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  • Salem High School Newsletter 10/1/23

    Good Morning, Salem High School Newsletter:  https://www.smore.com/wkb7j Be About It, Glenn Burns 

    Sunday, Oct 01 2023

  • Weekly Newsletter Available!

    Salem Public Schools' Weekly Update Salem Public Schools' Weekly Update ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Open this email in a browser     September 15, 2023 SPS families,   Today marks the kickoff for National Hispanic Heritage Month. From September 15 th through October 15 th , we will highlight the cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people both locally and globally. We will be celebrating across schools by taking time in morning meetings, advisories, daily announcements, family events and assemblies to recognize and explore the positive impact that Hispanic heritage has had on our city and our country.    Additionally, I want to share two important academic updates.  2023 MCAS Results:  On Tuesday, our 2023 MCAS and Accountability will be shared publicly. We will send out a letter to the community reviewing the results and at our October 2 nd School Committee meeting we will discuss these results more extensively. Homework:  I want to remind families that we adopted a new districtwide homework policy . We believe that  at all levels, homework should be used to provide additional practice and extension of content and skills that have already been introduced in class. It is not intended to introduce new or unfamiliar material. Providing students with multiple opportunities to practice what they have learned is a recommended, standards-based practice. The guidance provides recommendations for the amount of time students at different grade levels should spend on homework and examples of the types of tasks students should be assigned.   Have a terrific weekend. Steve   And the Winner is..... At Salem Public Schools, we are recognizing one staff member a week who exemplifies our core values of celebrating differences, facilitating collaboration, fostering innovation, creating equity and access, growing all students, and upholding high standards for all. We are surprising a deserving SPS team member with a rock star trophy. The rockstar award this week goes to Collins Middle School ELA teacher, Ms. Karen Tucker . Ms. Tucker is an experienced and beyond dedicated educator who seeks to find the best in every child. She is always positive about her students and the talents that they bring to their learning spaces. She is quick to remind students of their worth and that they consistently belong in her classroom! Thank you to Ms. Tucker for embodying our district's core values!   Reminder of Fan Expectations We had a large and spirited crowd supporting the Witches at the opening football game last Friday. There was a great deal of buzz and positive energy as the team had a big win to kickoff the season! Tonight, the Witches play Danvers at 6:30 pm at Bertram field. A few key reminders to ensure a positive and safe experience for participants and spectators:  Students will not be able to bring backpacks or bags of any kind into the stadium There will be no re-entry for any spectator. If you leave you will not be allowed back in. We strongly encourage students that are younger than high school age to be accompanied by an adult. The behaviors below are strictly prohibited . Violations will result in permanent removal from the premises and potential permanent removal from Salem High School sporting events. Aggressively confronting any coach or official for any reason before, during, or after an athletic contest; Verbal or physical harassment of players, coaches, fans of either school, officials, or school personnel; Abusive language or obscene gestures; Loitering under bleachers or in bathrooms; Damage to any part of the property at Bertram Field Please also note that Salem Public Schools’ students violating rules are subject to further disciplinary actions as outlined in the school handbook.  Thank you for your support of these expectations and the ongoing interest in our athletic programs. Our athletes, coaches and their families appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm for our teams! Let's go Witches!    Coaches Needed! We have several coaching positions open for Salem High athletics!  Coaches are needed for:  girls basketball and tennis, winter indoor track and field, skiing, spring outdoor track and field. If you or anyone you know is interested, please reach out to our athletic director, Reilly Christie at rchristie@salemk12.org or  978-265-4044.   A Message from Our Nurses As we settle back into school, it is important to remember that the COVID virus is still circulating in our community. Parents and guardians are reminded to keep their children home from school if they are feeling unwell with respiratory symptoms or have a fever. We continue to recommend COVID testing for people who are not feeling well and ask all members of the community to follow the isolation guidelines explained on our  website  or contact your child’s  school nurse  with questions. As the state has eliminated all school-based testing programs, we are no longer able to provide families with COVID test kits to use at home and our nurses are not testing students at school. If you have questions about how to obtain COVID test kits, please see this handy  information sheet .   Essex National Heritage Event - Fish Weir Project Volunteers Needed Fish weirs have been constructed by the Indigenous Massachusett people since time immemorial. Join members of the Massachusett Tribe to learn the history and participate in the renewal of this tradition in Salem Harbor. On September 19th and 20th Salem School students will be building fish weirs in Salem Harbor. Volunteers are needed both evenings to check the weirs for fish, and dismantle them for the following day. There will be an opportunity to learn informally from Massachusett Tribal Member Thomas Green during the volunteer events. Find more information here .   