Join Big Ideas for a brief overview of manipulatives and math tools. We will dive into the different tools and have discussions on how you can use them with your students. Teachers can share how they currently use them to arm all teachers with ideas to implement in their classrooms. Please share the attached flyers with your high school geometry teachers.

https://bit.ly/GEO-Manipulatives

Elementary Principals should complete the survey indicating instructional material needs aligned with the Wonders curriculum.  Your school's Textbook Coordinator will be a tremendous resource to assist with this review of K-5 Wonders aligned classroom materials.  Click here for images of the Wonders curricular resources for each grade, K-5. 

Wonders Refresh Survey link:  https://forms.office.com/r/8eeB8RqWNp

Wonders resource bundles:  Wonders Resource Bundles K-5

We are delighted to announce a fantastic opportunity brought to you by our Educational Technology team! Introducing our one-hour school-based professional learning sessions, designed to empower your teachers and students with the skills to seamlessly integrate technology into instruction.

Why choose our sessions?

• Tailored to Your School: Our sessions are customized to meet the specific needs of your school.
• Differentiated Learning: We provide a variety of options to cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.
• Quick Implementation: Get your teachers and students using technology effectively in no time!

To secure a session for February, simply click on the link below and choose from our menu of professional development offerings: https://bit.ly/BLSpring2024 

Given the limited availability, we strongly encourage you to schedule your session promptly. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance educational technology in your school!

Contact Stephanie Dennis at dennissm@scsk12.org if you have any questions.

Greetings Principals,

As we continue to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff, we wanted you to be reminded of the important information contained in the Safety-Crisis Response Procedures found in the AOSS Manual. Please review this information with your team.

“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 Secure the Chalk flyer.

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:

• ES_Introducing ELA Standards Guides_Overview_Voiceover.mp4
• MS_Introducing ELA Standards Guides_Overview_Voiceover.mp4
• HS_Introducting the ELA Standards Guides 9-12 Voiceover.mp4

Black History Month is here and we are celebrating the collective genius in all of our students.

Our Theme is “Black History makes me hopeful because…”

Click here to see the details of our priorities as we lift all voices for hope.

• In-person training and onboarding for NEWLY appointed Digital Device and Digital Support Ambassadors will occur on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This will be the final onboarding for DDAs and DSAs this school year. A calendar invite will be sent to all newly appointed DDAs/DSAs with information regarding the training location, date, and time.  
•  If you need to appoint a new Digital Device or Digital Support Ambassador due to a resignation or leave absence for your previous DDA or DSA, please CLICK HERE to complete the DDA/DSA Leave of Absence/Resignation Form. 

For questions, please email device_support@scsk12.org. 

Per Board Policy #6047 (School Fees and Debts), report cards, diplomas and transcripts of students who take MSCS property or who have incurred a debt to a school, shall be withheld until the student makes restitution in full. Holds should be placed on report cards, diplomas and transcripts requested by the parent or student until the device is returned or payment for the device has been satisfied.

• Please communicate to all staff with access to PowerSchool that removing a record hold prior to a fine being satisfied is a violation of Board Policy #6046. Holds should not be removed until it has been verified that the fine has been satisfied.
• School-based clerical staff should connect with their school's Digital Device or Digital Support Ambassador for all 1:1 device related holds on student records. 
• If your school does not have a Digital Device or Digital Support Ambassador, please email device_support@scsk12.org for questions regarding fines and holds associated with 1:1 student devices. 

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.

• Save the date! The online School 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. 

Get ready to show up and show out at the MSCS School Choice Showcase!  

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 3rd, 2024! From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Memphis Sports and Events Center, the annual Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) School Choice Showcase returns to illuminate the 901 community with the incredible opportunities available within our district. 

This unique eventprovides a chance to explore the diverse academic pathways, engaging displays, and enriching extracurricular options waiting for students across our district. But wait, there's more! This year, we're thrilled to introduce the Student Entrepreneurship Fair, showcasing the innovative ideas and businesses of our future leaders. 

• 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:  February 19th (President’s Day) 
• Please contact Justin Doss at 416-6007 with any questions. 

• Online registration will officially launch on Tuesday, March 19th for the 2024-25 school year. 
• Enrollment, registration, and attendance training for school staff will be offered from January through March. These training sessions will equip staff with the knowledge and resources to effectively support students and families during the registration process. 

