Author: Mr. Jenson

You made it! We’re heading into our last week of school, and we have a lot of excitement planned to send everyone off to summer in a good mood. We’ve got all the information you need below. Have fun, and stay classy!

Tuesday: Normal Schedule

Wednesday: Lagoon Day/Field Day

• 9th Graders will go to 1st period and then go from there to the KIVA and Lagoon.
• 7/8th Graders will go to a shortened version of the schedule with Field Day at the end of the day. Dress to get wet, but also follow the school dress code.

Thursday: Memory Book Signing Day

• Last day for 7th Graders
• Memory books distributed during 1st period
• Shortened schedule with whole school memory book signing at the end of the day

Friday, May 31: ½ Day

• No 7th Graders
• Last Day for 8/9th Graders
• School goes from 8am to 12 pm
• Breakfast, but no lunch
• No students in the building after 12 pm

Summer Things

Our parking lot will be under construction – they actually started this morning! Access to the school will be very limited. We’ll be here, but call over coming in.

We’re including what we’ve sent out the last few weeks below for more detailed information:

Tuesday, May 28 – Normal Schedule, Normal Day

Nothing fancy. 

Wednesday, May 29 – Lagoon Day for 9th Grade Students

9th Grade students are invited to go to Lagoon on Wednesday, May 29. Students can purchase their pass directly from Lagoon by visiting shop.lagoonpark.com and using the discount code ‘Jordan2024’ to purchase a full day pass for $54 (full cost, tax included). You can download the complete flyer here. 

Please note that May 29th is a public day at Lagoon, so the park will be open to all patrons from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. Students who want to stay past 5:00 pm will have to arrange their own return transportation.

Wednesday, May 29 – Field Day for 7th & 8th Graders

We will have shorter classes for 7th and 8th graders, followed by Field Day organized by our SBOs at the end of the day. There will be activities where students might get wet, although getting wet will not be required. The school dress code still applies to all activities.

NOTE: Students who are repeatedly tardy to class or skip class altogether may lose the ability to attend Lagoon Day or Field Day. Similar consequences may be given for repeated or severe behavior incidents.

Thursday, May 30 – Last Day for 7th Grade and Memory Book Signing 

The last day for 7th Grade students is Thursday, May 30. Students will attend the full day from 8:00-3:00. Memory Books will be distributed on Thursday, May 30. If your student is not in attendance, they can pick up their Memory Book in the main office beginning Friday, May 31. We will not distribute Memory Books before May 30. Please read the note on Memory Books at the end of this Skylert for more information. The schedule for our Memory Book Signing Day can be found here.

Friday, May 31 – Last Day for 8th & 9th Grade 

The last day of the 2023-2024 school year is May 31. 8th and 9th Grade students will attend on a half-day schedule. School will be held from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Breakfast will be served. Lunch WILL NOT be served. The schedule for our last day can be found here. Students will not be allowed in the building after 12 pm so that we can have our end-of-year faculty meeting.

Memory Books

There is a list posted by the Main Office of all those who have purchased a Memory Book. If your student wants a Memory Book, please have them check the list to make sure their name is on it!

• Sales on Skyward are now closed. There will be a CASH ONLY table on Memory Book Day (May 30th) selling whatever supply we have left for $35.
• Please pay any fines/fees BEFORE May 30th. Students who are missing library books, textbooks, or have Chromebook fines will have their Memory Book held until the item is returned or the fine is paid.
• Memory Books will be distributed Wednesday, May 30st.
• Any Memory Books not picked up that day will be available in the Main Office!

We are in our last two weeks of school and time is flying. Here’s a rundown of things you need to know as we wrap up the year.

Monday, May 20 – Thursday, May 23 – Afternoon Prowl

We are running a test to see if having our Prowl intervention period in the afternoon works better than in the morning. Prowl will be after 6th period this week. You can see the Bell Schedule by clicking here. Let us know how it goes!

Thursday, May 23 – Chromebook Check-In

Students will return their Chromebooks during their Language Arts classes. Please read the note on Chromebooks at the end of this Skylert for more information on how you can prepare to return them.

Friday, May 24 – Locker Clean-Out

Students will empty their lockers at the end of the day on Friday, May 24. 

Monday, May 27 – No School (Memorial Day)

Tuesday, May 28 – Normal Schedule, Normal Day

Nothing fancy. 

