SALEM HIGH SCHOOL

Upcoming Dates

January 23 - End of Quarter 2

February 3 - Report Cards Emailed to Families

Student Project: Shelter Support

Salem High School is looking for donations to support local shelters and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Student Donations: From January 26th - January 30th during school hours items can be dropped off at Student Activities in RM 150B.

All Other Donations: Donations can be dropped off at the front desk in the lobby of Salem High School.

Course Selection Grades 9 -11

Last week Salem High School started our course selection process for current grade 9 - 11 students. This part of the process is more about educating students what is available rather than locking them into courses.

Students Watched videos that were created by each department and then had an opportunity for Question and Answer with academic coaches and lead teachers. This part of the process will be completed this week.

Here are the course selection forms for each grade:

On Thursday parents will have access to course selection data through Naviance. An email will be sent out to remind all parents on how to access Naviance this week.

February 10th will be parent course selection evening from 5-7pm

“BE ABOUT IT”

Live the values of our school community; show pride, respect, and responsibility not just by saying it, but by consistently doing it.
Follow through on commitments, whether that’s in academics, athletics, arts, or personal goals.
Model integrity by letting your behavior reflect your intentions—be the example others can count on.

“BE ABOUT IT” means don’t just talk about who you are or what you stand for, prove it every day through effort, character, and action.

Be About It!

#GoWitch

Retirement of Evelyn Oquendo’s #24 Jersey on January 23, 2026

The Salem High School Athletics Department is thrilled to announce the retirement of Evelyn Oquendo’s #24 jersey on January 23, 2026.

A stalwart as a Witches Basketball player in the 1980s, Oquendo was a two-time team captain and the starting point guard on the 1979-1980 undefeated Massachusetts Girls Basketball State Championship team. Oquendo was named to the 1982 Boston Globe Girls All-Scholastic Basketball Team and helped lead her team to the 1982 North Region Championship as well. She was inducted into the Salem High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Oquendo continued her basketball career at Salem State College (now Salem State University) where she was a 3X NCAA National Women's First Team All-American, 4X NCAA First Team All-New England, 4X MASCAC Player of the Year, and 4X MASCAC First Team All-American. She also served as a Captain during the Viking’s 1985-1986 season, spurring her team to victory in the NCAA Division 3 National Championship. Oquendo is the All-Time Leading Scorer for Salem State’s Girls Basketball program with 1,738 points, and was inducted into the Salem State College Hall of Fame in 1991. Her #24 jersey was also retired by Salem State in 2010.

Beyond her athletic career, Oquendo has spent the last twenty years teaching, coaching, and mentoring youth throughout Salem. She began her career in Salem Public Schools in 2004 and has served as a Physical Education Teacher at Collins Middle School since 2007. Oquendo also served as the Salem High School Girls Basketball Coach from 2017-2022, and has coordinated the expansion of the Collins Middle School Intramural and Extramural programs to include sports ranging from basketball to lacrosse and soccer to volleyball. Oquendo’s commitment to Salem students is unmatched and her legacy is cemented as an athlete, coach, and mentor within the walls of Salem Public Schools and beyond.

Salem News: https://www.salemnews.com/sports/salems-legendary-oquendo-becomes-first-female-in-school-history-to-have-number-retired/article_b1386ccf-87d7-4563-8c21-77a77775eef4.html

Witches Continue to Improve in Loss Against Peabody

Salem Girls Basketball continue to improve game after game. While it is not showing up in their record the improvement of the girls' skill and intensity is evident.

Salem News: https://www.salemnews.com/sports/fridays-area-roundup-peabody-girls-knock-off-salem-oquendo-has-jersey-retired-by-witches/article_184847cf-60a2-4d22-b1b8-5d4e437cd953.html

Editor's Pick Salem hoop star Rodriguez joins 1,000 Point Club ... as a junior

Elian Rodriguez’s favorite subject at Salem High School is history.

Now, he’s part of it.

On Tuesday night, Rodriguez became just the fourth player in the long and storied history of Salem High boys basketball to reach 1,000 career points as a junior. A slashing drive and right-hand finish did the trick just before halftime in his team’s 77-48 victory over Saugus at the Salem High Fieldhouse.

Salem News: https://www.salemnews.com/sports/salem-hoop-star-rodriguez-joins-1-000-point-club-as-a-junior/article_20a0a688-82eb-4876-91f2-2d6c0aa75ed6.html

January 19

APPLY NOW for SY26-27 (if you are new to Early College).

