Please note the dates for January 2024 Leadership Development Week. 

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

“The best leaders never stop learning.” -Donald T. Phillips.  

Join the Equity Professional Development Series. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss and learn strategic practices that promote equity within the educational environment. In addition, participants will develop skills for effective communication and collaboration across diverse groups that promote ongoing learning and growth in equity work.

Please click here to view the Equity Professional Development Series flyer.

Please click here to view the Secure the Chalk flyer.

The Equity and Access Office welcomes equity content in SafeSchools!  The equity modules are designed to focus on historical and social context of equity and social justice issues.  One’s awareness of personal biases and privilege as well as the importance of creating inclusive and equitable environments will be explored.

Equity Newsletter

The equity newsletter covers valuable and relevant content with the purpose of promoting, supporting, and cultivating an environment conducive to learning.  Through an equity lens, stakeholders will be able to identify and utilize strategies that support teaching and learning that transforms the culture and structure of schools to ensure academic achievement of all students.

Please click here to view the Looking Through an Equity Lens newsletter. 

All CCTE Educators are asked to complete the Equipment Needs Assessment survey to identify equipment needed to maintain/enhance their current program of study. The survey should be completed on or before Friday, February 2nd. 

Note: Only educators who complete the survey will have an opportunity to receive equipment for the 2024 - 2025 school year and all requests are based on CCTE funding.

CCTE 2024-2025 Equipment Needs Assessment Form Link:

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

Attention High School Leaders and Professional School Counselors: 

The PowerSchool registration portal is available to enroll students in Project Graduation for Part 1 (Semester 1) courses until January 17, 2024.  Via remote enrollment in PowerSchool, Professional School Counselors can enroll students in Project Graduation for credit recovery or new coursework.  The PG in-person super sites are Craigmont HS, Hamilton HS, Kirby HS, and Southwind HS.  If you have questions or need additional information, please email scsprojectgraduation@scsk12.org 

Thank you for your support!

Greetings leaders,

Please remind your high school math and 8th-grade Algebra I teachers of the upcoming Graphing calculator PD opportunities. The attached flyer below has been updated to reflect a revision to the February 22nd session. It will now occur on February 20th.

Session Overview:

Explore a variety of tips and strategies that can be used to help students with ACT and EOC-type questions that allow the use of a calculator.

Flyer: 23-24 Calculator Sessions.pdf

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 School Threats via Social Media and Other Electronic Means.  Please familiarize yourself with this information and share it with your team.

Attention MSCS Leaders!

The ELA Department of Curriculum and Instruction is excited to introduce a new resource which has been developed to provide targeted support for deepening understanding of the TN ELA Academic Standards. An overview of the guides which includes details around the purpose, how to access, and use the guides is provided via the voiceover presentations included in this announcement. To learn more about your grade's ELA Standards Guides, click the appropriate grade band below:

• 3-5 Standards Guides
• 6-8 Standards Guides
• 9-12 Standards Guides

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.

We are encouraging all Personal Finance teachers to attend Part 2 of the Dave Ramsey Training and Informational session.

Session Focus:
Teacher planning, pacing and components of the teacher guide.

Virtual Session 2:
Tuesday, January 16th at 3:00 - 4:30 pm via Teams

For more information, please reach out to Kimberly Jackson, jacksonkd@scsk12.org or Dr. Brian Davis, davisbc@scsk12.org.

TEAMS Link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NGVhNWM3Y2QtMDFmMS00MjkwLTgwNDQtMzhjNDY5ZDZiYmY3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%222b291c94-5eb0-44b7-89ea-4baf16ecc4a9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22782a4c74-5781-4ad7-a2ec-0e5fab2405e8%22%7d 

Please join our College Board representatives at the Principals' Meeting Jan. 17th to learn about AP Seminar.

AP Seminar is designed for high school students to develop and practice research, collaboration, and communication skills. The course can even be offered as a credit substitution for English III or IV according to the Tennessee Department of Education. The outcomes are as follows: High school leaders will know and understand new course implications for AP Seminar offered by the College Board. The participants will also gain knowledge of how the course may be utilized for Ready Graduate and College and Career Readiness. Please contact James Smith if you have questions. 

January 18 is the deadline for the SSD coordinator to submit accommodations requests for students for the 2024 AP® Exam administration. Please contact James Smith if you have questions.

