Update for November 20, 2020
Salem High School
Happy Friday!
Here is what is in this week's newsletter. Please note there will be no weekly newsletter next week.
- Student Shout-Outs
- Thanksgiving Break
- Seal of Biliteracy
- Report Cards
- Upcoming Surveys
- Future Student Night
- SHS News
- SHS Community Office Hours
- SHS Department Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Weekly Town Hall Reminder
- Weekly Reminders and Resources
Student Shout-Outs
Devante Fuller
Leena Sarhan
Patrick Bell
Adelis Rodriguez
Lixandry Portes Hernandez
Thanksgiving Break
There will be no school on Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. On Wednesday, November 25, ALL students will be remote including our Tier 1 learners.
Wednesday will also be an early release. The student day will end at noon. We will also be showing our virtual pep rally during advisory - don't miss it!
Seal of Bilteracy
We are pleased to inform you of Salem High School’s participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Seal of Biliteracy is an honor available to any Senior student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language. The partner or non-English language can be one learned at school, at home, or in the community. We believe this nationally recognized initiative reflects the linguistic strengths of our students and promote the rich language tapestry and diversity that reflect our Salem community.
The State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction are two honors that are recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Awards and recognition will be given to graduating seniors at the high school’s annual Student Recognition ceremony and at the high school’s graduation ceremony. A notation will be added to the students’ transcript and a seal from the State of Massachusetts will appear on their high school diploma. In addition, the Seal of Biliteracy is recognized by employers; by the Massachusetts DESE to provide voucher for future educators to for teacher certification; and by many universities recognize to award credits for classes.
We encourage Seniors to fill out an application to start their path to the Seal of Biliteracy.
The testing window will be from December 7th-10th and then once again in the spring. Any questions can be directed to Ms. Adriana Thomas, SPS World Language Coordinator.
Report Cards
Many of our courses utilize Standards-Based Grading. Please refer to our SBG Infographic in English and Spanish for more information.
Upcoming Surveys
- Junior PSAT Administration
- January MCAS Testing for Juniors and students needing to take the retest
- Return to In-Person Learning for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Future Student Night
SHS News
SHS Community Office Hours
Do you have questions about Salem High, need a hotspot, or want academic support? We are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-5 at 135 Lafayette, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 at the Saltonstall School auditorium.
Please sign up for a time to come and meet us.
If you are unable to access the sign up link, please call or email a member of the Community Engagement Team in order to book an appointment.
Juan Encarnacion - Family Engagement Facilitator (781) 771-6660 (English and Spanish speaker).
Meredith Flanagan - 9th Grade Student Adjustment Counselor (978) 998-0452 (English and Spanish speaker).
Shamus Mruk - Assistant Principal for the 9th and 10th Grades and the Newcomer Program (978) 888-7634 (English only)
ALL ARE WELCOME, PLEASE COME AND SEE US!!!
Athletics
Girls soccer played a great game on Monday vs Marblehead and ended with a great effort vs Swampscott on Tuesday. Boys soccer was back in action this week and played hard fought games vs Saugus and Marblehead and will wrap up the season against Beverly today. Our Cross Country finished up their season with a very competitive meet vs Gloucester. Congratulations to Ethan Doyle who placed 10th at the NSHGA Massachusetts Championships. Please remember that all student-athletes must register online to be eligible to participate. The online registration site is : www.familyid.com . Game Schedules can be found on : www.northeasternma.org. Thank you and Go Witch !!!!
Career and Technical Education
College and Career Readiness Center
All Families
This Thanksgiving is certainly not the one we have planned for. With further restrictions and rising cases we are all feeling the burden this holiday. I hope that there is an opportunity in all of this to rest, connect and do some things that bring you joy.
If you need support over the holiday please do not hesitate to use these resources. We all need a little extra help during this difficult time.
Upperclassman
College Rep Visits through Naviance
Monday 11/30- Stoney Brook University 12:15PM
Tuesday 12/1- Landmark College 12:15PM
Thursday 12/3- Long Island University 12:15PM
Friday 12/4- Savannah College of Art and Design 12:15PM
ON THE SPOT ADMISSIONS!
North Shore Community College - December 9th at Noon
Pupil and Personnel Services
Post High Program
As part of their Life Skills Curriculum, the students in the Post High Program made pancakes on Monday and Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies on Thursday. Students learned that by being prepared with ingredients and reading the directions, they are able to make a variety of treats.
