennis coach Natalie Aposhian was named the 2006 West Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association. The West section includes the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. As a West sectional winner, Aposhian is a finalist for the national tennis coach of the year.
Employee of the Month
The Maintenance Department named Doug Christensen, lead man in the General Trades and Paint Shop, Maintenance Employee of the Month for February. He has been with the District since 1972.
Top Drill Team
The Bingham High (South Jordan) Lady Minerettes, coached by Morgan Meredith and Cicily Gibbs, won the Class 5-A state title in the Utah High School Activities Association Drill Team State Championships for the fourth consecutive year. The Minerettes will be honored today (Feb. 6) in Bingham’s Winter Sports Assembly, where a school trophy will be presented.
French Dancing and Culture
The West Jordan High International Club and French classes recently joined the Bingham High and Copper Hills High French clubs to learn French dancing and share French and Canadian cultures. The warm-up dance was Sur le Pont d'Avignon, showing greetings and salutes by different people in society. They also learned La Bastringue, a folk dance still enjoyed today in Québec, Canada. After their exercise, students snacked on French bon-bons (candies).
Donate Your Tax Refund
Jordan Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supports students, teachers and schools in Jordan School District. When filing your 2006 state tax returns, please consider contributing a portion of your refund to Jordan Education Foundation. It’s easy, and it means so much to Jordan teachers and schools. Page 2, line 22 of Utah form TC-40 allows taxpayers to designate as little as $1 as a contribution to the Foundation. To donate, fill in Line 22 with Code 05 (Nonprofit School District Foundation), enter a dollar amount and indicate Sch/Tech Code 14 (Jordan). One-hundred percent of donations are used for Foundation programs, such as mini-grants for teachers, low-income student medical assistance, at-risk student scholarships and outstanding educator awards. For more information, please visit the Foundation’s new Web site at www.jordaneducationfoundation.org, or call Sue Weaver, (801) 567-8125.
National School Counseling Week
This week (Feb. 5-9) is National School Counseling Week. It is a great time to celebrate the school counselors’ who work in your building, as well as, raise awareness about the services and resources available through counseling and guidance centers.
Seeking Computer Equipment
Oakcrest Elementary (West Jordan) is seeking surplus iMac or iBook computers to transfer to the school. Also helpful would be extra RAM (PC100 DIMM) and extra USB mice. Please contact Paul Fisher, (801) 280-7243, paul.fisher@jordan.k12.ut.us
The Jordan Resource Center (Midvale) is looking for two monitors to use with student computers. If you have monitors you are planning to surplus or are not using, please contact Tamera Ortega, (801) 565-7584, tamera.ortega@jordan.k12.ut.us.
Employment Opportunities
See current job openings posted by the Human Resources
Department at www.jordandistrict.org/hr
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.