MLK News: Dec. 5 - 9, 2022

From Executive Principal, Dr. Angela McShepard-Ray

18 MLK Royals and their Pearl-Cohn Firebird teammates will play for the TSSAA Class 4A Football State Championship this weekend! The Firebirds will travel to Chattanooga to take on Anderson County at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 3 at Finley Stadium (home of the UT Chattanooga Mocs). Hope you'll join us in celebrating these talented athletes!

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We have one week before exams. Next week is the last week of instruction. The following is the exam week. Use these two weeks wisely and finish academically strong!

Exams will take place December 13 – 16. We will dismiss at 11:20 am each day for all grade levels. This includes 7th and 8th grades. Please ensure your child has transportation set up to be picked up at 11:20 am each day after exams.

In grades 9-12, for a course with no State end-of-course exam or the first semester of a course with a State end-of-course exam: the semester grade shall be determined by each nine-week grade counting 40% and the teacher-administered examination grade counting 20% (40/40/20).

2022 MLK December Exam Schedule

MLK gives exams to all students enrolled (7th – 12th grade). We follow the high school schedule in which we dismiss at 11:20 am when exams are given. This means middle school students will be dismissed at 11:20 am along with high school students.

Semester Examinations


Final semester examinations are to be given in all 9-12 courses during the regular school year. The Chief Academic Officer or his/her designee must approve exceptions to this rule. Exams may not be given more than one time. Students may not type, grade, or handle other students’ exams. Students may not be dismissed from class during exams. Cheating on an exam will result in the lowest possible grade, according to the grading policy, being given for the final exam grade (see IM 4.144). Students may not take exams early. If a student must miss an exam, the principal may give permission for the student to make up the exam at a later time.


The 2022 December Exam schedule is below. All students 7th – 12th grade will follow this exam schedule. We will dismiss at 11:20 am each day. Please make the needed provisions for transportation.

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A Holiday Note from the PTSA

Dear Royal Families,

As a token of our appreciation, the MLK PTSA would like to give gift cards as holiday gifts to all MLK teachers, faculty and staff. We are relaunching the INVEST campaign to raise money to purchase 107 gift cards.

Here's how you can help:

Make an online donation in the spirit store by choosing the Holiday Gift Card Option: MLK Spirit Store

Teacher gift giving made easy: You make a donation; we purchase and deliver the gift cards, and you check teacher gifts off your list!

Thank you so much for INVESTING in our fabulous teachers and staff!

P.S. Don't forget to purchase spirit store items for holiday gifts as well! Loyal Royal White Out shirts available to purchase and pick up before the game on Tuesday. Spirit Store Orders will be available for pick up in the office Tuesday 12/6, Thursday 12/8, and end of the day Monday 12/12. All holiday orders must be placed by 9:00am 12/12 for fulfillment before exams.

Tour Tuesdays are Back at MLK

We are launching MLK Tour Tuesdays beginning on December 6th and running through March 21st. If you know someone who is interested in applying to MLK for the 2023-2024 school year, please direct them to our website Visit MLK - Martin Luther King Jr. School (mnps.org) or send them this link to sign up for a tour.


MLK Tour Sign-Ups

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Winter Chorus Concert

The Winter Holiday season is upon us! The choir students and Mrs. Spencer held their Winter Chorus Concert on Thursday, December 1st. If you missed it, you missed a treat.


Want to get into the winter spirit? Attend the upcoming band or orchestra concert.


Winter Band Concert - Tuesday, December 6th, at 6:00 pm in the auditorium

Winter Orchestra Concert - Thursday, December 8th, at 6:00 pm in the auditorium


See the flyer below.


Happy Holidays!

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ACT and SAT Test Prep

My Test Tips, a Nashville based test prep program, is offering Fall and Winter Sessions.... private one on one virtual coaching for ACT and SAT test prep.

For more information on cost and registering for our sessions, email us: mytesttips@gmail.com

follow us on.......mytesttips Facebook.

2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)


The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on Oct. 1 for current seniors who will begin college in the Fall of 2023. Some states and schools have limited funds, so we do not want students to delay; the sooner it is completed, the better!


Additionally, for TN Promise eligibility, the application MUST be completed and submitted by March 1. Please add this information to your weekly newsletters, callouts, and daily announcements to students and parents. The application and more information can be found here.

Schoology and Infinite Campus Grading Information

A Note about grades: Parents are encouraged to monitor their students' grades using Schoology or Infinite Campus. Schoology is the best place to look for grades because it is updated more often, and it is the only place where you can see materials and assignments. Teachers will transfer grades from Schoology to Campus at least twice a week. Grades for each quarter are finalized officially in Infinite Campus at the end of the nine weeks. Infinite Campus rounds grades using a different number of decimal places, so you might notice a discrepancy of 0.01% between Campus and Schoology. The final grade in Infinite Campus is the OFFICIAL grade.

INVEST - We have EXCEEDED our Goal!!

Thanks to your generous support we have EXCEEDED our $60,000 INVEST goal in donations & pledges!

Because of you, MLK students and teachers will have the resources and tools to be the best school in MNPS! 🎓

If you haven't given yet, you can still donate to help fund additional projects and unexpected needs https://investmlk.evrits.com

We are so grateful for every dollar that we have raised to support this amazing school. 🍎

THANK YOU FOR BEING A LOYAL ROYAL!

With gratitude,

Michele Harrell & Rachel Layburn

Invest Co-Chairs

News from the MLK College Center

Wednesday, Dec. 7 - Last College Center Extended Hours for the semester (3:00 - 5:00 pm).

ACT Corner

Welcome to week 16 of the 2022-2023 ACT Corner!

This week’s practice passage comes from the Math section of the ACT. Math_passage_10_Nov_30_22.pdf

Correct answers to last week’s English passage are also included. answers_English_10_Nov_22_2022.pdf

After School Tutoring - Monday Through Thursday

For high school students it occurs Monday-Thursday from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. in room 2206.


For middle school the schedule is from 3:15-4:15, Monday-Thursday.

  • 8th Grade - Monday (Poston)and Tuesday (Boleyjack),
  • 7th Grade - Wednesday (Taylor) and Thursday (Ellis).


More information

Need Help with Homework?

Use the Homework Hotline! Call 615.298.6636.
Teachers are available to answer questions Mondays through Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a free service to students in TN.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.


When you call, text, or chat 988, you will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting you, provide support, and connect you to resources if necessary.

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.


The Lifeline’s network of over 200 crisis centers has been in operation since 2005, and has been proven to be effective. It’s the counselors at these local crisis centers who answer the contacts the Lifeline receives every day. Numerous studies have shown that callers feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.


Answer the call! These centers are looking to bring on new volunteers and paid employees. You will receive training, so if you are a caring person who wants to help those in crisis, apply today. Find your opportunity: samhsa.gov/988-jobs

  • For ways to support your local Lifeline network crisis center, visit our Crisis Centers page here.
  • To learn about the impact of the Lifeline, visit our new By the Numbers page.
  • To learn about what happens when you call, text, or chat with the Lifeline, click here.
  • To learn more about the history of 988, visit here.
  • To learn how Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the Lifeline, has been supporting states’ implementation planning for 988 through grants, check here.


If you’re a Veteran, Service Member or loved one and want to know more about how 988 will affect the Veterans Crisis Line, click here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School for Health Sciences and Engineering