We would like to highlight student engagement through the mock elections, whether they focus on the upcoming Presidential election or other topics that you may have chosen for the project (e.g., Student Councils, other relevant student interest topics). If you have artifacts like pictures, student work products, short videos, sample ballots, etc. that you would like to share, please be sure to share them with us by adding a few to the folder linked below by Oct. 31. 

Link to Upload Artifacts: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SF_ZemOYheHhUvb-PDwJAyD-uAwbqW8j?usp=sharing

On November 14th, schools from all over the US will honor Ruby Bridges with Walk to School Day. The initiative recognizes her historic steps and encourages students to take part of their own forms of activism to bring an end to racism and all forms of bullying. 

Here in Memphis, we’ll also be honoring our own local Memphis 13, who integrated Memphis City Schools in 1961. 

How You Can Participate 

Each school will have freedom in how they would like to participate. We encourage activities such as hosting a school-wide walk and lessons centered around anti-racism and anti-bullying.  We need a champion at your school to make the event happen! 

Commute Options Schools is your partner to make the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day a success. We’re providing: 

·                     An event planning guide that suggests activities (pg. 3) to help you determine what would work best for your teachers and students 

·                     A materials folder to support planning and media coverage 

·                     A virtual orientation meeting, likely during in-service on Nov. 5 

·                     Media coverage support 

Please register here if you would like to be your school’s champion and Commute Options Schools will contact you. 

A school support organization directly paying a supplement, bonus, or buying gifts for coaching staff most likely violates one or more of the following:
 
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Bylaws: “Coaches must be paid entirely from funds approved by either the board of education, governing board of the school, Director of Schools, or the principal of the school.” (Article I, Section 9, C.; page 11).
 
The Comptroller’s Procedures Manual: Model Financial Policy for School Support Organizations: “Payments for salary supplements must not be made directly to the coaches, assistant coaches, or other employees (e.g. teachers, principals) of the Board of Education.  Salary supplements for Board employees must be paid through the Board of Education.  The SSO must make donations to the Board for this purpose rather than paying Board employees directly.” (see FAQ, 26; page 38).
 
The Comptroller’s Procedures Manual: Model Financial Policy for School Support Organizations: “All SSO funds must be used in support of the SSO’s goals and objectives as related to supporting a school district, school, school club, or school academic, arts, athletic, or social activity.” (see Requirements, 6; page 6).
 
In many cases, this type of action will also violate your local board policy 5.110, which requires all salaries and supplements to be paid by the board if revenue is derived from sources other than state and local funding.
 
Two recent investigative reports from the Comptroller are linked below. Each deal with this type of situation.
 
Comptroller’s Investigative Report: Farragut Dugout Club, September 13, 2024
Comptroller’s Investigative Report: Northview Athletic Sideline Club, July 23, 2024

TSBA provides legal education and information as a general service.  Please take note of this information and keep it in mind as you move forward.

Please contact Director India Weaver at weaveri@scsk12.org if you have additional questions. 

Math Teachers,

Curriculum and Instruction Mathematics has developed sentence stems to support the implementation of MSCS High-Impact Strategies. Incorporate sentence stems as appropriate for a math lesson’s literacy-based focusing activity or closing activity. 

Literacy-Based Sentence Stems.pdf

The Department of Exceptional Education is having our Exceptional Education Institute - "Exceptional Education: A Path to Success".  There are opportunities for exceptional educators to present, network, and speak with vendors. Join us! 

Saturday, November 9, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Colonial Middle School 

Register in PLZ. The course code is 47356. 

A stipend will be provided for MSCS Exceptional Education Staff. 

Contact Ms. Erika Williams (williamsem@scsk12.org) or call 416-6025 for questions or additional details.

https://scsk12-my.sharepoint.com/shared?id=%2Fsites%2FDECHSLeaderboardContent%2FShared%20Documents%2FExceptional%20Education%20A%20Path%20to%20Success&listurl=https%3A%2F%2Fscsk12%2Esharepoint%2Ecom%2Fsites%2FDECHSLeaderboardContent%2FShared%20Documents&viewid=160789ea%2D3c18%2D42e3%2D99ac%2D51cdf110a0a7

School Leaders,

The Office of Literacy wants to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering leadership and support for our Specialized Education Assistants (SEAs). Your commitment plays an essential role in their success.

As a gentle reminder, we have been encouraging SEAs to log and submit their SEA Weekly Reflection Log every Friday. We kindly ask for your continued assistance in reminding them of this important task. 

