Update for November 13, 2020
Salem High School
Happy Friday!
Here is what is in this week's newsletter:
- Student Shout-Outs
- Senior Fall 1 Athletes
- Updated Hybrid Learning Schedule Beginning November 16
- What to Expect in Hybrid Instruction
- Safety Protocols and Logistics for In-Person Learners
- Handhold Mental Health Resource
- SHS News
- SHS Community Office Hours
- SHS Clubs - Schedule and Contact Info
- SHS Department Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Weekly Town Hall Reminder
- Weekly Reminders and Resources
Student Shout-Outs
Senior Fall 1 Athletes
Hybrid Bell Schedule for November 16
We are excited to welcome more students back to in-person learning at Salem High this Monday. All students, whether in-person or remote, will be following the schedule below. I will be including reminders about which cohorts are in-person and remote in my daily announcements, and the schedule will be added to my regular resources at the end of the memo beginning next week.
What to Expect in Hybrid Instruction
All in-person learners will move from class to class. Unless their teacher is remote, they will receive in-person instruction. If their teacher is remote, they will learn remotely; depending on our ability to cover classes for teachers who are remote, in-person learners will be in a classroom or in another location such as the cafeteria or auditorium.
CTE Exploratory Students will be able to participate in the classroom component of the curriculum, but due to space limitations will not be participating in the shop components.
Remote Learners
All remote learners will receive instruction simultaneously with their in-person classmates. We will be starting this instructional mode with small, hybrid instruction "mini-lessons" followed by a variety of different lesson structures and activities for group and independent work. We will be scaffolding toward a broader implementation of hybrid instruction.
All Learners
All learners, whether in-person or remote, are expected to be engaged (present and/or logged on) for the entirety of the class period. Students should not log off after direct instruction. We do not expect teachers to lecture for the entire class period, nor do we intend for students to be staring at a screen for the entire period.
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.
Return to School Safety Videos
Handhold Mental Health Resource
COVID-19 is putting incredible pressure on families. You might be noticing your child is struggling in new ways, or that old problems are getting worse. Should you worry about your child’s behavioral health? This resource can help you figure that out.
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!!!
SHS Club Schedule and Contacts
Athletics
Career and Technical Education
College and Career Readiness Center
ALL Students
LEAP is looking to recruit students for two of their programs:
Teen Center: open to 9th-12th graders.
Contact: Vicki- vtzortzis@leap4ed.org
College Success Program: open to 11th-12th graders
Contact: Norma Ramirez, - nramirez@leap4ed.org
The SHS Virtual Calming Room is Live. Feeling stressed? Want a quick break? Check out the resources available at SHS Virtual Calming Room
NEW Resource
Parent Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) is a great resource for connecting families to all kinds of supports. The website alone contains many supports including; tip sheets, supports by town, etc. However, if families choose they can work with a PPAL they will help families access services. They make referrals for families across the state. If you are having difficulty accessing services for a family this may be your solution.
Groups (Open to any caregiver)
Managing Caregiver Burnout, Using Mindfulness to Reset - Click HERE for more information.
Tuesday November 17 at 7:00 PM EST
Wednesday November 18 at 7:00 PM EST
Thursday November 19 at 12:00 PM EST
BIPOC Group Click HERE for more information.
Monday November 16 at 7:00 PM EST
Spanish Speaking Group - Click HERE for more information.
Thursday November 19 at 7:00 PM EST
Upperclassmen
New College Guidance Network Episode- Register and review the recording-
First Generation Students: Practical Tips for College Admissions
College Rep Visits through Naviance
Tuesday 11/17
University at Albany, SUNY- 12:15
Wednesday 11/18
* Hult International Business School- 12:15
* The University of Arizona- 1:00
Thursday 11/19
Coastal Carolina University- 12:15
Friday 11/20
Rhode Island College 12:15
English Language Learner Department
We are excited to be welcoming our 9th grade Intermediate ELs back into the building. They will be joining our already attending Beginner ELs. Next week is going to be a week of transition to our new routine. We know that transitions are difficult. If you or your child has any questions or difficulties please call our ELL Supervisor, Lynn Rosedale at 978-414-5710.
