Melville Message Community Update

In partnership with families and community, the mission of Melville Elementary School is to provide all students with a strong academic foundation through diverse and challenging instruction in a safe and nurturing environment enabling them to achieve their greatest potential while developing self-confidence, respect, responsibility, compassion and a love of learning.

• Melville RtI Letter

• Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
  

• Title I Supports for Students at Melville School

At Melville School, we are committed to creating a strong partnership between school, families, and the community to ensure the success of our students. One key part of this partnership is the Home-School Compact, which outlines how the school staff, students, and parents/guardians will work together to support each child’s learning and development.

The purpose of this compact is to strengthen the connection between home and school by setting clear expectations for everyone involved in your child's education. It reflects our shared commitment to helping all students achieve their highest potential.

We kindly ask that you review the compact with your child and complete the form by October 1st. By completing, you show your support for your child's education and acknowledge the role we all play in helping them succeed.

We look forward to working closely with you throughout the school year to ensure a successful and rewarding experience for your child.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication.

Alan Shawn Feinstein was an educational philanthropist known for encouraging and rewarding good deeds, has died. He was 93 years old. Mr. Feinstein did an incredible support to public schools and specifically for Portsmouth Schools. We send our deepest condolences to his family at this time.

We have not shared news of his passing with our students, however should this come up in your house the Foundation has shared a message you could share if you so choose.

Planet Aid is a nonprofit organization that collects used clothes to protect the environment and strengthen communities. Planet Aid’s non-binding school partnerships provide a passive fundraising stream and an opportunity to teach students about environmental sustainability. Melville School hosts a Planet Aid clothing donation bin and with this we raise funds for every pound donated.

The Planet Aid bin is in our parking lot again this year...please continue to fill it with clothes and shoes. Thank you!

Melville Elementary is proud to be a part of Anchored4Life. Anchored4life is a program that was originally developed by the Trevor Romain Company and the United States Navy to help young dependents. The framework was designed to work within schools to form connections, help with self-esteem, ease transitions, and build leadership qualities not only for military dependents, but for all students.

Melville Elementary School became an A4L school in 2016 and received specialized training to learn how to implement the Anchored4Life program. The school has advisors that provide assistance with student-led initiatives. The program also has student-led ambassadors, called Team Leaders, who help run the program for the school. These leaders are in charge of all elements of the program and they will serve in helping as the welcome committee and give school tours when new students enroll. The team leaders meet on a monthly basis to discuss school issues, develop community service projects, and determine what fellow students need help with transition and become resilient kids. As a leader for the school, a key responsibility is the distribution of the Anchored4Life kits. These kits address difficult topics of military life such as deployment, reuniting with a deployed parent, and moving to a new school. Team leaders help identify students who are in need of the kits and then take time to sit with the student and explain the contents to create a connection and lessen anxiety. These kits include informational and comfort items such as a teddy bear named Patches, family information booklets, and educational videos. Along with the team leaders, each classroom also has crew members to help students on a more personal classroom level to ensure that the students are adapting well to their particular situation.

The implementation of this program will ensure that all students that attend Melville Elementary School will have the resources they need. The new resources will help address individual emotional and social needs while providing life skills for dealing with obstacles now and in the future. To learn more about Anchored4Life visit https://www.anchored4life.com.

Good Afternoon Melville Families,

We from time to time have a special occasion where we will only serve food with your permission. We do our best to notify you ahead of time, so you have the opportunity to opt your child out. To help with this process, please complete this Melville Food Permission Form.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Has everyone in your family had their flu vaccine?

There will be a FREE flu vaccine clinic at Melville Elementary School (in the cafeteria) on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 4 pm - 7 pm. Ages 3 and up are welcome. The COVID-19 vaccine will also be available.

Here’s some important information about the FREE flu vaccine clinic:

• Register online at schoolflu.com to schedule an appointment.
• Online registration is required to ensure the availability of the vaccine, walk-ins will be limited.
• Insurance information will be collected, but the vaccine is FREE whether you have insurance or not.

The flu is a serious, highly contagious, and sometimes deadly disease. Catching the flu means missing days of work and school. You might even have to spend time in the hospital. Don’t take the risk — the flu vaccine is your best protection against the flu.

For more information, visit health.ri.gov/flu/, or call the Department of Health’s information line at 401-222-5960.

As the winter season approaches, we understand that keeping our children warm is a top priority. The Portsmouth United Methodist Church has committed to supporting our community and ensuring that every child has the necessary clothing to stay warm during the colder months.

To assist with this, they are offering to provide winter coats to students who may be in need. If your child needs a coat for the upcoming winter season, they would be honored to help.