As we move forward into Quarter 2, we invite you to review the SEA Roles and Responsibilities document for further insights and guidance. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Heba Sammour at sammourh@sck12.org. Thank you for your continued dedication. 

District Learning Day

Specialized Education Assistants are encouraged to participate in school-based activities during DLD. Additionally, they will be invited to join K-2 teachers during the K-2 virtual ELA session from 1 to 3 PM.

November District Learning Day (DLD) will be school-based. Please note the following details:

Departments Meeting Virtually or Off-Site:

Full Day Sessions (8:00am - 3:00pm):

• Pre-K
• DEE: Clue
• DEE: OT + PT
• DEE: SLT
• Family Engagement
• HPELW
• Library Services
• Mental Health
• Multilingual Learners
• Orff Music
• Secondary Music/Dance
• Theatre
• Visual Arts
• World Languages
• Optional Schools and Advanced Academics – International Baccalaureate

Afternoon Sessions (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm):

• KK-12 English Teachers
• DEE: AFS, BIC, FS
• Homebound
• DEE: Preschool
• DEE: Hearing Impaired
• DEE: Homebound, IR, STEP, DT, VI
• Optional Schools and Advanced Academics – AP and Pre-AP

MTSS Leads:

This session is required for K-8 MTSS Leads but optional for 9-12 MTSS Leads as they use other screeners for characteristics of dyslexia. Available session times:

• 8:30 am - 10:00 am
• 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Action Required:

• Register for your DLD courses by Friday, Nov. 1.
• For registration support, email: performanceleadershipdevelopment@scsk12.org.

We look forward to a productive day of learning!

Principals, don’t forget to submit your DLD School-Based Professional Learning agendas by Oct. 25 using the designated Microsoft Form.

For questions, contact performanceleadershipdevelopment@scsk12.org. 

Let's continue to Learn. Lead. Leave a Legacy!

Please see the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for 10/24/24.

TDOE updated the Dyslexia Resource Guide to support educators with all things Dyslexia from the definitions and acronyms, to the law, to the types of plans available to support students.

The extended deadline to complete all NIE Goal-Setting Conferences in PLZ is November 8th.  NIE Employees will need to select their evaluator first, in order for the evaluator to have access to their evaluation. 

All fields should be completed in its entirety before finalizing.

Questions? Contact the Evaluation and Satisfaction office by phone,  at 901.416.2475 or via email at eps@scsk12.org. 

The Fall Student Perception Survey is vastly approaching. The survey window will run from October  21 -November 4.

Questions? Contact the Evaluation and Satisfaction office by phone,  at 901.416.2475 or via email at eps@scsk12.org. 

The following content areas are responsible for submitting TEAM Student Growth Portfolios for SY24-25:  Pre-K, Elementary PE, Fine Arts K-12, and 6-12 World Language Spanish and French.  Educators should complete the form below by October 31, 2024.

 TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information SY24-25

Questions? Contact the Evaluation and Satisfaction office by phone,  at 901.416.2475 or via email at eps@scsk12.org. 

• Please review the most recent version of the TDOE ESL Manual. It contains a wealth of information regarding instruction, compliance, and resources for Multilingual Learners.

TDOE ESL Manual_October 2024 Update.

• If you have not already hosted your ESL Family Night, please do so prior to the end of Semester 1.
• In order to receive TISA funding, all students identified as Multilingual Learners (Ls), students receiving Indirect ESL services (Ws), and Transitional Year 1 (T1), and Year 2 (T2) students are required to have a compliant ILP in TN Pulse.
• Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Quarterly Monitoring Forms must be completed in ELLevation by November 13.
• Please ensure that your ESL teacher(s) has access to PowerSchool SIS and is assigned to their Multilingual Learners(MLs) in the system. All MLs must be scheduled for their required ESL service in PowerSchool using the appropriate course code.
• The Office of Multilingual Learners' virtual District Learning Day for ESL teachers will take place from 8:00 a - 3:00 p on November 5. Links and the agenda will be shared directly with teachers. Teachers can register in PLZ with course code #47373.

The registration link is now open if you need to enroll additional teachers in the Computer Science Endorsement Pathway (CSEP) Cohort for the Spring of 2025.

