Happy New Year! 

Greeting Principals, 

As we start the new semester, if you have any operational needs such as parent issues or grading issues with parents, please do not hesitate to reach out to the School Operations team.  

Contact Director Dr. F. Kevin Malone at malonefk@scsk12.org or 901-570-8955.

The Semester 2 New and Novice Teacher Content Intensives are scheduled to commence on Jan. 29. The support sessions are planned for the following date ranges:

1. January 29, 2024 - February 08, 2024
2. February 12, 2024 - February 22, 2024

Be sure to check for further communication from Dr. Tiffany Boyle for additional details.

Please note the dates for January 2024 Leadership Development Week. 

• Monday, January 16, 2024: Leadership Development Week - PLC Coaches
• Tuesday, January 17, 2024: Leadership Development Week - Principals
• Tuesday, January 16, 2024: Leadership Development Week - DLAs (Evening Session)
• Wednesday, January 18, 2024: Leadership Development Week - Vice/Assistant Principals 
• Thursday, January 18, 2024: Leadership Development Week - Professional School Counselors 
• Thursday, January 18, 2024: Leadership Development Week - DLAs (Evening Session)

For more information, please contact Dr. Angela Nichols at nicholsam@scsk12.org. 

We are delighted to extend an invitation to our upcoming End of Course (EOC) Professional Development Series, meticulously designed to cater to the needs of high school EOC teachers in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

• January 17, 2024: "Standards & Student Work Analysis" – Kingsbury High School (9th Grade Building).
• February 7, 2024: "Collaborative Planning & Deliberate Practice" – Germantown High School.
• March 6, 2024: "Standards & Student Work Analysis" – Location to be determined.

These sessions are scheduled from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, providing a concentrated time frame for impactful learning. We believe these gatherings present a fantastic opportunity for professional growth and collaboration. We strongly encourage the attendance of all EOC teachers. For more information, please contact Dr. Tiffany Boyle at boyletd@scsk12.org, Dr. Geneva Gordon at gordong@scsk12.org, or Dr. Jarita A. Mitchell at mitchellja@scsk12.org.

Attention School Administrators and School Care Leads: The Kindergarten Immunization Compliance Assessment is an annual assessment completed by the Tennessee Department of Health’s (TDH) Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program (VPDIP) in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and Tennessee (TN) public and private schools.

 This school year, the assessment for all schools with Kindergarten students is due to be completed and submitted online on or before Jan. 12 via: https://redcap.link/ksurvey_pub2024

 If you have questions or if you need assistance completing and submitting the assessment, please contact Health Services at (901) 416-6091; for additional information relating to compliance contact complianceadvisors@scsk12.org;  all information relating to homeless, displaced, or unaccompanied students, contact the office of Dr. Karen Ball Johnson at (901) 416-7393.

Let's begin 2024 by continuing to successfully implement our Rethink curriculum and provide our students with the social emotional skills needed for success. Please preview the upcoming Rethink Scope and Sequence for the upcoming months. Be sure to pay close attention to the date for data collection each month: 

• Data for January Compliance Month will be collected Friday, January 26, 2024 EOD. 
• Data for February Compliance Month will be collected Friday, February 23, 2024 EOD. 

Elementary Principals, 

As we look forward to the second semester, I want to thank you for your diligent efforts in implementing the Fifth Grade Enrichment initiative within your daily schedule this school year.  The selected program implementation option should be continued for the second semester. These include: 1) utilize district-provided enrichment projects, 2) utilize school-based enrichment materials with approval by Advanced Academics, or 3) utilize i-Ready reading lessons.  

Please submit an example of one student product from the first semester (either quarter one or quarter two) by Jan. 26, using the following submission link: Fifth Grade Enrichment - 2023-24 1st Semester Projects. Schools that are utilizing i-Ready modules do not need to submit reports since they are accessible within the database. An optional i-Ready training will be held to discuss best practices for utilizing i-Ready for your enrichment students. This optional session will be held virtually on January 8 and repeated  Jan. 22. Please contact Dr. Katrina Taylor if you have questions or need assistance.   

Optional i-Ready Training:

Jan. 8 Training Link (4-5 p.m.)

Jan. 22 Training Link (4-5 p.m.)

Requests for AP testing accommodations must be submitted by Thursday, January 18. Please contact James Smith if you have questions. 

March 15 is the deadline for AP coordinators to submit the exam orders for all AP courses that begin after the November final ordering deadline, and to submit changes to fall orders. Please contact James Smith if you have questions. 

Please join us for our upcoming attendance clean up session to ensure that our student data is accurate for district and state reporting purposes.  These sessions are crucial for identifying and correcting attendance errors, as well as reflecting changes in enrollment and scheduling.

