Welcome Back to School

Salem Washington Academy prepares all students for their future by providing each student with unique opportunities to pursue their goals and dreams. Every Student Future Ready

☀️Dear SWA School Community,

Welcome back to the start of another exciting school year!

As we kick off this academic year, I want to express how thrilled we are to welcome you all back to our schools. Our mission, Every Student Future Ready, is at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to providing each student with the tools, support, and opportunities needed to thrive both academically and personally.

This year, we have many exciting programs, activities, and initiatives planned to help every student achieve their full potential. We are committed to creating a nurturing and dynamic learning environment where each child can explore their passions and build a strong foundation for the future.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead, filled with growth, discovery, and success!

Warm regards,

Julie A. Adams

Superintendent of Schools

Ready or not, the first day of school is around the corner. Back to School packets are in the mail for both schools. Look for them in the mailbox over the next few days. Some of the general information is also provided here for you. To save printing costs, the district newsletter is not being mailed this year. Important documents are included in the mailer. Please review everything carefully and if you have any questions, please contact the respective school building office.

The Elementary Office has moved to the front of the main building across from the Nurse's Office. Late arrivals, early dismissal and visitors should enter through the front main entrance also know as the "flag pole" entrance. Handicapped accessible entrances are available at the Jr/Sr High School Entrance.

The Superintendent's Office has moved to the Primary Building where the Elementary Office was previously located. Visitors are by appointment only and should enter at the entrance to the building in the archway. For an appointment, please call 518-854-7855 or email Regina Eastman, Secretary to the Superintendent at reastman@salemcsd.org.

For a list of all of the office locations and hours for the 2024-2025 school year, click here or refer to the letter in your back to school mailer.

As we work to improve safety and security when it comes to access to our buildings, we have changed arrival and dismissal locations in the elementary school. Please click here for important information regarding the new locations for each grade level. This flyer will also be included in Elementary Back to School mailer. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with these new procedures. If you have any question, please contact the Elementary Office.

The Salem Central School District is pleased to announce that beginning in September, we will be using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety. Part of keeping our school community safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system allows us to do that. The Raptor system will better enable us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for all.

• Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present a photo ID such as a driver’s license, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian, for any reason, does not have an ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID, our school staff members can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency.

  
  

• Once a visitor’s entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge with photo that identifies the visitor, the date and the purpose of their visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.

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The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. We thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district.

For more information, click here for FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, refer to the flyer in your Back to School mailer, or visit raptortech.com.

SWA will once again be participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. All students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school each day of the 2024-2025 school year. Second lunches and snacks must be purchased.

Every student will need to have a personal lunch account through our point of sale system. Features and benefits of this system for parents and guardians include:

• Making online payments to their child(ten)'s cafeteria meal account(s);
• Remotely monitoring their child's account and purchases;
• Setting up automatic recurring payments;
• Setting up low balance email message alerts;
• Submitting an Income Form.

How to Register:

Download the LINQ Connect app fro the IOS App Store or Android Play. Or, to register online, visit LINQConnect.com.

Please join us in welcoming Special Patrol Officer Billy Webster to Salem Washington Academy. Officer Webster works for the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He is our new School Resource Officer (SRO). Officer Webster started his law enforcement career in 1988. He retired from the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office in 2018. Currently he serves as a part-time police office for Cambridge Greenwich Police Department. He has served as a volunteer firefighter for 39 years. He lives locally in Cambridge, NY with his wife, Darci and their three children Bailey, Drake and Kade and their rescue dog Scout. Fun Fact: Officer Bill likes anything BBQ, rides a Harley Fat Bob and his favorite team is the NY Yankees.

Dr. Darlene King will serve as Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services for this school year. Dr. King will serve as both CSE and CPSE Chairpersons for the district. She lives in Cambridge, NY with her husband Clancy who is a local artist. Fun facts: She has a standard poodle named Sofie, is a yoga teacher and enjoys gardening, baking and reading. To reach Dr. King, please call 518-854-6020 or email her at dking@salemcsd.org

Salem CSD is excited to work with Sweetheart & Heroes to further improve our students' school experience and sense of belonging. On August 12th and 13th, SWA sent a team of 12 teachers and administrators to train on implementing Circles to strengthen school community. We are pleased to be working this year with Sweetheart & Heroes to implement the Circle Series in select classrooms. Sweetheart & Heroes will also visit the district for two days this November to bring their message of H.O.P.E to our students of all grade levels. More information will be shared throughout the year. #Sweetheart&Heroes #Circles #Thiswillchangetheworld

