Please see the 1/6/2025 MTSS Lead Weekly Updates.

The Office of Literacy is thrilled to announce that All Memphis will be offering professional learning sessions specifically designed for our SEAs! Over the months of January, February, and March, there will be a total of six engaging in-person sessions available to all SEAs. These sessions will significantly enhance the role of SEAs in K-2 classrooms by equipping them with essential skills necessary for effective student support. Attendance is required for all SEAs. 

For more information, please refer to the SEA Training Packet: https://bit.ly/3DMgQ22

Are you a teacher or know a teacher interested in revamping the way you approach reading? The Memphis Literacy Institute is offering limited full scholarships to K-5 ELA/ESL teachers! Please access the flyer below for more information.  The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025.

MSCS 2025 Reading Specialist Flyer.pdf

Audience: K-12 Science teachers

If you are a K-12 science teacher or a science administrator and would like your students to participate in the National competition Toshiba/ExploraVision deadline is fast approaching. It’s January 31, 2025. 

Everyone who enters has an opportunity to win: 

Students

• First Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $10,000* at maturity for each student
• Second Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $5,000* at maturity for each student
• National Finalists (8 teams): A trip to Washington, DC in June for ExploraVision Awards Week for each national winning student and one parent/legal guardian. Every winner receives a certificate.
• Regional Winners (24 teams): A Chromebook for each student and an awards ceremony for each regional winning team at its school where the team will receive a winner’s banner, certificate and other gifts
• Honorable Mention (~500 teams): A unique prize and certificate for each student
• All Participants: A certificate of participation and gift for every student whose team submits a complete project

*U.S. EE Savings Bonds issue price is half their face value. First- and second-place Canadian winners receive Canada Savings Bonds purchased for the equivalent issue price in Canadian dollars. Canada bonds face value may vary based on current exchange rate (for $5,000 U.S. and $2,500 U.S.) at time of purchase.

Coaches

• National Finalists: A trip to Washington, DC in June for ExploraVision Awards Week for the coach of each national winning team and a one-year NSTA membership to coaches of the national winning teams.
• Regional Winners: A Chromebook for the coach of each regional winning team.
• All Participants: A certificate of participation and a gift for each coach and mentor of every team that submits a complete project.

Schools

• Regional Winners: Schools receive a banner.
• National Winners: Schools receive a plaque.

Teachers

• As a special teacher prize, the top 32 teachers who submit over 32 eligible online entries will receive a technology/science-related gift.
• Any teacher who invites another K-12 educator to submit a project will receive a technology / science-related gift. (please visit the registration page for more information. Toshiba Exploravision Deadline.png)

Bring Free Girls Who Code Clubs to Your School or Organization!

Girls Who Code offers free Clubs for 3rd-12th graders, providing everything your staff needs to create and grow inclusive computer science learning spaces. When your team signs up to start a Club, they’ll receive comprehensive resources to help launch and lead the program successfully.

Clubs that enroll three or more members qualify for additional benefits, including access to a Clubs Fund of up to $300 for supplies and snacks via an Amazon Wish List.

Key Benefits of Girls Who Code Clubs:

Open to 3rd-12th graders (boys are welcome too!).
Safe, inclusive spaces that foster creativity and develop valuable coding skills.
There are no fees or hidden costs—just an opportunity to inspire the next generation of tech leaders.
Start a Club today and empower your learners to explore the exciting world of coding!

Apply Today!

See the Clubs Flyer for more information about our Clubs program for 3-12th graders. 
See the Summer Programs Flyer for more information about our summer program for 9-12th graders. Our Summer program application opened today. Any high school girl or nonbinary student can apply. If you have any students in our school district apply, they will get priority consideration since we will be partners.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Monica Smith at smithmc@scsk12.org

Application Link: https://clubs-hq.girlswhocode.com/login?showTab=signup&redirect=/gwc-club-application

Girls Who Code Flyer:

https://girlswhocode.com/assets/downloads/craft-prod/downloads/GWC-Clubs-Flyer.pdf

Summer Camp Flyer:

https://girlswhocode.com/assets/downloads/craft-prod/downloads/2025-SP_Flyer_vFinal-Domestic.pdf

Bring Free Girls Who Code Clubs to Your School or Organization!

