
Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools - Weekly Update
January 12, 2024
Superintendent's Message
Dear SPS families,
This weekend we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day. More important than having a day off from school, we must reflect on the strong links between Dr. King’s work and our efforts to create a school system that is inclusive of every child, family and employee. Dr. King underscored the importance of giving everyone a voice in the process of change and improvement and we are working hard to do this across the Salem Public Schools. In this spirit, we are hosting two budget forums in the next few weeks for families and community members. It is an opportunity to learn more about our process and, most importantly, to surface your thoughts and ideas on how resources should be allocated for the upcoming school year. Our public sessions are scheduled for the following days and times:
In Person Budget Forum: 2/6 from 6:00-7:30 @ Salem High School IMC
Virtual Public Budget Forum: 2/13 from 5:00-6:30
PASSCODE: 941018
We look forward to having you join us and sharing your voice!
Finally, in response to some questions regarding recess and outdoor play during the winter months, I want to remind families of the guidance that schools follow. We believe that it is important for students to have access to fresh air and the opportunity to exercise during the school day. It gives students a respite from the classroom and allows them to reset for their next classroom activity.
It is difficult to set guidelines that fit every circumstance and condition in regards to outside activity during cold weather. Each school is responsible to determine the criteria for such decisions regarding safety of outdoor activity on a day-to-day basis, and there are several factors that impact that decision: temperature, wind chill, age of students, length of time outdoors, adequacy of clothing of our students and the condition of the play area. Please note that while we use caution when temperatures are between 20-30 degrees (including the wind chill factor) we will generally send students outside. When temperatures fall below 20 degrees, however, students are kept indoors (we adhere to the ‘feels like’ temperature on weather.com for zip code 01970).
It is critical that children arrive at school dressed appropriately for the weather. For families in need of appropriate winter clothing, we have plenty of resources to accommodate. Please inform your child’s educator or the City Connects point person at your school so they can assist. Requests to stay indoors based on health reasons must be honored. The parent/guardian, school nurse and the principal will determine a workable system for students unable to participate in outdoor activities due to health.
Enjoy your weekend. Don’t forget to check out the Addams Family production at Salem High this weekend and check out the boys basketball team at the TD Garden in Boston on Sunday (see below). Have a wonderful weekend!
Steve
FY25 Budget Forums
And the rockstar award 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 is presented to our Executive Director of Special Education, Ms. Jennifer Doucette-Ly. Ms. Doucette-Ly was involved in a terrible accident a few months ago which has resulted in an arduous road to recovery. While tending to her health, she has managed to continue leading her department and supporting the needs of her staff to ensure that students with disabilities receive the experience they deserve. Despite the challenges, Ms. Doucette-Ly has remained responsive, committed to department priorities and always student-focused.
While watching the fourth and fifth grade students at the Bentley Academy Innovation School complete their mural, it’s difficult to figure out who is enjoying the process more, the students or their guest instructor, local artist Miguel Cruz.
Winter Island Polar Plunge: Donate Now to Benefit Mental Makeover
Mrs. Lori Marenda is hosting the 2nd Annual Polar Plunge Saturday, Jan. 27 (10 a.m.) at Winter Island to benefit Mental Makeover, a non-profit organization established by a group of former SHS graduates which fights the stigma of mental health and empowers young people to learn about mental health and talk about their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Mrs. Marenda's goal is $500 which is currently at 78 percent.
Save the Date: 5th Grade All-City Concert Slated for Jan. 23
The 5th Grade All-City Concert is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 23 (7 p.m.) at the Salem High School Auditorium.
Registration for Salem's Adult Career Technical Initiative Program is open. Our hands-on, 12-week program is offered at no cost. Building Property Maintenance and Automotive Technology trainings begin Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. Classes are scheduled Monday-Thursday from 5-9 p.m. To enroll, individuals must meet the specified requirements through MassHire. For more information, contact: jstonge@salemk12.org
Casting Call: SHS Student-Actors Sought for One-Act Play, 'An Experiment'
The Salem High School Drama Club is holding auditions for the one-act play, 'An Experiment,' by Brent Holland, on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18. Audition information is posted outside room 184 at SHS. The play will be entered in the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) 2024 High School Festival Saturday, Mar. 2 (Snow date: Sunday, Mar. 3) at Andover High School. For more information, contact Leah Hamilton French at lhamiltonfrench@salemk12.org.
COVID Test Kits Available
Salem Public Schools is pleased to announce the availability of COVID test kits at all our schools' main offices and health offices. If you require a test kit, kindly contact your school nurse or main office to coordinate pickup. It is important to note that we do not have an in-school testing program. In the event of illness, students will be sent home, and families have the option to conduct COVID testing at home. Please refer to our sick-day guidelines on the district website or consult your school nurse before deciding whether to send your child to school. Your cooperation in maintaining a safe environment for all is greatly appreciated.
SAVE THE DATES: Early Childhood Expo Virtual Town Hall and Meet & Greet
Do you have an early learner or know an early learner who will be joining the Salem Public Schools for the 2024-25 school year? We will be hosting our virtual Early Childhood Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. to provide an overview of the early learning experience, the registration process, and to answer any questions.
Join the Virtual Town Hall | Submit a Question
REMINDERS:
- Children who turn 5 on or before Aug. 31, 2024 are eligible for kindergarten
- Children who turn 4 on or before Aug. 31, 2024 are eligible to enter our Pre-Kindergarten lottery
- Children who turn 3 on or by Aug. 31, 2024 are eligible to enter our preschool lottery at the Early Childhood Center.
We'll also be hosting an in-person meet and greet event the evening of Thursday, Feb. 8th for families to meet with school and department leaders - more details will be shared soon. Mark your calendars and spread the word - we look forward to meeting our newest families and learners in the upcoming months!
Fresh off its highly successful project-based ‘Transitopia Studio’ learning experience, the 2024 Collins Middle School Showcase is slated for Wednesday, Jan. 24, 6-8 p.m., in the CMS Cafeteria.
The 2024 Showcase is open to all grade 5 students and families of the City of Salem who are interested in receiving an early start in a hands-on, immersive learning experience in grades 6-8 in programs such as STEM, Career and Technical Education, field trips and immersive learning experiences, after-school activities and care and athletics programs.
Pre-K spaces still available for remainder of 2023-24
A few spaces are still available in Salem Public Schools 2023-24 PreK programs. Contact the Parent Information Center at (978) 740-1225.
It gives us great pleasure to offer you an invitation to go to Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan. As you may know, there is a wonderful sister-city relationship between Ota, Tokyo, in Japan and Salem, Massachusetts. In August 2024 we will be taking a group of high school students to travel to Ota. (Rising Freshmen and graduating Seniors are eligible.)
Middle school students from Ota have been coming to Salem every year in July for 30 years now.
Unfortunately, due to Covid, this successful exchange took a hiatus between 2020 and
2023 but this year, students from Ota were just here in Salem in November.
Now, we are ready to organize a student trip from Salem to Ota. The dates for travel will be
approximately between August 6th and the 17th.
Cost of the trip will be approximately $3,500 which includes airfare, transportation, and meals. You will be staying with a Japanese family in Ota and during the day will get to know Ota and Tokyo through the daily field trips to different sites. We will also be taking a two-night trip to Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Kyoto on the Shinkansen bullet train.
If you have questions please feel free to email StudentsToJapan@salemotace.org or
Midori Oka at midori.oka.home@gmail.com. We hope that you will be interested in joining the group. Please respond by January 15, 2024.
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.
Salem High School, Marblehead Boys to Clash at TD Garden Sunday
Dowload 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.