Family Engagement
After a week off, we were back at the Community Office at 135 Lafayette Street this past Tuesday and Thursday. A big thank you to Kendra Song, Rachal Anglin, Mary Pyburn, Paula Michaud, Meredith Flanagan and Juan Encarnacion, who met with parents and helped a number of students catch up and reconnect with their classes.
We are pleased to announce that we will be moving to a larger space, where we will be able to accommodate more students who need our assistance. Starting next week, on Tuesday, November 17th, and continuing on Thursday, November 19th, we will move our evening session, from 5 to 8pm to the auditorium at the Saltonstall School. This space will be equipped with computers and since it is a larger space, we will be able to take more student appointments. We will still be holding our regular office hours at 135 Lafayette Street in the Community Room from 10am to 5pm on both days. These new locations and times will remain in place until the close of school for the Holiday break.
Thank you for your continued support, and if anyone wishes to volunteer their time, or refer a student or family for support, please contact Shamus Mruk, Juan Encarnacion, or Meredith Flanagan.
Pupil and Personnel Services
Life Skills Program
Self-Regulation Skills and Role-Playing
As part of their continuing work on self-regulation skills, the life skills students and teachers have been role playing what it looks and feels like at different regulation levels (using the Zones of Regulation curriculum.) Students, both remote and in person, have had great fun acting out different feelings and guessing the zone that is being portrayed.
Post High Program
Cooking, Baking and Following Directions
Twice weekly, students in the Post High Program have an opportunity to work on their culinary skills while also learning to follow directions and clean up after themselves.
Students choose items that they are most likely to want to make at home. Whether students are in person or remote, staff makes sure they are all able to join in the fun.
Students take turns reading the directions, getting the necessary items and putting together their creations. Everyone gets to try out the food and often there is enough to share with friends and family.
Prior to Halloween the kids made Pumpkin Quesadillas.
This week they made a marble cake and cupcakes with vanilla icing.
You never know what’s on the menu when you venture down to Post High.
Student Activities
Class meetings were held during advisory to begin preparation for our annual Spirit week. Class advisors have created schoology groups for each grade. If you are in need of the code, please reach out to your class advisors : 12th grade: Myra Caldeira and Ken Milano, 11th grade: Lori Marenda and Jennifer Lebzelter, 10th grade: Scott Connolly and Thomas Doyle and for 9th grade: Janelle Gallant and Lauren Jenkins. Also, a reminder to the class of 2021, your senior portraits should be uploaded to replayit by next week. Please check your email for the link, or contact Mrs Mansfield with questions.
Student Supports
Over the past several weeks we’ve been highlighting how Salem High School was putting supporting our students at the very center of our efforts by committing to becoming a BARR school in the 2020-2021 school year. This means that we will be working to embrace the eight core strategies that are part of the BARR Model. This week we’re highlighting the third strategy “Use BARR’s SEL curriculum (I-Time) to foster a climate for learning.”
The kinds of relationships that we seek to foster at Salem High School don’t just happen. As an organization we understand the power that positive and supportive relationships can have for students. Because of this knowledge, we use BARR’s I-Time lessons as a key tool to develop and maintain these relationships. I-Times are 30 minute lessons that happen in the core classes for our 9th and 10th graders and during our advisory period for 11th and 12th graders.
We've found that student really love these lessons and they they are yielding the results that we have been hoping for. One teacher said, “9th Grade History did I-Time this Wed/Thu and for the most part, kids loved it. I think this is working for a few reasons, but namely: each activity is fun, engaging, and different; also, I think this would have tanked at the beginning of the year- kids were just not ready to share, but they are now. There were a few students who I know are there each day will post or type a comment, but never participate out loud, and they were having a blast, taking themselves off mute, and it was great to see.”
Teaching and Learning
Our Essential Question driven curriculum focuses on the question:
How can we make the Salem Community better for everyone in a Post-Covid world?
To answer this question, students in the World Languages department are investigating who are our community heroes through the lens of the UN Sustainable Goals for gender and racial equality. Teachers are working on bringing in guest speakers to address students on social justice standards. Student performance tasks will shape out as videos to be shared with our community.
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 17, 2020, 03:00 PM
135 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, USA
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_