Middle School Principals,

The Naviance Semester 1 window opened for all schools on Monday, August 21, 2023. The Naviance Scope & Sequence is attached for your review. Please work with your School Counselor(s) to establish a schedule and monitor each task closely. School-level reporting will begin the week of September 18.  

Semester 1 Window

August 21 - December 8 

23-24 Middle School Goal

95% for all tasks, excluding Course Planner

100% for Grade 8 Course Planner 

Please contact your Counseling Manager, Dr. Hill or Dr. Moss, with any questions. 

Greetings Principals,

The Office of Academic Operations and School Support in collaboration with the Office of School Operations is seeking your input to enhance our services to School Leaders. Your feedback is valued.  Please take a moment to complete the Departmental Responsiveness Survey.

If you would, kindly submit your responses by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8.

Thank you.

September is recognized annually as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  The theme is “Creating Hope Through Action.” For the past 11 years the MSCSMHC has held the Suicide Prevention Awareness Expo to educate students, parents, faculty, and the community on this very important mental health issue.  This year, the 11th Annual Suicide Prevention Expo will be held in collaboration with Coordinated School Health, Total Rewards and Benefits, community partners, and agencies to provide valuable information and bring attention to another unfortunate pandemic society is facing. Please share this information with their families  

When: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Where: Colonial Middle School
Time:  10:00am - 2:00pm

The Office of SEED 504 Department will be offering the following professional development sessions during the month of September:

• 504 Compliance Training - TN Pulse (Administrators) - Section Number #70503, #70504, #70505 and #70506

We are asking leaders to please share this information with their counselors, administrators,  and other appropriate staff. Interested participants will need to register for the course in PLZ using the section number provided. Session facilitators will send the link to all enrolled participants. If you have any questions, email Chanda Jones-Donald at jonesdonaldcr@scsk12.org.

To ensure consistent support for homeless and unaccompanied students and district-wide compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please adhere to the Enrollment Protocol for Homeless and Unaccompanied Students.

You are receiving recognition for the positive trends found in your end of year 2022-23 discipline data and because of your strides towards implementing restorative practices! 

• Hollis F. Price MS (Principal, Sandra Barnes)
• Dunbar ES (Principal, Lawanda Shaw)
• Newcomer International Center (Principal, Gabriela Torro)
• Trezevant HS (Principal, Eric Brent)
• Ridgeway MS (Principal, Katrina Raggs-Washington)
• Hickory Ridge MS (Principal, James Gordon)
• Brownsville Road ES (Principal, Velvet Jeter)
• Downtown ES (Principal, Brandye Williams)
• Windridge ES (Principal, Todd Shaffer)
• Westside ES (Principal, Kimberly Adams)

The EDI (Equity, Discipline & Intervention) office has identified you as one of the highlighted 10 schools who will receive television broadcast recognition on WKNO!  Please see WKNO Schedule of school visits. 

Please keep up the good work…and know…your hard work is noticed and appreciated!

You now have the option to select Stay Away Agreement in Incident Management.  When selecting Local Action Codes, Stay Away Agreement is in the list of drop down options. 

• School support staff will no longer have access to withdraw students from Powerschool. These withdrawals will be handled by the SEED Office and Division of Alternative Education (for expelled students only).
• Withdrawals are only required for each student who has been in attendance for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Effective immediately, all no-shows will need to submit a centralized withdrawal application to be withdrawn.
• Parents can access the withdrawal form through their PowerSchool Parent Portal; school staff can visit: https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=37204&culture=en
• Please review your projected enrollment list and identify any students who have not yet registered or enrolled at your site. Parents of these students must clear truancy before their child can be enrolled. Do not send these parents away.

• School administrators must ensure teachers record attendance daily and input grades in PowerTeacher Pro. Do Not use paper forms.
• School office staff should process and reconcile daily attendance codes submitted by teachers. Failure to complete this task will impact funding (TISA).
• Each school should have an attendance administrator who can assist and verify the accuracy of attendance data.   
• Attendance clean-up sessions will be announced by zone within the coming weeks.

• All 5-year-old Kindergarten students must be registered and enrolled by Monday, September 18, to be eligible to attend school for the 2023-24 school year. 
• Students who are not 5 years old by August 15 and did not pass the Early Kindergarten Entry Screening are not eligible to attend school this year. Please withdraw these students from your location.

      (This does not apply to homeless, migrant, or foster care students.) 

School Counselors are required to submit OAG requests using the OAG/Grade Placement survey form in PowerSchool SIS.