Students in both the Post High Program and Life Skills Program will be learning about Healthy Habits and Hygiene when we return from the Thanksgiving break.
Student Activities
Next week is Spirit Week and our annual Pep Rally. This year we have created a few days of fun, class building, and friendly competition. Monday we start off with Pajama Day, so pull out those fuzzy slippers and your favorite (school appropriate) PJs and wear them to class. Tuesday is Dress as a Class day; 9th grade will be showing off their colors in Tie Dye , 10th grade’s dressing in the color Black (Remember no face paint), 11th grade will be “SUS” dressing as Among Us characters, and the 12th grade will be “sporting” their favorite sports teams. (Look for staff dressed up as well-Guess their theme) Wednesday will mark the end of our Spirit Week with a virtual pep rally- featuring a fall sports recap, Class -Slogan competition, and a message from Dr. Meier. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving from Student Activities.
Teaching and Learning
The spinners are on top of a multi-view drawing done by one of our freshmen, Tilda Reider. The MV drawing is a standard engineering document, which shows the dimensions and geometry of the object. The spinners were then printed using our 3-D printer. Tilda completed this project as part of her work in Mr. Warren’s PLTW Intro to Engineering Design course.
Upcoming Events
November
- 18 - 12:12 Dismissal (SHS Professional Development)
- 19 - End of Q1
- 25 - Half Day - Thanksgiving Break
- 26-27 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
- 30 - Q1 Report Cards Posted
December
- 3 - Parent Conferences 6-8 PM
- 9 - 12:12 Dismissal (District Professional Development)
- 16 - 12:12 Dismissal (SHS Professional Development)
- 23 - Q2 Midquarter
- 24-31 - December Break
Weekly Town Hall
Tuesday, Nov 24, 2020, 03:00 PM
135 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, USA
Regular Reminders and Resources
Chromebooks and Headphones
Safety Protocols and Logistics for In-Person Learners
Arrival/Dismissal procedures
Arrival - All students enter through the main doors. Masks must be worn and students must sanitize their hands with hand sanitizer when they enter.
Dismissal - Students taking the bus or getting picked up will exit through the main entrance. Students who are walking or drive themselves to school will exit through the “auto doors.”
Travel between classes
The main hallways have clearly marked travel “lanes;” smaller hallways and stairwells have been designated and marked as one way.
Assigned seating charts in every class
Classroom teachers will create a seating chart for each period.
Desks in common areas will be assigned an identifier and students will complete a Google form with the date, period, location, and desk number.
Bathroom usage and distancing enforcement
Only one student will be permitted out of the classroom at a time.
Reduced occupancy has been identified for each bathroom to allow for physical distancing.
Markers have been placed outside of bathrooms to allow for physical distancing.
Bathroom monitor is present at each bathroom to ensure that safety protocols are followed.
Electronic passes will be used instead of paper passes to reduce the chance of transmission.
Bathrooms will not be open during passing periods. Students may only use the bathroom during class time.
Lunch
Students will be assigned to a lunchroom.
Lunches will be grab and go.
Students will wipe desks and chairs before passing to next class.
Signing in and out of a classroom
Electronic passes will be used instead of paper passes to reduce the chance of transmission.
Safety procedures
Masks will be worn at all times except when eating. Gaiters, bandanas, and masks with valves may not be worn.
Physical distancing will be maintained in all spaces.
Students will wipe down their desks and chairs before passing to the next class.
Bathrooms will be disinfected by custodial staff four times per day.
Nurses
Students will not be allowed to go to the nurses’ office this year.
Nurses will go to the students’ classroom for any medical needs.
Problems with Internet?
Shamus Mruk for 9th, 10th, grade and the Newcomer Academy (smruk@salemk12.org)
Lynne Mullen for 11th, 12th, and the Bridge Academy (lmullen@salemk12.org)
School Reopening FAQ
Expectations for Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
Below is a guideline of what you should expect in terms of synchronous ("live") versus asynchronous ("independent") learning:
Teachers will record the direct instruction of the synchronous (live) portion of their lessons and upload them to Schoology, allowing students the flexibility to access the lessons at their convenience. The expectation is that the majority of synchronous lessons will be recorded so that students can access the learning in the future.
At least 50% of each lesson should be synchronous so that students have the opportunity to interact in real-time with their teacher and peers to support their learning. At Salem High School, we have determined that the beginning of each lesson will be synchronous.
