Category: Wally the Wapiti

General news and announcements from the desk of Wally the Wapiti.

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COVID-19 PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Volunteers, AP Tests, Free & Reduced Lunch Applications

General Reminders

There’s been a lot of exciting news lately regarding updated COVID guidance in the nation and state, but please note that guidance for schools has remained the same. Cases are down at Elk Ridge, and we attribute that directly to how well our students are doing overall. 

Please help us to remind students that masks at school still need to be worn indoors at all times, and outdoors when closer than 6 feet from others. We want to keep things as light as possible in tone, and having support from home makes all the difference. A lot of masks are starting to creep down under the nose, and that’s effectively not wearing a mask. We have plenty of new masks in the main office if they need something that stays up better.

Calling For Volunteers

We have a number of upcoming opportunities for parents and members of our community to participate in career-building activities. This ranges from mock job interviews to bringing your job to our students. If you have any interest in participating in one of these activities, let us know using this link. We’ve had tremendous participation from our community in the past, and it’s a great chance to get involved in something meaningful to our students.

AP Tests Coming Soon

Dates are being finalized and communicated to the classes directly, but please remember that if your student is in an AP class, they should plan on taking the test this May. Both AP Geography and AP Spanish tests will likely fall on a Friday, and it’s important to plan on being at school those days.

Memory Book Price Increases March 15th

If you would like to purchase a memory book, please do so before March 15th. After that date, the price will increase from $25 to $30. They can be purchased by going to Skyward Family Access, choosing Fee Management, Selecting Add a Fee, and the selecting Memory Book.

Free & Reduced Lunch Forms

The current USDA free lunch waiver allows all students to eat breakfast and lunch for free. When this waiver expires or funds run out, students will need a completed Free and Reduced Lunch form to continue to eat free or reduced lunch.

If you qualify or think you might qualify for free or reduced lunch, complete a new form at the school or on Skyward Family Access (Instructions Here) ASAP so there the transition back to regular lunch costs is as seamless as possible. If you have any questions, please contact our cafeteria manager (Holly Taylor) at 801-412-2823.

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Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Spring Pictures, Memory Books & BHS Registration

Spring Pictures

LifeTouch will be here on Wednesday morning to take Spring pictures for any interested students. Picture packets can be picked up in the main office.

Memory Books

March 15th is the last day to get your memory book for $25. Memory books will be sold for $30 after March 15th on a first-come, first-serve basis.

9th Graders

VERY IMPORTANT: If you haven’t done the Canvas class yet, make sure to do it tonight so that you are ready for the Bingham counselors to help you enter your classes into Skyward tomorrow. Bring the white Bingham paper with your class choices circled to your Science class on Tuesday. 

9th Grade students will be completing their course requests in their Science class this week on Tuesday March 2nd.

It is important to take course requests seriously as these classes will become your schedule for next year.

IN PERSON STUDENTS:

Students, please come to your Science class prepared with your course request card highlighted and classes selected. From this course card, students will then add their class requests into skyward using a Chromebook.

VIRTUAL STUDENTS / ABSENT STUDENTS:

Students are encouraged to view the attached PDF with instructions on which credits/classes are needed, graduation requirements, etc.

Further information can be found by watching the Sophomore Orientation Presentation on the Bingham website, HERE.

If you have further questions, you may contact your middle school counselor.

Students will have until Sunday, March 7th at 11:59 pm to make adjustments.

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COVID-19 Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

9th Grade Registration Information

The majority of this Skylert is for 9th grade students only. 

For everyone else, please make sure that if you haven’t completed registration, please visit our pre-registration page as soon as possible. Please also let us know if you haven’t on that form if you are choosing to attend Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School or moving.

IMPORTANT 9TH GRADE ANNOUNCEMENTS

9th Grade PCCR/Pre-Registration Meeting for High School Via Canvas

In preparation for 10th grade high school registration, the 9th grade students will complete a pre-registration meeting at home this week through Canvas.  This meeting will take approximately 30 minutes, and we ask that students and parents view these materials together as it will answer essential questions about available courses and registration at the high school. Tomorrow in science class, your 9th grade student will receive a registration card from Bingham High School and will learn about the PCCR pre-registration meeting that they will complete on Canvas this week. They can complete the meeting anytime this week with you but will be given time on Friday through their Science class to work on it. This assignment is due Sunday, February 28th at midnight so that your student will be ready to turn in their card. Bingham High School will meet with students on Tuesday, March 2nd in their Science class to complete the high school registration process.  

West Jordan High School will be coming on March 16th to drop off registration cards. Even if your child is not attending Bingham High School, please view the information in the Canvas class because it is applicable for all Jordan District High Schools. 