Attendance training will be offered on multiple dates. Assigned staff who support attendance can visit PLZ to register.  Participates will review district and state mandated guidelines surrounding attendance, and learn the tools needed to successfully carry out day-to-day attendance responsibilities. Please Bring Your Laptop.

• Course #: 32108 (Elementary and K-8)
• Course #: 32114 (Middle and High)

This course is designed for staff who enroll students, approve registration, and process student withdrawals at the school level (Administrators, GOS, Financial Secretaries, Enrollment staff and Clerical Assistants).  Participants will learn how navigate PowerSchool SIS via a training database and navigate the online platform and view real-time data.

• Course #: 34911 (Elementary, Middle, and High

Greetings Principals, 

As you conduct your daily operations, please know that School Operations is always available to support you and your school teams. When you encounter serious issues, please remember to contact the departments listed in the AOSS Manual Protocol - Section 1.7 Pressing Issues.  The intent is to help streamline the operational procedure, deliver a prompt crisis response, and ensure quality service. 

Please know that you should reserve using the SEED Mandatory Reporting Email for the situations listed here. It should not be used for general discipline issues. You will report general discipline matters to appropriate personnel on a case-by-case basis. 

• The Eligible Circumstance Transfer window will open on September 5, 2023. All transfer requests will be carefully reviewed and must meet specific criteria to be approved.

Please see the information regarding the 2023-24 ILT. Access the 23-24 ILT Information here. Email completed documents to  scsiltstipends@scsk12.org.

Important Dates:

ILT Agreements due September 15th

Fall Time Logs and Excel Sheet due December 1st

Spring Time Logs and Excel Sheet due May 3rd

Please find the September edition of the Professional Learning Catalog here.

Please note the upcoming dates Leadership Developments Week: 

Monday, September 11 Leadership Development Week PLC Coaches 

Tuesday, September 12 Leadership Development Week Principals 

Tuesday, September 12 Leadership Development Week SEAs (Virtual Afternoon Session) 

Tuesday, September 12 Leadership Development Week DLAs (Evening Session) 

Wednesday, September 13 Leadership Development Week Vice/Assistant Principals 

Wednesday, September 13 Leadership Development Week SEAs (Virtual Afternoon Session) 

Thursday, September 14 Leadership Development Week Professional School Counselors

September Colors for Awareness

Hispanic Heritage Month- orange, red, yellow, or green

Suicide Prevention - purple or turquoise

Please see the 2023-24 Professional Learning and Support Calendar for Leaders.

The 2023-24 Teacher Development Week will kick off in September.  See details here, along with dates by group.  Principals be on the lookout for a Form to sign up.

Please see the flyer for the September 2023 K-12 mathematics Support Sessions.

Please see the September 2023 K-12 Science Support Sessions.

We are excited to announce the 2023-2024 Central Office Learning Series. There are six sessions in the series intended to provide professional learning for Central Office leaders who manage a body of work, i.e. Directors, Managers, or Senior Advisors. Please see the 23-24 Central Office Professional Learning Series flyer to learn more.  Register using PLZ course#35101.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please email Tari Harris, harristc1@scsk12.org. 

As we continue our journey to create thriving technology-integrated classrooms, our team is offering several Tech Integration-focused sessions this semester. Please take a moment to review our sessions on this flyer and sign up for a session you feel will assist you in creating a productive digital experience in your classroom or school.

We are excited to announce that the application period for the Digital Learning Ambassadors (DLA) for the school year 2023-24 is now open! As we continue to embrace technology integration, we invite you to submit this form to recommend two enthusiastic staff members, 1 Digital Learning Ambassador (stipend position) & 1 Blended Learning Administrator, to be part of our team. The deadline to submit your selections and the completed DLA agreement is Wednesday, September 6, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.   

Digital Learning Ambassador (DLA) Overview: The Digital Learning Ambassador program offers a unique opportunity for passionate individuals to contribute to the advancement of technology-integrated education. DLAs play a crucial role in promoting digital literacy, assisting educators and students in utilizing digital tools effectively, and fostering a collaborative learning environment. 

Blended Learning Administrator (BL Admin) Overview: In addition to the DLA program, we also have the role of the Blended Learning Administrator. This person is a selected administrator in your building who will assist with overseeing the technology integration work; however, this IS NOT a stipend position. This person is the liaison between the blended learning team and the DLA. The role includes promoting and monitoring the implementation of blended learning and technology integration in the building, supervising and assisting the Digital Learning Ambassador to fulfill the duties of their role, and supporting the principal's vision for technology integration.

Lastly, be sure to submit the signed DLA Agreement form prior to Wednesday, September 6th at 5:00 p.m. as well.