Posted student assignments include a total of 2 hrs worth of learning activities such as: watching instructional videos, accessing resources posted by the teacher, and completing assignments.
Class assignments, updates, and feedback will be posted on Schoology by end of day each Friday for the following week.
Transportation Protocols
The Salem Public Schools transportation department, and all transportation contractors used by Salem Public Schools, will follow the DESE released on July 22nd, 2020. This section refers specifically to in district transportation, however, the procedures will be followed for out of district transportation, as well.
The bus riding experience will be different this year than it has been in the past. While “big buses” usually have a capacity of around 72, because students will be required to sit one student per seat, alternating window and aisle seats, only 24 students will be able to be on a school bus at one time. Transporting the same number of students at the same time as in previous school years would therefore take three times as many buses. This is a challenge all school districts are facing, compounded by a lead time of six to eight months for acquiring new school buses, and a nationwide school bus driver shortage. To mitigate these challenges, SPS has requested that only people who have no other way to get to school fill out an application for transportation. While the reduced usage will help, we anticipate staggering bus times and providing before and after school supervision, as routes will have to be doubled in order to accommodate all students. This will depend on the school schedule and final ridership.
Core health and safety practices
Several core practices will support safe school bus operations this fall:
Masks: All staff and students on the bus, regardless of age, are required to wear masks at all times. Exemptions for students due to medical and/or behavioral reasons – and associated protocols – are further described later in this guidance.
Distance: Students should be seated no more than one student per bench, alternating sides for each row, which allows students to maintain approximately 3 feet of physical distance. Children from the same household may sit together and in closer proximity (e.g., two students per bench). See diagram above.
Ventilation: Keep windows open at all times during operation, unless not possible due to extreme weather conditions.
Seat assignments: Students should be assigned to a single bus and a particular seat.
Hand Hygiene: Students and staff will use hand sanitizer upon entering the bus. Dispensers will be at the entrance to the bus within view of the driver or monitor.
The guidelines for families and children taking the bus are as follows:
Parents or guardians of students will be asked to do a wellness check on their children before they leave the house to ensure that they are symptom free.
If a child has any of the symptoms mentioned above, they must be kept at home. The family should also contact their health care provider.
All students will be required to wear a face mask while waiting at the bus stop and for the duration of the bus ride. There are no exceptions to this requirement on the “big buses.” Families with students with disabilities should check with their child’s Special Education Team Chairperson if an exception is needed for door-to-door transportation.
Students must be reminded to maintain 6ft physical distancing from other students at bus stops.
Once the bus arrives at the bus stop, the children will board the bus one by one. The monitor will instruct them to sanitize their hands.
The monitor will also observe the student to ensure that they are not exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19. If possible, an adult should wait with the student at the bus stop in case they need to be sent home. If that is not possible, and a student is displaying symptoms on the bus, the driver will alert dispatch, who will alert the school. The symptomatic student will be the last student to leave the bus, and will be isolated with the school nurse as soon as they get to school.
Students will be assigned seats, starting from the back to the front, and will be asked to board the bus in that order.
Students will sit one student per seat, alternating between window and aisle seats.
Once the bus arrives at the assigned school, the students will exit the bus one by one from front to back.
The bus will be cleaned and disinfected after every load of students.
In order to protect all students and staff, students who do not wear masks, or who remove them during the bus ride, will be addressed by the bus monitor. If the mask is still not worn, the child will conference with a counselor and/or administrator. If the child refuses to wear the mask, families will be contacted, and a solution will be agreed upon, including up to loss of bus riding privileges.
Guidelines for Families who are Transporting their Own Child
It is essential for all families to follow all arrival and dismissal procedures. If you are dropping off your child at the high school, please use the outer driveway (not the one closest to the building, which is designated for busses and emergency vehicles). ONLY the main entrance will be open for student entry. Students will be required to don their mask before exiting the vehicle, and families must complete the daily self-screening before dropping their child at school. Drivers must stay in their cars the entire time. If a parent or guardian needs to enter the school, they must park their car and enter the main entrance only. Everyone who enters the building must wear a mask.
COVID Testing
Salem High School
Email: smeier@salemk12.org
Website: https://spssalemhs.salemk12.org/
Location: 71 Willson Street, Salem, MA, USA
Phone: 978 745-9300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Salemhighschool.ma
Twitter: @_SalemHigh_