volume 11, issue 6 september 26, 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 1
Volume 11, Issue 6 September 26, 2014
News and Notes
Service Learning Half Day Friday, September 26th, 2014. Dismissal will be at 12:00pm.
College Fair on October 9th, 2014 at 6:30pm at Peabody High school. All Upper School students
are encouraged to attend. Please see Mrs. Lassen with any questions.
Connections Class Parents Needed! We are looking for volunteers to be our Connections Class
Parents. Connections Class Parents help the school communicate home to our families about
events and happenings throughout the year. If you are interested in becoming a Connections
Parent please contact Jennifer Cummings , [email protected].
Translators Needed! We are looking for volunteers to help translate at meetings and events.
If you or someone you know is interested please contact Sarah Sawyer,
[email protected] or (978) 744-2105 x146.
Parent Ambassadors Needed—The Salem Education Foundation (SEF) is looking for Parent
Ambassadors to represent each school in Salem. If you are interested in becoming a parent
ambassador for Salem Academy Charter School please contact Carrie Francis Cabot
Important Dates:
September 26—
Half Day of School,
12:00pm dismissal.
Faculty professional
development half day.
October 2—Haunted
Happenings Parade, 6-
8pm downtown Salem.
October 3—Yom Kip-
pur begins at sundown.
October 4—
Eid Alad’ha (The
Muslim celebration
that follows the
pilgrimage to Maccah).
October 7—Senior
class trip! College
Fair at UNH!
October 8—Parent
night for ELD Families,
6:00-8:00pm.
October 10—8th
Grade Full Day of
Service Learning.
October 11—SAT Test-
ing!
October 13—
Columbus Day—NO
SCHOOL!
October 22—10th
Grade Trip to UNH.
October 22—Board of
Trustees’ Meeting,
6:00pm in RM124.
October 24—Half Day
of Service Learning,
12:00pm dismissal.
Faculty professional
development half day.
Salem Academy Newsletter
Salem Academy Charter School Awarded
$364,000 Dissemination Grant
Salem Academy Charter School (SACS) and Salem Public Schools (SPS) are pleased to announce a new partnership that will result in increased district capacity to raise student achievement. SACS is one of only three charter schools state-wide awarded a competitive grant for the expressed purpose of sharing best practices with public schools and districts. Over the next 18 months, this $364,400 grant will support documentation and dissemination of Salem Academy’s experience with Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment (SBI) for the benefit of the Salem Public Schools.
The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 allowed for the creation of charter schools. Part of the original intent was to give charter schools the opportunity to develop innovative educational practices and then to share those for the benefit of the larger educational community. Charter schools are independently managed public schools that operate under a five-year charter granted by the Massachusetts Board of Education. They have the freedom to organize around a core mission, curriculum theme, or teaching method, and they are allowed to control their own budgets and human resource practices. In return for these freedoms, a charter school must demonstrate strong academic success within five years or their charter will be revoked. Parents choose to send their children to charter schools, and students are accepted by lottery. The majority of SACS students are Salem residents and reflect the same diversity found in the district schools. Since its official opening in 2004, SACS has grown to its maximum capacity of 372 students and has seen significant academic success. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has ranked Salem Academy a Level 1 school for the past two years, and the Governor named SACS a Commendation School for demonstrating high growth in student performance and closing the achievement gap. Boston Magazine declared SACS the Best Charter School in Boston in 2012. Newsweek ranked Salem Academy among the top 500 high schools in the country, and U.S. News and World Report ranked SACS the 5th best high school in Massachusetts.
(continued on page 2)
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 2
The Salem Education Foundation is currently accepting applications for SEF mini grants.
These mini grants support the Salem Public Schools. If parents have an idea for a mini grant they may partner with a
teacher at Salem Academy. All grants should be approved by Alyce Davis or Sean Gass before they are submitted to
the Salem Education Foundations. The deadline for applications is Sunday, October 5th, 2014.
Salem Academy program, activities and curriculum have always benefitted from the SEF mini grants !
Questions? Please contact Alexa Ogno (617) 852-5658.
The Food For Thought Raffle is Kicking-off October 1st!
The Food For Thought Raffle is a major source of SEF grant funds. Salem Academy
is looking for parent and student support to sell Food For Thought raffle tickets on
the pedestrian mall of Essex Street. Weekend dates currently available are
Saturday, Oct. 4th, Sunday, Oct. 5th, Saturday Oct. 11th and Sunday 12th.
Times are 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, and 2pm-4pm. Students can also receive service hours for ticket sales during the above times.
Salem Academy’s SFC will receive $1 for every ticket sold after 100 tickets have been sold for our school!
