Salem Public Schools
Friday, June 28, 2024
Salem Public Schools Update
Superintendent's Message
SPS families,
The success of our high school teams this year – the Super Bowl appearance, state champions in wrestling and unified sports and the baseball team’s deep run into the MIAA Tournament – is something we hope each of our student-athletes can experience in their high school careers.
Our current Strategic Plan very much involves our student-athletes as we are committed to expanding access to high-interest activities during and after school for all students.
On Saturday, we host our first-ever Girls in Sports Day at Salem High School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for female athletes in grades K-5. The rotating station clinic is focused on developing the next generation of Witches to build new skills and introduce them to high school athletics while having fun.
The clinic is $5 per child (which includes a free t-shirt) and families can either register online to or simply arrive at SHS prior to the 10 a.m. start.
Coincidentally, the 52nd anniversary of Title IX – a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities – was Sunday, June 23. It is one of the most important days in U.S. history, making our first-ever Girls in Sports Day even more significant.
I feel compelled to give my thanks and plaudits to our Director of Athletics Reilly Christie and his staff for organizing this inaugural event. We hope you will take full advantage.
Have a great weekend!
Steve
SALEM SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS
- The Salem Patch: Salem Rotary Club Awards $40K In Scholarships To 14 Graduates | June 28, 2024
- The Boston Globe: One way to combat chronic absenteeism? Make school fun | June 24, 2024
- Salem Prep Educator Yamily Byas Named Among Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2024 | June 23, 2024
- WBUR Radio Boston: 3 grads talk about tumultuous high school experiences that started with COVID | June 20, 2024
- VIEW GALLERY: Salem ParentChild+ Program of the North Shore Graduates 12 Families | June 18, 2023
- ‘Your Presence is a Present’: New Liberty Innovation School Celebrates, Honors Class of 2024 | June 17, 2024
School Committee Update on negotiations with the STU: Monday, June 24
View Gallery: 2024 Summer Leadership Institute
'Kasserian Ingera' (And how are the children?):
'Kasserian Ingera' is still the traditional greeting among the Masai, acknowledging the high value the Masai always place on their children’s well-being.
This was the theme of the Salem Public Schools 2024 Leadership Institute, two days of collaboration, planning and growth opportunities by SPS leadership. It is merely late June, but each of us left equipped with a blueprint for the 2024-25 academic year.
We are excited to share our first Panorama Family/Caregiver Survey. We value your opinion as you are an important part in the life of your scholar and many others and a valued member of the SPS community. We would be honored if you would take a moment of your time to share your feedback with us.
Take the Survey (15 minutes)
The survey will be open from June 14-Aug. 9, 2024 and should take no more than 15 minutes. We encourage you to take one survey per student you care for, if you would like to. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Haitian Creole.
Should you have any questions or need support please reach out to us at 978-740-1225 or email lassade@salemk12.org
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently released the 2024-25 MCAS testing schedule. This release took place after our calendar had been created and approved by the School Committee. Unfortunately, one of the MCAS testing dates conflicts with a planned early release date. Therefore, we've had to revise the calendar. Hard copies of the revised calendars were sent home with students prior to the last day of school.
2024 Summer Learning Activities, Requirements Available
The Summer 2024 learning activities and requirements are available featuring an array of works suggested by the American Library Association, Salem Public Library, Massachusetts Book Awards, popular series as well as the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) Summer Challenge for children and adults.
Host a Japanese Middle School Exchange Student, July 21-30, 2024
The Salem-Ota Cultural Exchange (SOCE) Club annually hosts 28 students (14 boys, 14 girls aged 12 and 13) from Ota City, Japan—near Tokyo. This marks the 32nd year of this cultural
exchange. This year students will be here, July 21-30, 2024.
The Japanese students have their days filled with their own program but are looking to stay with a family with similar aged kids for the evenings/weekends. Hosts typically have kid(s) in their own home, aged 10-17. Younger and older are also welcomed. Host families often get together for social outings during free time: games, beach/pool, shopping etc.
The students all have a working use of English and there is NO expectation that the US kids/families know any Japanese.
The only requirement is Japanese students must have a bed of their own and hosts must be willing drop their student off in Salem in the morning (usually around 8:30 am) and pick them up in Salem in the evening (usually around 4 pm). (Families often share these pickups/drop-offs.) While this club is based out of Salem, we have typically had hosting families from surrounding towns as well: Beverly, Marblehead, Lynn, Swampscott, Danvers, Georgetown, etc.
To express interest in hosting, please contact Marlene Warner at 978.394.4722 or marlene.warner@gmail.com; also visit our website at: www.salemotace.org for more information.
Waitlist space is still available in the FREE Expanding Horizons Summer Program for students who will be in grades 6, 7, or 8 as of next school year.
This is a great opportunity for students to explore new areas of interest, connect with friends, and have fun. Students participate in three main activities a day and complete a survey to indicate their preferences. Breakfast, lunch and field trips are included, and transportation is provided for students if needed (and if they live farther from the school).
The program runs from July 8- Aug. 8, Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For more details, contact Taylor Mimms, Site Coordinator, at tmimms@leap4ed.org or text at 978-595-2021.
Transportation Registration Deadline Monday--Register Now!
Transportation Applications for the 2024-25 school year are now OPEN in the Aspen Family Portal.
All students who wish to ride the bus for the 2024-25 school year must submit an application, even if the student currently rides the bus or is considered a mandatory rider.
A completed application must be submitted by Monday, July 1, 2024. Applications received after July 1, 2024, will not be accepted except in extenuating circumstances to allow proper time for processing and routing.
Note: If you have a student that attends Salem Academy Charter School, you will not be able to submit an application for your student in Aspen. Salem Academy will send a separate application form to families. Please click below for information about Salem Academy Bus Applications:
COVID-19 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.
Download 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.