Application Process: To submit your DLA or BL Admin, please follow these steps:

•  Select staff members for the DLA and BL Admin positions.    Link to form: https://forms.office.com/r/wzemyHZ0ww
• Have the Digital Learning Ambassador candidate review and sign the lower portion of the DLA Agreement.  Administrators will sign the top portion of the agreement.
• Email the signed agreement to dlambassadors@scsk12.org

Thank you for your enthusiasm in advancing education through technology. We look forward to receiving your application!

This week, Early Literacy engaged SEAs in virtual sessions to explain their role and responsibilities for providing instructional support in K-2 classrooms.  Linked below is a voiceover presentation of the SEA session content.  Please review and share with your Admin Team, K-2 Teachers, and SEAs.  

Voiceover_SY2324_SEA_Expectations.pptx

For more details about the SEA scope of work, visit our website at www.scsk12.org/earlyliteracy

If you have questions, please contact the Early Literacy Office at 416.4801 or email EarlyLiteracyDept@scsk12.org.

Principals,

If you have submitted an HVAC request to the Operations Team (to date), you should have received an email with a priority rating for your issue and an estimated time for repair.  If you have not received an estimated time for repair or if you have questions, please contact:

Zones 1 & 3  Norman Johnson 

Phone: (901-644-1392 

Email: johnsonn9@scsk12.org

Zones 2 & 4 Charles (Chris) Finnie 

Phone: 901-626-4506 

Email:  finniecc@scsk12.org

• Textbooks have been delivered to all K-8 schools.  
• Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry textbooks have been delivered to all schools.  
• The 9-12 mathematics textbooks listed below will be ordered for schools based on the information completed by principals on the mathematics survey. The textbooks will be delivered to all schools next week.

1. Precalculus
2. Calculus
3. AP Calculus
4. Statistics
5. AP Statistics 

• Please contact Meryl Isabel – 416-5870 immediately if you have any questions regarding textbooks.

Greetings School Leaders, 

As a reminder, CCTE is scheduling meetings with you and your team to review and discuss your Innovative Schools Model (ISM) budget.  As you know, the purpose of the Innovative School Model Grant is to build student readiness and prepare them for success after high school as well as provide them an opportunity to participate in local innovative programs that are aligned to Tennessee's highest-demand skills and careers.

We will be conducting meetings Tuesday, September 5th, and Wednesday, September 6th to assist schools with budget planning.  Please utilize the link below to sign up to meet with the CCTE team.  Please note that all Principals are REQUIRED to schedule and attend this VIRTUAL meeting.  Principals are also encouraged to invite other key staff members (CCTE Leads, Financial Secretary, etc.) to join the meeting. 

Meeting Sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040445ADA62AA4F85-innovative

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 

We are thrilled to announce that the Memphis-Shelby County Schools is starting an Alumni Relations Association that will focus on providing resources and services to high school students and alumni of legacy Memphis City Schools, Shelby County Schools, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. As part of this initiative, we are seeking your input on the type of resources and services you would like to access, as a member of the association. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at: https://forms.office.com/r/KppdVTMAsa. Upon completion of the survey, your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a limited edition MSCS Alumni Relations polo.

To ensure all schools are in compliance with District policies 7007- School Support Organizations and 7009-Parent Organizations, please have your respective parent organizations register at: https://sso.scsk12.org/. The deadline for parent organizations (e.g., PTA, PTO, PIE, Booster Clubs) to register is Friday, September 29. 

For additional support with the registration process parent groups and school staff, please visit FACE’s website. An in-person support session on compliance, registration, and responsibilities of school staff, parent organizations, and booster club members will be held Monday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the MSCS Board of Education. School personnel, parent leaders, and booster club members may RSVP at: https://forms.office.com/r/Ha1eWHy2Kd.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster at lusterey@scsk12.org.

Need immunizations, sports and annual physicals, or not feeling well?  See flyer for details. For an appointment please call 842-2379 or you may text “SCS901” to 91999. Please note for all text, it will take 24-48 hours to a return your phone call to set up and appointment. Clinics are open from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. For more information, please call Health Promotions at 416-6432.