Spring 2026 classes start with the professor THIS week:

SSU-Tues Jan 20
NSCC-Wed Jan 21 (MDA107), Thurs Jan 22 (FFL100). On-campus starts Jan 21 or Feb 4.
You have until Monday, January 26 to make changes (add/drop) to your college courses. There will be no record of the course on your high school or college transcript if you drop it.

We will be distributing textbooks and materials this week during check ins.

On-Campus Seniors only, friendly reminder that there ARE college classes on

campus during February and April vacations. Spring break (no classes on campus) is March 16-20.

Click for:

Alexandra Kirby

Early College Coordinator

Where Will Your Road Take You

We are thrilled to begin another exciting year and to support every student in their journey to growth and success. Through our C3 College, Career, and Counseling Department, we encourage all students to Dare To Grow because your future knows no boundaries.

We are excited to share that our students have already started more than 200 college applications to schools across the country! You can view the interactive map here to see where students are applying: C3 College Application Map.

This information comes from Naviance, which students can access through ClassLink. Parents can also access their student’s information using their Naviance username and password.

If students or families need support accessing Naviance, please reach out to your student’s counselor for assistance.

C3 also has a number of upcoming workshops and post-secondary events to support your planning:

Senior Early Decision/Early Action Virtual Night – Tuesday, September 2nd (more information to follow the first days of school)

We encourage all students to take advantage of these opportunities, explore possibilities, and reach goals beyond what they thought possible.

Together, let’s make this a year of growth, exploration, and success.

Pick Your College

Deciding what colleges to add to your list? One great resource to examines what factors goes into your college choice is Big Future at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search.

University of Arizona

Location:Orono, Maine

Mascot: Bananas T. Bear

Enrollment: 11,000

Average GPA: 3.4 Weighted

Average SAT Score: 1100

Average ACT Score: 24

Admissions: https://go.umaine.edu/

The University of Maine is a public research university and the flagship institution of the University of Maine System. Located in Orono, UMaine is known for its strong commitment to student success, hands-on research, and innovation in science, engineering, forestry, environmental studies, and marine sciences. The university combines a close-knit campus community with access to nationally recognized research opportunities and Maine’s unique natural environment.

Colleges & Academic Programs

The University of Maine offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through the following colleges and schools:

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Engineering
Maine Business School
College of Education & Human Development
College of Earth & Climate Sciences
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, & Agriculture
Honors College
Graduate School

Areas of Academic Strength

Engineering and applied sciences
Environmental science, forestry, and sustainability
Climate science and marine research
Business and entrepreneurship (Maine Business School)
Education and human development
Undergraduate research and experiential learning
Strong support for first-generation and rural students

Clubs & Student Organizations

The University of Maine offers 200+ student organizations, including:

Academic and professional organizations
Cultural and identity-based groups
Community service and leadership organizations
Greek life
Club sports and intramurals
Student government and campus activities

Athletics

The University of Maine competes in NCAA Division I athletics, primarily as a member of the America East Conference (with hockey competing in Hockey East).

Varsity Sports Include:

Men’s & Women’s Basketball
Ice Hockey (nationally recognized)
Soccer
Baseball & Softball
Track & Field
Cross Country
Field Hockey

Athletics—especially UMaine hockey—play a significant role in campus pride and tradition.

Recent & Notable Developments

National leadership in climate and environmental research
Expansion of engineering and research facilities
Strong emphasis on experiential learning and undergraduate research
Continued growth in student support and retention initiatives
Recognition for affordability and value

Virtual Tour: https://go.umaine.edu/visit/

Website: https://umaine.edu/

Park Ranger

Education Required

A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field is typically required.

Common majors include:

Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Construction Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering

Licensure Pathway:

Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam → Engineer-in-Training (EIT)
Gain 4 years of supervised experience
Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam (required for leadership, public-sector work, and signing off on projects)

Advanced Degrees (Optional):

M.S. or Ph.D. in Civil, Structural, Environmental, or Transportation Engineering can support advancement into:
- Senior engineering roles
- Specialized technical fields
- Research, academia, or policy positions

Typical Tasks Associated with This Career

Design, plan, and oversee construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, and airports
Prepare engineering drawings, specifications, and cost estimates
Conduct site inspections and analyze soil, materials, and environmental conditions
Use computer-aided design (CAD) and modeling software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D)
Ensure projects comply with safety codes, environmental regulations, and zoning laws
Manage construction timelines, budgets, and contractors
Analyze traffic patterns, drainage systems, and structural loads
Collaborate with architects, planners, surveyors, and government agencies
Review and approve project plans and technical reports
Address infrastructure challenges related to sustainability, climate resilience, and urban growth