Salem Public Schools
SPS Families,
Over the next two weeks, we have organized information sessions at each elementary school to discuss the process for evaluating our elementary school portfolio. As you are aware, we are examining the potential of reconfiguring our schools given that our projected demographic trends make it clear that the current number of schools and programs we offer are not sustainable. The consultants working on this project will be sharing their findings and offering recommendations to the School Committee at their Nov. 3rd meeting (7 p.m. in the School Committee Chambers at Collins Middle School). The schedule for the virtual sessions is as follows (see flyer below):
- Saltonstall– Tuesday, October 21, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
- Carlton– Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
- Witchcraft-– Monday, October 27, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
- Horace Mann– Tuesday, October 28, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.
- Bates– Wednesday, October 29, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
- Bentley/ECC–Thursday, October 30, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
Please note that Spanish interpretation will be available and schools will be sending out a zoom link for families to participate virtually. I will be joined by a School Committee member at each of the meetings. We will share some background information and then provide an opportunity for questions and idea sharing. We hope that you can join us for these discussions.
Finally, we are hosting two webinar sessions (same information presented at both forums) about our new grading platform, JumpRope, for grades K-8 and Salem Prep High School. We launched the platform last year at Salem High and received positive feedback from families and students. The platform is designed to help families better track their children’s academic progress and we want to be sure that we educate our families on how to best use the tool. I hope you can join us.
Choose a JumpRope Webinar: Tuesday, Oct. 21 | Tuesday, Oct. 28
Have a terrific weekend!
Steve
Salem Public Schools Begins DESE Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP)
Consistent with its core value of empowering educators, Salem Public Schools recently received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to take part in the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Pilot (RTAP) program, in which aspiring educators are offered a pathway into a teaching career.
Salem High School CTE Department to Host Open House for Grades 6-8 Students Nov. 15
The Salem High School Career Technical Education (CTE) Department will host its 2025 Open House to grades 6-8 families Saturday, Nov. 15 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) at its CTE facilities at the High School.
Salem Public Schools to Host Two Webinars on JumpRope Grading Platform
Salem Public Schools will host two webinars on how to use JumpRope, our new grading platform for grades K-8 and Salem Prep High School:
JumpRope is designed to help educators and families better track and communicate their child/children’s academic progress. In the webinar, families will learn basic functions, from accessing their account to steadily monitoring their child/children’s progress, and learning about standards-based grading.
Language interpretation will be provided. The presentations will be recorded and shared via salemk12.org and our social media channels.
We are seven weeks into the school year, but we have only received Back-to-School forms from less than 20 percent of our families.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of completing these forms so that we have the most updated information on our students in case of emergency situations. Our families can update their forms by logging into their accounts on Aspen.
Are you affiliated with an organization that relies on Volunteers?
Join us for the official kickoff of Salem's historic 400th anniversary celebration. This community-wide volunteer fair will connect Salem residents with local organizations while launching our year-long commemoration.
What We're Looking For:
Interactive Table Displays featuring:
- Hands-on activities that showcase your organization's mission
- Volunteer sign-up opportunities
- Information about your programs and services
- Ways community members can get involved with your organization
Start Planning Now:
Think about how your organization can create an engaging, interactive experience that:
- Shows visitors what you do
- Offers immediate ways to get involved
- Connects to Salem's history and future
- Provides meaningful volunteer opportunities
Are You a Salem Resident?
Discover how you can make a difference in your community! Salem 400+ is hosting a Kickoff and Volunteer Fair where you can meet local organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities that match your interests.
Explore booths from the area's non-profits in a fun, craft fair-style setting. Each organization will have interactive activities, information, and creative ways to share what they do. Whether you're looking to volunteer regularly, help with a specific project, or just learn more about what's happening in Salem, this is your chance to connect with causes you care about.
Enjoy live music, performances, children's activities, and food while you explore. This is a perfect family-friendly afternoon to meet your neighbors, discover new ways to get involved, and find out how you can help make Salem an even better place to live.
The Salem 400+ Kickoff and Volunteer Fair is free and open to all community members. For more information, contact Virginia Cherol, Salem 400+ Coordinator, at vcherol@salem.com.
Registration is still available for the City of Salem's Youth Poet Laureate Program for Salem High School students through Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The Youth Poet Laureate will serve alongside Salem’s existing Poet Laureate, in partnership with the Salem Public Library. The Youth Poet Laureate will serve a one-year term beginning in 2026 and will receive an $800 stipend.
Interested students should contact Sarah Roy, Director of the Salem Children's Alliance, at sroy@salem.com.
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.