All Health, Physical Education, and Lifetime Wellness Teachers are required to complete the Michigan Model Training.

92129 HPELW: Michigan Model Training Elementary/Middle – September 15, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

92128 HPELW: Michigan Model Training High School – September 16, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 pm

92127 HPELW: Michigan Model Training Elementary/Middle – September 22, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

92130 HPELW: Michigan Model Training High School – September 23, 2026 - 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

There will be multiple Michigan Model Trainings presented virtually to the HPELW Teachers.

For questions, contact: · Jeremiah Bland – Blandj@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor) · Jim Harbin – Harbinj1@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor) · Dr. Rahmod Traylor – Traylorr@scsk12.org (HPELW Manager)

K-12 Science Teachers & Administrators
Have you wondered if Science had an IFD? This video will not only answer this question but more. Please click link below. 
K-8 and Biology IFD Science Need To Know PPT 2026-2027.mp4
Contact:
Terilyn McChriston, Ed.S
Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Science Manager
mcchristontj@scsk12.org

Dear Principals, PLC Coaches, and Librarians

We're excited to announce 901 READS Day, a districtwide K-12 celebration of literacy in honor of Memphis' 901 Day! Born from a grassroots proposal by two MSCS high school students, this initiative places a spotlight on building a lifelong love of reading in every student, in every school, in every classroom.

THE DAY AT A GLANCE

• Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Start Time: 9:01 a.m. for schools with a 7:15 morning start, or 1:09 p.m. for schools whose instructional day begins 9 a.m.
• Suggested Reading Time: Grades K–5 pause for 10–15 minutes of independent or guided reading; grades 6–12 pause for 20–30 minutes. Schools hosting guest readers or community sponsors are encouraged to build out a full 60- to 90-minute literacy celebration.

MAKE IT MEMORABLE: SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

To further lift the excitement of the day, consider incorporating one or more of these ideas:

• Rotating guest-reader stations across 2–3 short books, with brief discussion after each
• A book talk paired with small-group discussion circles or a reader-response activity
• A read-aloud paired with a related writing, drawing, or craft activity
• A Q&A or “career and reading” conversation between visitors and students
• A literacy pep rally segment followed by a classroom read-aloud
• Buddy reading between grade levels (older students reading to younger ones), with visitors joining in
• A take-home book giveaway tied to a short discussion about why reading matters
• High School students should research careers or colleges as a post-secondary focus in alignment with CCR requirements (School leader choice). 

GET INVOLVED

• We encourage every school to invite school adoptors, community members, families, and local partners to serve as guest readers or lead a book talk in grades K–12. Watch for additional resources and a full communication toolkit via Leaderboard and the Principal Pulse in the coming days. 

Thank you for helping make reading exciting for every student in MSCS!

Curriculum & Instruction

Questions? Contact the Office of Literacy officeofliteracy@scsk12.org or Dr. Tiffany Boyle, boyletd@scsk12.org 

Pause, Read, Inspire!

#901READS   #MSCSReads   #Read901

Please include any links to any attachments within your message. 

Flyer  901 READS DAY - Edited Final.jpg

• If you would like members from the National Guard, Army, Memphis Police Department, or Memphis Fire Department to speak with your students for CCR or read to younger students, please complete the link: MSCS 901 READs Day – Fill out form

Please review the 8/17/26 MTSS Lead Updates.

All Health, Physical Education, and Lifetime Wellness Teachers are required to complete the Presidential Fitness Assessment. Teachers will learn about the Tennessee requirements for administering the Presidential Fitness Test (PFT), beginning with the 2026 requirements. Teachers will learn how to administer and demonstrate the Presidential Fitness Test assessments properly. 

