Free Student Health Screenings

Free health screenings will be provided at the school for all students. The screenings will include:

· Height and Weight

· Vision

· Hearing

· Blood Pressure

· Scoliosis screening (for 6th-grade girls and 8th-grade boys only)

Parents who wish for their child to participate must scan the QR code on the flyer to complete the sign-up process. 

Health Screening Calendar: Semester 2 Principal Screening Schedule 25-26.xlsx

Health Screening Flyer: English&Spanish Consent Flyer.pdf

Immunizations

ShotRx is partnering with schools to provide required immunizations for students. Parents may register their child by scanning the QR code provided on the flyer. Upon completion of registration, ShotRx will coordinate with the school to schedule an on-site immunization date. 

ShotRX Flyer: ShotRx English and Spanish flyer.pdf

School-Based Health Clinics

MSCS provides access to two school-based health clinics available to all students. These clinics are located at East High School and Sheffield CTC and operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

School-Based Health Clinic Flyer: SBC English and Spanish Flyer with QR Code.pdf

The ELPA21 Summative testing window is approaching quickly!  All testing devices to be used for the administration of the ELPA21 Summative should have been updated to the latest version of the Secure Browser.    

Windows: Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Currently, Cambium's Secure Browser 18 will support all Windows 10 and 11 versions released after May 2025. Windows 10 devices will not be supported for testing in school year 2026-2027.

ChromeOS: Cambium has introduced a new Secure Browser (Progressive Web App) for ChromeOS for the 2025-26 school year. The current Kiosk app (8.0) for ChromeOS will remain valid during the 2025-26 school year, but only for ChromeOS version 138.  The new PWA will be required starting from version 139 and will continue to be supported on all future ChromeOS versions.

If an English Learner or Waived student received a failing grade for a 0.5 credit course in Semester 1, a Course Failure Review needs to be completed and submitted to the Office of Multilingual Learners by February 11.  

Click here to view the ​​Course Failure Review Roles and Responsibilities​​.  

Click here to view and download the ​​Course Failure Review Form​​.  

ML ASAP Resources can be found here: ​​Resources for Content Teachers - 9-12 ML Academic Success Assurance Protocol​​.  

If you have questions or need support, please contact your assigned ESL Instructional Advisor.  

Retention Prevention documentation for Multilingual Learners who have been assigned a failing grade was due in ELLevation on January 14. As a reminder, for Multilingual Learners to be successful, ESL teachers must regularly collaborate with their student's content and general education teachers to monitor their academic progress.  

Multilingual Family Nights are required to be held twice per year, preferably one per semester, and attendance must be recorded. PowerPoint presentations are available in multiple languages in the ESL Teacher SharePoint. For questions or additional support, please contact the Office of Multilingual Learners at 901-416-5411. 

We are pleased to inform you that the District is now using a new interpretation service for oral communication with families, RTT Mobile Interpretation. This service provides live interpretation support for phone calls and includes a dedicated hotline for Spanish as well as a separate hotline for all other languages. 

All staff will use the same 5-digit access code, 20050, when accessing this service. Instructions for utilizing RTT Mobile Interpretation are outlined below for your reference. 

Please follow the instructions to access an interpreter: 

DIAL: 

Spanish Hotline: 866-218-2224 

Multi-language Hotline: 888-218-3544 

PROVIDE: District ID 83893 followed by #  

PROVIDE: 5-digit access code assigned, 20050, and # 

January 21: Footsteps 2 Brillance PD, Virtual@ 4 - 5 p.m., (Grades K-4) 

January 23: ELPA21 Summative Assessment schedules due (submitted by BTCs) 

February 2: ELPA21 Summative Assessment window opens 

February 12: District Learning Day (ESL), Virtual, 8 – 11:30 a.m.

Curriculum and Instruction Mathematics has updated the identified standards for District CFA #3 within the Year-at-a-Glance of the Curriculum Map for all tested grade levels and high school courses. See the new changes ​here​ in 2025-26 Curriculum Tools.

