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April 20, 2022
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
- John Wooden
Join us for The Excellence in Education Gala on Thursday, May 5, from 6-9 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis. We will honor the 2022 MSCS Teacher, Principal, and Supervisor of the year! Tickets are $25. Dinner and LIVE music will be included! Seats will fill fast, so reserve your spot TODAY!
Congratulations to Anzari Rankin, teacher at A. Maceo Walker Middle, and Sherry Chatman, teacher at Lowrance K-8, for being recognized as the March Superheroes! MSCS appreciates ALL that you do! Read the nominations that explains how special they are here.
Did you miss Engage2Learn’s February 2022 DLD session? A make-up course will be available in Canvas starting April 12. Please register for CADRE1210 in PLZ. This opportunity is open through May 5. Credit for the make-up course will appear on your transcript on May 13
The Mid-South is experiencing a critical blood shortage, and MSCS is committed to helping! Our next blood drive is April 29, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the COE Auditorium. Schedule your donation appointment here! Learn more here.
REMINDER! The Tennessee Educator Survey is OPEN until April 29. The survey link was emailed to you on March 7. Please provide your feedback on this confidential survey to share your experiences about teaching during the pandemic. Questions? Email tned.research.alliance@vanderbilt.edu.
Congratulations to Dexter Elementary, Grandview Heights Middle, and Oakhaven High School for winning the 5 Star Service Award!

Exceptional customer service is the key ingredient that keeps MSCS schools flourishing and our community unified. Dexter Elementary, Grandview Heights Middle, and Oakhaven High School are being honored for the HEART work of their front office team. All three schools were nominated by parents, teachers, staff, and community members for having exemplary customer service. These teams commit to providing top-tier services each day, no matter what challenges the day brings. 

Dexter Elementary
Principal Certion, Melissa Davis, Marilyn Smith, Ricardo Harrison
Grandview Heights Middle
Maggie Anderson, Vermelle Neal, Asst. Principal Anderson,
Kristen Jefferson
Oakhaven High
Alexandra Haynes, Ashley Hill, Principal Mosby, Marcia Jones, Veronica Billingsley

All K-5 teachers should register for the Early Reading Training!
In collaboration with TDOE, Early Reading Trainings (ERT) will be offered again this summer for MSCS. Early Reading Trainings are designed to develop knowledge & application of foundational skills for K-5 teachers. The sessions include asynchronous training (Course 1) and in-person, weeklong training (Course 2). 

  • Course 1 of the ERT counts as an approved course for K-5 teachers' new licensure requirements outlined in the TN Literacy Success Act.  
  • Teachers who complete Course 1 and Course 2 will receive a $1,000 stipend.

Click here to sign-up for Course 2 and learn more about Course 1 and other ERT details!
The Amazing Race Registration Edition! (NEW)
Would you like to enter the Amazing Race to ensure that 100% of your student are registered for the 2022-23 school year? Here's how it works:

  •  Encourage parents and students to complete registration!
  • Each teacher that reaches 100% registration will be entered to win $250.
  • The challenge ends on May 13!
MSCS Games are back May 9-13! (NEW)
Get your school and department teams ready for the MSCS Games on May 9-13! MSCS employees can form teams and go head-to-head with businesses and organizations from around the city in Kickball, Volleyball, Track & Field Day Games, Family Feud, and Bowling.

It's FREE for MSCS employees to participate, and spouses are welcome to play, too! Sign up here.

Please Note: Family Feud is ALMOST full. The deadline to register your team for Family Feud is April 22. The deadline to register for all other events is April 29.
Deadline Reminders! (NEW)
Upload your professionalism artifacts and complete a self-score by April 22. 

Please Note: If professionalism is not finalized by both the administrator and the educator, the educator WILL NOT receive an LOE for SY2021-22.
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All completed student growth portfolio collections must be submitted to the online platform Portfolium by 11:59 p.m. on May 2.

Educators, please begin uploading submissions before the due date to ensure the upload is visible.

Reminder: An incomplete portfolio submission or non-submission will result in an incomplete TEM Evaluation record resulting in no LOE generated for SY2021-22.
Sign Up for the Content Area Literacy Academy!
The Content Area Literacy Academy is designed to provide professional learning opportunities to core content area teachers in grades 3-12. Content area teachers who provide instruction in English language arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages are eligible to participate in the Academy.
Orientation will be on June 8. The following activities will occur June 13-28:
  • 4 days total of in-person Professional Development Provided by Teacher Created Materials Inc. 
  • 12 hours of Webinar PD Provided by Teacher Created Materials Inc. 
  • 12 hours Teacher Application/Practicum 

Participating teachers can earn a $2,000 stipend for successfully completing all requirements of the program. The Academy will equip teachers with literacy practices and strategies that can be utilized to help students as they develop an understanding of concepts and ideas encountered in text across disciplines.