Methodist LeBonheur Community Care Associates is partnering with Memphis Shelby County Schools to provide convenient non-emergent health care for staff and dependents. Please visit our website at Health Promotions (scsk12.org) or you may call 416-6709 for an appointment. See flyer for available locations and additional details. For more information, please call 416-6432.

https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/edwardst1_scsk12_org/EdAtXOncgUlKqF2trbeRHIsBWsNnsXkh2EpUgXkMSGdAPA?e=sGUS40

Memphis Shelby County Schools offers free health screenings for Pre-K, K, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th grades. Screenings consist of vision, hearing, blood pressure, height, weight, and scoliosis. We understand space is limited with your schools. Help us with securing a quite room to perform hearing screenings appropriately. Please ensure “Opt-Out” forms have gone home before your scheduled screening date. We are also encouraging you to send text messaging, robo calls, and include on your school’s website calendar. Support us in spreading the word to parents/guardians for this needed service. See calendar for your school dates of elementary and K-8th schools. For more information, please call Health Promotions at 416-6432. Check out our screening video to see what to expect in ENG: https://youtu.be/A4wbLuXB4wI  and SPA: https://youtu.be/Hgsfj9AL-vI

https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/edwardst1_scsk12_org/ERtC63-Bz75OuVuJCqsu-4MBhtC8CsDaHcKnHIDfheeLCw?e=xQEruP

Check out what’s happening in our employee Family Care Center (FCC) and School-Based Health Clinics. Student Support Services will offer the “The Clinic View” newsletter each month during the school year.

https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/edwardst1_scsk12_org/EZAjw4z7RGxOj3uuuxtq-J4BN3B14DVaGMInVPYulk0fpw?e=cTOg7a

https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/edwardst1_scsk12_org/EcyB9EPbaUdAkwKs7dsdO2wB8xibIM6bazRClivMI08kAw?e=LFaHK0

Tennessee continues to face an epidemic of substance use. In our efforts to fight this epidemic, MSCS will offer Narcan/Naloxone training. This course teaches how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose by using Narcan, a brand name for Naloxone. This medication can reverse and block the effects of opioids. Narcan training will be included in the CPR/AED training offered by Health Services and Health Promotions. Staff will receive a certificate of completion. Please log into PLZ to register for the class.

Please note: If you were CPR/AED certified after July 1, 2022, Narcan trainings will be offered separately. Separate training dates are coming soon. For more information call 416-2424 or 416-6432.  

The Q1 Progress Report Period ends on Wednesday, September 6. Parents will be advised to check current grades via the PowerSchool parent portal on that date, so it is important that teachers have all assignments and grades current in PowerTeacher Pro. Parents have access to this information at any time, so assignments and grades should always be kept up to date. For hard copy Progress Reports, schools should issue those by Wednesday, September 6.

Training and Support Resources:  

Virtual Office Hours sessions, this week (September 5th and 7th), will be an Open Forum Q&A session. So please bring any questions you have, and we will assist.

Sign up today! For more information on Virtual Office Hours, check out this flyer! 

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New User PowerBI training sessions will return the week of September 25th!

For new users or people needing a refresher, these sessions will help you learn the basics of Power BI and the MSCS Compass.

Sessions will be held every day during the week.

Participants must already have access prior to attending.

Sign up in PLZ (course code 34810). See this flyer for more information!

Intermediate level sessions will be available later this year.

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Announcements:  

Be a Power BI Power User!

Be on the lookout for our new campaign highlighting MSCS staff members who use Power BI the most.

Our Power Users will win the chance to be featured in a short video and on our Hall of Fame site.

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RTI-A is currently not populating 23-24 intervention plan data. This is due to recent business rule changes as we work to access and integrate data from TN Pulse. 

Data on the Overview page is reflective of the 22-23 school year only. 

And as a result, Benchmarking, and Characteristics of Dyslexia reports are currently disabled.

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Check out our new page of all updated features and recent releases on our DAIM Support Page!

You can reach out to us at DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org if you need support.  

The 23-24 Instructional Practice Classroom Walkthrough Tools are available here.  You can use this link (bit.ly/2324Walkthrough) to submit your walkthrough tool which will feed data to the Power BI on the Instructional Practice Dashboard.  Please note that the submission link will not be active until Monday, August 21st. You should download a PDF copy of your entry for your records.

One Informal Observation must be completed in PLZ prior to completing the Formal TEM Observation. The step sheet on how to upload to PLZ the PDF from what you submitted in the Microsoft Form is linked here.

If you have questions regarding the 23-24 Classroom Walkthrough Tools, the submission link for the walkthrough tool, or the PLZ step sheet please email professionallearning@scsk12.org.  For TEM questions, please contact eps@scsk12.org.

New TEAM Observers:

(Managed by the TDOE) - Click HERE for guidance on becoming TEAM Certified. 

*Be sure to select TRAINING FOR ADMINISTRATORS' certification!

Please forward a copy of the completed TEAM Certificate to eps@scsk12.org.