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Category: Student Services

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STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

Monthly Newsletter September 2025

Happenings

  • September is Suicide Prevention Month Please share the Parent Guidance Mental Health Series resource with parents: including  Parent Guidance Online Mental Health Newsletter  and  "What Parents Need to Know about Suicide Prevention"
  • Thank you to the schools that have already scheduled and implemented regular mental health meetings!
  • Anti-Harassment/Anti-Bullying Student Training is being facilitated by school counselors now through October 1st. The Procedures for Training and Reporting are in the Document Center.
  • All Schools will receive $1000 for Suicide Prevention. Admin, please support implementation of the suicide prevention program at your schools and ensure these funds are being utilized to strengthen it.
  • Insight The Prime for Life and Guiding Good Choices schedule is now available. To see the schedule and register please click here 
  • Peer Court begins on October 6th. Referrals can be submitted here.  
  • Optional Admin/SRO Gun Safety and Active Shooter Training at East High School Library September 26th from 9:00am to 3:00pm RSVP HERE
School Counselors
Student Services Meeting (Virtual) September 17 from 9-12.  All Counselors, Social Workers, Nurses and McKinney Staff attend. Admin are always welcome.

Agendas and resources: Student Services Meetings 2025-2026  

Secondary Counselor Program: 
• All Secondary Counseling Programs will be reviewed by USBE this Spring to ensure adherence to state counseling standards. This program review nets counselor support budgets at secondary schools.
• On-Site Review Performance Evaluation  Data Project Reports  Counselors must present data projects during a staff meeting. If presentations did not occur last Spring, please schedule asap.
• Updates and Essentials Training  All secondary administrators who have not completed this USBE school training within the past six years must complete the course asap. Documentation of completion will need to be provided to the state in March.

Elementary Counselor Program:
• Elementary Counselor folder for resources, training materials, and PowerPoints from elementary counselor breakout sessions of Student Services meetings.
• Bullying One-Sheet outlines anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies and provides resources to families
• Utah Crisis and Suicide Prevention Resources Submit G19-20 documentation by Oct. 1 to this Microsoft link
• Elementary Counselors submit monthly data using this Microsoft form • Elementary Counselor Annual Task Organizer
• SLCSD Elementary Counselor Handbook
• Revised Counselor ECAP and Observation Tool

Helpful Links:
3rd Millennium Substance Violation Option for Secondary Students
Counselor Handbooks
Counselor Document Center
Utah College Application and FAFSA Resources
Digital Awareness: Classroom Curriculum
District Social Work and Mental Health Partnerships
Social Work Services 
• We are excited to welcome Andrea Carrizo, Annie Romano, Haref Montalvo, Jessica Carpenter and Yvette Orr to our team!
• Social workers are conducting mental health screening at all school sites.
• Thank you to the schools that have already implemented and scheduled regular mental health meetings!

Odyssey House
• Salt Lake City School District partners with Odyssey House to provide free school-based therapeutic services to students at East, Highland, Horizonte, Backman and Parkview.

Helpful Links:
Mental Health Screening
Parent Guidance Mental Health Series
Social Work Handbook    
Health Services
Important items this month:
• Vision Screening starts on September 16, 2025.
• CPR/AED/Narcan training continue to be offered once a month at the district office building.  If you would like to be certified or your certification has expired, sign up for a class.
-Remember, schools must have at least three front office staff CPR certified to have an AED in the school.
--Elementary: Kinder, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and special request.
--Middle: 7th grade and any special request.

Helpful Links:
How to access Healthcare Plans
Sick Room Protocol
Guidelines for Illness
Health Services School Assignments and Resources
McKinney Vento
Important items this month:
• Welcome Cisco Ramos our new McKinney Team member
• Housing Questionnaire: This form activates supports for qualifying students. Email completed forms to Becky Baskett and Mike Harman
- See District Documents Center for translated forms.
- See McKinney List in PowerSchool: homeless_code>0 - If students you know qualify and are not on the list, complete the Housing Questionnaire link above
• Reminder: McKinney-Vento eligible students can enroll without proof of address, immunization records, and/or birth certificate
• Reach out to the McKinney Vento team for student support, questions and/or staff training.

