Compendium Digest

August 30, 2024

• Compendium Updates
• Campus News & Updates
• Extended Learning
• University Schools Athletics
• Parent Networks
• Mark your calendars!
• UofM Athletics & Events
• Tech Talks
• Helpful Links & Contact Information

Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year will open in November 2024. If you are interested in the 2025-26 school year, please complete the Interest Form below, and we will email you when the new student application opens.

Additional enrollment information can be found on University Schools Enrollment Webpage. Questions? Email enrollus@memphis.edu

University Schools families: please review and complete the attached form. It is required by new Tennessee legislation for your child to be able to receive health services and basic first aid in our schools, such as band-aid application, temperature checks, ice pack application, etc.

Any student that does not have signed consent will not receive health services from nursing staff or University Schools administration, unless the student is experiencing a health emergency. You will be required to come to the school to provide minor health care assistance for your child if there is no signed consent on file with University Schools.

Please review, print, sign, and return the form with your child to school as soon as possible.

As you may know, we are raising money to purchase a Pouncer Jr costume for our University Schools sports and pep rallys. We are hoping to be able to raise a good portion of the $12,000 price tag. Link to donate can be found here: https://momentum.memphis.edu/project/42856

Get ready to show your Tiger Pride!! University Schools has been invited to attend a UofM football game, on August 31, at a discounted rate. Adult tickets can be purchased here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/UniversitySchools3 with a discount, and then will be able to receive free tickets for their students! Additionally, $5 from every purchased ticket will go back to University Schools.

This year, we are proud to partner with FeedWells Eats to provide lunch to all of our students at Campus School, University Middle School, and University High School.

It's safe to say that FeedWells is living up to their name, by providing highly quality lunches to our students. The pizza seems to be a fan favorite among the students!

Reminder that lunch pricing will go into effect on September 16, 2024. Until that date, all children will eat free for breakfast and lunch. If you would like to apply for Free or Reduced lunch, please click on the blue button below for access to an application.

BREAKFAST: $2.65 per meal

LUNCH: $3.70 per meal

Information on how to pay online will be available the week of September 9-13, 2024. Our nutrition team can also accept cash, debit, credit, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Cash App at the cash register each day.

The University Schools Wellness, Training, Treatment, and Research Center officially opened in the 2024-25 school year. We are excited to welcome a strong team of professionals focused on best-in-class student support at the ELRC, Campus School, University Middle School, and University High School.

• Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Marissa Gray, PMHNP, IMH-E, E-RYT/YACEP

• Registered Nurse: Ms. Deaton, BSN, RN, BA
• Speech Language Pathologist: Ms. Campbell, M.S., CCC SLP
• School Psychologist: Dr. Clarke, NCSP
• Counseling/Clinical Mental Health: Ms. Hanson
• Behavioral Support: Ms. Harrington
• English Language Learners: Ms. Sporer
• Social Work: Ms. Yancey

Welcome to the team!

University Schools is partnering with PowerSchool Messenger to communicate with families at Campus School, University Middle School, and University High School by voice call, email, and text message.

In order to receive SMS/text messages from us, you must opt-in. If you did not receive the opt-in message, you can manually opt-in by texting 'Y' or 'yes' to the number 67587.

Upon completion, you will receive a confirmation text message from PowerSchool Messenger. Thank you for staying connected to us!

Reggio 3 Classroom

Supervising Teacher: Mrs. Anna Grace

Assistant Teachers: Diedra Camper and Danesha Roper

During the first month of school, the children in Mrs. Anna Grace's 3-year-old class participated in "all about me" activities. Mrs. Anna Grace taught the importance of loving yourself first so that you can love others too. After reading the book "I like me" to the students, they took turns coming to the front of the classroom and sharing what they love about themselves. As a reflection activity, the students created self-portraits using bright art materials. The teachers helped the students note one thing they liked about themselves on their artwork.

Hopes and Dreams

“What are your hopes and dreams for the school year?” All Campus School teachers ask this question during the first week of school to help students get excited about learning and make a personal connection to what they will learn in school. Inviting students to name learning goals (hopes and dreams) right away shows them that Campus School is a safe place and that students are important members of the classroom. It also shows students that they can look forward to an engaging, challenging, and fun year of growth and learning.