Girls Who Code offers free Clubs for 3rd-12th graders, providing everything your staff needs to create and grow inclusive computer science learning spaces. When your team signs up to start a Club, they’ll receive comprehensive resources to help launch and lead the program successfully.

Clubs that enroll three or more members qualify for additional benefits, including access to a Clubs Fund of up to $300 for supplies and snacks via an Amazon Wish List.

Key Benefits of Girls Who Code Clubs:

Open to 3rd-12th graders (boys are welcome too!).
Safe, inclusive spaces that foster creativity and develop valuable coding skills.
There are no fees or hidden costs—just an opportunity to inspire the next generation of tech leaders.
Start a Club today and empower your learners to explore the exciting world of coding!

Apply Today!

See the Clubs Flyer for more information about our Clubs program for 3-12th graders. 
See the Summer Programs Flyer for more information about our summer program for 9-12th graders. Our Summer program application opened today. Any high school girl or nonbinary student can apply. If you have any students in our school district apply, they will get priority consideration since we will be partners.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Monica Smith at smithmc@scsk12.org

Application Link: https://clubs-hq.girlswhocode.com/login?showTab=signup&redirect=/gwc-club-application

Girls Who Code Flyer:

https://girlswhocode.com/assets/downloads/craft-prod/downloads/GWC-Clubs-Flyer.pdf

Summer Camp Flyer:

https://girlswhocode.com/assets/downloads/craft-prod/downloads/2025-SP_Flyer_vFinal-Domestic.pdf

The Secretary of State’s office is conducting their annual student Essay Contest! The goal is to encourage students in Kindergarten through 12th Grades to be actively engaged citizens by recognizing their important roles as citizens of the great state of Tennessee. The theme of this year’s essay contest is “Why Trusted Sources Matter.” Grade band winners (i.e., K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) will receive a TNStars 529 Program College Savings scholarship of $100, $250, or $500 in addition to a trip to the State Capitol. 

Note. Schools can choose up to two (2) essays from each grade band to submit for the contest. 

Essays must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

Visit the site linked below for more details.

https://sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest

The Secretary of State’s office is launching the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level and Silver Level awards for Tennessee high schools, which meet student voter registration thresholds.

Gold Level: 100% of eligible students, 18 and older by the next election, are registered to vote. The Secretary of State’s office will gift the school with a commemorative plaque and gift personalized certificates to Student Ambassadors.

Silver Level: 85% of eligible students, 18 and older by the next election, are registered to vote. The Secretary of State’s office will gift personalized certificates to the school and Student Ambassadors.

The award is named in honor of renowned Tennessee suffragist Anne Dallas Dudley. One of the central figures in the women’s suffrage movement, she worked tirelessly to secure the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Learn more about Anne Dallas Dudley and Women's Suffrage in Tennessee on the Tennessee Virtual Archive.

All Tennessee public and private schools as well as home school associations are encouraged to participate in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program.

Tennessee law allows students who are either 18 years of age, or 17 years of age and will be 18 by the date of the next election to register to vote.

Completed applications will be accepted until March 7, 2025.

Link to More Information: https://sos.tn.gov/anne-dallas-dudley-award

We are excited to participate in this year's Do the Write Thing (DtWT) writing program. DtWT is a writing competition where middle school students share how violence has impacted them and propose solutions. We are excited about this year's challenge and look forward to the submission of essays, poems, songs, plays and more! 

Our students will have the opportunity to submit to the local competition and the winning essay will advance to the and national competition in Washington, D.C. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students' talent and there is no cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation. 

Local Entry Deadline: Friday, February 28)

We will host an optional DtWT Virtual Workshop for teachers on Friday, January 31 from 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

PLZ Course #: 47575  Section #: 85968

Course Title: Do the Write Thing Virtual Workshop

Please see the email sent to middle school principals for more details. Please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster with questions.