The students of MSCS were ready for the Eclipse Across America on April 8, 2024. Thanks to the Curriculum & Instruction Executive Director, Dr. Amy Maples, and the C & I Science Team members: Terilyn McChriston- Manager; Micah Thomas- K-5 Advisor; and Charles Hayes- 6-8 Advisor. Assistant Superintendent Valerie Matthews' team supported us by transporting 98,000 solar glasses to our schools. We want to thank everyone who participated in the event, especially Peabody Elementary, under Melanie Nelson's leadership, and Scenic Hills Elementary Schools, under

Jami Fowler-White's leadership. We also want to thank Overton High School, where Mr. Reginald Williams is the most capable leader, for allowing us to visit their schools during this iconic event. We genuinely appreciate your students' engagement and staff's enthusiasm. We were also excited to see our Superintendent, Dr. Feagins, enjoying herself as she witnessed the moon shadow with our students.

If you are wondering what to do with your eclipse glasses now that the phenomenon has ended for us. You can donate them to those in Latin America who will be experiencing the eclipse in October.

You can read more about it here. 

https://eclipse23.com/pages/donate-eclipse-glasses. 

 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.

Please ensure your AP Coordinator updates the AP exam Testing Room/Location by April 26th using the following link: AP Exam Schedule 23-24.xlsx.

Please contact James Smith if you have questions. Thanks! 

High School Principals: Please see the following tasks that AP Coordinators should be completing during the month of April: 

Download the AP Exam Instructions: The 2023-24 AP Exam Instructions (.pdf/16.5 MB) are available online and are included with your exam shipment. Subject-Specific AP Exam Instructions are also available.

Check your AP Exam shipment status: Go to the Orders page in AP Registration and Ordering to check the status of your exam shipment and AP ID label sheets. Remember, exam materials must be placed in secure storage when you receive them.

Download and check the student roster: If you haven't already done so, download the student roster in AP Registration and Ordering, and look at the school code for each student—the correct school needs to be listed to ensure accurate score reporting. If you see any errors, let students know so they can correct their information in their My AP Profile. AP coordinators aren’t able to update student information.

Select and prepare proctors: Review the “Preparing Proctors” section of the AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 2 (.pdf/6.6 MB) for details about proctor eligibility.

Indicate fee reduction status: To be properly credited, the fee reduction status for each eligible student must be indicated in AP Registration and Ordering by April 30 (11:59 p.m. ET).

Please contact James Smith (smithjl@scsk12.org) if you have questions. 
 

Attention Elementary Leaders, 1st -3rd Grade Teachers, and Librarians!!!

MSCS is very excited to announce our continued partnership with the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) K-3 Home Library Program.  This is a FREE book delivery program for students and schools! Please note that over the summer, grade specific mini libraries along with correlating activity cards will be shipped to our current K-2 students' homes.  Elementary schools will receive copies of the high-quality texts in the month of May to distribute to next year's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers.  Additionally, school librarians should receive copies of all grade level books. To learn more about the K-3 Home Library Program check out the one-pager linked here that includes a list of the titles that will be delivered for each grade level.

Questions? Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org

Attention K-12 ELA educators! 

We want to hear from! We value your feedback around the semester 2 ELA curriculum resources as well as your input around other resources needed to further support your planning. EVERY educator who completes the survey will win MSCS Swag! Additionally, be on the lookout in the upcoming weeks for your opportunity to be a part of the LIVE in-person and/or virtual ELA Curriculum Reviews. Please help us to serve you better by clicking on the appropriate link to complete a short survey for the grade band(s) you support.  

Survey Links:

  K-2                3-5                  6-8                  EOC

Questions? Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org.

We're excited to present the March Newsletter!

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!)

Please remind your AP Coordinator, teachers, and students about the following submission deadlines for selected AP course exams. They are responsible for ensuring all submissions are complete. These submissions are part of the final AP exam score.

• April 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline for students to submit all three Create performance task components as final. Students need to submit the Personalized Project Reference as final by this deadline to have this resource available to complete the written response prompts on exam day.

• April 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline for AP Seminar students and Research students to submit their performance task components as final.

• May 10, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline for AP Capstone teachers to submit scores for student presentations and complete attestations for required checkpoints. 

• May 10, 2024, 8 p.m. ET is the deadline for students to submit their three AP Art and Design portfolio components (Sustained Investigation Images, Written Evidence, Selected Works) as final to the AP Program for scoring. 

Please contact James Smith if you have questions.

As you continue to plan your AP course offerings, please remember to take advantage of the AP Virtual Academy and/or AP Access for All (https://tnapaccessforall.org/ ) to ensure that all students have an opportunity to participate in AP courses that you may not have at your school. As shared during your Ready Graduate planning meetings, we will be offering the following AP courses: 

AP Virtual Academy:

AP Computer Science Principles

AP Computer Science A

AP English Language and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition

AP U.S. Govt and Politics

AP U.S. History

(NEW) AP Human Geography (6th period)

(NEW) AP World History (7th period)

Please contact James Smith if you have questions.

The Spring 2024 Student Perception Survey data will be distributed to administrators and site coordinators by the vendor, Panorama, the week of April 22nd.   Leaders are asked to check their Spam folder if the results are not visible in their Focus email.  

For issues or questions, email Courtney Skipper at skipperc@scsk12.org.

Professionalism represents 5% of the overall TEM rating for both tested and non-tested teachers and must be completed and finalized by both the educator and the administrator to receive an LOE (Level of Overall Effectiveness) score. 

Professionalism containers are currently live and educators may begin inputting narratives, uploading artifacts, and completing self-scores.  The suggested deadline for teacher completion is Friday, April 19, 2024.  

Be reminded, 100% of Professionalism and EOY Conferences must be completed and locked by the Administrator and Educator by Friday, May 10, 2023.  

