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 4.17.26.pdf

Please view Immunization Plan with updated data as of April 17, 2026.

Immunization Plan 2025-2026: Immunizations Report 4.17.26.pdf

Incoming 7th Graders Immunization Plan: Incoming 7th Graders Tdap (2).pdf

Pacer: PACER.pdf

In accordance with state and federal policies (Section I, Part G, Guidelines to Satisfy Legal Requirements of Lau v. Nichols), English Learners cannot be retained solely due to English language proficiency.  

Please review the guidelines for retention prevention with your content and ESL teacher(s). Any EL who is at risk of retention or course failure must have a documented meeting held with guardians, school administration, at least one content teacher, and an ESL Teacher/Specialist. Meeting documentation is required for all ELs being considered for retention, regardless of interventions such as tutoring, summer school, etc.  

In addition to meeting documentation, teachers who assigned failing grades were to provide 3 pieces of documentation to demonstrate evidence of linguistic scaffolds and accommodations per the student’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP). 

Retention meeting documentation is due to the Office of Multilingual Learners by May 22, 2026. Meeting documents are available in the ESL Teacher SharePoint. 

The district has transitioned to LanguageLine Solutions for on-demand interpretation and translation services. LanguageLine Solutions interpreters are available in more than 240 languages and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to communicate with our multilingual families. Please follow these instructions to access LanguageLine:  

• To access a phone interpreter, please follow these steps:
  1. Dial: 1-866-874-3972
  2. Provide: New Client ID 666137 
  3. Indicate: Language (Spanish, Arabic, etc.)
  4. Provide: 4-Digit Access Code (School Location Code) 

As you begin scheduling for the upcoming school year, please ensure ESL teachers are included in conversations with administrators and counselors to support appropriate placement and services for multilingual learners. Their input, along with ESL course codes and placement guidance, is essential to ensuring students are positioned for academic and linguistic success. If you have questions or would like to schedule additional training, please contact your Advisor.  

The window to complete monitoring forms for Q4 is April 22 and closes on May 6.  All content teachers who teach students who are classified as English Learners are required to complete monitoring forms in ELLevation.   

www.ellevationeducation.com 

April 22 - ESL Middle School Scheduling Meeting for Master Schedulers 

May 13 - May Monthly Meeting

May 25 - ELPA21 Scores Returned 

The Kindergarten Handbook has been updated on pages 4 and 5 to reflect the correct total number of math skills assessed per quarter. This update ensures that the number of standards aligned skills listed for each topic assessment aligns with the total number of standards aligned skills during each quarter.

Please review the 4/13/26 MTSS Lead Weekly Updates.

The Elementary (K-5) and Middle (6-8) Spring Universal Screening Window will be open from April 28-May 13.  Questions can be emailed to RTI2@scsk12.org.

Students should complete the following:

• iReady Reading Diagnostic​
• iReady Math Diagnostic​
• Grade appropriate Fall Literacy Tasks (refer to Minimum Matrix iReady Suite (K-3 or 4-8)​
• Spring Written Expression
• Screening for characteristics of dyslexia as outlined (Decision Making Crosswalk)

The office of Curriculum and Instruction Science Department is offering teachers an opportunity to be member of NSTA for an entire year plus have access to

all self-paced NSTA Interactive E-books, Professional development, NSTA Lesson Plans, blogs journals, articles and all recorded webinars for 1-year. All webinars are included once scheduled, with the exception of web seminar series. Finally, all cohort members receive 1-year NSTA paid membership.

ONLY 17; K-12 STIPEND FREE teacher spots available! 1st come - 1st serve

2026-2027 Science PD Cohort.png

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: MAY 1, 2026

Contact: 

Terilyn McChriston, Ed.S 

Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Science Manager

mcchristontj@scsk12.org

Principals, please ensure all portfolio educators log into 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 into 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 deadline to complete 100% of all TEM Observations is Friday, May 8. 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 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 Ayodele Hall, hallam@scsk12.org.

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 Ayodele Hall, hallam@scsk12.org.

The DEADLINE to complete ALL NIE End-Of-Year Conferences are as follows:

• School-Based – May 17
• Central Office – June 16 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:   

• The Goal Setting Conference AND Mid-Year Conference should be completed in its entirety BEFORE completing the End-of-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.

The ILT May Celebration has been rescheduled to May 8, 2026. Please see the flyer for grade-band times.
ILT EOY May Celebration.pdf

Attention Principals and Aspiring Leaders!

Are you ready to sharpen your edge and prepare for high-impact leadership? The most critical investment you can make is in you. Join us at the Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA) for our April Leadership Labs—uniquely facilitated by seasoned practitioners who are experts in our district’s most vital work.

📍 April Session Calendar

Why These Labs are a Game-Changer:

• Refine Your Lens: Master real-time instructional shifts to close achievement gaps.
• Fortify Your Culture: Build robust frameworks that support the "whole child" and your staff.
• Expert Mentorship: Learn directly from proven leaders successfully navigating today’s challenges.

Action Item: Space is limited! Secure your spot and register your leadership team via PLZ today.

Let’s continue building capacity and rewriting the story of success for every student we serve. 

We’ll see you at the TLA in W115/116!

