Principals, please ensure all portfolio educators log in to their TeachAll Account.  The deadline for Portfolio submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, May 8.   

 Educators must use their state single sign-on to log in to the platform.  If educators are unsure of their State SSO ending in @tneducation.net 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 updated deadline to complete 60% of all TEM Observations is Friday, March 27. School Administrators (Principals, VP, and APs) and District Leaders may access their school's data using the following link:  

Evaluation KPI Dashboard SY2025-2026  

Questions? Contact EPS by phone,  901.416.2475 or via email  eps@scsk12.org.  

The deadline to complete TEM New Observer Certification is Tuesday, March 31.  New Observers can complete certification through the Canvas Self-Paced course. Course numbers and date information can be found ​​​​​​​HERE​​​​​​​.    

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

The Spring Student Perception Survey window has officially closed. Building Administrators will have access to survey results beginning April 27, 2026. To view results, Administrators should use their District single sign-on to log in to Panorama. 

All questions about the Student Perception Survey should be directed to Chiquita Allen-Bradley.

The Professionalism component of the TEM framework accounts for 5% of educators' Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) score and must be completed by both the educator and administrator.

The initial step of the process should be completed by educators on or before April 24, 2026, and requires the educator to:

1. Upload 3-5 artifacts in the Self-Score activity in PLZ to support each indicator.
2. Create evidence statements that explain how the uploaded artifacts support the indicator.
3. Assign a rating to each indicator.

Administrators should complete Professionalism conferences by May 13, 2026.

All questions about Professionalism should be directed to Chiquita Allen-Bradley.

The deadline to certify as an NIE Evaluator for the 2025-2026 school year is April 10! New NIE Evaluators can request access to the Self-Paced Canvas course by registering in PLZ for course #48336. 

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

According to state board rule 0520-02-01 and state board policy 5.201, all educators must be evaluated annually by a certified evaluator.

All evaluator certification training for 2025-26 is virtual.

• The window for Initial certification is from June 2, 2025 to March 31, 2026, 5 p.m. CT.

All certification courses will be accessed in the TeachALL platform.

​Registration is not required. Invitations to access the learning module and to take the recertification test were emailed directly to currently certified evaluators.

If you were a certified TEAM evaluator in 2024-25 and did not receive an invitation and process details, please be sure to check spam/junk folders. As invitations were sent in bulk, a firewall may have blocked receipt.

​**All TEAM Evaluator completion certificates should be forwarded to Employee Performance & Support via email: EPS@scsk12.org.

For more information about TEAM training and certification, please visit the TEAM website.

* Contact TEAM.Questions@tn.gov if you are unable to find your recertification invitation.

* Contact the State at team.questions@tn.gov should you have any questions or concerns regarding TEAM certification for 2025-2026.

Attention Leaders,

Due to the instructional blackout period, the March Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) will not be held. Additional updates and end-of-semester information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued leadership and support.

As part of the monthly newsletter, the DAIM team has started publishing the Empowering Your Data Story report to promote Power BI usage. This report highlights schools that go above and beyond in their use of Power BI and the MSCS Compass. You can find more information about this campaign here.

Empowering Your Data Story: February Winners

• Top School Overall: Lucy Elementary
• Top K8/Middle School: Cummings School
• Top High School: Melrose High

You can also see pictures of recipients, with their awards, on our Hall of Fame page.

Featured:

• The RTI Universal Screener Spring Window for grades 9-12 opens this week. You can use the EWS and Screener reports to track completion. Click here for the user guides. 
   
• You can use the reports in the MSCS Compass to easily pull a list of Overage for Grade students. Check out this user guide for more details.

Report Updates:

• Digital Citizenship has been updated so that Alternative Schools can now track completion for remanded students. Click here for the user guide. 
   
• The Third Grade Exemption Report has a new visual to support tracking for the exemption request process. Click here for the user guide. 
   
• Data for the 6th 20-Day Period is available in the Show Up for Greatness report. The 6th 20-Day period ended March 10, with data available on March 11. This was due to schools being out two weeks due to inclement weather. Click here to see the user guide for this report. 
   
• Student Enrollment has been updated to include Date of Birth and Age columns in the Overview, Raw Data, and Enrollment Details reports. Click here to see the Enrollment user guides. 
   