For questions and/or concerns about instructional evaluation, please contact EPS by phone at 416-2475 or via email at eps@scsk12.org.

UDEMY is no longer a supported district PD platform as of March 31, 2024. Should this change, it will be promptly communicated. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

If you would like a copy of your completed certificate(s), please submit your request to Starlett Calhoun, joness3@scsk12.org. 

** Please note, ALL requests for course completion certificates MUST be submitted by April 29th. 

Non-Tested Grades and Subject Teachers (NTGS).  

Please encourage your teachers to log into their Portfolium Account to select their model and collections for SY2023-24. The NTGS Educators listed below will submit Student Growth Portfolios for SY23-24:

• Fine Arts
• Physical Education (Elementary)
• Pre-K
• World Languages (French & Spanish)

While there is no deadline for Point A Submissions, educators are strongly encouraged to submit their Point A and B Submissions before the 5 p.m. local time, May 6, 2024, deadline.  
 

*Please note:  Per the State, no further submissions will be allowed after the deadline.  Any Portfolio missing any of the four collections will be marked Incomplete (I) and an LOE (Level of Overall Effectiveness) score will NOT be generated for the 2023-24 school year. 

QUESTIONS/SUPPORT

If any NGTS educator is having issues accessing the platform, has general questions about submissions, or has had job/role changes that do not require Submission of the portfolio, please contact the District Portfolio Lead, Ayodele Hall, at hallam@scsk12.org . 

NIE END-OF-YEAR CONFERENCE :  

The NIE End-of-Year Conference container is now open in PLZ! The DEADLINE to complete ALL NIE End-Of-Year Conferences are as follows:

• School-Based – May 17th
• Central Office – June 14th

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:   

• The Goal Setting Conference AND Mid-Year Conference should be completed in its entirety BEFORE completing the End-of-Year Conference in PLZ.

Note: Staff who have not completed the Goal-Setting Conference will need to do so.

• 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 End-of-Year Conference Tutorial
  • NIE Evaluator Step Guide
  • NIE Employee Step Guide

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.

• Maintaining regular attendance throughout the academic year is a critical factor in student achievement on standardized assessments. Being present allows students to master the material and participate in test-taking strategies practiced in class. Let's continue to emphasize the importance of regular attendance and work collaboratively to ensure a strong finish to the school year!
• 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.
• Attendance Training for School Staff is now being offered! These training sessions will equip staff with the knowledge and resources needed to effectively navigate the attendance process.

Attendance Training for School Staff

Course #: 36083

Location: TTC - 3772 Jackson

Registration is open! Please sign up in PLZ.

• Online registration is NOW OPEN for the 2024-25 school year!
• All incoming kindergarteners, seventh graders, and new students to MSCS must submit proof of immunizations and physicals for enrollment.
• Students without complete immunizations cannot enroll until proof is provided.
• A Physical is required for all students who are new to MSCS.
• New students entering Pre-K or Kindergarten require an up-to-date physical within the last 12 months.
• Many parents have already registered their child/children but still need to submit the required physical and immunization records.  Be sure to create a system to easily identify these enrollment records and include the documents in the student’s cumulative file.
• 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. 

• Children must be five years old on or before August 15th of the current school year to be admitted.

• Five-year-old kindergarteners who have not previously enrolled cannot be enrolled after the first 30 days of the school year, which is September 9, 2024. Previously enrolled kindergarteners can be accepted at any time.
• We encourage parents/guardians to begin the registration process as soon as possible. For further assistance, please contact your designated school or the SEED Department at 416-6007.

• Third Grade: As part of our ongoing commitment to third-grade learning initiatives, students in third grade will be allowed to retain their devices over the summer break.
• Registration Requirement: To facilitate summer device retention for third grade, registration is mandatory. Students are required to register by May 3rd.
• Device Collection: All devices assigned to students in grades Kindergarten through Eleventh Grade, excluding third grade, must be returned to the school prior to the official end of the school year. Specific details regarding the collection process will be communicated separately.

•  The online School Choice transfer application is open! 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. 

Important Notes:

• Current MSCS students: Please use your PowerSchool ID to apply.
• Students can apply for up to two General Choice options.

• All rescind requests must be submitted by May 3rd, 2024. Please note that submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted.
• Rescind Request Link:
• https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=lBwpK7Bet0SJ6kuvFuzEqS9JchfmIJpJqRBRxFHAOltUMkxENVI2M1k2R0lZQTJLSFA0TVRIMUpISS4u
• We encourage you to submit your request as soon as possible to ensure it is processed in a timely manner.
• If you have any questions regarding the rescinding process, please contact Doris Rice at 416-6007.

• Please be advised that the transfer application window for students under eligible circumstances has closed, the SEED Office will not be accepting any further student transfer requests for the remainder of the current academic year.

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

Tuesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 25, the DAIM team will offer virtual office hour sessions that will cover the 3rd grade exemption app and the 3rd grade exemption report within PowerBI. We would love for school principals who still need support with entering 3rd grade exemptions to join the session.

DAIM Virtual Office Hours (Training)

Topic: 3rd Grade Exemption App & 3rd Grade Exemption Literacy Commitment PowerBI Report

Date: Tuesday, April 23rd and Thursday, April 25th

• Time: 3:30pm-4:00pm
• Registration link here

Resources

3rd Grade Exemption App User guide

3rd Grade Exemption PowerBI report User guide

3rd Grade Exemption App Link

• 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 

Greetings Principals,

For those of you who may have end-of-year trips and activities planned, we wanted to provide some pertinent information. The Field Trip Approval Process for in-town, out-of-town, and international field trips is included in the AOSS Manual. Please familiarize yourself with this information and share it with the appropriate members of your team.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of School Compliance at 416-1570.