
Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools - Weekly Update
March 1, 2024
Superintendent's Message
Dear SPS families,
I hope you had a restful and enjoyable February vacation. There is so much to share from the last few weeks and not enough space in this column to detail all the exciting work happening! A few items that I want to highlight are below.
Recently, we were pleased to announce that Salem High School upheld its accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which is a rigorous and lengthy process. The NEASC committee lauded the high school in many areas such as community and belonging, professional development for our educators, and the collaboration of the School Committee, district office and our high school leadership team, among other areas.
Additionally, a few weeks ago, the Salem Early Childhood Center and Bentley Academy Innovation School hosted the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care, marking the first time it had ever held a meeting in a public school. As our early education program has grown exponentially, we were proud to showcase these efforts to the Board and to the early education community across the state. We have more than doubled the number of preschoolers in quality programming connected to the Salem Pre-K Partnership (programming both within the schools and in conjunction with community partners). These are exciting times in Salem especially as we plan to expand our offerings by adding a dual language Pre-K program in the upcoming school year.
Further, on Wednesday, the Massachusetts School Building Authority Board voted to advance the Salem High School’s building project to the feasibility stage. This means that we can select a project manager to help us explore the type of facility we want to build, analyze where on the site to construct a school and review the most cost-effective plan. As part of this work, we will also examine the feasibility and interest in a grades 7-12 school or a grades 9-12 school. Stay tuned as we move forward with this generation-altering project.
Finally, we’ll also be pulling for our boys basketball team tonight (7 p.m.) as it hosts East Bridgewater H.S. in the MIAA Division 3 Tournament Round of 32 at the field house. Go Witch!
Have a great weekend!
Steve
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.
This week's rock star award goes to Ms. Tomasina Reyes, the assistant cook at Carlton. Ms. Reyes goes above and beyond to make sure the students at Carlton are well fed and happy. She greets everyone by name and always has a smile on her face. Ms. Reyes fills the cafeteria with laughter, contagious energy and delicious food!
- Four New Liberty Students to Present at the Massachusetts Region IV Science and Engineering Fair | Wednesday, Feb. 28
- VIEW GALLERY: Salem Prep Students Celebrate Dominican Republic Independence Day | Wednesday, Feb. 28
- WATCH: Carlton Innovation School Dominican Republic Independence Day Celebration | Tuesday, Feb. 27
- VIEW GALLERY: Breaking Bread at Salem’s Vacation Acceleration Academy | Thursday, Feb. 22
- VIEW GALLERY: New Liberty Students ‘Discuss History’ with Bentley Academy Third-Graders | Wednesday, Feb. 21
- Witchcraft Heights 21C Programming Has Students Excited to Learn – After School | Tuesday, Feb. 21
Attention Grade 6-7-8 Families: CTE Open House Scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 2
STUDENT CLASSLINK ACCESS AT HOME
Did you know that students can access ClassLink and all their apps from home without their Chromebook? Using this guide, families have access to many of the resources that students have in the classroom. These guides are available in four languages.
Support Salem Prep: Learn to Salsa Dance!
Register Now: KIDWIND 2024 Offshore Wind Academy
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADES 10-12
Looking for a Fun Week of Summer Learning?
Apply for the 2024 KidWind Offshore Wind Academy.
DEADLINE: Friday, Apr. 26 | Register Now
Earn money while learning hands-on about offshore wind this summer at the beautiful Massachusetts Maritime Academy July 21-26, 2024. Food and housing included.
This week-long program is open to rising sophomores through 12th grade. You will be paid $500 to attend and receive a travel allowance.
The KidWind Offshore Wind Academy will introduce you to the offshore wind industry. You will have fun using the KidWind tools & hands-on STEM-based activities that model careers in the growing offshore wind industry. These experiences will be enriched with field trips and guest speakers to help you see the opportunities for yourself in the offshore wind industry as a skilled professional and leader. It is a great time to learn, have fun and explore!
Enrollment is limited for this exciting program. Visit www.kidwindacademy.org for more information.
Attention 8th Grade Families...Save the Date!
School Tours for new Pre-K and Kindergarten Families Run Mar. 4-15
Your child's immersive, transformative education starts now.
School tours for pre-K and Kindergarten families new to Salem Public Schools begin next week -- from Monday, Mar. 5 through Friday, Mar. 15.
Contact your school's family engagement facilitator to schedule your tour
Salem Food and Nutrition Services will be debuting two new breakfast items on our menus the week of Mar. 4-8. Our grades 6-12 students will be served delicious egg and cheese stuffed hash browns Monday Mar. 4. To close out the week, our K-8 students will be served a strawberry banana smoothie for breakfast Friday, Mar. 8. Drinking a smoothie for breakfast is a great source of energy and protein.
MSBA Announces 15th Annual My Ideal School Contest
The primary goal of the "My Ideal School" contest is to promote discussion among students and teachers as to how thoughtful design and construction of schools in Massachusetts supports student engagement and 21st century learning.
This contest is open to all first-grade students currently attending a Massachusetts public school and contest submissions must be postmarked by Friday, Apr. 26, 2024 for consideration. In past years, we have received thousands of contest submissions from first graders across the Commonwealth. All of the drawings have been unique and clearly, each child put a lot of hard work and creative thought into their submission.
This year, regional winners will be chosen, each of whom will receive a special prize generously donated by M&T Bank. One lucky grand prize winner will also have their “My Ideal School” contest picture featured on the cover of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Annual Report. In addition, winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony at the Massachusetts State House Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
For more information, view the 2024 Contest Invitation and Entry Form. Winners will be notified through their school's administration. For any inquiries or questions, please contact the MSBA.
The New Liberty Innovation School will host its second annual Basketball Tournament Fundraiser Saturday, Mar. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Salem High School.
The tournament will consist of 10 teams and will be played in a single elimination format. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit NLIS student activities including helping fund senior dues, the senior family dinner, learning opportunities and internships as well as community building initiatives.
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.
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.
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.