Enrollment, Registration, and Centralized Withdrawal Process 

Course #: 34911 

Location: TTC - 3772 Jackson 

Registration is open! Please sign up in PLZ 

• Please note that completing online registration is mandatory for all students seeking enrollment in Memphis Shelby County Schools for the 2024-25 school year. 
• Failure to register during the designated period will result in students not being considered enrolled for the upcoming academic year. 
• Please contact Mildred Avery at 416-6007 with any questions. 

Register Now! Virtual Office Hours: Power Up Your BI Skills  

Join us for weekly virtual office hours, a dedicated support resource for Power BI users. Each session focuses on a specific data topic, providing real-time training and support within 30 minutes - because we know your time is valuable! 

Tuesdays & Thursdays at 3:30 PM: Virtual Office Hours Registration

• Jan 25th: Overview of District 360: Enrollment, Attendance, and Discipline 
• Jan 30th & Feb1st: Using Advanced Course Scheduling for the Master Scheduling Process 
• Sessions are recorded and will be posted Fridays to the DAIM Support Hub. 

 For more support or questions, visit us at DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ 2024 Leadership Symposium stands as a flagship professional learning and networking event meticulously crafted to empower both emerging and seasoned school leaders. The primary objective is to equip participants with indispensable tools, fostering continuous improvement in key areas of educational leadership. 

Stay informed by signing up to receive notifications about conference updates, registration, and additional details on the MSCS Leadership Symposium Website at www.scsk12.org/ls.  

 For any inquiries, feel free to reach out via email at symposium@scsk12.org. Join us in shaping the future of education through collaboration and shared leadership! 

Due to the inclement weather and the closure of MSCS schools and administrators, we are rescheduling the PLC Coach and Instructional Facilitator Professional Learning Series session to January 30, 2024. The sessions will now be conducted virtually from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Charles Newborn at newbormcm@scsk12.org.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

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.

The Semester 2 New and Novice Teacher Content Intensives are planned for the following date range:

• February 5, 2024 – February 15, 2024

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

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming End of Course (EOC) Professional Development Series, tailored for high school EOC teachers in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Due to inclement weather and school closures, we've rescheduled our session dates. The next session is on January 31, 2024, focusing on "Standards & Student Work Analysis" at Kingsbury High School (9th Grade Building). Sessions run from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, offering concentrated learning opportunities. These gatherings foster professional growth and collaboration, and we urge all EOC teachers to attend. For more details, contact Dr. Tiffany Boyle at boyletd@scsk12.org, Dr. Geneva Gordon at gordong@scsk12.org, or Dr. Jarita A. Mitchell at mitchellja@scsk12.org. We'll update you on rescheduled dates in February and March.

Please note the dates for Teacher Development Week :  

• Monday, January 29, 2024: English Language Arts and Social Studies Content Leads
• Tuesday, January 30, 2024: Math Content Leads
• Wednesday, January 31, 2024: Science Content Leads
• Tuesday, February 06, 2024: Early Literacy Content Leads

For more information, please contact Dr. Geneva Gordon at gordong@scsk12.org. 

The Student Technology Xpert Program (Tech Xpert) presents another exciting opportunity for middle school students.  The last edition of our Saturday coding series for this school year will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 9am-2pm at Kate Bond Middle School (2737 Kate Bond Rd, Memphis, TN 38133). During Get Ready, Let’s Code! 4 Mobile App Development, students will engage in computer science and STEM by building their very own functional mobile app using MAD-Learn. MAD-Learn allows students to experience coding through reverse engineering and introduces HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Students will learn 21st century skills for career development and readiness. They will be empowered to create technology, not just consume it! This event is open to all MSCS middle school students; however, space is limited to the first 400 students to sign up. You must register between February 5-16, 2024, and you must bring your 1:1 device to participate. This is a great field trip opportunity for students. Feel free to provide bus transportation if your school has a large number of registrants.  

We hope to see your school represented on February 24th for some fun with Mobile App Development! If you have any questions, contact Cashundra Jefferson at (901) 416-1794 or email scs-techxpert@scsk12.org. See the attached flyers for more information.   

Click link to register: https://forms.office.com/r/dSrUD29ZP1 

Click here to scan the QR Code to register: 

View Get Ready, Let's Code! 4 flyer in English: 

View Get Ready, Let's Code! 4 flyer in Spanish: 

We are excited to present the Professional Learning Catalog for February 2024. Thank you for your continued support of Professional Learning and Support. We look forward to actively helping you enhance and refine your skills.