92325 HPELW: Presidential Fitness Assessment - September 3, 2026 -5 p.m. – 7 p.m.            

For questions, contact:

• Jeremiah Bland – Blandj@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor)
• Jim Harbin – Harbinj1@scsk12.org (HPELW Instructional Advisor)Post-Presidential
• Dr. Rahmod Traylor – Traylorr@scsk12.org (HPELW Manager)

Student Congress provides a forum where students have a voice in changing culture and climate within the District. Students are afforded a wealth of opportunities to practice leadership and engage in social action skills that serve as a catalyst for change. Students also develop an emerging awareness and understanding of community issues, problems, and resources.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools' Department of Student Experience is asking each high school to select two (2) students, 9th-12th grade, and each middle school to select two (2) 8th-grade students to serve as Student Congress representatives for the 2026-27 academic year. Please include those students who served last year, if they are still enrolled at your site.

Per the District's Policy #6061, the Student Congress is a mechanism for increasing youth voice in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The primary function is to provide a platform for students to refine and build upon their leadership skills, create passionate global leaders, and empower students to create positive change in their environments.

Not sure what Student Congress is all about? Click below to hear members' testimonials: https://scsbroadcastservices.box.com/s/1r16a2vincy6fichjsj9zm2o9zhjtsxr

Student Congress 2026-27 Submission Form: Student Congress 2026-27 – Fill out form

Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026

Save the Date: Student Congress Retreat- Tuesday, September 8, 2026

If you need additional information or assistance, please contact:

Dr. Billy J. Walker II, Student Leadership, Email: walkerbj@scsk12.org

Thank you for your continued support in growing student leaders in our District.

Again this year, the Student Experience team has partnered with the I Am a Voter Collaborative on Voter Education, Registration, Mobilization & Reform to bring opportunities for voter engagement to our students this year. We will be hosting voter registration drives for our students at each high school.  

We are excited to invite you identify the voter registration contact for your school and to select the best date(s) for a Voter Registration Drive at your school (September 15-October 5). This opportunity is being offered for any student who is 17 years old and older. 

Link to Form: Voter Registration Contacts (2026-2027) – Fill out form

Please complete by Friday, Aug. 21. If you have any questions or need assistance, please let us know. 

Please save the date for the 2026 Student Leadership Conference scheduled for:

Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: University of Memphis Student Center

The conference theme, "Ignite Your Impact: Where Student Leaders Shape Tomorrow," will provide high school students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, build meaningful connections, and explore ways to positively influence their schools and communities. The event is designed to inspire and empower emerging student leaders from across Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

We are excited to announce that Matthew Szalaj, Shelby County Commissioner for District 9, has accepted our invitation to serve as the keynote speaker. His leadership journey, commitment to public service, and dedication to youth development will provide a powerful message for our students. 

Additional details regarding student registration, participant allocations, and the conference agenda will be shared in the coming weeks. We encourage you to reserve this date on your school calendar and begin identifying student leaders who would benefit from attending.

The National Civil Rights Museum is pleased to sponsor the Keeper of the Dream Award. The Keeper of the Dream Award is a public recognition of selected youth in grades 6-12 that celebrates and recognizes the hard work and dedication of young people who take action and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for others.

The Keeper of the Dream Award parallels the National Civil Rights Museum  Freedom Award, which is bestowed upon individuals who have forged paths to expand freedom and opportunities for all people. The student winners of the Keeper of the Dream Award will be honored at the 2026 Freedom Award Student Forum scheduled for October 1, 2026. The nomination deadline is September 10, 2026.

Award Eligibility Requirements

•      Nominee must not have reached their 19th birthday before  October 1, 2026. 

•      Nominee must reside in the Mid-South (TN, MS, AR).

•     Nominee must not be a child or relative of an employee of the National Civil Rights Museum. 

•     Nominee must be in 6th-12th grade in the current school year.

•     Past winners of the Keeper of the Dream award are not eligible to win. 

•      A relative or family member of the student may not  nominate a student or make recommendations. 

•      For selected students, their parent or guardian must sign a media release and give the Keeper of the Dream Review    Committee permission to 1) confirm the student’s school enrollment and 2) review the student’s social media presence. 

