THE BRIDGE weekly update is a platform to keep stakeholders connected and informed about upcoming events and District initiatives. 

We are THE BRIDGE to our community’s identity. The authentic character and soul that defines the 901 is reflected in every one of our schools. We are the second-largest employer and our graduates fuel the local workforce — the success of SCS is tied to the economic vitality of Greater Memphis.

Together, we MUST BELIEVE.

Together, we WILL ACHIEVE.

Together, we are REIMAGINING 901.

UTHSC Partnership Guarantees Nursing School

Admission to Southwest Students,

Graduates of Medical District High School

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing and Southwest Tennessee Community College have partnered to guarantee admission to UTHSC’s nursing program for Southwest students who meet requirements. The Partnership Enrollment Program is also offered to graduates of Medical District High School (MDHS), which opened this year on the Union Avenue campus of Southwest.

As part of our plan to Reimagine 901, MDHS offers courses that enable students to earn an associate degree through Southwest simultaneously with their high school diploma. Students may attain an associate degree in general studies, allied health, or information technology. MDHS will graduate its inaugural class in 2025. 

Click here to read more about this valuable new program.

Optional Schools Fair

SCS hosted its annual Optional Schools Fair on Sunday, January 9! Families were invited to the University Center at the University of Memphis to learn more about the 40+ unique and competitive programs we have to offer.

To learn more about the Optional Schools program, click here.

SCS Ready Grads - OSHA Certification Success

Our CCTE students are making major strides to be OSHA 10 certified before the end of the school year! During the 2019-2020 school year, a total of 710 students were OSHA 10 certified. With remarkable growth of our CCTE program, currently over 2,300 students have received their certification.

Formally referred to as Vocational Technology (Vo-Tech), CCTE is how we're reimagining education and preparing students for college and careers while in high school.

It’s the most valuable high school experience a student can get! From STEM, business and manufacturing to health services, hospitality, IT, and many more, students have access to dozens of college courses and job certifications in high-demand fields while they’re in high school. Plus, our Early College programs allow students to take courses for credit on local college campuses, and our industry partners provide exciting opportunities for internships and job placement.

Click here to learn more.

Support teachers as a CTE Advisor with the Division of College, Career, and Technical Education. An Advisor helps build CCTE curriculum to ensure student college and career readiness.

Click here to apply!

Third Grade Commitment: Mandatory Parent Meetings

SCS identifies student achievement as its highest priority. The Board voted on a revision to Policy 5013 Promotion and Retention which ensured we hold district and school leaders, teachers, and all stakeholders accountable towards ensuring SCS students have the necessary reading skills to be successful before they reach the third grade.

The 3rd Grade Commitment is a collaborative effort between schools, parents, and our community towards ensuring we all work together to best help SCS students reach reading readiness before the third grade.

As part of our ongoing commitment to keep families informed and aware, elementary and K-8 schools are hosting mandatory 3rd Grade Commitment meetings for 2nd grade parents. These meetings are intended to provide updates to families about the 3rd Grade Commitment and inform parents about the progress of their child regarding meeting the success criteria.

Click here to learn more about the Third Grade Commitment.

Rock En-Rollment: Early Registration for 2022-23 School Year Now Open

Early, ONLINE registration for the 2022-23 school year starts TODAY for all students. Parents are asked to contact our Student Equity Enrollment & Discipline (S.E.E.D.) office for any questions at 901-416-6007.

Click here to learn more.

ESSER In Action:

Learn How SCS is Utilizing COVID-19 Relief Funding to Support District Improvements

The District has begun solidifying approximately $503 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding. As SCS reimagines education, schools, and communities, we’re continuing to use research-based strategies over the next

3-5 years to address equitable academic opportunities and learning gaps with COVID-19 relief funding. 

For more information on how SCS is using ESSER funds, click here.

In Case You Missed It

Welcome Back - Let's Stay the Course!

Good afternoon and Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a safe and rejuvenating holiday break. The District is excited to welcome our staff, students, and families back TODAY. As we kick off the new semester, we’re urging everyone to STAY THE COURSE for SAFETY. In September 2021, amid changes to mask legislation, the District stayed the course and the Tennessee Department of Health reported SCS and Metro Nashville as having the lowest cumulative COVID-19 case rates in the state (citing school districts that require masks in class have the lowest coronavirus rates for children ages 0-18 years old). Masks and vaccinations work and have been proven to help slow the spread of this virus. SCS has led the way for safety throughout this unprecedented time. Let’s stay the course.

Mask Requirements, Latest CDC Guidance, and Safety Tips

• Our safety protocols remain in place: mask-wearing is required for students and staff indoors and on school buses regardless of vaccination status; social distancing will continue to be practiced wherever possible.

• The District’s Contact Tracing team will stay the course and tracing will continue to be conducted by a team of trained nurses and health educators in accordance with the most recent CDC and Shelby County Health Department guidelines. Members of our Contract Tracing team will provide guidance to staff and students who are exposed to COVID-19 regarding quarantine and isolation.