Please find the MTSS Leads for the week of 1/12/26.

Please ensure that you record the attendance of parents/guardians at the parent-teacher conferences that will be held on January 22, 27, and 29. An ECollect form titled “Spring 25–26 Parent Conference Attendance Form” has been created in PowerSchool for entering this information. Step-by-step instructions for entering attendance can be found ​here​. Teachers will need to submit only the simple form for students who had a parent or guardian attend. Please enter the information by the end of the day, Friday, February 6.

Principals and Leadership Teams,

Welcome to the second half of the year! To kick things off with momentum, we are thrilled to invite your leadership teams to our January Leadership Labs.

We’ve designed these sessions to be high-leverage and actionable, ensuring your leaders have the tools they need to drive success on your campus.

Next Steps:

• Explore: View the lab details in the link below.
• Register: Secure spots in PLZ using the section codes provided.

Link: January Leadership Labs (Director Bates).docx

We can’t wait to see your teams there and witness the incredible work they’ll lead this semester!

Please ensure all portfolio educators log in to TeachAll  Friday, January 16. Educators must use their state single sign-on to log into the platform.  If educators are unsure of their State SSO they may reach out to: 

• District Portfolio Lead, Floresha Smith
• Subject/Grade Specific Content Advisors listed below:
• Physical Education-Jeremiah Bland or Jim Harbin
• Visual Arts and Theater-Jennifer Shiberou
• World Language-Patrick Fraser
• General Music-Bethany Mayahi
• Secondary Music and Dance-Dena Vaughan
• Pre-K-Christopher Spratlin

To view Portfolio Educators that have been rostered, please utilize the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  If you have questions about the educators listed or realize educators are missing, please reach out to the District Portfolio Lead Floresha Smith . 

The deadline to complete 60% of all TEM Observations is March 6. 

For questions or support with observations, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.

The TEM TEACHer Training Series is open for ALL teachers. This series supports educators with identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3-5 of the TEACH indicators. 

Register in PLZ, course #48814.

The NIE Mid-Year Conference container is open and accessible in PLZ.

The deadline to complete ALL NIE Mid-Year Conferences in PLZ is February 13, 2026.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• ALL required fields should be completed in its entirety before finalizing.
• The Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of an NIE employee’s hire/contract start date AND should be completed BEFORE completing the Mid-Year Conference in PLZ.
• The Mid-Year Conference is NOT required for NIE Partial plans and will not appear as a container to complete.

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

Training for the NIE Mid-Year Conference is available for signup in PLZ.

Register in PLZ, course #49781.

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

Dear Leaders,

District Learning Day (DLD) will take place on Friday, February 13, 2026, and will be led by Regional Superintendents. This day is designed to provide targeted, relevant professional learning aligned to instructional priorities and areas of growth.

Structure of the Day:

• Morning: Regional Superintendents will lead a half-day regional session.
• Afternoon: Principals will lead a school-based session with their teams.

School leaders are encouraged to leverage recent walkthrough data to identify and prioritize professional learning topics that align with your instructional goals. Engage your instructional leadership team to analyze trends and collaboratively determine focus areas for the school-based portion of the day.

Regional Superintendents will review and approve each school’s half-day PD plan to ensure alignment, quality, and clear outcomes.

Action Required:

• Submit your school’s half-day agenda, including professional learning activities for teachers, using the link provided below.
• February 2026 DLD School-Based Agenda Upload
• Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026.

Thank you for your leadership in making this day meaningful and impactful for your teams.

Please ensure TEAM Cycle 1 is completed in its entirety in PLZ.  EPS will conduct one additional upload to TN Compass on January 30, 2026.  

Remember:

• Administrators must select their evaluator in order to appear under the Evaluator's ‘Staff Evaluation’ tab in PLZ.
• Principals, Assistant Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans of Students are assigned to a TEAM Administrator evaluation plan.   

Questions concerning TEAM Cycle 1 should be directed to Ayodele Hall.

