Salem Public Schools Update
News for our families
Family Health Forum
Date: Tuesday, August 24th
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Please join us for a family health webinar on Tuesday, August 24th from 5:30-6:30pm. We will review the SPS Fall 2021 opening plans, share our current knowledge and understanding of the virus, and open to questions and answers. Dr. Zrike will be joined by the following advisors and SPS team members who have helped guide the development of our Fall 2021 opening plans.
- Dr. Clovene Campbell, Pediatrician & Salem Public Schools' physician
- Dr. Kristin Pangallo, Associate Professor of Chemistry at SSU, School Committee Member, & SPS Parent
- Dr. Charlene Moske-Weber, SPS Director of Nursing & Health
- Zissis Alepakis, Interim Director of Buildings & Grounds
- Chelsea Banks, Chief of Opportunity & Response
If you would like to submit your questions in advance, please use this google form.
Please use this link to join the webinar. Passcode: THdL4Y
Exploring our core values
Yesterday, students (13+), staff, and families received a short form that asks you a single question and gauges your interest in being part of a focus group. Please check your email for this form and let us know your thoughts. We value your participation in this process and hope you will give us a moment so we can include your voice. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Polay-Wettengel, Chief of Public Relations.
Back to School Forms
We will email these electronic forms to you MONDAY so you can fill them out ahead of time. We will send a weekly reminder. Back to school forms must be submitted by October 1st.
These are REQUIRED forms for schools, so please fill them out as completely as possible. If you have questions, please contact the front office of your school. Printed forms will also be made available to those who may need them.
School year 2021-2022 Chromebook information
Salem Public Schools believes that equitable access to technology will help close the educational gaps that some students may have due to the pandemic. With the help of various grants, the district secured licenses to various curriculum materials across all grades and subject areas to assist teachers and students this school year. SPS is also proud to announce that during the 2021-2022 school year, there will be a Chromebook available for every student for access to these valuable resources.
Students in grades 6 - 12 will be issued a Chromebook that they will bring back to forth to school each day. We ask that these devices are charged every night so students can fully take part in the instruction each day. There will be loaners available if needed. There is also a help desk located at both Collins Middle School and Salem High School where students can bring their Chromebooks when technology help is needed.
Students in grades PreK - 5 will have access to a classroom set of Chromebooks. These devices will be secured in a charging cart each night and will not go home with students unless there are specific circumstances as directed by their teacher (e.g. snow day, special projects, etc.).
If you have any questions about technology at Salem Public Schools, please reach out to our Executive Director of Instructional Technology, Marc LeBlanc (mleblanc@salemk12.com).
MKV Families Supply Distribution Day
On Wednesday, August 26th at the Collins Middle School, school supplies and basic need supply bags will be available for pick up between 11AM-2PM. These supplies are provided at no cost to students and their families who are currently homeless living in shelters, doubling up with family/friends, hotel/motel, or other living situations that are not permanent.
If you have any questions, please email Jodi Connolly, Homeless Education Liaison @ jconnolly@salemk12.org or call 978-825-3601.
21-22 School Year Calendars
Welcome to August! We are gearing up for the school year, please note that school calendars for the upcoming school year are on the website. The first day of school is August 31st (PreK+K start on Sept 1) for all schools except for Carlton which starts on September 2nd (K on Sept 3).
This is a change from previous years because this school start date is BEFORE Labor Day.
Schedule a meeting with Superintendent Zrike
Summertime is here and it is time to get outside, get into the community, and meet and mingle.
Dr. Zrike would love the opportunity to meet with any SPS staff or SPS family who would like to do so. It could be in a park, a coffee shop, your home, or anywhere else.
If you would like to schedule some time with Dr. Zrike, please email Mindy Marino to set up a time and place.
The virtual Backpack
Download the ParentSquare app today!
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 how the schools will communicate with families districtwide going forward. Please be sure you are receiving messages from ParentSquare. If you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.
important links
Salem Public Schools
Email: publicrelations@salemk12.org
Website: https://www.salemk12.org
Location: 29 Highland Avenue, Salem, MA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalemPublicSchools
Twitter: @SalemSchoolsk12