Parent-Teacher Conferences start tonight! The virtual appointments are made on Skyward, and the links to Zoom calls can be found here. Tonight’s conferences will run from 4:00 – 7:30 pm. You can schedule appointments by visiting Skyward as a parent and choosing the ‘Conferences’ option from the menu on the left. Click ‘View Scheduled Times’ for the child you want to schedule, and a list of times will be listed that a teacher has available.
In-person conferences will be on Thursday from 4:00 – 7:30 pm in our gym. There will be no appointments for those conferences.
Above all, remember that you can access a teacher by phone, email or appointment all year long. If you don’t get to talk to a teacher tonight or on Thursday, just reach out and we’ll set up a time that works for you. Thank you for all you do to support our students, and we hope to see you at conferences this week!
There will be no school on Friday, February 16th as a compensatory day for teachers due to the late nights of parent conferences. There will also be no school on Monday, February 19th (Presidents Day).
Panorama Survey This Week
Dear SoJo Middle School Families,
Students will be taking our district’s Panorama SEL (Social Emotional Learning) 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. 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. This survey:
Is not a curriculum
Is not a mental health screener
Has nothing to do with 2nd Step
Has nothing to do with Critical Race Theory (CRT)
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.
It’s time to cast your vote in our polls and Most Likely To… contest. The Most Likely To… finalists are all 9th graders, but anyone in the school can – and should – vote.
SoJo welcomes incoming 7th grade students to an Open House on Tuesday, February 6. Sessions will begin every 30 minutes at 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 PM. You should plan to be at the school for about an hour. The evening will include a welcome and overview from SoJo’s administrative team, a chance to meet SoJo teachers and learn about classes available to 7th grade students, and on-site registration with the help of SoJo’s counseling team.
You will need to know your Student or Parent Skyward Login in order to register on Tuesday night. Please make sure you can login. You can contact your elementary school’s main office if you do not know how to login to Skyward.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday night and welcoming you to SoJo. The only thing you need to bring is your Skyward login. We will be on hand to help with the rest. Instructions on course selections can be found on the SoJo website under counseling. The link for 7th grade sources will be live Tuesday night – 7th Grade link – requests need to be made by Friday, February 9.
Wellness Day, Feb 9 (No In-Person Classes)
Jordan School District has converted Friday, February 9th, 2024 into a Wellness Day for employees, students, and families.Together with your family, we invite you to participate however you see fit. There are activities for students of all ages to help them focus on their own health and wellness. The resources are available on the JSD Wellness website (wellness.jordandistrict.org/resources/) so you can make choices about what would be most helpful and appropriate for members of your family. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the heart icon labeled with the appropriate grade level of your student(s).
Students do not need to submit their work from Wellness Day. There will be no school meals, busing, or access to teachers or staff on Friday, February 9, 2024. We encourage participation for your students and yourself in a united effort to build well-being skills as a family unit and as members of our school community.
The true prize of Wellness Day is a greater sense of well-being, as well as more tools in our wellness toolboxes. This year, we are excited to announce a chance to win prizes for participating in the wellness activities! To enter, please complete an activity (or a few) then fill out a Google Form to enter the drawing to receive a prize. We are all winners on Wellness Day!
The Jordan School District takes their role seriously as a support to the learning that happens within the family. We hope you will find these resources helpful in promoting greater health and wellness in your families and our community. Wishing you wellness!
It’s Hope Week!
Students in Building
Students are welcome to enter the school at 7:30 AM and should exit the school by 3:15 PM. We realize there are exceptions, but those should be limited. If you need to bring your student before 7:30 AM or pick them up after 3:15 PM, the students can wait in the vestibule (the glass entry) near the main office.
Special Education Transition Fair
The Special Education department is excited to announce an in-person, Special Education Transition Fair for 2024 and would love for you to join us! There will be over twenty community resources attending to help answer any post-secondary questions for our students and families.
The Transition Fair will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 4 – 7 p.m. at West Jordan Middle School. We hope that you will be able to attend! For questions please contact Ashley Calhoun at 801-567-8208or ashley.calhoun@jordandistrict.org.
Memory Book
Memory Book Sales Drive – It’s time to buy your Memory Book! Only 15 more days to purchase in order to be included in the huge drawing! Purchase today on Skyward or in the Main Office. If you have already bought one, or buy yours by February 20th, you will be entered into a drawing for gift cards to: Nike, Chick-Fil-A, Scheels, Swig, Raising Canes, Glenmoor Golf Course and candy!
