Phenomenal Phelps Facts
Upcoming Week of September 22, 2025
Message from Mrs. Scheufele
Four Weeks In – A Strong Start!
We’ve completed our fourth week of school, and it has been exciting to see students settling into routines, diving into learning, and building positive classroom communities. Our teachers are reinforcing expectations, encouraging growth mindset, and creating supportive spaces where students can do their best.
Of course, challenges come as part of the learning process, but our staff and students are showing perseverance and resilience every day. Thank you for your partnership at home—together, we are setting the foundation for a safe, supportive, and successful year ahead.
Afterschool Enrichment and Drama Club
Afterschool enrichment and Drama Club sign ups will be coming Monday night! Please take a look at the fall offerings. The link will go live for sign ups 9/22 at 7:00pm. Classes run for six weeks from 2:00pm-3:00pm, and the cost is $25. Sign up links will be posted in Dojo, and they typically fill quickly!
September 30--Title I Night & Book Bingo
Join us on September 30 from 5:30-6:30 pm to play Bingo with our staff members as Bingo callers, get new books, and learn about our Title I program. Hope to see you there!
DIBELS and i-Ready Information
At Phelps Elementary, we are committed to supporting every child’s growth in reading and math. This fall, all students will take beginning-of-year (BOY) assessments in both areas using two tools: DIBELS and i-Ready.
DIBELS 8th Edition (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) helps teachers measure early literacy skills such as reading fluency and comprehension.
i-Ready provides valuable information in both reading and math, showing us what students already know and where they may need additional support or enrichment.
These assessments are not graded; instead, they give teachers important insights to guide instruction and track each child’s progress throughout the year. Students will complete them three times a year (fall, winter, and spring).
As your child finishes their BOY assessments, you will receive family reports for both DIBELS and i-Ready. These reports explain your child’s results and how we will use them to support learning.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Below you will find links to help you best understand these reports.If you have any questions about these assessments or the reports, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.
Rockland Public Schools District Calendar
Family Engagement and Empowerment Course
Session 2 of the Family Engagement and Empowerment course is on Monday, 9/22 from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm.These meetings are run by Ms. Creedon, grade 3 teacher. At session 2, "Enrichment Opportunities," she will highlight the fall after school enrichment courses and explain how to sign up. There will be speakers from Rockland Rec, South Shore Tae Kwon Do, and The Jen Jacobs Scholarship, which supports children and families with various scholarship opportunities to participate in recreational and extracurricular activities. Mrs. Panos (Booth) will also be presenting on drama and chorus opportunities for third and fourth grade students. We hope to see you there!
Please sign up below to help us prepare, and indicate if school-age childcare will be needed during the meeting.
Important Upcoming Events
Monday, September 22--Session 2 of Family Engagement & Empowerment Course, 5:30-6:30 pm
- Topic: Enrichment Opportunities
- Session 2 RSVP Link
Monday, September 22--Fall After School Enrichment Sign Ups Go Live 7:00 pm (Class Dojo)
Tuesday, September 30--Title One Night and Book Bingo, 5:30-6:30 pm, Phelps Cafeteria
- Families are welcome at our free book bingo night. Play bingo, win books, and see friends!
- Concessions will be offered for sale by our PAC (Parent Advisory Council).
Thursday, October 2, 2025--PHELPS SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
- Be on the lookout for notices and information to be sent home.
Thursday, October 2, 2025--EARLY RELEASE DAY
- Dismissal is at 10:45 am.
- Lunch will be sent home with students who order it.
- Please be sure there is someone to pick your child up at 10:45 am, or you have an adult to get them off the bus for early dismissal.
Friday, October 3--Progress Update to Families (by email, Dojo or phone)
Monday, October 6--Fall After School Enrichment Sessions Begin
Monday, October 6--Session 3 of Family Engagement & Empowerment Course, 5:30-6:30 pm
- Topic: Building Strong Readers and Mathematicians
Wednesday, October 8--Grade 4 & Staff Charity Volleyball Game, 5:30-6:30 pm
- Grade 4 students & families--watch for sign ups!
- Collecting money for donation to Rockland Holiday Magic or non-perishable food for the Rockland Food Pantry
- Phelps families are welcome to come to watch & donate toward our charities.
- Children watching the game must sit in the stands with their families. This is not a drop off event.
- Attending children should be grade 4 or younger. This event is not for middle or high school students.
Friday, October 10--NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS--Teacher Professional Development Day
Monday, October 13, NO SCHOOL--Columbus/Indigenous People Day
Friday, October 17, PAC MEETING, 9-10 am, Phelps Elementary School Library
Thursday, October 23, 2025--EARLY RELEASE DAY
- Dismissal is at 10:45 am.
- Lunch will be sent home with students who order it.
- Please be sure there is someone to pick your child up at 10:45 am, or you have an adult to get them off the bus for early dismissal.
Friday, October 24--Trunk or Treat, 5:30-6:30 pm (stay tuned for details)
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