Dear Principals,

ILT Content Leads have been tasked with redelivering content from their January support session between January 20 and February 2, 2026. To ensure fidelity and consistency, each ILT Content Lead received a redelivery package that includes:

• A Microsoft Form (due Friday, January 16) to indicate the scheduled redelivery date.
• The presentation to be redelivered, and guidance for facilitation.
• A flyer for teachers to register in PLZ.
• Sign-in Link for the session.
• Survey link for participants to complete after the session.

Office hours were available for facilitation support, and leads could join at a time convenient to them. Additionally, ILT Content Leads were asked to collaborate with their Instructional Leadership Team regarding redelivery efforts to ensure alignment and effective implementation.

Staff Expectations:

• All required staff must register in PLZ using the flyer link.
• Staff must attend the redelivery session, complete the sign-in, and submit the survey for PLZ credit to appear on their transcript.

Action Items for Principals:

1. Share with ILT Content Leads the list of school staff members required to attend the session.
2. Reinforce staff expectations to attend and register in PLZ.
3. Remind all required staff that PLZ credit requires registration in PLZ, attendance, sign-in, and survey completion.

For additional information, please contact ILTstipends@scsk12.org.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring high-quality professional learning across our schools

Greetings! As we prepare for Leadership Development Week (LDW), we wanted to remind you of key dates and information. LDW is January 26-29, 2026, with the following groups attending on the dates below (agendas will be shared once they have been finalized).

· Monday, January 26, 2026 – PLC Coaches and Instructional Facilitators

· Tuesday,– January 27, 2026 Principals/Vice-Principals

· Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Assistant Principals and Deans of Students

· Thursday, January 29, 2026 – Professional School Counselors

January LDW Theme: Refinement Before Expansion

Focus Quote: "Before elevation comes refinement. The process of trimming, correcting, and realigning strengthens the foundation for long-term success."

Suggested Dress/Visual Cue: Winter Shades of blue, gray, charcoal, or silver.

Message: Creating the foundation for long-term success.

As always, remind your staff of their designated day to attend Leadership Development Week so that we can inform them of current best practices and pertinent information occurring throughout our District.

Report Updates:

• Projected Chronic Absenteeism rates are available in the MSCS Compass. You can find them in the Student Attendance Dashboard, District 360 (at the aggregated level), and in School Snapshot. A student is considered Projected Chronically Absent if they have an attendance rate of 90% or less, after being enrolled at least 50% of instructional days. This is a proxy for the official State Chronically Out of School rate. For more on the Student Attendance reports, click here. For District 360, click here. And for School Snapshot, click here.
   
• State Chronically Out of School rates for 2024-2025 school year and AMO targets are available. You will find them in the District 360 dashboard. See the user guide here.
   
• Quarter 2 Report Card grades are available in the Student Grades Dashboard this week. Grades data populates after Report Cards are distributed and grades are stored/finalized in PowerSchool. For more on the Student Grades reports, click here.
   
• Fall Panorama Student Perception Survey results are now available. You can find it in the Surveys Dashboard. For more on the Panorama reports, click here.
   
• i-Ready data is available during the Winter testing window (12/15 to 1/23). Data will populate the following day and can be found in the Student Assessment: i-Ready Report and in the RTI-A Universal Screener Reports. For more info on the Student Assessment report, click here.  For more on the RTI-A reports, click here.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

This week, for Virtual Office Hours, we’re reviewing the Student Grades dashboard in the MSCS Compass.

For more information on Virtual Office Hours, check out this flyer! Sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 PM on Microsoft Teams.

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Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

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Starting in February, we have two new dashboard specific trainings available. 

Each month, we will have a training session on the High School Progress Dashboard (Course Code 49628 in PLZ) and on the Student Discipline Dashboard (Course Code 49629 in PLZ). Sign up today!

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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.   

Greatness Grows Here

Office of Enrollment-Attendance-Truancy 

Enrollment & School Choice

Announcement: 2026-27 School Choice Transfers

• We are gearing up for the 2026-27 School Choice Transfer season! Please share the following details to ensure our families are well-informed and prepared.