• Advanced Course Scheduling has been updated to include student subgroup filtering in all reports and some reports have been modified to consolidate data tables. The All Data page has been renamed Raw Data, to keep consistent with other dashboards. A District Quick Report for aggregated metrics has been added. And Pre-ACT and Spring TVAAS results for AP and ACT Probability of Success data have been added. Additionally, Charter schools now have access to this dashboard and can see data for their students. Central Office staff can filter between District Managed and Charter students by using the Filter Pane.  Click here to see the Advanced Course Scheduling user guides.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

Virtual Office Hours this week (3/31 and 4/2) will be a review of the RTI2-A EWS and Universal Screener Reports.

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

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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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Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

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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.   

Enrollment & School Choice

2026-2027 School Choice Portal is NOW OPEN!

The 2026-2027 School Choice Transfer season is officially here, and the application portal is live! Please share the following details with families to ensure they are prepared.

Key Information

• Status: The application portal is NOW OPEN.
• How to Apply: Visit www.scsk12.org from any computer, tablet, or smartphone to submit an application.

Who Needs to Apply?

• New Applicants: Students seeking a transfer for the first time.
• Transitioning Students: Students moving up a school level (e.g., rising 6th or 9th graders).
• Note: Current General Choice students staying at their school in good standing do not need to reapply.

School Responsibilities

To support our goals of recruiting, retaining, and reclaiming students, schools are encouraged to host open houses and showcase their programs to families.

2026-2027 Registration is Now Open!

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is currently open for all new and returning students. Families can complete the process and update their information at any time 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.

Student Health & Eligibility: Immunizations and Physicals

• To ensure students are cleared and ready for the 2026-2027 school year, families needing updated immunizations or physicals can submit required documentation to ShotRX Health and Wellness Solutions.
• Please share the link below with your school community:

 Submit Health Forms & Physicals Here

The Madness Has Arrived: Registration Update!

The whistle has blown, the brackets are set, and the energy across the district is electric! We are officially in the thick of the MSCS Registration March Madness Tournament, and the opening stats are nothing short of legendary.

While the rest of the country is focused on the basketball court, here at MSCS, it’s all about our students and ensuring their Greatness Grows Here. We must keep the full-court press on to ensure every family knows that our schools are the top-tier choice for their child’s future.

Opening Day Registration Standings!

Who’s taking the early lead? Who will be this year’s "Cinderella" school rising through the ranks? Here is how the divisions are shaking out after the first day of play:

Elementary School Division

• Richland Elementary is taking the lead, having registered 31% of their projected students!
• White Station Elementary is hot on their heels at 28%.
• Idlewild Elementary rounds out the top three with a solid 23%.

Middle School/K-8 Division

• Maxine Smith STEAM Academy takes the top seed today at 21%.
• White Station Middle is in the paint with 16%.
• J.P. Freeman School is right there in the mix at 15%.

High School Division

• East High leads the pack with 16%.
• Middle College High is holding strong at 12%.
• White Station High is showing heart at 11%.

All-Star Shoutout: Kudos to the entire White Station community! Your schools have managed to sweep the Top 3 across all grade bands on Day 1. That is true team chemistry!

Keep the Momentum Going!

The championship title – and the Grand Prize (a winning trophy and a catered lunch for your entire staff) – is still anyone's game! Keep the energy high and the recruitment active by using these winning plays:

• Classroom Parties for high-performing classes.
• School Swag for the first 50 families to complete registration.
• Jersey Days or Pajama Days to keep the school spirit high and celebrate registration milestones.

Let’s keep those numbers climbing as we strive to Recruit, Retain, and Regain every student for the 2026-2027 year. Let the Madness continue!

Supporting Our Families: 2026–2027 District Registration Nights

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we are asking all school leaders to help us share a critical message: annual student registration is required for every student. To support our families in this process, schools will host on-site District Registration Nights. These sessions are designed to provide hands-on assistance, offer guidance on school choice, and answer any questions our community may have.

District Registration Night Schedule

Please ensure your building is prepared to host families on your designated night:

• Elementary Schools: TBD
• Middle & K-8 Schools: TBD
• High Schools: TBD

We appreciate your leadership in hosting these sessions to ensure every student is registered. Final dates and logistics will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.