If you have additional questions, please contact your child’s counselor.

9th Grade PCCR Pre-Registration Meeting for High School Assignment Steps:

  1. Go to Canvas and find the Canvas Course titled–9thGR School/Library/Counseling-NICHOLES
  2. Open the course and click on the button on the Homepage called 9th grade PCCR Pre-Registration Meeting. This will take you to the meeting page with instructions and a link to open up slides with the registration information and videos to watch. 
  3. When done, complete the survey, using the link found on the last page of the slides. 
  4. Bring your registration card with you to Science class on March 2nd for your meeting with the counselors from Bingham High School. 

Reminder: BHS Sophomore Orientation is THIS WEEK! 

Bingham High School’s Sophomore Orientation is February 25th in the BHS Auditorium – you don’t want to miss it!

IMPORTANT: There will no longer be a live stream for those students and parents unable to attend! We encourage those of you who have not secured a ticket yet to do so to attend one of the in person sessions (there’s still tickets available for both sessions) OR to watch the presentation on the Bingham Counseling website following Orientation.

  • Topics covered include registration and scheduling information, graduate requirements, and BHS counselor introductions.
  • There will be two sessions. Session #1 will be from 6:00-7:00 PM and Session #2 will be from 7:30-8:30 PM. 
  • Tickets are required! Tickets can be obtained beginning this Friday, February 12th, at 3:00 PM on the Bingham Athletics Page for either session. 
  • Tickets will be limited to 350 per session in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students can only obtain two (2) tickets max – one for the student and one for a parent/guardian. No one will be admitted without a ticket. This includes additional children so parents, please find alternative care for your children if you plan to attend with your 9th grader. 
  • There will not be an Activities Fair. Instead, please reference the  BHS Clubs + Teams List to learn more about all of the fabulous clubs and teams Bingham has to offer. For each club and team, the list includes the advisor’s name and email address, anticipated audition/tryout dates, and a brief description/important information info for each club and team. This list will also be included in each student’s registration packet.

If you have any questions, please call the Bingham Counseling Center at 801-256-5120. The BHS Counselors and Administration look forward to seeing you there!

Bingham Hope Squad Application

Do you enjoy helping and listening to others? The HOPE SQUAD class represents students who promote positivity within the school and community.  Hope Squad students receive trainings on suicide prevention, self-care and hopeful living, using the HOPE4UTAH Curriculum, created by Dr. Greg Hudnall. 

The HOPE SQUAD class:

  • Is an audition class
  • Is a YEARlong class
  • Is only offered 4th period
  • Earns elective credit

If you are interested in applying, please complete the attached application. Please EMAIL or bring in your completed application to Ms. Bair at Bingham High School (deepika.bair@jordandistrict.org), Room S106.

Applications are due March 1st.

*** Please note: HOPE SQUAD is an Audition class. Your application goes through a screening process and does not guarantee membership. Students will be notified in March and if approved, your counselor will add this class 4th period.

BINGHAM LATINOS IN ACTION APPLICATION 

Applications are open to join the Latinos in Action (LIA) program at Bingham High School for next school year! 

  • Year-long elective course
  • Goal of empowering Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through college and career readiness.
  • If you would like to know more information about LIA, please review the attached brochure or presentation for further information.

Please submit the attached application via email to Ms. DeVilliers at linda.devilliers@jordandistrict.org or in-person at Room E233 (at Bingham).

Applications are due MARCH 1st.

Categories
COVID-19 PTC's PTSA Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Parent Conference & Pre-Registration Reminder

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher conferences are this Wednesday from 4-8 pm and Thursday from 4-7:30 pm. You can sign up for an appointment time in Skyward Family Access. Drop-ins will be possible, but those with appointments will be given priority. Zoom links will be available on the school website and via email starting Wednesday. If you have a meeting with a teacher before then, they can send you the Zoom link directly.

Sign up early to get the times you want, and remember that if you don’t get the chance to meet with a teacher this week, Zoom, email and phone calls all work all year, so please don’t hesitate to reach out whenever you have questions or concerns.

Last Week to Pre-Register

Don’t forget that all pre-registrations (course selections) must be completed by February 14th. Visit our pre-registration page for information and the pre-registration form. We’ll take this information and use it to offer as many of the classes that you want as possible!

ALPS Orientation

There will be a virtual ALPS orientation meeting for all incoming ALPS students on February 23rd from 6-7 pm. The link to this meeting can be found at gandt.jordandistrict.org.