Key Date & Time

• The application portal officially opens: Tuesday, January 27, at 10 a.m.

How to Apply

• Website: Visit www.scsk12.org to access the portal.
• The portal is mobile-friendly and can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer.

 Who Needs to Apply?

• New Applicants: Any student seeking a transfer for the first time.
• Transitioning Students: Students moving to a new school level (e.g., rising 6th graders moving to Middle School or rising 9th graders moving to High School).
• Current Students: General Choice students staying at their current school (and in good standing) are all set — no reapplication is necessary.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Mark Your Calendar: 2026-27 Registration Opens Soon! 

• Registration for the 2026-2027 school year opens in Spring 2026 for all new and returning students. Families can complete the process and update information via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

 Administrative Actions

• Visibility: Post registration hours and instructions in highly visible areas and at all school entrances.
• Support Events: Schedule Registration Night(s) to assist families. Coordinate with the Office of Enrollment and Attendance if you require additional support.
• All Registration Team members are required to complete refresher training via PLZ.

For questions or enrollment support, contact Stacey Davis at daviss2@scsk12.org.

Attendance Monitoring

Correctly Entering OSS Attendance in PowerSchool

• To ensure accuracy and compliance in student records, please adhere to the following guidelines when recording Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) attendance in PowerSchool:
  • Manual Coding Requirement: Only the first 1 to 10 days of an Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) should be manually coded in PowerSchool.
  • Mass Assignment Restriction: Schools must refrain from mass assigning future OSS attendance beyond the 10th day.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition 

• Please note that our fifth 20-day school attendance period ends on January 23, 2026. It is a mandatory requirement that all necessary student supports be fully documented within the Show Up for Greatness Application. Please ensure this is completed by the deadline.
• For any questions, please email us at studentservices@scsk12.org 
• By consistently entering attendance data for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers every 20 days, we can proactively monitor attendance trends and identify where additional support may be needed.
• Gold : 96% or higher
• Silver : 91% to 95%
• Bronze : 90% or less
• Attendance progress will also be reflected in student reports and report cards, ensuring transparent communication with parents and guardians.

Student Absence Form Available via PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Please be advised that the Student Absence Form is available for all parents through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This online form allows parents to easily notify the school of their child’s absence directly from their mobile devices or computers. Parents can also track the status of their absence submission by returning to the portal.

Truancy

Truancy Outreach: Parent Student Support Plan

• As we intensify our focus on reducing truancy, schools must prioritize identifying students who are chronically absent, defined as five or more unexcused absences.  Early outreach and intervention are essential to re-engage students before absenteeism escalates.  A Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP) is required for every student who accumulates five absences whether excused or unexcused.  The PSSP serves as a proactive tool to address barriers, strengthen family engagement, and support consistent attendance. 

• As we address truancy, our primary attention should be on students who have been withdrawn due to ten consecutive unexcused absences.
• Regularly monitor your withdrawal list in PowerSchool and contact your assigned Truancy Liaison for guidance and support.
• Ensure all withdrawal documentation is complete and accurate, including evidence of outreach efforts and parent contact attempts, before finalizing the student’s withdrawal.
• Each School is required to designate individuals to conduct SART Meetings and those meetings must be logged in PowerSchool. This is imperative as we continue to identify students who are habitually absent/truant in school.

Upcoming Dates and Meetings

High School Principals: Advanced Placement; BlueBook Testing Update:

A critical Bluebook™ update was released on January 6, 2026. Unless blocked, Bluebook will auto-update the next time it’s opened. Students use Bluebook to take PSAT-related assessments, the SAT®, and digital AP® Exams.

To avoid overwhelming your network and causing delays, ask students to open Bluebook themselves before test day or group readiness sessions (they don’t need to sign in). Another way to prevent delays is to ask some students to open Bluebook before others.

If your managed devices don’t allow Bluebook auto-updates, perform manual updates to make sure testing devices are running the latest version of Bluebook, and remember to check Bluebook Releases. Students must always use the latest version of Bluebook.

