Author: Mr. Jenson

In this ParentSquare, we have important information about Citizenship grades in each course, and about a chance for you and your student to give the school and district input about your experience in Jordan School District.

Sharing Citizenship with Parents

In an effort to better communicate important information about your child’s citizenship (learning behaviors and social behaviors) in class, we are in the process of making some improvements to how we communicate citizenship to parents. Please be patient as we roll these changes out over the next few weeks.:

• Citizenship Number in Every Class as an Unweighted Assignment
  • In both Skyward and Canvas, you will see an assignment in its own category called citizenship. Just like other assignment grades, citizenship is graded during the term in every class with the same 1, 2, 3, 4 you see on assignments. You’ll find this as an unweighted category in every class (meaning it doesn’t affect the academic grade).
  • These numbers correlate directly with U, N, S, and H that you will see at the end of the term as a citizenship letter grade, but allows us to communicate more specifics during the term with a rubric as described below.
• Citizenship Rubric in Canvas
  • If a student has a 3 (S), it means they are doing everything they should in every category of our citizenship rubric. If they have anything other than a 3 (S), you can now go into Canvas and see where they have lost points (or gone above, for a 4).
  • To access this, go to the Canvas course and choose the Citizenship assignment for that course. You’ll be able to see the entire rubric, including where your student excelled or can improve. You can find a direct link to the Canvas assignment in the description of the assignment in Skyward.
• Citizenship Categories on the Rubric
  • The academic grade shows what they know and can do as it relates to the content of the class, and the citizenship grade shows how they perform in class as a part of a school community, as well as how they contribute (positively or negatively) to the learning of others. Those categories are:
    • HOW I LEARN (Work Skills & Habits)
      • On-Time Work Completion
      • Academic Integrity
      • Readiness to Learn
    • HOW I ACT (Human Interactions)
      • Respect for Adults
      • Respect for Peers
      • School-Appropriate Language
• Communication Goals
  • Whenever a citizenship grade is dropped, the teacher will communicate with the student and parent why the grade was dropped. This will be a phone call, an email, a parentsquare message, or a comment on the assignment in Canvas/Skyward. If you have any questions about the change and how to improve the grade, you can reach out to the teacher directly.

We believe strongly that collaboration with parents makes a huge difference when it comes to the learning environment at school, and we appreciate your help and involvement in what happens in the classroom. If you have any questions about a citizenship grade marked on a rubric in Canvas, don’t hesitate to reach out to the teacher for specifics on how to improve their citizenship in class.

Student Input Surveys

We would love to have your children’s input on the student version of the stakeholder feedback survey described below. You were able to opt-in to this survey during registration, but if you were unable to complete registration and/or would like your student to participate, please complete this form and return it to the main office or email the form to danielle.sosa@jordandistrict.org. We plan to administer the survey during Prowl on November 26th, so it is essential that you return the form ASAP so that we can ensure your student gets the chance to take the survey.

Parent Stakeholder Feedback Survey

Dear Parents/Guardians: 

We want to hear about your experience with your student’s education. We invite you to participate in completing Jordan School District’s Stakeholder Input Survey. This survey includes questions about your student’s learning environment, academic support, school safety and school security. It also includes questions specific to individual educators who support your student’s education such as teachers, school administrators, counselors, and others.  Your responses will be very helpful in improving learning conditions and supports in your student’s school as well as school safety and security.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.  Please submit your responses by Tuesday, November 26th. The survey is completely confidential.  Survey results will only be reported as group responses. There are no right or wrong answers. We just want to know about your personal experiences and observations. 

As you respond to each item, think about your own personal experiences as a parent, caregiver or guardian at your student’s school. Please answer all of the questions.  The survey allows you to answer questions about multiple teachers and support staff.  Even though taking this part of the survey will require extra time, your feedback will be invaluable to teachers as they strive to meet the needs of their students.

Please complete the survey by Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

The link to complete the survey will be sent directly to your email by the district.

Thank you for your time and participation!