Join the Band or Orchestra! Welcoming new students in Grade 4! Classes meet during the school day and there is no cost to join or participate. Click on the fliers below for details.   Mack Park Farm to Host First Harvest Fest Event Community farm fundraiser will celebrate mission to provide  healthy and sustainable produce for the residents of Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo announced that Mack Park Farm’s first fundraising festival will take place, at the farm, where residents can enjoy the new accessible recreation area. The community farm fundraiser will be held at Mack Park, located at 31 Grove Street, Salem, Massachusetts, on September 23, 2023 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM (with a rain date scheduled for September 30 th , if necessary). There will be food, a cash bar, live music, garden tours, and guests can take home free produce while supplies last. All are invited to attend. This is a family-friendly event; tickets can be purchased for $15.00 through Eventbrite at https://MackParkFarmHarvestfest.eventbrite.com or by emailing kmurphy@salem.com to pay by cash or check. All proceeds from the event will go towards maintaining the farm and growing food for Salem residents. The Mack Park Farm began in 2020 when the City of Salem contracted with two local farmers to transform a neglected ball field at Mack Park into a lush growing space to provide healthy food for the Salem community. The project was inspired by a recommendation in the 2018 Salem Community Food Assessment to use municipal land for agriculture. The farmers oversee a crew of volunteers each week who help with the planting, harvesting and distribution of the food. All the produce is organically grown – no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used. The farm is surrounded by multiple permaculture guilds containing edible plants such as fruit trees, berry bushes, perennial herbs and native pollinators. The guilds, or “patches”, are designed after natural systems, like forests, where an array of plants, insects and animals exist together in a productive system that continually strengthens itself. “The Mack Park Food Farm and Food Forest is a point of pride for Salem,” said Mayor Pangallo, “I am so grateful to all the volunteers and city staff who have come together to rehabilitate an underused and overgrown area of a city park to create a vibrant recreational space where all Salem residents can have the opportunity to enjoy the food forest, farmers’ markets, and to volunteer. This is an outstanding example of our community members working in tandem to support one another, and especially those of us who are most in need. At a time when our world has faced so much challenge – navigating a global health pandemic – Salem joined together to produce and distribute fresh produce, and nourish our neighbors. The Mack Park Food Farm is truly a success story and one more example of how our community has come together to support one another and make sure Salem works for everyone.” To date, the farm has grown over 20,000 pounds of food that is distributed for free at biweekly farmers’ markets at the farm, and through The Salem Pantry. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:  Kerry Murphy, RDN, City of Salem, Health and Wellness Coordinator at  (978) 619-5654 x42403 or  kmurphy@salem.com .   REMINDER 2023-2024 Back-to-School Forms - DUE October 1st! It is essential for your child’s well-being and education that we have accurate and complete information about them in our schools. We appreciate your time and attention so that we can keep your child safe, healthy, and thriving in school, meet any of their unique needs, ensure timely communication with you at home, and keep you informed and updated about all that is happening in our schools. Please complete these forms FOR EACH CHILD ENROLLED  by OCTOBER 1st .  PLEASE ACCESS THE ASPEN FAMILY PORTAL VIA THIS LINK Should you have any questions regarding the content of the forms or need assistance with the forms, please contact your school nurse or school front office. All forms are accessed in the same way you access report cards through Aspen. You can find step-by-step instructions to help you navigate these forms  here .  The Aspen Family Portal information guides can be found  in  English ,  in  Spanish , and in  Portuguese . For technical assistance, please contact the IT Department by submitting a technical assistance ticket through  this link  or by calling the Technical Help Desk at:  978-619-1450 .  Please note, the technical Help Desk hours are Monday-Friday between 7a-4p.   Virtual Backpack Welcome to the Virtual Backpack. This is a space where we will place items that in the past may have been a flyer in your student's backpack from friends and partners to SPS. NORTH SHORE SYSTEM OF CARE PROVIDER RESOURCE FAIR LA FERIA DE RECURSOS DEL NORTH SHORE SISTEMA DE CUIDADO FERIA DE RECURSOS DO SISTEMA DE CUIDADO DE NORTH SHORE CUIDADO   Download the ParentSquare app A reminder that ParentSquare is the district platform for communication. You will receive communication from the district, your school, and your student's classroom all in one space. You can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, and more. This is the primary communication platform for all Salem Public Schools. All messages and alerts come through ParentSquare and the app makes 1-to-1 communication with your student's teachers and signing up for guardian/student conferences a breeze. If you are not receiving messages from ParentSquare or if you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.   Salem Public Schools Where Belonging Leads to Opportunity  