Memory Books

Memory Books ordered from now until March 15 are $25. Memory Books ordered after March 15 will be $30, and are only available as long as the limited supplies last. Memory books can be ordered in Skyward under the fees sections. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Whitney in the main office. We have switched to a different vendor this year to hopefully ensure they are here in a timely manner.

Dress Code Reminder

Please take a moment to review what your student is wearing to school, especially now that things are warming up.

Categories
COVID-19 PTC's Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Parent Conference & Pre-Registration

Parent Conferences This Week

Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, February 10th from 4-8 pm and Thursday, February 11th from 4-7:30 pm. The process will be very similar to what we did in the fall with a few modifications. Here are the highlights:

  • Appointments can be made by logging into Skyward Family Access using your parent account. (This is the same process used by Jordan District elementary schools. You can make appointments with all your student’s teachers in one place. Please see the attached step-by-step instructions if needed.) 
  • Zoom links for each teacher will be available on the school website starting Monday after school. 
  • Zoom meetings will utilize “waiting rooms”.
  • “Drop ins” are welcome, but teachers will give preference to those with appointments. 

We strongly encourage you to check your student’s grades on Skyward and talk with them a few days prior to the conference. If you have any trouble accessing Skyward Family Access, please contact the main office. Instructions can also be found here.

A few more thoughts on the structure of the conference: Our overall goal with any parent conference is to have meaningful, two-way communication with you about your child and how we can work together to support them. If you are unable to meet with us for some reason on those days, please know that in today’s connected age, we are always reachable by email, phone, video conference, or in-person. Don’t let a date set aside for communication get in the way of communication throughout the year.

We look forward to seeing or hearing from you!

Pre-Registration Open Through Feb. 14th

Don’t forget to visit our pre-registration page to choose your courses for next year. All selections made before the 14th will be given the same consideration, so it’s important to get your registration in during that time. Contact our counseling center if you have any questions.

Categories
COVID-19 Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Pre-Registration Open Until Feb. 14th

Pre-Registration is Open!

Please visit our pre-registration page to request your courses for next school year. All requests made between now and February 14th will be given the same priority. Take some time to review the orientation videos, course descriptions, etc. before completing the form.

That’s all we’re sending out this week. If you have any questions about selecting courses, don’t hesitate to reach out to our counseling department. It’s national school counselors week, so feel free to tell them thank you if they’ve helped you or your children. We couldn’t do it without them!

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COVID-19 Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Pre-Registration Open Feb. 1st

Pre-Registration (Course Requests) for 6th-8th Graders Begins Feb. 1st

It’s time to choose your classes starting on February 1st. Visit the pre-registration page on the school website for information on elective courses, requirements, and other information.

Our counselors will be visiting each 7th and 8th science class on Monday and Tuesday to ensure students understand the process. You will be able to edit your choices for the first week or so, after which your selections will be locked so that we can start building the schedule and hiring according to your requests. Requests that come in after February 14th will still be accepted, but some options may not be available depending on demand from the on-time registrations.

It is also worth noting that all students will have the option of enrolling in the district’s new virtual school during pre-registration. More information will be placed at the beginning of the pre-registration form to ensure you have as much information as possible when deciding your path for next school year.

9th grade students will enroll at their respective high schools in late February or early March, and counselors from those schools will come and present to students at that time. Any questions about high school registration should be directed to the respective high school for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

We are adding content to our registration every day as we lead up to pre-registration, so make sure you check back on February 1st for videos from teachers, updated course options, and more helpful information.

Thank You!

We have such amazing students at Elk Ridge, and we just wanted to make sure we take the chance to say thank you for all that you do as a community to support our school. It is never dull and truly a pleasure to work with your children, and it’s a responsibility and an honor that we take very seriously. You have great kids.

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COVID-19 Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: End of 1st Semester, Schedules

First Semester Ends Friday

It’s nearly the end of 1st semester, so please take a moment to check your student’s grades and reach out ASAP with any questions to your student’s teachers. Some deadlines for turning work in have already arrived and it’s important to work with teachers while there is still time to do it.

No Nose Notice (Wearing Masks Correctly)

Please take a minute and remind your students that masks need to fit snugly over both the nose and mouth. At this point, not wearing the mask correctly can unfortunately still result in being sent home per the governor’s mask mandate, and can also result in a 10-day quarantine if exposed while at school. The majority of students are doing great, but we are seeing many more masks creep down under the nose. We’d love to keep students here, so any reminders or reinforcements you can offer at home are appreciated!

