Training and Support Resources:  

Virtual Office Hours sessions, this week (September 12th and 14th), 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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Mastery Connect Participation Report is coming soon!

The report will be available the last week of September.

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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.  

Please see the dates for TVAAS data and the fall training sessions. The registration link for fall sessions is included below. The intended audience for these fall TVAAS trainings is Directors of Schools, district supervisors, and school administrators including principals, assistant principals, and coaches.

This session is new content and not a repeat of the content presented last year.  If you need a refresher or just a foundation in TVAAS before attending the fall session, there is a new eLearning module called 7 Essential Understandings on the TVAAS site. 

• Tuesday, August 29, 2023 (Action Needed): All TVAAS users are encouraged to backup and export 2021-22 TVAAS reports from the TVAAS reporting site if they wish to keep the records.  
• Thursday, August 31, 2023: The 2022-23 TVAAS Value-Added reports and updated student projections for districts, schools, and teachers are available on the TVAAS restricted. District and school admin accounts have been updated along with school user accounts. A link to TVAAS and current credentials has been sent from SAS/EVAAS to users. Please contact EVAAS Support at evaas_support@sas.com for use access questions.  
• Thursday, August 31, 2023: New TVAAS learning resources are available on the TVAAS login page, including an updated TVAAS technical documentation, What’s New documentation, and a brand-new eLearning module—The Seven Essentials Of TVAAS.  
• Wednesday, September 13, 2023: The 2022-23 TVAAS Public Site goes live.   

Additionally, the TVAAS Fall Training Series is back in multiple training locations and dates. In-person sessions will be held first, and virtual options are available later for those that may need them. Please note that seats for each training are limited (100-120 depending on the location), and educators will be accepted into the sessions on a first come, first served basis. Sessions will no longer show as available when full. Additionally, TASL credits are available for attending the training. Certificates will be provided as evidence of your attendance.  

Find the location near you and complete this form to register now.  

In-person sessions:  

• September 12, 2023: Jackson State Community College 
• September 13, 2023: Memphis-Shelby County Schools 
• September 14, 2023: Arlington Community Schools 
• September 19, 2023: Cookeville High Education Agency 
• September 20, 2023: Southern TN Higher Education Center 
• September 21, 2023: Murfreesboro City Schools 
• October 16, 2023: Knox County Schools 
• October 17, 2023: Kingsport City Schools 
• October 18, 2023: Rhea County Schools 

Virtual sessions:  

• October 31, 2023, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET.
  • Zoom link here.
• November 1, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET.
  • Zoom link here.  
• November 11, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Zoom link here. 

If you have any other questions, please e-mail TNED.Accountability@tn.gov.    

The 2023-24 Teacher Development Week is September 18th – 21st.  Principals, please complete this form by Tuesday, September 12th. You may reference details here, along with dates by group.   https://bit.ly/TDW2324 

23-24 ILT Information: 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

The Office of SEED will be conducting PSAP training during the month of September. Please share with appropriate staff. Potential participants can sign up for the session in PLZ using code number 35130. Only administrators, counselors, family engagement specialists or behavior specialists should attend. Contact Thomasena Stuckett at stucketttd@scsk12.org with any questions. 

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.

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. 

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!

Principals:

A friendly reminder that the ESL Department is asking your ESL teacher(s) to give a presentation to your faculty. This information was shared with all ESL teachers during DLD. 

Topics are predetermined and include general ESL information, school-specific data, details about ILPs, compliance and monitoring, etc. Starter templates for ESL teachers and teacher teams are available on the ESL Teacher SharePoint. 

The expectation is that ESL teachers will present to their gen ed staff sometime before the end of the first semester. We want you to be aware so that you can help plan a PLC or faculty meeting so that they can present, and so that you can further support your teachers through the process as needed.

 Please contact your Instructional Advisor with any further questions.

• 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.

• 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.

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)

• 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)

Greetings Awesome Leaders!

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is gearing up for the Student Ambassador Program! MSCS Student Ambassadors will be made up of Middle School Students. The students selected will serve as the INFLUENCERS & CHAMPIONS of the district. These students will have the opportunity to participate in district events, participate outside community partner events that the district may participate in, and much more. As we focus on our mission- Leadership, Learning, and Life- we want to prepare our students by offering sessions focusing on character and leadership development, financial literacy, team building, drug and alcohol awareness and much more! Student Ambassadors will meet once a month and be contacted as needed to participate in various programs and events. Although the sessions will be offered exclusively to the Student Ambassadors in person, ALL middle schoolers will have an opportunity to attend virtually. 

