Salem Public Schools
It is MCAS season in Salem!
All students in grades 3-8 and grade 10 in Salem will be taking the MCAS in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Students in grade 5 and grade 8 will be taking the Science, Technology and Engineering MCAS. Depending on the science course that our high school students are taking, they might be assigned to take a biology, chemistry, physics or technology/engineering MCAS this spring. The spring of 2025 will be the first year of the grade 8 Civics MCAS (last year was a pilot). All grade 8 students in Massachusetts public schools will participate in a state level performance task and an end-of-course test. The state level performance task will be on the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The end-of-course test is comprehensive of the standards in grade 8. Additionally, beginning this year, assessments will be available in Spanish for all grades and subjects with the exception of English Language Arts.
The MCAS is intended to provide you and your child’s teacher with information about how our students are performing relative to the Massachusetts state frameworks. Results from the MCAS assessment are used by the Salem Public Schools to inform professional development for teachers, curriculum material purchases and instructional practices. Once again, all grade levels will take their ELA, math and science assessments online this spring. Your child’s school will provide you with information about the administration of the upcoming MCAS assessments, including school-specific schedules. The Spring 2025 MCAS assessment windows are as follows:
Grade 3-8
- ELA: Mar. 24-Apr. 18
- Math: April 28–May 23
Grade 5
- Science & Technology: Apr. 28-May 23
Grade 8
- Science & Technology: Apr. 28-May 23
- Civics: April 28-June 6
Grade 10
- ELA: March 25, 26
- Math: May 20, 21
Grades 9-12
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology/Engineering: June 4, 5
MCAS-ALT: All grades
- Submission Deadline Mar. 28
*Please note that to graduate from the Salem Public Schools (SPS) students no longer need to earn a passing score on the MCAS. Instead, they must meet our high school graduation requirements and earn the competency determination (CD) in English, mathematics, and science by scoring a passing grade on the equivalency of grade 10 coursework. However, participation in the MCAS is required by federal and state law and the ballot question did not change this requirement. DESE's accountability system will continue to use MCAS assessment participation rates and the resulting achievement and growth data in its annual determinations.
In the fall of 2025, parents, students and staff will receive individual score reports that will provide helpful information on how to best address the academic needs of your child. The results, in aggregate, will also inform the district’s ongoing improvement efforts. I encourage all families to visit the following websites for information on test design:
General parent/guardian information: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/parents/
Math: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/tdd/math.html?section=testdesign
Science: http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/tdd/sci.html?section=testdesign
Civics: https://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/civics/faq.html
While there are many different perspectives about the value/meaning of MCAS, it is one of the ways that allows us to know if students are performing at grade level. Ultimately we are an academic organization committed to building and maintaining a district-wide culture of universally high expectations for every learner. In order for our students to graduate from the Salem Public Schools with a diploma that truly affords them the opportunity to have a choice to attend and excel in college and/or enter the workforce, our students must be able to demonstrate grade level mastery. However imperfect the MCAS is, it is an important way to gauge whether our students are growing towards this critical academic goal.
Please assist us by providing your child with encouragement and reassurance leading up to these assessments. It is important to remind your child that these assessments are an opportunity to share how much they know and are able to do. It is one piece of information demonstrating their many talents. Test scores should be used along with in-class performance, report cards, and teacher reports to form a complete picture of a student’s achievement and areas for continued growth. If you have any questions about these sessions, I urge you to reach out to your child’s teacher(s) and/or your school administrators. As always, we appreciate your support and investment in your child’s learning.
Enjoy the weekend,
Steve
On two recent occasions, they were involved in crucial parent communications necessitated by translations during a medical crisis. They effectively communicated with the parents in an anxious moment, exhibiting compassion and grace, which helped to alleviate the parents' concerns. We are grateful for their professionalism, empathy and kindness. Ms. Troncoso and Ms. De La Cruz are true assets to the ECC community.
The Salem High School boys basketball team (16-4), seeded No. 7, opens postseason play tonight (7 p.m.) in the MIAA Division 3 Tournament, hosting No. 39 North Reading (12-9) at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse (North Reading was a 53-42 winner over No. 26 Springfield High School of Science and Technology).