If interested, please sign up by completing this survey.
Additional Mathematics TCAP Resources for grades
 3-Algebra 2! (NEW)
Are you looking for extra TCAP Math practice materials to help your students prepare for the upcoming state assessments? Check out these NEW TCAP Math practice resources for the grades 3 – Algebra 2.

Questions? Email The C&I Math Team at MathCurriculum&Instruction@scsk12.org
More i-Ready Support! (NEW)
Looking for more ways to boost implementation fidelity and make moves in the incentive campaign? Reminder, the campaign is based on i-Ready personalized instruction minutes, pass rates, percentage of student engagement, and teacher use of the toolbox.

The RTI2 best practices to support these efforts are found here. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the i-Ready team if you need PD support.
Manage your stress levels with a tool designed for YOU! (NEW)
Are you or your students feeling stressed as we approach the testing season? Take an opportunity to unwind using a new tool called Whil, a leading digital provider of mindfulness, stress, resilience, and mental well-being. Follow the prompt below to access your free trial account, available until the end of the school year.


Family Resource: Help Your Child Manage Stress
We also wanted to extend a resource to support families and caregivers. Please feel free to share this resource with families and caregivers you think would benefit.
Check out the New Memphis Teachers’ Lounge! (NEW)
What can you expect at the New Memphis Teachers' Lounge? Curated happy hours and a casual and safe space for teachers to discuss pressing topics in today's education landscape and grow together.

Join the conversation on Tuesday, May 3, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Ghost River Brewing Co. on Beale -- food and drinks provided! Chalkbeat will be there to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.

Opportunity for families to support their child's mental health! (NEW)
Teachers, do you have families that want to be more involved with their children's mental health? The Parent Avengers Group gives families the tools they need to foster their child's social and emotional well-being.

Parents can join a live session on May 5 from 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. here!
Calling ALL School Personnel: Become a Classroom Teacher Today!
Join us to learn more about pathways to become a licensed educator in MSCS during our Pathways to Teaching Expo.

Whether you are a secretary, paraprofessional, nutrition specialist, or serve in another school-based role, we have a classroom teaching opportunity for you! All you need is a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher and a passion for educating the next generation of leaders.

Join us for an hour of power at the New Teacher Academy on April 28, 5 p.m. Register here.
NOW HIRING: Summer School
Looking to make additional income this summer? Apply for MSCS's Promotional Summer School opportunities by clicking here.
NOW HIRING: Summer Learning Academy
Registration for the Summer Learning Academy (SLA) is now open for families, and positions for SLA are open until May 13! If you are interested in earning some extra money for the summer, apply for Summer Learning Academy on the MSCS Careers website.
Interested in summer employment? The TechXpert Summer Immersion Camp needs YOU!
The Virtual Education & Logistics Division is relaunching the Student Ambassador Program for rising 7th and 8th-grade students with its TechXpert Summer Immersion Camp.

We are looking for teachers with experience and content knowledge in the areas of STEM, Science, or Mathematics. Facilitators that are chosen will participate in mandatory training June 7-9. Program dates are June 13-24 at Middle College High School. The TechXpert Program Facilitator application deadline is April 22.
If you have any questions, please contact Michael Henry at henrym@scsk12.org or call 901-416-1738.
ELA teachers, we NEED your voice! (NEW)
As we plan for next year, we want your input around ELA curriculum resources. Complete your grade band curriculum survey, and you will be entered to win new MSCS Swag! The survey can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link below: 
  
K-2   |    3-5   |    6-8   |   9-12 
  
Additionally, live virtual feedback sessions will be conducted throughout May. Let your voice be heard by registering for your grade band session using the following PLZ course #30501.
What do you think about the Library curriculum? Tell us during an upcoming focus group!
Librarian feedback is extremely valuable in assisting Library Services in making the necessary adjustments to meet the needs of students and Librarians. Please complete this survey to share your feedback on the 2021-22 Library curriculum.
Library Services will also host a Library curriculum focus group on Monday, May 2, via Teams from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. This focus group aims to gain insight into how the library curriculum can be most effectively designed to support librarians and student learning. PLZ Course #30433.

Please plan to attend and share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win several prizes. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Fields at fieldsa@scsk12.org.
Take the HPELW Curriculum Map Survey!
Your feedback is valuable to us! Please take a moment to complete this survey on your thoughts about the HPELW Curriculum map, so we can better support you.
Participate in the Science Curriculum Focus Group! (NEW)
Participate in a focus group beginning this month for the 2022-23 school year about science curriculum and instructional materials, resources, and support!

The focus group will allow you to share your feedback on the implementation and effectiveness of curricular resources and deliverables. More detailed information will be emailed to those who sign up.

If you plan to participate, complete this form by TODAY!
 Connect with MSCS on social media! #MSCSis901