Link for more information: https://civilrightsmuseum.org/freedom-award/student-forum/keeper-of-the-dream/

The Metro Memphis Urban Debate League (MMMUDL) is the official MSCS district debate league.  

Are You Ready to Become Your School's Next Debate Coach?

Do you want to help students build their confidence, enhance their critical thinking, and refine their public speaking abilities? MSCS is seeking enthusiastic Middle and High School teachers to guide their school’s MSCS Debate Team for the upcoming academic year!

Why Choose Debate?

• Paid Stipend: Boost your income with a competitive coaching stipend.
• Resources: Gain access to essential debate materials.
• Student Impact: Witness your students evolve into the school’s leading analytical thinkers and future leaders.

Who Are We Looking For?

We welcome educators from ALL subject areas! You do NOT need prior debate experience to be an exceptional coach. If you can teach research, organization, and critical thinking, you already possess the foundational skills needed.

Ready to learn more and sign up?

Complete the link below to sign-up. Deadline is Tuesday, September 1 @ 5:00 PM.

Sign up link: 2026-27 Metro Memphis Urban Debate League (MMUDL)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Extended Learning Office at mmudl@scsk12.org.

Fine Arts, Physical Education (2nd and 5th grades), Pre-K, and World Language (French and Spanish) educators will submit TEAM Student Growth Portfolios for SY2026-27. Please complete the TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information form by Friday, September 25.   

Questions or concerns? Send an email to eps@scsk12.org. 

All Returning Observer participants must complete their TEM coursework and calibration by Tuesday, September 8, to remain certified for the 2026–27 school year. 

Important: If you are still in an eligible role for certification and did not receive the email, please contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org. 

The deadline to complete TEM New Observer Certification is Tuesday, March 30. 

Administrators pursuing TEM certification for the first time can register for the course below: 

Self-Paced Canvas Course PLZ Course #50074 OR 2-Day Virtual PLZ Course #50075 

For questions or support, 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 #50609.

Evaluation Plans

• NIE and TEAM plans have populated in PLZ. Visibility in the evaluator's staff evaluation tab requires the employee to select his/her evaluator.
• TEM Classroom/Non-Classroom plans are populating daily.  All TEM Classroom/Non-Classroom plans are expected to be uploaded by September 4.

Initial Evaluation Tracks

At the beginning of the school year, all educators will be placed on one of two evaluation tracks:

• Novice:  No prior year LOE.  Any educator who has no prior year LOE will be assigned to the novice evaluation track, as well as non-PYE (Partial Year Exempt) educators who have missing or incomplete TEM components (e.g., observations, professionalism, or student growth data)
• Proficient:  All educators who are expected to generate a LOE will be placed on the Proficient track.

Instructions for New MSCS Educators Expected to Receive SY25-26 LOE Scores

Educators who joined MSCS from another District in Tennessee and are expected to generate a LOE score should notify Employee Performance and Support via email when their SY25-26 LOE score is received.  Evaluation tracks for these employees will be processed upon verification of scores in TN Compass.   

Future Track Adjustments

All other SY26-27 evaluation tracks will automatically be adjusted in mid-January to accurately reflect SY25-26 Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) scores.  The updated evaluation track changes will be visible in PLZ and on the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  A notification will also be placed in Leaderboard.  

Questions:  Email Employee Performance at Support-eps@scsk12.org

Own Your Impact. The Difference You Make Matters. 

The NIE Goal Setting Conference season is here! As the first step in the Non-Instructional Evaluation (NIE) process, the Goal Setting Conference provides an opportunity to establish meaningful goals and begin documenting the impact you make every day.

IMPORTANT: NIE Employees will need to select their evaluator first, in order for the evaluator to have access to their NIE plan in PLZ. In addition, the evaluator must be NIE Certified.

View the flyer below for important information, key dates, and resources to help you get started. 

• SY26-27 NIE Goal Setting Conference Flyer

Goal Setting Conferences are due by October 23, 2026.