SnowBlitz Backup ChaperonesSnowBlitz is happening once again, and they are looking for potential volunteers to ride up and back with the bus. You get a free pass and transportation, so it’s not a bad gig if you’re into snow sports. You will need your own ski/board equipment. If you’re interested, let Mr. Jenson know by replying to this post or emailing him at curtis.jenson@jordandistrict.org. There are two sessions. Session 1: Jan 8, 15, 22, & 29., with a makeup between Feb 6-8. Session 2: Feb 12-Mar 7, with a makeup day between Mar 12-14.

Parents of 9^th Graders,

Does your student know what credits they’ve earned toward graduation, or what classes they might need in 10^th grade? Do they know how to avoid debt when they go to college? Come attend a Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR) meeting with your counselor and learn all this and more. These 45-minute sessions will be held December 3 through December 13 and consist of a small group presentation followed by your individual questions.

To schedule a PCCR appointment, login to Skyward Family Access at http://skystu.jordan.k12.ut.us between November 11 and November 22.  Select your South Jordan Middle School student, and then click the Conference button on the left side of the screen.  Choose All Conferences next to your student’s name, click Select a Time, and then click Select by the desired appointment time.  You will receive a confirmation email for your appointment.

Your appointment will be with your student’s counselor:

A-Da – – – – – – – – – – – – – Mr. Young

De-G – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Switzer

H-Mad – – – – – – – – – – – -Ms. Poulter

Mae-Ror – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Pew

Ros-Z – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Graham

If you need help accessing the Skyward Scheduler, please call 801-412-2910. All students will have a PCCR meeting regardless of parent attendance.

We look forward to meeting with you,

SJMS Counseling Staff

Welcome back from Fall Break! We’re starting 2nd quarter and a district-wide personal electronics policy tomorrow, and we also get to have Halloween this week. Here’s a reminder of our Halloween dress guidelines:

Halloween is a great chance to see the personality and creativity of our students. We want the day to be fun, and we also want to be able to have a productive day in class. With that in mind, what follows is a list of guidelines to help us do both:

• The School Dress Code and the Student Code of Conduct still apply
• Students should come to school already dressed with any makeup or hair color already applied
• Students should avoid costumes that degrade any other group of people
• We must be able to easily see who you are
• Avoid masks worn on the face
• Makeup or other costume additions must still allow us to identify you
• We must be able to move in the halls and function in class, including avoiding disruptions to teachers and other students
• Costumes must be safe, and make others feel safe
• No weapons or facsimiles of weapons
• Footwear must be worn all day

Above all, if you’re aren’t sure you should wear it, just don’t. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Tickets for The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition are now available. Tickets are free, but please make a reservation through our ticketing website. Performances are November 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19 at 7:00 PM. There is also a matinee performance on November 16 at 2:00 PM. Doors open 30 minutes before each show. In order to ensure ticket availability for all patrons, please only reserve tickets for performances you plan to attend.

Fee Reminders

If your student is taking a class with a class fee (art, foods, French, etc.), those fees are now visible and can be paid by logging into Skyward. You can also view and pay Registration Fees in Skyward. Lunch balances can be paid in Skyward by going to Fee Management. You can also add money to your student’s account in person, but only via cash or check. You can use a card to pay class and registration fees.

Link to JSD Middle School Fee Schedule  

Link to SoJo School Fee List  

Cell Phone Policy Starts TuesdayWe’ve sent more detailed information out before today, but just a reminder that the Jordan School District Board of Education updated the personal electronics policy (often called the ‘cell phone policy’) effective 10/29/24. The full policy can be found here. You can watch this video to learn more.

End of Q1, Fall Break & Grade Transmittal Day

This Friday marks the end of the first quarter and Monday is the start of Fall Break. The Monday after Fall Break is designated as grade transmittal day and students won’t attend on that day. This means that the first day of the second quarter is October 29th. We hope you have a wonderful and restful Fall Break!

Updated Cell Phone Policy

The Jordan School District Board of Education updated the personal electronics policy (often called the ‘cell phone policy’) effective 10/29/24. The full policy can be found here. You can watch this video to learn more. Our student handbook has been updated to reflect these changes, and you can see that addition to our handbook below:

In short, for secondary schools, all personal electronics, including cell phones, smart watches, bluetooth headphones, etc. are not allowed during class time. The policy specifically states that devices must be silent and out of sight, meaning that if it is seen or heard during class, it’s a violation of the policy. 