• To help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
• Wear a mask to protect yourself and others, 
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you.
• Wash your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer.
• Monitor your health daily.

Let’s stay the course.

Virtual Learning

We want to issue a reminder that based on a 2021 Tennessee State Board of Education rule, entire school districts are NOT permitted to transition to full remote/virtual instruction. Individual schools may seek waivers of this rule, but in several instances, waivers have not been granted by the Tennessee Department of Education. Click on the links for additional information/talking points: English / Español.

COVID-19 Testing Update

• As part of our goal to help track and stop the spread of the coronavirus, SCS began offering bi-weekly COVID-19 testing in partnership with Poplar Healthcare at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Through the Test to Protect Our Schools​ program, students and staff have the option to receive a nasal swab, PCR COVID-19 test at school or at the Board Office.

• Together with Poplar Healthcare, SCS was one of the only school districts in the county to offer COVID-19 testing to District staff and employees throughout the winter break.

• NEW WEEKLY TESTING: Beginning Monday, January 17, nasal swab testing will be offered weekly​ at each school location and at the Board of Education Office at 160 South Hollywood. During the fall semester, swab teams were visiting schools on a two-week rotation; during the spring semester, students and staff will have the option to be tested weekly.

• If an SCS parent/guardian completed a consent form for their child to participate in the nasal swab testing and your child was swabbed last semester, there is no need to do anything. Their children will be offered a test on the day of each week designated for their school.

• If an SCS parent/guardian DID NOT complete a consent form and their child DID NOT participate in nasal swab testing last semester, they must click the link below to register for weekly testing: https://hipaa.jotform.com/poplarhealthcare/SCS-patient-auth-consent

Gun Violence

Gun violence, as you know, has been at an alarmingly high rate within the past year, but it will not deter us from pooling all available resources to ensure that our children are in safe, conducive environments that will foster and facilitate greatness in the classrooms. 

As I have previously said, “Before children can learn, they must first feel SAFE.” We are staying the course to ramp up our trauma-response supports to keep our schools safe and are offering more mental health services. Director Toney Armstrong is finalizing his safety assessment of our schools, and we look forward to sharing an update soon.

Literacy is Life

In Memphis-Shelby County Schools, we believe “Literacy is Life.” One of the top priorities of Reimagining 901 is to strengthen early and continuing literacy. We all realize just how critical literacy is to the long-term success of students. As we reimagine education, we’re focused on realigning our daily practices and instruction to once again operate as a student-centered organization. We are at a pivotal point in our District and I’m unapologetic about academic achievement. I will continue to reinforce our goal to move from intervention to innovation. As you’ve heard me say, it’s easier to burn a house than to build one. We’re into building, and we need CHANGE CHAMPIONS to help build bridges and connect people through education.

Let’s stay the course. It's not too late to help us REIMAGINE a healthier 901 and protect the future of our students! Think about it like this, a river cuts through a rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence. No doubt, this pandemic has taught us lessons in resilience. Brighter days are ahead, but we must be relentless and persevere to keep SAFETY and LITERACY as key priorities as we enter 2022.

Again, we are excited to welcome back our SCS Family!

3rd Annual Ray of Hope: Spreading Holiday Cheer

Days before Christmas, we had an opportunity to spread some holiday cheer to nine SCS families, one from each School Board district. As part of the annual Ray of Hope giving event, we surprised the deserving families with special gifts on their wish lists! The gifts were made possible thanks to generous donors and business sponsors.

Click here to read more.

Grahamwood Gives Back! Elementary Students Collect and Donate Over 400 Pairs of Shoes

Students at Grahamwood Elementary researched the shoe-making process from start to finish for a STEM project, but wanted to do more for the community. They collected and donated more than 400 pairs of shoes for those in need in the 901!

We're proud to see our students learning as well as serving the community!

ESSER in Action: Water Bottle Filling Stations Coming Soon To All Schools

As we're reimagining schools, we have invested $5 million of ESSER (COVID-19 relief funds) to purchase and install 3,000 bottle filling stations in all District-managed schools and administration buildings.

These filling stations will minimize plastic waste, reduce costs and provide better-tasting, filtered water.

For more information on how SCS is using ESSER funds, click here.

SCS Invites Local Businesses to Support Upcoming Internship Program

As we continue to connect our students with valuable resources to prepare them for the workforce, we are inviting business leaders to join SCS in hosting junior and senior students as interns within their organization as part of a new Business Recruitment Program.

Click here to register and learn how you can support this impactful program.

The Shelby County Board of Education Newsletters serve as updates for community stakeholders, families, and employees about information discussed during the monthly Board Committee Meetings. 

Click here to access the newsletters.

Supporting SCS is a meaningful way to impact the future

of Memphis and Shelby County.

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