Wednesday, May 29 – Lagoon Day for 9th Grade Students

9th Grade students are invited to go to Lagoon on Wednesday, May 29. Students can purchase their pass directly from Lagoon by visiting shop.lagoonpark.com and using the discount code ‘Jordan2024’ to purchase a full day pass for $54 (full cost, tax included). You can download the complete flyer here. 

Buses will take students from SoJo to Lagoon leaving from SoJo at 9:00 am and returning from Lagoon at 5:00 pm. There is no cost to ride the bus, but a permission slip must be turned in to the main office. Download the information/permission form here. Permission forms are due back to the main office by Tuesday, May 28th. Please note that May 29th is a public day at Lagoon, so the park will be open to all patrons from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. Students who want to stay past 5:00 pm will have to arrange their own return transportation.

Wednesday, May 29 – Field Day for 7th & 8th Graders

We will have shorter classes for 7th and 8th graders, followed by Field Day organized by our SBOs at the end of the day. There will be activities where students might get wet, although getting wet will not be required. The school dress code still applies to all activities.

NOTE: Students who are repeatedly tardy to class or skip class altogether may lose the ability to attend Lagoon Day or Field Day. Similar consequences may be given for repeated or severe behavior incidents.

Thursday, May 30 – Last Day for 7th Grade and Memory Book Signing 

The last day for 7th Grade students is Thursday, May 30. Students will attend the full day from 8:00-3:00. Memory Books will be distributed on Thursday, May 30. If your student is not in attendance, they can pick up their Memory Book in the main office beginning Friday, May 31. We will not distribute Memory Books before May 30. Please read the note on Memory Books at the end of this Skylert for more information. The schedule for our Memory Book Signing Day can be found here.

Friday, May 31 – Last Day for 8th & 9th Grade 

The last day of the 2023-2024 school year is May 31. 8th and 9th Grade students will attend on a half-day schedule. School will be held from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Breakfast will be served. Lunch WILL NOT be served. The schedule for our last day can be found here. Students will not be allowed in the building after 12 pm so that we can have our end-of-year faculty meeting.

Memory Books

There is a list posted by the Main Office of all those who have purchased a Memory Book. If your student wants a Memory Book, please have them check the list to make sure their name is on it!

• Sales on Skyward are now closed. There will be a CASH ONLY table on Memory Book Day (May 30th) selling whatever supply we have left for $35.
• Please pay any fines/fees BEFORE May 30th. Students who are missing library books, textbooks, or have Chromebook fines will have their Memory Book held until the item is returned or the fine is paid.
• Memory Books will be distributed Wednesday, May 30st.
• Any Memory Books not picked up that day will be available in the Main Office!

Check Student Chromebooks, Library Books, and Fines

We are nearing the end of the year, and now is a good time to check if there are any outstanding fines or fees. There are two places to check: 1. Skyward – to see current fines and fees. 2. Destiny – to see items that are assigned/loaned to each student. If a student has outstanding fines or fees, there may be a delay in picking up their memory book.

If you will be ending the year early for a vacation or other reasons, please turn in your Chromebook before you leave to avoid any charges for an unreturned Chromebook.

All students will return their Chromebooks on Thursday, May 23. Fines will be assessed for Chromebook damage and for missing charging cords. Students with fines will not be able to get their Memory Books, so please check Skyward for any fines before and after May 23. If a student returns a Chromebook that is not theirs, the full cost of a lost Chromebook will be assessed. Chromebook mix ups happen more often than you might think. If there is more than one JSD student in a household or if students complete homework together, they can pick up someone else’s Chromebook. Here is a video to help you check if the Chromebook the student has is the Chromebook they are supposed to have.

Summer Things

SoJo Parking & Access: We will be getting an entirely new parking lot. This means we’ll have limited to no access to the physical school over the summer. We’ll still be here, but you may need to call instead of coming in.

Robotics Camp:  Bingham High School is offering a Robotics Camp June 25-27. More information about registration can be found on this flyer.

SL County Rec Passes: The Salt Lake County Recreation Department is offering free passes to any resident of Salt Lake County under 18 years of age. This means every county pool, rec center, etc. will be open to our students at no cost. Visit any Salt Lake County Rec Center to pick up/turn in an application.

Credit Recovery Options: Current 9th grade students who have failed any required courses have make-up options available to them this summer. You can see the options on this document. You can also contact the SoJo Counseling Department if you have questions. 
JFE Summer Classes: If you’re looking for other support over the summer, the Jordan Family Education Center has a wide variety of classes and other resources. For more, check out their website.

