Salem Public Schools
SPS Families,
Over the last couple of months, we have witnessed a few instances of community members acting in ways that run counter to our values in front of children. We have observed adult community members using inappropriate language and making hurtful and threatening comments. As always, our children are watching and are profoundly influenced by this behavior. It is imperative that we model respectful and productive discourse for our impressionable youth so they understand how to most effectively resolve a concern or issue. Thank you for helping us to teach our children how to consistently conduct themselves in a civil manner.
I also want to remind our families of a few important events in the next week:
Chicago Teen Edition: SHS proudly presents CHICAGO: Teen Edition, adapted from Kander and Ebbs legendary and award-winning musical about fame, fortune, and acquittal. Performances are Friday and Saturday, January 17 and 18 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, January 19 at 2 PM at the Salem High School auditorium. The run time of this show is 1 hour 30 minutes, and includes a brief intermission. Tickets can be purchased at the door or via presale at SHSonstage.ludus.com.
Early Childhood Expo: Please spread the word to your neighbors and friends that our annual Early Childhood Expo is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and Thursday, Feb. 6. The Salem Public Schools Early Childhood Expo, which showcases kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs, takes place in two forms:
The Virtual Town Hall is slated for Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 6:30-8 p.m. | Submit your questions now | Meeting Link. At the town hall, you can learn more– about the early childhood options we provide, a timeline for registration and ways to get more information on each school.
The Meet and Greet Session is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 (5:30-7 p.m.) in person at Collins Middle School. This provides families an opportunity to meet school educators and ask specific questions about the programming at each school.
Additionally, SPS families can schedule in-person tours of each school that offers kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programming – Bates Elementary School, Bentley Academy Innovation School, Carlton Innovation School, Horace Mann Laboratory School, Saltonstall School, Witchcraft Heights Elementary School and the Salem Early Childhood Center – from March 3-14. We are proud of the many early childhood programs in the Salem Public Schools and are incredibly excited to showcase what we offer!
Finally, on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. we have a school committee meeting where the committee will review the feedback about the grade configuration at the new Salem High School building. Also on the agenda will be next year’s school calendar. Please find a draft of the primary calendar here.
Enjoy the long weekend,
Steve
We are thrilled to present this week's RockStar Award to Ms. Lee Negron for her exceptional contributions as Payroll Manager. Ms. Negron is a humble and approachable colleague, whose commitment to excellence, and whose eye for detail ensures that our bi-weekly and weekly payrolls are accurate and on-time. She is an extremely hard worker, who routinely works nights and weekends on our collective behalf.
This is true all year, but never more so in December, when Ms. Negron led the implementation of the new STU and PSRP collective bargaining agreements. This involved changing the pay rates and calculating retroactive payments for roughly 600 employees. Ms. Negron's patience, knowledge of payroll practices, and problem solving skills led to a smooth pay period -- for all employees.
Ms. Negron's customer service skills are exceptional. She is respectful and available to all employees, and goes above and beyond to answer any questions and ensure accurate and timely payments. Ms. Negron is a humble leader, who brings a curiosity and good sense of humor to the day to day work. SPS employees know they are in good hands with Ms. Negron.
Boston Globe Op-Ed | With MCAS requirement gone, the state needs new graduation standards
On Nov. 5, Massachusetts voters rejected the system of using a public school student’s 10th-grade MCAS scores to certify academic readiness for high school graduation. The state now has an opportunity to create a new standard that preserves high academic expectations for all students and emphasizes the broader set of skills and experiences that prepare students for success in adulthood.
Stop-Arm Cameras Reveal Traffic Violation Hot Spots in City
Bus Patrol, which provides stop-arm cameras and safety solutions to school buses, revealed the locations in the City of Salem plagued by the most traffic violations regarding its school buses.
The Salem News | Appreciation: Skeadas left an indelible mark on coaching basketball in Salem
Dennis Skeadas never considered himself as merely a coach of the Salem High girls basketball team. To him, the Witches were a family — and would always be a family — and he was simply the common thread that ran through the program’s fibers.
El Planeta | Massachusetts awards $8 million to expand ‘early college’ programs in schools
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $8 million in grants for Early College programs, an initiative that allows high school students to take college credit-bearing classes at no cost.
Performances are tonight and Saturday, Jan. 17-18 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. at the SHS M. Ruth Norton Auditorium (77 Willson Street, Salem, MA 01790). The run time of this show is 1 hour 30 minutes, and includes a brief intermission. $15 General Admission (at the door)/$12 Presale at SHSonstage.ludus.com. $10 Students, Seniors, and Active Military. $5 student rush tickets will be available to SHS students during lunch the week of the show.
CHICAGO Teen Edition will feature performances by a cast of 26 SHS singers, actors, and dancers, and a pit band with a mix of professional and student musicians. Over 35 students have contributed to the designing, creating, and operation of technical elements (costumes, props, set, lights, and sound), both after school and as part of projects in Technical Theater and CTE classes.
CHICAGO Teen Edition is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
The Salem Public Schools Early Childhood Expo, which showcases kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs, will take place Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and Thursday, Feb. 6, in two capacities.
- The Virtual Town Hall is slated for Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 6:30-8 p.m. | Submit your questions now | Meeting Link
- The Meet and Greet Session is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 (5:30-7 p.m.) at the Collins Middle School.
Additionally, SPS families can schedule in-person tours of each school that offers kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programming – Bates Elementary School, Bentley Innovation Academy, Carlton Innovation School, Horace Mann Laboratory School, Saltonstall School, Witchcraft Heights Elementary School and the Salem Early Childhood Center – from Mar. 3-14.
Eligibility for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs is as follows:
- Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who will turn FIVE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to start kindergarten in the fall of 2025.
- Pre-Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who turn FOUR years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the SPS pre-K program in the fall of 2025.
- Preschool: Children residing in Salem who turn THREE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the preschool program at the Salem Early Childhood Center in the fall of 2025.
For more information, contact the SPS Parent Information Center at pic@salemk12.org or telephone (978) 740-1225, or visit salemk12.org/families.
Registration for the Salem-Beverly Babe Ruth Baseball Spring 2025 season is open for players aged 12-16 years old.
- 2-3 games per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- All games played in Beverly
- Emphasis on instruction, competition and fun
For more information, visit the Salem-Beverly Baseball website.
The latest SPS Nursing News newsletter is now available. Inside, find important information on:
- Following up on your child's school health screening referrals
- Suggestions for fun, healthy, and family-friendly outdoor winter activities to keep you active during the colder months.
- How to handle a dental emergency
- Get cozy with a delicious winter recipe perfect for sharing
Stay informed and healthy. Read the full newsletter
Salem High School has officially launched its new spice bar on Monday, Jan. 13, bringing an extra burst of flavor to the cafeteria. Students can customize their meals with a wide variety of seasonings designed to customize and enhance the taste of their dishes. Available on all three floors of the school’s cafeterias, the spice bars have already become a hit, with students enthusiastically adding their favorite flavors to everything from sandwiches to salads.
What’s Available at the Spice Bar?
Currently, the spice bar offers an array of tasty options to suit every spice lover's preferences, including:
- Hot Sauce Varieties: Frank’s (packets) and Sriracha (dispenser/bottle/packets)
- Lemon Juice
- Spice Blends: Cajun Blend and Ranch Blend
- Individual Spices: Black Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes
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.