The consequences of violating this policy are also specifically outlined in the policy:

• 1st Violation
  • Device is stored in a secure location (Attendance Office) and the STUDENT can pick up the phone at the end of the school day.
• 2nd Violation & Beyond
  • Device is stored in a secure location (Attendance Office) and the PARENT can pick up the phone at the end of the school day.
  • Further consequences can be determined by the school as needed.

A FEW NOTES:

It’s worth noting that there is no warning system written into this policy, which means that the device will be confiscated the very first time it’s used during class time. 

Also note that it is not specific to a location (a classroom), but to the time when students should be in class, which means students using a hall pass or who should otherwise be in class should likewise not be using any such devices.

Violations of this policy will also be addressed in the citizenship grade under “Respect for Adults” or “Readiness to Learn” categories of the citizenship rubric. Please remember that the school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices.

8th Grade PCCRs – Nov 4-13

Does your student know all the steps needed to graduate high school? Do they know what college they would like to attend, or what scholarships are available? Come attend a Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR) meeting with your counselor and learn all this and more. These 40-minute sessions will be held November 4 through November 13, and will consist of a 30-minute small group presentation followed by your individual questions.

To schedule a PCCR appointment, login to Skyward Family Access at http://skystu.jordan.k12.ut.us between October 9 and October 29.  Select your South Jordan Middle School student, and then click the Conference button on the left side of the screen.  Choose All Conferences next to your student’s name, click Select a Time, and then click Select by the desired appointment time.  You will receive a confirmation email for your appointment.

Your appointment will be with your student’s counselor:

A-Da – – – – – – – – – – – – – Mr. Young

De-G – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Switzer

H-Mad – – – – – – – – – – – -Ms. Poulter

Mae-Ror – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Pew

Ros-Z – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Graham

If you need help accessing the Skyward Scheduler, please call 801-412-2910. All students will have a PCCR meeting regardless of parent attendance.

Utah’s 8th Annual Apple Crunch Day – Thurs, October 17

JSD Nutrition Services has purchased local apples from Pyne Farms in Santaquin, Utah, to celebrate. Check out this great 3-minute Pyne Farm tour video and to learn about apples. This year, Apple Crunch Day falls during National School Lunch Week! The theme for this year is “School Lunch Pirates…Find Your Treasure”. We hope you enjoy this celebration!

Chipotle Spirit Night – Tues, October 8, 5-9PM

It’s time for another SoJo Spirit Night. This time, we’re partnering with Chipotle in South Jordan near the District. 25% of event sales get donated to our middle school’s PTA, and helps them support students and teachers. Be sure to mention South Jordan Middle School when ordering. You can also order online for pickup using the code G8NJERL. Thank you for your support!

Lockdown Drill – Tues, Oct 8 during 4th Period (11:15-11:30)

We will hold a Lockdown Drill on Tuesday, October 8. We will be treating this as a drill and you will not be able to check out a student or come into the office until the drill is complete.

A lockdown is issued when an immediate threat is identified within the building. On the announcements students will hear: “This is a Lockdown. Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.”

During the LOCKDOWN drill, we will:

• Close and lock the classroom door 
• Cover the door window 
• Close and lock classroom windows. Close the blinds. (If there are any)
• Turn off the lights
• Move all students and staff to a safe corner of the room
• Silence all phones and remain quiet

In the event of a real emergency:

• If the threat is NOT nearby AVOID- immediately get outside through the closest, safest exit
• If the threat is nearby, LOCKDOWN and DENY- barricade the entrance
• If the threat is attacking, DEFEND- fight back with any means necessary
• DO NOT open the door for anyone requesting entrance. Authorities will have keys and open the door to release you when everything is clear.

Picture Make Up – Wed, Oct 9

Picture Retakes will be available for anyone who missed picture day or who would like to retake their school picture. Students will be called down alphabetically by last name beginning in 1st period and completed by lunch. We will make an all-call before Bell Photography leaves in order to catch anyone that doesn’t hear the announcement.  

