Thank you for your commitment during the recent Winter Universal Screening window to ensure students worked diligently to complete the reading and math diagnostic assessments.

As a reminder, please ensure all new intervention plans (Tier II and III) and Academic Support Plans (grades K-3) have been completed in EdPlan according to the dates below for each screening window.  These are also the due dates to place the PowerSchool flag for any newly identified students that will be receiving a dyslexia-specific intervention. 

Screening Window             Universal Screener Dates           Tier 2, Tier 3, and ASP entered into  

                                                                                                EdPlan DYS01 Flags in PowerSchool 

Fall                                           Aug 15 - Sept. 2, 2022                  October 28, 2022

Winter                                      January 3 -20, 2023                       February 17, 2023

Spring                                      April 25 - May 14, 2023                   May 24, 2023

Please connect with your RTI2 Advisor our building-level RTI2 Lead for additional questions regarding the creation of intervention plans in EdPlan.

Elementary School Principals, please view the oratorical contest information in order to submit a 5th-grade participant for this year's contest.  Information pertaining to this year's Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., can be viewed using the following link:  Oratorical Contest Link.

High School Principals, please share the Maggie McDowell Scholarship Application with high school students.  All documentation must be submitted by Thursday, February 9, 2023.  Information pertaining to the scholarship can be viewed using the following link:  Maggie McDowell Scholarship Application Link.

Calling all Middle School Principals! Here’s a coding opportunity you don’t want your students to miss! 

The Student Technology Xpert (Tech Xpert) Program is hosting Get Ready, Let's Code 2: Choose Your Adventure, a one-day coding camp.  This event is open to all MSCS students in grades 6 through 8. During the learning session, students will focus on the foundations of coding to build their skill set. Afterward, students will choose how to apply this new knowledge. The activity options include mobile application development, video game creation, and coding devices such as Sphero Bolts and Micro: bits.  

Help us spread the word by sharing this information in your school's announcements. Registration is now open until Feb. 8. Students can sign up using the following link or QR code. Flyers and posters will be delivered to your schools to display. 

Space is limited. For more information, see flyers or contact Cashundra Jefferson at jeffersonc1@scsk12.org.  

Registration Link: Get Ready Lets Code 2: Choose Your Adventure Registration 

Link to QR Code and Flyers: https://bit.ly/GRLC2023

Already viewed i-Ready Diagnostic Growth and Diagnostic Results Reports? (Reports > School/District (Class if you are a Teacher) > Diagnostic > Diagnostic Growth)
 

• Demographics: Reports are available to view by Demographics for those fields shared from PowerSchool. For example, click on the table at the bottom of the Diagnostic Results report and under “Choose Results to Show By” you can now view up to two demographic categories simultaneously.
   
• Coming Soon: Quadrant charts for school administrators! In the next couple of weeks keep an eye on your i-Ready Dashboard for a unique quadrant chart that shows how your grade levels are comparing in both Growth and Proficiency to one another and to national norms.

Greetings Principals,

Effective steps to ensure the safety of students and staff should be taken when schools hear about threats through social media or other electronic means.  The AOSS Manual provides schools with guidance to use when handling  Threats via Social Media and Other Electronic Means. Please familiarize yourself with this information and share it with your team.

Weekly emails will be shared by Dr. Brian Davis regarding the Civics Exam completion rate for each 9-12 school. Administrators will need to review the numbers with their school Civics lead. 

Please reach out to Dr. Brian Davis, davisbc@scsk12.org, or Sonya Porter, portersb@scsk12.org.

We will continue to report suspensions (i.e., ISS, OSS and EXP) in Incident Management.

However on occasion, you will need to document the specifics of Bullying, Harassment or Title IX related allegations that do not necessarily rise to the level of suspension. To ensure that we collect the federally mandated  info connected to these types of events, we will report these particular incidents in the Bullying Log Type within Log Entry as in the past. 

This DO NOT affect or remove any other additional reporting requirements for Bullying, Harassment, Intimidation or Title IX incidents. Follow your Harassment checklist found in the Discipline Guidelines Bullying section for additional clarity.

If you have questions pertaining to log entry, please email Dr. JB Blocker at BLOCKERJ@scsk12.org. If you have questions regarding other bullying reporting requirements/steps, email Dr. Alvin Harris at HARRISAE1@scsk12.org.

Exclusive Invitation from Scholastic, Inc.

Hey, Elementary School Leaders! 

Celebrate the power of the read-aloud with award-winning children's author Lester Laminack. Hosted by Scholastic, Inc., Laminack will conduct an exclusive reading of his brand-new book Three Hens, a Peacock, and the Enormous Egg for students in grades K-3. Get your K-3 classes registered today before spaces are filled!

Click the LINK to REGISTER TODAY. Space is limited. 

(Select Felicia Fowler/TN on sign-up)
 

Questions? Check out Scholastic's World Read Aloud Day website HERE 

Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org 

In the event that the Scholastic links break, here they are:

Registration: https://sable.madmimi.com/c/303227?id=66620.1934.1.e73d95c5b75138e0d54bd96b2da56ffd 

Website: https://www.scholastic.com/worldreadaloudday#:~:text=FEBRUARY%201%2C%202023&text=The%20global%20effort%2C%20created%20by,in%20all%20of%20our%20communities. 
 

Do you have teachers and leaders who need additional support with components of the ELA curricula? Then, join us during one of our upcoming vendor-led professional learning sessions. Teachers and Leaders may register today to participate in a K-5 Wonders session or a 6-12 myPerspectives session for January-February.

