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September 25, 2019
Growth & Achievement selections are due in PLZ Friday, Sept. 27! This is mandatory step for all TEM & TEAM-evaluated staff.
New classroom grant opportunities are available! Check out this month's list of resources for your class.
Need help with the Praxis exam? View these Aspiring Teachers resources to get online training to ace the test & get certified!
Earn a your best score on upcoming TEM evaluations! Check out " Finessing your lesson " - a PD designed to help you navigate the TEM rubric during evaluation season.
Win a $50 Knowledge Tree gift card! Check out this year's Holiday Mail for Heroes contest to learn how you can win!
Superintendent Update: Teacher Pay

Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Joris M. Ray announced an update regarding teacher pay after listening to concerns about the District's overall compensation plan. 

All *teachers and teacher types** will receive a  three-percent salary increase  on their October 18 th  paycheck. The salary increases will be retroactive to the first day of work for this school year. Also, any eligible employee receiving a max salary will receive a one-time bonus equivalent to the increase amount. 
 
Performance-based increases  will also be awarded after the State has released Level of Effectiveness (LOE) scores and they have been certified. Additional details will be communicated to teachers prior to the end of the first semester regarding performance-based increases. Learn more: FAQ .

Additionally, Superintendent Ray has taken proactive measures to ensure that SCS employees  do not  incur  increases  in health insurance premiums this year. 

*Applies to Teachers/Teacher-Types who were continuously employed prior to January 1, 2019.
**Teachers/Teacher-Types - Anyone in a teacher or teacher-type role includes classroom teachers, librarians, counselors, school-based instructional facilitators and PLC coaches, social workers, psychologists, ROTC instructors, alcohol/drug counselors, occupational therapists, audiologists, physical therapists and speech therapists, etc.
Teachers, please remind parents of changes to printed Kindergarten report cards!

Heads up! There will be a minor adjustment on the printed version of the Kindergarten report card . The report card will include the skills/standards for the current quarter only, with the exception of Quarter 4. Quarter 4 will include skills/standards for the entire year. Parents are encouraged to access the PowerSchool Parent Portal to obtain updated information from any prior quarter.
Help us choose the right textbooks. Apply to join the ELA textbook committee!

Help us pick the textbooks that will shape literacy instruction in SCS for the next six years. We're relying on our expert ELA educators to help guide our decisions as we work through our textbook adoption process. If you're interested, apply  by Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. to be considered. Due to the importance of this project and timelines set forth by the State and District, late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Contact the C&I Literacy team if you have questions about the application or process.
Tell us what you think of first quarter Math curriculum during upcoming feedback sessions & win big!

K-12 Math teachers, the Math team wants to know how you feel about Math curriculum. Sign up for an upcoming focus group (PLZ course #19233) , virtual session (PLZ course #19262), or take a survey to provide your input on the first quarter curriculum maps and supporting documents. We want to know which resources you use, as well as those you need to better help you plan for instruction. Please use the appropriate link below to complete a short survey. As our way of saying "thanks!" for your feedback, all teachers who complete a survey will be entered to win an SCS Math Curriculum & Instruction goodie bag.

ACT Family Night is coming up October 2!

High school teachers, remember to share information with your students and their families about the upcoming ACT Family Nights scheduled for Oct. 2 and Feb. 17. Students and families will learn about the structure of the test, resources available to prepare for the test, upcoming test dates and registration information. We will also share helpful details about how test scores and college readiness benchmarks are used in the college admission processes and various scholarship programs. Download the flyers here: English | Spanish
Nike Discounts are back! Mark your calendar to shop the employee store during fall break.

What better time to freshen up your fall wardrobe than fall break?! Our friends at Nike are opening up the Company Store once again for SCS employees. Shop the store Oct. 13-27 to get discounts on some of your favorite Nike apparel!

Please note that only current SCS employees, dependents and spouses are permitted. Dependents and spouses must be accompanied by an SCS employee. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in an employee's permanent exclusion from future Nike discount events.
Be a champion in the fight against breast cancer. Volunteer to lead a walk team at your school!

We're still looking for team captains to help lead our District's fundraising efforts for the 2019 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Volunteering to lead your school or department team is easy! SCS and the American Cancer Society will equip you with all of the information and materials you need to motivate your walk team; then, all you have to do is help us spread the word to your co-workers. If you're interested in leading your team, check out available spots and sign up by Sept. 30.
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