In order to comply with the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 and MSCS Policy 5021: Library Services and Collections, an accurate physical inventory must be made of all materials in the library. To facilitate this process, all books and materials should be returned to the library to be shelved for inventory by May 10, 2024.

We are asking principals to work with their librarians to ensure adequate time is allotted to perform a complete and accurate inventory. Library Services recommends that from May 13-24, 2024, the librarian should be free from a full schedule and the library should be closed to allow the librarian time to focus on completing the inventory and submitting required reports to Library Services.  If the librarian has additional year-end responsibilities (textbook inventory, equipment inventory, etc.) to complete, it is recommended their schedule is adjusted accordingly to allow the librarian adequate time to complete all tasks in an accurate and timely manner. This request does not preclude continued use of the library by individuals or groups for special projects, completion of the year’s work, or the use of library materials within the library. 

Libraries should be ready to reopen at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year or for summer school if your school is a summer school site. Scheduling the library’s opening in the fall is the principal's responsibility when planning with the librarian. The Library Materials Inventory Form and post inventory reports should be submitted to Library Services on or before May 28, 2024. 

Thank you in advance for your continued support!

Questions??? Please contact Alicia Fields, Library Services Advisor – 901-416-5382. 

2024 Library Services - Closing Information for K-12 Principals.pdf

Students who are referred to the Family Wellness Center for services after April 30  will more than likely be placed into our Summer FWC Cohorts for scheduled services (some exceptions may apply). Please consider this when making your determinations during hearings. 

This may mean that some who are being considered for Early Return will only be able to satisfy their session requirements during the summer.

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. 
• Every effort should be made to use non-exclusionary disciplinary responses prior to suspension.
• Students who are expelled during standardized testing should be given alternate times to take make-up exams.
• Per Policy #6014, 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!)

Winridge Elementary School (Coming Soon!)

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.

• Online registration is NOW OPEN for the 2024-25 school year!
• For participation in summer school programs, online registration for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year is mandatory.
• 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 centralized withdrawal training for school staff will be offered from January through May. 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.
• The SEED HUB is available to assist parents with student online registration, transfers, and other inquiries. Located conveniently at the Hickory Ridge Mall, the SEED HUB is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Please contact Mildred Avery at 416-6007 with any questions. 

• Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), in collaboration with the Shelby County Health Department, is hosting a series of convenient immunization clinics for students at the Teacher and Learning Academy (TLA). These clinics aim to ensure that kindergarten and seventh-grade students are up to date on their immunizations before the start of the school year.
• Clinic Details:
• Dates: Saturday, July 27th and August 3rd, and Wednesday, September 4th
• Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
• Location: Teacher and Learning Academy (TLA)
• Appointments: No appointments are necessary (while supplies last) 

Important Notice: Deadline for all General Choice Transfer Rescinds

• All rescind requests must be submitted by May 16, 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.

Let's continue to successfully implement our Rethink curriculum and provide our students with the social emotional skills needed for success. Please preview the Rethink Scope and Sequence for the upcoming months. The last days to complete any lessons for each month are as follows: 

• Data for March collected Friday, March 22, 2024 EOD. 
• Data for April collected Friday, April 19, 2024 EOD.
• Data for May collected Friday, May 17, 2024 EOD.  

The Spring 2024 Student Perception Survey data will be distributed to administrators and site coordinators by the vendor, Panorama, the week of April 22.   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. 

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

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 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. 

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.

We are now 6 weeks away from Leadership Symposium! We are excited host you as you engage with our many vendors and informative learning sessions. 

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. 

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! 

Get ready for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ 2024 Leadership Symposium! This premier professional learning and networking event is tailored to uplift both new and experienced school leaders. Our aim is to provide attendees with essential tools for ongoing growth in crucial areas of educational leadership. Preregistration is now open, and participants are required to complete the preregistration form to secure their spots. Come be a part of "Building Tomorrow, Together" as we prioritize Leadership in Action for educational excellence.