Please contact Jennifer Cummings ([email protected]) ASAP
if you are interested in selling tickets on one or more of the above dates
(at least 2 volunteers are needed at the booth per time slot).
Salem Academy’s academic program is designed around a standards-based approach. SBI sets high expectations for students, derived from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks standards/Common Core. These expectations drive the curriculum. All planning is guided by a combination of these standards and the school’s mission to graduate informed, articulate, and proactive individuals of strong character who are ready to enter and succeed in college. The process includes five inter-connected phases: planning from standards, standards-based assessment, analysis of learning outcomes, adjustment to instructional practice, and grading. Teachers work both in teams and independently to define learning outcomes, design assessments, and create curriculum. Learning outcomes are measured continuously throughout the year through the analysis of internal and external data sets, and instructional practice is adjusted according to documented student need. Student grades at SACS reflect only student achievement toward learning goals thus separating skills from effort and/or behavior. Although SACS does not grade students specifically on their effort or behavior, the school puts a tremendous emphasis on these areas of student development. Ongoing assessment and accountability in these areas are essential for overall student success. Content and skill attainment are reflected in cumulative student grades, and behavior and effort are assessed through a system of universal school norms referred to as “REACH” (Responsible, Empathetic, Assertive, Cooperative, and Honest). Both systems are captured and reported on SACS’s data management system and this information is accessible to teach-ers, caregivers, and students. This transparent system allows teachers timely information to inform practice, and allows students and caregivers access to those areas of skill and behaviors achieved or requiring additional attention and support.
The goal of this grant is to document the SBI practices at SACS and transfer this knowledge to SPS leadership through a series of Study Tours and Think Tanks that will bring national experts to Salem. While the documentation work at SACS will take place primarily during the 2014-15 school year, the efforts of SPS extend into the 2015-16 SY for implementation and assessment. Throughout the process, it is expected that both systems will gain insight from one another on curriculum development, alternative assessments and instructional practices.
In her letter of support, Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, Chair of the Salem Public School Committee states that the SACS SBI “methodology
has elevated SACS to one of the highest levels of excellence in charter schools – and public schools in general – in the Commonwealth …
This proposal is aligned with the SPS’s AIP (Accelerated Improvement Plan) and with the MSSI (Middle School Success Initiative) recom-
mendations. As a Level Four district, Salem is seeking to utilize all of the resources and assets at our disposal. Having one of the highest
ranking high schools in our community is certainly one of those assets. This initiative would take the best practices of the SACS and repli-
cate them at our other public schools, hopefully moving the needle considerably in our improvement efforts.”
(SACS Awarded $364,000 Dissemination Grant continued)
Student will have the opportunity to sell Food For Thought raffle tickets in their Connections groups.
Incentives for selling tickets through your Connections Groups:
Your Connections will receive a dress-down day if 50% of students participate,
and another if it sells at least $100 in ticket orders
Special prize for your Connections if you sell the winning ticket
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 3
Salem Academy on facebook
Check-out our website!!! www.salemacademycs.org
@SalemAcademyCS For Facebook go to:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salem-
Academy-Charter-School
and Twitter!!!
The 8th Grade will be hosting a Fall Fun Fair this October!
The fair will be carnival-style in the recess
yard (weather pending). Salem Academy
students and families will be invited to
attend. The 8th Grade Team will be
creating a schedule for when grade level
groups can attend. Students should be
prepared to bring a suggested $5 to
school to participate in the activities and
enjoy the snacks. Please contact
Ms. Brobst with any questions.
Important Meal Programs Reminder:
Please return your Free/Reduced Meal Application Form before September 30, 2014. Please complete the application and
return to the school indicating whether or not you are applying for free or reduced
meals. This confirmation is required by the Department of Education.
Please contact Ms. Pullen with any ques-tions [email protected] or
(978) 744-2105 x164.
Wednesday, Oct. 1st—Wentworth Inst. of Tech, 11:00am
Thursday, Oct. 9th—Castleton College, 2:00pm
Thursday, Oct. 16th—Bryant University, 2:00pm
Monday, Oct. 20th—Western New England College, 9:00am
Monday, Oct. 20th—Connecticut College, 12:30pm
College Representative Visits at Salem Academy
Tuesday, Oct. 21st—Worcester State University, 8:30am
Tuesday, Oct. 21st—Boston University, 9:30am
Thursday, Oct. 23rd—UMASS Lowell, 2:30pm
Tuesday, Oct. 28th—Keene State College, 9:00am
Wednesday, Oct. 29th— Framingham State University, 11:00am
All college visits will be held in the Learning Common unless otherwise specified.
REACH for College!