Staff & Family Support Resources

For technical questions or portal assistance, please utilize the following district resources:

• Email: studentservices@scsk12.org
• Phone: Office of Enrollment and Attendance | 901-416-2989

Coming Soon: Regional Support Hubs – "Pop Out & Register"

The District is bringing registration assistance directly into the community! Our Regional Support Hubs will provide in-person assistance to ensure every family is prepared for the 2026-2027 school year.

What to Expect:

• Families can visit these regional stations to receive hands-on help with the mandatory registration process, school choice guidance, and answer questions.
• Hubs will be strategically located in areas with lower registration volumes to ensure no family is left behind.

Stay Tuned: Locations, dates, and times are being finalized and will be shared soon.

March Madness Registration Season Schedule

• March 24: 2026–27 Registration Opens
  • Location: PowerSchool Parent Portal
  • Note: Selection Sunday Kickoff!
• March 28: MSCS Registration Event
  • Location: TLA
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• April 2: Attendance Liaison Meeting
  • Location: TBD
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• April 7: Enrolling & Registering a Student
  • Location: TTC – Lauderdale Lab
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• April 9: Attendance Practices and Processes
  • Location: TTC – Lauderdale Lab
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The ELP21 Testing window closed on Wednesday, March 25. Please make sure your BTC has gone into TIDE and checked completion rates to make sure all students have completed their assigned tests. In addition, BTCS should assign non-participation codes for any student who didn't take the assessment by April 1. See BTC Updates email for instructions.

All Multilingual Learners assigned a failing grade in Q3 are required to have documentation of instructionally embedded scaffolds and accommodations per their ILP uploaded to ELLevation by April 1, 2026. The teacher who assigned the failing grade should provide this documentation to the ESL Teacher to be uploaded. 

Multilingual Family Nights are required to be held twice per year, preferably one per semester, and attendance must be sent to Dr. Abasi McKinzie, mckinzieah@scsk12.org. PowerPoint presentations for Multilingual Family Nights 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. For rare languages, book an appointment by emailing: jgrove@rttmobile.com or jay@rttmobile.com.

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: 

1. DIAL:
   • Spanish Hotline: 866-218-2224
   • Multi-language Hotline: 888-218-3544

If your language is not listed in the prompts, ask for an operator.

PROVIDE: District ID 83893 followed by #  

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

Seats are now available for upcoming ELPA21 workshops focused on formative assessment and differentiating instruction for English learners (ELs) in Tier I content. These sessions will equip general education teachers and ESL teachers with evidence-based strategies to enhance both language and content instruction. 

Workshop Dates: 

Formative Assessment for ELs (Level 1): April 15 & April 21 

Differentiating Instruction for ELs: April 23 

Time: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST 

👉 Register Today (click below): 

04/15/2026-Tennessee-Formative Assessment for ELs (Level 1) Tickets, Wednesday, Apr 15 from 10 am to 5:30 pm CDT | Eventbrite 

04/21/2026-Tennessee-Formative Assessment for ELs (Level 1) Tickets, Tuesday, Apr 21 from 10 am to 5:30 pm CDT | Eventbrite 

4/23/2026-Tennessee-ELPA21 Differentiating Instruction for ELs (Level 2) Tickets, Thursday, Apr 23 from 10 am to 5:30 pm CDT | Eventbrite 

• March 25: ELPA21 Summative Assessment Window Closes
• April 2: K-5 Semester Meeting
• April 8: April Monthly Meeting
• April 22: ESL Middle School Scheduling Meeting
• May 25: ELPA21 Summative & ALT ELPA Assessment Scores Released

As we approach the spring assessment window, please ensure that all Grade 3 students who are not participating in the ALT Assessment complete the Pearson aimswebPlus Spring Benchmark Assessment between March 30 and April 10, 2026. This assessment aligns with the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act, which provides students with an additional promotion pathway based on aimswebPlus results.

Required aimswebPlus Assessments:

• ORF (Oral Reading Fluency): Administered as a digital record (approximately 2 minutes). Students read from a paper copy while the teacher records responses in the system.
• VOC (Vocabulary): Administered via TestNav (approximately 4-7 minutes). Students complete this assessment on a computer.
• RC (Reading Comprehension): Administered via TestNav (approximately 15-25 minutes). Students complete this assessment on a computer.