Click here for the form to submit your request for a Winter Coat.

🍎September

16th-20th- It Starts with Hello Spirit Week

19th- Melville Open House, 5:00PM-6:30PM

October 🎃

4th- Escobar Corn Maze (Time TBD, Raid Date: 10/8)

14th-Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (No School)

16th-Unity Day-Wear Orange to make a Stand Against Bullying

16th- Melville Community Clinic

23rd- School Picture Day

24th- After School Family-Teacher Conferences

26th-Fall Festival

🦃November

5th- Election Day (No School for Students)

5th- Staff Professional Development Day

7th- After School Family-Teacher Conferences

11th- Veterans’ Day Observance (No School)

27th – 29th: Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

December 🎄

5th- Picture Retake Day

10th- Holiday Craft & Ornament

23rd– 31st- Holiday Recess (No School)

Going forward please use meloffice@portsmouthschoolsri.org to notify the main office of changes to your child's dismissal routine or of your child's absence.

If you are interested in volunteering or chaperoning this school year, then you will need to complete the volunteer approval process. Mrs. McEvoy in our office is a notary and can be of any assistance, so please do not hesitate to reach out!

We love to celebrate our students. If they have special news that you would like us to share, e.g. State Wrestling or Cheerleading Championship accomplishments, then please email me at lauried@portsmouthschoolsri.org and we will be sure to include their recognition in our morning announcements.

In keeping with the spirit of giving, our Feinstein Jr. Scholars are excited to start an in-school food pantry that our students and families can donate to and access when needed.

Please help us as we continue to support our community by sending in food items with your child from time to time. Please email

Mrs. Powell: powelld@portsmouthschoolsri.org or

Mrs. Pascoe: pascoen@portsmouthschoolsri.org

if you would like to access our food pantry during the school year.

Securly Home is an app that allows parents to monitor their child’s Chromebook activity at home and add rules for home use. Please take some time to review the slideshow from the informational parent meeting hosted for families.

We encourage you to sign up now for Securly Home!

Google Slideshow

At Melville School we provide continuous updates on student progress. Mid-Trimester Progress Reports and Report Cards help us to better communicate student progress with parents and caregivers.

All families will be invited to parent teacher conferences the week of October 15th. At the conference teachers will review beginning of year data and benchmarking assessments. Benchmarking assessments are assessments given to students three times a year to measure their progress towards achieving the end of year standard for their grade level. If your child qualifies for a Response to Intervention Plan, this will be discussed during the conference. Report Cards are published three times a year and will be available on the ASPEN Platform.

Report Cards reflect your child's current mastery of end-of-grade level standards. The grades earned by your child, as reflected on the Report Card, are their current mastery of end-of-grade level standards. For example, if your child is in second grade they are being assessed on the standard that is expected of a student exiting second grade. If your child receives an S (secure), this means that they are secure and have reached the end of the year benchmark. Earning a D (developing) means your child is demonstrating growth towards meeting the end of grade level with support. If your child is beginning to progress towards meeting the end of year standard, then they will receive a B (beginning). It is common for most students to receive B’s and D’s during the first trimester now that we are switching to reporting out on end-of-year standards. An N/A means that this standard has not yet been taught. NP means that your child did not participate in the learning/activities related to this standard.

Fire drills occur on a regular basis. State law requires each school to conduct eleven fire drills, two lockdown drills and two evacuation drills each year. Shelter in Place drills are conducted throughout the school year. Children are given instruction on all procedures. Children are expected to behave in a calm, orderly manner during these exercises. Please review the importance of such exercises with your child and emphasize the need for appropriate behavior.

A lockdown is an alert to a school community that students and staff should not leave the classroom and should gather in one area of the room until provided with further direction.

An evacuation requires all students and staff to exit the building and meet at a designated safe place.

A shelter in place is an alert to a school community that movement outside of classrooms is being restricted for a brief period of time. It is typically used when a student or staff member is requiring some sort of attention (sometimes medical) and the school is trying to keep that area clear and/or protect that person’s privacy. If there were a serious safety concern the school would not issue a shelter in place.

We will send notification of lockdowns, evacuations, and shelter in place drills and events via email.

Here is the presentation that was shared at a Parent Safety Forum that was hosted in conjunction with the Police and Fire Departments. The Run, Hide, Fight FBI philosophy guides our safety training.

The P3 Sandy Hook Promise Anonymous tip line is a resource that we encourage anyone to use if there is ever an immediate safety concern.

Email: lauried@portsmouthschoolsri.org
Website: https://www.portsmouthschoolsri.org/Domain/11
Location: 1351 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, USA
Phone: 4016831650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009159177892
Twitter: @MelvilleSchool