District Newsletter – April 25, 2024

Dear Salt Lake City School District families and community,

Earlier this month, we were joined by Dr. Timothy Shriver, who leads the Special Olympics International and is a co-founder of UNITE and the Dignity Index, to officially launch our Dignity Initiative in the Salt Lake City School District. We are proud to become the first “Dignity District” in the nation!

Our initiative is based on the framework of the Dignity Index, which asks us to elevate our conversations, interactions, and even our disagreements. With permission from UNITE, we’ve adapted the Dignity Index and have modified the language to be more easily used by students.

Our goal in launching this initiative is to elevate the discourse in our schools. To encourage each of us – students and adults alike – to reflect on how we treat each other, how we perceive each other, and to remind each of us that every person – even those who are not like us or with whom we disagree – is an individual worth treating with dignity.

This is going to require greater humanity in our interactions with each other. And I encourage you at home to join us in modeling dignity for our students. This doesn’t mean that we end disagreements; it means we disagree with dignity. It doesn’t mean that we end competition on our athletic fields; it means we compete with dignity. It doesn’t mean we quiet efforts towards equity and justice; it means we speak loudly and with dignity. It doesn’t mean that we lower expectations and accountability. Instead, I'm asking all of us, individually and collectively, to raise ourselves to a higher standard for how we treat each other in the Salt Lake City School District – in our interactions as adults, our interactions with students, and in our students’ interactions in our hallways and classrooms.

You can learn more about the Dignity Index at www.dignityindex.us and more about our district initiative on the district website. Our goal is to keep our conversations at “5 and up!” Please join us on this journey.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Grant, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

H.B. 257 Update

Last Friday, we informed you that we would be holding off on classroom presentations to students regarding H.B. 257, Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities, sometimes referred to as the bathroom bill. After additional conversations with education leaders and state legislators, we are moving forward in complying with the law, including the requirement that districts “give notice to students.”

As we move to comply with the law and support students, principals, counselors, or teachers in grades K-5 will deliver the information in this presentation to their students: https://websites.slcschools.org/fs/resource-manager/view/5612a71d-203d-42ab-af57-fae1556f5b94.

Students in grades 6-12 will receive the information in this presentation: https://websites.slcschools.org/fs/resource-manager/view/f316beb0-c78f-4d2f-8dcc-16372ac09abe.

While the Utah State Board of Education has not provided specific direction to school districts regarding how to implement this new law, they have indicated that school districts “will determine how best to communicate the requirements listed in the bill to the students and families in their respective communities, including whether to notify all students of the new requirements.” It is important to share this information with all students, especially because we cannot presume to know every student who will be affected.

We remain committed to making sure our schools remain safe, welcoming places for all our students, families, and staff. We will continue to work with impacted students and their families to create privacy plans for individual students in accordance with the law.

If you have questions about the planned presentations, please contact your school principal.

End-of-Year Testing Tips

It’s almost the end of the school year, which means end-of-year tests for our students. Thank you, parents, guardians, and loved ones, who support students in preparing for these important exams. And thank you also to our teachers for their tireless work to help students learn all that they can. Below are a few tips that may help your student feel better prepared for any upcoming exams.

1. Know what to expect. Most teachers will send home information about test dates, class preparation plans, etc. before any upcoming exams. If you don’t hear from your student’s teacher(s), contact them to find out more. Remember to ask not just for the test dates and times; ask about the test format, ask if the teacher will be helping students prepare during class time, and ask about specific things your child can do at home to prepare in advance.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. Doing this every night is important, of course, and especially the night before an exam. Your student may be tempted to stay up late studying, but a good night’s sleep will help them think more clearly and will help them to better cope with any stress or anxiety about the test.
3. Eat a healthy breakfast. Eating well is an important part of preparing for exams. Whether your student eats at home or at school, a healthy breakfast will help them tackle the day’s academic challenges. If you need information on how your student can access breakfast at school, please contact your school principal or the front office. You can also direct questions to our Child Nutrition Department at (801) 974-8380.
4. Stay positive. You might feel nervous about your child’s test results, but it’s important that you stay positive and are careful not to transfer your anxiety to your child. Your positive example can help your student feel more at-ease going into testing season.
5. Practice calming strategies. Even the best test-takers get nervous sometimes. If your student is likely to get nervous, practice a few calming strategies, such as taking deep breaths, relaxing your muscles one at a time, or thinking about past successes.

