August 3, 2022
Dear Salem Families,
We are halfway through summer and I am hoping that everyone has found time to dip their toes in some sand or found other ways to enjoy themselves with family and friends.
I am writing to you as I have important information that affects arrival and dismissal at Salem. As we are transitioning out of the pandemic, we are readjusting our practices. Instead of students going directly to their classrooms upon arrival in the mornings, they are going to various locations throughout the building in order to enjoy some socialization and play time with friends. Kindergarteners will go directly to the cafeteria where they will be met by their classroom paraprofessionals. First and second graders will go to the gymnasium. Third, fourth, and fifth graders will enter the building, place their belongings outside their classrooms and be escorted to the back field. If there is inclement weather, grades three through five will then report to their classrooms.
All students should start arriving at 8:30am at two various entry points. If arriving by car or walking from Guilford Road, children must use the handicap ramp entrance. If arriving by bus, children must enter using the double doors across from the playground.
Please note that there has been a change since the June letter. In collaboration with Port Washington Police and Salem’s Building Safety Committee, I have decided that the Cliff Way gate will NOT be opened for arrival or dismissal for children to cut through the campus. While I know this is an inconvenience for those living on that side of Salem, I realized afterwards that while I was increasing safety in one regard, I was decreasing safety of our children in another. By allowing children to walk across campus with buses and cars in the front of the school, it creates an extremely unsafe situation which I am not comfortable allowing. If you need to update your dismissal plan for the 22-23 school year, please click here.
Dismissal starts at 2:50 p.m. Kindergarten door walkers will be called at 2:50pm. Car pick ups will start at 3:00 p.m. and buses will be called as they arrive. Transportation will be sending families that are eligible for bussing the information later this month. Anyone who is choosing to pick their children up via car, MUST have their transportation family ID number displayed in the front windshield on the right side. For existing Salem families, the number remains the same as in years past. For Kindergarten and new families, you will receive the transportation ID number in August from Salem.
I hope that everyone finds the rest of the summer relaxing! Teacher placements will be posted to the parent portal later in August. I look forward to a wonderful 22-23 school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ferrante