Helpful Links:
McKinney Vento Resources  
School Resource Officers
Important items this month:
If you need an SRO for any reason:
• Call your school assigned SRO (if no response)
• Call Sgt. Doug Teerlink 385-228-8072 (if no response)
• Call dispatch for non-emergency 801-799-3000
• Call 911 in an emergency
• Peer Court
• Promising Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Contact Krystyn Stargel 385-312-3104 regarding referrals or click links below.

Helpful Links:
SRO School Assignments
Promising Youth & Promising Youth Referral
Peer Court Referral            

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Dear Principals,

Thank you for your continued efforts in supporting our students with the NWEA assessments. Attached is the most recent participation chart, which shows where each school currently stands. Our districtwide goal is 95% participation, and the deadline for completion is Friday, September 12, 2025.

Please ensure the necessary arrangements are in place so that all students have the opportunity to participate and we can collectively meet this important target. Your leadership and attention to this matter are greatly appreciated.

SchoolsStudents TestedPercent Complete
Backman7651%
Beacon Heights8363%
Bonneville11363%
Bryant11333%
Clayton58298%
Dilworth5228%
East17810%
Edison11169%
Emerson11462%
Ensign14384%
Escalante8765%
Franklin00%
Glendale29746%
Highland126166%
Highland Park14473%
Hillside39082%
Horizonte4720%
Indian Hills16787%
Innovations00%
Liberty6640%
Meadowlark6232%
Mountain View13769%
Newman4025%
Nibley Park17675%
North Star11484%
Northwest41080%
Open Classroom3323%
Parkview7279%
Rose Park3725%
SLCSE17348%
Uintah16079%
Wasatch8455%
Washington6652%
West129954%
Whittier9644%
Grand Total698353%

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As we approach the 10-Day Drop window, please review the following guidance carefully. Our goal is to ensure consistency across schools while supporting students and families through clear communication and outreach.

Board Policy S-4 states:

“School administration and/or their designees will attempt at least one home visit before implementing a 10-day withdrawal. The home visit will be logged in PowerSchool.”

Recognizing the unique challenges at the start of the school year, outreach efforts such as phone calls, emails, and text messages may be documented as interventions in lieu of an immediate home visit. When feasible, a home visit should still be made, but it is not required prior to initiating the 10-Day Drop.

Please follow the updated procedures below:

1. General Education Students

  • Who: Students who registered for this school year but have not attended at all.
  • Action: Drop the student the day after 10 unexcused absences.
  • Drop Deadline: September 2
  • Exit Date to Enter: September 3
  • Requirements:
    • At least one documented intervention is required prior to dropping the student.
    • Acceptable interventions include: phone calls, text messages, emails, or home visits.
    • Document the outreach in PowerSchool.

2. Special Education Students

  • Who: Students with an IEP who have 30 consecutive unexcused absences.
  • Action: May be dropped after 30 consecutive unexcused absences.
  • Exit Date to Enter: Day after the 30th absence.
  • Requirements:
    • Special education teachers must document all attempts to connect with the family.
    • Email documentation to Erin.
    • Fill out the 10-day Ready and Willing Letter FORM document at 10 days of consecutive absences.
    • Complete the SCRAM link on the DDC.
    • Exit the student using code M.

3. Students Who Rolled Over from Last Year (Not Registered This Year)

  • Who: Students who appear on your roster but did not complete registration for the current school year.
  • Action: Drop at date of entry.
  • Exit Date to Enter: First day of school or the listed entry date.
  • Note: No intervention is required. However, please carefully verify that the student truly did not register or attend before proceeding.