We are halfway through RISE testing, and we appreciate how hard your students have worked on the assessment, and throughout the school year. We have a lot of exciting things coming up in the next few weeks, and we encourage you to check out the school calendar and website for the most up-to-date information about year-end events.

The most common questions we get are about the last few weeks of school, so here is a rundown of the events that week:

Monday, May 20 – Thursday, May 23 – Afternoon Prowl

We are running a test to see if having our Prowl intervention period in the afternoon works better than in the morning. Prowl will be after 6th period this week. Let us know how it goes!

Thursday, May 23 – Chromebook Check-In

Students will return their Chromebooks during their Language Arts classes. Please read the note on Chromebooks at the end of this Skylert for more information on how you can prepare to return them.

Monday, May 27 – No School (Memorial Day)

Tuesday, May 28 – Normal Schedule, Normal Day

Nothing fancy. 

Wednesday, May 29 – Lagoon Day for 9th Grade Students 

9th Grade students are invited to go to Lagoon on Wednesday, May 29. Students can purchase their pass directly from Lagoon by visiting shop.lagoonpark.com and using the discount code ‘Jordan2024’ to purchase a full day pass for $54 (full cost, tax included). You can download the complete flier here. 

Buses will take students from SoJo to Lagoon leaving at 9 am and leaving Lagoon at 5 pm. There is no cost to ride the bus, but a permission slip must be turned in to the main office. Download the information/permission form here. Permission forms are due back to the main office by Tuesday, May 28th. Please note that May 29th is a public day at Lagoon, so the park will be open to all patrons from 9:30 am to 9 pm. 

Thursday, May 30 – Last Day for 7th Grade and Memory Book Signing 

The last day for 7th Grade students is Thursday, May 30. Students will attend the full day from 8:00-3:00. Memory Books will be distributed on Thursday, May 30. If your student is not in attendance, they can pick up their Memory Book in the main office beginning Friday, May 31. We will not distribute Memory Books before May 30. The schedule for our Memory Book Signing Day can be found here.

Friday, May 31 – Last Day for 8th & 9th Grade 

The last day of the 2023-2024 school year is May 31. 8th and 9th Grade students will attend on a half-day schedule. School will be held from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Breakfast will be served. Lunch WILL NOT be served. The schedule for our last day can be found here.

Memory Books

There is a list posted by the Main Office of all those who have purchased a Memory Book. If your student wants a Memory Book, please have them check the list to make sure their name is on it!

• You may purchase a Memory Book on Skyward Family Access or in the Main Office for $35.00. Online and in person sales end May 17th (or while supplies last).
• Please pay any fines/fees BEFORE May 30th. Students who are missing library books, textbooks, or have Chromebook fines will have their Memory Book held until the item is returned or the fine is paid.
• Memory Books will be distributed Wednesday, May 30st. (No books will be released early.) There will be a table for CASH ONLY SALES at the signing party for $35.00. 

Any Memory Books not picked up that day will be available in the Main Office!

Check Student Chromebooks, Library Books, and Fines

We are nearing the end of the year, and now is a good time to check if there are any outstanding fines or fees. There are two places to check: 1. Skyward – to see current fines and fees. 2. Destiny – to see items that are assigned/loaned to each student. If a student has outstanding fines or fees, there may be a delay in picking up their memory book.
All students will return their Chromebooks on Thursday, May 23. Fines will be assessed for Chromebook damage and for missing charging cords. Students with fines will not be able to get their Memory Books, so please check Skyward for any fines before and after May 23. If a student returns a Chromebook that is not theirs, the full cost of a lost Chromebook will be assessed. Chromebook mix ups happen more often than you might think. If there is more than one JSD student in a household or if students complete homework together, they can pick up someone else’s Chromebook. Here is a video to help you check if the Chromebook the student has is the Chromebook they are supposed to have.

Arena Scheduling Opens April 30 

ARENA SCHEDULING is opening SOON! Current 9th Grade Students who will attend Bingham High School will be able to view their schedules on Tuesday, April 30, starting at 7:00 AM. Arena Scheduling will be open at 4:00 PM on April 30 and remain open until Midnight on May 1. 

