Welcome to 5 Things You Need to Know Today, your place for useful facts. We'll provide this early morning digest each weekday to keep Salemites and Salem Patch users in-the-know.

1. Congratulations to Salem resident Ross Peterson. Ross made the Dean's Honor List at Connecticut College with a GPA of at least 3.78 this fall. Way to go!
2. Another congratulations is in order for Julia Jennings, who was a field hockey star at Salem High School. Julia made the Dean's List at Wheaton College this fall with a GPA of at least 3.5. Well done, Julia.
3. Did you know one of Salem's very own is a Patriots Cheerleader? That's right, Salem native Siobhan, who is in her second year with the Pats, is a student at UMass Amherst and a Cheerleader for our team. It's nice to know a representative from Salem will be at the Superbowl this year.
4. Salem High School's WitchPitch? has found success once again. On Saturday, the acappella group traveled to Bristol, Conn. to compete in the ICHSA semi-finals, which they won for the second year in a row. The group, directed by former Salem High student Alex Glover and supervised by Salem High's Leanne Goodwin, will be traveling to New York City in March to compete in the nationals. Thanks to reader Mary Sholds for the tip.
5. The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 49 degrees with a possibility of rain today. We man also be in store for some wind gusts as high as 21 mph. The temperature may drop to 29 degrees at night.