Principals,

We are preparing for our annual Summer Learning Academy (SLA) and Promotional Summer School programs. These programs will offer promotion and enrichment opportunities for 10,000+ students in grades PreK-12.

If you are interested in your school serving as a site for the Summer Learning Academy or Summer School, complete the survey below by Monday, January 26, 2026. To ensure that all students have access to the programs, please note that final sites will be selected based on geographic location and building availability according to the summer maintenance schedule.

Survey: Summer Learning Academy and Summer School 2026 – Fill out form

If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie McClain (mcclainsl@scsk12.org) or Denise Swan (swand@scsk12.org).

An Immersive Federal Court Program for Memphis Area High School Students

Program Outline

Investigate the Supreme Court case Watson v. City of Memphis (1963).

• Week-long program at the United States District Courthouse for the Western District of Tennessee, includes local field trips.
• Learn from State and Federal Judges & Local Attorneys, Professors, and Historians.
• Create a collaborative capstone project to educate your community on the impact of the case.
• Participants will gain valuable experience and Supreme Court gift bags.

For more information: https://supremecourthistory.org/hometown-program-memphis-tn/

If you have any questions, please email jhigginsshaull@supremecourthistory.org.

Program Session Dates: Monday, March 16 – Friday, March 20, 2026

Please submit your academic reference via the online submission form at the bottom of this page by the application deadline: January 30, 2026 @ 4 PM CST.

Nominations are now open for the Memphis Business Journal’s Next Gen program, and we don’t want your students to miss out on this incredible opportunity. Next Gen connects emerging young leaders (ideally juniors) with influential business professionals and top decision makers across Memphis, opening doors to meaningful mentorship, valuable exposure, and even potential summer internships that can shape future careers.

Each high school team is asked nominate up to two well-rounded students who demonstrate promise, curiosity, and a commitment to making a difference in their school and community. These aren’t necessarily the most visible students or those with highest GPA, but those who show early leadership, engagement, and a genuine interest in exploring the world of business.

Selected students will be paired with mentors and welcomed into signature MBJ events, gaining experiences that can truly set them apart. To support your nominees, we ask for a brief testimonial from a school representative and guidance for students throughout the process.

Your participation makes all the difference and we hope to see even stronger engagement this year as we work together to elevate our next generation of Memphis leaders.

Nominations are due Saturday, January 31, 2026. For more information, visit: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/nomination/89185/2026/2026-next-gen#/

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker <walkerbj@scsk12.org>.

We’re excited to share an opportunity for your students to showcase their knowledge and creativity! In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Tennessee Secretary of State has announced the 2026 Civics Essay Contest with the theme: “Tennessee, America at Its Best.”

Students in grades K–12 are encouraged to participate for a chance to win scholarships and an unforgettable trip to the State Capitol, including an award luncheon, serving as a legislative page, and a behind-the-scenes tour.

Submission deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026
Learn more and access contest rules at: sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest

Let’s inspire the next generation of engaged citizens!

On behalf of Dr. Balaji Krishnaiah, Vice Chair of Education, Stroke Division Chief, and Neurology Residency Program Director at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Department of Neurology, I am thrilled to share an incredible opportunity for your students: Brain Bee!

Brain Bee is part of an international movement founded in 1998 to inspire high school students to learn about the brain and consider careers in neuroscience – fields that are vital to treating and curing brain disorders. This year, we are proud to bring this exciting Neuroscience Competition for Teens to Shelby County for the first time!

More details are included in the flyer linked here. This is a unique chance for students to challenge themselves, explore cutting-edge science, and connect with a community passionate about brain health. To be considered for participation in the Memphis Brain Bee, please submit this application by Friday, January 30.

If you have any questions, please reach out to brainbee@uthsc.edu. We would love for your school and students to be part of this amazing event!

This form is required for all schools. Please list into PowerSchool the person responsible for entering clubs and afterschool activities. The deadline is Thursday, February 5.  Afterschool Activities & Clubs PowerSchool Entry Form