Salem Public Schools
SPS families,
It was our privilege to welcome your children back to school this week. They light up our schools and fill our educators with great joy as they bring their ideas, stories and passion back into our classrooms. We look forward to creating magical and enduring memories with you and your family as we partner to offer the very best educational experience to your children. We are excited to see our Carlton Kindergartners on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd and our Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students at our remaining elementary schools on Thursday, Sept. 4th.
A few quick reminders:
Back-to-School Forms: Please complete back-to-school forms as soon as possible (found on Aspen here). We want to be sure that you are well versed on our practices/procedures and that we have the most updated information about your child.
Transportation: Transportation always takes time to settle into a consistent and predictable routine at the beginning of the school year. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we adjust to traffic patterns, we add new, recently registered mandatory riders onto buses and tweak routes that are taking longer than expected. We will communicate with you via Parentsquare if buses are running more than 15 minutes behind schedule. We also encourage you to use the Stopfinder application to track your child as they ride the bus. The child’s primary contact should have received an email invite to access the application. If you have any questions about this application or any other aspects, please call 978-740-1240.
Open Houses: Information on our Open House dates can be found here. We hope to see you at the informative and interactive back-to-school evenings!
Attendance: Regular student attendance is a key factor in ensuring a successful school year. Establishing strong routines at the beginning of the school year will positively impact your child’s academic, social and emotional well being. Beyond unavoidable illnesses that may require a child to stay home, we want to partner with you to help your child arrive at school on time, every day. We ask that you stress the importance of school attendance with your child and we encourage you to schedule your vacations when school is not in session. Please see the 2025-26 extended vacation dates below:
- Thanksgiving: Nov. 27-28
- Holiday break: Dec. 22-Jan. 2
- Mid-winter break: Feb. 16-20
- Spring break: Apr. 20-24
Families can also access our school calendars here. Thank you for your collaboration as we work together to make attendance a priority.
Mental Health Support: We are committed to supporting the mental health of our students and we believe supporting mental health is an important part of overall well-being. We partner with Cartwheel to provide teletherapy, family check-ins and guidance, and psychiatric care—all with licensed clinicians and no waitlists. If you are interested in accessing these supports for your child, please complete the following interest form.
We are thrilled to work closely with your child and family this year. We look forward to the rewarding journey ahead!
Enjoy the long weekend,
The first RockStar Award of the school year goes to Ms. Alma Pimentel, a Salem Public Schools central office clerk, for her positive attitude that lifts everyone around her. Ms. Pimentel consistently takes pride in welcoming all of our families and guests as they visit our Central Office. She always makes sure that they receive the information they are looking for in a timely fashion.
Additionally, her ability to seamlessly take on projects and duties that benefit multiple departments makes her an invaluable asset to the entire office. We are grateful to Ms. Pimental for her dedication to excellence and her willingness to help out wherever needed.
VIEW | Salem Public Schools First Day of School, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
View the sights and scenes of the first day of school at Salem Public Schools.
The Salem News | Salem Eagle Scout project repaints and restores Derby Wharf Light Station
Boy Scout Troop 24 member Will Cullimore recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout after repainting the Derby Wharf Light Station as his community service project. The light station, constructed at the south end of Derby Wharf in 1871, is a two-story and 12-foot square brick structure topped with an iron deck and cupola.
VIEW GALLERY: 2025 Back to School Fair
The drizzle could not dampen the spirit and the excitement of the beginning of another school year as Salem Public Schools celebrated the 2025 Back to School Fair Wednesday at the Saltonstall School Playground.
The Salem News | Student-made artifacts explore Salem’s history of immigration
The Peabody Essex Museum will soon display original artifacts created by Salem Public Schools middle schoolers inspired by their learning of Salem’s immigrant history and visit to the Boots Cotton Mill at Lowell National Historical Park.
We ask each of our families to please complete back-to-school health forms as soon as possible (found on Aspen here), with a deadline of Sept. 22. We want to be sure that you are well versed on our practices/procedures and that we have the most updated information about your child.
Salem High School will be well represented on NCAA rosters this fall. Visit Salem Public Schools' full list of former Witches currently on NCAA rosters.
- Samantha Agno '25 | Soccer, Salem State University
- Isabella Cunha '23 | Soccer, Wentworth Institute of Technology
- Malcolm Edwards '24 | Soccer, Fitchburg State University
- Shane Field '24 | Football, Curry College
- Walbee Pierre '23 | Soccer, Dean College
- Albert Pujols '24 | Football, Curry College
- Chris Qirjazi '23 | Soccer, Saint Michael’s College
- Javien Ramos '25 | Football, Curry College
- Presley Shairs '22 | Volleyball, Salem State University
- Eli Vasquez '24 | Football, Curry College
- Jonathan Wasserman '23 | Golf, Worcester State
Salem Public Schools continues to partner with Cartwheel to provide teletherapy, family check-ins and guidance, and psychiatric care—all with licensed clinicians and no waitlists. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focused, or just needs someone to talk to, Cartwheel is here to help. Learn more about Cartwheel and what common signs to look for to determine if your child might benefit from mental health support here.
Last spring, the City of Salem Department of Public Services needed a name for its newest garbage truck, and the Saltonstall School kindergarten students delivered.
Now the City's Salem 400+ committee needs our students help.
Salem 400+ is unveiling a black cat character to help solidify its brand, and seeks our grades 3-8 students' input in naming this special mascot. The Committee knows that our youngest residents have some of the best ideas, so it is hopeful to get your feedback on what to name this character.
Salem Public Schools grades 3-8 classes are encouraged to complete this google form and submit 1-2 names per class for Mayor Dominick Pangallo and his team to review. The top nominations will be posted for members of the community to vote on. The winning name will become the official name of our Salem 400+ cat character, and a special naming ceremony with the class that submits the winning name will be held.
Please submit names by Friday, Sept. 26. The winner will be announced after October.
Salem Public Schools is committed to preparing students for a future with AI, and are thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence into our classrooms. AI will be used as a tool to support, not replace, the essential human elements of teaching and learning. To ensure responsible and effective use, all teachers have been provided with a comprehensive guide to using AI in the classroom.
To further support our students, our Library & Digital Skills classes in grades K-8 will introduce them to AI through lessons from our curriculum software. These age-appropriate lessons are tailored to each grade level and will teach students important digital skills, including how to use AI responsibly and critically.
This guide, along with ongoing professional development, helps teachers model AI literacy and ethical use, setting clear expectations for students on what is and is not acceptable AI use on assignments. It's important to us that AI enhances your child's education while upholding our commitment to academic integrity and protecting student privacy.
ParentSquare is the communication platform for Salem Public Schools. Families receive communication from the district, school, and their student's classroom all in one space. Families can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, register for parent-teacher conferences, and more.
If you are not receiving messages from ParentSquare or if you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.