District Newsletter – January 10, 2025
Dear Salt Lake City School District families and community,
With the start of a new calendar year, it’s a good time to recommit ourselves to treating others with dignity. Treating everyone with dignity means recognizing their inherent worth and valuing everyone as a person, even when we may experience differences or disagreements. This is a cornerstone of our work. Renewing our community commitment to keep things “5 and up” will create an environment where all of us – our students, families, and staff – feel respected, valued, and supported.
Not sure what “5 and up” means? It comes from the Dignity Index, a tool to help us see where our actions and speech rank on an 8-point scale from contempt (1) to dignity (8).
We invite all community members to join us in this important work of striving for dignity by committing to be “5 and up” in 2025. As you see others showing dignity at school, at home, or out in the community, shoot us a line (news@slcschools.org). We’d love to hear about it!
Thank you for your partnership as we work together to make 2025 a year of growth and respect for all.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Grant, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Salt Lake City School District
National Board Certified Teachers
Did you know Salt Lake City School District has 46 active National Board Certified Teachers, the highest number of any school district in Utah? National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students, and schools.
We’re excited to announce the latest cohort of district teachers who have completed or renewed their National Board Certification!
Our new National Board Certified Teachers are:
- Rebecca Richardson, East High School
- Aubrey Gamble, Highland High School
- Carrie Caldwell, Hillside Middle School
- Jeanett Hufford, Indian Hills Elementary
- Laleh Ghotbi, Mountain View Elementary
- Amanda Paszko, Uintah Elementary
- Jennifer Vasquez, Wasatch Elementary
Our renewed/maintained National Board Certified Teachers (the certification must be renewed every five years) are:
- Laura Nelson, East High School
- Anna Christiansen, Clayton Middle School
- John Arthur, Meadowlark Elementary
- Paula Bickerton, Mountain View Elementary
- Macy Cook, Uintah Elementary
Congratulations to these incredible educators!
Early Open Enrollment
We offer a wide array of educational choices and learning options, and right now (during Early Open Enrollment) is the time to make choices for next school year. Families can select the school that best fits their child’s needs, even if it’s outside their neighborhood or district boundaries.
Early Open Enrollment runs from November 15 through the first Friday in February. To apply, complete the online Open Enrollment application and indicate your school of choice. Families outside the Salt Lake City School District are also welcome to apply.
For details and to apply, visit the district’s School Choice page or contact Student Services at (801) 578-8206. Don’t miss this opportunity to make the best choice for your student!
Salt Lake City School District in the News
1. West High School partnered with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Utah chapter to brighten the holidays for 225 students at West High School. Volunteers from NCJW collected donations of coats, clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items, toys, diapers, rice, oil, and more, and students new to this country were able to pick out gifts for themselves and their families. ABC4 and Fox 13 covered the event - https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/jewish-community-gives-west-high-school-students-holiday-shopping-experience.
2. Thank you to the Salt Lake City Police Department for taking 50 district students on a holiday shopping spree. The annual Pay it Forward program started at the Little America Hotel, where officers and students ate breakfast. After breakfast, the students loaded into patrol cars and enjoyed a nine-mile ride, complete with lights and sirens, to Walmart. More information and photos can be found at https://police.slc.gov/2024/12/14/slcpd-hosts-police-pay-it-forward-holiday-event-52-slc-school-kids-go-shopping-with-officers/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0AFv6K5D8Z2jc_i9e6fCECWnz3-nFQ-kdZz9jrGF4FJ6nyHagDWkfGBoU_aem_kuiYJKLXmu2sc-nmyUCJPA.
Illness Guidelines
It’s that time of year again when temperatures drop, and many students may get sick. Typically, the number of students diagnosed with a cold, the flu, or COVID increases during the winter. Because of this we wanted to send a reminder to all families that if your student is sick, please keep them home.
The symptoms for these illnesses can be very similar – cough, sore throat, headache, runny nose, and fever. If your student is experiencing any of these symptoms, please take them to your family doctor or a local health clinic so they can be tested and receive proper treatment. You can also read our Illness Guidelines on our website. They are available in several languages.
Our custodians are working hard to clean and sanitize our schools every day, specifically focusing on high touch areas and classrooms. Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy.
Winter Weather Guidelines
This winter, district schools will be open on all regularly scheduled school days unless circumstances create health or safety issues. Like any public service, people count on our schools to remain open:
- Many district students rely on their neighborhood schools for breakfast and lunch.
- A significant number of students in the district would remain home alone without supervision if their school had an unscheduled closure.
- A functioning school building provides warmth and safety in addition to classroom instruction.
If severe weather conditions force a delayed start to school or a switch to an emergency remote learning day, the district will inform parents as early as possible. Look for notifications on ParentSquare, our social media (Facebook and Instagram), and the district website. If your contact information has recently changed, please call your school and provide them updated information.
Upcoming Calendar
- Jan. 20 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)
- Jan. 21 – Board Meeting, 5:30 PM at the district office (406 E. 100 S., SLC, UT 84111)
- Feb. 4 – Board Meeting, 5:30 PM at the district office (406 E. 100 S., SLC, UT 84111)
- Feb. 17 – Presidents’ Day (No School)