Choir Concerts – Thurs, Oct 10

Our School Choirs will be performing this week. Everyone is welcome to attend. Here are the details:

• 7th Grade Performers arrive at 5:30 PM
• 7th Grade Choir Performance begins at 6:00 PM
• 8th & 9th Grade Performers arrive at 7:00 PM
• 8th & 9th Grade Choir Performance begins at 7:30 PM 

Reflections Entries due Friday! – Fri, October 11

PTSA is excited to announce that….It’s Reflections time!! This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfections”. Think hard about what that means to you and create something! Visual Art (2D or 3D), a film, a dance, a song, a poem or short story, or a photograph! You can even do one of each.

The top scoring piece in each category will win the Grand Prize: Hale Center Theater tickets!!!! And there will be other prizes for other winners plus a participation prize for everyone that enters.

The entry deadline is October 11th. For more information including guidelines for each category and entry instructions visit https://www.utahpta.org/ref

9th Grade College Tour – Wed, Oct 16

We are so excited for our 9th grade College Tour! On October 16th our 9th grade students will get to tour a nearby college. We leave during 2nd period and will be back by lunch. We still need a few more parent volunteers to chaperone.

Please complete this form if you would like to be a parent volunteer for our 9th Grade College Tour. Thank you, SoJo community!

Panorama Survey This Week

Students will be taking our district’s Panorama survey this week. This is the same surrey given in the fall, winter and spring each year. This survey gives us insight into how students feel about school and helps us drive change for our school culture. The survey will only be administered to students whose parents gave permission for the survey during registration. This survey will be given to students during class and should only take about 15-20 minutes. Students will be asked how they think and feel about school. Here is a link to some of the questions that your student may be asked. 

This data will be used alongside academic, behavioral, and attendance records in order to support the whole child. By using Panorama, our school will be able to act on data and plan solutions at the school, classroom, and student level. Thank you so much for your support at home. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact your student’s school counselor.

8th Grade PCCRs – Nov 4-13

Does your student know all the steps needed to graduate high school? Do they know what college they would like to attend, or what scholarships are available? Come attend a Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR) meeting with your counselor and learn all this and more. These 40-minute sessions will be held November 4 through November 13, and will consist of a 30-minute small group presentation followed by your individual questions.

To schedule a PCCR appointment, login to Skyward Family Access at http://skystu.jordan.k12.ut.us between October 9 and October 29.  Select your South Jordan Middle School student, and then click the Conference button on the left side of the screen.  Choose All Conferences next to your student’s name, click Select a Time, and then click Select by the desired appointment time.  You will receive a confirmation email for your appointment.

Your appointment will be with your student’s counselor:

A-Da – – – – – – – – – – – – – Mr. Young

De-G – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Switzer

H-Mad – – – – – – – – – – – -Ms. Poulter

Mae-Ror – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Pew

Ros-Z – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms. Graham

If you need help accessing the Skyward Scheduler, please call 801-412-2910. All students will have a PCCR meeting regardless of parent attendance.

School Community Council Meetings

We will be holding our first school community council meeting of the year on Thursday, October 17th at 4 pm in the main office conference room of the school. The agenda can be found here, and the meeting is open to the public!

Halloween Guidelines

Halloween is a great chance to see the personality and creativity of our students. We want the day to be fun, and we also want to be able to have a productive day in class. With that in mind, what follows is a list of guidelines to help us do both:

• The School Dress Code and the Student Code of Conduct still apply
• Students should come to school already dressed with any makeup or hair color already applied
• Students should avoid costumes that degrade any other group of people
• We must be able to easily see who you are
• Avoid masks worn on the face, except for use as personal protective equipment
• Makeup or other costume additions must still allow us to identify you
• We must be able to move in the halls and function in class, including avoiding disruptions to teachers and other students
• Costumes must be safe, and make others feel safe
• No weapons or facsimiles of weapons
• Footwear must be worn all day

Above all, if you’re aren’t sure you should wear it, just don’t. We can’t wait to see what you come up with, and be sure to check our social media channels for pics of the great costumes at SoJo.

Parent Teacher Conferences This Week

It’s time for parent-teacher conferences, and we can’t wait to see all of you. Our schedule is as follows:

• Virtual, Wednesday, September 25 – 4:00-7:30
• In-Person, Thursday, September 26 – 4:00-7:30 in the SoJo Gym/Cafe
• No School, Friday, September 27

For virtual conferences, you can sign up for a 5-minute appointment by going to Parent Access in Skyward and choosing the Conference option on the left sidebar. At the time of the appointment, use this document to access the Zoom links for each teacher. If you have any questions, please contact the main office. For detailed instructions, click here.

