Principal's Page

August 2026

Dear Salem Families,

Welcome to another exciting school year at Salem! It is with great joy that I welcome all of our new Salem families and warmly welcome back those returning for another wonderful year together. This year I begin my 12th year as principal of this incredible school. While a lot has changed over the years, one thing never changes, the excitement that comes with opening our doors in September.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such an amazing community and can't wait to begin another year together. 

Throughout the summer, Ms. Hansen, Ms. Oldak, Nurse Pavlounis, Ms. Lalena, our incredible custodial staff, our amazing H.S.A. presidents, and I have been hard at work preparing for another successful year. Together, we've been planning meaningful learning experiences, exciting school-wide events, and special programs that enrich your child's elementary years in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. Thanks to the continued generosity of the Ed Foundation, HEARTS, and the H.S.A., students will once again enjoy many of the experiences that make Salem so unique.

What has always made Salem extraordinary, however, isn't simply our programs...it's our people. We are a school built on relationships, where every child is known and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves. We are more than a school community; we are a family.

This year's theme reflects exactly what we hope our students experience every day. For our staff, it's Teach. Love. Laugh. For our students, it's Learn. Love. Laugh. We believe the best learning happens when classrooms are filled with connection and joy. When children feel loved, they become confident learners. When teachers love what they do, that enthusiasm becomes contagious. And when laughter fills our hallways, school becomes a place where everyone wants to be. Together, these simple words capture the heart of who we are and who we strive to be each day.

We'll continue our Salem R.O.C.K.S. character development program, which focuses on the core values of Respect, Outreach, Compassion, Kindness, and Sensitivity. These values remain at the heart of everything we do and help shape the caring culture that makes Salem such a special place. We encourage you to reinforce these same values at home, and be sure to ask your child about our "Look Who ROCKS" certificates.  They may just come home with one on a Friday after demonstrating one of these important character traits.

This year also marks an exciting next step in our R.U.L.E.R. journey as we begin implementing the third anchor tool, the Meta-Moment. Over the past several years, our students have learned to Recognize, Understand, and Label their emotions. This year we are going to learn how to Express, and Regulate them. The Meta-Moment teaches children to pause between feeling an emotion and reacting to it. That brief pause gives us the opportunity to choose a response that reflects the best version of ourselves. This is a powerful life skill that helps children strengthen relationships and make thoughtful decisions.

Whether your child is walking through our doors for the very first time or beginning their final year at Salem, we know this school year will be filled with meaningful moments, important milestones, and memories that will last a lifetime. I encourage you to embrace every one of them as they have a way of passing far more quickly than we ever expect.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for entrusting us with your greatest treasures each day. It is a privilege to be part of your children's journey. Here's to a year of Teaching. Learning. Loving. Laughing. Here's to bringing our best selves each day. And here's to another unforgettable year at Salem. 

Salem ROCKS!

Warmly and with excitement,

Dr. Pia Ferrante