Salem Public Schools Weekly Update
for School Year 2022-2023
A Note From the Superintendent
November 10, 2022
SPS community,
Tomorrow our schools are closed for students and staff as we recognize Veterans Day. Please join me in reminding our students that tomorrow is not simply a break from school, but rather an important day to salute and recognize the sacrifice of those who served our country. Many of our staff, family members, neighbors and friends have dedicated themselves to preserving our freedoms and the democratic ideals valued by Americans. I highly encourage families to attend the city of Salem's ceremony scheduled for Friday, November 11th at 11 am outside the Salem Police headquarters at 95 Margin Street. This year the event will honor Salem patrolman and US Army Lt. Philip A. McCarthy who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during World War II. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to pause to reflect on the meaning of the day with your children and help them understand the immeasurable contributions that veterans have made to our community.
Finally, don't forget to join us this Wednesday evening, November 16th, from 6-7:30 pm for our community safety meeting with Salem Police Chief Miller in the Salem High School library. We hope to see many of you there!
Best,
Steve
And the winner is……
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 rock star trophy.
This week's rockstar is Mrs. Andrea Norton, a substantially separate special education teacher at WHES who has been an integral part of the school community since 2016. Her passion for creating equitable access for her students while growing their independence and communication shines through every day. Mrs. Norton is committed to involving caregivers in student learning, and is a strong, collaborative team member. A big shout out to Mrs. Norton!
SAVE THE DATE! Salem Children's Charity Annual Holiday Party
Salem Children's Charity holiday party / live & online auction is confirmed for Tuesday, December 13th from 6-9 PM at the Hawthorne Hotel Ballroom. Details to follow.
A Message from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Please see this letter in English and Spanish from the Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics about steps families can take to prevent illness and stay healthy this season.
Massachusetts Farm to Schools Harvest of the Month program
Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services is a member of the Massachusetts Farm to Schools Harvest of the Month program. The program celebrates local abundance and has a goal is to encourage healthy food choices by increasing students’ exposure to seasonal foods while also supporting local farmers and building excitement about school meals.
As a member Salem Food & Nutrition services has taken the Harvest of the Month pledge, agreeing to source locally, serve and promote the featured foods. The harvest being featured for the month of November is Kale! On Wednesday November 9th a Kale and cranberry salad was featured on menus throughout our schools as a side to the pulled pork meal. The nutritional value of Kale has been promoted throughout our schools this month as fact sheets are distributed throughout our schools to encourage students to learn about Kale. Learn more about the program here https://www.massfarmtoschool.org/get-involved/harvest-of-the-month/ and remember visit the Salem Public Schools food Service page at https://salemk12.org/district-departments/food-services/ to see all the great things are happening in our cafeterias!
Come work with us!
Salem Public Schools would like to invite you to our paraprofessional, tutor, and substitute teacher hiring fair. At this event, you can learn more about these positions, as well as apply for the jobs that most interest you. Please share this with anyone you think might be interested.
The fair will be on November 16 from 5:00p-7:00p at the Saltonstall School. Please reach out to Stacey Johnson via email (smjohnson@salemk12.org) if you have any questions.
There will be a signing bonus for all intensive paraprofessionals that are hired.
Health Matters from the Health Services Department
This month, as many look forward to Thanksgiving, try practicing an 'Attitude of Gratitude.' An attitude of gratitude allows us to be grateful for the people, events, experiences, mentors, and situations that shape our lives. Try making it a conscious effort to express gratitude to those who help you. Send an email or text message, make a phone call, or write a note thanking them for their kindness or assistance. You may notice you have more empathy, less judgment, and greater appreciation once you adopt an attitude of gratitude and begin to appreciate how much others do for you. To help adopt an 'Attitude of Gratitude' this month, The Greater Good Science Center (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/, 2022) created this calendar. An attitude of gratitude means making it a habit to express thankfulness and appreciation for every part of your life. Give it a try! And if you celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving!
Salem's Own Toys for Tots
The MCJROTC cadets are hosting a Toys 4 Tots drive to provide gifts for Salem families in need this Christmas. There are donation boxes located by the SHS main entrance, as one at the SHS JROTC Command Post, and the main entrances at Collins Middle School and Witchcraft Heights Elementary School. Any new, unwrapped toys (for newborns up to age 12) would be greatly appreciated. Help get these kids in need something to open Christmas morning. Please get the word out so we can make this toy drive a success!
This toy drive will end December 19th. If any family would like this support, please contact your student's school with a total number of children, ages and gender.
Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee
Parent/guardian voice is important to Salem Public Schools. We value your input and feedback and want to provide an ongoing platform to engage in those productive and solutions-based conversations.
In partnership with the Salem School Committee, we invite parents and guardians to apply to serve on the Salem Public Schools Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee. The committee’s primary function will be to provide the Superintendent and the School Committee with feedback and perspectives on important district initiatives; however, the group will also be charged with developing its own mission and initiatives aimed at promoting open and productive communication among SPS community members.
Interested parents and guardians should please fill out the questionnaire below. The district will work with school principals to assemble a group of 15-20 members made up of parents/guardians from each school (including one alternate representative from each) and representing a range of grade levels. In keeping with the district’s mission to promote equity and inclusion, our goal is to assemble a committee reflective of our district’s diverse population.
Please email questions to me at szrike@salemk12.org
Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee Interest Form (English)
Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee Interest Form (Spanish)
Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee Interest Form (Portuguese)
Salem Scholarship & Education Committee - Grant Application Deadline Extended
The City’s Scholarship & Education Committee has extended the grant application period for educators and other qualifying applicants to seek a micro-grant from the Salem Education Fund. Applications are being accepted through December 5th. Per state law these grants can be used “to provide supplemental education funding for local educational needs and to provide funding for existing adult literacy programs” that serve Salem students/residents.
Application form: https://www.salemma.gov/scholarship-and-education-committee/links/education-fund-application.
Previous grant awards: https://www.salemma.gov/scholarship-and-education-committee/news/salem-scholarship-education-committee-awards-education-fund and https://www.salemma.gov/scholarship-and-education-committee/news/salem-scholarship-education-committee-awards-five-education.
For more information about the committee, please visit https://www.salemma.gov/scholarship.
The Virtual Backpack
Welcome to the Virtual Backpack. This is a space where we will place items that in the past may have been a flyer in your student's backpack from friends and partners to SPS.
Music Boosters fundraiser/recaudación de fondos
Bilingual Story Hour at the Laundry/Cuentos bilingüe en el Laundry
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 our school and teachers communicate with families districtwide. Please be sure you are receiving messages from ParentSquare. If need support downloading the app or receiving messages, please contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.