    Friday, Sep 15 2023

  • OPEN HOUSE: CTE's Salem Technical Institute

    Hello Salem Public Schools community, Are you an adult with a high school diploma or equivalent? Unemployed or underemployed and looking for help reaching your career goals? Do you know someone that is?  If so, the Salem Technical Institute at Salem High School can help!  The Salem Technical Institute offers adult education in high-demand programs for you to gain the entry-level skills needed to be successful.  Please attend the STI open house for more information.  The SHS CTE & The newly created "Salem Technical Institute" cordially invite you to their OPEN HOUSE on 9/12/23 & 9/14/23 from 5-7pm Come and learn all about this wonderful program: 

    Thursday, Sep 07 2023

  • Salem Public Schools Summer Update Newsletter

    Salem Public Schools Update Salem Public Schools Update Summertime updates for staff and families ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Open this email in a browser   A Note from the Superintendent July 28, 2023 SPS Families, I hope that you are staying cool despite the excessive heat over the last few days. Yesterday, I had the privilege of visiting summer programs with Mayor Pangallo at Saltonstall. Our students were fully engaged in planning the build out of composting bins, flood protection, bike safety and community resiliency/sustainability. Students were designing, writing and sharing their voices and ideas with their peers. It was inspiring to see that many of our high school students were supporting the learning of our younger students and partnering with our teachers and paraprofessionals to provide an enriching experience for our students. Some of our programs conclude today and others conclude over the next two weeks. At the School Committee meeting on Monday, I shared an update on our progress relative to our stated goals/outcomes. I wanted to share this information with you so that you can see the places where we have improved significantly, where we have made moderate progress and areas where we are stuck or regressed. Please see the information presented to the School Committee here . We will be revealing our new strategic plan for the next three years at our August 21st meeting. We are excited about the work ahead! August begins next week and the start of school is a month away (see information below)! Please be on the lookout over the next few weeks for information about transportation, school supplies, schedules/class assignments and back-to-school forms. To celebrate the start of school, join us for our back-to-school celebration at Palmer Cove from 5-7:30 pm on August 23rd. Enjoy the weekend! Steve   FNS Receives Food Security Infrastructure Grant Our Food and Nutrition Services Department has received a generous Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) in the amount of $489,571.76 from the Healey-Driscoll administration. This grant will revolutionize Salem’s ability to provide a more extensive selection of fresh, locally sourced products, providing healthier, high-quality meals for our beloved students. With funds from this substantial grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration, the Salem School Nutrition Department will invest  in state-of-the-art and energy-efficient kitchen equipment to replace our older appliances . By doing so, we aim to substantially reduce our energy consumption and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. Ovens, warmers, and steamers are among the appliances that will be prioritized. Upgrading kitchen equipment will enhance our commitment to providing wholesome and nutritious meals to our students. Additionally, this will allow us to support local farmers and producers, encouraging sustainability and promoting food security.  The adoption of new and efficient kitchen equipment will elevate the quality of our meals and streamline our operations, enabling our staff to dedicate more time and effort to crafting delectable dishes that resonate with the diverse palates of our student body. We envision a future where students enjoy meals made from the freshest local ingredients, nourishing their bodies and minds. The Food Security Infrastructure Grant will undoubtedly contribute to achieving this vision, and we are incredibly grateful for the support. Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $26.3 Million in Grants to Improve Food Security and Resiliency Across Massachusetts | Mass.gov   Save the date for the Back to School Festival! Join us Wednesday, August 23rd from 5-7pm at Palmer Cove Park for the big back to school festival! We will be partnering with community organizations and the Salem Police Department for a day of fun, food, books, school supplies and more!    