Welcome 2015!

2015 is off to an exciting and busy start! Amidst our alumni reunion, the start of mid-terms (1/22), and our calendar raffle sales (sell those tickets – $10 for 28 chances to win!), we are in the thick of activities related to our dissemination grant with Salem Public Schools. On Monday, January 12th, we hosted dozens of leaders from Salem Public as a follow up to our December Study Tour. These leaders were at SACS to observe our standards-based teaching and learning in action.

The week of January 19th is a three-day week. It kicks off with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We hope that students will take this opportunity to reflect on their role in Service-Learning this year. Additionally, this is a great day to see the film SELMA. A group of African American business leaders in NYC, Boston and across the country have joined with Paramount Pictures to provide free tickets for students in 7-9 grades and their accompanying parents to see the new movie SELMA. You can go to the website below and click on “BOSTON” and see a number of theaters that are participating in the Boston area and the details. www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Friday, January 23rd is a professional day for teachers. There is no school for students. Our staff will gather with Salem Public Schools for a “Think Tank” with Dr. Robert J. Marzano, national education reform expert. His research on formative assessments and standards-based grading were the inspiration for Salem Academy’s model. We look forward to a day of learning from the source and refining our practice!
Finally, Quarter 2 and Semester I end on Tuesday 1/27. Upper School students will begin new Choice Blocks on 1/28. Grades will be posted on Veracross by February 1st. Next month doesn’t have us slowing down either as we jump into Quarter 3 with PTS Conferences and our LS Winter Trips. Stay warm!

~Mrs. Callahan