9th Grade Most Likely To and Polls will be open and on the schools website this week. All students at SJMS are invited to vote.
Parents, make sure your student is in the Memory Book. Staff is still collecting photos of students at school for collage pages, sports action/candids, and band concert photos. Email to sojoyearbook@gmail.com.
Author Dinner with Dan Jones
Jordan Education Foundation is partnering to offer an evening with British Historian, author, broadcaster, and award-winning journalist Dan Jones. Not only is this a chance to enjoy an evening hearing from Dan Jones, you will also be supporting the grant programs of JEF. Teachers, history buffs, and fans of Dan Jones are all welcome! Tickets can be purchased individually or you can choose to sponsor a table. More details can be found on this flyer. JSD Educators can request sponsored attendance. Registration information is available here.
Today in Science class, students were taught how to request courses for next school year. Instructions on course selections are on the SoJo website under counseling. If you are currently in 7th grade, you are registering for 8th grade, so please click on the 8th Grade link. Requests are due by Thursday. February 1. Parents, please work with your student on creating requests for next school year. Schedules will not be available until August.
If you are a current 6th grader, your course selection will happen on February 6 in the evening.
If you are a current 9th grader, registration happens later in the spring.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Save the date! Our 2nd semester Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on February 13 & 15, 2024. Tuesday the 13th is virtual and Thursday the 15th is in person. Sign-Ups for Virtual Appointments (Feb 13) will be available next week.
Don’t forget that Friday, February 9th is Health & Wellness Day!
Together with your family and/or friends, we invite you to participate in JSDs Wellness Day. There are activities for students of all ages to focus on our own health and wellness. This year, we are excited to announce a chance to win prizes for participating in the wellness activities. To enter, please complete an activity (or a few) then complete this Google Form to enter the drawing to receive a prize. We are all winners on Wellness Day!
Remember that the building will be closed to students on Friday so that we can work on our wellness at home while the adults of our building do the same at the school. We can’t wait to hear what you all get up to!
Memory Book Goal – Get Every Student in the Book 2 times!
Our Memory Book Staff is working hard to make sure your student is on the portrait page AND at least one additional page. We need parents and students to help to reach our goal! Send in photos of SJMS students at school ASAP. They can be taken in the halls, lunchroom, classroom with teacher permission, field trips, on the bus, etc. We will do our best to use them all! (Priority is given to photos of students who are not already on other pages.)
We are still accepting action photos of students who play freshman sports at Bingham or other high schools for our sports collage page. Email photos to sojoyearbook@gmail.com.
Jordan School District’s Health and Wellness Department is offering Mental Health Screenings and Mental Health Workshops on January 30. This flyer includes information about workshop times and a link to sign up for screenings.
Current 8th Grade Registration for 9th Grade
Today in Science class, students were taught how to request courses for next school year. Instructions on course selections are on the SoJo website under counseling. Requests are due by Thursday. Please work with your student on creating requests for next school year. Schedules will not be available until August.
If you are a current 7th grader, your course selection will happen from January 28t to February 2nd.
If you are a current 6th grader, your course selection will happen on February 6 in the evening.
If you are a current 9th grader, registration happens later in the spring.
No DoorDash/No Meeting Students in Parking Lot
It’s a brave new world when it comes to food delivery, but please know that we don’t accept DoorDash for students (either on their own or ordered by parents). Not only does it cause a significant disruption to kids trying to time coming to get it while in class, but it’s actually also against the terms and conditions of DoorDash and other similar services to deliver to anyone under the age of 18.
SoJo is a closed campus. That means students also cannot meet you in the parking lot to pick up food or other items you want to drop off. We also understand there are times when you need to bring something to your student. For those times, please come into the Attendance Office so we can call your student down.
JSD Job FairAre you looking for a job with Jordan School District? Do you know someone who is looking for a great place to work? Please come to the JSD Job Fair on Wednesday, January 24, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Copper Mountain Middle School. We will be actively interviewing for hard-to-fill teaching positions and several Educational Support positions like classroom aide, campus monitor, and office support. All schools in JSD will be represented.
Motion by JN to table the approval of the December minutes.
