We will be offering COVID-19 testing for our returning students. Here are the details:

• SHS students returning to hybrid learning for the first time at the start of the new semester (either on 2/4 or 2/8 depending on cohort) have the opportunity to get a free, saliva COVID test through SPS on Monday, 2/1 or Thursday, 2/4.
• Monday 2/1:
• Salem High School Lobby from 2:30-4 pm. If there is traffic from Stop the Spread, please say that you are a student going to the lobby of SHS.
• Saltonstall Auditorium from 4 pm-6 pm
• Thursday 2/4 (only for students who begin on Monday, 2/8): Saltonstall Auditorium during SHS Community Office Hours, 5-8 pm

Collins Middle School is hosting monthly virtual meetings to inform families about Collins Middle School and help smooth the transition to 6th grade. Save these dates!

February 24th: Meet the 6th-grade teachers

March 31st: Special Education/ELL

April 28th: Band/Music/Theatre

May 26th: STEM/Electives/SEL

June 9th: CMS schedule and events

All meetings are at 6pm

Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97778512041?pwd=T2lZdUpsMmRUSHh1TCsvemwxbEcvZz09

Information for each meeting will be recorded and emailed to 5th-grade families. Any questions please contact Principal Matt Condon at mcondon@salemk12.org.

The Task Force is still seeking input from community members on race equity issues. By completing the survey, we hope to gain important input that will be helpful in advancing racial equity goals for our city. I’m hoping you’ll help share your thoughts by completing the survey.

Dr. Zrike and Jiji challenge you and your classmates to solve as many ST Math puzzles as you can during the month of February! This is a district-wide challenge! Each grade level will compete for prizes against other similar grade levels. For example, kindergarteners compete against other kindergarten classrooms in the district. The class at every grade level that solves the most puzzles wins! Imagine, Jiji coming to your classroom, dancing with you to your favorite music, and passing out fabulous prizes! All because you did an outstanding job playing ST Math with Jiji! Ready, set, MATH!

ST Math can be found on your student's Classlink dashboard on their Chromebook.

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 construction cone that displays the words: “Awesome,” “Well Done,” and “Great Job.”

This week’s cone of excellence is awarded to Mrs. Beth White, Kindergarten at the ECC. Mrs. White is a Kindergarten teacher at the ECC who builds relationships with her students and their families with her positive spirit and her love of teaching. Mrs. White uses creativity and resourcefulness to provide each student with a unique learning experience that best meets their individual needs. She fosters independence in her students but has also created a community of friendship and trust.

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.

THE COVID-19 WEEKLY DASHBOARD IS LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE AND CAN BE ACCESSED AT ANY TIME. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

*NOTE: While students returned to in-person learning this week, zero of these cases came to school; this is a combination of reports that are a result of last week’s testing and new cases that have been identified and kept out of school. Thank you for the active work throughout our community!