Questions? Contact EPS@scsk12.org

School leaders, please designate a Student Perception Survey Site Coordinator for your school by completing the Student Perception Site Coordinator Designation Form by Friday, September 11, 2026.

The designated coordinator will serve as the school’s primary point of contact and support survey communication, scheduling, technology preparation, participant verification, and participation monitoring throughout the fall survey administration.

Please be reminded that if a coordinator is not designated, the principal will receive coordinator communications.

Student Perception Site Coordinators will be required to attend a mandatory training in October.  

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 2026-27 is virtual.

• The window for RECERTIFICATION is from June 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026, 5 p.m. CT.
  • Those not completing recertification by September 9, 2026, 5 p.m. CT, will be required to complete initial certification.
  • Invitation: If you were a certified TEAM evaluator in 2025-26 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.
    • Registration is not required. Invitations to access the learning module and to take the recertification test will be sent directly to currently certified evaluators.
    • Contact TEAM.Questions@tn.gov if you are unable to find your recertification invitation.
• The window for INITIAL CERTIFICATION is from June 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, 5 p.m. CT.

All certification courses will be accessed in the TeachALL platform. You will need to access the courses with your Single Sign On or a self-created TeachALL account. 

Please Note: The department no longer issues a certificate at the end of evaluator courses. Evaluators can save their TASL email as proof of completion.

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

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

Contact the State at  TEAM.Questions@tn.gov should you have any questions or concerns regarding TEAM certification for 2026-2027.

For RETURNING NIE Evaluators that were previously NIE Certified during SY2025-2026, NIE Recertification is NOT REQUIRED for SY2026-2027. Eligible Returning NIE Evaluators will be automatically identified and added as NIE Evaluators in PLZ for SY2026-27.

NEW NIE Evaluators  

For SY2026-2027, there are two (2) options offered in attaining NIE Evaluator Certification:  

• Self-Paced (Canvas)
• Live/Virtual Session

Course numbers and date information can be found HERE.  

Important Updates: 

• School staff who previously gained access to Power BI via the MSCS Compass Access App or by reaching out directly to DAIM may potentially no longer have access. Principals and APs can still go in and re-add these people to their school’s access.
   
• School staff with roles that automatically get access to Power BI who are at new locations this year should see their access automatically updated to the new school, as long as their location has also been updated in APECS and Active Directory.
   
• The DAIM MSCS Compass Monthly Newsletter resumed this month. New editions come out on the second Wednesday of each month. In it, you will find information on new and upcoming releases, trainings, and support resources. It is sent to all staff members with Power BI access. You can also see all archived editions on the DAIM Support Hub.
   
• As part of the monthly newsletter, we will resume the Empowering Your Data Story usage campaign. Each month, we will use the newsletter to highlight schools with the highest Power BI usage. The school with the highest percentage of Power Users in Elementary, Middle/K-8, and High will receive a certificate. The school with the highest rate overall for the month will receive a trophy. All winners are highlighted on our Hall of Fame page. Click here for more information about the campaign.
   
• The Rollover Summer Maintenance Process for the 2026-2027 school year has been completed. Dashboards will once again refresh and update regularly. Note that data is updated nightly. So, what you see in the dashboards will reflect the previous day. Please consult the Refresh Schedule on the DAIM Support Hub for more information. 
   
• Due to the transition from i-Ready Diagnostic to i-Ready Inform, the Student Assessment and RTI2-A dashboards will not track or display Fall 26-27 data. The updated reports will be available for the Winter assessment window. This means that schools will not be able to track completion compliance for i-Ready or RTI Universal Screener/Characteristics of Dyslexia.

Highlighted Reports:

• Use the Prior Promotions Report in the Literacy Commitment dashboard to see promotional status information for current students from the prior year. You can also see students’ tutoring status and if any e-Collect forms are missing. For more on this report, click here.
   
• Use the Scheduling Reconciliation Report in the RTI2-A Dashboard to identify students required to be enrolled in Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention courses. You can use this to identify students who had plans from the 2025-2026 SY. Plans from 2026-2027 will begin updating on August 17. For more information on this report, click here.