PLEASE MAKE ANY CLASS CHANGES USING ARENA SCHEDULING DURING THIS TIME. BHS COUNSELORS WILL NOT MAKE ANY CLASS CHANGES UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.

If you need help or have questions, BHS Counselors will be available via ZOOM or IN PERSON on Tuesday, April 30, from 4:00-5:00 PM. 

• For in-person help, go to the BHS Counseling Center on April 30 between 4:00-5:00.
• For virtual help, join the Zoom Session Using this Link on April 30 between 4:00-5:00.

As a reminder, BHS follows the JSD Guidelines for Class Changes. You can view the Class Change Guidelines Using this Link. 

If this is your first time using Arena Scheduling, check out the resources on the BHS Counseling Page. Unfortunately, our amazing SoJo Counselors cannot assist with BHS scheduling, so please utilize the online resources or attend the help session at BHS on April 30. 

Multilingual Family Night @BHS April 23

JOIN US, Thursday, April 23, as we CELEBRATE student successes, LEARN about the WIDA test and what the results mean for students, and GROW our multilingual community! Registration and Information

24-25 SoJo SBO Elections April 23 Deadline

• Do you want to make a difference at our school? 
• Do you want to be involved in serving and leading your classmates here at SOJO? 
• THEN APPLY TO BE A STUDENT BODY OFFICER FOR NEXT YEAR!

SBOs are responsible, hardworking students who care about their school’s culture. The main responsibilities of a SBO include planning school activities, spirit weeks, and assemblies that promote positivity at our school. If you are interested in running for SBO, pick up an application in the main office or from Mrs. Mastin-Call in room 701. All applications are due to Mrs. Mastin-Call by April 23rd!

End of Year Testing

End-of-year testing is fast approaching. Here is some information that will help you prepare:

9th graders will take the Utah Aspire Plus. Utah Aspire Plus is a hybrid assessment for 9th and 10th grade students created through collaboration with Utah educators, the Utah State Board of Education, and Pearson. The test uses ACT Aspire and Utah assessment questions. Students will receive a predicted ACT composite score if they complete the entire exam. The assessment evaluates knowledge and skills that students should have by the end of grades 9 and 10 in English, reading, mathematics and science. To find out more about Utah Aspire Plus, please visit the Aspire Plus webpage.

Because the test is strictly timed ,the test will be administered on a block schedule on April 25th and 26th: Thursday’s Schedule; Friday’s Schedule. Students will take the English test in their Geography class and the Reading test in their Language Arts class. Math and Science will be administered in their math and science classes, respectively. Please ensure your student fully charges their Chromebook the night before and have them bring their charging cords to school the morning of the test. Also, Students are not allowed any kind of additional electronic device during the test. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, and/or logging into their Chromebook other than to access the test. Wired headphones/earbuds are allowed and students are encouraged to bring their own if at all possible. Bluetooth headphones/earbuds are not allowed.

7th and 8th graders will take the RISE test. The RISE assessment is a computer adaptive criterion referenced assessment system that includes summative tests for English Language Arts (ELAs), Mathematics, and Science. The Writing test will only be administered in 8th Grade Language Arts classes, on April 25th and 26th. ELA, Math, and Science tests will be administered the week of May 13-17th. As with the Aspire test, please ensure your student fully charges their Chromebook the night before and have them bring their charging cords. Students may not access any other electronic device during testing. Wired headphones/earbuds are allowed and students are encouraged to bring their own if at all possible. Bluetooth headphones/earbuds are not allowed.  

The end of 3rd Quarter and Spring Break are nearly upon us. Just a reminder that we won’t have school on Monday, March 25th for Grade Transmittal Day, and the rest of the week (March 26-29th) is Spring Recess. We’ll see students back for the 4th Quarter on April 1st – no joke!

Dress Code Reminder

With the advent of spring and warmer weather, we need to remind you that students need to be covered from the top of one armpit to the other, down to approximately mid-thigh – with a closed back and connected over the shoulder. We see a lot of short shorts and exposed belly buttons with warmer weather, and we don’t want anyone to be surprised when we ask them to change or assign them to a Prowl session to ensure they understand the standard we adhere to at school and across the school district. 

We will be reminding students regularly, but help from home to adhere to these guidelines makes all the difference!