Early College Partnership with NSCC DESE and the Early College Joint Committee (ECJC) have announced that the North Shore Community College and Salem High School partnership has been approved for Designation as a Massachusetts Early College Program starting in Fall 2024. The purpose of the Early College Initiative is to create and maintain partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges in order to give thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success. “In districts across the state, I have seen firsthand the invaluable advantage for students participating in Early College programs and the benefits the programs bring to partnership schools and universities,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “This new partnership is a win for Salem High School and their students and families, North Shore Community College, and the future workforce in Salem.”  “We are thrilled to receive notice of the Massachusetts Early College Designation with North Shore Community College.” says Superintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike, Jr. “This is a game-changing partnership as it is focused on increasing access to higher education for multilingual learners and first-generation college going students. We appreciate the support from the Commonwealth and look forward to the significant impact that it will have on the students in the Salem Public Schools.” The committee thanked Salem Public Schools for their demonstrated commitment to students’ postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion. “We are confident that your program design will offer students a transformative experience to thrive academically and beyond.” The designation approval letter states, “We congratulate you on this achievement, particularly given the rigor of the established criteria and the extensive requirements of the application.” Programs approved for Designation will receive funding in FY2024 according to the ECJC funding policies for currently designated programs.   WE ARE HIRING! Join our team!  We are hiring math, science, and special ed. educators as well as paraprofessionals and food and nutrition workers. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Apply for positions here: https://salem.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx   Endicott College Seeks Host Families Endicott College is seeking host families for a group of Irish students attending Endicott this fall from their partner school, Munster Technological University in Cork, Ireland. Due to a housing shortage this year, we are placing the students in homestays, and we are short 6 beds for 6 male students, ages 19 - 22. The dates will be August 25-Dec 23, 2023. There is a $3000 stipend per student for anyone who can host. Please call Ms. Tristen Dixey at 978-232-2262 or email at: global@endicott.edu (exclusively for homestay communications). Thank you, in advance, for considering this opportunity!   Start Dates for the 2023-24 School Year We are looking forward to seeing all of our students! Here are the start dates for the 2023-2024 school year: August 28th: Carlton grades 1-5, Salem High School grade 9, Salem Prep grade 9 August 29th: ALL other grades 1-8 and 10-12, New Liberty grade 9 August 31st: Carlton Kindergarten September 5th: ALL other Pre-K and Kindergarten students   A reminder that ParentSquare is the district platform for communication. You will receive communication from the district, your school, and your student's classroom all in one space. You can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, and more. This is the primary communication platform for all Salem Public Schools. All messages and alerts come through ParentSquare and the app makes 1-to-1 communication with your student's teachers and signing up for guardian/student conferences a breeze. If you are not receiving messages from ParentSquare or if you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.   Salem Public Schools Where Belonging Leads to Opportunity 29 Highland Ave. Salem, MA 01970  

    Friday, Jul 28 2023

  • Witchpitch? End of Year Concert and recording of alb...

    Good Evening, Salem High School's A Cappella group WitchPitch? is hosting their End of Year Concert tomorrow, Friday 6/16, at 6pm in the SHS auditorium. Come join us as a live audience while we record this concert for our next album full of new songs, throwbacks, mash ups, and more. Admission is free, we hope to see you there! Alexis MacTaylor amactaylor@salemk12.org

    Friday, Jun 16 2023

  • Summer Soccer Camp

    Good Afternoon, Salem High School is excited to host Fellsway Wanderers High School Preseason Summer Camp at Bertram Field.   This will include current 8th graders that are rising 9th graders and all current high school students.   Boys Soccer Camp  Every Monday July 10th - August 14th 6pm - 8pm  Bertram Field  Girls Soccer Camp Every Wednesday July 12th - August 16th  6pm-8pm Bertram Field  Link to Register:  www.fwfcreg.us    If the family has not done so already, they will have to create an account in our PlayMetrics system. Once the account is created, in the application they go to Club Programs -> High School Preseason Summer Camps & Vacation Clinics -> GIRLS or BOYS Salem Camp Thank You, Glenn Burns 

