Bates Family Newsletter

Greetings Bates Families!

Here's a super short newsletter to wrap up the week. Wishing you all an amazing long weekend!

Remember, there's no school on Monday, October 30th as well as Tuesday, October 31st. We'll see you back here on Wednesday, November 1st.

Please reference page 16 of our Bates School handbook for the following information:

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL:

To help ensure the safety of all our students, all outside doors will be locked during the school day. Visitors are required to use the front door that is equipped with a buzzer. All visitors must check in at the main office, present a valid form of government-issued identification, sign in, and wear a visitor’s badge at all times while in the building. They must then sign out and return their badge prior to leaving. Visitors will be admitted to the building at the sole discretion of school administrators.

SAFETY DRILLS:

State law requires that we hold supervised drills (evacuation, fire, lockdown, bus evacuation, shelter in place, etc.) each year under the direction of the Salem Fire Department and the Salem Police Department. Procedures for these drills are reviewed with the children throughout the school year.

CORI AND FINGERPRINT-BASED CHECKS:

All volunteers are required to complete a CORI background check each year. With regard to CORI, you must apply in person to the school office and present photo identification. Any volunteers who have direct and unmonitored contact with students are required to have a CHRI background. With regard to fingerprint-based checks, you must submit your fingerprints through an independent vendor authorized by the state. The school administration has sole discretion to determine whether a volunteer satisfied CORI, fingerprinting, and other volunteer requirements.

It's hard to believe that when we come back to school next week, it'll be November 1st! We'll be celebrating our differences this month and showing ways we are thankful for one another and for this school community.

There will be no school on Monday, October 30th, and Tuesday, October 31st. We'll be back in action on Wednesday, November 1st!

We're up to 135 followers! Great job, Bates community. For those who haven't joined us yet, follow us at bates_elementary. Do you think we can get to 150 followers by the end of this week? Let's give it a try!

Please visit the Salem Public Schools webpage here for guidance on the district's homework policy.

While it wasn't the outcome Coach Mercier was hoping for, it was quite a game! What a nail biter. It was awesome to see so much "Salem spirit" at Bates.

November 7th is the citywide election, and we are having a bake sale! Please consider donating an item or time to run the table. We appreciate all the support and help. This is an easy way for us to raise funds to cover some of the upcoming field trips our students are taking. Sign up here.

Did you know you can earn money for our school just by scanning your grocery receipts? All you need to do is download the Boxtops app, and scan those receipts! Don't want to scan? No worries, you can always send receipts into school with your student in an envelope marked, "PTO Boxtops".

Our Bates spirit rock is available for weekly rentals. Celebrate your student's birthday or other accomplishments by painting a message on our rock. Please click here to rent the rock!

Bates Elementary School, in partnership with our families and community, will provide all students with a culturally responsive, student – centered, and equitable learning experience that celebrates our students’ diverse backgrounds, creative pursuits, and their academic, social, emotional success.