Utah State University offers master’s degrees in elementary and secondary education along with a variety of teaching endorsements and certificates.  Credits earned in endorsements can also be used toward a master’s degree.  Classes are scheduled to accommodate working teachers and offered at the USU Salt Lake Education Center, 2500 S. State.  Interested teachers are invited to attend an information session Feb. 10, 4 p.m., at the District Office, room 129A. ★

School counselors provide information, strategies, and opportunities for students to safely navigate the many pathways to a successful future.  Counselors meet with students individually or in small groups to teach and practice essential social skills, coping strategies, and emotional management techniques in early school years to prevent future at-risk behaviors and failures.

Elementary school counselors help parents, teachers and administrators meet the needs of students, and provide early intervention and support for struggling students.

Secondary counselors support student adjustment and transition to more rigorous academic demands, post secondary planning and the intense social and emotional changes these years bring.  Students face many challenges in the world of today, and guidance curriculum taught by school counselors help youth make sense of the many conflicts for their time and attention.

Take a moment to express appreciation to your school counselor. ★

While the Maintenance and Custodial Departments work diligently to remove snow and ice from walkways and building entrances, employees still may encounter slippery surfaces. The Human Resources Department and the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah offer the following tips for avoiding slips and falls during this winter season:

• Select appropriate footwear. There is no single shoe sole material that is perfect under all conditions, however, footwear with rubber soles provides better traction on ice and snow than leather or plastic.
• Think about the best route to your destination and plan on a little extra time to get there. Avoid rushing, taking shortcuts over snow piles or traversing areas where snow or ice removal is incomplete.
• If you have no choice but to walk on a slippery surface, bend slightly forward and shorten your stride or shuffle your feet for better stability.
• Many slips and falls occur during entry or exit from vehicles. Be particularly careful and hold on to the vehicle for support.
• Take advantage of floor mats at entrances to remove moisture from the soles of your shoes. This will help protect you, as well as others who follow, from having to walk on wet or slippery surfaces.
• Avoid walking on wet or slippery areas if possible.

Take responsibility for immediately reporting slip and fall hazards in parking lots, walkways and building entrances to the building principal or lead custodian. ★