Students in grade one worked to dig into their identity. They created an acrostic poem with their names. Then, teachers facilitated students explore what their hopes and dreams are. They created sentences to explain what their goals for the year are. They then published their work by illustrating an image of themselves attaching their hope and dream as a thought bubble. These are hanging in the hallways outside of their classrooms.

Students in grade four tied their hopes and dreams into their yearlong theme of the Olympics. After having conversations about what it means to be an Olympian, goal setting, and looking at model examples of great athletes, students created a gold medal with their hopes, dreams, and goals illustrated. This activity allowed students to set the stage for their yearlong theme and create a visual to anchor their hopes and goals for the school year.

This is part of the Responsive Classroom model that Campus School has adopted for years. This activity varies per grade-level. Some grades opted to have students complete their hopes and dreams on a cloud-shaped paper to display. While all of the hopes and dreams may look different, the intentionality and themes are alike. Teachers use students’ hopes and dreams as a reminder throughout the school year for the students of their dreams and to instill the mindset that anything is possible.

Highly Effective Teaching

“The Highly Effective Teaching model is a brain-compatible model grounded in the biology of learning, effective instructional strategies, and the development of conceptual curriculum. The HET Model has been successfully replicated nationally in educational institutions serving rural, urban, and suburban communities. It includes proven strategies and methods for student learning, teaching and administrative management. Independent research has provided evidence of significant gains in student achievement using the Highly Effective Teaching Model.

The HET model is implemented at Campus School. There are several components that make for an HET classroom. Here are some of the components: Creating the conditions for a learning environment before school starts; Implementing resources for a body-brain-compatible environment throughout the year; Classroom resources include neuroscience and the Biology of Learning, mindful and intentional materials are used for building community, Classroom management through the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS, Intentional instructional strategies are used for engaging students, and instructors create and use Conceptual Curriculum which integrates subject areas.

Teachers devoted time during in-service to “Quality Classrooms”. This includes analyzing classroom practices and set-up to ensure model HET status- such as utilizing natural lighting, incorporating plants, and calming colors. Campus School classrooms have the “living room” approach, where students feel like they are at home in their classrooms. When it comes to setting up classrooms, everything is on purpose.

During teacher in-service, teachers participated in curriculum planning as a grade-level team. Teachers began the week exploring the components of the HET model. Courtney Scott, Betsy Pillow, and Aaren Cassidy planned and facilitated a session where teachers learned about the “how to’s” of curriculum writing. Then, together as a grade- level team, teachers sorted all of the standards according to the quarter the standards are taught. During the second day of the training, teachers explored the “how-to’s” of Yearlong Themes. Using a template, teachers brainstormed and developed their theme for the year. This intentional and powerful work set the stage for teaching and learning for the school year.

Kindergarten Infectious Diseases and Wellness Collaborative with St. Jude

One of Campus School’s dearest partnerships is with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Powered by the STEMM Education and Outreach Program, the St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program aims to increase diversity of the biomedical workforce by addressing inequities in K-16 STEMM education. STEMM education stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine. Created by Kate Ayers and facilitated by Hailey Wolfe, the Kindergarten collaborative has already kicked off at Campus School. Over the summer, STEM/PBL Facilitator Betsy Pillow spent two days at the St. Jude campus learning about the collaborative, learning about best practices, and exploring the “why” behind the programming. The Kindergarten Infectious Diseases and Wellness Collaborative partners with kindergarten teachers in the Memphis area to enhance science education practices and curricula for early learners. Through collaboration from partnering teachers, scientists, and education researchers, they have created learning modules that integrate science learning with English language arts, math, and social and emotional learning. This in-school curriculum is teacher-led in which the texts and materials are provided to the partnering schools. The kindergarten teachers are excited to kick-off this partnership!

Welcome Back!

Our UMS students have been adjusting to the new 2024-25 school year. Check out these highlights of back to school fun!

Tag, The Tiger

UMS is having fun spreading some Tiger joy! Be on the lookout for "Tag," the UMS Tiger that is circulating among the building. Watch out, or "Tag, You're It,!"

