Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools Families,
After multiple weeks of community forums and extensive engagement from our families, staff and community members, I want to encourage you to attend in-person or virtually the School Committee meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 15th at Collins Middle School. The Committee is expected to take a vote on the two scenarios that they are still considering:
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Scenario 4: Carlton and Saltonstall merge at the Saltonstall building. The Carlton building would either go offline or be repurposed as an early childhood center.
New Scenario (formerly Scenario 3 from the consultants’ “not recommended” list):
Carlton and Saltonstall merge at the Bentley/ECC building; Bentley moves to Saltonstall; and ECC either co-locates at Horace Mann or moves to the Carlton building.
Following the meeting, we will share follow-up communication based on the School Committee’s decision. Please continue to send your questions and feedback to reconfiguration@salemk12.org, and visit salemk12.org/reconfiguration to access the full set of available resources.
Many families participated in parent conferences this week. Thank you for your investment in your child’s education and for partnering with us to support their learning. Please remember that you are welcome to reach out to our educators at any point during the school year with questions, concerns, or ideas for strengthening the relationship between home and school.
As we look ahead, we want to share that our district is shifting to student-led conferences (SLCs) this March. New Liberty and Carlton already use this model, and Collins piloted it this week. We believe that SLCs are a transformational practice that directly supports our values of equity and belonging.
Student-led conferences center the student by inviting them to set and reflect on concrete goals, which significantly boosts their agency, self-confidence, and engagement. Students gain a meaningful voice in their learning and develop transferable skills—including leadership, reflection, and communication—by showcasing samples of their work, describing what they have learned, identifying areas of challenge, and setting goals for future growth.
I hope to see you at Salem High School for the annual winter musical, The Prom: School Edition, next week with performances Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 19th at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, December 20th at 2 p.m. Presale tickets are available at SHSonstage.ludus.com.
Admission is $10 for students, seniors, and active military; and $15 general admission. Audience members are encouraged to bring clean and gently used formal wear to be donated to the Clothing Connection to benefit students unable to afford such attire. Come check out our talented students!
Finally, I want to invite our families to the Salem Music Boosters 28th Annual Crafts Fair and Holiday Bazaar Saturday (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) at Salem High School, a longtime tradition which raises key funds for our talented student musicians and drama students.
Enjoy the weekend,
Steve
SHS Musical Production of ‘The Prom: School Edition’ a Full Circle Moment
O*N*S*T*A*G*E, the drama club at Salem High School, presents its annual winter musical, ‘The Prom: School Edition,’ Thursday through Saturday, Dec.18, 19, and 20, at the M. Ruth Norton Auditorium. Performances are Thursday and Friday, Dec. 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. The run time of ‘The Prom: School Edition’ is approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes with a brief intermission.
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.2 Million to Expand Children’s Access to and Knowledge of Locally Grown Food
The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced it is awarding $1.2 million in state- and federally-funded grants to 24 school districts and 10 early education and care programs to help them grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system.
Students and families who need assistance completing the FAFSA are invited to free, virtual FAFSA Festivals that MEFA is hosting now through February. Log in anytime during the two-hour event to be placed in a breakout room with a financial aid expert who will answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance in completing the FAFSA.
Register for an event now so that MEFA knows when to expect people. Additional resources are available at www.mass.gov/financialaid.
The Salem Children's Charity Online Auction, which opened at its annual ball Tuesday, Dec. 9, is live until Sunday night at 8 p.m.
All proceeds from the auction directly benefit Salem children for emergencies such as a rapid response to family tragedies, easing the burdens of children's families facing serious illnesses and food shortages, as well as enrichment programs that they could never afford.
Return bidders can log in while first-time visitors can complete a quick and easy registration.
Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services, alongside Root North Shore, will collaborate to host the first Holiday Solstice Community Dinner Wednesday, Dec. 17 (5-7 p.m.) at the Saltonstall School Cafeteria, located at 211 Lafayette Street in Salem.
The Community Dinner is open to SPS families with a capacity limit of 212 guests. Families are encouraged to register by Monday, Dec. 15.
Chefs and kitchen staff from both SPS Food and Nutrition Services and Root will volunteer and partner to create the menu: Jamaican jerk chicken thighs, along with peas and rice, baked sweet plantains, mango salsa, side salad, milk and fresh local fruit.
SPS and Root are seeking volunteers for the event to assist in the kitchen and to serve guests.
For more information, contact SPS Food and Nutrition Services at mshort@salemk12.org or rarmstrong@salemk12.org.
Sending you our very best wishes for a wonderful holiday season, we are excited to announce the December issue of our Nursing News. Inside, you will find vital information on managing common winter viruses and preventing asthma flare-ups. We’ve also included a simple recipe that families can make together, along with suggestions for activities that will warm your heart.
Discover how you can make a difference in your community!
The Salem 400+ Kickoff and Volunteer Fair is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10, at Salem High School (2-5 p.m.), where attendees can meet local organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities that match their interests.
Explore booths from the area's non-profits in a fun, craft fair-style setting. Each organization will have interactive activities, information, and creative ways to share what they do. Whether you're looking to volunteer regularly, help with a specific project, or just learn more about what's happening in Salem, this is your chance to connect with causes you care about.
Enjoy live music, performances, children's activities, and food while you explore. This is a perfect family-friendly afternoon to meet your neighbors, discover new ways to get involved, and find out how you can help make Salem an even better place to live.
The Salem 400+ Kickoff and Volunteer Fair is free and open to all community members. For more information, contact Virginia Cherol, Salem 400+ Coordinator, at vcherol@salem.com.
The Salem Technical Institute has announced free spring coursework in four tracks:
- Building and Property Maintenance
- Automotive Technology
- Electrical Technology
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Classes are scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 and will meet Monday-Thursday (5-9 p.m.) for 12 weeks at Salem High School. Students receive certification in OSHA standards, First Aid/CPR and AED; Hotworks and other industry-related certifications; as well as career development guidance including instruction with resumes, cover letters and interview preparation.
Upon completion of the coursework, students are eligible to receive job placement opportunities through STI’s partnership with the MassHire North Shore Career Center. Coursework is open to recent graduates, unemployed/under-employed, and those seeking a career change toward any of the career tracks. Students will learn from professionals in each track.
A graduation ceremony will be held shortly after coursework is complete.
J.D. Scrimgeour, the city of Salem’s Poet Laureate, invites Salem Public Schools students and staff to submit a piece (or pieces) of poetry or prose about your experiences living in Salem for "Pieces of Salem," an anthology to commemorate the city’s quadricentennial. Submitted works can be either prose or poetry no more than 400 words (for example, authors can submit two poems of 200 words each).
Those whose work is accepted will receive one complimentary copy of the anthology. Additional copies may be purchased with an author’s discount.
- Who is eligible? Anyone who has lived or worked in Salem for at least one year. Submitters will be asked to briefly describe their connection to the city when they submit.
- What is the deadline to submit work? The deadline is December 15, 2025
- When will I know if my work has been accepted? All work will get a response no later than December 31, 2025.
Questions can be sent to J.D. Scrimgeour at poet@salem.com.
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.