March 2023 News

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Good afternoon, CMCSS families, Please see below for updates and reminders for April. Calendar Reminders Tuesday, April 4 (5-7 p.m.) – Kindergarten Kick-Off for 2023-2024 School Year Friday, April 7 – Holiday | No School Monday, April 17 – State Standardized Assessments (TCAP) Begin Wednesday, April 19 – “Purple Up! For Military Kids” Day Monday, May 1 – Friday, May 12 – Advanced Placement (AP) Exams Wednesday, May 24 – Last Half Day of School April – Month of the Military Child April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. “Purple Up! For Military Kids” will be celebrated in CMCSS and DoDEA schools on Wednesday, April 19. We encourage the entire community to wear purple to show your support for military-connected children. In CMCSS, around 30% of our nearly 39,000 students are military-connected. Almost half of CMCSS’ schools have earned the TN Purple Star School Award for their commitment to serving military-connected students, with additional schools earning the distinction each year. Military members and military-connected families make many sacrifices for the security and safety of our nation, and we honor and recognize the unique challenges children and family members make to support their loved ones in uniform. Assessments/Testing – TCAP The Tennessee TCAP assessments (state standardized tests) will be administered in CMCSS beginning April 17, 2023. Please click here for the communication that was sent last week with more information about TCAP. For families of third-grade students, during the 2021 Special Session, the Tennessee legislature updated the student promotion and retention law effective this school year. CMCSS has been sharing letters with families and hosting informational meetings. The third parent […]

The following appointments were announced in March.

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. The Tennessee TCAP assessments (state standardized tests) will be administered in CMCSS beginning April 17, 2023. Students in grades 3-5 will be completing the paper-pencil version of TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Students in grades 6-8 will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Students in high school who are currently enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English I, English II, US History, and/or Biology will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP EOC. State law (T.C.A. § 49-1-617) establishes that the state assessments shall comprise a percentage, between 15% and 25%, of a student’s final grade for the spring semester. In CMCSS (policy INS-A023), it is 15%. Students absent on the day of testing receive a zero, following the attendance policy for excused and unexcused absences. Makeup opportunities are provided within the testing window. NEW this year: Tennessee state law provides all students the opportunity to request additional time for completing TCAP assessments if needed. Teachers will provide students a reminder during each subtest of the TCAP to simply raise their hand if they feel they need a few extra moments to finish. The additional time available is equal to 20% of the time allotted for the test section being completed, which is approximately 5 to 17 minutes depending on the content area and subtest. Parents may also make the request for the additional time for their student by submitting a letter of request to the principal at their child’s school by Thursday, April 6. Students who are finished with the assessment or have submitted the […]

Student, faculty, and staff recognized for outstanding achievement.

CMCSS is hiring over 100 teachers.

According to state law, nonprofit organizations with the intent to open a charter school in a Tennessee school district must apply through the local School Board for that district for authorization. Click to learn more about the process, read application materials, and provide feedback on the application.

Learn more about attending a military college.

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. In response to the increased need for student social-emotional support, CMCSS hired nine district social workers in 2022. This small team has made great strides and continues to focus on building connections as a way to combat the struggles students experience. “Sometimes there can be trauma behind all of that anger that we don’t know about,” said Tomecia Slade, a Lead District Social Worker for the district. “There can be some deep-rooted issues going on.” In 2021-2022, CMCSS saw a rise in negative student behavior. After reviewing the data, CMCSS found that a small percentage of students were contributing to recurring negative behavior patterns. It was not widespread, but it had a systemic effect on the schools. What was contributing to this spike in behavior? There is not a single cause. After meeting with students, social workers often find some type of dysfunction, including fighting in the family, sickness, loss of employment, rise in social media use, financial strain, or similar circumstances play a role. “We have students that will seek attention,” said Slade. “That’s going to cause them to act out or run out of the classroom. Those negative things sometimes are going to show up as a way of getting what they want or need. If there is a void somewhere, it is going to show up.” The district social workers are a new resource to CMCSS, and schools are growing accustomed to their presence. The team typically receives referrals through school counselors, teachers, or school-level staff. They work closely with the Families in Transition (FIT) Team and the Student Success Coaches. Alicia Willis, one of the district social workers […]

In 2022, CMCSS added nine district social workers to its roster…

Elementary Schools will host an event for incoming kindergarten families on Tuesday, April 4.