A Student Ambassador should display the following:

• Positive Attitude 

Student ambassadors should be friendly and maintain a warm, approachable personality. 

• Accepting of Others 

Make sure the students you choose are committed to your school’s dedication to diversity and inclusion. They should be ready to answer all questions with compassion, patience, and genuine interest. 

• Sense of Professionalism 

Ambassadors act as representatives and, as such, should be able to maintain professional composure when the time or event calls for it. But this doesn’t mean they need to be stuffy or bland! Showing their personality and passion for extra-curricular programs, student life, and school culture is a good thing.  

• Communication Skills 

Student ambassadors don’t necessarily need to be outgoing or extroverted. However, it’s essential that they are comfortable and skilled in one-on-one communication situations. 

• Interest in Leadership 

Choose students who may have an interest in leadership. Or find students who exhibit strong leadership qualities — such as integrity, self-discipline, and the ability to empower others. You can encourage these students to join your student ambassador program as a way to build or strengthen their leadership qualities if you see the potential. 

Please select TWO students (6-8 grade), preferably a male and a female, to represent your school on a district level. All selected students must be available to participate in 85% of the scheduled activities. In addition to selecting your TWO student representatives, please select a school employee to be the designated contact person to communicate with about Student Ambassador sessions, events, and any other information. 

Please complete the form no later than Friday, September 15, 2023, by COB. https://forms.office.com/r/fVBpgRMVdJ

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Kyndall Lewis

Student Engagement & Initiatives Manager

lewisk6@scsk12.org 

or

Chiquita Allen

School Support Advisor

allenc6@scsk12.org

The process to become a volunteer in Memphis Shelby County Schools is super easy. Please share the steps below with your potential volunteers.  

1.    Go to scsk12.org/face/level3

2.    Click on the volunteer level you are applying for and watch the 6-minute orientation video.   

3.    Click on the APPLICATION tab to start the online volunteer application.   

4.    Under Volunteer Function, select the function for which you are applying. 

5.    Once you complete the application, call 901-416-7600 or email pagee@scsk12.org to schedule a fingerprint appointment if applying for a level 3 (Results return within 5-7 business days)   

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a8CVlvYu23KTsSQclytjfgaPQvcVqNv3yOw811TuIIo/edit?usp=sharing
 

The Office of SEED has great opportunities for you. September is national suicide prevention month, and we'd like to share these FREE Trainings to help increase mental health literacy of individuals who interact with school aged youth. 

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) is partnering with TN Voices to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid. This course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Click YMHFA.pdf for a list of available courses.

TIP (Trauma Intensive Program)

Educators and Parents- Are you interested in gaining an understanding of the impact of social media and youth, Youth Mental Health Awareness, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Self-Care, and more? Join us for these FREE Informational courses. We need You! Follow the TIP Monthly Courses. 

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.

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.

Informal Observations

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 download a PDF copy of your entry for your records.

Formal Observations

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.

Student Perception Survey Coordinator

School Administrators should complete this form to indicate the site coordinator for their school by September 29th. 

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the EPS office: 

Phone: 901.416.2475 | Email,  eps@scsk12.org. 

TEM TEACHER Training Series

The TEM TEACHer Training Series is now open for ALL teachers. The focus of the series is to identify teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3-5 of the TEACH indicators. Register in PLZ, course #26177.

We are excited to announce a significant change in our approach to supporting our student-athletes and their schools. Beginning immediately, the school district will assume the responsibility of paying for athletic insurance on behalf of our schools. This decision reflects our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our students and our dedication to reducing financial barriers and obstacles for both schools and families.

We firmly believe that providing athletic insurance is a fundamental part of ensuring the safety and health of our student-athletes. By covering these insurance costs, the District aims to alleviate the financial burden on schools and families, allowing them to focus their resources on providing the best possible educational and athletic experiences for our students.

For schools that have already paid for their first athletic insurance installment, we are pleased to inform you that we will be issuing refunds directly to your accounts. Our team is working with Finance diligently to process these refunds as quickly as possible, and you can expect to see the credited amounts in your accounts in the coming weeks.

This decision represents MSCS ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all student-athletes. We appreciate your dedication to the well-being and success of our students, and we are confident that this change will have a positive impact on our schools and communities.

Thank you for your continued partnership in nurturing our student-athletes' growth and potential.