We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Memphis Grizzlies STEM Forward initiative, a new grant program designed to support K-12 educators within Memphis Shelby County Schools as they bring innovative STEM projects to life in their classrooms. Through this initiative, the Memphis Grizzlies aim to empower forward-thinking educators and inspire the next generation of problem solvers, creators, and leaders in STEM.

The STEM Forward grants will provide crucial funding for teachers to develop hands-on STEM projects that engage and challenge students, preparing them for success in a technology-driven world. We believe that fostering curiosity and skills in STEM today will help shape a brighter future for our community and beyond.

Key Dates for the Memphis Grizzlies STEM Forward Initiative:

• Application Period: October 28 – December 6, 2024
• Winner Notification: January 6 – 10, 2025
• Project Completion Deadline: April 30, 2025
• Project Evaluation Submission: May 17, 2025

Educators from all K-12 levels are encouraged to apply and share their visionary project ideas that will inspire and engage students.

For more information about the application process, please visit our website www.grizzlies.com/stemforward, or reach out to me. We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas Memphis educators will bring forward to benefit our students!

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

Do you need coats and other winter clothing for your students? If so, please complete the survey linked below to provide information about your students’ needs by Friday, November 15. 

Each school is asked to designate one person to serve as the coordinator for this effort. That person will be responsible for providing size information for up to 10 students and picking items up on the day of distribution in December.  Requests will be filled based on availability, and an MSCS FACE team member will contact the coordinator to confirm a pick-up time for each school. 

Link to Submit Coat Requests: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OWH24

Student Club and Organization categories have been set up in the Student Program module of PowerSchool. Once inside the module, leaders will find that clubs and organizations are listed by general category, (e.g., Art, Mentoring, STEM/STEAM) instead of by the specific names provided in at the start of the year and for Quarter 1. Please be sure to update this information in PowerSchool by Friday, November 22. 

Link to Step Sheet: Assigning Student Programs to Students in PowerSchool

Principals, please use this link to identify MTSS Lead/Co-Lead for your school.   Many of you have made staffing changes and adjusted roles and responsibilities so we want to be sure we are communicating weekly with the right people to oversee RTI2A and RTI2B.  If you do not have any changes, it is not necessary to complete the Microsoft Form again.

Please refer to the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for the week of 10/28/24.

Previously published MTSS Lead Weekly Updates are linked below for quick reference.

Week of 10/21/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/h4e80

Week of 10/14/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/13sg4y

Week of 9/30/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/tdxvqp

Week of 9/23/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/ztbwj

Week of 9/16/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/tzuhs

Week of 9/9/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/uap67

Week of 9/3/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/stvnk

Week of 8/26/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/anxyu

Week of 8/19/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/hq6au

Week of 8/12/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/r13s8

Week of 8/5/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/pjxyd

Week of 7/29/24 https://secure.smore.com/n/gukw69

Students in grades K-8 took the iReady Reading and Math Diagnostic Assessments in August along with select students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in Tier 2 or 3 intervention courses along with some students with IEPs.  Once students take the Diagnostic Assessments, the iReady platform develops a Personalized Instruction path for students.  School Admin, MTSS Leads, and classroom teachers can actively monitor how students are doing with their personalized instruction path as it relates to minutes per week and lesson pass rates.  Check it out on your iReady dashboard!  

If you need assistance with understanding personalized instruction within iReady you can search “personalized instruction” from iReady Central found in the Help tab.  If you would like to schedule training for your school, please reach out to our Curriculum Associates PD Team Elaine Price, eprice@cainc.com or Lorene Essex, lessex@cainc.com .  

Math Teachers,

Curriculum and Instruction Mathematics has developed sentence stems to support 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 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 deadline to complete 100% of TEM Announced Observation #1 is December 6th.  School Administrators (Principals, VP, and APs), Network Leaders, and Assistant Superintendents may access their school's data using the following link: 

• Evaluation KPI Dashboard SY2024-2025

Registration for SY24-25 NIE Evaluator Certification is still open. Please reference the PLZ course number below.

• Self-Paced (Canvas) – PLZ Course #36779

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

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:

K-8 MTSS Leads must register and attend one session in addition to their school-based learning and planning. 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!

This week, Q1 report card grades will be made available in Student Grades. See the user guides here.

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.

Coming Soon:
23-24 TCAP Data in Student Assessments
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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 (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.