Heroes Among Us

Jordan School District invites all faculty, students, and families to Heroes Among Us to hear the inspiring stories of remarkable individuals who have shown unwavering dedication to our community. Join us at West Jordan Middle from 5-7 pm on April 3rd to hear our speakers share their struggles, successes, and life lessons. Bring your questions about mentoring, career paths, and internship opportunities for your students.

Pizza dinner will be served! RSVP HERE to secure your spot! Please see the attached flyer for more information! 

Heroes Among Us_English Flyer

Heroes Among Us_Spanish Flyer

FINAL WEEK FOR MEMORY BOOK SPORTS PHOTOS 

PRINT DEADLINE – All memory book pages, except for high school sports, are complete, and most have been sent to print. We are no longer accepting photos for anything but sports.

SPRING SPORTS GROUP PICS- PROWL Wednesday, March 13th: SJMS students who play on spring sports teams on the high school level, your group photos will be taken for the memory book on Wednesday. Team members can dress in uniform, or everyday clothing, work together to coordinate. No retakes.

SPORTS CANDIDS AND ACTIONS SHOTS NEEDED – Due Wednesday, March 13th

• Spring sports: All teams except for girls basketball. Take at games, practice, etc.
• Fall and Winter Sports: girls volleyball, boys basketball, wrestling.

Email photos to sojoyearbook@gmail.com.

Orchestra Spring Concert RESCHEDULED for Tonight

The Orchestra Spring Concert has been rescheduled to tonight Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 PM. The concert was scheduled for March 5, but that is Caucus Night in Utah. We apologize for the late change. If you have specific questions of concerns please reach out to our Orchestra Director, Celeste Ercanbrack

Choir Concert Thursday

Our spring choir concerts will be this Thursday. The 7th grade choirs begin at 6:00 pm, and the 8th and 9th grade choirs will start at 7:30 pm. As with all of our performances, members of the community are invited whether or not you have a student in the choir.

Orchestra Spring Concert RESCHEDULED

The Orchestra Spring Concert has been rescheduled to Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 PM. The concert was scheduled for March 5, but that is Caucus Night in Utah. We apologize for the late change. If you have specific questions of concerns please reach out to our Orchestra Director, Celeste Ercanbrack

Registering for Bingham High School (Current 9th Graders)

• Course Selection on March 7th During Science Classes
  • Counselors from BHS will be at the school on Thursday, March 7, to help students make course selections in Skyward. Students should be ready with what they hope to take at that point.
• Modified Arena Scheduling Will Open in late April
  • BHS counselors will have entered course requests and required courses. Students will then be able to adjust their own schedules within the limitations of availability.

Student Check-Out Process

When your child is at school, we are responsible for them. In order to keep everyone as safe as possible, schools across the district require a parent or guardian to come into the attendance office and show ID before they can sign out their student. In the event of an emergency, your emergency contacts can check your student out. However, we need you to verify as the parent/guardian that you approve this one-time checkout. Because we have a closed campus, students who leave the school without being checked out by a parent/guardian will be marked as truant. Please do not ask your student to leave school without checking out through the attendance office first. Thank you for your cooperation and support!

PTSA Spirit Night 

Grab dinner at Chick-fil-A in The District TOMORROW Tuesday, March 5th! The PTSA gets 20% of all sales. You mention South Jordan Middle School for us to get the money. Be sure to tell the cashier you are there for Spirit Night!

School Dance This Friday

The SoJo PTSA is hosting our first ever Red Carpet Gala this Friday night from 7-9 pm in the gym. Come for dancing, games, a photo booth, a prize raffle, and lots of fun. You can dress like you’re headed for the red carpet, or just come as you are. Just remember to follow the school dress code. You will enter the school at the doors near the gym on the front of the school. See you there – especially if you want to chaperone!

Memory Book 

Here are a few things to be aware of heading into the spring:

PRINT DEADLINE – All memory book pages will be final and sent to print on March 11th. 

SPRING SPORTS – Tryouts are wrapping up. If your freshman makes a team, be prepared to submit candids and action shots from practices/games quickly. We will take team pics one day (TBD), no retakes. Email pics and concerns ASAP.

PHOTOS NEEDED

• Ambassador Candids
• Honor Orchestra Group Photo
• Collage Photos – Students not involved in school activities only
• Photos of 9th grade students who play on the following high school teams: girls volleyball, basketball, wrestling, swim, soccer. 

We are no longer accepting football, cross country, tennis, mountain biking, 9th Grade Baby or performing arts photos. Email to sojoyearbook@gmail.com.