Phenomenal Phelps Facts
Week of January 19, 2026
Message from Ms. Scheufele
As we head into our second week back, I want to thank all of our families for helping students return to school routines so smoothly. Our classrooms are already buzzing with energy, learning, and kindness—exactly the way we want to start the new year at Phelps Elementary.
Please remember that school begins promptly at 7:30 AM. Students must be in the building by 7:30, not just arriving in the car line. When many cars arrive right at 7:30, it creates a traffic backup and delays students from getting to class on time. Our carline and walk-up arrival open at 7:15 AM to ensure everyone can enter the building safely and be ready to learn. Please be sure to enter the carline from Division St. for both arrival and dismissal. Entrance/exit from Reed Street is for buses only at arrival and dismissal.
Thank you for partnering with us to make each morning smooth and successful. We’re excited for a wonderful week ahead!
Grade 2 Music Performances This Week--January 20
Grade 2 will be holding their music performances this week. Please see the schedule below:
January 20 — Grade 2 Music Performances
8:30–9:00 a.m. – Mrs. Panos’ Classes
9:15–9:45 a.m. – Mr. Popadic’s Classes
Important Notes:
Families should attend only the performance for their child’s class. Please refer to the teacher’s name and performance time above.
To ensure parking and space for everyone, we kindly ask that families exit the building immediately following their child’s performance. This will allow the next group of families to arrive and park safely.
After the final performance, we will need the space cleared promptly so we can prepare for our 10:00 a.m. lunch schedule.
We look forward to seeing you! Our second graders are excited to share the wonderful work they’ve been doing all year.
143 Exchange
143 Exchange is a volunteer-run nonprofit clothing exchange offering free, gently used children’s and maternity clothing to families. All items are quality-checked by volunteers, and anything not usable is responsibly recycled. Their mission is to support families, reduce waste, and promote sustainable secondhand shopping. Families are welcome to donate or stop by and visit the exchange.
This is a great resource for getting dressy clothes for chorus concerts, school performances, and school dances (like the upcoming one in March--stay tuned). It is located in the ET Wright building at the corner of Liberty and Webster Street. Hours vary, so it is best to check them out on Facebook or Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/143Exchange
Comfort Dog for Rockland Public Schools
Officer Ethan Schnable and his comfort dog, Kinley, have provided supportive services to students at our school since 2024 and are members of the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program. To better understand the effectiveness of their services, we’ve partnered with the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program and Bridgewater State University to help them gather feedback from parents, teachers, and students. We invite you and your child to participate in this evaluation of the program and hope you will consider doing so. By being part of this process, you and your child will help us understand how Officer Schnable and Kinley support our students' success.
Please see the link below to read more about the evaluation and how your child can participate.
The Great Kindness Challenge
January 26-30, 2026
Our school is excited to participate in The Great Kindness Challenge, a week-long celebration focused on building a culture of kindness and compassion in schools and communities around the world!
On Monday, January 26, 2026, students will receive a Great Kindness Challenge Checklist to use at school, along with a family edition to bring home. These checklists are a fun way for students to practice kindness and put compassion into action throughout the week.
We will be encouraging all students to complete as many acts of kindness as they can at school, and we hope they feel inspired to continue spreading kindness at home as well.
Together, let’s lift each other up, cheer one another on, and show the world that KINDNESS MATTERS!
Save the Dates--Grade 3 & 4 MCAS Dates for 2026 & Music Performance Dates
Here are the Grade 3 and 4 MCAS dates for Spring 2026:
English/Language Arts: April 7 & 8, 2026
Math: May 13 & 14, 2026
Please put these dates in your calendar to be sure your child in grades 3 or 4 attends school on these days.
Here are the concert dates for Grades 1-4:
Open to Families--Phelps Cafeteria
January 20--Grade 2 Music Performance
- 8:30-9:00 am--Mrs. Panos' Second Grade Classes
- 9:15-9:45 am--Mr. Popadic's Second Grade Classes
February 10--Grade 1 Music Performance
- 8:30-9:00 am--Mrs. Panos' Second Grade Classes
- 9:15-9:45 am--Mr. Popadic's Second Grade Classes
March 3--Grade 4 Music Performance
- 8:15-8:45 am--Mrs. Panos' Second Grade Classes
- 9:00-9:30 am--Mr. Popadic's Second Grade Classes
April 14--Grade 3 Music Performance
- 8:15-8:45 am--Mrs. Panos' Second Grade Classes
- 9:00-9:30 am--Mr. Popadic's Second Grade Classes
Rockland Public Schools District SEPAC Meeting
Rockland Public Schools District Calendar
Important Upcoming Events
January 12-February 27 ACCESS Testing Window
- Our English Language Learners will be taking the annual ACCESS testing during this period of time. They are working on skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Good luck to our English Language Learners!