Professional Learning & Support kindly requests that you utilize the Microsoft Forms Link provided to upload your agendas for District Learning Day. Your cooperation in completing this task by close of business on February 9, 2024, is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, contact Christopher Stewart at stewartc2@scsk12.org. 

TDOE has extended their Winter Benchmark window due to the snow days Tennessee experienced.  While MSCS has already extended our window through January 31st, we encourage our schools to push through to close out all Winter Benchmark testing by this date (Jan. 31).  All testing in MSCS must be completed by February 2nd for proper reporting.  Please work closely with your RTI Advisor if you need assistance with completing the testing.

We are ONE week away from the School Choice Showcase! Click for here for flyers.

This year’s showcase will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 11:00am-2:00pm at the Memphis Sports Event Center (995 Early Maxwell Blvd.) The Showcase will feature ALL the great options and resources MSCS has to offer our 901 families.

This year we will feature a student entrepreneur fair. Please share the following flyers on your school website and encourage your students and families to attend the showcase and sign up and participate in the Student Entrepreneur Fair. Students interested in the student entrepreneurship fair can sign up HERE!! 

Students must have a business license to participate.​​ 

We are looking forward to an awesome event!  

The Department of Family & Community Engagement will host a two-generational college and career fair on Thursday, February 8 (*NEW DATE*) 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. Click here for flyers.
 

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.

Good morning, Parent Organization Leaders! 

Thank you for work this year planning and executing activities to support your school. To ensure that you are receiving up to date information and resources to support your initiatives, we will be hosting an additional Q&A Workshop Wednesday, January 31 at 12p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  

While all organization leaders are invited to join us, the meeting will be focused on support for organization that are not yet approved. This session is optional. 

• Link to submit SSO Application: https://sso.scsk12.org/
   
• Link to MSCS FACE Website: http://www.scsk12.org/face2/?pn=Parent%20Organizations&sm=3 
  • Virtual presentation w/audio
  • Links to Policy 7007 & 7009
  • Roles and Descriptions
     
• Link to PTO Resources: https://www.ptotoday.com/filesharing/category/1-meetings

Virtual Meeting Link: 

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 252 354 013 255 
Passcode: bvdvLN

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Thank you again for attending! 

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. 

The Mid-Year Conference container is now open in PLZ! The DEADLINE to complete ALL NIE Mid-Year Conferences in PLZ is February 23rd. 
 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:    

• ALL required fields should be completed in its entirety before finalizing.   
• The Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of an NIE employee’s hire/contract start date AND should be completed BEFORE completing the Mid-Year Conference in PLZ. 
• The Mid-Year Conference is NOT required for NIE Partial plans and will not appear as a container to complete. 

Need a refresher? The following resources are also found in PLZ under the Resources tab.  

• NIE Mid-Year Conference Tutorial 
• NIE Evaluator Step Guide 
• NIE Employee Step Guide 

Questions? Please reach out to eps@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 January 12th, 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 January 31st.  

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.

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! 

Next year school assignments are based on what is entered in the Scheduling Setup page in PowerSchool.
 
Q2 and S1 Grades will be available in Students Grades by Friday, February 2nd!

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

Coming Soon:

• District 360: Discipline 

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Training and Support Resources:  

This week (January 31st and February 1st), Virtual Office Hours will be on the Advanced Course Scheduling Dashboard. 

• Feb 6 & Feb 8: Advanced Course Scheduling Dashboard
• Feb 13 & Feb 15: Open Forum Question and Answer Session – Ask Us Anything

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

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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.  

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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! 

Let's celebrate the achievements of your student-athletes on National Signing Day!  We invite you to share their success stories in both academics and sports. To do so, kindly provide Communications (mediaRelations@scsk12.org) with a photo and caption that includes the following essential details: the student's first and last name, their current school, classification, chosen sport, position, and the college they have selected.

Furthermore, we would greatly appreciate it if you could inform Student Support, Athletics and Communications of any special signing day events taking place at your schools. Your collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to making this day even more memorable and impactful for our students.

Let us come together to honor and applaud the extraordinary accomplishments of our students on National Signing Day!

National Letter of Intent Signing Dates

Prospective Student-Athletes Signing 2023-24 and Enrolling 2024-25