    Tuesday, Jun 13 2023

  • Salem Public Schools weekly Newsletter

    Salem Public Schools Weekly Update Salem Public Schools Weekly Update for School Year 2022-2023 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Open this email in a browser     A Note From the Superintendent June 9, 2023 SPS families, On Wednesday evening we had our final meeting of the Parent Advisory Council. This team of diverse parents representing our schools has been meeting since December with me and members of the School Committee to provide valuable input on different aspects of our work in the Salem Public Schools. They have shared critical feedback about how to improve the learning experience for our students and how to better inform families/parents about their children's academic progress.  As a result of their feedback, we have committed to the following steps during the upcoming school year: Each school will have a customized training plan for teachers, students and staff so that all involved have a stronger understanding of standards-based grading and reporting. Schools will ensure that students have access to grades in ASPEN at minimum every two weeks.  We will provide STAR ELA/math assessment reports to all families following the administration of the test (3 times a year).  A work group will be formed to focus on strengthening the parent/teacher conference experience for staff and families.  Double the number of the Cartwheel (tele-mental health) slots. Provide more funding to deter transportation costs for field trips.  Finally, we have developed guidance for homework across the system for the upcoming school year. We think it is important that there is clarity about expectations so that students have  extension of content and skills that have already been introduced in class. Providing students with multiple opportunities to apply what they have learned is a recommended standards-based practice. We hope that this guidance helps to prepare you and your child for their academic experience in the upcoming school year. Enjoy the weekend, Steve And the winner is…… At Salem Public Schools, we are recognizing one staff member a week who exemplifies our core values of celebrating differences, facilitating collaboration, fostering innovation, creating equity and access, growing all students, and upholding high standards for all. We are surprising a deserving SPS team member with a rock star trophy. This week's rockstar award goes to Zissis Alepakis, our Director of Buildings and Grounds. With the prospect of rain for the Salem High School graduation last Friday, Mr. Alepakis led a monumental effort of our custodial crews to shift the ceremony from Salem Common to the SHS field house. Without hesitation, his team seamlessly prepared the field house for what proved to be such a joyful and festive event. We are grateful for Mr. Alepakis' leadership, which is always in service of the needs of our students and staff! Summer Reading Summer brings opportunities to spend time with friends and family and enjoy the outdoors. We hope that you and your student will also continue to read to develop a love of books and learning new things.  Here are summer reading suggestions created by the American Library Association for students in Grades PreK-8 that will help you and your student select books together. As always, we suggest that you follow your child’s lead and choose books and topics that interest them. For grades 9-12 , we've elected to use the MA Teen Choice Book nominees, which is a list of 21 books curated by public and school librarians. The titles are available in limited quantity in the SHS library, copies will be available at the Salem Public Library, and starting on July 1st, Sora will have the ebook and audiobook versions available with no wait times for all members of the MLS ebook collection. More information about these reading selections can be found here . Last days of school! Here are the dates for the upcoming last days of school! Carlton K - Monday, June 12 (full day) 1-5 - Wednesday, June 14 (early release) All other schools PK/K - Tuesday, June 20 (full day) 1-11 - Wednesday, June 21 (early release) Summer Program Availability! As we near the end of the school year, we wanted to let you know that we are now accepting applications for waitlist spots in a few of our SPS summer programs. If you are interested in registering your student in one of our programs, please contact your school’s  City Connects Coordinator . Back to School for the 2023-2024 School Year Grade 9 students begin on August 28th Grades 1-8 and grades 10-12 begin on August 29th.  Pre-K and K begin on September 5th CARLTON P2+ begin on August 28th and P1 begins on August 31st. School calendars can be found here . Scroll down the page until you see the calendar icons similar to the one shown here. Stay tuned for information about our big back-to-school picnic on August 26th, which will take place at Saltonstall this year.  All photos b y Dana J. Quigley | DJQ Media Transportation for the 2023-2024 School Year - Important info! Transportation applications for the 2023-2024 school year opened on Monday, May 1, 2023 , in the Aspen family portal. The Transportation Department sent information to families with instructions on how to apply, so please check your email, text messages, and ParentSquare notifications. All students who wish to ride the bus for the 2023-2024 school year must submit an application, even if the student currently rides the bus or is considered a mandatory rider . A completed application must be submitted by Saturday, July 1, 2023. Applications received after July 1, 2023, will not be accepted except in extenuating circumstances to allow proper time for processing and routing. If you have any questions, please call the Salem Public Schools Transportation Office at  (978) 740-1240. Click Here for the 2023-2024 School Year Calendars Angela's Preschool and Daycare We are excited to announce that Angela's Preschool and Daycare is now open at Salem High School! Our preschool and daycare facility is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your child's growth and development. Enroll your child now by contacting 978-335-1413 We understand the importance of quality care and education for your child, which is why our experienced staff is committed to providing personalized attention to each child in our care. Our curriculum focuses on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development to ensure your child a well-rounded and ready for their next educational journey. The Virtual Backpack Welcome to the Virtual Backpack. This is a space where we will place items that in the past may have been a flyer in your student's backpack from friends and partners to SPS. Marc E. Lemieux Scholarship Fund Download the ParentSquare app today! A reminder that ParentSquare is the district platform for communication. You will receive communication from the district, your school, and your student's classroom all in one space. You can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, and more. This is how our school and teachers communicate with families districtwide. Please be sure you are receiving messages from ParentSquare. If need support downloading the app or receiving messages, please contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information. Find tech support for Chromebooks, Aspen, ParentSquare and more click here Salem Public Schools Where Belonging Leads to Opportunity 29 Highland Ave. Salem, MA 01970 Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.  

