Bates Family Newsletter

Our best,

Ms. Smith

Mr. Mac

Mr. Lister

We work off of three basic priorities here are Bates: Center Belonging, Empower Educators, Elevate Student Learning. You'll notice that our weekly newsletters are divided into these three sections for a reason - We always work toward our goals, and we want to keep you informed as to how we're doing it!

Students in grade 3 wrote some amazing personal narratives. It's always great to learn about the students through their writing. Way to go, grade 3 writers!

We're adding a spirit day next week! Wear green or Celtics gear to cheer on the home team as they kick of their season with their first home game. Go, Celtics!

Each week at Bates, we shine a light on our Beacons of the Week, our rockstars who have truly embodied the social-emotional skill we’re focusing on. Their teachers share the many beautiful ways these students have shown up for themselves and for others, and how they personify what it means to live out our values.

There are no Beacons on short weeks. We'll be back with our regularly-scheduled Beacons next week!

This week, Bates Beacons focused on important social-emotional learning lessons tied to bullying prevention. On Wednesday, students explored self-awareness, reflecting on how their actions impact others. Using the scenario The Backpack Mix-Up, students saw how one child realized the harm caused by joining in teasing and learned the power of apologizing and standing up for a peer. The takeaway was clear: bullying hurts, but it takes courage to make things right.

On Thursday and Friday, we shifted to self-management and advocacy. Students practiced strategies for recognizing and regulating emotions when faced with bullying. They revisited the use of “I-Statements” to set clear boundaries with peers in a kind but strong way—for example, “I feel sad when you make comments about my lunch. Could you please stop?” Through role play and group discussions, students worked on real-world scenarios, from playground conflicts to online comments, building the skills they need to speak up and support one another.

📌 Family Connection Tip: Ask your child to teach you how to use an I-Statement at home. Practicing together not only reinforces the skill but also shows your child that you value their voice and perspective.

Our second early release day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22nd. PreK will be dismissed at 10:55, K at 11:00, and grades 1-5 at 11:05. Teachers and staff will remain at Bates to engage in important professional development.

• Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. | JOIN
• Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. | JOIN

Dr. Zrike will be holding a (virtual) meeting for the Bates School community on Wednesday, October 29, at 6:00 pm. In that meeting, he'll discuss what the reconfiguration could entail, the process the School Committee is using to assist them in making decisions, and answer any questions you might have.

You have to register for this meeting that will take place on Zoom. Register here.

There were lots of smiling faces at our after-school clubs this week! Shout out to our facilitators for providing our students with these great experiences!

It's always a good idea to be familiar with our general operating rules and procedures. Please take some time to read through our Bates School Handbook. Thank you!

If your child’s dismissal plans change, please notify Ms. Julie in the Main Office at (978) 740-1250 as early in the day as possible.

Please do not inform your child’s teacher directly, as this interrupts classroom instruction. Ms. Julie will make sure the teacher is notified.

Attendance Reminder
Consistent attendance is essential for your child’s success. Unless they are sick, students should be in school every day to stay engaged with their classmates and keep on track with their learning. If your child is sick and will be staying home, please call our absentee line at (978) 740-1172. You can leave a message with your child’s name and the reason for their absence. If your child sees a doctor, please send them back to school with a doctor’s note so the absence can be excused.

If you have any questions about the importance of attendance or need support in making sure your child gets to school every day, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Family Engagement Facilitator, Rosalyn Guevara, on ParentSquare or email: rguevara@salemk12.org. Families of students with multiple absences will receive letters and may be asked to meet with our attendance team at school so we can work together to identify any support you might need.

Planning Vacations During the School Year
As you plan, please keep the school calendar in mind when scheduling family vacations. Below are the vacation dates for the 2025–26 school year:

• December 22 – January 2 (please note: this break is a full two weeks)
• February 16 – 20
  
• April 20 – 24

Thank you for making school attendance a priority. We look forward to partnering with you to support your child in the year ahead!

October 31 - Early release due to Halloween + Black and Orange Spirit Day

November 4 - No school due to election day

November 6 - School Site Council, 7:45 am

November 11 - No school, Veteran's Day

November 18 - PTO meeting, 6:30 pm, library

November 26 - Early release day due to Thanksgiving break + Comfy, Cozy, Spirt Day

November 27-28 - No school - Thanksgiving Break

December 9 - PTO meeting, 6:30 pm, library

December 10 - Early release due to Caregiver/Teacher Conferences

December 11 - School Site Council, 7:45 am

December 22nd - January 2nd - Winter break (Full day on December 19th, back to school on January 5th)

We’re inviting students to join in a Black & Orange Spirit Day on October 31st! Wear anything black or orange - shirts, sweaters, pants, leggings, skirts, socks, hats, hair accessories, sneakers, or even fun jewelry. Mix and match your favorite black-and-orange combos and help fill our halls with energy and spirit!

No costumes, please...just comfy, school-appropriate clothes in black and orange. Everyone’s welcome to participate...or not, your choice!

Shout out to PTO for putting on yet another amazing Monster Mash! And big thanks to all of the staff and families who decorated trunks!

Look no further! Sign up to rent the rock here.

Reserve the spirit rock from the PTO for the following: Birthday, ½ Birthday (summer birthday), school spirit, congratulating someone, etc. Spirit Rock is a PTO fundraiser for the school year of 2025-2026. Funds raised will help pay for school programs and/or initiatives.

A School Site Council (SSC) is a representative group of stakeholders - parents, teachers, and the principal, who work together to improve the school. Our main role is shared decision-making around our school’s goals, programs, and budget.

Here’s what our SSC typically does:

• Develops and reviews the school improvement plan
  

• Advises on the use of certain funds
  

• Monitors progress toward goalsBrings stakeholder voices together
  

• Builds transparency and trust

• Meetings are public and minutes are posted (see below).

We meet monthly, and our agenda is here. Please let Mrs. Smith know if you'd like to join in for a meeting.

Bates Elementary School, in partnership with our families and community, will provide all students with a culturally responsive, student – centered, and equitable learning experience that celebrates our students’ diverse backgrounds, creative pursuits, and their academic, social, emotional success.

School Hours:

Monday through Friday

PreK - 7:45 - 2:10 pm

Kindergarten - 7:45 - 2:15 pm

Grades 1-5 - 7:45 - 2:20 pm

Early Release:

PK at 10:55 am

Kindergarten at 11:00 am

Grades 1-5 at 11:05 am