The Mastery Connect Participation Report is now available in the MSCS Compass under the Student Assessment Reports. The Assessment report refresh time is set at 7:30am daily. The dataset will reflect PowerSchool enrollment and MasteryConnect data as of the previous day. This week, the DAIM team will be we will be discussing the updated Mastery Connect Participation Report during their weekly Virtual Office Hours (VOH) session. If there are any questions regarding the report or access to the MSCS Compass, contact the DAIM Support Help desk at daimsupport@scsk12.org.

DAIM Virtual Office Hours Registration Link

• Topic: MasteryConnect Participation Report
• Dates: Tuesday 9/26 and Thursday 9/28
• Time: 3:00pm

Attention: Elementary and Middle School Leaders

Elementary and Middle/K-8 Schools will receive their student copies of the Ready Read materials beginning next week. The Ready Read delivery window for schools is September 25th - October 6th. Principals, please complete the survey below once your Ready Read materials are delivered to your buildings. In this way, the Curriculum & Instruction ELA Team will be able to ensure each ES/MS/K-8 school receives the necessary materials for instruction.

Ready Read survey: https://forms.office.com/r/NgmMZMdKf1
 

Completed surveys are due by Friday, October 13th.

Questions? Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org.

We are calling our mentors in to lift our students. Please join and sign up at the web address. We are looking for internal mentors. The Calvary is not coming! 

For detailed information regarding mentoring, please click here.

Greetings Principals:

Health situations are evaluated on an individual basis. Principals are encouraged to contact the MSCS Department of Exceptional Children and Health Services at 901-416-2424 for any specific health guidelines and follow-up instructions.

Greetings Principals: 

As we continue to provide excellent servant leadership to our community during Fall Break, we wanted to offer some guidance for Fall Break hours of operation.   

Please see the following recommendations. School leaders should post Fall Break office coverage hours so that they are visible at entrances.   

• Include the times when the office will be unavailable (e.g., lunch).
• Include a contact number and email address for visitors to leave a message and receive a response.
• Forward the school’s main line to the posted contact number if the main office is not covered for extended periods of time.

Additionally, it is recommended that Leaders send a robocall informing parents of this information.      

We hope these service tips help our schools continue to provide quality customer service. We have also provided a Fall Break template for you to adapt and use to post this information at the entrances. When downloading the template, please choose to open it in your desktop app.

Principals,

Please encourage your PE teacher to complete this survey by October 6, 2023.
 

Dear physical education teacher, 

The Tennessee Department of Education and the American Heart Association have collaborated to create a survey in order to gather information on the physical education programs in all public-school districts. This survey also allows for reporting with compliance to T.C.A. § 49-1-1007. We will use the data gathered from this survey to get an understanding of what physical education looks like across Tennessee; and the data will be analyzed and returned to the district to share with the schools to help develop the school’s overall wellness plan.  

You have been identified by your district school health coordinator as the point of contact to complete this survey for your school’s physical education program. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes. Please answer the questions to the best of your knowledge. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Heather.M.Piergies@tn.gov. 

Please click here to begin the survey. 

If you teach in more than one school, please complete the survey one for each of them. If you are the designated lead and have responsibilities to distribute content to your colleagues, please forward this email to ensure a completed survey from each building. 

Heather Piergies | Physical Education & Physical Activity Coordinator

Coordinated School Health

Andrew Johnson Tower, 12th Floor

710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243

c: (615) 557-6075

Heather.M.Piergies@tn.gov

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. See available Course options.

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. 

Please be advised that some students are disguising vape smoking devices into highlighters. Please make sure that your behavior support staff and appropriate others are aware and on informed.

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. 

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.

If you would like to sign up for the mobile mammogram, please see flyer with all the necessary information about the mobile service that will be at Gray's Creek on October 19th, provided we have at least 10 ladies who need the service. If you're interested, please register as soon as possible per the instructions on the flyer.

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of this mobile service and care for your health. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. If you're interested, please register as soon as possible per the instructions on the flyer.

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of this mobile service and care for your health. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns to Caroline Earnest at earnestc@scsk12.org

• Schools may submit General Choice Transfer (GCT) rescind requests for students who are non-compliant with grades, attendance, and behaviors. Rescissions will not be processed until the end of the current semester.
• Please notify parents before submitting a rescind request and wait for confirmation of approval before submitting a centralized withdrawal or notifying parents of a rescind to home school.

Note: All special education (SPE) and displaced students must be vetted according to IEPs standards and McKinney Vento Law.

• Please submit all rescind requests through the following link: S.E.E.D. Request to Rescind GCT

**All rescind dates are aligned with MSCS grading periods.

• The centralized withdrawal form will close on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 4:00 pm
• 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).
• All no-shows must continue 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

Central Office Leaders! Please register for the Central Office Professional Learning Series. The next session is October 04, 2023, at the Teaching & Learning Academy. Use PLZ code 35101 to register. Contact Tari Harris at harristc1@scsk12.org with questions. 

Attention, leaders! Do you have new educators on your team who could use assistance in adopting Microsoft TEAMS effectively? Could both your novice and experienced teachers benefit from revisiting its essential functionalities? If the answer is yes, please encourage them to enroll in the Microsoft TEAMS for Virtual Instruction learning session. New teachers can sign up for the virtual session on October 05, 2023, from 3pm to 5pm, using PLZ code 35273. The refresher course is available via Canvas under course number CADRE1537. Please contact Stephanie Dennis at dennissm@scsk12.org if you have any questions.

