Salem Public Schools
SPS Community,
What a joy it has been to welcome our students back to school this week! I was thrilled to spend time at morning drop-off at several of our schools, and I was especially moved by the warmth and enthusiasm our educators showed as they welcomed students and families back. There is nothing quite like seeing our hallways full again. Our school communities truly come alive when our students are in them.
September is already shaping up to be an exciting month across Salem Public Schools, and I want to call your attention to several upcoming events and opportunities for our families.
In my first month here at Salem, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about September Salem Days and what an amazing opportunity for our families. This year, thanks to the generosity of Norman H. Read Charitable Trust, Salem residents will be provided a limited number of free tickets and transportation for daytime admission, on a first-come, first-served basis, to both the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo throughout the month of September.
Bus transportation will be provided Saturday, Sept. 12 to Franklin Park Zoo and Saturday, Sept. 19 to the Stone Zoo. On both dates, buses will depart Salem High School at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and will depart each zoo at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Students and families will receive a voucher for free ice cream but should pack their own lunch. For more details, see the flyer below and view our press release.
Additionally, I’m looking forward to meeting more families at each school’s Back-to-School Night in the coming weeks. View the schedule below to find your child’s school Back-to-School Night and save the date:
Bates Elementary: Wednesday, Sept. 16 (5:30-7:00) | Listening Session at 4:30 p.m.
Bentley Academy: Thursday, Sept. 10 (6:00-7:30) | Listening Session at 5 p.m.
Collins Middle School: Tuesday, Sept. 29 (5:30-7:30) | Listening Session at 4:45 p.m.
Early Childhood Center: Wednesday, Sept. 9 (5:30-7:00) | Listening Session at 4:45 p.m.
Horace Mann School: Wednesday, Sept. 23 (5:30-7:30) | Listening Session at 4:30 p.m.
New Liberty Innovation: Wednesday, Sept. 23 (5:30-7:30) | Listening Session at 7:45 p.m.
Salem Prep: Thursday, Sept. 17 (5:00-7:00) | Listening Session TBA
Salem High School: Thursday, Sept. 17 (6:00-8:00) | Listening Session TBA
Sarah Parker Remond School: Thursday, Sept. 17 (5:30-7:30) | Listening Session at 4:30 p.m.
Witchcraft Heights: Thursday, Sept. 24 (5:00-6:30) | Listening Session at 6:45
One hour prior to each Open House (except Witchcraft Heights Elementary School Sept. 24 and New Liberty Innovation School Sept. 23), I, along with a School Committee member, will host a listening session open to families. The listening sessions for WHES and New Liberty will take place after the open house; while the sessions for Salem High School and Salem Prep High School will be scheduled at a later date.
Third, please remind your child to submit their summer reading logs to their teachers by next Friday, Sept. 11. Summer reading materials and logs can be downloaded at salemk12.org/summer. Students who submit a reading log are entered into a drawing to be featured in a round table discussion with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo on Salem Access TV this fall to discuss their favorite books. Additionally, summer learning champions will have their favorite books displayed under their names at Salem Public Library’s recommended books section.
Finally, I began my Thursday morning at one of our school bus yards alongside our Director of Transportation, and throughout the week I also had the opportunity to observe the well-organized bus arrival and dismissal processes at several of our schools.
As is often the case during the first days of a new school year, we are continuing to work through some transportation adjustments and fine-tune our routes. Overall, our buses are running smoothly, and our Transportation team will continue to monitor routes closely and make improvements in the weeks ahead.
Importantly, students will not be marked tardy when their late arrival is the result of a school bus delay. We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our families as we continue working to make transportation as reliable and efficient as possible.
It has been a terrific first week, and I am grateful to our students, families, educators and staff for helping us begin the 2026–27 school year with such positive energy.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Dr. Tommy Welch
Superintendent
WATCH | Sarah Parker Remond Portrait Unveiled on First Day of New School
The portrait of Sarah Parker Remond, a gift from the City of Salem, was unveiled Wednesday morning, Sept. 2, at the Sarah Parker Remond School (formerly Saltonstall School). Mayor Dominick Pangallo, members of the Salem City Council and Salem School Committee, Senator Joan Lovely’s office, Superintendent Tommy Welch and Salem Public Schools leadership joined Claire Galloway-Jones and Teresa Harvey-Jackson, both first cousins five times removed of Ms. Remond, for the ceremony.
WATCH | Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch’s 2026 Convocation Address
Salem Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch addressed the entire Salem Public Schools staff at the SPS 2026 Convocation Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Salem High School Veterans Memorial Field House.
Salem State | New SSU Vikings Make an Impact in 2026 First Year Day of Service
The Sarah Parker Remond School, which opened its doors for the 2026-27 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 2, was one of several beneficiaries of Salem State University’s 11th annual First Year Day of Service, at which first-year SSU students volunteered across the North Shore.
The Salem News | Collins Middle School alum, local business owner runs back-to-school drive
Collins Middle School alum and local business owner Joey Uribe '07 will host a back-to-school drive this Thursday, with community members encouraged to donate items to help students feel confident on their first day of school.
Our annual Back to School forms are available in the Aspen family portal. We ask that our families please complete the forms as soon as possible, which should take no more than 10-15 minutes.
We want to be sure that families are well-versed on our practices/procedures – such as photo opt-outs and other choices – and that we have the most updated information about your child.
Salem Public Schools are part of the Massachusetts Special Education Parent Advisory Council (MASSPAC). MASSPAC offers many free special education-related parent trainings and supports in multiple languages. Find a training and register now.
September is National Head Lice Prevention Month.
As we head back to school this month, please know that our School Nurses are trusted leaders in educating families about treatment options and prevention strategies, helping to reduce stigma, and keep students healthy in the classroom. Should your child be diagnosed with head lice, the school nurse will work with you to find the best treatment plan.
Please know that in Salem, following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses, students with head lice are never excluded from attending school, and we do not notify school communities if a child with head lice attends their child’s school or class. This practice is outdated and only serves to stigmatize the affected child while doing very little to prevent further infestation. If you have questions about our protocol or need more information about treatment options, please contact your school nurse or Jane Morrissey, Director of Nursing and Health Services at jmorrissey@salemk12.org.
Salem Public Schools Families,
A new school year means new routines, new classrooms, and a fresh start. It can also bring anxiety, stress, or emotional challenges that make it harder to settle in.
Cartwheel, our virtual mental health partner, can offer:
Individual teletherapy for students — appointments with a licensed therapist available within days, with no waitlist
Parent and caregiver guidance — practical support for navigating challenges at home
Family therapy for transitions, stress, or ongoing challenges
Psychiatric support, when appropriate
Care Programs for specific challenges like school avoidance, screens and social media, and intense emotions and behavior challenges
Appointments are virtual, scheduling is flexible, and care is available in multiple languages. For students with Medicaid, care is completely free. Most private insurance plans are also accepted.
Getting started takes just a few minutes. Complete this simple interest form, and someone from Cartwheel will follow up with you.
With care,
Ellen Wingard
Executive Director of Student Support Services
Salem Public Schools
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.