Key Reminders

  • Equity and care are central. Our outreach efforts should reflect compassion and the intent to reconnect families to school.
  • Document everything. Whether by phone, text, email, or home visit, please ensure all interventions are logged in PowerSchool.
  • Seek support if unsure. When in doubt, reach out to your supervising director for clarification.

Together, these practices ensure we meet compliance requirements while also extending every opportunity for students to engage with school. Thank you for your continued commitment to students and families as we begin this school year.

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Bri Conley

Director of Educational Equity and Access

Published 8/29/2025

· 1 min read

Dear Principals,

As part of SLCSD's Strategic Plan Pillar 3, Goal 1, we are beginning baseline data collection on student and family attendance at key school events:

  • Back-to-School Night
  • Two additional family engagement events this year(selected by your school)
  • Fall and Spring SEP Conferences

Please complete the School Event Attendance Count form by Thursday, September 4. The form includes:

  • Attendance counts or estimates for 2025 Back-to-School Night
  • Method of tracking attendance (e.g., sign-in sheets, digital check-ins, estimates)
  • Prompts to identify your next two 2025-26 major events and SEP dates
  • Input about last year's most attended events at your schools

Thank you for your timely attention and support.

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Hello,

I'd like to introduce myself as a new face in SLCSD. My name is Julianna Wing and I'm joining the CTE team with the charge to help connect industry partners with our students. One of my initiatives is to ensure that career exploration opportunities, known as Work Based Learning, are shared with all grades, K-12.  To best share information, I'm compiling a list of the contact person at each elementary and middle school. Please fill out the best contact person (administrator, counselor, etc.) for future Work Based Learning announcements on the spreadsheet below. There are two tabs at the bottom, one for elementary and one for middle school. 

The first event to share with you is the Saturday Academy, hosting by the University of Utah. This is a look into healthcare careers for grades 6-12 on Saturdays, beginning in September. Parents will need to register students on their own and arrange for transportation. See the attached flier to pass along to families. 

As more events come up, I'll be sending them directly to the contact shared on the spreadsheet. We're excited about more opportunities coming for students so stay tuned. 

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Principals,

Each year you should designate one member of your faculty to act as your school's Positive Behavior Specialist. This person will oversee your school's Positive Behavior Plan to address the causes of student use of tobacco, alcohol, electronic cigarette products, and other controlled substances as required by Utah law. This person should be a school counselor or teacher-leader as they qualify for a stipend to compensate them for this work. 

Please submit the name of your school's PBS to Alli Martin (allison.martin@slcschools.org) by August 22, 2025.

Thank you,

Alli

Alli Martin, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Director of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Prevention Services

Salt Lake City School District

Office: 801.578-8137 

www.slcschools.org 

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter  

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day

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As shared during Admin Institute, our district is joining the Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) attendance initiative, Every Day Counts, for the 2025–2026 school year. This initiative directly supports our District Board Goal to reduce chronic absenteeism from 28% to 10% by 2029.

To support this important work, USBE has provided a variety of resources through their Absenteeism and Truancy Prevention page, including:

  • Flyers to display throughout your schools
  • Attendance Handouts for Parents
  • Monthly social media templates and themes to promote attendance on your school's platforms

USBE is actively working to translate these materials to ensure accessibility for all families. If the Attendance Handout for Parents is not available in translated form by mid-next week, we will collaborate with our Communications Department to ensure it is translated and ready for distribution.

Our Communications Department will also continue developing additional tools throughout the year to reinforce this message.

Back to School Night is a great opportunity to introduce the challenge to families. Please emphasize that improving student attendance is a district priority, and we are committed to supporting families in every way possible. Families in need of support can reach out to their school counselors, who are ready to assist with accessing resources and meeting basic needs.

Please also encourage your teachers to join us in promoting the Every Day Counts message. It’s just 180 days and we’re making each one count.

Let’s ensure families know it takes a village to improve attendance, and we can’t do it without them. Their partnership is essential to helping every student succeed.

