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.

Artwork from Grade 4 Melville students, which celebrate ocean appreciation, will be showcased this weekend in URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography's, Ocean View Art Competition & Exhibition. The display is located at the Art League RI.

If your child will NOT be attending the Portsmouth Public School System in the Fall of 2025 - please fill out the GOOGLE form linked below below.

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.

The end of the school year is always a busy and exciting time, and we have several upcoming events where we would love your involvement! Most opportunities require you to be Volunteer In School (VIS) Approved. If you are not currently VIS approved and would like to volunteer, please visit our website by clicking here. The approval process can take a few weeks, so we encourage you to start as soon as possible.

Please note: Before signing up to volunteer, we must confirm your VIS status.

Melville Fun Run – May 21 (Rain Date: May 22)

This is one of our biggest family engagement events of the year!

• All volunteers must be VIS approved.

• Per district policy, when volunteering during the school day, we kindly ask that you do not bring other children or siblings.

• Pets are not allowed on school grounds during this event for safety reasons—we appreciate your cooperation.

If you are not VIS approved, you can still join in the fun! Come be part of our spectator section and cheer on our Melville students! Bring signs, balloons, pom-poms—get creative and let’s make it a day full of spirit and smiles!

Field Day – June 11 (Rain Date: June 12)

Field Day is another fantastic opportunity to get involved!

• We will need VIS approved families to help run activity stations throughout the day.

• Please note: Field Day is not a spectator event, so only VIS approved volunteers will be able to attend.

Thank you for your continued support in making these events memorable for our students!

Now that we are approaching warmer temperatures here in Rhode Island, please be on the lookout for ticks. There are many transmittable diseases, including Lyme Disease, that ticks can pass along so it is very important to practice prevention techniques to prevent tick bites on you, your child(ren), and your pets.

Here are some simple steps to help protect yourself and your family from ticks:

• Avoid tick-infested areas and sitting directly on the ground. You can find ticks in various environments, but most often they are in, or near, wooded areas. They hide under leaves, in the grass, and on branches and right now, there are several leaves on the ground!

• Avoid sleeping with pets and allowing pets on your furniture.

• Perform an entire body (and clothing) check after being outdoors, even if you are just in your own yard.

• Remove ticks before they adhere to the skin as this prevents transmission of infection.

Please review this link for more information about ticks. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Nurse at trainora@portsmouthschoolsri.org or please call (401) 683-1650, Option 2.

We are excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2025-2026 PSD Teacher of the Year and the 2025-2026 PSD Support Professional of the Year awards. These are wonderful opportunities to recognize the outstanding contributions of our colleagues who go above and beyond in supporting our students and our school community.

Teacher of the Year Nominee
The Teacher of the Year award is presented to an NEA member who demonstrates exceptional dedication, knowledge, and skill. This educator inspires students of all backgrounds and earns the respect of students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. The selected Teacher of the Year will have the opportunity to represent Portsmouth at the state level and participate in valuable professional development and leadership opportunities.

Nominate a Teacher of the Year Here

Support Professional of the Year Nominee
The Support Professional of the Year award recognizes an outstanding individual who works in the best interest of our students and district. This award honors a Council 94 member who exhibits exceptional competence, continually seeks to improve their skills, and consistently goes above and beyond their job responsibilities. Their dedication and commitment make a lasting impact on our school community.

Nominate a Support Professional of the Year Here

Please take a moment to consider nominating a colleague who exemplifies these qualities. Nominations are open until May 2, 2025. We encourage you to celebrate the amazing work happening in our community by submitting your nominations!

Please consider nominating someone for the Special Education Local Advisory Committee Awards.

SELAC Awards Nominations are open! The Portsmouth Local Advisory Committee is hosting our annual LAC Awards on May 14, 2025. Please consider nominating someone from our school community who has helped your child to succeed this year. Typical persons who are nominated are teachers/support professionals, bus staff, RBTs/Paraprofessionals, coaches, students, and administrators. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2025.

Minutes from 1/8/25

Minutes from 11/13/24

Minutes from 9/11/24

Minutes from 10/9/24

At Melville Elementary, we are committed to every student’s success, and regular attendance is key! Did you know that students who miss two or more days a month—about 10% of the school year—are considered chronically absent?

Attendance Matters

We know that attendance plays a huge role in student success, and your support is key to improving it. Melville is currently ranked #45 in the state for attendance on the State’s Attendance Leaderboard.

April ☔

30th- 1st and. 2nd grade to PPAC

🌸May

6th & 7th-Students in Grades 3 and 4 will take RICAS

14th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

16th-Grade 3 Wax Museum (invites sent to grade 3 families only)

21st- Melville Fun Run (during the school day, rain date 5/22)

23rd-Staff Professional Development Day (No School for students)

June 🌞

5th-Kindergarten Field Trip to Coggeshall

6th- Grade 4 Field Trip to the State House

9th- Pre K Graduation (invites sent to Pre K families only)

10th-Kindergarten Celebration, 3:30-5:00

10th- MPTG Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

11th- Field Day (Rain Date 12th)

16th- Grade 4 Stepping Up Celebration (invites sent to grade 4 families only)

18th or 180th day: Last Day of School – All Students

19th: Juneteenth (No School)

20th, 23rd, 24th, 25th: Snow Makeup Days if needed

Event Timing: Friday, May 9th, 2025, 6:00-8:00 PM Event Address: 2679 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871

Contact: Georgie at (401) 207-5394 or portsmouth@riprevention.org

Event Description: The Portsmouth Prevention Coalition is partnering with the Portsmouth Arts Guild to host a special, family-centered art event in celebration of Mother’s Day. This meaningful evening invites girls aged 8 and up to attend with an important woman in their life—whether it’s a mother, grandmother, aunt, or mentor—for a night of artistic expression and connection. Guests will enjoy a guided painting and drawing session led by a talented local female artist. Join us for a night of creativity, bonding, and celebration of the women who inspire us!

Click here to sign up!

We take all reported incidents seriously. If you see something that could be constituted as bullying, cyber-bullying, or harassment, please say something.

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!

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. Please check in with our office if a notary if available to assist you.

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.

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 the school community indicating that students and staff should remain in their classrooms, dispersing around the room and staying low, either standing or crouching, to avoid visibility. This positioning also prepares students and staff to move quickly if evacuation becomes necessary. Remain in this position until further direction is given

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: 401-683-1650
Facebook: Melville Principal
Twitter: @MelvilleSchool