Please review the provided materials (​​Grade 3 Pearson aimswebPlus Spring Benchmark FAQs) prior to testing. School-based MTSS Leads have received guidance and support to facilitate administration during the state-designated assessment window. (March 30 and April 10, 2026)

If you have any questions, please contact the Curriculum & Instruction Department.

Here are the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for the week of March 23.

Students flagged at risk in the PowerBi High School Early Warning System should complete the following spring screening(s) based on their identified area(s) of risk March 30-April 10.  Questions can be emailed to RTI2@scsk12.org.

ELA (iReady Reading Diagnostic and Written Expression)

Math (iReady Math Diagnostic)

ELA and Math (iReady Reading Diagnostic and Written Expression and iReady Math Diagnostic)

Additional Screening for Characteristics of Dyslexia as needed or requested by parents or teachers.

Free Student Health Screenings

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

• Height and Weight
• Vision
• Hearing
• Blood Pressure
• Scoliosis

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

Health Screening Flyer: English&Spanish Consent Flyer.pdf

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

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 onsite 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-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

School- Based Health Clinic Sports Physical Flyer: SBC Sports Physical Flyer.pdf

School-Based Health Clinic Flu Shot Flyer: SBC Flu Shot Flyer 25-26.pdf

Promoting free health screenings to students is essential to supporting student success and family well-being.

Decline in School Health Screening: Health Screening 3.21.26.pdf

Please view Immunization Plan with updated data as of February 20, 2026.

Immunization Plan 2025-2026: Immunizations Report 3.21.26.pdf

Incoming 7th Graders Immunization Plan: Incoming 7th Graders Tdap.pdf

Medication Training Information: Medication Training 3.21.pdf

Physical Activity Compliance:

As communicated through the CUFD, the Physical Activity Compliance Report from the Department of Education will be open in ePlan from January 26 through March 13. Building principals are responsible for submitting data for their school related to the integration of K-12 physical activity integration into the academic school day as well as physical education requirements for elementary students.

Guidance for completing this brief report is available on the ePlan homepage, as well as user access forms should you not have access to our district, and a link to office hours every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. CST, 10:30-11:30 a.m. EST.

Physical Activity Compliance Report: PA Compliance Report 2.27.pdf

Physical Activity Compliance Guidance: FY26 PA Compliance Guidance Principals.pdf

Physical Activity ePlan User Access: ePlan User Access_PAComp_2026_Principals.pdf

CDC School Health Profiles questionnaires:

The CDC School Health Profiles questionnaires will arrive via inter-office mail in the first week of March. These surveys monitor school health policies and practices and are conducted every two years by the CDC. You will receive: 1 Principal Questionnaire and 1 Lead Health Education Teacher Questionnaire. Profiles collect information on health education, PE, nutrition policies, safety, and student wellness. Important: Return all completed forms to Denise Garrison by April 15, 2026.

The District’s Multilingual Team in the Department of Communications has begun publishing the most frequently visited websites in Spanish.

This month, we launched the Parent Welcome Center webpage. Visit https://www.scsk12.org/welcome/, and click on the red ESPAÑOL button on the banner. There you’ll find all the information in Spanish. More MSCS webpages in Spanish are coming soon!

Greetings Principals,

We are excited to launch our annual Summer Learning Academy, which will provide engaging enrichment opportunities for 9,000 students in grades K-8. Through this program, elementary and middle school students will strengthen their skills and explore new interests with enriching instruction in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Art, Physical Education, and STEM.

To support accurate enrollment and appropriate staffing, parents should complete the enrollment process for their students whenever possible. In situations where a school needs to assist with enrollment, staff must first confirm that the parent has agreed to the student’s participation in the academy.

Please help share this valuable learning opportunity with your families using your school’s communication platforms. Our goal is to fill all 9,000 seats and ensure students can benefit from this exceptional educational experience. A flyer is included below and may be distributed through all parent communication channels.

Summer Learning Academy Elementary & Middle:

• Academy Dates: June 1, 2026 - June 29, 2026
• Third-Grade Make-Up Dates: June 30, 2026 – July 1, 2026
• Academic Day: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. or 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• General Registration Dates: March 30, 2026-April 24, 2026
• Student Registration Link: https://scsssla.org/summerlearningacademy
• Locations: SLA 2026 Sites with Feeder Schools.xlsx
• Flyers: English Registration Flyer 2026.png SPA SLA Registration Flyer 2026.png
• Transportation will be offered to qualified students.
• Before & After care will be available through the YMCA of Memphis.

