Phenomenal Phelps Facts
Week of January 13, 2025
PAC Meeting Tomorrow Night--January 16, 6-7 pm
Our January PAC Meeting will take place tomorrow, January 16, from 6-7 pm in the Phelps Elementary School library. It takes many hands to help run special events for our students, especially in a school of 650 students! Please take some time to volunteer to help with events that make Phelps a fun place to be! We need you! Hope to see you tomorrow night.
Academic News
Happy 2025! To kick off the New Year, Phelps Elementary has sent home an optional "Reading Resolution" challenge. Please see the photo above. If your child did not bring one home, please let their teacher know.
We encourage all families to set reading goals and log completed books/chapters on our raffle tickets from January 6-February 14. These raffle tickets have also been sent home.
Also, from now until February break, all students will complete their Mid-Year i-READY diagnostic in Reading & Math. As classes complete these assessments, scores will be sent home. We look forward to celebrating the growth and hard work of your children.
Early Release Day, This Thursday, January 16--10:45 am Dismissal
This Thursday, January 16, 2025 is an early release day for Rockland Public Schools. Phelps Elementary is dismissed at 10:45 am, with lunch sent home for students who order it. Thank you!
Dress for the Weather!
Just a reminder that students enjoy a 20 minute recess each day. Recess will be held outdoors each day, unless we have inclement weather (rain or snow) or if temperatures fall below 25 degrees. Please be sure your child is prepared with a winter coat, hat, and gloves/mittens for the cold weather. If you need help getting a warm coat, hat, or mittens/gloves for your child, please send an email to our school nurse, Shani McGarry, our school adjustment counselor, Holly Gage, or the school principal, Michelle Scheufele. Scroll all the way down to the end of this newsletter for contact information. We are happy to help!
Music Concerts for This Year
This year, Phelps Elementary grade level concerts will take place during the school day, one per month, beginning this month. Please see the schedule for concerts below. Due to parking and school lunch start times, we ask parents to leave immediately after the program ends. Looking forward to beautiful music filling our cafeteria stage!
January 14: Grade 2 Music Concerts
- 8:30-9:00 am--Mrs. Booth's Grade 2 Classes
- 9:15-9:45 am--Mr. Popadic's Grade 2 Classes
- 8:30-9:00 am--Mrs. Booth's Grade 1 Classes
- 9:15-9:45 am--Mr. Popadic's Grade 1 Classes
- 8:15-8:45 am--Mrs. Booth's Grade 4 Classes
- 9:00-9:30 am--Mr. Popadic's Grade 4 Classes
- 8:15-8:45 am--Mrs. Booth's Grade 3 Classes
- 9:00-9:30 am--Mr. Popadic's Grade 4 Classes
**The Grade 3 & 4 Chorus Concert will take place at 6:00 pm on January 28, 2025 during our Winter Arts Night.
Phelps Elementary Winter Arts Night!
Phelps Winter Arts Night
- 5:30-7:30 pm--Art Displays on Phelps Second Floor of Building
- 6:00 pm--Phelps Third and Fourth Grade Chorus Performance in Cafeteria
Valentines for Senior Citizens
Our next school-wide project will be creating valentine cards for senior citizens in Rockland. We will be working with the Rockland Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, and the Webster Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to deliver valentines to senior citizens in Rockland. This project is being organized and run by our Grade 4 Student Council.
How can you help? If you have any valentine or heart stickers, or any other decorative stickers that would be great for our card-making, we will gladly accept donations until Friday, January 17. Please send all donations to the main office. Thanks for helping our students to spread love and kindness to others!
Interested in Substitute Teaching at Phelps?
If you are interested in substitute teaching at Phelps Elementary, we are looking for you! Apply at the Superintendent's Office today. For more information on applying, please contact Betsy Low, our Human Resources Coordinator, at blow@rocklandschools.org or call 781-878-3893.
You are able to choose the level and school in which you'd like to substitute, and accept jobs according to your schedule. We would love to have you aboard at Phelps Elementary!
