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May 5, 2021
We want to hear from YOU! Complete this survey on the 4 instructional practices to be entered into a drawing for a $50 & $100 gift card. The survey window is open thru May 26!
Come rock the block TODAY, May 5, 4-6 p.m. @ the BOE for the Teacher Appreciation Drive-Thru Celebration! There will be music, food, special guests, giveaways & FUN! Plus, our Board is giving away FREE flatscreen TVs!
Have a list of people who would make a great addition to the SCS team? Tell them to RSVP by TODAY for our Annual Preview Day on May 14, 4 -7:30 p.m.! View the flyer to learn more.
NOW HIRING: Positions for the Saturday Learning Academy are available until May 21. Summer Learning Academy positions are open through May 30 & positions for Summer School have been reopened too. ***Remember, summer positions earn an extra $3/hr.
REMINDER: The deadline to complete professionalism self-scores & upload artifacts was April 28! Failure to complete professionalism will result in NO LOE SCORE for SY 2020-21.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of our AMAZING SCS teachers! We hope you're feeling the love, admiration, and appreciation you deserve because #SCSTeachersRock! In case you missed it, here is a special message from Dr. Ray.
There's still time ROCK the mic THIS WEEK to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Teachers, sing your hearts out THIS WEEK to tell the 901 why SCS teachers ROCK! Each day of the week, you can post a short video of a song with original lyrics - 60 seconds or less - telling us why you love being a teacher or why SCS teachers are the best! Each day has a different musical theme, so you can post one every day or just your favorite styles. You can even use the same lyrics for every style. We also have a day for lip syncing your favorite teaching "theme song" in case you're a little shy on the mic.
The top 20 posts with the most likes will win a $50 Amazon gift card! Just make sure you tag the SCS social media pages and use the hashtag #SCSTeachersRock for a chance to win. Learn more about what it takes to win.

Monday: Rock Tuesday: Rap Wednesday: Country Thursday: R&B/Gospel Friday: Lip Sync

Check out these videos to see how some teachers have already rocked the mic!

Check out the great things happening with Practice 3 in the latest edition of Education Today! (NEW)

We are definitely moving forward and stronger together as we continue in the work of Instructional Practices. We are now shifting gears and taking a deep dive into Practice 3, the Gradual Release. Gradual Release is a systematic approach used by teachers to shift the cognitive load of a lesson to the students. Check out some of the great things happening with Practice 3 in this edition of Education Today with Deputy Superintendent Dr. Angela Whitelaw. Special thanks to Sheffield's Melissa Moore in Zone 7 and White Station's Bryan Walker in Zone 11! After watching, please share your feedback here.
Do you know a senior success story? We want to know! (NEW)

The 2021 graduation season is quickly approaching, and we want to hear about ALL of our amazing senior success stories! Do you know any graduating seniors who have been awarded major scholarships, earned exclusive career and learning opportunities, overcome incredible odds to earn a diploma or simply have a funny or heartwarming personal story? Send it to newsroom@scsk12.org so we can consider it for our stories and promotions to celebrate the Class of 2021.
Hard-to-staff Praxis support is available now! (NEW)

Hard-to-staff Praxis support is available to full-time, active SCS employees who hold a Bachelor's degree. The support is specifically to help prepare for the Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications Praxis (5545). Those interested in securing a teaching license with this endorsement should RSVP for an info session tomorrow, May 6, or Tuesday, May 11.

Online Licensure Exam Study Support Available
Through 240 Tutoring, SCS offers study material for Praxis exams, National Evaluation Series (NES) exams, and/or Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCEs) at no cost to active employees. After reviewing available study guides, sign up for 240 Tutoring supports here.
The American College of Education is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with 15 $250 Amazon giveaways! (NEW)

The American College of Education appreciates teachers making a difference, even from a distance. To show it, they're celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by giving away 15 $250 Amazon gift cards.
Educators have until Friday, May 7 to enter the gift card drawing here! Winners will be notified on Monday, May 10.
Don't miss out on these Teacher Appreciation Week giveaways! (LAST CHANCE)

New Memphis is celebrating teachers who are leading from the classroom throughout Teacher Appreciation Week! They're posting daily giveaways on their social media pages, including incredible prizes from local restaurants, chefs, plant stores, and more. Don’t miss out on your chance to win! Follow New Memphis on either Instagram (@TheNewMemphis) or Facebook (@NewMemphisInstitute), or both to double the odds! Just do what the posts say the rest of THIS WEEK to be entered to win.

Papa Murphy's is running a special for all teachers TODAY & TOMORROW. Use the code TACSD for 50% off one pizza! You must submit your order online to receive the discount.
Calling ALL bilingual mentors! Secure the Chalk "Café Con Leche" is May 19. (NEW)

We are gearing up for Secure the Chalk, "Café Con Leche," on Thursday, May 19, 4:30 p.m. at the TLA. This session will support potential teacher recruitment for our Latinx/Hispanic population currently serving as bilingual mentors in SCS. Attendees must sign up via PLZ course #27324. View the flyer for more info.
Complete a Science Curriculum Map survey for a chance to WIN prizes from Knowledge Tree!

Take a moment to complete a survey about your thoughts on Quarter 3 Science Curriculum Maps. You must submit your survey by Wednesday, May 12, to enter a drawing for prizes from Knowledge Tree.


The UEA is awarding TWO $2,500 scholarships! Seniors can submit essays through May 14.

The United Education Association is accepting scholarship applications for SCS high school seniors. Applicants should submit essays to UEAScholarship2021@gmail.com. There will be two $2,500 scholarships awarded. The deadline to apply is May 14. Please share this application with your students today!
A special THANK YOU goes out to everyone who supported the Teacher-Led Grading Forums! (NEW)

This is a very special shout out to the teachers who supported the Elementary, Middle, and High School Grading Forums. Thank you to this team of talented teachers!

If you missed this opportunity, please see each grade band’s recording here:


This list outlines grading practices and strategies for each grade band that may be helpful as you continue to expand your toolbox of equitable and effective grading practices.
You still have a chance to participate in Fitness in the Park! Don't miss out! (NEW)

Coordinated School Health and Human Resources are partnering to help SCS employees stay active and healthy this spring. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, employees can sign up for various FREE group fitness classes, like yoga, Zumba, and Bootcamp/full-body workouts. All workouts are held at Shelby Farms! Register here!

For the last two weeks of FITP, we will give a FITP goodie bag to ALL first time attendees.
i-Ready Movers and Shakers Campaign – April Winners! (NEW)

Congratulations to our April winners! These winners had overall top usage in i-Ready for the month of April in terms of A) students meeting 30+ minutes per week on lessons, B) students reaching 70%+ lesson pass rates, and C) schools having the highest overall percentage of students using i-Ready instruction. Winners will be recognized for their hard work with real and virtual trophies.

Congratulations to these top scoring schools and zones! Remember, bragging rights for the month of May are coming up!
Here's a special PD collaboration with the Tennessee Shakespeare Company for teachers in grades 4-5! (NEW)

Next week, 4th and 5th grade ELA teachers have an opportunity to participate in a two-part professional learning series focused on poetry, literary elements, and techniques that will be highlighted during 4th quarter poetry lessons in the Wonders curriculum. Participants in the two-part professional learning series will have an opportunity to sign-up for a virtual field trip. Additionally, students of the teacher-participants will become eligible to compete in the SCS/TSC Poetry Contest to win student and teacher prizes.

Click this link to register for the two-part professional learning series. For additional information about this collaboration with TSC, click here.
 Connect with SCS on social media! #SCSis901