Their ability to collaborate and work well together has influenced the entire culture in a positive way at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. That is just one reason why the school’s 7^th grade language arts team was recently honored as ‘Collaborative Team of the Year,’ by the Utah Middle Level Association (UMLA).

Principal Donna Hunter says Jade Weinheimer, Sarah Strachan, Kimberly Stewart, Julie Chamberlain and Becca Marrott join forces in a well-functioning and fun PLC team. She says they have a Harry Potter theme and call themselves “Almost Hogwarts,” with a goal of finding ways to make learning fun for everyone.

Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Congratulations to the 2018-19 award winners for the Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals!

Each year principals are nominated by teachers, staff, parents, and administrators in seven different categories.

The following are this year’s winners.

• Innovator of the Year – Carolyn Bona
• Principal Mentor of the Year – Shelly Davis
• Instructional Leader of the Year – Karen Gorringe
• Rookie of the Year – Amanda Bollinger
• Community Leader of the Year – Kathe Riding
• Student Advocate Principal of the Year – Jennifer Fisher
• JAESP Principal of the Year – Tami Bird

Tami Bird will also be the JAESP’s nominee for the National Distinguished Principal Award. She will be recognized this weekend at the UAESP conference in St. George.

All JAESP award winners have been nominated for the Utah Association of Elementary School Principal (UAESP) awards.

Congratulations to these amazing JSD educators!

It was a special day at the State Capitol as lawmakers took time to recognize teachers who have obtained or renewed their National Board Certification.

In Jordan School District three teachers received renewal of their National Board Certification. Congratulations to JATC South’s Tami Clevenger, Herriman High School’s Janet Fotu and West Jordan High’s Shauna Robertson.

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification in K-12 education. It means that teachers have met the profession’s highest standards for accomplished practice.

Jordan School District currently has 44 teachers who have achieved National Board Certification.

Influenza season is in full swing and the Salt Lake County Health Department has recently seen a marked increase in influenza cases in area schools. The Health Department is asking schools and parents to be proactive in their approach to influenza prevention and their response to cases of illness.

They recommend the following:

• Vaccination – Encourage your staff and students to receive a seasonal flu vaccine every year. Vaccinated people who still become ill will have less severe symptoms for a shorter duration than those who are unvaccinated and become ill.
• Hand Washing – Remind staff and students to engage in frequent, thorough hand washing. Wash with soap and warm water, and physically scrub for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers are not an adequate replacement for proper hand washing.
• Cleaning – Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are sufficient to remove or kill them.
• Stay Home When Ill – Keep ill students and staff home from work and school for the duration of their illness. If they must leave home (such as to receive medical care), encourage them to wear a mask and practice good etiquette by coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the inside of their elbow—NOT into their hands.

They had a very demanding 2018 school year but the Herriman High School counseling team remained strong in their dedication to taking care of the needs of students. That is just one reason why the Utah Association for Career and Technical Education has given HHS counselors the 2019 Utah ACTE Guidance Division Counseling Team of the Year award.

In delivering the award the Utah ACTE said in part, “The team went above and beyond their call of duty to meet the needs of students and the community who were experiencing trauma they had never felt before. In the midst of turmoil, the daily job of a Herriman counselor did not go undone. They completed PCCR meetings with students, Sophomore Round Tables, Career Lessons, Sophomore Orientation, FAFSA Night and College Take Action Night just to name a few. They helped prepare students for college and careers while building strong relationships necessary to make an impact.”

Congratulations to these amazing counselors! Keep up the great work. You are making a difference every day.