Hello MSCS Families,

Please read, save, and share our newsletter filled with articles, District news, events, and timely information.

We've Got Options: MSCS Kicks off School Selection Season with Optional Schools Fair

Hundreds of families were able to get up close and personal with 45 school programs within Memphis-Shelby County Schools during the District’s Optional Schools Fair. The fair, hosted at the University of Memphis, displayed academic, technical, and arts opportunities available to students across Memphis and Shelby County.

Stay READy

Reading is not just a skill but a powerful tool that opens doors to new ideas, cultures, and endless possibilities. Watch this short video and encourage your students, no matter the grade level, to GET READY and STAY READY!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MSCS CALENDAR

DATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

JANUARY

• i-Ready Assessment Window: Jan. 8-26
• Before & After School Tutoring: Sessions Resume Jan. 8
• ACT Virtual Family Night: Jan. 11 Link
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (Students Out): Jan. 15
• Report Cards go home: Jan. 17
• Grizzlies Reading Challenge: Jan. 22-March 1
• Progress Reports go home: Jan. 30
• ACT Dates Link

SCHOLARSHIPS & CONTESTS:

JANUARY

What aid is available in Tennessee?

• (New!) Applications for TBA Diversity Law Week Link
• (New!) Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program Link
• (New!) National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship Awards Link
• (New!) Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Link
• (New!) C-SPAN StudentCam Contest Link
• DEWALT Trades Scholarship Link
• Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship Link
• Niche $50,000 "No Essay" Scholarship Link

The National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) will host a daylong celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday, Jan. 15.

Visitors will receive FREE ADMISSION to the museum, and scheduled performances include local talent, including the Overton High School Choir.

Visitors are encouraged to make the holiday a day of service by donating nonperishable items to Mid-South Food Bank. Guests also can donate to Vitalant’s mobile MLK Spirit of Service Blood Drive for a front-of the-line museum entry and two passes to visit any day in 2024.

SAVE THE DATE: MSCS School Choice Showcase

Saturday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Memphis Sports and Events Center

995 Early Maxwell Blvd.

REMINDER: All K-8 students will participate in the computer-based i-Ready Diagnostic Jan. 8-26. This assessment is NOT counted as a grade for the student's report card. It helps teachers provide the necessary classroom tools and supports for each student. Click HERE for more information.

Tennessee's literacy laws impact students in third grade and fourth grade. Per state law, third-grade students who do not make a passing ELA TCAP score could be required to attend additional intervention or be retained, and impacted fourth-grade students who do not show adequate growth on the ELA portion of the TCAP could be retained with no additional intervention possible.

FREE RESOURCES

• MSCS Learning Academies (Fall Break, Spring Break, and Summer Learning Academies)
• Focused Tutoring (Before-/After-School Tutoring)
• Memphis Public Library: memphislibrary.org/explorememphis/
• Reading 360 Decodables: tn.gov/education/decodables
• Ready4K: scsk12.org/ready4k
• MSCS Homework Hotline: (615) 298-6636 or (901) 416-1234

Third- and fourth-grade families, please remember to sign the parent acknowledgment form on PowerSchool. For more information, visit http://www.scsk12.org/commitment/ or send an email to thirdgradecommitment@scsk12.org.

MSCS Holiday Card Winners

MSCS is filled with talented artists! District leaders reviewed and applauded students' holiday card submissions. Click the image to view the slideshow and to see the winners.

Superintendent Search Finalists Named

And then there were three! The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education and the community have narrowed the field to their top three finalists. Click the image to watch the video, and stay updated on the search by visiting http://www.scsk12.org/supsearch/.

Industry 4.0 Diploma Distinction

REMINDER: Students in ninth and 10th grade still have time to work toward an Industry 4.0 Diploma Distinction. This intensive program puts students on a path to work in a highly skilled, high-need position after graduation. Click here to learn more.

The MSCS family is made up of newsmakers! From our students and teachers to our coaches and support staff, everyone in Memphis-Shelby County Schools has a story.

Below are a few highlights shared by local news outlets.

Shelby County mayor affirms support of new school funding

Click here to read the story from the Daily Memphian

Break's Over: Buses back on the streets, students back in class starting today

Click here to read the story from FOX13

Protests canceled ahead of After School Satan Club launch

Click here to read the story from WMC

NOTE FROM NUTRITION SERVICES: Nearly every industry, including MSCS, is experiencing food supply chain disruptions.

With our logistics providers openly communicating, the Nutrition Services Department has taken immediate measures to mitigate the impact.

A delay may affect menu selections and the availability of products/supplies. Please be patient and understanding as we work diligently to rectify this situation.

MSCS Nutrition Services is responsible for all District cafeterias, serving breakfast and lunch to 105,000 students daily. Click here to view the meals being served at your child's school.

 Connect with MSCS on social media! #MSCSTogether