Salem Public Schools
SPS community,
Based on feedback we received last year from families, students and staff, SPS has made revisions to the format of the K-8 report card. You can find here samples of what this year’s K-8 report card will look like:
English | Spanish | Portuguese
One thing you will notice is that personal growth indicators are not included on the upcoming fall report card. Based on feedback from both educators and families regarding the accessibility of this information and how educators determine specific ratings for students, we have decided to temporarily pause providing feedback on personal growth indicators directly on the report card this trimester while we research and vet other alternatives.
In the meantime, we invite caregivers to ask about their child’s social and emotional progress during upcoming family conferences. Some helpful questions families might ask teachers includes:
How does my child manage their emotions in the classroom?
Does my child express empathy or concern for others?
How does my child interact with peers during group activities?
Does my child have friends, and how do they navigate friendships?
How does my child handle conflicts or disagreements with others?
How well does my child follow routines and classroom rules?
Does my child demonstrate responsibility, such as completing tasks and staying organized?
Does my child take initiative, or do they need prompting to start tasks?
Does my child ask for help when they need it, or do they tend to keep challenges to themselves?
Are there specific areas where my child could benefit from more support or practice?
How can I support our child’s social-emotional development at home?
Please know that the district remains committed to supporting and communicating students’ social-emotional development, and we will keep families updated on any new reporting methods as they are developed. If you have any questions about your child’s academic, social and emotional, and behavioral progress in school, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to their teacher and arrange a time to speak.
As a reminder, please find below important upcoming K-8 report card dates:
First trimester report cards posted to the Aspen Family Portal: Nov. 27, 2024
Students will complete report card reflections and bring them home: Dec. 3, 2024
Parent Conferences: Dec. 4, 2024
Enjoy the weekend,
Steve
Currently, NLIS is sending over 30 students out on paid learning opportunities. In addition, Ms. Murtaugh has fostered strong partnerships with North Shore Community College and has been instrumental in creating an Early College pathway for NLIS students. Congrats Ms. Murtaugh!
The Salem Building Committee, in the planning stages of constructing a new high school, has announced three community information forums to allow residents and stakeholders to ask questions and voice ideas.
Two of the forums will be held in person and one will be broadcast via Zoom:
- Monday, Nov. 25 (6:30-8 p.m.), Salem High School IMC Library
- Tuesday, Dec. 3 (6:30-8 p.m.), Saltonstall School Auditorium
- Thursday, Dec. 5 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) | Join via Zoom
SBC and OPM Committee members will be on hand as well as representatives from Perkins & Will architectural design firm to review project aspirations, schedule, build on prior work, and see design thinking.
For more information, visit the Salem Building Committee website.
Mayor Dominick Pangallo is pleased to announce that the City of Salem seeks 14–19-year-old applicants to serve on the Salem Youth Commission. High school-age youth who reside in Salem are invited to apply for appointment to serve on the Salem Youth Commission (SYC) by November 22, 2024. The SYC encourages youth involvement in the community, enhances leadership skills, and empowers youth to voice their concerns and ideas related to City programs and initiatives.
The Salem Youth Commission provides an advocacy and information platform for youth representatives to get more engaged in City issues, helping to recommend new programs and events, craft initiatives in partnerships with other City boards and departments, local non-profits, and businesses, and suggest ideas for new policies or regulations for the City to consider. The members also help share news and information about important City projects and programs with the youth of the community. Finally, there are opportunities for leadership development training through guest speakers, workshops, special programs, and more. Youth Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, and will meet as a group monthly.
High school-age youth interested in applying for appointment to the Salem Youth Commission should submit an online application by noon on Friday, November 22, 2024. Youth Commission appointments have a term of one to three years and require mandatory participation in monthly meetings.
Please contact Sarah Roy, Director of the Salem Children’s Alliance for the City of Salem,
at sroy@salem.com for more information.
On Monday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day -- no school), we will be testing our emergency alert system at 4 p.m. All Salem Public Schools' families and staff who are subscribed to the ParentSquare messaging platform will receive a message by text, e-mail and telephone (in their chosen language) indicating it is only a test of our emergency alert system. We reiterate it is only a test.
Families who don’t receive the Nov. 11 message should contact their school as soon as possible so that we can make the proper adjustments to their settings.
We chose Nov. 11 to test our emergency alert system since each of our schools will be closed, thus mitigating any reaction or worry. We will also send reminders via ParentSquare and our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
There are still a small number of SPS families who have not subscribed to the ParentSquare app and we encourage everyone to do so. It is a free download via the app store.
Salem Food and Nutrition Services is excited to announce our new partnership with Brooksby Farm in Peabody, Mass., bringing you weekly videos of farm animals enjoying Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) treats. These videos aim to inspire our younger students to try new fruits and veggies each week. In our video clips this week, we shared an FFVP item from this past week's menu, carrots, with a sheep, a chicken, and an emu named Pierre.
Follow us on social media to see the weekly videos:
- Instagram: @spsfoodandnutrition
- Facebook: Salem Food Services
- X Platform: @spsfoodservice
With our new stop-arm cameras, bus and student tracking systems newly installed this year, Salem Public Schools and the City of Salem have gone to great lengths in prioritizing the safety of our students.
The City is seeking feedback from both parents and students to complete a survey to help provide insight on the future of Salem streets and how it can make our streets safer. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and closes Nov. 12, 2024.
Join Cartwheel and The NAN Project for a free live webinar Wednesday, Nov. 13 (7 p.m.), which will cover mental health questions that kids & teens have but are often afraid to ask, and suggestions for how caregivers can safely and appropriately respond when mental health topics come up in their homes.
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.