Naviance - College and Career Readiness

Our founding Class of 2026, was introduced to Naviance, a comprehensive college, career, and life readiness platform for high school students. Through Naviance, students can uncover their strengths and interests, explore colleges and careers, prepare for the ACT, listen to motivational speakers, and plan their ideal postsecondary path. By the end of our one-hour session, students successfully logged into their Naviance accounts, explored career and postsecondary options, began building their resumes, and accessed ACT and SAT test prep resources through both Naviance and the Tennessee Electronic Library. Over the next four weeks, all juniors will have this opportunity, so parents please rest assured that your students will be introduced to Naviance in the coming weeks.

UHS STEM

Checkout our UHS Biology students, as they have been conducting various labs to test different foods for organic molecules using various indicators.

Congratulations to University High School for being selected as a canopy school for the 2024-25 school year, nominated for innovation and student-centered learning!

Click here to learn more!

Welcome back to Extended Learning! We're thrilled to offer an exciting array of programs this semester, featuring 36 options for Campus students and 20 for UMS/UHS students. We're proud to have over 420 students enrolled!

Thank you for choosing University Schools Extended Learning and for entrusting your students with us. We're committed to providing enriching experiences that complement their academic journey.

Stay tuned! We will use the Compendium Digest to keep you informed and share plenty of photos from our programs, giving you a glimpse into your student's exciting experiences. Consider exploring additional programs for your student(s) next semester!

Please have our EL Guide handy since all the program details are explained there, and make sure you cover all your payments by August 26th.

Internal programs should be paid here, while external programs should have been paid directly to our partner!

Campus Extended Learning Dismissal

Dismissal starts at 4:20 pm sharp. Extended Learning walkers use the north door. No walkers will be dismissed on Half Circle. Please help us keep our students safe while implementing an effective dismissal process.

UMS/UHS Extended Learning Dismissal

Most of our programs are operated in the Orgel building and dismiss at 4:30 p.m. Basketball, Volleyball, and Krav Maga need to travel back from the Field House, Garden, or Rec Center therefore, will dismiss at 4:45 p.m. The only program that has a different dismissal time and process is Food Fusion. Please stay connected with our partners!

• August 26: Extended Learning Fall 2024 payment is due

Questions? Email elus@memphis.edu

Campus School has a rich tradition of designing and delivering learning experiences that encourage students to ask themselves how they can positively impact their school and local community. One Campus School student is impacting far more than she realizes with her local fundraising opportunity. Project Backpack is an inspiring initiative founded by Maya Frazier, a 5th-grade student at Campus School, which aims to ensure that every child has the supplies they need to be successful in school. Maya’s project has successfully donated around 50 backpacks filled with essential school supplies over the past two summers. Maya’s vision extends beyond just providing the necessary school supplies; she also includes hygiene products for girls, addressing a broader spectrum of needs. Her efforts are a testament to the influence young individuals can have on their communities. Contributions to Maya’s Project Backback initiative can be made through various channels, including Venmo and Amazon wish lists.

For more information, visit Project Backpack.

At UHS, Mrs. Spillman’s Visual Art II and Art III Honors classes are working on artwork inspired by the 1950's USA era. Checkout this amazing charcoal drawing of Audrey Hepburn, created by Lulu Kling-Wilson!

Congratulations to the following students at UHS for being nominated as SGA officers for the 2024-25 school year!

Congratulations to Mr. Harmon, Orgel Compliance Coordinator, for this amazing accomplishment! Check out this highlight.

Emerald Theatre Company’s Co-Artistic Director, Hal Harmon was in attendance at the 40th Annual Ostrander Awards on August 26. His theater company was nominated for six awards and won 3. Among them was featured actor in a play, supporting actress in a musical, which was directed by our very own Ms. Liz Pegg and Best Original Script that Harmon directed and acted in for The Western Park Album. Emerald Theater Company is in residency at TheatreWorks @ the Square and will begin their 28th Season September 6 with their 7th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival. Learn more by going to their website at www.etcmemphistheater.com

Go Tigers Go! It’s hard to believe that we are already competing in our Fall sports season. We have had so many new and exciting experiences over the past couple of months. Our athletes were busy over the summer attending camps and clinics from Arkansas State University all the way to East TN State University in an effort to hone their skills! Big shout out to our UHS and UMS | UCA Cheer All Americans! Along with their team, their performance at cheer camp earned the All American Designation!