To ensure that all MSCS honors teachers comply with state and district requirements that govern advanced courses, teachers must submit honors documentation of compliance each year. Virtual Honors Compliance Training refreshers will be held to reiterate policy requirements, communicate the honors compliance process, and discuss best practices on the following dates: 

Please contact MSCS Honors Advisors, Terriny Lloyd (416-9867) or Emily Barbee (416-5839), via email or by phone if you have questions.

Optional School Principals,

As a reminder, the training on processing new and renewal optional applications will be held on January 18 at Ridgeway Middle School based on the timeframes listed below. 

     -  Returning Coordinators: 9-10 a.m.

     -  New Coordinators: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Please remind your designee to attend. Contact Linda Sklar if you have questions. Thanks! 

January 18 is the deadline for the SSD coordinator to submit accommodations requests for students for the 2024 AP® Exam administration. Please contact James Smith if you have questions.

The Spring Student Perception Survey window is February 26th - March 8th.
 

Site Coordinator Updates:  

• Change in Site Coordinator. Principals are asked to use this link to update and/or make changes to the Site Coordinator for the spring administration.
• Site Coordinator Training. Training for Site Coordinators will take place virtually on February 5th, February 8th, and February 13th.   All Site Coordinators should register for one of the sessions in PLZ. Course #35888

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the District lead, Courtney Skipper by

phone, 901.416.2475 or via email,  skipperc@scsk12.org. 

Please note the dates for Teacher Development Week: 

• Monday, January 22, 2024: Science Content Leads
• Tuesday, January 23, 2024: Math Content Leads
• Wednesday, January 24, 2024: English Language Arts and Social Studies Content Leads
   
• Thursday, January 25, 2024: Early Literacy Content Leads
• For more information, please contact Dr. Geneva Gordon at gordong@scsk12.org. 

Third Grade Virtual Teacher’s Meeting

Who:  All 3rd grade teachers

What:  Effective understanding of 3rd grade Law

When:  (teachers may choose one VIRTUAL session)

     Tuesday, January 16  (3:45 - 4:30 or 4:45 - 5:30)

     To join, click here:  Jan. 16 (3:45 - 4:30)

                                    Jan. 16 (4:45 - 5:30)

     Wednesday, January 17 (3:45 - 4:30)

     To join, click here:  Jan. 17 (3:45 - 4:30)

     Thursday, January 18 (3:45 - 4:30)

     To join, click here:  Jan. 18 (3:45 - 4:30)

Mandatory Third-grade parent meetings (whole group)

Schools must host a mandatory 3rd-grade parent meeting for all 3rd-grade parents to discuss the law and the state's expectations. Please CLICK HERE to upload your date and time for the weeks of January 22-31. The deadline to complete is today, Friday, January 12. 

“At risk” students individual conferences

 As a requirement from TDOE, we must notify 3rd-grade parents of students who are "at risk" of being retained as outlined by the state by February 1.  

Therefore, we ask that 3rd-grade teachers schedule individual conferences (face-to-face, phone, or virtual) of parents of students who scored below the 65th percentile on the winter iReady assessment and send home the "at risk" letter provided by the state (must obtain returned parent signature). At Risk Letter (3rd grade) 2023-2024.docx

Conferences should be held after the student has taken the winter universal screener and conducted by January 29. If parents do not attend the conferences, “at risk” letters should still be sent home to parents.

The office of academics will provide subcodes, if needed, to secure no more than two subs per school to assist in holding classes if conferences are held during school hours. 
 

Teachers must document the conferences by utilizing the parent contact log to document the conference. Literacy Commitment Parent Contact Log.docx.  Please provide your ILD with a copy of your logs by February 2.

Lastly, please visit the Literacy Commitment SharePoint Folder for PowerPoints, documents, and resources:

https://scsk12.sharepoint.com/sites/LiteracyCommitment2023-2024/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx

If you have questions and/or concerns, please contact LaTosha Wiseman. 

New Releases:

The Master Scheduling process has begun! Our Advanced Course Scheduling dashboard is designed to assist with this. See this user guide for more information!
 
 

District 360 is now available! This is our new dashboard with District and State accountability metrics. Currently, Enrollment and Attendance are available with additional data domains available soon. See the user guides here. 

We want your feedback on District 360! Take our feedback survey, linked here.
 
