The November Mindset of the Month is We are Connected. The We are Connected Mindset helps us understand that everyone who comes into our lives can assist us in living our dream. Through this Mindset, we will learn to constantly explore synergies with others, embrace diversity, and relish healthy competition, allowing us to maximize our potential.

This week, November 2-6, 2026, our focus is on Lesson 3.1: Embrace Everyone. Every person who comes into your life has the potential to help you, hurt you, or have no impact on you at all. Next week, November 9-13, 2026, our focus will be Lesson 3.2: Maximize Positive Relationships. There are people in life who can lift you up and make you better. Unfortunately, there are also people who can bring you down. Work to spend more time with people who empower you.

SEL Monthly Toolkit: Click Here to gain access to resources connected directly to the Mindset of the Month and additional resources.

Need one-on-one support with 7 Mindsets implementation? Have 7 Mindsets questions? 

Reach out to Advisor Aunia Cole at coleal@scsk12.org, Advisor Chunmeka Wayne at waynecc@scsk12.org, or SELhub@scsk12.org.

As part of MSCS' continued district-wide RTI2-B implementation, please ensure that your school's RTI2-B Monthly Meeting Minutes are completed and submitted by the last Friday of each month. 

Meeting minutes should clearly document your school's team participation, data reviewed, student interventions/supports, decisions made, and next steps. Consistent documentation helps us monitor implementation and provide appropriate support to schools. 

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment as we work together to decrease suspensions, increase attendance, and strengthen school culture and climate. The submission link for the RTI2-B Monthly Meetings is below.

If you need additional assistance, please contact RTI2-B Advisors: Michael Spearman (spearmanmt@scsk12.org) 901-416-0608 (desk) or Clarence Shaw (shawcj@scsk12.org) 901-416-4173.

Click HERE to access the MSCS Leadership Launchpad. 

Click HERE to access the RTI2-B Monthly Meeting Minutes Template.

The first 7 Mindsets Insights Measurement Window opened October 19, 2026, and will close November 13, 2026. Insights provides schools with valuable information to better understand student social-emotional strengths and areas where additional support may be needed.

Measurement Window: October 19, 2026 – November 13, 2026

Student Access
Students will access Insights by selecting the 7 Mindsets app from their Clever dashboard. Students in grades 6-12 may see a home screen and should select “Start Measurement.”

Students will then confirm their identity, select English or Spanish, complete a brief audio check, and begin the measurement. Headphones are required. Students may pause and resume as needed, and progress will save automatically.

Estimated Completion Times

• K-3: 30-35 minutes
• Grades 4-5: approximately 40 minutes
• Grades 6-8: approximately 30 minutes
• Grades 9-12: approximately 15 minutes

Important K-3 Note: During the shape-matching activity, students may experience a brief intentional delay. This is part of the measurement and is designed to assess self-control and frustration tolerance. If students ask about the delay, please encourage them by simply saying, “Keep going and do your best.”

Helpful Resources:
How to Monitor Completion Progress
Proctoring Tip Sheets – Clever

Questions? Please contact S.E.L Advisors Chumeka Wayne (waynec@scsk12.org) 901-416-0348 or Aunia Cole (coleal@scsk12.org) 901-416-0601.

Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

1st Semester Choice Transfer Rescissions – Submission Date

Please be reminded that all student rescissions for the first semester must be submitted by Friday, November 13. Timely submissions are critical to ensuring accurate enrollment records across all schools and buildings.

All rescissions must be submitted electronically via the designated online form: [General Choice Transfer Rescind SY25-26 (Policy #6002)]

Submission Requirements

We kindly request that you verify that all submitted students strictly meet the established requirements for rescission prior to submitting the form.

Special Education Transfers

All Special Education transfer requests will be reviewed in collaboration with the Department of Exceptional Children and the Office of General Counsel to ensure alignment with the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), as applicable. This additional review may extend the timeline for a final decision.

Policy Reference

Please refer to Memphis-Shelby County Schools Policy 6002 for guidelines on school admissions and transfers: [6002 School Admissions.pdf]

For any inquiries or should you require assistance with the rescission process, please contact the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy at 901-416-2989.

Thank you for your timely attention to this important matter.

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

ADMIN ACTION REQUIRED: PowerSchool Contact & Security Update

Action Needed: Please copy and paste the notice below into your upcoming school newsletters and family communications. Maintaining accurate family contact details in PowerSchool is vital for student safety, critical emergency alerts, and routine school-to-home communication.