High School Graduations

The end of the school year is coming quickly, and we can’t wait to honor and celebrate with our graduating seniors, the Class of 2024. A listing of the dates, times, and locations for our schools’ graduation ceremonies can be found on the district website.

Summer School

Salt Lake City School District is offering a variety of summer learning opportunities designed to help students catch up or move forward in their academic learning and to provide fun, hands-on activities to engage students' curiosity. Summer learning opportunities are available for students in all grades. An overview of our various programs, and links to pages with more information, can be found on the district website.

2025 Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

Congratulations to the 2025 Teacher of the Year finalists:

• Denny Aldridge, West High School
• Laleh Ghotbi, Riley Elementary
• Steven Little, Bonneville Elementary
• Sayre Posey, Northwest Middle School

These teachers were nominated and chosen from a very competitive pool. They will move on to an interview round, and one of them will become the 2025 Salt Lake City School District Teacher of the Year. Thank you to all who submitted nominations.

Classified Employees of the Year

The nomination period is now open for the 2025 Classified Employee of the Year awards! There are five classified employees of the year categories: Child Nutrition Employee of the Year, Transportation Employee of the Year, Buildings and Grounds Employee of the Year, Office Personnel (SLEOPA) Employee of the Year, and Hourly Employee of the Year.

Each Classified Employee of the Year will receive a $750 award. Anyone may nominate employees for these awards. Nominations must be submitted online using the Classified Employees of the Year nomination form. Please show your support for a favorite classified employee before the nomination period closes on April 29, 2024.

Classified Employees of the Year Nomination Form

Contact Sol Jimenez at sol.jimenez-erreguin@slcschools.org if you have questions regarding this recognition program or process.

Free “My County Rec” youth pass

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation is piloting the “My County Rec Pass” for youth in 2024. My County Rec Pass holders can participate in FREE healthy, safe, and fun activities after school, during school breaks, in the summer, and on weekends. Registration for this program opened April 1 and is open to all children in Salt Lake County ages 5 and older.

McTeacher’s Night

To celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Day, local McDonald’s locations will host a fundraiser on Tuesday, May 7, 5-8 p.m. Twenty percent of all digital sales during that period will be tracked and donated to the restaurants’ local education foundation or school district.

It’s a simple process to enjoy a meal and help your local school district:

• Download the McDonald’s app and order your meals between 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
• The restaurants will track all digital app sales and will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to your district.

Proceeds from the restaurant locations below will be directed to the Salt Lake Education Foundation and the Salt Lake School District.

McDonald’s restaurants in Salt Lake School District:

2310 E. 2100 S.	SALT LAKE CITY
36 S. STATE STREET (CITY CREEK CENTER)	SALT LAKE CITY
242 S. 700 E.	SALT LAKE CITY
916 W. NORTH TEMPLE	SALT LAKE CITY
945 E 2100 S	SALT LAKE CITY
1655 S. REDWOOD ROAD	SALT LAKE CITY
1665 W. 700 N.	SALT LAKE CITY
1533 S. STATE STREET	SALT LAKE CITY
17 E. 3300 S.	SALT LAKE CITY
210 W. 500 S.	SALT LAKE CITY
2064 S. 300 W.	SALT LAKE CITY

 

Upcoming Important Dates

May 7, 2024
Board of Education meeting – 5:30 p.m.
District Offices (465 S. 400 E., Suite 300, SLC, UT)

• Agenda will likely include a review the budget executive summary

May 21, 2024
Board of Education meeting – 5:30 p.m.
District Offices (465 S. 400 E., Suite 300, SLC, UT)

• Agenda will likely include a final budget review

May 27, 2024
Memorial Day (no school; district offices closed)

May 30, 2024
Last day of school for elementary and middle schools
Graduations

• Salt Lake Center for Science Education - 5 p.m., Libby Gardner Hall (University of Utah)
• Innovations Early College High School - 6:30 p.m., Highland High School Auditorium

May 31, 2024
Last day of school for high schools
Graduations

• Horizonte Instruction and Training Center - 9:30 a.m., Huntsman Center
• Highland High School - 1 p.m., Huntsman Center
• East High School - 4 p.m., Huntsman Center
• West High School - 7 p.m., Huntsman Center