Navigator News
Vol. 18 Issue 8 --- Weekly Updates for Salem Academy
Principals' Corner
Whole School
Upper School
11th Grade - PSAT in October: On Tuesday, October 26th, all 11th graders will be engaging in the PSAT in preparation for the SAT this coming spring. Salem Academy pays for both tests during a student’s junior year. As juniors, PSAT scores also lead to college scholarship opportunities. Students will be dismissed in the early afternoon after testing is complete. It is extremely important that all juniors are in attendance on this day.
12th Grade - SAT in October: On Thursday, October 28th, all 12th graders will be engaging in the SAT, a college entrance exam. Even if students tested already, they should plan to retest in order to maximize scores prior to college application deadlines. While many colleges are moving to test-optional applications, the SAT score is still an important factor to potentially including, depending on the school and a student’s individual application. College counselors will work closely with students to determine the best approach on applications after SAT scores are received in November. Salem Academy fully pays for the October test, and students will be dismissed in the early afternoon after testing is complete. It is extremely important that all seniors are in attendance on this day.
New US Staff: Andrew Haynes, our new 11th Grade English and AP Language teacher, started this week, and we are excited to welcome Drew Brennan, 9th Grade Special Education Teacher, next week. We also have hired an Environmental Science and AP Biology teacher, Katelyn Stolberg, set to start in January after her graduate program is complete. We are in the process of hiring Long Term Substitutes to assist with both the delayed start for our Science position as well as upcoming family leaves.
Lower School
New LS Staff: Krista Doyle, our new 7th Grade Math teacher started this week, and we are excited to welcome Katelyn Shaughnessy, 7th Grade Special Education Teacher, next week.
After-School Tutoring: Information about our after-school tutoring program is going out today. Please click here for more information.
Important Dates
Oct. 19th- 11th grade field trip & SEPAC Meeting @ 6:PM
Oct. 20th- Senior Portraits
Oct. 26th- PSAT for Juniors
Oct. 27th- Performing Arts Capstone
Oct. 28th- SAT for Seniors
Oct. 29th- Half Day
News and Notes
Wellness Weekend has ended!
Wellness Weekend has ended! Thanks to all who participated in this amazing weekend! We are still collecting donations in hopes of REACHing our fundraising goal of $15,000! Make a donation via the link below!
Donation Link: https://sacs.kindful.com/sacs-wellness-weekend-2021
Thank you!
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Wellness weekend is here and we’d like to welcome all to join the fun. We know that pursuing physical activity is one of the best ways to stay healthy and exercising can be more fun with others! Come along and join us as we recruit friends and family for Salem Academy’s 2021 Wellness Weekend. This event has something for everyone from running a 5K (on your own) to joining our community for a "Sunrise Celebration"! We invite you to REACH for your own goals by picking the event that’s right for you!
Wellness Weekend, kicked off by REACH the Beach, marks our first major fundraisers of the year for the Annual Fund. Last year we raised over $10,000, even without including a Reach the Beach event – we rock! Our fundraising success was made possible in part by Wellness Weekend participants creating their own fundraising pages and sharing with their friends and networks! A huge THANK YOU to all of you who helped us REACH that total.
Your continued support and participation create a foundation for community building and deepens our school’s resources. Our teachers and staff exceed expectations all year long and our students then follow their lead. Let’s keep them all going by showing them we’re by their sides – this year we’re setting our goal at $15,000!
Website: https://events.salemacademycs.org/wellness-weekend-2021/
Registration Link: https://sacs.kindful.com/e/wellness-weekend-2021
Student Fundraising Accounts
All students at Salem Academy have a student account. Deposits to these accounts can only be made through school-sponsored fundraisers. Accounts can be used to pay for field trips, events, and Salem Academy gear. Upon graduation or transfer to another school, any remaining funds will belong to Salem Academy as the funds were raised on behalf of the school for school-related purposes, not for personal use.
This year our first fundraiser for students is the SFC Calendar Fundraiser in November (stay tuned for more information). This is an important event for students 100% of their sales go directly into their Student Accounts and can be saved or used for school purposes such as field trips, athletic expenses or damaged items, graduation expenses, SACS gear and clothing, and future field trips. Any money in the account rolls over to the next school year as long as the student is enrolled at SACS and money can be transferred to siblings or other family members.
SEPAC Meeting
Please join us for our first Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) meeting of the year. The role of the SEPAC is to work in partnership with SACS on matters of Special Education. Membership is offered to all parents/guardians of children with disabilities and other interested parties.
On Tuesday night, our SEPAC will discuss the year ahead, including challenges and opportunities in the 2021-22 school year. Director of Special Education, Linda St. Pierre and Asst. Director of Special Education, Lewis Bauer will also present our annual Basic Rights workshop on the rights of students and their parents/guardians under the law.
All SEPAC meetings will take place via Zoom until further notice.
SACS Online Admissions Portal Now Open!
Applications are now open for the 2022-2023 school year! Click the link to learn more and apply! Email info@salemacademycs.org with any questions.
Applications are due on March 2, 2022!
8th Grade Service Learning Survey
8th Grade students are engaged in some community research to help identify potential needs within Salem. Students will choose one of the issues identified for a service-learning project where they will try to help address that issue. Please consider participating and supporting their efforts below. While this form will collect email addresses all information is confidential, but not private. People are limited to one (1) response. Thank you!
Google Form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFMp4Nakj1L5uxoyElwwtimU69eQf5N7r2kK0_b0rtWPuLqA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Food Services
Click here for the monthly menus!
Dear Families - due to national shortages of food and packaging materials, labor shortage and vendor delivery delays and cancellations, our menus are subject to change based on availability. Please know that our team is working hard to provide meals every day, adjust on the fly, and provide updates about menu changes as soon as possible. We may need to make quick menu substitutions based upon what we have on hand, but we are trying our best to make comparable changes wherever possible. Thank you for your continued support and patience. Please stick with us through this challenging time! - Salem Academy Food and Nutrition Department
Even though your student is currently receiving Free meals at school, you are highly encouraged to submit an application. The application status of families was what the government used to issue the Pandemic EBT cards. In addition, there are additional benefits to meal status including waiver of college application fees, bus fees and possibly other community related benefits. The application takes just a few minutes to complete and may have great benefits. Please fill one out at lunchapp.com.
Community Resources and Opportunities
Tax Credits for Families
A coalition of non-profit organizations has created FindYourFunds.org to help eligible families get thousands of dollars in federal tax credits (like the Child Tax Credit) and stimulus payments, even if the families do not usually owe or file taxes. Outreach materials are available in 11 languages.
American Rescue Plan in Salem
Transparent, thoughtful, and strategic plan for Salem's federal COVID-19 relief
Earlier this year Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a far-reaching COVID recovery measure proposed by the Biden-Harris administration. This $1.9 trillion measure provides direct financial relief to Americans, assistance to businesses, and aid to states, counties, and municipalities.
The City of Salem will receive approximately $35 million in these relief funds over the course of the next two years. All of the funding must be expended by December 31, 2024. The broadly acceptable categories of use include costs incurred to:
- Respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;
- Pay workers providing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency;
- Provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue to the City due to the COVID-19 public health emergency in the most recent full fiscal year; and
- Make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
There are no shortage of capital needs and this aid will provide an opportunity to plan and leverage resources for the benefit of everyone in our community. Please take time to complete the ARPA survey.
Salem Academy Charter School
Website: www.salemacademycs.org
Location: 45 Congress Street, Salem, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 744-2105
Facebook: facebook.com/salemacademycs
Twitter: @SalemAcademyCS