Secondary Education Based Athletics plays a transformative role in student development, enhancing both academic and personal success. Involvement in sports has been shown to positively impact school attendance, ACT scores, and GPA, as students in athletics are often more engaged and motivated to achieve academic standards to maintain eligibility.

To fully understand and amplify these positive outcomes, it’s essential to track and review these academic metrics alongside athletic participation. Consistent data analysis allows schools to pinpoint areas for improvement, tailor support, and ultimately ensure that athletics continues to contribute meaningfully to each student’s growth.

PowerSchool for Academic Eligibility Tracking for all student-athletes in middle and high schools in Fall sports should have been completed on August 29th.  Once student-athletes are entered into Power School by sport, the School Athletic Director (and the MSCIAA) can view information for each athlete such as age, GPA, transfers, attendance etc…along with the ability to double-check TSSAA eligibility. This data empowers schools to adapt and improve programming, ensuring students benefit fully.

Additionally, secondary athletics serves as a cornerstone in student development, helping to build academic commitment, personal resilience, and a sense of belonging. Engaging in athletics motivates students to prioritize daily attendance, as consistent participation in both academics and sports is essential to their eligibility and performance. This daily presence in school not only strengthens learning habits but also fosters accountability, both critical for academic success. 

In short, secondary athletics is integral to a school’s mission, fostering not only academic achievements but also life skills like teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Athletics complements the educational journey, preparing students to be well-rounded individuals today and for life beyond the classroom.

Athletic Practice Within School Hours Require Board Approval

(SBE) 0520-01-02-.08 Interscholastic Athletics:

3) All athletic practice within the regular hours of any school day must be approved on an

annual basis by the local board of education; such action must be reflected in the minutes of the local board of education. All approved athletic practice during the regular hours of any school day shall conform to the same rules, regulations, and seasons as corresponding

athletic practice outside the school day.

(4) A local board of education shall not authorize high school credits in physical education for participation in interscholastic athletic practice during regular school hours.

Tennessee Law to Remove Barriers of Student-Athletes of Military Families 

TCA 49-12-301, Art. I (C):

The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by: C. (c) facilitating the qualification and eligibility for . . . participation in extracurricular, academic, athletic, and social activities.

Schools should notify the TSSAA of an enrolled student’s interest in participating in interscholastic athletics. Failure to do so may result in the student-athlete being ineligible.  

The TSSAA Portal is a primary point of interaction between member schools and the TSSAA state office.  Schools should submit all potential student-athletes via the portal for TSSAA/TMSAA sanctioned sports. Students of military families are submitted in the same fashion.  

For special hardship cases, TSSAA has the authority to set aside the effect of any eligibility rule upon student-athletes per specific circumstances outlined in the TSSAA Constitution and Bylaws. If you have any additional questions, please contact the TSSAA regarding submission procedures. 

Enrollment and Attendance Updates

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

• The C.O.M.E. to Win initiative reinforces the superintendent’s focus on regular student attendance.  As we approach November’s Attendance Theme: “Stay Connected, Keep Learning,” it is essential that each school actively engages and provides supports in the PowerApp platform to promote student success and ensure alignment with district goals. As a reminder, the third 20-day school attendance period ends on November 4th. 

Key Actions for Schools:

1. Update Attendance Supports Every 20 Days:

• Use the C.O.M.E. to Win feature in PowerApp to manage and track attendance supports for each 20-day attendance period.

• Ensure that supports for Champions, Winners, and Participants are entered consistently to monitor student progress and celebrate successes.

2. Provide Data to Track and Improve Progress:

• Enter the supports your school is offering to students in each attendance category, enabling district personnel to analyze trends, identify what is working, and offer feedback for improvement.

3. Communicate Monthly Attendance Themes:

• Reinforce the November Attendance Theme – “Stay Connected, Keep Learning” – through school-wide messaging, including announcements, newsletters, and classroom activities.

4. Celebrate Student Success and Provide Tailored Support:

• Champions: Recognize students with outstanding attendance through celebrations, announcements, and awards.

• Winners: Motivate these students to continue their positive attendance and encourage them to achieve Champion status.

• Participants: Provide focused interventions, including small group discussions and individual sessions, to address challenges and re-engage students in their learning journey.

5. Leverage Communication and Celebrations:

• Utilize announcements, newsletters, classroom activities, and school-wide celebrations to acknowledge attendance achievements and reinforce the importance of regular 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