Dear parents,

As my administrative team and I have reviewed student grades from Term 1, I wanted to share some important information with you about our students’ academic progress. We know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, our students’ educational experience has completely changed. Many families in our community have been severely impacted by the pandemic, and the toll has been felt in students’ academic performance.

At Glendale Middle School, I’m concerned about the number of our students who received an F (failing) grade or an I (incomplete) grade during Term 1. For Term 1, more than half of all Glendale students received one or more F (failing) or I (incomplete) grades. Fourteen percent failed all their classes. As we’ve implemented intervention strategies the percentage of students who are failing all their classes has dropped to 9%. It’s still early in the second term and I’m hopeful that as we continue to work with students on their specific needs, we will continue to see the number of students with failing grades go down. Parents, if your family is experiencing extenuating circumstances, I urge you to share this information with me and/or with your student’s teachers so we can find additional ways to support you. We have resources available to students who are struggling academically.  

As we reflected on Term 1 scheduling, we knew our original schedule was not working. We have made a change to your student’s schedule for Term 2 to reflect the current needs of our students and our community. Students are now online four days per week in live Zoom classes, and we have already seen our attendance improve significantly in the past three weeks.

Our school has engaged a Community Outreach team that is being deployed daily to contact students and families who are struggling. When a member of my team reaches out to you, please check in and let them know what else we can be doing to support you. We have many resources to help your family manage through the pandemic. We’ve learned that one specific struggle for many families has been with technology. Our counselors have been bringing students to school in person to help them engage with the remote technologies. This intervention has been incredibly successful. Additionally, our teachers are working on essential standards for the class and focusing on the learning that is most important to prepare students for their next classes.

My staff and I will continue to work to reach every student, but we also need your support. Here are some things you can do to help us help your student:

1. Check to see if your child is in their Zoom class. The majority of the Fs are because students are not attending their classes.
2. Check your child's grades and attendance in PowerSchool. If you need help accessing PowerSchool, please call our front office at 801-974-8319.
3. Contact the front office if you need help contacting your child's teacher.
4. Attend teachers’ office hours if you need help.
5. Take away video games during school hours.

I know many will dismiss the number of students with failing grades, citing similarly shocking numbers for students across the country. But my team and I care deeply about every one of our students, and we need to implement solutions now to make sure none of our students gets left behind this year.

Please reach out if there are specific circumstances with which we can support your student and your family during this difficult time. We’re here to help however we can.

Sincerely,

Jill Baillie
Principal
Glendale Middle School

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FOOD FOR FAMILIES

Title I schools in Salt Lake City School District will be working with the Utah Food Bank to keep an in-school pantry going for their school families this year. Please refer to your school for more information about the school food pantries. These school pantries are intended ONLY for their school communities.

Our Community Learning Centers will distribute food for families twice a month. Everyone is welcome to come get food from our community learning centers. Here are the dates and times for September:

• Thursday, September 3 (3:00 – 6:00 pm) – Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Thursday, September 10 (2:00 – 4:00 pm) – Glendale Community Learning Center (1388 S. Navajo Street (1340 W.) , Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Wednesday, September 16 (4:00 – 6:00 pm) – Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Thursday, September 17 (3:00 – 6:00 pm) – Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Thursday, September 24 (2:00 – 4:00 pm) – Glendale Community Learning Center (1388 S. Navajo Street (1340 W.), Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Wednesday, September 30 (4:00 – 6:00 pm) – Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, Utah)

MEALS FOR STUDENTS

Thanks to a last-minute waiver granted by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) will once again resume "Grab and Go Meal Service" at 16 designated school sites. Children can receive a "Lunch Today, Breakfast Tomorrow" combo meal each weekday from Sept. 3, 2020 through Oct. 30, 2020.

To help ensure safety, all meals will be prepared, packaged and delivered by SLCSD staff directly to each family’s vehicle. For those without a vehicle, walk-up service is also available. Meals for those with specific needs will be made available upon request. Contact our your school to for specific food needs. 

This food service program is open to the public. Free/reduced meal benefit status and school enrollment is not a requirement. These meals will be provided daily, free of charge, to ALL children ages 0 to 18.

Student Meal Sites:

• Backman Elementary (South Parking Area – Enter from 1500 West) 601 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Clayton Middle (Southeast Parking Area – Located by front doors) 1470 South 1900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 
• East High School (West Parking Area – Enter from 900 South) 840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 
• Edison Elementary (U-shaped Driveway – Located in front of school) 430 South Cheyenne Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Escalante Elementary (West Parking Area - Enter from 900 North) 1810 West 900 North, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Glendale Middle School (Northwest Parking Area) 1430 West Andrew Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Highland High School (East Parking Area – Located next to main entrance) 2166 South 1700 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 
• Liberty Elementary (Southeast Parking Area) 1085 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
• M. Lynn Bennion Elementary (Parking Area – Located next to loading docks) 429 South 800 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Meadowlark Elementary (Northeast Parking Area) 497 North Morton Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Nibley Park School (Main Entrance - Driveway) 2785 South 800 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Northwest Middle (Northeast Parking Area – Located next to main entrance) 1730 West 1700 North, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Parkview Elementary (Northwest Parking Area) 970 South Emery Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Rose Park Elementary (West Parking Area – Located next to main entrance) 1105 West 1000 North, Salt Lake City, Utah
• West High School (U-shaped Driveway – Located North of building next to cafeteria entrance) 241 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Whittier Elementary (North Parking Area – Enter from Roberta Street) 1600 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah