Salem Public Schools
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 this week goes to Salem football coach, Matthew Bouchard, for his commitment and dedication to his team. Beyond the on-field accolades, he has been an excellent model for our youth - patient, determined and asset-based as a leader. He cares deeply about his players, fellow coaches and, of course, the City of Salem!
Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler was among several state officials to visit the flourishing Salem Early Childhood Center Tuesday morning, touring and observing two classrooms and discussing the possibilities of PK offerings in Salem.
Congratulations to Ms. Parker, AP Literature teacher, who was recently named a 2024 Partners in Excellence Teacher Award recipient by Mass Insight Education & Research for her exemplary work in the Advanced Placement (AP) STEM & English Program. She is among 15 Massachusetts AP teachers being recognized for outstanding contributions to student success during the 2022-2023 academic year. Thank you, Ms. Parker, for all you do for our scholars!
A commitment to early literacy took center stage on Monday afternoon at Saltonstall School in the form of Reading Opens the World, a literacy initiative by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Massachusetts and the Salem Teachers Union. Mayor Dominick Pangallo and Superintendent Zrike served as guest readers of “Something, Somewhere,” by Amanda Gorman, Mayor Pangallo in English and Superintendent Zrike in Spanish.
Ensuring the safety of our school community is a top priority for our dedicated school nurses and a key aspect of this responsibility involves monitoring student immunization records. In the upcoming weeks, parents and guardians of students with outdated immunizations will receive letters from their school nurse, detailing which vaccines are missing from their child's school health record. The letter will kindly request that updated records be promptly provided to the school nurse.
It's crucial to note that students with records still out-of-date in the new year may face the possibility of exclusion from school. If you receive a letter from your school nurse, we urge you to call them without delay. Sharing your plans for updating your child's records is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
As winter approaches, we want to remind staff and families to be sure we have current contact information to reach you in the event that we have a cancellation or delay.
What is the Process for Determination of School Closure?
THE DECISION
The superintendent consults with various parties, including the City of Salem DPW, the Mayor, our transportation department, and the SPS Buildings and Grounds department. We also include the School Committee and Executive Team in the conversation. If we have to make the call, we aim to give notice the evening before, but sometimes an early morning decision is needed. Early morning updates will be communicated by 6:00 am. The call could be an announcement for:
no school (snow day)
2-hour delay,
early dismissal
or cancellation of extracurricular activities.
School days missed due to school closures will be made up at a later time during the school year.
THE COMMUNICATION
If the superintendent decides to enact a school closure or a delayed start of school, communication with parents and staff begins. Families and staff will be notified ia ParentSquare with a phone call, text message, and email. A website banner and popup, social media, and local TV channels will also broadcast the closing or delay.
In the event that school is canceled or there is an early release, all after-school and outdoor program activities will be canceled unless otherwise noted in the communication. Exceptions for school-sponsored activities may be made by the Superintendent due to extenuating circumstances. For example, weather and road conditions improve. (There could be an event that could result in the forfeiture or other extenuating circumstances). This decision would be made by noon and communicated to the appropriate administrator for that activity. School Committee policy can be found here.
Recess & Outdoor Physical Activity
When adequately clothed, elementary school-aged children can participate in safe, vigorous play in an outdoor environment in most weather conditions. Increased caution should be practiced when temperatures are below 30 degrees, including the wind chill factor.
Students are kept indoors when temperatures fall below 20 degrees, including the wind chill (“feels like”) temperature based on www.weather.com for zip code 01970.
The school district will not close schools simply because of cold weather.
School buildings are warm, safe, and ideal for students when it is cold outside.
In rare instances, the superintendent may close schools for safety reasons due to a combination of cold weather, road conditions, and ice fog.
Parents may use their discretion about their students, but the day will count as an absence, and remote work is unavailable.
Students should dress appropriately for cold weather. The district urges students to wear winter hats, gloves, warm coats, and boots.
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.
