Welcome back, SoJo! We know it’s a little early to be sending out school information, but we get a lot of questions as school gets closer, so here’s a rundown of things you’ll see in this Skylert:
- Current Openings
- Important Back-to-School Dates
- Registration Information
- Leaving & New Administrators
- Back-to-School Night Information
- First Days of School Schedules
- Bell Schedules
- Community Council Nominations
- Frequently Asked Questions (Schedules, Lockers, School Tours, etc.)
More information on these items and events can be found below and on the school website.
Current Openings
We are looking for several special education aides, as well as cafeteria staff. If you or someone you know is interested, please apply here. It’s a great chance to make a difference, and to be a part of your own school community.
Important Back-to-School Dates
- Thursday, August 4th – Registration via Skyward Opens
- Wednesday, August 10th – Immunization Clinic
- Tuesday, August 16th – Back-to-School Night
- Wednesday, August 17th – 7th Grade Orientation, Half Day
- Thursday, August 18th – First Day of School for All Students, Full Day
Registration Information (August 4th)
Online registration for the 2022-23 school year opens on August 4th on Skyward, and this is also the day that class schedules will be available. Registration must be completed prior to school starting, including required immunizations for 7th graders. Online registration includes a variety of information and consent forms from the school and district, payment of registration fees, and the option to add lunch money to your student’s account, purchase a memory book, pay course fees (coming soon), etc.
Note: School lunch is no longer free. See this page for more info, and instructions on completing a free and reduced lunch application, if needed.
Leaving & New Administrators
Nicole Johnson and Connie Bailey have both moved to other locations. Principal Johnson has been commuting back and forth from Montana for several years and has made the tough decision to move to Montana this fall in order to spend more time with her family. Ms. Bailey is now an assistant principal at Riverside Elementary.
Curtis Jenson and Kami Taylor are joining the SoJo family. Mr. Jenson comes to us from nearby Elk Ridge Middle School, where he has been principal for the past three years. Before that, he was principal of first the middle school and then high school in Preston Idaho, despite never actually living in Idaho (it’s on the border of Utah and Idaho). Ms. Taylor comes to us from the district’s Teaching & Learning Department, where she was the administrator over computer science. Before that, she taught CTE at Sunset Ridge.
Back-to-School Night / School Open House
Back-to-School Night is your chance to come and tour the school, meet your teachers, ask questions, and try finding classes and opening your locker. You are not required to come, but it’s a great chance to relieve anxiety about coming to a new school.
- 5:00 pm – PTSA Business Meeting
- The PTSA board will propose their budget and discuss other business items
- 5:30-7:00 pm – Back-to-School Night Open House
- Tour the school, meet teachers, practice getting into lockers, etc.
7th Grade Orientation / First Half Day of School (August 17th)
This day is set aside just for 7th graders. We’ll run through all 7 classes, talk about common questions new students often have, and make sure you can find all of your classes.
- 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Buses will pick up and drop off students, and no breakfast or lunch will be served
First Day of School for All Students (August 18th)
This is our first full day of school with all students, and will run on our normal schedule – 8 am to 3 pm. Students will go directly to their 1st period class, and we’ll have lots of help in the halls to help them find it.
Bell Schedules
We have all seven classes every day, and a late start schedule on Fridays. On Thursdays, we also have PROWL, which is an intervention time for students to get help in specific areas. The bell schedule can be found here.
School Community Council Nominations
Want to get involved? Our school community council plays a vital role in our budgeting, instructional planning, and safety discussions. We meet four to five times a year, and would love to have you join us. Visit our School Community Council page to nominate yourself or someone else to join the team.
FAQ’s & GENERAL INFORMATION
Do I get a locker? Yes, but you aren’t required to use it. Your locker number and combination will be in Skyward, and we can help you give it a try on Back-to-School Night or 7th Grade Orientation.
Can I come in and tour the school before school starts? Yes! On the Back-to-School Night, August 16th, the school will be open for students and parents to tour the school, meet teachers, find classes, and try out/decorate your locker.
What are your summer hours? We’re open daily from 8 am to 3 pm for new registrations, questions, etc. If you’re wanting to tour the school with your student, find your classes, decorate lockers, and meet your teachers, please plan on Back-to-School Night.
How do I keep up on what’s going on at SoJo? Skylerts go out weekly once school starts, and will always also be posted on the school website. We also keep a Google Calendar for important dates, events, and happenings at the school that you can subscribe to on your phone.
Is my student eligible to ride the bus? The district provides a lookup tool here where you can enter your address and get busing information, including eligibility, stop locations, pickup times, and boundaries.
Where should my student walk to school? Each year, we evaluate and update the safest routes for students in our boundaries to use when walking to school. Please visit this page to see the map.
What immunizations are required? The following vaccines are required for students entering seventh grade:
- 1 TDAP Vaccine
- 3 Hepatitis B
- 2 Varicella (Chickenpox) – A history of disease is acceptable, as long as parent signs a verification statement
- 1 Meningococcal
TDAP Vaccine Dosage Recommendations:
Adolescents 11-18 years of age who have not received the Tdap vaccine should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine followed by Td booster doses every 10 years thereafter. Tdap vaccine can be given regardless of when the last tetanus- and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine was given. Unvaccinated teens or those behind schedule should receive three doses of Td with a one-time dose of Tdap substituted for one of the doses in the series.
For more information on immunization requirements, visit Immunize Utah.
COVID vaccinations are not currently required for students to attend, but quarantines and other COVID protocols may apply depending on vaccination status should an outbreak or exposure occur.
