Salem Public Schools
SPS community,
As we head into Thanksgiving Week, I want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday. It is our privilege to partner with you to ensure the success of all our students. We appreciate your commitment to our school, your support of our educators and your willingness to work with us to best serve your children. This Thanksgiving, I want to share specific gratitude for being part of the Salem Public Schools family. I am grateful–
To work in a community that is fiercely committed to our core values of belonging, equity and opportunity;
To work with families who genuinely want to partner with schools, trust our expertise and are passionate about their children receiving the highest quality education.
To work with educators who think about students first, always going above and beyond to selflessly do whatever it takes to prepare our students for the world beyond school;
To work with the most talented, intelligent and charismatic students in the Commonwealth!
Two quick reminders: Please remember that this Thursday is the 126th playing of The Game at 10 am at Bertram Field! Tickets are available now. You can purchase tickets in the Salem High main office, the Athletic office or on Go Fan! Students are $5 and Adults are $7. Get your tickets ahead of time as the day of the game the tickets are $10.
Additionally, we have three upcoming community meetings scheduled to provide an introduction of our Salem High School building project. There will be opportunities to comment on aspirations for the way the building might transform the educational experience for children. One critical decision point is whether the city is interested in building a grade 7-12 or a grade 9-12 facility at the Salem High School site. The public sessions are as follows:
Monday, November 25th, 6:30-8 pm at Salem High School;
Tuesday, December 3rd, 6:30-8 pm at Saltonstall School;
Thursday, December 5th, 6:30-7:30 pm on Zoom. Register here.
With gratitude,
Steve
She has been fiercely dedicated to Collins Middle School for the past 23 years as a cheerleader and champion for creating a culture that is inclusive, equitable and keeps students at the center.
Trimester 1 report cards are currently available for K-8 students in the Aspen Family portal.
Please remember that Family Conferences are on Wednesday, Dec. 4. You should have received detailed information in your school’s family newsletter about how to register for a conference and if you have any questions, please contact your school directly.
In every grade 3-8 classroom across the district, students will self-reflect, review their report card, and set goals. Classroom teachers will facilitate this reflection activity with their students on Tuesday, Dec, 3. This is an opportunity for students to understand and make meaningful connections to the information on their report card, and continue to develop their academic identity. Students will receive a printed color copy of their report card and will be guided in reviewing their progress on standards, ratings on personal growth categories and overall attendance. Students will be empowered to celebrate their accomplishments and set goals, reflect on their learning, and engage with their report card. They will also decide the 2 most important things to communicate with you.
- View/Download Grade 3 Report Card Reflection Form
- View/Download Grades 4-8 Report Card Reflection Form
- View Example Report Card
At the end of the day on Tuesday, Dec 3, grades 3-8 students will be asked to bring home with them the printed color copy of their report card and their reflection sheet. We invite family members to ask students to share their reflection sheet with you. If your child did not complete it, feel free to do this with them at home, and most importantly, take 15 minutes to review your child’s reflections, ask them about their goals and what you can do at home to help them achieve their goals between now and the end of the school year. And, if you plan to attend conferences on Wednesday, Dec 4, feel free to bring your child’s reflection sheet with you.
We believe this simple activity will empower students to take deeper interest in their progress and learning and is an important step toward developing as an independent learner. Reflection sheets are attached below for your reference. We look forward to any feedback you might have.
Join Cartwheel and Katie Steele, LMFT for a webinar which looks at achievement culture and the impacts this has on the mental health of our kids and teens - including higher rates of perfectionism, anxiety, and depression. Learn what to do (and not to do) as a parent or caregiver to support your children and help them build a sense of confidence, resilience, and self-worth that is not tied to their achievements.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched the Immunizations for Respiratory Diseases Dashboard for the 2024-25 season, one in a series of dashboards used to visualize trends in COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease activity and vaccination in Massachusetts.
Schedule an In-Home Vaccination | Call 833-983-0485
ParentSquare is the communication platform for Salem Public Schools. Families receive communication from the district, school, and their student's classroom all in one space. Families can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, register for parent-teacher conferences, and more.
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.