Schedules for Second Semester

Counselors are working on adjusting schedules for next semester for online, hybrid, and in-person students. The new schedules will be updated on Skyward on Tuesday, January 19th. Please be patient as these adjustments are being made, as there are a lot of changes that need to happen. We hope to accommodate all requests for changes, but this will be dependent on seat availability at the district-level. 

FREE Social & Emotional Wellness Screening for Students (Ages 10-18)

Do you have concerns about your child’s social and emotional wellness? Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the Jordan Health and Wellness Team will be providing virtual mental health consultation interviews with appointments every 30 minutes between 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. At each event, licensed professionals will:

  • Discuss possible mental and behavioral health needs for your child.
  • Connect students and families to available community resources.

These screenings are by appointment only. Space is limited. Appointments take approximately 30 minutes and the screening tool takes 15 minutes to complete, prior to your appointment. Interpreters will be available upon request. Visit this link to schedule an appointment or email wellness@jordandistrict.org.

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COVID-19 PTSA Registration Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: End of 2nd Quarter, Pre-Registration

Welcome back from winter break! Everyone looked a bit sleepy today, which was hopefully due to all of the rest you got over the break. Please remember that the 2nd quarter ends next Friday, January 15th. Please ensure you have all requisite work turned in early so that you avoid any surprises.

Memory Books

Memory Books ordered from now until April 1, 2021 are $25. Memory Books ordered after April 1,2021 will be $30. Memory books can be ordered in Skyward under the fees sections. If you have questions please contact Mrs. Whitney in the main office. We have switched to a different vendor this year to hopefully ensure they are here in a timely manner.

Pre-Registration

It’s time to start planning for next school year, and pre-registration for classes will open on February 1st. We are moving to an online registration system this year, and you will have two weeks to make and adjust your requests. That process will also include class summaries, prerequisites, and everything else you’ll need to tell us what you want for next year, since a registration night in-person at the school won’t be an option. Once we have that, we’ll work to staff our school according to your requests. This makes it doubly important that you get us your preferences, as it’s much harder to accommodate once the schedule has been built and staffing decisions have been made. More information on registration will come in the Skylert and on our website as we get closer.

Permits

The initial permit window has now closed, and only permits submitted before January 1st will be entered into the lottery. From there, permits will be awarded according to the established waiting list. Unfortunately we do not anticipate having space for many, if any, permits this year.

COVID Updates

Case counts are set to zero per state guidelines after a 2-week break. Positive cases are still reported, and community spread appears to be relatively high based on the number of students and staff currently positive, even though none of them have been in the school while positive due to the break. In short, it’s been a long haul, but now is not the time to get complacent.

In better news, quarantines in school will now only occur for situations where one or both students was NOT wearing a mask. This means primarily only lunchroom exposures or situations where we know a student was not wearing a mask. Quarantines from non-masked exposure are for 7 days with a negative test administered on the 7th day, or 10 days without a test.

The governor also announced that districts can adopt a test-to-stay policy in order to avoid shifting to online learning, but such a policy must be adopted by a school board to go into effect. There has not been an opportunity since the announcement for the board to discuss such a policy, meaning we will still be held to the 15 active cases or 1% threshold for the time being for a shift to online learning.

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COVID-19 Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Angel Tree Extra Opportunities, Permits

Angel Tree

Our deadline to get things collected for the Angel Tree is this Wednesday. If you’re looking to do more than just what your class has signed up for, you can go here to pick up what still needs to be covered. Thank you for your generous support, and we love that kids in our community will have a Christmas.

Permits

Just a reminder that the permit window is now open. You don’t need a permit if you are in DLI or ALPS, or if you are already attending Elk Ridge. To be considered for the first round of the lottery, please make sure you apply before the end of December. Visit this FAQ for more.

The Benefits of a Positive COVID Test

Getting coronavirus is not good in any scenario. However, we want to remind anyone who thinks they might have it that a positive test allows the student to avoid quarantine for 90 days. The test must be confirmed through the health department to count, and an antibody test doesn’t work. This means you have to get the positive test in a timely fashion and not weeks after getting sick. 

We’ve had instances where the entire family gets sick, but only one person gets tested. The rest of the family is presumed positive if they develop symptoms, but that unfortunately doesn’t work for avoiding quarantine in the future. A positive test is the only way. If you do get a positive test result, please notify the school so that we don’t quarantine your student from future exposures. You don’t need documentation for a positive result, as we confirm all positives and negatives with the health department. We don’t need documentation for a negative result either, unless you are hoping to return from quarantine earlier than the 10-day mark.

It’s also important to remember that if you are getting tested and don’t have symptoms but have a confirmed exposure, it’s recommended that you wait until the 7th day after the last date of exposure in order to maximize chances of getting an accurate result.