
Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools - Weekly Update
Friday, April 12, 2024
Superintendent's Message
April vacation begins after school today! I hope that everyone has a restful week and enjoys the beautiful weather that is forecasted. I am looking forward to visiting schools, historical sites and cultural events in the Dominican Republic with a contingent of educators from the Salem Public Schools. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the home island of so many students, staff and community members across the city of Salem.
As a reminder, I sent information about next year's budget proposal to families and staff this morning via Parentsquare. The email provides details about our recommendations for how to best use our resources given the fiscal landscape presented to us. There are ample opportunities to provide input on the budget as we have a budget hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. in the School Committee chambers at Collins Middle School and the School Committee is scheduled to deliberate and vote on the final budget on Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. during their regularly scheduled meeting. You can also share your thoughts via email at spsbudget@salemk12.org.
Finally, we remain in productive negotiations with the Salem Teachers Union. Most recently, we shared proposals about frequency of feedback to students and reached tentative agreements on bereavement leave for a miscarriage, appropriate schedules for part-time teachers and a commitment to reviewing the bargaining agreement as it evolves. We also spent time discussing the importance of expanding our parental leave policies. As caring humans, there is a collective commitment among the parties to support equitable parental leave. We are eager to identify solutions on how to fund this important benefit while balancing our city's fiscal constraints and the educational needs of the children who attend the Salem Public Schools. Together, I am confident that we can design a thoughtful path forward that is responsive to our community's needs.
Have a terrific week!
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.
The Rockstar Award for this week goes to Horace Mann Assistant Principal, Ms. Meghann McCarthy. She comes to school every day with a positive attitude, a smile and a willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure school and student success. From restorative conversations, coaching educators, providing coverage and building relationships with students and families, Ms. McCarthy does #AllTheThings!
Salem Schools in the News
- VIEW GALLERY: Collins Middle School Deep Sea Bots Studio Showcase | Friday, Apr. 12
- VIDEO & GALLERY: Saltonstall School Band performs at Mayor Jean A. Levesque Community Life Center | Wednesday, Apr. 10
- THE SALEM NEWS: Salem preschool options expand with state funding | Tuesday, Apr. 9
- VIEW GALLERY: Apr. 8 Solar Eclipse | Monday, Apr. 8
Attention Salem High School, New Liberty Innovation School and Salem Prep seniors:
The application deadline for the Salem Rotary Club Scholarships is Sunday, Apr. 14. Applicants must be residents of Salem and grade 12 high school/trade school students pursuing college or vocational trade school. For more information, visit salemrotary.com.
Lessons and resources on puberty. Field trip protocol and suggestions. Spring health tips.
We're thrilled to announce the release of the April issue of the SPS Nursing News! Our nurses have included important health information and suggestions for regional activities to help you take advantage of the beautiful spring weather.
Arts in the Evening Concerts: Wednesday, May 1
The Salem-Ota Cultural Exchange (SOCE) Club annually hosts 28 students (14 boys,14 girls) from Ota City, Japan (near Tokyo); they are 12 and 13 years old. This is 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 youth in their own home, aged 10-16. 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 that the 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.
Join Cartwheel and guest speaker Chris Smith, LCSW, Tuesday, May 7 (7:30-8:30 p.m.) to learn practical tips and scripts for how to speak with kids and teens about mental health topics, including suicide prevention. We'll discuss how to break down communication barriers and let your child know that you're available to support them.
Counselors Corner
It is spring! Often, folks wait until the spring equinox to create their ānew visionā for themselves (as opposed to New Yearās, when winter is closing in and the call is for rest and relaxation). Spring presents us with visual reminders that new growth is inevitable. Shoots rise up, buds form and rain and wind help create fertile ground for all that is to come. Potential abounds.
MCAS arrives this time of year as well. At Salem Public Schools we consider this to be only one indicator of growth and we recognize that standardized testing can elicit anxiety in young people.
There can be value in helping students learn how to mitigate stress around formal assessments. As we get older, we can draw from previous successes with managing high-stakes tests, so we can access things like driverās permits and license tests, SATs, state board licensing for various careers etc. Being able to demonstrate appropriate mastery of something is a part of life.
And it is not the only part of life.
Help your young people by reminding them to use positive self-talk. Point out that everything they have done to this point has prepared them for this, and all that matters is they breathe, slow down, and do their best. And that no matter what happens, this is one small piece of who they are and there is so much more that will determine their successes in life.
Summer Programming News: Contact Your School's City Connects Coordinators
We have received inquiries and questions about summer school programming in the Salem Public Schools. We are pleased to share that, in collaboration with our community partners, we will have approximately the same number of summer programs and seats as last summer. Our school-based teams are currently working to sign-up students who would benefit most from the summer offerings.
Historically, this happens before we open up the programming more widely. That being said, if you are interested in learning more about our Salem Public Schools or community offerings, please reach out to the City Connects coordinators at each K-8 school and the guidance departments at our three high school campuses. We want as many of our students to be connected to citywide programs as possible.
2024 Essex County Summer Day Program Announces Registration
The Essex County Summer Day Program is announcing two weeks of workshops and team-building activities for Salem students entering fifth grade in August 2024.
Access Registration Forms and Waivers
Please complete the application and waiver and return each to Detective Charlene Sano of the Salem Police Department via:
E-Mail: csano@salempd.net
Mail: Salem Police Department, 95 Margin St., Salem, Mass., 01970, ATTN: Detective Charlene Sano
Drop off: Salem Police Department at the front window, ATTN: Detective Charlene Sano
Deadline for applications is April 26th (Space is limited). For any questions, please reach out to Detective Sano at 978-744-0171, ext. 50229
PUBLIC HEARING ON FY25 BUDGET, 4/23/24 AT 7 P.M.
The Salem School Committee will hold a public hearing on the recommended FY25 budget on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Chambers (Rm. 227) at Collins Middle School and will also be available via Zoom using the link in the calendar posting. We hope you will join us.
The Great Salem Cleanup, scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 20, is seeking student volunteers from Salem High School, Collins Middle School and Saltonstall School.
The Cleanup, spearheaded by the Salem Beatification Committee, is an ideal way for National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society students to fulfill volunteer hour requirements.
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.
- Kids Superhero Pan Mass Challenge - espaƱol - portuguese
- Pre-K spaces still available for remainder of 2023-24
- NOMINATE: Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award: English | Spanish (Closes Apr. 21)
- MCAS Schedule and Information
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.