New Releases:

• The SEA Dashboard for schools is now linked within the MSCS Compass, under the Extended Learning and Intervention section. With this dashboard, you can see where Specialized Education Assistants are spending their time and schools’ 
  submission status. This dashboard is not maintained by the DAIM team. It is only linked in the MSCS Compass for convenience. For access and questions about the data, please contact TIPPITL@scsk12.org. For general questions, please contact SAMMOURH@scsk12.org. 
   
• All MSCS Compass reports with Student Data Tables now include EdFi IDs. This is in addition to PowerSchool ID (PSIDs) and State Student Number IDs that were already available. For more on how to export data tables from Power BI reports to Excel, click here.
   
• A new report for tracking Project Graduation enrollments is available in the Student Enrollment dashboard. With this report, you can track course enrollments in Project Graduation by subject area, course name, teacher, and room. Check out the user guide for more information.

Coming Soon:

• Student Attendance will soon include updated at-risk levels for Chronic Absenteeism. This will replace the High, Medium, and Low Risk levels currently available. The new levels will include: Less Than 10 Days Enrolled, Low Risk (attendance rates of 95.1-100%), Medium Risk (90.1-95%), High Risk (Recovery Possible) (90% or less, but there are enough days in the year left to recover), and High Risk (Recovery Not Possible) (90% or less, and there are not enough days in the year left to recover). This will be available in the Student Attendance dashboard, Student Snapshot, and School Snapshot. The District 360 dashboard will be updated at a later date TBD.  For the Student Attendance user guides, click here.
   
• The Student Discipline dashboard will soon include updated data from the Student Intervention Platform (SIP). This will include the creation of a new Student Intervention Report within the Discipline dashboard, as well as updates to the Discipline Overview, Progressive Discipline Support, District Quick Report, Raw Data, and Student Report pages. Progressive Discipline Support Report will now include Plan and Occurrence information. In addition, updated Progressive Discipline data will be available in the Student Snapshot and School Snapshot dashboards. The District 360 dashboard will be updated at a later date TBD. For the Student Discipline user guides, click here.

----------------------------  

Upcoming Training Sessions: 

No Virtual Office Hours this week, but we will return Sept. 1 and Sept. 3 with a review of the Student Enrollment: Project Graduation Report.

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. 
----------------------------  

Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings. 

----------------------------  

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 Procedures and Reminders

Reminder: Policy 6002 Revisions & Compliance

Please take a moment with your team to review the updated Policy 6002 guidelines:

• General Choice Transfers: Ensure strict adherence to transfer rescission timing (end-of-semester only), mandatory written warning letter procedures, and review grounds for revoked transfers to protect due process.
• Shared Residency: Confirm you have three valid address verification documents on file (excluding promotional mail) and that the required shared residency notice is prominently posted in your front office.

Ensure administrative and front office staff are fully aligned with these requirements.

2026–2027 Registration: Ongoing Support & Push for 100% Enrollment

School is officially underway, but registration is not closed. It’s not too late to get every student enrolled! Registration for all new and returning students remains open via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

As families continue to arrive, please ensure your front office and registration teams remain welcoming, knowledgeable, and ready to support. Under no circumstances should any family be turned away.

Administrative Action Items:

• Keep registration hours and clear instructions posted prominently at all school entrances.
• Continue hosting or scheduling school-based Registration Nights to assist families who need hands-on help. If your school needs extra staffing or operational assistance, contact the Office of Enrollment and Attendance directly.
• Verify that all Registration Team members have completed their required refresher training in PLZ.
• For questions or dedicated enrollment support, please contact Stacey Davis at daviss2@scsk12.org.

Kindergarten Enrollment & Eligibility Guide

• Age Cut-off: Student must be 5 years old on or before August 15, 2026.
• Registration Deadline: Per state law, new kindergartners cannot be enrolled after the first 30 days of the school year (September 14, 2026).