CJ shared the Land Trust plan $176,000 and TSSA $255,000 amounts.
CJ led discussion on USBE report card. He shared PROWL and Panorama data. JT led a discussion on mental health issues. SN shared how hard it is to find the balance for teens.
CJ led discussion of current Land Trust; there are two main goals as outlined in the distributed handout: Academic Improvement and Mental Health Supports.
SR explained co-taught strategies as some of the funding will be utilized to fund co-taught mathematics classes. CJ answered questions and explained all areas of spending.
CJ led discussion of current TSSA; there are three main goals as outlined in the distributed handout. Instructional Coaching Component- the coaching process was explained. Professional Development Component- funding was explained for PD. School-Based Initiatives Component- efforts to improve social/emotional resources were explained.
Final draft of both plans will be available to be voted on at the March 11th meeting.
JT asked for clarification on SBG and where the district is headed with it. JT feels like SoJo is moving forward but parents are not seeing consistency throughout the district. CJ used the example of retakes and the system being different between teachers. CJ explained the fundamentals of SBG and gave examples.
Next meeting will be March 11 at 4:00.
Meeting adjourned at 5:28 with motion by SN; 2nd by JN.
Just a quick reminder that we will be holding a Lockdown Drill during Prowl (9:50 to 10:20 am) on Thursday, January 18. The drill will include practice inside the classroom and will also include an evacuation outside. Students will be going outside and should dress appropriately for potentially snowy conditions.
2nd Quarter ends on Friday, January 12. We will observe MLK day on Monday, January 15 and there will be no school for students on Tuesday, January 16. 3rd Quarter begins Wednesday, January 17.
Lockdown Drill Thursday January 18
We will be holding a Lockdown Drill on Thursday, January 18. The drill will include practice inside the classroom and will also include an evacuation. Students will be going outside and should dress appropriately for potentially snowy conditions. Students will be learning about the drill on Wednesday, January 17.
2nd Semester Schedule Changes
We have done our very best to get you as much of what you requested in the spring as possible. Due to the logistics of balancing the schedules of 1200+ students, we do not make changes to student schedules unless a mistake has been made. If you have questions or feel there is a mistake, please contact your counselor.
Also, please be sure to recheck your schedule before the first day of semester. We’ll remind you, but there are rare instances where staffing changes require minor schedule adjustments and it’s always a good idea to check in again on Skyward the day before we start to make sure there are no surprises.
Upcoming 2024-25 Course Selection Information
It’s that time of year again where we give everyone a chance to help us plan what to offer next year. Students will be able to request courses for the following year on the following schedule:
Current 8th Graders – Jan 22 – 26
Current 7th Graders – Jan 28 – Feb 2
Current 6th Graders – Feb 6 (more info to come)
All course selection happens in Skyward, and our counselors will be providing more information to students during school in the coming weeks. Current 9th graders heading to Bingham will complete registration in March or later. With all types of registration, these are just the dates to plan for, but we’ll be sending more information out as the dates get closer.
Questions About Snow Days/Virtual Learning
We’ve received some questions about what the process looks like when we have a virtual day due to inclimate weather. This is a last-resort option, and you will be notified via Skylert and on district websites by 6 am should that become necessary. In the event of a virtual learning day, students will have work on their Canvas course pages by 10 am, and can get help from teachers via Zoom from 10 am – 12 pm. We’ll send out links and more information should a virtual day become necessary at any point. Again, we hope it’s not.
Heroes Among Us Rescheduled
Heroes Among Us Rescheduled: Due to anticipated weather conditions forecasted for Wednesday, January 10, the ‘Heroes Among Us’ event is postponed to April 2024. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Performing Arts & Sports Photos of Your Students Needed for Memory Book ASAP!
If your student performed was in SJMS’s choir, band, dance or orchestra holiday concerts, is in a high school marching band or drum line, or plays a freshman high school sport, we need your action and candid photos for memory book collage pages! Some of the best memory book photos come directly from parents. Concert photos are due ASAP. All others are requested by January 30th. Upload photos using the link below to be considered for publishing. Email questions to sojoyearbook@gmail.com
It’s time to vote for our 9th grade ‘Most Likely to…’ for the memory book. Anyone at the school can nominate a 9th grader, but the person you nominate must BE a 9th grader. Also, only one nomination per category or your nominations won’t be counted.