As we look ahead, please keep in mind that September is Attendance Awareness Month. We’ll be resharing ideas and strategies to help promote it and build momentum. Since our goal is to bring awareness every month, this is a great time to start thinking about how your school can participate.

We are equally committed to supporting you in this work. If you have any questions about the attendance challenge or need support with anything related to attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m available and happy to assist in any way I can.

I’m excited for what we will accomplish together this year!

In solidarity,

Bri Conley, Ed.D. 

Director, Educational Equity and Access

Salt Lake City School District

Office: 801-578-8281

slcschools.org

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter   

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day

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Dear High School Team,

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to creating positive, safe, and inclusive school environments. As we begin the new school year, I would like to reaffirm and formally document our shared expectations related to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation across our high schools.

These expectations have been reviewed and communicated previously through written correspondence and in multiple meetings. The following practices are essential components of our districtwide efforts to build a consistent and supportive culture across all secondary campuses:

  1. Hall Pass Protocols: Teachers will keep hall passes behind their desks so they are not immediately accessible to students.
  2. Classroom Dismissal: Teachers will not dismiss students early from class.
  3. Visual Expectations: Schools will hang visual behavior expectations in common areas to reinforce positive norms and support clarity for all students.
  4. Active Supervision: Teachers will be present in hallways during passing periods to promote school safety, foster positive interactions, and support a welcoming school climate. 

In addition, a small team comprised of school and district administrators will begin conducting PBIS walk-through observations to gather implementation data. These visits are intended to provide formative feedback and highlight areas of strength and opportunity. The observation tool is currently being finalized and will be shared with you in advance of any scheduled walk-throughs. Our collective goal is to ensure that expectations are being applied consistently and effectively, aligned with our district’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and student well-being.

Thank you once again for modeling the leadership and professionalism that make Salt Lake City School District a great place for students to learn and thrive. Should you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Good Afternoon Administrators!

I'd like to extend an extra special welcome to all new administrators joining SLCSD this year. I am an education specialist in HRS, and the focus of my job is pre, new, and early educators. This email is to explain the process regarding pre-educators that spend time in our district.

We LOVE hosting student teachers, practicum students and interns! Especially since we have wonderful educators and students to learn from. SLCSD receives requests from several of our state colleges and universities as well as some online programs to place their students in our schools. HRS has worked with these institutions in developing MOUs and a placement process to ensure the success of all involved with this collaborative effort. 

The placement process starts in HRS with receiving requests from mostly placement coordinators. I also get requests from instructors, cohort leaders, and students themselves. This all depends on our arrangement with each institution. When you receive a placement request for observations, practicum or field hours, or student teaching, please direct the requester to contact me directly. After the details of the placement are reviewed, I will facilitate that placement with a school administrator before anything is confirmed. 

For internships, usually in school counseling or administration, there is an application and screening process. This would include anyone interested in fulfilling internship requitements for licensing, even current employees of SLCSD. You can also direct those individuals to me and I will provide them with next steps. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help! I look forward to collaborating with each of you this year in various capacities. 

Kellie May, M.Ed. (she/her/hers) 

Education Specialist - Mentors/Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) / Grow Your Own (GYO) / Pre-service Educators  

Salt Lake City School District 

2019 Utah Teacher of the Year   

Office (801) 578-8215 

https://www.slcschools.org/departments/human-resource-services

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day 

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Title:             Human Sexuality Classroom Instruction

Date:              June 25, 2025

To:                 All Administrators

From:            Adam Eskelson, Director 

    Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director

Dept:            Teaching and Learning

Subject:        Human Sexuality Topic Certification

All instruction related to sex education must take place within the context of Utah State Law (53G-10-402) and Utah State Board of Education rule (R277-474). New legislation has added topics beyond health class which require parent notification and permission.  

