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.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to children at eligible elementary schools during the school day. The goal of the FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among children. The FFVP also encourages healthier school environments by promoting nutrition education. To learn more, visit the FFVP webpage.

When will the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program be offered? We will begin on Tuesday, November 4th and the FFVP will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday's weekly in the classroom.

How will I know what my student will be served? A menu will be sent home monthly in the Melville Message Community Update. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the contact below.

If you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, please complete the opt out form.

If you WANT your child to participate in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, then no further action is needed.

Sign Up by Clicking Here

Dear Melville School Community,

As many of you are aware, in accordance with Portsmouth School Department policy, Melville Elementary School has a new visitor system in our vestibule. This system is used to sign guests into our building by scanning a driver’s license and verifying your identity with a comparison photo.

Please note that any person that is entering our school building for a meeting or an event is REQUIRED to sign in.

In order to expedite the sign in process, we are strongly encouraging all families to download the app and create your profile today. You may do so by scanning the QR code below or by visiting the App Store or Google Play Store and searching for Raptor Safe.

For any questions or for assistance contact the main office. Thank you for your help in keeping our school safe.

As we enter the winter months, it’s especially important for students to attend school regularly so they can stay on track with learning and maintain strong connections with their teachers and peers. Consistent attendance helps children build good routines and prevents them from falling behind academically or socially. Parents can help by encouraging healthy habits—like getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, washing hands often, and dressing warmly for the weather. If you are questioning if you should send your child to school, here are our school guidelines regarding illness. Working together, we can keep students healthy, learning, and thriving all winter long.

If your child is absent, tardy or dismissed early for medical appointments, please provide the school with documentation of this so the absence can be excused. For more information on excused vs. unexcused absences, please see the PSD Attendance Policy

Please report absences using: Melville Attendance Notification Form

Earn money for Melville while you shop! All you have to do is send in your Clements Receipts.

November

11: Veterans’ Day Observance (No School)

12:

- Grade 1 Gratitude Jars with our Support Staff, 4PM-5PM-Students & Caregivers-Library (must register)

-Pre K Family Fun Time, 4PM-5PM-Students & Caregivers-Classrooms (must register)

18: MPTG 6:00-7:00 -In the Melville Library

19:

Chartwells Harvest Feast for Lunch

One-hour early release for students-Dismissal will be from 2:15-2:30

20: Grade 4 Gaga Ball, 4:15-5:15-Grade 4 Students & Caregivers-Gymnasium (must register)

26 – 28: Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

December

4: Picture Retake Day

10:One-hour early release for students-Dismissal will be from 2:15-2:30

13: Merry Melville 10:00-12:00 (Chorus performs at 10:30)

17: Grade 2 Holiday Obstacle Course, 4:15-5:15-Students & Caregivers (must register)

15-19 Winter Spirit Week

22-31: Holiday Recess (No School)

January

1 - 2: New Year’s Day (No School)

5-9 Grade 3 works with NCB's Multicultural Program

13:MPTG 6:00-7:00 - In the Melville Library

14:One-hour early release for students-Dismissal will be from 2:15-2:30

15: Melville Student Art Show at Melville School 4:00-5:00

19: Martin Luther King Day (No School)

26-30: Scholastic Book Fair and Reading Spirit Week

28th: Family Shopping Night and visit our Support Staff Table

February

Family Teacher Conferences (Flexible, each grade level will notify families and find door support)

10: MPTG 6:00-7:00 - Library

16 - 20: Winter Recess (No School)

March

2nd-6th: Wellness Awareness Week

25th- Arts for Life- Day

Whale of an Evening-TBD

10: MPTG 6:00-7:00 - In the Melville Library

18: One-hour early release for students-Dismissal will be from 2:15-2:30

April

7: RICAS grades 3 and 4 ELA Session 1

8: RICAS grades 3 and 4 ELA Session 2

14: MPTG 6:00-7:00 - In the Melville Library

15th Purple Up on the Playground-Military Families

20 - 24: Spring Recess (No School)

May

Family Teacher Conferences (Flexible, each grade level will notify families and find door support)

7: Grade 3 MIndfulness with our Support Staff, 4PM-5PM-Students & caregivers (must register)

12:

RICAS grades 3 and 4 math Session 1

MPTG 6:00-7:00 - In the Melville Library

13: RICAS grades 3 and 4 math Session 2

20:One-hour early release for students-Dismissal will be from 2:15-2:30

21: Fun Run (Rain Date 22nd)

25: Memorial Day (No School)

June

5: PHS Graduation

8: Pre K Graduation

9: MPTG/Volunteer Appreciation 6:00-7:00 - In the Melville Library

10: Field Day (rain date 11th)

TBD -Grade 4 Stepping Up & Family Picnic

17 or 180th day: Last Day of School – All Students

If your child is going to be absent, or it is absolutely necessary to make a dismissal change, then please complete the: Attendance Notification Form. Please bookmark this form or you can find it on our website. Dismissal changes must be made by 2:15

At Melville, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Throughout the school year, we practice a variety of safety drills so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. These drills follow the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol.

• Shelter: Used during environmental threats (e.g., severe weather, hazardous materials nearby). Students stay inside a safe area of the building until the threat passes.

• Evacuate: Students and staff leave the building and gather at a predetermined safe location outside. This is used when it is safer to be away from the building, such as a fire or other environmental hazard.

• Hold: Students stay in their classrooms while the hallways are cleared. Instruction may continue as usual. This is used when movement in the hallways needs to be limited, such as during a medical response.

• Lockdown: Students and staff stay in classrooms because there is a potential threat inside the building. Procedures include:

  • Locking doors.

  • Turning off lights and moving out of sight.

  • Maintaining silence.

  • Dispersing students around the classroom while standing to allow for quick evacuation if necessary.

  • Doors remain locked until authorized personnel give the all-clear.

• Secure: Students and staff stay in place within the school building, but normal activities can continue. This is used when there is a potential concern outside the school, such as nearby police activity, and it is safer to remain inside.

Family Notifications: After all drills except fire drills, we will send a notification to families to keep you informed about the drill and its purpose. We encourage families to review these procedures with their children and remind them to follow directions calmly and carefully during drills. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Melville safe.

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.

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.

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