K-5 Wonders session: Teaching Foundational Literacy Instruction in Grades 3-5

Register today: https://bit.ly/K-5WondersSpring2023

and

6-12 myPerspectives sessions: 

1. Digging Deeper into the myPerspectives Digital Resources

2. Taking a Closer Look at myPerspectives Assessment Opportunities: Preparing for State Exams and the ACT
 

Register today: CLICK HERE 

**Participants' names will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win some cool MSCS Swag!**
 

Please provide the parent with the Official Notice of Out of School Suspension along with DHA Request Link or tell the parent that they can contact the SEED Department at 901-416-6007 and clerical personnel will email the parent the link upon request.

Parents are being told they have 10 school days to request a DHA hearing, that is NOT correct. Parents must request a hearing within 5 school days of the suspension. If they request a hearing after the 5th day, we will encourage them to contact the Alternative School Office to begin the orientation process at 901-416-2200.

New administrators and behavior support, if you have not received Discipline Training. Please click here to view the course and sign up via PLZ.

We've got exciting news! Rethink has refreshed some of its January lessons. Click here to access the most updated scope and sequence.

Team would like to spotlight Lauren Hobson. Lauren has brought to life the 5 SEL strategies, established by SEED’s SEL team to empower students with strategies to address their Social Emotional Learning needs. Click to view Student Spotlight Document.

National School Counseling Week is February 6-10. We are excited to recognize the work and undeniable commitment of our School Counselors. Please use this week to celebrate your School Counselors in your school and across the District! 

#NSCW2023

#Helping Students Dream Bigger 

Please ensure a review of all OAG students has occurred during December or January as outlined in the OAG Plan/Timeline. Continue to work with your teachers and school counselor(s) to ensure students are monitored and interventions are identified. 

Overage for Grade Support Plan

School Counselors should continue identifying OAG students each 9-weeks/semester and entering OSPs in Bright Bytes. 

Power BI OAG Filters (New) 

Our DAIM team has added OAG Filters to several dashboards to help with monitoring/tracking more effectively. Please visit the Performance and Strategy Management section to learn more about updates and resources available. 

Dashboards with OAG filters:​

• Student Assessments​
• Student Attendance​
• Student Enrollment​
• Student Discipline​
• Student Grades

Contact Drs. Certion, Hill, or Moss with questions. 

Please ensure completion of a centralized withdrawal form for expelled students (11-days or more) and note the school reviewer and checklist sections have been completed by schools for final approval by SEED. Students will remain active on your school’s roster until notification of centralized withdrawal form approvals and students have enrolled in alternative schools.

Schools:

As we prepare for Parent/Teacher Conference Night on Feb 16, we want to clarify language support provided by the ESL Department and to emphasize and encourage the usage of Language Line. 

Language Line can be used by all Title I school and provides immediate interpretation services for our multilingual families. It can be used in multiple classrooms simultaneously and has been acquired specifically for short meetings (30 mins. or less).   

Language Line:

The directions for using Language Line are listed here.  Please have your school code accessible when making the call.  

In-person Interpreter:

If you are not a Title I school or still need a person in your building on the night of conferences, use the link here to complete a Translation Request Form.  Please make sure to put your request in at least 7 days in advance as time is needed to coordinate scheduling.     

District Departments: 

If there are calls from other MSCS departments needing interpretation support for multilingual ESL families concerning ESL issues, we ask that you stay on the line with us for the duration of the call so that we can ensure that we communicate as a team to address the concern.  We will provide the language support for our ESL families by sharing information from ESL as well as from your department’s representative.  

The annual WIDA ACCESS Assessment window will open on Feb 13. 

Please keep the following dates in mind as you plan for the administration of this state-mandated assessment: 

• Jan. 27 - Initial Technology Verification should be complete.  All testing devices must have the DRC Insight App installed and updated, and students will need headphones with microphones to complete the assessment. 
• Feb. 3 - Deadline to send ESL Parent Flyers home to provide information about WIDA ACCESS. 
• Feb. 6 – Schools/District should receive testing materials and teacher testing schedules are due. 

March 29-31 - WIDA Intake of assessment materials will take place at the MSCS BOE.

Principals,

We are excited about the start of the Optional Schools Application Process next Tuesday, Jan. 31 (10 a.m.). 

In order to provide support for families next week, please consider opening your doors to those who need computer/internet access or assistance completing an online optional (or general choice) application. Please contact Linda Sklar or Jennifer Boland if you have questions.

Please see the February professional learning offerings in our February Professional Learning Catalog.

Spring Certification Consultations: The Division of College, Career and Technical Education will be hosting Spring Certification Principal Consultations the week of February 6th. All Middle and High School Principals with CCTE course offerings are expected to sign up and attend the consultation session. Please utilize the link below to schedule your day and time.

CCTE: Spring 2023 Certification Consultations

Sign-up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ADA62AA4F85-spring

Certification Help Desk
As we begin our certification kick off, please review the revised industry certification testing schedule to ensure that teachers are meeting their 100% certification goal. An Industry Certification Help Desk, supported by CCTE Advisors, will be available each Thursday from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm for schools who may need additional support. Certification Help Desk Link:
Click the below link to join via TEAMS:

Certification Help Desk

SSQI Submission
SSQI documentation is a state requirement and must be completed by all CCTE educators.
Documentation from the following indicators should have been uploaded in the SSQI portal.
1.1 – Program of Study
1.2 – Class Rosters
1.3 – Fall Advisory Council Mtg.
1.5 – Jobs for TN Data
2.1 – Guest Speaker
2.2 – Unit / Lesson Plan
2.3 – Industry Tours / Visits
3.1 – Teacher License
3.2 – Teacher Earned Industry Credentials

Please reach out to your school's Advisor for any questions.