Early Childhood Expo Virtual Town Hall Jan. 22; Meet & Greet Feb. 6

The Salem Public Schools Early Childhood Expo, which showcases kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs, will take place Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and Thursday, Feb. 6, in two capacities.

  • The Meet and Greet Session is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 (5:30-7 p.m.) at the Collins Middle School.

Additionally, SPS families can schedule in-person tours of each school that offers kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programming – Bates Elementary School, Bentley Innovation Academy, Carlton Innovation School, Horace Mann Laboratory School, Saltonstall School, Witchcraft Heights Elementary School and the Salem Early Childhood Center – from Mar. 3-14.

Eligibility for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and preschool programs is as follows:

  • Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who will turn FIVE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to start kindergarten in the fall of 2025.
  • Pre-Kindergarten: Children residing in Salem who turn FOUR years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the SPS pre-K program in the fall of 2025.
  • Preschool: Children residing in Salem who turn THREE years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter the lottery for the preschool program at the Salem Early Childhood Center in the fall of 2025.

For more information, contact the SPS Parent Information Center at pic@salemk12.org or telephone (978) 740-1225, or visit salemk12.org/families.

Call or email Arabelis Luciano, Family Engagement Facilitator, with any questions or to schedule a tour.

aluciano@salemk12.org or 781-771-7902

We look forward to welcoming you to the Carlton Innovation School!

ACADEMICS

  • Innovation Plan allows for flexibility of when students enter and exit a grade level and advancement is based on students’ continuous progress.
  • Kindergartners start in fall, winter, or spring trimesters based on the timing of their 5th birthday.
  • Diagnostic approach used to inform flexible, small-group instruction including student reflection and goal setting
  • Multi-age classrooms with flexible grouping based on students’ needs – each student advances at their own pace
  • Two-hour literacy instruction using a workshop model
  • Eighty-minute math block
  • Art, music, and science programs
  • Project-based inquiry to investigate science and social studies topics

LIFE AT CARLTON

  • Transition meetings
  • Community circles
  • End-of-the-year Celebration of Learning
  • Monthly school assemblies
  • Literacy celebrated through a Snowball Slam (reading initiative) that includes a vocabulary parade, community readers, pajama read-in day, and SHS boys basketball team readers
  • Stickers and shout-outs
  • Daily Morning Meeting
  • School-wide student performances

RESOURCES

To ensure that all students are prepared to achieve and inspired to learn, we also provide:

  • Chromebooks for all students to use
  • Bilingual outreach/Family Engagement Facilitator
  • On-site, after-school program for working families
  • Take-home books and book bags for students to read at home

More information about all SPS Early Childhood Programs