We have a few last time-sensitive updates before we resume sending out information primarily once a week and on our website. Before we get to that information, I heard a perspective this week that’s worth passing along:
Whenever change happens rapidly, we face the choice of prioritizing efficiency or flexibility. Obviously we strive for as much of both as we can, but as a district, we have decided that providing the most choices to people in crisis as possible is our priority. With that in mind, please continue to be patient and kind as we work to give you that flexibility, especially if things take a bit longer than usual. The feats pulled off by staff so far have been superhuman, and I couldn’t be happier with how many seemingly impossible things have already been accomplished.
Now the updates:
Friday Basics
Students should have something to do in each of their classes. This may range from new assignments or preparation activities for the coming week to enrichment and extension activities. It can also be meeting with the teacher in person by appointment or virtually. Most of all, it allows teachers to be responsive to the needs of our students and proactive in intervening and enriching as needed. This will develop and improve week to week, and we would love your input on how it goes.
Counseling Center Priorities
Our counselors and registrar have been working overtime (literally, a lot of overtime) to get schedules arranged and students placed where they need to be. For your information, this is the priority breakdown as they run triage on schedules:
- Completing enrollment of students in online courses
- Correcting schedule errors and optimizing class size distribution
- Working on emergency schedule changes
- Accommodating schedule requests
Please contact the counselors by email if at all possible so there is a paper trail of your request and communication can happen at any time of day. If you feel you need to speak with a counselor in person, please make an appointment before coming in so that we can make sure they are available to meet with you.
Memory Books
At long, long, long last our memory books have arrived! Our wonderful PTSA has sorted them by students’ 7th period classes and we handed them out to students today if they are still at Elk Ridge. If they are at Bingham, West Jordan, or Copper Hills High School, our PTSA will be set up outside the school soon for drive-by pick-up. More on that as soon as it’s scheduled. Any books not picked up will be brought back to the main office and after a week or two of waiting to see who picks them up, we’ll send them to you in the mail. Thank you for a wonderful 25th-year anniversary!
Skyward Registration
If you haven’t completed registration in Skyward, please do so ASAP. Your student can’t be issued a Chromebook until it is complete.
Online Courses Update
There are still some minor changes to online courses. Please be patient if you haven’t heard much from your teacher just yet. As rosters settle, we’ll hit our stride and really get going.
Cafeteria Note from Mrs. Taylor
Dear Parents,
Welcome back! I hope everyone’s summer was great and fun. It’s time for another year at Elk Ridge Middle School, and I wanted to go over a few changes in the cafeteria this year. Everything will be prepackaged in 3 compartment containers that will be labeled. They will be able to choose a fresh fruit or canned fruit, and a milk that we will hand them. Everything else will be ready for them in the container. It makes me sad that we won’t be able to offer everything else like normal, but welcome to the new normal. Breakfast and lunch prices will be the same as last year – regular lunches are $2.00, reduced are $.40 , and breakfast is $1.00, reduced is $.30
Because of Covid – 19 we are only serving on 4 lines:
- Line 1 & 3, which are Ala Carte, will have:
- Hamburger’s, spicy chicken sandwiches and chicken rings every day
- One day a week we will have popcorn chicken, mini corndogs and corndogs
- Line 2, which is our main line, will change every day as it shows on the lunch calendar
- Line 4, will have only pizza
There will not be a salad bar, deli line, desserts, ice cream. There will not be money exchanged from student to cashier for everyone’s safety. The only money that is handled will be lunch payments and all money will have to be deposited into their lunch accounts. You are welcome to make online payments and bring payments to the main office. PLEASE let your student know that they will not be able to get change for the candy machines. There are a lot of changes, and it will take time for all to adjust. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 801-280-0206.
Thank you for your support with all the changes.
–Holly Taylor, ERMS Cafeteria Manager
Future Updates
We hold tightly to avoiding inbox overload for you by only sending out a Skylert once a week on Mondays. This first week has been the exception, as there are so many moving parts that were time-sensitive for a smooth experience. Continue to look for weekly updates in your inbox, and we’ll post mid-week updates on our website and include it in our Skylert the following week. This should allow you to have as much or as little communication as you want. We also only use the text message function of the Skylert sparingly so that when we do need it, you know it’s especially important.
Thank You!
This first week has been incredibly smooth, especially considering how many moving parts are involved for everyone from the students to staff to parents. Our goal is to be safe, kind, and responsible, and as an Elk Ridge community, that mark has definitely been hit. Thank you again for your patience, kindness, and feedback. It’s good to be back in school!