    Friday, Jun 09 2023

  • Science MCAS June 6th & 7th

    Hello SHS Caregivers & Scholars,  Tomorrow is the 9th Grade Science MCAS Testing: Testing will run through third block on Wednesday June 7, 2023 Students will need their charged Chromebooks for the MCAS. No other electronics are allowed.  If you have any questions please reach out to: Jennifer Feener- jfeener@salemk12.org Amanda WIlkins- awilkins@salemk12.org Thank you

    Tuesday, Jun 06 2023

  • Salem Public Schools Weekly Newsletter

    Salem Public Schools Weekly Update Salem Public Schools Weekly Update for School Year 2022-2023 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Open this email in a browser     A Note From the Superintendent June 2, 2023 SPS Families, June marks the launch of Pride month across Salem and the Salem Public Schools. We are proud to celebrate our LGBTQ+ students, caregivers and staff throughout the month. The pride flag has been raised at each school and schools/classrooms will be facilitating events and discussions to highlight the importance of affirming the community. Additionally, next Friday, June 9th we will be asking all members of the SPS family to wear pride colors as a show of solidarity and allyship. Thank you in advance for your support!  I also want to take a moment to invite any member of the community to share their interest in being a part of the School Building Committee (SBC) that will oversee the proposed new building project at the current Salem High School site. The purpose of the committee is to ensure that the City of Salem complies with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)'s regulations in monitoring and advising the Mayor during the application process and construction of an approved project. The SBC will work with consultants to develop certain MSBA required plans for the project and will vote to authorize the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) to submit those plans to the MSBA for approval. Other elements of the project are under the purview of other bodies. For example, Salem educators with input from this committee and the School Committee, decide the educational program. This committee will meet approximately once a month during the duration of the project. We are looking for a diverse group of individuals who have backgrounds in education, finance/accounting, construction/contracting, building design and community organizing. If you are interested in participating, please send an email with a brief interest statement to my assistant, Mindy Marino, at mmarino@salemk12.org no later than June 14th. Thank you! Enjoy the weekend, Steve And the winner is…… At Salem Public Schools, we are recognizing one staff member a week who exemplifies our core values of celebrating differences, facilitating collaboration, fostering innovation, creating equity and access, growing all students, and upholding high standards for all. We are surprising a deserving SPS team member with a rock star trophy. This week's rockstar award goes to the members of our teacher advisory group: Kayla Benoit, Paige Covello, Susan Crimble, Nora Davis, Marta Garcia, Erika Griffin, Erin Harrington, Meeyoung Lee, Megan Martins, Sean McMahon, Laurie Mendoza, Brenda Perez-Goodrum, Martin Valdes and Katherine Visci who have given their time to meet with the superintendent monthly to offer feedback on district initiatives, ideas for making the profession more sustainable and serving as valued thought partners on solving complex situations. They are all strong leaders with the courage to advocate for their colleagues, students and the City of Salem. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to have them as employees in the Salem Public Schools.  