Homeschool Guidance for Families

• Information & Inquiries: For questions regarding homeschooling options, parents can contact mscshomeschool@scsk12.org.
• Ready to Apply: Families can submit their formal application directly through the MSCS Homeschool Application Portal.
• Re-Enrolling in MSCS: Parents interested in re-enrolling students from homeschool back into the district can view the Re-Enrollment Information Flyer for details and next steps.

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

• With the school year underway, daily attendance remains a top district goal. All staff are encouraged to reinforce consistent presence and keep students engaged.
• Our focus is to increase Average Daily Attendance (ADA), reduce Chronic Absenteeism (CA), and lower truancy rates. Attendance Liaisons will align with truancy prevention, RTI-B frameworks, and counseling services to address barriers early. Explore the MSCS Student Attendance Pact Guide to see how students, families, and staff can team up to make every day count.
• Attendance must be logged daily within the first 10 minutes of each class period.
• All attendance discrepancies must be reconciled by the end of the school day. Clerical staff and attendance liaisons are responsible for entering substitute rosters and placeholder attendance prior to dismissal.

Student Withdrawal & No-Show Reminder

• No-Show Withdrawals: Please clear all attendance entries before processing a no-show withdrawal, and backdate the exit date to August 3, 2026.

• Ensure you select the correct exit code when withdrawing a student, and update any existing codes promptly to maintain accurate records.
• Always include a detailed comment explaining the reason for the withdrawal.
• For questions or guidance, reach out to our office at studentservices@scsk12.org.

Student Absence Form via PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Encourage parents to regularly verify and update their contact details via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Parents can submit and track absence notifications directly from their mobile devices or computers using the Student Absence Form in the portal.  Attendance Pact Guide Infographic.pdf

"Show Up for Greatness" District Initiative

We are continuing the Show Up for Greatness initiative to support our regional service model and tiered interventions:

• Tier 1: Show Up for Greatness
• Tier 2: Every Day Counts
• Tier 3: Be Present. Be Great.

Schools will continue using the Show Up for Greatness tracking application to monitor progress and log student supports. Supports must be logged for every 20-day period, with all entries recorded promptly at the end of each cycle.

Truancy Procedures and Reminders

Administrative Action Items

• Update Team Contacts: Complete the 2026-27 Attendance Team School Contact List promptly to ensure your school receives critical truancy updates and support this year.

Digital Truancy Clearances

The MSCS Truancy Clearance process is officially moving online.

• Families can submit clearance requests directly via a direct web link or QR code, streamlining the process and reducing campus paperwork.
• Digital clearance posters featuring the link and QR code will arrive on campuses soon. Please display and share these resources with families as needed.

SART Meeting & Truancy Clearance Guidance

As we strengthen our attendance practices, please ensure schools and attendance teams hold SART meetings for all students with five (5) or more unexcused absences in PowerSchool.

When a student receives a Truancy Clearance to enroll, complete the following:

• Conduct a SART meeting with the student and parent/guardian.
• Complete the Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP).
• Record the appropriate PSSP log entry in PowerSchool.

 Access the PowerSchool PSSP Step Sheet

These steps help us address absences, identify barriers, provide support, and accurately document our efforts to improve attendance. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students Show Up for Greatness!

Student Support Services Resource Guide

Please save and reference this guide to support your staff, students, and school community throughout the year:

 Office of Student Support Services Resource Guide

The Q1 Progress Report period ends Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Parents will continue to be able to view the grades in the Parent Portal. The Q1 Progress Report Checklist and Instructions is available on SharePoint. This document outlines the teacher and school office staff’s responsibilities for verifying and finalizing Q1 Progress Reports.

