Salem Public Schools
SPS Community,
Building on last week’s celebration of National School Lunch Week, I spent this morning at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School enjoying breakfast with students alongside Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike, Senator Joan Lovely, and Mayor Dominick Pangallo. During the visit, we announced the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) “Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge,” which encourages schools across the Commonwealth to expand breakfast access and provide healthy, scratch-cooked meals made with locally sourced ingredients.
Here in Salem, this work has been underway for years, thanks to the leadership of Food and Nutrition Services Director Michaela Short and our dedicated food services team. Salem Public Schools has offered students breakfast every morning for more than a decade. Our district also partners with nearly 20 Massachusetts farms to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, and honey to our cafeterias. Each of our schools has a garden where students grow vegetables and herbs that contribute to seasonal school lunch menus.
We are honored that Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary Zrike, and DESE selected Witchcraft Heights for this announcement. With their deep Salem roots, this visit was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate our students and the staff who help them begin each school day nourished and ready to learn.
I also want to highlight the thoughtful work of our Family Welcome Center, which announced four virtual learning sessions to help families access school information, use communication tools, and connect with community resources.
All sessions will take place from 3:30–4:30 p.m., with the following topics:
October 27, 2026: ParentSquare, Aspen, school forms, language access, and community resources.
November 10, 2026: Attendance, report cards, JumpRope, and community assistance programs.
January 26, 2027: ParentSquare, Aspen, school forms, language access, and community resources.
March 9, 2027: Attendance, parent-teacher conferences, JumpRope, summer programs, and local resources.
Find session details and links to join here. Thank you to our Family Welcome Center team for creating these opportunities to help families stay informed and connected!
Finally, congratulations to our Salem High School girls volleyball, girls soccer, and boys soccer teams, all of which recently secured spots in their respective MIAA Division 3 tournaments!
Girls volleyball is 13–3, with wins in 12 of its last 13 matches.
Girls soccer is 9–4–3 and unbeaten in its last six matches.
Boys soccer is 8–4–3 and unbeaten in its last five matches.
Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches, and thank you to the families and fans cheering them on. We look forward to supporting the Witches in postseason play!
Enjoy the weekend!
Dr. Tommy Welch
Superintendent
Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches ‘Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge’ from Witchcraft Heights Elementary School
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike (former Salem Superintendent) convened at the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School Friday to announce Governor Maura Healey’s ‘Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge’ to urge schools across Massachusetts to expand breakfast access and provide healthy, locally sourced meals each day.
VIEW GALLERY | Highlights from National School Lunch Week 2026
Every week is National School Lunch Week. In a nod to the Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services staff in each of our schools, 2026 National School Lunch Week lived up to its 2026 theme ‘Cafeteria Circus.’
VIEW GALLERY | 2026 Collins Middle School Unity Dance Promotes Anti-Bullying
Collins Middle School scholars attended the 2026 Unity Dance en masse on Thursday afternoon, but the real meaning behind the event was activity the day prior. On display in the Middle School’s main entry wall is a tree in vibrant fall colors with anti-bullying messaging. Students were tasked to write one thing they would to to end bullying on a leaf and add it to the tree. Among some of the creative responses:
The Salem News | Moving the Chains football column: Salem WR Barahona, QB Reyes forming special connection
Salem High junior Jeremiah Barahona is big. And he’s fast. But it would be a mistake to look at his gaudy receiving numbers this fall and assume all the Witches are doing is chucking it up to their best athlete.
The Salem Public Schools Family Welcome Center will host four virtual sessions to help families navigate Salem Public Schools systems, access important information, and explore valuable community resources and services available to support families.
The sessions – all four to be recorded – will be held on the following dates:
October 27, 2026 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (ParentSquare, Aspen, school forms, language access, and community resources) | JOIN THE SESSION
November 10, 2026 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (Attendance, report cards, JumpRope, and community assistance programs) | JOIN THE SESSION
January 26, 2027 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (ParentSquare, Aspen, school forms, language access, and community resources) | JOIN THE SESSION
March 9, 2027 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (Attendance, parent-teacher conferences, JumpRope, summer programs, and local resources) | JOIN THE SESSION
Consistent with the 2026-29 District Strategic Plan, our series signifies the District’s core values of elevating learning, empowering educators, belonging and strengthening the District’s foundation. Each session will include time for questions, feedback, and suggestions on how the Family Welcome Center can better support our families.
While especially helpful for families new to Salem Public Schools, all families are welcome and encouraged to attend the sessions. For more information, contact the Family Welcome Center at welcomecenter@salemk12.org.
Oct. 30 Football Clash vs. Winthrop H.S. Rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem High School-Winthrop High School football game, originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, has been rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 29 (6:30 p.m.) at Bertram Field. The game will serve as senior night for football, cheer and the marching band seniors.
Wednesday, October 28 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. Online and presented entirely in Spanish
Despite the many obstacles they face in pursuing a university education, undocumented students can access higher education. This webinar will explain the latest immigration regulations, as well as the immigration statuses that are eligible—and those that are ineligible—for Federal Student Aid. It will also examine the application process for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and its associated benefits.
The session will cover admission policies for public and private universities and explain how DACA recipients and undocumented students can maximize credits and time by taking advantage of dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities across various states, high schools, and community colleges. Scholarship resources and direct links to state and national organizations at the forefront of this widely debated issue will also be shared.
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.