Bates Family Newsletter

Dear Bates Families,

Wow...what a night at the Grand Parade! We had an absolute blast, and we’re so thankful for the many families who came out to march with us or cheer us on. The costumes were a perfect mix of spooky and silly, and Mr. Bleckley outdid himself with our incredible display.

We debuted our brand-new Bates Beacon mascot (Ms. Amanda in a lighthouse costume😃) and learned that lots of folks around here really love lighthouses. We’re already buzzing with ideas for next year’s parade. Until then, have a wonderful weekend and soak up that beautiful fall weather! 🍂☀️

Our best,

Ms. Smith

Mr. Mac

Mr. Lister

We work off of three basic priorities here are Bates: Center Belonging, Empower Educators, Elevate Student Learning. You'll notice that our weekly newsletters are divided into these three sections for a reason - We always work toward our goals, and we want to keep you informed as to how we're doing it!

Events like the Grand Parade are what make Salem and Bates shine. They bring our school community together, creating moments where every student and family can feel celebrated and part of something special. When we come together like this, we’re not just having fun, we’re building belonging.

Each week at Bates, we shine a light on our Beacons of the Week, our rockstars who have truly embodied the social-emotional skill we’re focusing on. Their teachers share the many beautiful ways these students have shown up for themselves and for others, and how they personify what it means to live out our values.

This week our Beacons of the Week were chosen for showing outstanding kindness and empathy. We’re so proud of the way our students are living out our values and lighting the way for others!

Students who are Beacons of the Week get a super cool bracelet and are recorded at school accepting their Beacon-y praise. The video is shared with the school community on Mondays during morning meeting. Shout out to:

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time when schools across the country work together to create safe, supportive learning environments for every student. At Bates, we’re taking this month to teach, practice, and celebrate positive behaviors that help prevent bullying before it starts.

Throughout the month, our lessons and morning meetings will focus on:

• Kindness Is Your Superpower – learning how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

• Developing Empathy – understanding how others feel and why it matters.

• Becoming an Upstander – learning safe ways to stand up and speak up when we see unkind behavior.

• What Is and Isn’t Bullying – helping students recognize the difference between normal conflict and true bullying so they know how to respond.

• Building a Caring Community – practicing inclusion and respect so every student feels they belong.

Together, we’re giving students the tools, language, and confidence to build a culture of respect and safety at school and beyond.

Our second early release day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22nd. PreK will be dismissed at 10:55, K at 11:00, and grades 1-5 at 11:05. Teachers and staff will remain at Bates to engage in important professional development.

After-school club notifications were sent this week. If you didn't get into a club, there will be another opportunity in the spring!

Such amazing Social/Emotional (SEL) work being done in room 104! When we practice our SEL skills, like understanding our feelings, showing empathy, and solving problems peacefully, we also help stop bullying before it starts. Thanks, Ms. McLaughlin for tying this into how to how to act like a Bates Beacon. Great idea!

It's always a good idea to be familiar with our general operating rules and procedures. Please take some time to read through our Bates School Handbook. Thank you!

If your child’s dismissal plans change, please notify Ms. Julie in the Main Office at (978) 740-1250 as early in the day as possible.

Please do not inform your child’s teacher directly, as this interrupts classroom instruction. Ms. Julie will make sure the teacher is notified.

Attendance Reminder
Consistent attendance is essential for your child’s success. Unless they are sick, students should be in school every day to stay engaged with their classmates and keep on track with their learning. If your child is sick and will be staying home, please call our absentee line at (978) 740-1172. You can leave a message with your child’s name and the reason for their absence. If your child sees a doctor, please send them back to school with a doctor’s note so the absence can be excused.

If you have any questions about the importance of attendance or need support in making sure your child gets to school every day, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Family Engagement Facilitator, Rosalyn Guevara, on ParentSquare or email: rguevara@salemk12.org. Families of students with multiple absences will receive letters and may be asked to meet with our attendance team at school so we can work together to identify any support you might need.

Planning Vacations During the School Year
As you plan, please keep the school calendar in mind when scheduling family vacations. Below are the vacation dates for the 2025–26 school year:

• December 22 – January 2 (please note: this break is a full two weeks)
• February 16 – 20
  
• April 20 – 24

Thank you for making school attendance a priority. We look forward to partnering with you to support your child in the year ahead!

October 13 - Indigenous Peoples' Day - No school!

October 17 - Monster Mash!

October 22 - Early release - PreK at 10:55, K at 11:00, Grades 1-5 at 11:05

October 31 - Early release due to Halloween

We’re inviting students to join in a Black & Orange Spirit Day on October 31st! Wear anything black or orange - shirts, sweaters, pants, leggings, skirts, socks, hats, hair accessories, sneakers, or even fun jewelry. Mix and match your favorite black-and-orange combos and help fill our halls with energy and spirit!

No costumes, please...just comfy, school-appropriate clothes in black and orange. Everyone’s welcome to participate...or not, your choice!

We’re so happy to see families enjoying the new PreK/K playground after school. It’s wonderful that our students love spending extra time outdoors! Please note, though, that this space is also used by our PreK after-school program. If you see the after-school teachers bringing their students outside, we kindly ask that you exit the playground so that their program can run safely and smoothly.

Thank you for helping us keep this space welcoming and safe for everyone!

The big event is almost here! We’re counting down the days until our annual Monster Mash, one of our favorite traditions of the year.

Look no further! Sign up to rent the rock here.

Reserve the spirit rock from the PTO for the following: Birthday, ½ Birthday (summer birthday), school spirit, congratulating someone, etc. Spirit Rock is a PTO fundraiser for the school year of 2025-2026. Funds raised will help pay for school programs and/or initiatives.

A School Site Council (SSC) is a representative group of stakeholders - parents, teachers, and the principal, who work together to improve the school. Our main role is shared decision-making around our school’s goals, programs, and budget.

Here’s what our SSC typically does:

• Develops and reviews the school improvement plan
  

• Advises on the use of certain funds
  

• Monitors progress toward goalsBrings stakeholder voices together
  

• Builds transparency and trust

• Meetings are public and minutes are posted (see below).

We meet monthly, and our agenda is here. Please let Mrs. Smith know if you'd like to join in for a meeting.

Bates Elementary School, in partnership with our families and community, will provide all students with a culturally responsive, student – centered, and equitable learning experience that celebrates our students’ diverse backgrounds, creative pursuits, and their academic, social, emotional success.

School Hours:

Monday through Friday

PreK - 7:45 - 2:10 pm

Kindergarten - 7:45 - 2:15 pm

Grades 1-5 - 7:45 - 2:20 pm

Early Release:

PK at 10:55 am

Kindergarten at 11:00 am

Grades 1-5 at 11:05 am