 

The Winter I-Ready window is open! Track your i-Ready participation rates for the Winter window using the i-Ready Participation Report. See the user guide here.

In RTI-A, track i-Ready screener progress with the Universal Screener, Characteristics of Dyslexia, and Written Expression reports. Please allow 24-48 hours for the data to process and reflect in the Power BI reports. All the RTI-A report user guides are available here.


You can now filter to Economically Disadvantaged students in Student Data 360! In the Group Type filter, look for Economically Disadvantaged under Priority Groups. For more information on filtering, see the user guide here.


Student Surveys has updated Fall Insight Data in the Insight Survey Report! See the user guide here.

-----------------------------

Coming Soon:

• District 360: Discipline
• Student Data 360: Student Grades - Q2 Grades Available Next Week

-----------------------------

Training and Support Resources:  

This week (January 16th and 18th), Virtual Office Hours will be a refresher on Student Attendance. Specifically, we will go over Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism.
 

Upcoming Sessions-

Jan 23 & 25: District 360: Enrollment, Attendance & Discipline

Jan 31 & Feb 1: Advanced Course Scheduling Dashboard
 

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

----------------------------

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.  

----------------------------
Power BI Access:

Principals can give school staff members access through the PowerBI Access App. For more information about how to use the app, see this user guide! 

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. Click here for flyers. 

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL HERE!!!
 

Student Entrepreneur Fair: 

The MSCS School Choice Showcase will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Memphis Sports & Event Center! This year we will feature a 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!! 

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.

The Department of Family & Community Engagement will host a two-generational college and career fair on Wednesday, January 25, 2024 at Kingsbury High School from 4p.m.-7p.m. The goal of this program is to inform families about college and career options and opportunities specific to students of diverse backgrounds.  
 

Information provided will include:   

• Public and private colleges & universities will provide information to students and families about the application, admissions process as well as special programs and support for first-generation and culturally diverse scholars and their families.   
• Representatives will be available to explain the FAFSA process as well. 
• Local organizations that offer employment opportunities to those desiring to enter the work force upon graduation will be present to share information about available pathway options. 

Our local higher education partners include the University of Memphis, Southwest Community College, Christian Brothers University, Rust College, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and others.  The presentation will be offered in three languages:  English - Spanish – Arabic. 

• Change in Site Coordinator. Principals are asked to use this link to update and/or make changes to the Site Coordinator for the spring administration.
• Site Coordinator Training. Training for Site Coordinators will take place virtually on February 5th, February 8th, and February 13th.   All Site Coordinators should register for one of the sessions in PLZ. Course #35888

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the District lead, Courtney Skipper by

phone, 901.416.2475 or via email,  skipperc@scsk12.org. 

NOTE:  THOSE DESIRING TO UPDATE THEIR OCTOBER CHOICE AND/OR DID NOT MAKE A PREVIOUS G&A SELECTION. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ALL EDUCATORS.   

By Jan. 12, an additional growth and achievement container will be visible for educators in PLZ under the "My Evaluation" tab inside the Growth and Achievement tab entitled "Revised Growth and Achievement". Any educator who desires to update their October selections or make a selection for SY2023-24 will be able to do so until Jan. 31.  

Be reminded both the educator and evaluator must sign off in the new container to indicate the desire for a change.

For additional questions contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org or 901.416.2475.

Level of Effectiveness (TEM) scores have been released and are visible in TNCompass for most educators. For an educator to receive an LOE score, all required component scores (depending on the evaluation type) must be present in TNCompass. Components include Observation, Achievement, Growth, Professionalism, and/or Student Perception Survey).  

Spring 2024 Student Perception Site Coordinator Training Dates: The Spring Student Perception Survey is vastly approaching.  Site Coordinator Training will take place virtually on February 5th, February 8th, and February 13th.   

All Site Coordinators should register for one of the sessions in PLZ. Course #35888

• Survey​ Opens: February 26
• Survey Closes: March 8 

A lack of hospitality by schools or failure to receive payment in a timely fashion can exacerbate frustration among officials. The officials for your contest should contact the school by noon. Through this process, they communicate relevant information about the games and provide vendor numbers and other pertinent information. Most often, officials call to speak with the Financial Secretary, if he/she is not readily available, it has often been reported that there is not an alternative person in place to receive the information to avoid the payment to officials being delayed. Schools may also utilize the Arbiter System -an online website used to assign officials to contest. It contains the most accurate, up-to-date information regarding referee assignments for your contests. 