Greetings, MSCS Principals,

To ensure accurate management of professional development courses on Professional Learning Zone (PLZ) at your school, we are updating user access permissions.

Principals will retain access by default and do not need to be included on the submission list. Each school should identify the following individuals:
• Professional Learning Coach (required), and
• One additional designated representative who will assist with managing professional development courses.

Please complete the PLZ Professional Development Course Requestor.pdf identifying these individuals for your school no later than Thursday, April 30, by the close of business.
This information will be used to:
• Confirm current users who should retain access, and
• Remove previous users who no longer require access.

Timely submission is essential to ensure uninterrupted access and accurate system records. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the form, please do not hesitate to reach out to John T. Colenberg at colenbergj@scsk12.org or 901 416-9282.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request and for your continued support of professional learning.

The Q4 Progress Report period ends Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Q4 Progress Reports should be printed and handed to students to take home on Wednesday, April 22. Progress Reports are no longer required to be mailed. Parents will continue to be able to view the grades in the Parent Portal. The Q4 Progress Report Checklist will be available here. This document outlines the teacher and school office staff’s responsibilities for verifying and finalizing Q4 Progress Report grades. If you have any questions, please contact your assigned SIS Data Specialist/Analyst.

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.

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

March Winners:

• Newberry Elementary
• Cummings School
• Manassas High School
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Featured Updates:

• Quarter 3 Report Card Grades are available in the Student Grades dashboard. Check out the user guides for more details on the grade reports.
   
• Data for the 7th 20-Day period is available in the Show Up for Greatness report. Click here to see the user guide for this report.
   
• The newly updated ELPA21 Report is now available in the Student Assessment Dashboard. Click here for the user guide.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

Virtual Office Hours this week (4/21 and 4/23) will be a review of the RTI-A Universal Screener Reports.

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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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.   

Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy 

Enrollment & School Choice

The 2026-27 School Choice Portal is NOW OPEN!

The 2026-27 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 apply.

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 2026-27 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 Drive for Greatness: March Madness Champions Crowned!

The buzzer has sounded, the nets have been cut, and the results are officially in! After weeks of incredible hustle, spirit, and community dedication, our 2026-27 Registration Tournament has reached its thrilling conclusion.

Our MSCS schools took the "Recruit, Retain, and Reclaim" mission to heart, proving that when it comes to our students' futures, we play to win. The energy across the district was unmatched, but four schools rose to the top to claim their titles.

The Tournament Champions

We are proud to announce our division winners who have secured the Grand Prize Trophy and that well-deserved catered staff lunch!

Tournament Highlights

• Grahamwood Elementary dominated the field, finishing with a staggering 81% registration rate. Talk about a "slam dunk" for student readiness!
• Havenview Middle surged from the back of the pack to overtake the leaders, proving that a strong "second-half" effort makes all the difference.
• Medical District High showed incredible grit in the High School division, clinching the top spot in a tightly contested race.

The Post-Game Wrap-Up

While the tournament has ended, our mission continues. To our winning schools: enjoy your victory and your catered lunch! To the rest of our MSCS family: the momentum doesn't stop here.

"Victory is a team sport. These numbers represent more than just data – they represent families committed to the excellence and growth found only in MSCS."

Let’s keep that championship energy going all the way to the first day of school!

MSCS Kindergarten Enrollment & Eligibility Guide

Enrollment Requirements

• Age Eligibility: To enroll for the 2026-27 school year, students must be 5 years old on or before August 15, 2026.
• Registration Deadline: Per state law, new kindergarteners cannot be enrolled after the first 30 days of the school year (September 30, 2026). Previously enrolled students may be accepted at any time.
• Health Documentation: Proof of a physical examination and a complete immunization record must be submitted at the time of enrollment. Students will not be permitted to enroll until these records are provided.

Early Entrance Screening (2026-27 School Year) 

MSCS provides screening for children who turn 5 between August 16 and September 30, 2026, to determine eligibility for early kindergarten entry.

• Timeline: Screenings begin May 18.
• Process: The Assessment Department will coordinate school-based screenings with parental consent. A registration link will be sent to parents from the department.
• Appointments: To schedule a screening outside of the school setting, please contact the Assessment Department directly.
• Cut-off: Children turning 5 after September 30, 2026, are not eligible for screening and may enroll in the fall of 2027.

Official Registration Portal: scsk12.org/registration/kindergarten   

Supporting Our Families: 2026–27 District Registration Nights

As we prepare for the 2026–27 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 2026-27 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.

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

As we are currently in testing season (Apr. 13 - May 8 ), please note suspended students not enrolled during testing periods at an Alternative School may be referred back to their home schools for testing accommodations. This aligns with MSCS district policy 6055: 

Students shall be allowed to return to their home schools for the purpose of taking semester/final exams, end of course, and standardized tests during the transition from their home schools to alternative/non-traditional schools or programs if the period occurs within 10 days of suspension or expulsion.

We ask that you allow testing accommodations for the student in the event the student has not enrolled in Alternative Schools within this testing period. Also, the last day for orientation for the 2025-26 SY at Alternative Schools is Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Due to the proximity of the end of the year, please ensure students’ quarter 4 grades have been finalized and stored in PowerSchool for EOY closeout.

If you need more information regarding this request, please feel free to call me at 416-2200.