For in-person conferences, you can simply come to the gym/cafe and find the teachers seated alphabetically by last name. Try to watch for teachers with open spots, and remember that if you don’t get a chance to talk to a teacher you need, we have access to teachers all year long via email, appointment, phone call or Parent Square. It’s never been easier to access a teacher, so please use any and all forms of communication to get whatever information you need.

NOTE: If you need translation services for conferences, please let us know ASAP by contacting the main office.

College Tour Chaperones

This year we’ll be doing a College Tour in place of the Industry Tour. This will be a fantastic opportunity to get our students excited about college and future careers! It will happen during our College Week on October 16th! We’re looking for chaperones to help. We would love to have at least 2 per bus (14 chaperones). Chaperones arrive at 9:00am and will be back at SoJo by 12:00pm. So, save the date and fill out this Google Form if you’re interested in chaperoning! (We need 15 more chaperones!)

Morning Drop Off Speed Boosts

Use the north lot in the morning if you’re in a hurry. It’s consistently nearly empty when the south lot is full.

9th Grade Baby Photos for Memory Book 

The SJMS PTSA is thrilled to announce a special opportunity for all 9th graders! We are offering free baby photo submissions to be featured in this year’s memory book! This is a fantastic way to celebrate your student’s journey, and we can’t wait to showcase these adorable throwbacks. To make sure your photo gets included, please follow these simple submission rules:

• Deadline: Submit by September 30th.
• Photo Quality: Upload a high-resolution photo.
• Photo Selection: Choose a picture where the student’s face is clear (no shadows, glare, or extreme or mixed lighting). 
• Student Only: No other individuals may be in the photo, only the student.
• Submission Limit: One photo per student (no multiple submissions).
• Information Required: Include the student’s first and last name and your email address.
• Late or Non-compliant Photos: May not be published if they don’t meet the guidelines.

We can’t wait to see the amazing photos you share! Submit a photo here.

Reflections

PTSA is excited to announce that….It’s Reflections time!! This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfections”. Think hard about what that means to you and create something! Visual Art (2D or 3D), a film, a dance, a song, a poem or short story, or a photograph! You can even do one of each.

The top scoring piece in each category will win the Grand Prize: Hale Center Theater tickets!!!! And there will be other prizes for other winners plus a participation prize for everyone that enters.

The entry deadline is October 11th. For more information including guidelines for each category and entry instructions visit https://www.utahpta.org/ref

Secure Safety Drill 

SoJo will be holding a Secure Drill on Thursday, September 12 at 10:25 AM – that is at the beginning of 3rd Period. We anticipate the drill lasting approximately 10-15 minutes. A summary of the purpose of a Secure Drill is included below. As a parent, here is what you need to know: 

• No one will be allowed inside the building during the drill
• No check in or check out can occur during the drill
• The secure drill is used when there is an outside threat, not something occurring inside the building

*For a complete list of the Standard Response Protocols being used by JSD, please visit the JSD School Safety website.

Secure Protocol:  If there is a threat of violence or hazard on or near the campus but OUTSIDE, the school implements a Secure. In a Secure, all students and staff are brought inside the building and all exterior doors are locked until the threat has been resolved. Parents and other visitors may not be allowed in the school during a Secure.This is often called even if the threat is unrelated to the school but there is a potential for it to place students and staff in danger, such as police activity nearby or a wild animal on the loose. During a Secure, the school schedule remains the same and classes inside continue without disruption. 

Parking Lot Updates

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the drop-off and pick-up process, we have a few quick reminders and requests:

• When leaving the parking lot, turn right unless you can turn left without waiting. Much of our slow-down after school comes from people waiting for an opening to turn left.
  • If every car leaving takes 30 seconds to turn left, it quickly adds up to a lot of waiting for the cars behind them.
• If entering the north lot, be sure to avoid blocking the bus lane.
• Watch for students at the exits. We have a lot of students that ride scooters and bikes, or that walk home. We’ve had a few near misses, so keep your eyes peeled.

Note that the north parking lot clears much faster than the south lot. If the south lot looks full, try the north lot and you may get out faster.