The Digital Citizenship course is now accessible to all K-12 students via Canvas, and is located on each student's Canvas Dashboard. 

The initial checkpoint period for Digital Citizenship is scheduled from September 26, 2023, to October 31, 2023. We kindly request your assistance in ensuring that students complete the course and acquire the necessary tools and skills to utilize technology in secure learning environments. You can monitor your school's progress by using PowerBI. 

Please contact Dr. Robert Davis, II at davisr6@scsk12.org if you have any questions. 

CCTE Fall Certification Consultations
The Division of College, Career and Technical Education will be hosting Certification Consultations the week of October 3-5, 2023 for all Middle and High School Principals with CCTE course offerings. Please utilize the appropriate link below to schedule your meeting by 3:00 pm on Friday, September 29th.

Please contact Monica Smith at smithmc@scsk12.org (Middle Schools) or Regina Nichols at nicholsre@scsk12.org (High Schools) with any questions.

Sign-up link for Middle Schools: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A9A62BA5F9C61-44484214-middle

Sign-up link for High Schools: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A9A62BA5F9C61-44523560-high

Please note the dates for October Leadership Development Week: 

• Tuesday, October 17: PLC Coaches 
• Tuesday, October 17: DLAs (Evening Session) 
• Wednesday, October 18: Principals 
• Thursday, October 19: Vice Principals/ Assistant Principals 
• Thursday, October 19: DLAs (Evening Session) 
• Friday, October 20: Professional School Counselors 

According to the 12-month hourly work schedule, Specialized Education Assistants (SEAs) are scheduled to work the entire week of Fall Break unless days off have been requested and approved by school administration. SEAs should follow the guidance as outlined below:

• Support with the Fall Break Learning Academy at your respective school location 
• If there is no Fall Break Learning Academy at your location (school site), you should still report to your location (school site), and complete any tasks as outlined by the Early Literacy Department and the Principal.
• SEAs do not have to complete professional learning assignments, if Principals have other meaningful tasks or assignments for SEAs during the week of Fall Break/ 
• If SEAs plan to be off during the Fall Break Academy, they should follow the request for vacation policies as outlined by their school's administrative handbook.  If an SEA takes vacation, the SEA is not required to complete professional learning assignments on the days approved for vacation.
• If an SEA is not taking vacation days and the SEA's school is hosting Fall Break Learning Academy, the SEA is expected to support Fall Break Learning Academy as needed.  If an SEA is needed to support Fall Break Learning Academy, the SEA is not required to complete the professional learning assignments.

During Fall Break, there are professional learning assignments due DAILY.   Assignments will be placed in this folder on Friday, October 6: SEA Fall Break Professional Learning.  Each day's Bridge to Practice link will be available specifically on that day until 3:30PM.  You will not be able to complete tasks late or before its due date.

Any questions regarding tasks or assignments, please call or email the Early Literacy Office at 901.416.4801. 

For technical issues, please contact IT 901.416.2700.

October is Adopt-A-School Month. MSCS and the Greater Memphis Chamber are issuing a CALL to ACTION to businesses to See the Future by becoming school adopters.  

Businesses have the opportunity to support schools, impact student learning and have meaningful volunteer opportunities. During this campaign, school leaders can engage in activities like inviting active and potential adopters to their schools and highlighting them on your school websites, social media pages, marquees, etc. Click here for more information.  

Adopt-A-School Recognition Luncheon Details: 

AAS Luncheon will be held Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at the Holiday Inn- University of Memphis. This program recognizes those adopters who have provided exceptional service to your school. 

Principals will: 

• Nominate one (1) adopter who is highly active and goes above and beyond. 
• Choose a category and briefly share why this adopter has been nominated. 
• The winner of Adopter-of-The Year will be revealed at the Adopt-A-School Recognition Luncheon. 
• The principal or administrator is required to attend. 

Please access the link to nominate one adopter by Wednesday, October 4, 2023. 

https://forms.office.com/r/MpFKiL6X3a 

FACE is looking for high-performing, certified teachers who have demonstrated excellence in online instruction. Teachers are needed to support our Tips in 20 Minutes program. These teachers will be providing tips to support learning at home for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade by recording monthly videos to share with students and families. 

Interested teachers are asked to send an email to scsface@scsk12.org with the subject: Tips in 20 by September 30, 2023 with a link to a recorded video message (5-7 minutes) for families aligned to Quarter 1 of the District's Curriculum Maps. The video may be linked using Microsoft Stream on Sharepoint, Youtube, etc.

We have added virtual sessions for school leaders and/or parent organization leaders. Please note that these sessions are optional. 

Virtual Meeting Dates: 

• Wednesday, October 4 at 12p.m.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 296 892 908 097
Passcode: ZAcm9r

Download Teams | Join on the web

Or call in (audio only)

+1 901-602-6178,,161329624#   United States, Memphis

Phone Conference ID: 161 329 624#

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Learn More | Meeting options

As a reminder, all parent organization applications are due by October 6 (extended deadline). Resources can be found on the MSCS FACE page linked here: http://www.scsk12.org/face2/?pn=Parent%20Organizations&sm=3

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 by October 6, your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a limited edition MSCS Alumni Relations polo.

We are looking for our SIGHT WORD CHAMPIONS throughout the District. Students and their families have the opportunity to compete in our Fall Break SOARING SIGHT WORD CHALLENGE. Win prizes from headphones to bicycles and MORE! See the flyer linked here for complete contest rules, expectations, and prizes!