CSEP Registration Information:
Spring course registration will close when registration reaches 600 enrollees or on January 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST, whichever occurs first. If you cannot register for the Spring cohort, keep in mind there will be Fall and Spring cohorts in the foreseeable future. Remember, enrollment into the Spring Cohort is prioritized based on a school’s need and available space in the course. Please email Monica Smith at smithmc@scsk12.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Here is the registration link to sign up for the spring cohort of CSEP for 2025. https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/csep_teacher_registration_form_spring_2025

Enrollment and Attendance Updates

Attendance Session

Session Title: Understanding Your Role in Supporting Multilingual Students and Families

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Description: The Enrollment and Attendance Office invites school staff to participate in a mandatory session aimed at enhancing their understanding of how to effectively support multilingual students and families. This session will cover key topics, including:

• ESL Programming and Services

• Enrollment Procedures and Policies

• Utilizing Language Line

• Legal Custody and Related Matters

• Common Barriers Faced by Multilingual Students and Families

Target Audience: Attendance Liaisons and General Office Secretaries

Session Dates and Times:

• AM Session: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Schools A-L)
• PM Session: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Schools M-Z)

Location: Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA), Rooms W115 and W116

Registration: Please use PLZ Code #47426

Note: Attendance at this session is mandatory for all Attendance Liaisons and General Office Secretaries.  By participating in this session, participants will gain valuable insight and resources to foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for multilingual students and families.

C.O.M.E. to Win: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition 

• 3rd 20-Day Period Deadline: As a reminder, the third 20-day school attendance period ends on November 4th. All schools must ensure that all necessary supports and celebrations have been documented within the C.O.M.E. to Win Application Platform for all student attendance levels. This is a mandatory requirement.
• Benefits of Regular Monitoring: By consistently entering attendance data for Champions, Winners, and Participants every 20 days, we can proactively monitor student attendance trends and identify areas where additional support may be needed.
• Attendance progress will be reflected in student reports and report cards, ensuring transparent communication with parents and guardians.
• Let's work together to motivate students to strive for the highest standards of attendance!

General Choice Transfer (Rescind)

• Schools may submit General Choice Transfer (GCT) rescind requests for students who demonstrate non-compliance with academic performance, attendance, or behavioral expectations. Rescissions will be processed for student transitions at the end of the first semester. Consideration for immediate rescissions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Appeal Process

All levels of appeals regarding GCT rescissions will be handled through a designated process:

• First Level: Appeals will be addressed by the school principal.
• Second Level: Appeals will be reviewed by the district office.
• Third Level: Appeals will be decided upon by the superintendent or designee.

• Note: All Exceptional Education (formerly SPED) and displaced students must be vetted according to IEP mandates and McKinney Vento law.

Rescission Request Submission

Please submit all GCT rescission requests electronically through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/t0Sufb9jKg

New MSCS Multilingual Support Hubs

The Attendance and Enrollment office is pleased to announce the opening of our Multilingual Support Hubs. These hubs will provide ongoing assistance to MSCS families seeking guidance in various areas, including: 

• Enrollment
• Transfers
• Attendance
• General MSCS Information
• ESL Assistance
• Bus Passes
• School Supplies
• Uniforms
• Truancy Assistance
• Computer Assistance

Location and Hours:

• Gaisman Park: Tuesday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• Refugee Empowerment Program (REP): Thursday, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Additional Information:

• More information regarding the Multilingual Support Hubs will be forthcoming.

NEW USERS ON-SITE 2-Day PowerSchool Training (November 6-7, 2024)

• This training session is exclusively for NEW USERS and will take place at (TTC) (3772 Jackson Avenue, Memphis TN 38108) in Lab 2. Please remember to bring a laptop, notepad, and pen.
• Dates: November 6, 2024 - November 7, 2024
•  Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

To sign up, please use the following PLZ Code: 85380

The High School Progress dashboard has been updated to more accurately capture student credits to determine on-track to graduate status. See the user guides here.

The Tutoring Dashboard has been updated and now includes a report for tracking attendance, enrollment and compliance information for students in the state mandated ELA tutoring. See the user guides for more information.

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Training and Support Resources:   

Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings. 
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This week in Virtual Office Hours (10/29 and 10/31), we’re doing an overview of Student Grades.

Next week (11/5 and 11/7), we’re holding Open Office Hours. So, bring your questions.

Virtual Office Hours sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 PM on Microsoft Teams.

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

Check your inbox! On the first Wednesday of every month, the DAIM team sends out a monthly newsletter to all Power BI users. In it, you will find more information on upcoming trainings, new releases, and how-to guides. 

To see this month’s edition (and all archived editions), visit our support page. 
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Check out our page of new/updated features and 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.