January 19--Martin Luther King, Jr. Day--NO SCHOOL
January 20--Grade 2 Music Performance--Open to Families--Phelps Cafeteria
- 8:30-9:00 am--Mrs. Panos' Second Grade Classes
- 9:15-9:45 am--Mr. Popadic's Second Grade Classes
**Please note that due to parking and traffic, families must leave right after viewing their child's performance. Thank you!
January 22-- 7:30-8:00 am ELPAC (English Language Learner Parent Advisory Council) Coffee
- The ELPAC will be holding an informational coffee meeting in the Phelps Cafeteria from 7:30-8:00 am.
January 26-30--The Great Kindness Challenge
- Be on the lookout for challenge sheets and information to be sent home.
January 26--Winter Enrichment Sessions Begin
January 27--Phelps Winter Art Show & Chorus Concert--5:30-7:00 pm
Art Show--Grades 1-4
Grade 3 & 4 Chorus Concert (in cafeteria) 6:00 pm
January 27--District-Wide SEPAC Meeting, 6:30 pm
- Virtual Zoom Meeting with guest speaker Matt Flynn
- Topic: Mediation and Facilitation
- See Zoom link in flyer above.
February 2--Family Engagement & Empowerment Course--5:30-6:30 pm
February 5--Global Play Day & Early Release Day--Dismissal at 10:45 am
February 10--Grade 1 Concert (Families Invited)
8:30-9:00 am Mrs. Panos’ Classes
9:15-9:45 am Mr. Popadic’s Classes
February 10--PAC Meeting--6:00-7:00 pm--Phelps Library
February 16-20--Winter Break--NO SCHOOL
Save the Dates for Grades 3 & 4:
MCAS ELA Dates:
April 7 and 8, 2026
MCAS Math Dates
May 13 and 14, 2026
Rockland Spring Softball
Rockland Spring Softball runs from early April to mid-June, with divisions based on students’ 2025–2026 school grade. Students in grades 2–8 play two weekday games each week, with games in Rockland and nearby towns and one practice per week. The K–1 division meets once a week and focuses on fun, instructional player/coach-pitch play. Registration costs $100 for K–1 (starting after April vacation) and $125 for grades 2–8. Registration is open until March 1, 2026. More information is available at www.rddogs.com.
Scholarship Help for Sports and Activities
The JJRS Scholarship provides financial support to help children of all abilities and backgrounds participate in recreational and extracurricular activities that nurture their interests. Families in need can apply for assistance by scanning the QR code or visiting the provided website or email.
Phelps Elementary School – Parent Contact Guide
We want every family to know who to contact for questions, concerns, or support. Here’s a quick guide to help you connect with the right person:
Main Office Issues:
Jean Maloney, Administrative Assistant--jmaloney@rocklandschools.org--Questions/Information about attendance, records, court documents, address/email changes, general school information, registration/enrollment, moving/withdrawal
Brenda Mallar-Reske, Administrative Assistant--bmallar-reske@rocklandschools.org--Kid Account/Dismissal changes and questions
Principal
Michelle Scheufele--mscheufele@rocklandschools.org– Oversees school vision, daily classroom visits, curriculum, instruction, and social-emotional learning. Contact for schoolwide questions or issues needing additional attention.
Grades 1 & 2 (First Floor)
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Administrator: Kelsey Holbrook--kholbrook@rocklandschools.org
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School Adjustment Counselor: Taryn Muolo-tmuolo@rocklandschools.org
Grades 3 & 4 (Second Floor)
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Administrator: Chase Eschauzier--chaseeschauzier@rocklandschools.org
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School Adjustment Counselor: Holly Gage-hgage@rocklandschools.org
Additional Student Services
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Amanda MacMillan – Special Education Coordinator--amacmillan@rocklandschools.org
Contact for questions about services, evaluations, and IEPs. -
Allie Sgambato – School Psychologist--asgambato@rocklandschools.org
Provides evaluations, IEP services, and crisis support. -
Beth Peckham – School Psychologist--epeckham@rocklandschools.org
Supports Phelps part-time with evaluations and IEP services. Shani McGarry--School Nurse--smcgarry@rocklandschools.org
Parent Tips
✅ For classroom or day-to-day issues, always start with your child’s teacher.
✅ For grade-level or social-emotional concerns, contact the administrator or adjustment counselor for your child’s grade.
✅ For special education questions, contact Amanda MacMillan.
✅ For schoolwide questions or issues needing additional attention, contact Principal Scheufele.
Main Office & 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
Nichole Dever, Title One Secretary, ndever@rocklandschools.org
Michelle Scheufele, Principal, mscheufele@rocklandschools.org
Kelsey Holbrook, Assistant Principal for Grades 1 & 2 & Title One Director, kholbrook@rocklandschools.org
Chase Eschauzier, Assistant Principal for Grades 3 & 4, 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
Taryn Muolo, School Adjustment Counselor for Grades 1 & 2, tmuolo@rocklandschools.org
Holly Gage, School Adjustment Counselor for Grades 3 & 4, hgage@rocklandschools.org
Shani McGarry, Nurse, smcgarry@rocklandschools.org
