Salem City School District News

Dear Salem City School District Families,

Happy October! As the cool autumn breeze rolls in and the leaves begin to change, we want to give a warm welcome to fall. It has been so exciting to see our halls filled with energy and learning since our school year kicked off in September. Our students and staff have made fantastic progress over the last month, settling into their classes and building strong classroom communities.

To help keep this positive momentum going as the days get shorter, here are four simple tips for fall success:

• Maintaining Fall Routines: As the daylight changes, keeping consistent sleep schedules makes a world of difference. Setting regular bedtime and wake-up times helps ensure your child gets enough rest so they can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to learn.

• Attendance Matters: Being in school every day is one of the most important ways students stay on track. Missing days can make it hard to catch up on lessons, activities, and time with friends. Every day your child is here counts toward their growth and success.

• Checking In: Take a few minutes each day to chat about school. Simple questions like "What was the most interesting thing you learned today?" or "How are you feeling about your classes?" show your child that you care about their progress and emotional well-being.

• Partnering with Teachers: We are in this together! Staying connected with your child's teachers—whether through email, checking the parent portal, or attending conferences—helps build a strong team around your student.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for making our school community such a special place. Let’s make this fall a great season of learning!

Salem City School District has released its official 2026–2027 District Goals and Action Plan presentation, anchored in the district's overarching theme, DREAMkeepers: Igniting Greatness.

Presented to the Board of Education at the September 9 regular business meeting, the plan outlines key target outcomes, action items, and the leaders responsible for driving success across the district's three schools. The BOE will be asked to approve the annual goals at its October 14 business meeting.

Please see the video below for the full plan:

As we shape the future of Salem City School District, we want to make sure EVERY single voice—students, staff, families, BOE and community members—is represented in our Strategic Planning Survey.

To date, we have over 300 participants, but we need more. Please take a moment and complete the 10-minute survey bit.ly/4xahcWh today.

Your responses will be reviewed alongside other district information to help identify priorities for our schools.

The survey is open to all families, students in Grades 3-12, staff, and community members until October 9.

Please note that Wednesday, October 7th will be an early dismissal day for our students. This will be the first of our (almost) monthly staff training sessions on the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) this school year.

During these afternoon sessions, our teachers and staff will be learning simple, everyday ways to use the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) in our classrooms, common areas, and schoolwide settings. This program helps us build a positive, supportive environment where we focus on your child’s strengths, build strong relationships, and help every student recognize their own greatness.

Thank you for your partnership and support as we take this time to grow and bring even better support to our students every day.

New Jersey students and families do not have to wait for school-based services to access mental health support. Several statewide resources offer free, confidential, 24/7 help whenever and wherever it's needed:

• Crisis Support (24/7): Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate help.

• Youth Helpline (24/7): Call or text 1-888-222-2228 to connect with 2NDFLOOR for free, anonymous support.

• Youth Behavioral Health Services: Contact New Jersey's Children's System of Care at 1-877-652-7624 or visit the PerformCare website.

• Service Navigation: Call NJ Mental Health Cares at 1-866-202-HELP (4357) to speak with a specialist who can guide you to local resources.

• Mobile & Online Apps: Access digital wellness tools via Soluna or the 2NDFLOOR app (available on iOS and Android).

New Jersey has launched a statewide effort to strengthen its school funding system and ensure every student has access to the opportunities, resources, and support they need to succeed.

Towards this effort, NJDOE will be hosting regional public forums in the next several weeks. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about how schools are currently funded and share feedback, ideas, and perspectives to help inform future conversations. Speakers must register in advance.

• Register for September 30, 6 p.m. - Middlesex County College

• Register for October 5, 6 p.m. - Camden County College

• Register for October 14, 6 p.m. - Stockton University

• Register for October 22, 6 p.m. - Virtual

• Register for October 27, 6 p.m. - Essex County Donald M. Payne School of Technology

Finally, you can sign up to receive email updates about the New Jersey School Funding Outreach Project, including news, events, and resources. Use the button below to sign up.

To learn more about New Jersey School Funding Outreach project, please visit the website here.

Families with children ages 5 or younger may be eligible for the New Jersey Child Tax Credit and can use SimpleFile to apply.

The filing deadline has been extended to November 16, 2026.

Come out and support our Homecoming Parade!

The parade will:

• Begin at HD Young

• Continue down Broadway

• Turn right at the traffic light onto Walnut

• Finish at the Horseshoe at the High School

The parade will feature class floats, the band, and the Homecoming Court.

All floats and parade participants should arrive by 10:30 AM on the side street of HD Young.

Spirit Week winners and the Homecoming Court victors will be announced at halftime!