UMS

Bliss McKissack

Zoe Tucker

Dakota Taylor

Colbie James

UHS

Khloe Leake

Miguela Gary

Arian Coleman

Teryanna Moore

Madeline Furr

Amira Jones

Keirstin Neal

You can see our UMS All Americans in action as they perform on “Spirit Day” at half-time at the University of Memphis season opener football game on August 31st.

During this Fall season, we are participating in Golf, Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, and Tennis. We are proud to announce the addition of our UHS Junior Varsity Volleyball team! Our student athletes continue to represent our Innovative School District with integrity. During the Winter Season we will participate in Basketball, Cheer, Bowling, and Swim!

It’s important to remember that Interscholastic Athletics play a vital role in the holistic development of our students. They contribute to physical health, character development, academic success, social and emotional growth, and community engagement. Additionally, athletics offer valuable life lessons and opportunities that extend beyond competition and practice. We applaud our student athletes and their families for supporting our athletic programs!

Here is a recap of our Fall Sports thus far:

Campus School Cross Country - Our Tiger running club continues to compete in the Memphis Youth Athletics running program. These runners are learning the fundamentals of distance running while getting the opportunity to meet and compete against runners from all over our city!

UMS Girls Soccer - Season opener vs Memphis Rise! We’re looking forward to another amazing season for our UMS Girls!

UMS Volleyball - Big win over MSE Cordova in their season opener!

UMS Cross Country - Like our UHS runners, the UMS XC crew did an amazing job at the West TN Jamboree in Jackson, TN! Several top 10 finishers for our boys and girls teams!

UMS Tennis - Looking forward to a very competitive season against some top-tier teams!

UHS Golf - Big win over Harding Academy in our season opener followed by a win over Wesminster Academy!

UHS Girls Soccer - Traveling to North Point, Mississippi for their season opener.

UHS Volleyball - JV faced a tough Hutchison team in their season opener. Varsity was victorious in their first match of the season over MSE Winchester.

UHS Cross Country - Our XC crew did an amazing job at the West TN Jamboree in Jackson, TN! Our boys team finished 3rd of 18 while our girls team finished 4th out of 11 teams!

Our BLUE Out Volleyball game is on September 5th at 4:30pm at St. Luke's United Methodist Church! The UHS Girls Soccer BLUE Out is September 19th at 6:00pm at Halle Stadium. Come out wearing your Tiger Blue and support our teams!

We appreciate all who lend a hand to support University Schools Athletics, especially the hard work and dedication of our coaches. Without them, none of this would be possible! Coaches are the guiding forces behind the success of athletes and teams in sports. Their role extends beyond teaching skills and strategies; they are mentors, motivators, and leaders. Coaches instill discipline, foster teamwork, and inspire confidence in their athletes. They play a crucial role in developing character, teaching resilience, and imparting life lessons that extend well beyond the playing field. Coaches have a profound impact on the personal and athletic growth of their students, making their role indispensable. Thank you coaches!

Campus School

Cross Country: Coach Brandt Pence

UMS

Volleyball: Coach Susannah Whitesell

Cross Country: Coach Ben Fox and Coach Jim Murphy

Soccer: Coach Jennifer Lazar and Coach Gil Arrollo

Tennis: Coach/Sponsor Blair Geer

UHS

Golf: Coach Blake Spann, Coach Dallas Geer

Volleyball: Coach Kiara Hunt Moore, Coach Jacqueline Copeland, Coach Bria Brown

Soccer: Coach Victoria Bentley, Coach Gil Arrollo

Cross Country: Coach Colton Cockrum, Coach Kimberly Grantham

As our schools grow, so does our need for athletic facilities to practice and compete. Our partnerships with the University of Memphis Campus Recreation, Transportation, College of Health Sciences along with Shelby Farms Park, and Memphis Youth Athletics are just a few that have played a major role in our ability to host quality athletic programs. This year we are excited to extend our partnership with St. Luke’s UMC. St. Luke's UMC Gym is our home facility for all Basketball and Volleyball contests! We are also happy to continue our partnership with the Memphis Sports and Events Center (MSEC) and The Blue Line!

We have great parent networks for our family members to join! Our parent networks support our schools through volunteering, fundraising, and providing other supports. Reach out to them today to get involved!