With a win, Salem will host No. 10 Hanover (13-10) in the Round of 16, date and time to be determined.
Senior Miguel Arcila, the MIAA Division 2 State Champion at 150 pounds, leads six Salem High School wrestlers who qualified for the MIAA All-State Championships at Methuen H.S. Friday and Saturday. Joining Mr. Arcila are juniors Kevin Spoon (126 pounds) and Connor Buckley (132), as well as juniors Alexia Coleman (126) and Maria de Mello Barros (185) and senior Sophia Fritz (145).
Salem Public Schools Offering Free ESL Classes to Families Through DESE Grant
One of the four core principles of the Salem Public Schools 2023-26 Strategic Plan is to empower educators. The District is also empowering families.
The Salem News: Salem Y Joins City’s Schools in Mental Health Support Program
The Salem YMCA recently joined the partnership between Salem Public Schools and Massachusetts-based telehealth provider Cartwheel to provide mental health support to students and families through state-licensed clinicians.
Habitat for Humanity Partnership Provides a ‘Field Trip’ for Salem High School CTE Scholars
To Salem High School’s carpentry, electrical and building and property maintenance scholars, it’s a monthly field trip they wish was daily. Partnering with the Essex County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, they’ve ventured to 434 Asbury Road in South Hamilton one Friday each month since September to help build a six-unit condominium complex.
Inside a School Powered by City Connects: A Photo Essay
When I joined the team at City Connects, I knew I was stepping into an organization that shared my passion for making a difference. As someone who could have benefited from the program’s services, City Connects’ mission to build bright futures for all children resonated deeply with me.
O*N*S*T*A*G*E, the Salem High School Drama Club, will perform at the 2025 Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) High School Drama Festival preliminary round Saturday at Saugus High School. Admission is $10, which covers the entire day.
SHS is one of eight schools performing at Saugus H.S., and will take the stage at 11:15 with a performance of its original one-act play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing.”
The Festival lineup is as follows:
Do you want to help your student succeed in life but struggle with working together on tasks and goals? Many educators and parents feel frustrated and thwarted in their efforts to teach responsibility, motivation and persistence to students, especially those with ADHD or learning differences.
Join Cartwheel and Dr. Sharon Saline for insight and tools on how to effectively motivate all kinds of students both at school and at home.
Host families are needed for the Salem and Ota, Japan student exchange scheduled for July 20-28. The Salem-Ota exchange is a tradition that spans more than 30 years and is a life-changing experience.
To register to become a host family, click the button below. For more information, contact Peter Dolan at otasalem4@gmail.com.
Each year, The Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award recognizes one Marblehead teacher and one Salem teacher as representative of all the excellent, dedicated teachers in the community who make a difference to children every day.
- Who is eligible? Teachers from the district schools in Marblehead and Salem, Massachusetts, are eligible.
- What is the award? As of 2025, each honoree receives an unrestricted cash award of $1000.
- Who may nominate? Anyone—educators, parents, students, citizens—may make a nomination..
- How do I nominate someone? Send a letter of nomination with your reasons for nominating the teacher, being as detailed and specific as possible. Include the teacher’s name, school, and position, and include your email and your relationship to the teacher. Please keep nominations confidential and do not inform individuals that they have been nominated.
- Nominations must be submitted by April 17, 2025.
Salem Public Schools is excited to celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) from March 3-7, 2025. This year’s theme, “Clue In to School Breakfast,” highlights the importance of starting the day with a nutritious meal while adding fun and excitement to school breakfast.
To ensure students are fueled for learning, Salem Public Schools serves daily nutritious breakfasts in three ways: grab-and-go meals, breakfast in the classroom, and traditional breakfast in school cafeterias.
Salem Public Schools is looking for parental input on the District's playgrounds. The Playground Parent Advisory Group will meet 1-2 times this spring to compile ideas for consideration by the Salem Public Schools. The Group will focus on relatively low-investment ideas as opposed to full playground overhauls.
We encourage folks to bring their thoughts to the table. Contact spsplaygrounds@gmail.com to volunteer.
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.