Salisbury Elementary School

Dear "feel compelled". I believe you missed the point of the post. My daughter is a 4th year student at SES. The PTA indeed informs the parents of SES with newsletters and school happenings, but administration nor the teachers communicate individual student information to the parents with the exception of 2, 15 minute teacher conf. The teachers at this school are very traditional and most of my child's friends are "afraid" or "don't want to be yelled at" by them. SES admin allow teachers to institute discipline however they see fit. In some instances, it s very militant. It's also up the teacher to have parties or not. This year, NO PARTIES ALLOWED!, but students in the connecting classroom "earn" pizza parties and pajama days which they enjoy monthly. My daughter has been on 2 field trips, both times to the same place. SES has dropped its MA school ranking to 676th (2011) from 477th (2010) out of 895 schools based on poor MCAS test results. Curriculum is outdated. Bullying is not addressed. Yes, the drop off is a joke. This school has many issues to address, starting with administration, staff and lack of community effort, which, in my opinion, is not going to happen anytime soon.
--Submitted by a parent

I feel compelled to respond to the last post regarding Salisbury Elementary School. I am involved in the PTA there and a newsletter is sent home at the beginning of each month full of information about what is coming up that month as well as useful information for parents. The office itself sends out a weekly email with "SES Happenings" which also highlights that weeks calendar. The PTA works tirelessly on fundraising which enables each grade to one field trip a school year as well as enrichment programs that are brought in for students such as puppet shows, historical reenactments, animal demonstrations, etc. As far as class parties, there are man throughout the school year, Halloween, Holiday,Valentines, etc.. Our 2 children have been at the school for 4 years and have ALWAYS had these parties so I'm not sure what this parent is talking about. There is also a very active after school program and many classes offered after school as extra curricular activities such as chess, pottery, legos, sign language, & many more. There are book fairs, The Holiday Shop, Dances, etc. I find it very hard to believe this parent has not been aware of any of these many activities.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my child's 3rd elem school; by far THE worst. From the drop off/pick up area, to staff & activities it is ALL the way around terrible. Staff takes priority over the children & get the closest parking. The children are dropped off in the furthest lot & must brave the elements & walk along the driveway that the staff uses as a speedway; then cross in front of many buses to enter. NO school activities NOTHING! I call it the school of NO INFORMATION unless I call to find out what is happening we are kept in the dark, no newsletters NOTHING! It took me 3 days, an office visit & mulitple phone calls to get the principle to call me. After we meet his staff was to contact me with follow up, that was over a month ago, I will have to call to get info. It is almost March & the only paper ever sent home was 1 report card. They never take the kids on field trips, have a class party or have 1 fun activity. My childs nasty teacher explains why the class has NEVER had 1 fun event. A picture hangs in the stairwell that my child wanted to know whom it was. I said why don't you ask Mrs. X, the response, "no way Mrs. X will yell at us if we ask her a question" - Tells it all.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to Salisbury Elementary School for the full 8 years. I have a diploma from there I received when I graduated from 8th grade. It was a wonderful school. I have nothing but good memories from those 8 years. I went back to visit after I graduated from high school, and I felt so comfortable being back in there. It was amazing how everything seemed so small and close to the floor. When I went there it was called Salisbury Memorial Elementary School, at least that is what my diploma says. Again, a wonderful school with outstanding teachers.

VERY HELPFUL WITH THE KIDS, NICE SCHOOL VERY GOOD EDUCATION PROCESS
--Submitted by a parent

Being a 'beach town', Salisbury reaches out to many transient families who live in the hotels for the winter. The school is constantly challenged with students transitioning in/out during a school year.

I have found this school lacking in every way. While their are a few idealistic teachers that work hard at making the school better, the principal and vice principal are severely lacking in dealing with children and people in general. I take issue with their idea of recess is to march around the school once and return to their classroom!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 kids in the school. They work hard, like their teachers and are getting extra help that is needed in reading. They have homework nightly, so it isn't too easy. My wife and mother both help out in classrooms. My mom was a teacher for over 20 years elsewhere and respects the SES teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Since the current principal took over in 2005, the quality of learning in this school has gone markedly downhill. Where this school used to have a caring and nurturing environment, it is now hard and unfeeling. The curriculum they currently use seems quite redundant and boring, which certainly does not foster love of learning. It is now all about teaching solely for the MCAS test and nothing more. I have a child who is both gifted and learning disabled, and this school is not meeting his needs in either category. A parent of a similar type student pulled their child from this school for the same reasons. I would not recommend this school to any but the most self-sufficient and motivated students.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 3 Children,In Salisbury. The Curriculum is old. My son is often bringing home papers dated from 1991. The world has changed Rather allot since then. Am I the only one that noticed The world map changed drastically that year? The videos that teachers Play,to Children have 'go Army' Advertising Before the lesson starts. This is a captive audience of kids that are forced to sit and look at 'Go Army', as if The Military is an Option to a 10 year old? Thats Fascist and its Propaganda. Safety? The school is Next door to Bobs gun shop and shooting range?!
--Submitted by a parent