Salk Seahawk Scoop
Week of 9/27/2026
Does your child love to build, create, act, design, invent, problem-solve, or come up with ideas that no one else has thought of? Odyssey of the Mind might be for them!
We are excited to explore starting an Odyssey of the Mind team at Salk Elementary!
Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is an international creative problem-solving program that challenges students to work together to solve unique, open-ended problems. Teams choose a long-term problem and spend several months brainstorming, designing, building, writing, creating, and practicing their solution before presenting it at competition.
And here's one of the best parts: the students do the work! There isn't one "right" answer, and adults don't tell the team how to solve the problem. Students are encouraged to use their own creativity, talents, and ideas to create something that is completely their own.
There's a Place for All Kinds of Talents!
An Odyssey team needs more than just great builders or great performers. A successful team can include students who love to draw, act, write stories, make things, solve puzzles, design, organize, engineer, tell jokes, work with tools, or simply have a BIG imagination.
Through Odyssey of the Mind, students have opportunities to develop skills such as:
- Creative and critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork and communication
- Leadership
- Engineering, building, and design
- Time and project management
- Public speaking and performance
- Perseverance and learning from failure
- Confidence in their own ideas
Teams also practice Spontaneous Problems—short challenges where students have to think quickly, collaborate, and come up with creative solutions on the spot.
🚀 Interested in Joining the Salk Odyssey?
Right now, we are gathering interest from Salk students and families to determine what our Odyssey of the Mind team could look like.
If your child is interested, please complete our Odyssey of the Mind Interest Form:
Salk Odyssey of the Mind Interest Form
Not sure which problem sounds exciting? Take a look at the 2026–27 Odyssey of the Mind Problem Synopses below to see the different challenges teams can choose from this year.
You don't have to already know how to build something, perform on stage, or solve complicated problems. You just need to be willing to bring your ideas, work with a team, try something new, and THINK BEYOND THE BOX!
We can't wait to see where our first Salk Odyssey takes us!
We are excited to have CARE support our school’s Red Ribbon Month activities by providing their “Dispelling Myths and Revealing Facts on Vaping” presentation to each of our 6th grade classes.
The presentations will take place during HEART classes during the month of October and will complement our Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Unit. This educational opportunity is designed to provide students with accurate, age-appropriate information to help them make informed and healthy choices.
Topics addressed during the presentation will include:
The ingredients and substances found in vaping products
Understanding nicotine and the risks of addiction
The potential health and social impacts of vaping
We appreciate CARE’s partnership in supporting our students through education and prevention and look forward to this meaningful learning opportunity during Red Ribbon Month.
Salk Elementary is looking for dedicated, caring individuals to join THE NEST! We currently have several opportunities for people who enjoy working with children and want to make a difference in our school community.
🍎 Noon Aide
Help make lunchtime a safe, positive, and enjoyable part of our students’ day! Noon aides supervise students in the lunchroom and during lunch recess while helping reinforce positive behavior and keeping students safe.
🏫 Building Substitute
Looking for something different every day? Our all-day building substitute supports classrooms throughout Salk (and other elementary buildings throughout the district) when teachers are absent. This is a great opportunity to get to know our students and staff while playing an important role in keeping learning moving throughout the building.
🥪 Meal Coordinator
Help keep our students fueled and ready to learn! The Meal Coordinator supports our daily breakfast and lunch program by managing meal orders and student accounts, assisting students and families, and working closely with our Food Service team.
☎️ Office Clerk
Be one of the friendly faces that helps keep Salk running! Our Office Clerk provides front-desk support, greets visitors, answers phones, assists students and families, helps with basic student health needs, and supports the many day-to-day operations of a busy elementary school office. This is a 4-hour-per-day position.
The Office Clerk and Meal Coordinator positions may have the possibility of being worked together, depending on the candidate, making this a great option for someone interested in additional hours and a larger role within our school day.
If you, or someone you know, would be a great addition to the Salk family, we encourage you to apply! Come join a team that works together every day to support our Seahawks.
Interested? View current postings and apply through Fraser Public Schools:
https://hr.applicantcentral.com/fps/Job_List.aspx
Come join THE NEST! 💙💛
For the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members, dogs and other pets are not permitted on elementary school property.
This policy is in place for several important reasons:
Student Safety: Even the most well-trained dogs can behave unpredictably around children, especially in busy or noisy environments.
Allergies and Health Concerns: Many students have allergies or sensitivities to animals that can cause discomfort or serious health reactions.
Fear and Anxiety: Some children may be fearful of animals, which can interfere with their sense of safety at school.
Cleanliness: Preventing animals on school grounds helps us maintain a clean and healthy environment for everyone.
We kindly ask for your cooperation in leaving pets at home when visiting school or dropping off and picking up students. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are of course welcome.
We kindly ask that are youngest students keep an extra set of clothes in their backpack each day. Throughout the school day, students may experience a variety of situations — such as spills, playground mishaps, or other accidents — that require a change of clothes.
Having an extra set of clothes readily available helps your child stay comfortable and minimizes the need for a call home during the day.
Thank you for helping us keep our students comfortable and ready to learn!
Parking Lot Reminders!
A FEW REMINDERS:
* Please remember that the drop-off lane is not for parked cars.
* The bus loop is for buses only!
* If you want to walk your child to their door, please park in a parking spot and walk up together.
* The church graciously allows us to use their parking lot. Please do not park in reserved spaces.