Any course which involves "Sex education instruction" [now includes] any course material, unit, class, lesson, activity, or presentation that, as the focus of the discussion, provides instruction or information to a student about:

  1. sexual abstinence;
  2. human sexuality;
  3. human reproduction;
  4. reproductive anatomy;
  5. physiology;
  6. pregnancy;
  7. marriage;
  8. childbirth;
  9. parenthood;
  10. contraception;
  11. HIV/AIDS;
  12. sexually transmitted diseases; or
  13. refusal skills, as defined in Section 53G-10-402.

In accordance with Rule R277-474-7-4, teachers may answer student questions or correct inaccurate statements as long as the answer is consistent with state law and the approved instructional materials. Educators may also direct students to parents.

Teachers will be sent this survey and are required to indicate if they cover any of the listed topics. All teachers must respond by September 30, 2025.

The parental Consent Form is included in all student registration and information is available to teachers regarding the parent’s option for instruction.

Rationale:

Utah Code 53G-10-402 states:

  1. That “parental consent requirements of Sections 76-7-322 and 76-7-323 are complied with”
  2. And, “require a student's parent to be notified in advance and have an opportunity to review the information for which parental consent is required under Sections 76-7-322 and 76-7-323.”
  3. “An LEA governing board shall provide appropriate professional development for the LEA governing board's teachers, counselors, and school administrators to enable the teachers, counselors, and school administrators to understand, protect, and properly instruct students in the values and character traits referred to in this section and Sections 53E-9-202, 53E-9-203, 53G-10-202, 53G-10-203, 53G-10-204, and 53G-10-205, and distribute appropriate written materials on the values, character traits, and conduct to each individual receiving the professional development.”

To facilitate compliance, each secondary teacher is required to complete the form to let SLCSD know which topics they are and are not teaching.

USBE guidance states:

  1. “Health, CTE, science, and psychology teachers should [acquire parental permission and complete this training] if they teach eligible courses like Health, Child Development, Health Science, Medical Anatomy, Human Development, Genetics, or any course with instruction on sex education as defined in Utah Code 53G-10-403.”

Expectations for Implementation:

  1. Communication:
    1. Administrative memo will be sent to all building administrators to share with faculty.
    2. Link to required form will be sent to all educators with the deadline of September 30, 2025, for completion.
    3. The Canvas course required for all teachers who present an effected topic (listed above) will be provided once the USBE creates the course after July 1, 2025.

2.        Collaboration:

  1. Contact Katie Lowery, Content Specialist over Health and Physical Education, for assistance.

3.        Evaluation:

  1. The district will check for the completion of the required form by due date.  If it is not complete, the assistance of building administrators will be requested.
  2. The district will keep a current record of all teachers who have completed the USBE Canvas course. 

Keywords: Human sexuality, health education, Utah Code 53G-10-402

Administrators: https://www.shapeamerica.org/MemberPortal/prodev/leading-healthy-schools.aspx

Leading Healthy Schools (LHS) is a free, year-long professional development and coaching program for school administrators to help them gain the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a school that prioritizes student health and wellness. Participants engage in collaborative learning experiences and coaching that are flexible to their school’s context and relevant to their role as a school leader.  

Interested in learning more about the program before you register? Sign up using the link above to attend an information session with LHS Program Director Kaitlyn Gaddis Thompson and hear from members of the 2024 and 2025 LHS cohorts!

For Administrators: Health textbook adoptions are complete, and we are ready to order for the upcoming year.  Please contact Katie Lowery for more information. Each school must complete a requisition. 

For Teachers:  Deadline to complete the required questionnaire for those who teach HEALTH, or ANY SUBJECT with human sexuality content is September 30th.  

All teachers (not just health) who discuss any topic below that they must include a statement in their disclosure for parents to sign and that parents must sign the USBE form as well. Do not just rely on the electronic registration for the 7-12th graders. 

Teachers should complete this survey and are required to indicate if they cover any of the listed topics. All teachers must respond by September 30th. 

HEALTH / HUMAN SEXUALITY SURVEY 

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