Early Release Days for 2025
Phelps Early Release Days 10:45 Dismissal
Please be sure the following dates are in your calendar for Phelps Early Release (10:45 am dismissal):
January 16--THIS THURSDAY!
February 6
March 6
March 20
March 27
March 28
April 3
May 1
June 5
Thank you!
Link to Student Handbook--for your reference
Connect with Phelps Elementary!
There are many ways to be connected to everything Phelps!
* First, connect to your child's teacher and all of Phelps Elementary through Class Dojo (directions will be given at Open House).
*Go to rocklandschools.org and click on Phelps Elementary. A live feed scroll of upcoming events and messages is located at the bottom of the page.
*Download the Rockland Public Schools App for live updates and upcoming events (see the directions above).
We are partners in your child's education and want to connect with YOU!
Rockland Public Schools District Calendar
Free Breakfast and Lunch For All Students!
Breakfast and lunch will be free to all students this year. Please look at the lunch menu linked below (and available on the district webpage at rocklandschools.org). Breakfast will be served from 7:15-7:35 each morning, and students are offered a variety of choices.
Upcoming Events
January 14--Grade 2 Music Concerts (in Phelps Cafeteria)
- Mrs. Booth's Grade 2 Classes 8:30-9:00 am (Families invited, but must leave at 9:00 am due to parking)
- Mr. Popadic's Grade 2 Classes 9:15-9:45 am (Families invited, but must leave at 9:45 am due to lunches)
January 14- PAC Meeting, 6-7 pm in the Library
January 16--Early Release Day; 10:45 am Dismissal
January 17-- Grade 4 Cozy Morning Reading, 7:30-8:00 am
January 17--Progress Update to Families (by Dojo, email, or phone)
January 20- NO SCHOOL in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21--Winter Enrichment Sessions Begin
January 28: 5:30-7:30 pm Phelps Winter Arts Night
- 5:30-7:30 pm--Art Displays on Phelps Second Floor of Building
- 6:00 pm--Phelps Third and Fourth Grade Chorus Performance in Cafeteria
- Mrs. Booth's Grade 1 Classes 8:30-9:00 am (Families invited, but must leave at 9:00 am due to parking)
- Mr. Popadic's Grade 1 Classes 9:15-9:45 am (Families invited, but must leave at 9:45 am due to lunches)
February 5-- Grades 3 & 4 Special Person Dance (information to come); 6:00-7:30 pm
February 6--Early Release Day; 10:45 am Dismissal
February 14- PAC Meeting, 1:15-2:15 pm in the Library
February 24-March 3-- Gold Coins for Scholarships (stay tuned for information)
February 17-21--Winter Break
Main Office and Guidance Staff
If you have any questions or concerns, here are some staff members you can call or email:
Jean Maloney, School Administrative Assistant, jmaloney@rocklandschools.org
Brenda Mallar-Reske, Administrative Assistant (Kidaccount/Dismissal), bmallar-reske@rocklandschools.org
Michelle Scheufele, Principal, mscheufele@rocklandschools.org
Kelsey Holbrook, Assistant Principal & Title One Director, kholbrook@rocklandschools.org
Chase Eschauzier, Assistant Principal, chaseeschauzier@rocklandschools.org
Amanda MacMillan, Phelps Special Education Coordinator, amacmillan@rocklandschools.org
Allison Sgambato, School Psychologist, asgambato@rocklandschools.org
Elizabeth Peckham, School Psychologist, epeckham@rocklandschools.org
Holly Gage, School Adjustment Counselor, hgage@rocklandschools.org
Taryn Muolo, School Adjustment Counselor, tmuolo@rocklandschools.org
Lizanne McCabe, Behaviorist, lmccabe@rocklandschools.org
Rebecca Varney, Behaviorist, rvarney@rocklandschools.org
Shani McGarry, Nurse, smcgarry@rocklandschools.org