ELRC: Parent Resource Page (Parent Network re-launching soon)

Campus School: Campus School Parent Network. Venmo @umcspn your gift today! Click here to subscribe to CSPN Newsletter.

University Middle: University Middle Parent Network (UMPN)

University High: Email the University High School Parent Network at UHighParentNetwork@gmail.com.

• August 30: Campus School UofM Volleyball Game/Grades 2-5/1:00pm/Larry O. Finch Center

• August 31: Tiger Spirit Football Game at Liberty Stadium, 6pm

• September 2: No School

• September 13: Campus School STEAM Night/5:30-7:30pm/Campus School
  

• September 23-27: UMS Hispanic Heritage Celebration Week
• September 23-27: UHS Benchmark Testing
• September 27: UMS Student Leadership Council Investiture
• September 26-October 4: UMS Q1 CFA Testing Window
• October 4: End of First Quarter
• October 7-11: Fall Break (No School)
• October 14: Teacher PD Day (No School for Students)

Click here to view the UofM Athletics & Events for the upcoming month. Support our Tigers, and buy tickets here!

Tech News, Information, and Support for University Schools Families

University Schools is now partnering with PowerSchool to offer parents and families access to view their students' grades and attendance.

To login to your University Schools PowerSchool Parent Portal, use the directions below to get connected. Please note that this is the platform for University Schools, and will differ from other districts and schools. Before logging in, please use the directions for creating your own account.

University Schools is now using Clever as a single-sign-on platform for students. By logging in to Clever, students will have access to digital tools as provided by their school.

Clever access is available at home, and will work on any device. Use the directions below to get connected.

If students experience issues with Clever access, they should report them to their teacher.

Did you know that Chromebooks have a selection of accessibility features that make them great

learning tools for students at any age? From select-to-speak, to magnifiers, sticky keys, and dictation, there are a lot to choose from! Click here to explore options for your student!

Did you know that our UHS students use laptops to support dual enrollment at the UofM? The device comes with more features than a chromebook. Check out the UHS device guide to support operation!

University High School Student Device Guide

Helpful Links

• Bookmark the University Schools 2024-25 Calendar
• University of Memphis Volunteers Form (complete for field trips, festivals, class parties, etc.)
• Bookmark the University Schools website
• Bookmark the University Schools Technology Hub
• Bookmark the University Schools Policy Manual
• Bookmark the University Schools Student & Family Handbook
• Share the University Schools Student Enrollment 2025-26 Interest Form
• Bookmark the University Schools social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Central Team (901.678.5510)

• Dr. Sally G. Parish, Vice Provost & Director of Schools sally.parish@memphis.edu
• Josh Czupryk, Chief Academic & Operations Officer, University Schools josh.czupryk@memphis.edu
• Mary Tucker, Chief Policy & Compliance Officer, University Schools mhtucker@memphis.edu
• Kelsey Ryan, Director of Student and Family Engagement ckryan@memphis.edu
• Dr. Lee-Ann Kight, Executive Director of Academics lckight@memphis.edu
• Kendra Lambert, Senior Director of Federal Programs, Finance, and Compliance ktillis@memphis.edu
• Dr. Angela Hargrave, Senior Director of Student Services lhrgrave@memphis.edu
• Jessica Hernandez, Director of Instructional Technology & Student Information jessica.hernandez@memphis.edu
• Marcos Villa, Assistant Director of Extended Learning marcos.villa@memphis.edu
• Veronica Cooney, Assistant Director of Special Projects vgcooney@memphis.edu
• Keith Loupe, Coordinator of Athletic Programs keith.loupe@memphis.edu
• Art McKenzie, Coordinator of Facilities lmcknze1@memphis.edu
• Michael Carter, UofM Information Technology Liaison michael.carter@memphis.edu

Early Learning & Research Center (ELRC) (901.678.2120)

• Brooke Willis, Executive Director of Early Childhood Programs bwillis3@memphis.edu

Campus School (901.678.2285)

• Dr. Rebecca Scott, Executive Director rhscott@memphis.edu

University Middle (901.678.4200)

• Kerrith Griffin, Executive Director kdgriffin@memphis.edu

University High (901.678.4200)

• Dr. Kristle Hodges-Johnson, Executive Director k.hodges.johnson@memphis.edu

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