A Guide to Proactive Athletic Contest Management 

Strategies to support safe, positive, and well-managed athletic events 

Before the Contest 

• Meet with the Athletic Director to review event expectations and risk factors. 
• Identify contests requiring enhanced supervision (rivalries, playoffs, homecoming, senior nights). 
• Confirm administrator, security, and event staff assignments. 
• Review Emergency Action Plans, severe weather procedures, AED access, and communication protocols. 
• Communicate sportsmanship expectations and facility rules to students, families, and visitors. 
• Coordinate with security, EMS, and facility personnel as needed. 
• Monitor social media for potential concerns and communicate proactively. 
• Assign staff to supervise student sections and engage student leaders. 
• Brief event staff, ticket takers, and security on positioning and crowd control expectations.
• Greet the officiating crew, show them to a secure dressing area, and confirm game protocols.

During the Contest 

• Maintain a visible administrative presence throughout the venue. 
• Position staff and security at entrances, student sections, concession areas, and exits. 
• Welcome spectators and promote a positive atmosphere. 
• Address inappropriate behavior immediately and professionally. 
• Protect officials, players and coaches from harassment or intimidation. 
• Use PA announcements to reinforce sportsmanship and safety expectations. 
• Keep a visible presence near team benches and spectator sections to deter unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Ensure emergency response personnel have clear access to the field or court. 
• Monitor crowd flow and restricted areas continuously to prevent safety issues. 

After the Contest 

• Consider staggered dismissal for high-attendance or rivalry events. 
• Ensure officiating crew is escorted safely back to their dressing or parking area.
• Maintain supervision in parking lots and gathering areas. 
• Monitor post-game interactions between fan groups and teams. 
• Debrief with athletic administration, security, and/or event staff. 
• Document incidents/injuries and identify improvements for future events. 

Key Reminder: Proactive communication, visible leadership, and consistent sportsmanship expectations are the most effective tools for preventing crowd-management issues. 

MSCS High School Game Day is back for another year, and we are excited to once again showcase the outstanding students, schools, and communities that make Memphis-Shelby County Schools special.

Selected schools will be notified if their game has been chosen for this year's High School Game Day experience. Being selected is more than an opportunity to showcase an athletic contest; it is a privilege to represent your school, community, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

High School Game Day is designed to tell your story. Coverage may include:

• Live streaming and interviews with key school stakeholders
• Community partner and alumni spotlights
• Coverage of school traditions, programs, and organizations

We encourage you to identify the people, programs, and stories that make your school community unique. This spotlight is an opportunity to share what makes your school special. What story do you want people to know about your school?

Approach High School Game Day as a celebration of your entire community. Compete hard, celebrate enthusiastically, and always respect the game. As you prepare, we ask school leaders and coaches to intentionally engage students and fans around sportsmanship and what it means to represent your school with pride. How we handle both victory and defeat should reflect the character of our programs and, most importantly, the values of our schools.

The MSCS Multimedia and Partnerships teams will work closely with selected schools throughout the process to help make the experience memorable and successful. Bring the energy. Tell your story. Represent with pride. The city will be watching!

Please review the attached 2026-2027 Principals' Calendar for your scheduled Health & Wellness Day. The screenings include hearing, vision, height, weight, blood pressure, and scoliosis screenings for eligible students.

Principal Screening Calendar Semester 1 26-27.xlsx

If you have any questions regarding the schedule or the screening process, please contact the Health Promotions Department at 901-416-6432.

Immunization Plan

Please review the Immunization Plan for 2026-2027.

ImmunizationPlan 26-27.pdf

Handwashing Advisory

Please review the Handwashing Advisory for 2026-2027.

HandwashingAdvisory 26-27.pdf

Medication Training

Please review the Medication Training for 2026-2027.

08.24.26.MedicationTraining.pdf

CPR/AED/NARCAN Training

Please review the CPR/AED/NARCAN Training Flyer.

8.24.26.CPR.AED.Narcan Classes.pdf

School Care and Immunization Training

Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer.

08.24.26.SchoolCareandImmunizationTraining.pdf

Healthy Teams

Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027.

8.24.26.HealthyTeams.pdf

District Approved Medical Service Vendors

Please review the list of approved vendors.

08.24.26.DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf

Assigned School Nurse Absence

Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence.

08.24.26 Nursing.pdf