Secondary Colleagues,

Happy New Year! I hope this email finds you well. Below are a few helpful tips that will allow us to "reset" for the second semester and our basketball contest/events.

Administrators, Coaches, and Officials Interaction 

NFHS Coaches' Code of Ethics states: "The coach shall respect and support contest officials. The coach shall not indulge in conduct which would incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical." Principals are expected to remind all coaches of their responsibilities as role models for good sportsmanship, especially in their interaction with the officials during the game and immediately after the contest. It is inappropriate for coaches to confront an official after a game and to publicly criticize the game officials in the media.  

When interacting with officials at a contest, always maintain respect. Refrain from using offensive language or gestures and avoid disputing calls aggressively. Remember, sportsmanship sets the tone for a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. A school can show hospitality and respect to officials by providing a welcoming environment. This includes offering a designated area for officials, providing refreshments, ensuring clear communication about facilities and available parking, and asking for Security to escort all officials to their cars after contests. Additionally, acknowledging officials before and after the game, expressing appreciation for their role, and handling concerns through appropriate channels demonstrate a commitment to sportsmanship and a positive atmosphere. 

Payment of Officials 

A lack of hospitality by schools or failure to receive payment in a timely fashion can exacerbate frustration among officials. The officials for your contest should contact the school by noon. Through this process, they communicate relevant information about the games and provide vendor numbers and other pertinent information. Most often, officials call to speak with the Financial Secretary, if he/she is not readily available, it has often been reported that there is not an alternative person in place to receive the information to avoid the payment to officials being delayed. Schools may also utilize the Arbiter System -an online website used to assign officials to contest. It contains the most accurate, up-to-date information regarding referee assignments for your contests. 

Officiating Concerns  

If you have concerns regarding the overall quality of officiating at your contest, address them calmly through proper channels after the game. Coaches and others should work through the school's Athletic Director to lodge a complaint or express a concern. The Athletic Director should contact the Assigner or the MSCIAA first so the matter can be referred to the designated person to handle issues of this nature.  

Fans and Spectators 

And lastly, please remind your fans to treat the game officials with respect. Some new officials are trying to understand the rules and how to apply them while working on effective game management. We need these officials to replace retirees and to cover the games of our growing sports programs. Let them know how dire retention is because of the official shortage. Our community needs education-based athletics and officials so our students can always play the sports they love. 

Parking Lot Safety Tips 

Safety isn't limited to the time spent at athletic contests; it extends to when our staff, students, and fans leave the venue. We encourage you to communicate and promote these essential safety tips: 

• Park in Well-Lit Areas: Advise staff, students, and fans to park their vehicles in well-lit areas. Visibility is a powerful deterrent to unwanted incidents. 
• Valuables Out of Sight: Remind everyone to stow valuables out of sight. Leaving items in plain view may attract theft. 
• Lock Your Vehicles: Ensure that vehicles are securely locked. This simple step can prevent break-ins. 
• Travel in Groups: Encourage carpooling or walking in groups, especially at night. There's safety in numbers. 
• Report Signs of Trouble: If anyone sees trouble or suspicious activity, urge them to immediately report it to the proper authorities. 
• Please let your building engineer know if your parking lot lights aren't working so that a work order can be entered into Schooldude. 

Safety is a collective responsibility, and by promoting these measures, we can help keep our school community safe even after the final whistle has blown.  

MSCS Event Procedures 

As basketball season resumes, please be reminded:  

• Staff, students, and families should be reminded of MSCS event security procedures and clear bag policies. 
• Post signage around your venue entrances and notify attendees to alleviate confusion at ticket gates.  
• To the extent possible, ask your players to avoid bringing backpacks to the games. 
• Refresher Video: MSCS Event Security Procedures Video 

Lastly, we appreciate your support and partnership. Ms. Weaver and I are always here to assist, and we look forward to continuing to provide quality athletic experiences for our students and communities. We continue to be appreciative of your commitment to the safety and well-being of our school community. 

Please contact Ms. India Weaver at weaveri@scsk12.org or Dr. Roderick Richmond at richmondrf@scsk12.org if you have any questions.

Best regards,  

RFR/IW