Back to Front: Amy Maxwell, Julie Myler, Rebecca Quinn, Chris Fronhofer, Bob Carr Kim Carr, Colleen Mavica, Dani Folino, Julie Adams, Damian Switzer, Amy Frolish, Will Moore

Join us in welcoming back Mr. Damian Switzer as the Interim Elementary Principal. Mr. Switzer will serve as the Elementary Principal until we find a replacement for Mrs. Record. You may remember Mr. Switzer from when he served as the Interim Jr/Sr High School Principal during the 2022-2023 school year. Mr. Switzer has served as a K-12 Principal at Bolton CSD and retired from Queensbury CSD where he worked as the High School Principal. Fun Fact: Mr. Switzer has two cats, George and Lou, and his favorite foods are sushi and sashimi.

Mr. Moore is certified in New York State as a School Building Administrator and School District Administrator. He possesses a Bachelor’s degree in History as well as a Master’s Degree in Special Education and has been a dedicated faculty member for 22 years in the Salem Central School District. During this time he has served as a Social Studies teacher, a Special Education teacher, Dean of Students and Athletic Director. Fun Facts about Mr. Moore: Favorite Place: Walt Disney World; Favorite Food: Chicken Wings; Favorite Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Boston Celtics; Pets: one dog, two cats.

SWA is pleased to announce that Dani Folino has been appointed as the Athletic Director for this school year while Mr. Moore fills the position of Interim Jr/Sr High School Principal. She will officially start in this role on August 29th. Ms. Folino is excited to serve as the Athletic Director. She played soccer, basketball and softball in high school and soccer in college. She has also coached girls' soccer and softball at the modified and varsity levels while teaching elementary PE in Morristown. Ms. Folino joined the district in 2015 as a reading teacher and is now a K-12 special education teacher. She spends her free time exploring local trails with her wife and two Boston Terriers Benny and Ci Ci. Fun Fact: Ms. Folino has been to over 80 concerts covering all genres: rock, rap, head-banging, country and classical. She loves live music!

Jr/Sr High School schedules are published in the Schooltool portal. Hard copies are in the mail in the Back to School Mailer. Please note that students will receive a FINAL copy of their schedule on the first day of school. Students requesting changes to their schedule should make an appointment with Mrs. Eastman during the first week of school. Appointment request forms will be available in Homeroom on the first day of school.

Parking permit applications can be submitted to Mrs. LeBlanc in the HS Office in person or by submitting an electronic form. Due to limited space in the parking lot, applications are for Seniors only. If spaces remain at the end of September, Juniors in good standing may apply for any remaining spaces. For the application to be complete, students must submit a copy of their drivers' license and sign that they agree to follow all rules related to the parking privilege.

Tuesday Sept. 3, 2:00-3:00 pm

We will continue or yearly tradition and open our doors to welcome student and families to meet their teacher, see their classrooms, and drop off their supplies. This is always an exciting time for our student.

Thursday Sept. 12, 6:30-8:00 pm

We will host our annual Parent Information Night again this year. There will be two sessions, 6:30-7:10 and 7:20-8:00pm.

Tuesday Sept. 3, 1:00-2:00 pm

Students and parents/guardians will have the opportunity to meet teachers, visit their classrooms, receive their schedule, practice opening their lockers and receive Chromebooks. There will be time for student to organize their school supplies in their lockers, spend time with classmates and enjoy an ice cream treat.

Thursday Oct. 3, 6:00-7:00 pm

Open House for grades 7-12. Parents will follow an abbreviated version of their child's schedule and have the opportunity to meet with their class room teacher.

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.

A print copy of the 2024-2025 school calendar is included in the Back to School Mailer or click here.

Download the Salem CSD NY app from the IOS App Store of the Android Play store. Don't forget to enable notifications.

• Facebook: Salem Washington Academy
• X : @Salem_CSD, @Ms_AdamsSWA, @Mr_SwitzerSWA, @Mr_MooreSWA
• Instagram: salemcsd
• YouTube: Salem Washington Academy
• Website: www.salemcsd.org

Parents/Guardians of students in grades 7-12 can view their child's information online anytime. The information includes: Schedule, Grades, Attendance, Report Cards, 3-8 Assessment Results, Emergency Contact Information.

For instructions on how to create an account, click here.

If you are having difficulty with your login, contact Laura LeBlanc at 518-854-7600 or laleblanc@salemcsd.org.

Annual notifications and reminders including:

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA);

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA);

Asbestos Management;

Title IX;

Fire Inspections;

District Safety Plan;

Parent/Guardian Active Duty Military Status;

Release of Student Information to Recruiters;

Potential Use of Pesticides

are available here or can be found on the district website.