Celebrate Arts Fest Art from our students that we showcased at the See Me exhibition will be featured this weekend at Salem Arts Fest! The fest also features SHS student Alexia Coleman’s For the Record project. Come see our students shine once again at the Salem Arts Fest Summer Program Availability! As we near the end of the school year, we wanted to let you know that we are now accepting applications for waitlist spots in a few of our SPS summer programs. If you are interested in registering your student in one of our programs, please contact your school’s  City Connects Coordinator . Food Services Updates Hello from Food & Nutrition Services! Check out the menus for June 5th - June 16th: https://salemfoodservice.wixsite.com/spsk12menus   Are you a high school student looking for a fun summer job? Salem Food and Nutrition Services has a great employment opportunity for students this summer! We will be running a variety of fun activities at our dinner site location at Mary Jane Lee Park. These activities will range from arts & crafts to sports and lawn games! Students will be hired to help from 4pm-6pm on weekday evenings (M-F).  This is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills and spend summer working outside! If you are interested please scan the QR code in the image below or click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQtGCrUMAPiUZcCmilSdQBYARCLWXQX1tElxwklCl-Fll4AA/viewform We will be in touch soon if your availability works for us!  Transportation for the 2023-2024 School Year - Important info! Transportation applications for the 2023-2024 school year opened on Monday, May 1, 2023 , in the Aspen family portal. The Transportation Department sent information to families with instructions on how to apply, so please check your email, text messages, and ParentSquare notifications. All students who wish to ride the bus for the 2023-2024 school year must submit an application, even if the student currently rides the bus or is considered a mandatory rider . A completed application must be submitted by Saturday, July 1, 2023. Applications received after July 1, 2023, will not be accepted except in extenuating circumstances to allow proper time for processing and routing. If you have any questions, please call the Salem Public Schools Transportation Office at  (978) 740-1240. Click Here for the 2023-2024 School Year Calendars Angela's Preschool and Daycare We are excited to announce that Angela's Preschool and Daycare is now open at Salem High School! Our preschool and daycare facility is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your child's growth and development. Enroll your child now by contacting 978-335-1413 We understand the importance of quality care and education for your child, which is why our experienced staff is committed to providing personalized attention to each child in our care. Our curriculum focuses on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development to ensure your child a well-rounded and ready for their next educational journey. The Virtual Backpack Welcome to the Virtual Backpack. This is a space where we will place items that in the past may have been a flyer in your student's backpack from friends and partners to SPS. Download the ParentSquare app today! A reminder that ParentSquare is the district platform for communication. You will receive communication from the district, your school, and your student's classroom all in one space. You can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, and more. This is how our school and teachers communicate with families districtwide. Please be sure you are receiving messages from ParentSquare. If need support downloading the app or receiving messages, please contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information. Find tech support for Chromebooks, Aspen, ParentSquare and more click here Salem Public Schools Where Belonging Leads to Opportunity 29 Highland Ave. Salem, MA 01970 Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.  