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 4
GIRLS SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE
BOYS SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE
CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
September 26th—HOME vs. Codman Academy, 4:00pm
September 27th—AWAY @ Prospect Hill Academy,
Danehy Park, Cambridge, MA, 8:15am *bus 6:30am
Oct. 4th—HOME vs. Academy of the Pacific Rim, 10:00am
Fall Athletics GAME Schedules
PLEASE NOTE: Any changes or updates to the fall athletic sched-
ules can be found at www.maxpreps.com
Search: “Salem Academy Charter” and select your team.
September 26th—HOME vs. Codman Academy, 5:15pm
September 27th—AWAY @ Prospect Hill Academy,
Danehy Park, Cambridge, MA, 8:15am *bus 6:30am
October 1st—HOME vs. City on a Hill, 4:45pm
Oct. 2nd—@ Breakheart Reservation,
Saugus, MA, 4:00pm
Oct. 9th—@ Sheepsfold Reservation,
Medford, MA, 4:00pm
Oct. 9th—@ Elms Bank Conservation,
Wellesley, MA, 4:00pm
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 27th—AWAY @ Codman Academy,
Epiphany School, 154 Centre Street,
Dorchester, MA , 1:00pm
Sept. 29th—HOME vs. City on a Hill,
Salem YMCA Gym, 6:30pm
Oct. 2nd—AWAY @ Academy of the
Pacific Rim, Hyde Park, MA, 6:15pm
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER SCHEDULE
Middle School Soccer will practice at Memorial Field
in Salem on Tuesday & Thursdays from 4:45-6:00pm.
September 26th—HOME vs. Excel Orient Heights, 2:30pm
October 3rd—HOME vs. Excel Chelsea, 2:30pm
Qasim El-Ashkar named Boys MaxPreps/NSCAA
Massachusetts Player of the Week!
Congratulations to 8th Grader Qasim
El-Ashkar for being named Boys
MaxPreps/NSCAA Player of the Week in
Massachusetts! Qasim earned the award
for his outstanding efforts on the soccer
field during the first week of the season.
The NSCAA is the National Soccer Coaches
Association of America. Winners of the
Player of the Week award are recognized
on the largest high school sports website
in the country, Maxpreps.com.
Qasim has tallied 3 goals and 3 assists for
the 2014 season leading the team with 9
points, just ahead of 8th grader Joe
Thongsythavong with 8 points.
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 5
WEEKLY WELLNESS
Breakfast is FREE to all students every day! This is a change from last year when we did charge for breakfast. We have cereal, milk, fruit, juice, and bread of some kind every day. We often have egg and cheese muffins, sausage muffins, pancakes, and waffles. We encourage our students to have breakfast... it is well known to be the most important meal of the day!
Children who eat school breakfast are more likely to*:
Maintain a healthy weight
Drink more milk and eat more fruit every day
Feel full between meals
Eat a wider variety of foods
*Food Research and Action Center. Breakfast for Learning: Scientific research on the link between children’s nutrition and academic performance.
Available at: http://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/breakfastforlearning1.pdf
Human enterovirus 68 known as EV-D68 Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of many non-polio enteroviruses, EV-D68 has not been commonly reported in the United States.
However if seen usually occurs in Summer and Fall seasons. EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms may include
fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches. Majority of children who will experience difficulty breathing have a
history of asthma or wheezing. However any child may experience these symptoms. The virus is spread by an infected person’s through
their respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum. By coughing, sneezing, or touching and then contaminating surfaces.
Infants, children, and adolescents are more likely than adults to develop an illness from enteroviral infection since they are less likely
to have immunity to these viruses from previous exposures.
Treatment of this infection is supportive, and no vaccine is available. For mild respiratory illness, you can help relieve symptoms by
taking over-the-counter medications for pain and fever. Aspirin should not be given to children. Some people with severe respiratory
illness may need to be hospitalized.
Protect yourself from respiratory illnesses by following these steps:
Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, desks, especially if someone is sick.
Cover your cough, not with your hands but in the bed of your arm
Don’t leave dirty tissues lying around
Parents should make sure the child’s caregiver and/or teacher is aware of his/her condition, and that they know
how to help if the child experiences any symptoms related to asthma.
If you are asthmatic take medicines and maintain control of their illness during this time.
Influenza vaccine since people with asthma have a difficult time with respiratory illnesses.
Salem Academy Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6, Page 6
Show your school spirit and help
support Salem Academy Soccer
by purchasing SACS car magnets!
Magnets are $10 EACH!
Magnets sell fast so place your order quickly!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Name ____________________________ Grade ______
Connections ______________________ Qty ______
*Please make checks payable to Salem Academy Athletics or send cash in an envelope.*
**Magnets will be delivered the following week!**