Attention: Middle School, K-8, & High School Principals

Please CLICK HERE to review a list of students enrolled at your school without a 1:1 device.  Currently, students without a 1:1 device owe a fine for a previously lost or damaged device or accessory. 

Digital Device Ambassadors should continue to work with parents to complete waivers and satisfy fines to ensure that all students have their personal device in time for testing. During check-ins, please ask your DDA to provide the number of parents they have connected with to ensure that parents of students who are Direct Certified have been notified of their eligibility for a Device Cost Relief waiver. 

Waivers can be used to cover the cost of lost or damaged devices only. Forms must be completed in their entirety to ensure grant compliance. Please email device_support@scsk12.org with devices related questions.

In order to teach Algebra I without a secondary mathematics endorsement, educators must pass the Middle School Mathematics Praxis (5164) or the NES Mathematics (Middle Grades and Early Secondary) (105) test and must meet one of the following:

Attend a state-approved training*** - OR –

Take and pass a supplemental test approved by the department. The department has approved the following supplemental tests. 

1. College Board CLEP test: College Algebra (Passing Score 60), 

2. College Board CLEP test: College Mathematics (Passing score 60), or 

3. Algebra 1 Praxis (5162) (Passing score 157)

MSCS will be offering the state-approved training June 3 – 7, 2024. Please share the attached flyer below with teachers who currently hold a teaching license that includes grade 8. There will be a virtual informational on April 23, 2024.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LdJOtKmhb9346vHUckPWrlHsYZwLx7EN/view?usp=sharing

All current MSCS 7th-grade middle school students will have the opportunity to take ALG I during the 24/25 school year pending eligibility. The District is preparing for 7th graders to take a placement exam to determine their eligibility to take Algebra I in the 8th grade. The testing window opens May 6th and closes May 10th. EVERY seventh grader will have an opportunity to take this assessment. The eligible students who enroll in 8th Grade Algebra I can participate in Algebra Bridge Camp to support proficiency in Algebra I. We are asking that all middle school principals and counselors attend one virtual informational. See the meeting links below. 

April 18, 2024 (4:00-4:30 pm) Join the meeting now

April 25, 2024 (4:00-4:30 pm) Join the meeting now

In celebration of March Literacy Month, the Math Family Fluency Activities are now available.  This suite of resources provides simple and practical guidance on math fluency activities available for caretakers of students in grades PreK-2nd grade. Each collection of resources is aligned to an anchor text available from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and contains text-based related math activities, extension activities, and caretaker supports. For each grade level, there is a video explaining the standard-specific math activities, a printable version of the math activities, and a video resource of the anchor text being read aloud. Please share the suite of resources with PreK-2 families that can be downloaded from the Family Math Fluency Resources Hub in Best for All Central.  

We're excited to present the March Newsletter!

The attached invite may be useful to the staff you work with. Eagle’s Nest is providing a Mental Health Simulation for the community. During the simulation participants will:

• Be given scenarios of different Trauma related obstacles
• They will then be given an opportunity to circulate the venue to be navigated to resources and supports for their particular challenge
• By the end of the process, participants would have gained insight on how to navigate others to supports for particular challenges though this simulation
• The event is for all community members (schools, parents etc.)

Feel free to join us! 

As you continue to navigate the ins and outs of Spring, please be mindful of the following when dealing with student misbehaviors:

• Assemblies and faculty meetings should be held with students and teachers to reiterate expectations. As we get closer to the end of the year, our energy begins to wain. It is imperative that we remember to reward our students and staff for their hard work thus far! Self-care will also be beneficial!
• Every effort should be made to use non-exclusionary disciplinary responses prior to
• Students who are expelled during standardized testing should be given alternate times to take make-up exams.
• Per Policy, make-up opportunities should be provided to students who have unexcused (suspensions included) or excused absences (at least 1 or more days of make-up for each absence).
• Manifestation meetings must be held for students who have disabilities or who are “suspected of having a disability” (going through the evaluation process), prior to the DHA process.
• Please remember that the TCA does not give principals the autonomy to suspend for off campus fights, unless they rise to the level of a felony charge and have a nexus to the school environment.
• Report the following types of incidents by emailing brief, yet detailed narratives to SEEDMandtoryReporting@scsk12.org
  • Possible adult to student abuse or neglect
  • On campus criminal behavior (possible felony level)
  • Student Sexual Activity/Severe harassment (acts involving penetration, brute force, under clothing touching or law enforcement investigations-especially non-consensual sex acts)
  • Title IX Issues (especially gender related, sexual orientation/preferences etc.)
  • Looming threats of safety to the school environment (i.e., evidenced threats of school shootings, bombs etc.)

NOTE: This email should NOT be used for general discipline issues.

KUDOS for the following WKNO Highlighted Schools, for their positive data outcomes as a result of providing GREAT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES! 

SEED spot (Dr. Blocker) - https://youtu.be/5d7eZ0PfC2M

Trezevant High School-   https://youtu.be/tW_VyeuW6Dk 

Hollis F. Price - https://youtu.be/mCkCKTjEy6E

Dunbar Elementary - https://youtu.be/15Iq-nggCb4

Ridgeway Middle School - https://youtu.be/FvXkZUPOA0c

Hickory Ridge Middle School https://youtu.be/2KgGSiPom38

Downtown Elementary https://youtu.be/h9kJ_qWnBgM

Westside Elementary https://youtu.be/3Zn8C65nEYw

Brownsville Rd. Elementary School - https://youtu.be/4-80h5MzZ_w

Newcomers International School (Coming Soon!)

Windridge Elementary School (Coming Soon!)

In preparation for the 3rd-grade aimswebPlus universal spring screener and the TCAP Retake for applicable students only, please make plans to PowerUp at 9:01 a.m. on April 30th to get those devices test ready.  It is only necessary to PowerUp 3rd-grade devices. Full details along with contact information for questions and quick start guides can be found on the flyer.

Greetings Principals,

As a helpful reminder, we wanted to provide you with a copy of the AOSS Manual protocol 10.1 Flag Protocol.  This guidance should be utilized to ensure compliance with this state statute.  Please review it and share it with your team.

Elementary and K-8 Administrators…The last day to complete all 3rd grade exemptions in the MSCS Exemption's PowerApp is Friday, April 26.  

If you have general questions regarding the law or exemptions, contact Latosha Wiseman at wisemanlk@scsk12.org.

If you have questions regarding suspected disabilities/RTI-A students and exemptions, contact Emily Vuoso at vuosoeb@scsk12.org.

If you have questions regarding ELL and exemptions, contact Carol Richardson at richardsoncr@scsk12.org.

If you have questions regarding SPED students and exemptions, contact Rebecca Fik at fikra@scsk12.org.

If you have questions regarding 504 students and exemptions, contact Thomasena Stuckett at stucketttd@scsk12.org.

If you have questions regarding the exemption's PowerApp, please email daimsupport@scsk12.org