Important PowerSchool Updates for Families

To keep student information secure and ensure you receive critical school updates, please note the following guidelines for your PowerSchool Parent Portal account:

• Updating Contact Details (Web Browser Only): To add or update phone numbers, email addresses, or emergency contacts, log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal using a web browser and select the "Update Communication Preferences" tab. Note: Contact updates cannot be made through the mobile app.
• Removing Contacts: For student security, parents cannot delete contacts online. Contact removal requests must be handled directly by your school’s main office staff.
• Mobile App & Daily Monitoring: Download the PowerSchool mobile app for real-time notifications on grades and attendance, and log in regularly to review your contact profile for accuracy.
• Parent Contact Guidance Flyer

MSCS Student Attendance Pact Guide

• As the school year progresses, driving daily attendance continues to be a key priority for our District. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to encourage regular attendance and support meaningful student engagement.
• Our focus is to increase Average Daily Attendance (ADA), reduce Chronic Absenteeism, and lower truancy rates. Please explore the MSCS Student Attendance Pact Guide to see how students, families, and staff can team up to make every day count.
• CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE MSCS ATTENDANCE PACT GUIDE

Action Required: Daily Attendance Compliance

Principals, accurate daily attendance tracking is critical to student safety, truancy monitoring, and our District compliance under MSCS Policy 6014. Please ensure your teaching staff follows these required procedures:

• Teachers must submit attendance electronically in Power Teacher Pro within the first 10 minutes of every class period or homeroom.
• Paper rosters or offline forms are strictly prohibited.
• Office staff and attendance administrators must review and fully reconcile all daily attendance discrepancies before the end of the school day.
• Daily record-keeping is a legal and district mandate. Unsubmitted or falsified attendance directly impacts state funding and places your school out of compliance.

Thank you for your leadership in keeping your building on track and maintaining 100% daily compliance across all classrooms.

District Advisory: EOY Planning & Senior Protocols (2026–2027)

Please review the following end-of-year timelines and protocols for the 2026–2027 school year. This early guidance is provided to help school leaders align master schedules, plan senior activities, and communicate attendance expectations to families well in advance.

1. Graduating Senior (GS) Protocol & Key Dates

• The official last day of school for seniors is Monday, May 7, 2027.
• The authorized window to utilize the GS (Graduating Senior) attendance code is May 10-20, 2027. This code will be applied for any seniors remaining in the building or completing requirements during this timeframe.
• GS coding updates are managed exclusively by the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy in PowerSchool. Schools must not make independent adjustments to ensure state reporting compliance.
• Schools must maintain a logged schedule of all senior events. Any activities scheduled outside the May 10–20, 2027, authorized window will not qualify for GS designation.

2. Promotional Ceremonies & End-of-Year Celebrations

• All promotional ceremonies (Kindergarten, 5th grade, and 8th grade) and end-of-year celebrations must be scheduled during the final week of school, beginning Monday, May 17, 2027.

• School leaders must clearly communicate to families that daily attendance remains mandatory through the final day of school. Early disengagement is not permitted, as every instructional day is essential.

3. Attendance Compliance & Family Communication

• Full-day instruction and daily attendance tracking remain mandatory through the final day of school. Early disengagement is not permitted.
• Teachers must record daily attendance accurately in PowerSchool. Falsification of attendance records violates district policy and state law.
• "Senior Skip Day" is strictly non-sanctioned; regular attendance is required of all students through their official end dates.
• High school families (Grades 9–12) will receive automated calls and texts regarding student absences to reinforce real-time attendance tracking through the end of the year.

Action Item for Principals: Incorporate these key dates into your school calendar and parent handbooks. Families will receive a general summary of these expectations later in the school year.

For questions or assistance, please contact the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy at 901-416-2989.

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.
•  Student Absence Form Flyer

"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: Everyday 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

ADVISORY: Over-Age for Grade (OAG) Student Placement Meetings

• For students who have been out of school for multiple years, an Over-Age for Grade (OAG) placement meeting must take place to determine appropriate grade placement and academic next steps.
• School leadership and principals will be notified in advance whenever a meeting is scheduled for a student at their site.
• For questions or further guidance, please contact the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy at 901-416-2989. Thank you for your continued support!

Administrative Action Items

• Update Team Contacts: Complete the 26-27 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 should already be available at your building. 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. 

Student Support Services Resource Guide

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

Celebrating Our October 2026 Fight-Free Schools!

Congratulations to our October 2026 Fight-Free Schools! These outstanding schools achieved a significant milestone by maintaining zero fights and zero student assaults from October 1-30, 2026.

We applaud our principals, teachers, staff, and students for their collective commitment to fostering safe and respectful learning environments. Your leadership and intentional focus on prevention are making a difference! Thank you for keeping the focus on safety and positive school culture. 

Click October 2026 Fight Free Schools to view the list of schools.