Salem Public Schools Weekly Update

November 4, 2022

SPS families,

Tuesday, November 8th is Election Day across the State of Massachusetts and, as is the custom, it is a no school day for our students. Whatever your politics, I urge you to find the time to exercise your vote and your voice regarding the candidates and questions presented to you. Of greatest importance is that your children see that you are actively participating in our democracy. They are permitted to go with you to the polling location so that they can observe how the voting process transpires. Please also share and model your thinking with your children so they understand how you make informed decisions about how you plan to cast your vote. We appreciate this support as we are committed to educating our students to be engaged citizens who are actively involved in influencing their community and country.

Enjoy the weekend!

Steve

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 our District's Coordinator of Translation and Interpretation, Alexandra Fortich. She has elevated our ability to provide timely, quality and unbiased information to non-English speaking families across the Salem Public Schools. She is incredibly organized, flexible, patient and always family-focused. A shout out to Ms. Fortich for helping us to live out our equity commitments!

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 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.

With the changing colors, frost on the pumpkin, and Sunday football, comes more time indoors and, unfortunately, greater exposure to contagious viral illness. The time is now to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19. In collaboration with the Salem Board of Health and the State of MA, our schools will be hosting vaccination clinics this month. You can register using the site specific link included for each location and the type of vaccination you want to receive (can register for both):

11/10- Horace Mann Laboratory School -1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

• Register for COVID vax/booster here
• Register for flu vaccine here

Students, staff, and families are welcome. A parent or caregiver must be present for those under 18. Please wear a shirt that allows upper arm access. All clinics will take place in the school gyms. Signs will be posted with the exact location at the schools. You can receive a vaccine if uninsured.

According to the CDC, it is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time in different arms. Though there is no harm in receiving a booster once symptoms of Covid-19 resolve following infection, studies have shown that increased time between infection or vaccination may improve the immune response to the booster.

• < 2-3 months since Covid-19 infection/last vaccination: Wait a month or two to get a booster.

• 3-4 months since Covid-19 infection/last vaccination: Consider a booster if you’re high risk, or have plans for an upcoming social event. (Get your booster 2 weeks before the social event for optimal protection).
• 4-6 months since Covid-19 infection/last vaccination: Get your booster anytime.
• 6+ months since Covid-19 infection/last vaccination: Get boosted now!

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.

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.

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.