Mark your calendars for: East High School: January 22nd -26th 9:00am to 2:00pm

Session Schedule:

• January 22nd: Zones 1, 2, 3
• January 23rd: Zones 4, 5, 6
• January 24th: Zones 7, 8, 9, 10
• January 25th: Zones 11, 12, 13, 15
• January 26th: Make-Up Session (available to all schools)
• Attendance clericals are required to attend one session to ensure integrity of our student data and reporting to the state. Please drop by during your designated zone time or attend the open session on January 26th.  #AttendanceCleanUp #AccurateData

*** Please make sure your attendance clerk brings the following items:

• Charged laptop.
• Sign-in/out forms
• Parent notes

• Save the date! The Online General Choice transfer application will open on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Parents and guardians can access the application portal at www.scsk12.org.
• Apply online anytime and from anywhere using any device with an internet connection. 
• Current MSCS students: Please use your PowerSchool ID to apply.
• Students can apply for up to two General Choice options.

• School administrators must ensure teachers record attendance daily and input grades in Power Teacher Pro. Do Not use paper forms.
• School office staff should process and reconcile daily attendance codes submitted by teachers.
• Each school should have an attendance administrator who can assist and verify the accuracy of attendance data.   
• Please contact Mildred Avery at 416-6007 with any questions.

• Please note that the district’s Centralized Withdrawal Form will be closed when school is not in session. The upcoming dates are as follow: 
  • January 15th (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• Please contact Justin Doss at 416-6007 with any questions.

Please share the flyer with 6th-8th grade math teachers for the iReady Developing Mathematical Thinkers session.

If you have questions about the session, please email Lytania Black (blackly@scsk12.org) or Charmaniece Staples (bennettcm@scsk12.org).

The i-Ready Winter Diagnostic starts this week. The window is open from 1/08/24 - 1/26/24.  Below are some reminders and resources. Questions can be emailed to rti2@scsk12.org.

• The diagnostic will be automatically assigned to all students and available on 1/08/24.
• While the diagnostic is active, students will not be able to access personalized instruction until they complete their diagnostic assessment.
• Share the Preparing for a Subsequent Diagnostic presentation with teachers so they can energize and motivate students.  Slides are tailored by grade and can be customized with class/school specific incentives.
• Please follow your school assessment schedule that was submitted in your school RTI folder and remember that the Teacher of Record cannot administer the assessment.
• Students in grades 3 and 4 should complete the ELA portion first.
• Please complete make-up testing as soon as possible once the student returns.

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2024 Read to Achieve Six-Week Challenge for 3rd-5th grade students! With assistance from sponsors Sylvamo and KPMG, the Grizzlies are working to help kids across the Mid-South develop a love for reading through this fun and engaging challenge.

From Jan. 22 through March 1, students will read one book per week that is outside of their curriculum. This year’s theme is “Read Around the World” where students will read one book that aligns with the week’s theme to score from each spot on the Read to Achieve court. Each week, classes and students will be eligible to win a fun variety of prizes!

To register, please click the link HERE to be directed to the Read to Achieve website. Only one application is required per school, and each school must have a designated Reading Challenge Coordinator who will act as the liaison. 

Additional information regarding materials, reporting, and prizes will be shared after registration. Please reach out to scook@grizzlies.com with any questions. 

Happy Reading!

It is time to host our annual School Choice Showcase! Please designate a School Choice Showcase Coordinator for your school and have them follow the instructions below.

Showcase:

Show Up and Show Out!

We want the 901 community to see the various highlights, displays, academic, and extracurricular options available within MSCS. We are even featuring a Student Entrepreneurship Fair this year to highlight our business savvy students!! Please use your school tablecloths, banners, other promotional items and much, much more to ensure your area stands head and shoulders with the rest! In the past, some schools have used balloons, banners, mascots, props, etc. to deck their booths and draw families over to learn more about their amazing school.

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL HERE!!!
 

Student Entrepreneur Fair:

Please encourage MSCS student entrepreneurs to sign up and participate in the Student Entrepreneur Fair. Each student will have a table and 2 chairs to showcase their business. Students can sign up HERE!! See flyer attached.

Students must have a business license to participate.​​

Dress/Attire:

Please encourage your teams to dress in school colors, spirit wear, and paraphernalia.

Set-Up:

Setup will be staggered on February 2, 2024, from 10:00am-4:00pm. Please sign up for a shift to set up using this link: 2024 School Choice Showcase Set-up

Volunteers:

We are in need of volunteers for the showcase. We are requesting 1-2 volunteers from each school, in addition to staff that may be working in the booth.  Volunteers can sign up at the link below.

Student, Family, and Community Affairs: School Choice Showcase 2023-2024 (signupgenius.com)

A map, event parking instructions and more information will be shared at a later date. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or concerns.

Please inform your students and their families about the upcoming Virtual ACT Family Night on 1/11 at 5:30p.m. 

Families will learn about the structure of the test, resources available to prepare for the test, test dates, and information about how to register for the test. We will also share information about how test scores are used in college admission and obtaining scholarships. These sessions are generally targeted for families of students in grades 7-12, but these sessions will focus on underclassmen who may beginning their experience with ACT this year. Families who participate receive preparation materials and can participate to win gifts cards for ACT Registration or ACT Score Analysis Reports.  

This event will provide MSCS families an opportunity to learn more about ACT preparation strategies to meet or exceeded the test readiness benchmarks.

College Readiness Benchmarks: 

English-18, Math-22, Reading-22, and Science-23

Please share the linked flyer with your students and families.