**NEW** Rising 6th-grade students will now attend a middle school SLA program, providing a valuable opportunity to build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and prepare for a successful transition to middle school.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie McClain at mcclainsl@scsk12.org.

Greetings Elementary and K-8 Principals,

Current third-grade students identified as at-risk for retention based on the i-Ready Winter Diagnostic will be automatically enrolled in Summer Learning Academy. Per state law, students who are required to attend SLA must maintain a minimum attendance rate of 90 percent. This requirement is expected to impact approximately 3,000 students, although the final number may vary based on exemptions and other determining factors.

Parents and guardians will be notified of their child’s automatic enrollment through multiple communication methods, including letters, email, phone, and text messages, prior to auto-enrollment. Families with questions are encouraged to contact their child’s school or the Office of Extended Learning for additional information.

Please see the Summer Learning Academy key dates and information below.

Summer Learning Academy

• Third-Grade Auto Enrollment: March 27, 2026
• General Registration: March 30, 2026-April 24, 2026
• June 1, 2026-June 29, 2026 (Holiday: June 19, 2026)
• 44 Locations across Memphis & Shelby County
• SLA 2026 Sites with Feeder Schools.xlsx
• Times: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. or 9 a.m.-4 p.m., depending on location

If you have any questions, feel free to email Stephanie McClain at mcclainsl@scsk12.org or Gabrielle M. Santa Cruze at larkingm@scsk12.org.

To ensure senior fees for homeless students are paid in a timely manner, please submit a letter on your school's letterhead to Dr. Karen Ball-Johnson ASAP, including the following information:

*Name

*Student ID number

*Itemized school fees (cap/gown, diploma cover, transportation)

*Graduation Date

*Signature of Requestor 

*Date of Request

*FAFSA Date 

You will find a sample letter attached to this email that should include the information outlined above. The letter should be written on your school's letterhead and sent as an attachment to an email addressed to Dr. Karen Ball-Johnson at ballkf@scsk12.org. Please include "Senior Fees" in the subject line of the email.

If you have any additional follow-up questions, reach out to Dr. Ball-Johnson at ballkf@scsk12.org or 901-416-7393. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Greetings, Elementary and Middle School Leaders.

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and we want to be sure to align our planning efforts to promote a positive experience for our students and all who are celebrating grade-level promotions alongside them. While promotional programs are not required, we understand that many schools have a tradition of celebrating students by recognizing their accomplishments in Kindergarten, 5th grade, and 8th grade.

Planning Notes:

1. Coordinate with nearby feeder schools to avoid overlapping event dates.

2. Ensure that there is adequate parking space for all guests, especially if the event is held at an external venue, and that sufficient staff are available to direct traffic if needed.

3. Plan for comfortable seating that accommodates the anticipated number of guests, including any necessary seating for students, staff, and families. Ensure there are enough seats for elderly guests and people with mobility challenges.

4. If planning an outdoor event, have a backup plan for inclement weather (such as renting a tent or moving the event indoors).

5. Choose a venue that is neutral and inclusive for all students, regardless of their religious, cultural, or socioeconomic backgrounds.

6. Provide translation or interpretation services for families who may not speak the primary language of the school, ensuring all families can engage and participate fully.

7. Involve students in the planning process where possible (e.g., allowing them to help choose the theme, décor, or music).

8. Think about creating a welcoming and festive environment through visuals (e.g., banners, posters, and flowers). Ensure that decorations represent all cultures and identities within the school.

9. Ensure that the program is designed to be engaging and meaningful for all students. Programs should include accommodation students with special needs and those with limited English proficiency.

10. Be sure to celebrate the success of the event with your team, thank volunteers, and acknowledge any special contributions from the community or other stakeholders.

Please use the link below to share information about any planned celebrations by Wednesday, April 30, 2026. Promotional Programs- ES & MS (2026) – Fill out form

We currently have openings for Summer School Curriculum. If your school has a certified teacher who is interested in writing Summer School Curriculum, please have them complete the following link.  The deadline is Tuesday, April 7.

Link: 2026 Summer School Curriculum Writers – Fill out form

If you have questions, please email the Summer School Office scssummerschool@scsk12.org