    Friday, Jun 02 2023

  • Salem Public Schools Weekly Newsletter

    Salem Public Schools Weekly Update Salem Public Schools Weekly Update for School Year 2022-2023 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Open this email in a browser     A Note From the Superintendent May 26, 2023 SPS Families, I hope that you and your family enjoy a restful holiday weekend. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice and dedication of those who have served and currently serve our country. We are grateful for the contributions they have made to the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy today. Next week is high school graduation week in the Salem Public Schools as New Liberty (Wednesday 5/31 @ 5 pm at the PEM), Salem Prep (Thursday 6/1 @ 5 pm at the PEM) and Salem High (Friday, 6/2 @ 6 pm on the Salem Common) seniors will cross the stage to receive their diplomas. We are so proud of our graduates who have persevered through a COVD influenced high school experience. Our students did more than simply making it through, they excelled despite the obstacles. Our students performed and competed in the classroom, as part of our community, in the workplace, on stages and on fields/courts at rates higher than many of our pre-pandemic cohorts. They have made this city proud and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate our outstanding class of 2023 all week long! Have a terrific weekend! Steve And the winner is…… At Salem Public Schools, we are recognizing one staff member a week who exemplifies our core values of celebrating differences, facilitating collaboration, fostering innovation, creating equity and access, growing all students, and upholding high standards for all. We are surprising a deserving SPS team member with a rock star trophy. The Rockstar Award this week goes to Justin Rubiera-Genao paraprofessional at Bentley Academy Innovation School. He is known by students and staff as Mr. Justin, and he has grown so much in his role this year after graduating from Salem Public Schools last year. Bentley students and staff are so lucky that he shares his warmth, commitment, smile, and dedication with our school community every day. Mr. Justin embodies a warm demanding attitude -- connecting with students and holding them to high behavioral and academic expectations. On top of all that, he recently passed the test to become an American citizen! See Me at the Peabody Essex Museum Thank you to everyone who supported the SEE ME Exhibition this weekend. We are so proud of our incredible students who exhibited incredible strength and bravery during the presentations and performances. This event accomplished exactly what we intended, to elevate our student voices and to show our community that student voice matters and they have a lot of important things to say. 2023 MIAA UNIFIED TRACK & FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! What an incredible day yesterday with our unified sports team competing against the top Unified athletes in the state! Our Witches gave it their all, earning EIGHT medals on the day! Including Julie Edmunds who placed first in the state for D1-2 Javelin  Congrats to all of our athletes who worked so hard to bring our unified sports team to the state championships! Salem High School Class of 2023 Event Calendar Transportation for the 2023-2024 School Year - Important info! Transportation applications for the 2023-2024 school year opened on Monday, May 1, 2023 , in the Aspen family portal. The Transportation Department sent information to families with instructions on how to apply, so please check your email, text messages, and ParentSquare notifications. All students who wish to ride the bus for the 2023-2024 school year must submit an application, even if the student currently rides the bus or is considered a mandatory rider . A completed application must be submitted by Saturday, July 1, 2023. Applications received after July 1, 2023, will not be accepted except in extenuating circumstances to allow proper time for processing and routing. If you have any questions, please call the Salem Public Schools Transportation Office at  (978) 740-1240. Congrats to our Marine Services CTE Program The Massachusetts Marine Trade Association (MMTA) has donated over $10,000 to support and expand the Marine Services Technology Program at Salem High School. This significant contribution will enable the organization to enhance its marine services, broaden its outreach, and advance its mission of promoting the growth and sustainability of the marine industry in the region. Summer Programming We have received inquiries and questions about summer school programming in the Salem Public Schools and in collaboration with our community partners. We are pleased to share that we will have approximately the same number of summer programming seats that we did last summer when we offered a record number of seats for SPS students. Our school-based teams are currently working to register students that would benefit most from the summer offerings. Historically, this happens before we open up the programming more widely. That being said, if you are interested in learning more about our Salem Public Schools or community offerings, please reach out to the  City Connects coordinators  at each K-8 school and the guidance departments at our three high school campuses. We want as many of our students to be connected to citywide programs as possible! Click Here for the 2023-2024 School Year Calendars Angela's Preschool and Daycare We are excited to announce that Angela's Preschool and Daycare is now open at Salem High School! Our preschool and daycare facility is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your child's growth and development. Enroll your child now by contacting 978-335-1413 We understand the importance of quality care and education for your child, which is why our experienced staff is committed to providing personalized attention to each child in our care. Our curriculum focuses on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development to ensure your child a well-rounded and ready for their next educational journey. The Virtual Backpack Welcome to the Virtual Backpack. This is a space where we will place items that in the past may have been a flyer in your student's backpack from friends and partners to SPS. Register NOW for the 31st Annual Walk for HAWC! Sunday June 4th, 2023 Download the ParentSquare app today! A reminder that ParentSquare is the district platform for communication. You will receive communication from the district, your school, and your student's classroom all in one space. You can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, and more. This is how our school and teachers communicate with families districtwide. Please be sure you are receiving messages from ParentSquare. If need support downloading the app or receiving messages, please contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information. Find tech support for Chromebooks, Aspen, ParentSquare and more click here Salem Public Schools Where Belonging Leads to Opportunity 29 Highland Ave. Salem, MA 01970 Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.  

    Friday, May 26 2023