Thank you for helping to create a safe parking lot for all our students!
As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we want to share the student cell phone and personal device expectations in Fraser Public Schools.
In accordance with state law and Fraser Public Schools policy, students may not use personal wireless communication devices during the school day while on school grounds. This is consistent with our past practices at the elementary buildings.
What does this mean for elementary students?
Students may bring a device to school, but it must remain turned off, stored away, and out of sight during the school day. This includes cell phones, smartwatches and smart glasses, earbuds and headphones, personal tablets and any device that can text, call, access the internet, take photos or videos, send email, or provide entertainment.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. Exceptions may be made for medically necessary devices, school-issued devices, approved instructional use and IEP or 504 accommodations.
What happens if a student has a device out?
If a student has a device out during instructional time, they will be asked to put it away. If needed, staff may secure the device in a designated, secure location until the end of the school day.
Discipline will not be issued simply because a student has a device out. Consequences may be assigned if a student refuses to follow the expectation or repeatedly fails to comply with the policy. Our goal is to respond in a safe, reasonable, and consistent manner while helping students develop responsible technology habits.
How can families help?
We ask for your partnership as we make this transition. Before the school year begins, please talk with your student about keeping personal devices put away during the school day and the importance of following staff directions.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to provide a focused, safe, and positive learning environment for every Fraser student.
Canvas- Parent Access
Below are the directions for pairing as a Parent Observer with your students’ Canvas account.
Parents can use Canvas to
Contact their child’s teacher
View grades, due dates, and events
See, and in many cases access, what the child is doing at school
Support an absent student
View classroom and building announcements
And more!
For the first step you will need to have two devices (tablet, laptop, computer or phone) available to be paired. One device will be used to log into your student’s canvas account. The other will be used to create your parent canvas account.
For parents/guardians of students whom are in young fives through 2nd Grade:
A QR code of your students’ username and password will have been sent home. Use your camera function to scan the QR code to access your student’s Canvas Account. If you are having issues with the QR code, contact your teacher or elementary media tech.
For parents/guardians of students whom are in 3rd-6th Grade:
To log in as your student, go to this website (preferably in Chrome, but Safari is okay):
https://www.fraser.k12.mi.us/myfps
Click on the icon that says Canvas Student Login.
Your student should know their username and password. If not, contact his or her teacher or your elementary media tech.
Next Step-
To create and/or log into your Canvas Parent Account:
On a different device (tablet, laptop, computer or phone) Visit this website –
https://www.fraser.k12.mi.us/myfps
Click on the icon that says Canvas Parent Login.
Charlie the Therapy Dog
Salk has been approved to have a therapy dog visit. Charlie, the English Creme Golden Retriever, started visiting Salk in 2023. Not only is Charlie a certified therapy dog, but he is one of my family dogs and I was excited he joined the Salk family. Studies have shown that therapy dogs have the ability to increase positive emotions, promote engagement in learning activities and positive attitudes toward learning, reduce negative behaviors, as well as encourage prosocial behaviors including acting as a social catalyst to facilitate social interactions with others.
Charlie is a certified therapy dog after completing his training and testing by The Alliance of Therapy Dogs. He has also earned the title of AKC Canine Good Citizen. I am also a certified therapy dog handler after completing my testing and observations by The Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Charlie's purpose is to ease student's anxieties and increase positive emotions. We do not want his presence to cause fear or anxiety. Charlie will be introduced in a positive manner and students will be instructed on how to interact with him. Parents have the ability to opt out of having their student interact with Charlie. If you DO NOT want your student to be around Charlie, then please fill out the opt out form linked here.
For the safety of students with allergies and Charlie, he will not be in the lunch room. Charlie will also remain out of classrooms in which parents have a student who opt out. Charlie will be under my supervision and kept on a leash at all times.
Charlie is looking forward to visiting. He would like to thank the Salk PTO for donating some supplies for him be a part of Salk. More information about Charlie and our therapy dog program will be presented in future scoops. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Free & Reduced Meals
Fraser Public Schools is excited to share that the State of Michigan has approved the continuation of Michigan School Meals and will be offering each student a free breakfast and free lunch on a daily basis! A required component of a complete breakfast and lunch is ½ cup of fruit or vegetable, which must be taken with the meal for it to be free of charge.
We are also encouraging families to complete the Education Benefits Form located HERE. By doing so you help ensure the school receives additional funding.
Save the Date
- 9/28 - Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
- 9/30 - Picture Day
- 10/1 - PTO Skate Night (Great Skate) *NEW DATE
- 10/5 - Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
- 10/6 - 6th Grade Camp
- 10/7 - Count Day
- 10/7 - Young 5 Field Trip
- 10/8 - Dentist R Us Visit
- 10/9 - Homecoming
- 10/12 - Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
- 10/14 - PTO Meeting (6 PM, Salk Media Center)
- 10/19 - Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
- 10/20 - 5th Grade Recorder Concert at FHS
- 10/21 - PTO Trunk-or-Treat
- 10/26-10/30 - Red Ribbon Spirit Week
- 10/26-10/30 - BooK Fair
- 10/28 - Restaurant Night (Classic Family Grill)
- 10/29 - Elementary Half Day (12:00 Dismissal)
- 10/29 - Student-Led Conferences 1:00 to 3:30 & 4:30 to 7:30
Access the full District Calendar HERE at any time!
