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.

Minutes from 10/9/24

Melville students was proudly displayed at the Newport Art Museum last weekend. Thank you to Ms. Lathan for leading this opportunity for our students.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Good oral health is important to your child’s ability to learn and do well in school. Dental screenings are scheduled in your child(ren)’s school every year as required by Rhode Island state law. Melville Elementary School will hold dental screenings for all students, including preschool students, on November 21, 2024. Dr. Marian Royer will be performing the screening. Dental screenings are not to take the place of your child(ren)’s scheduled dental visits.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Oral Health Program requests screening results for students in kindergarten and third grade. RIDOH may also request results from other grade levels and these results will help the oral health program staff provide programs to Rhode Island children so that they have healthier teeth and gums. We do not use children’s names in reports. Please keep in mind that all grades, including preschool, are scheduled for this screening and not just kindergarten and third grade students.

According to 216-RICR-20-10-4, students who are screened by private dentists/dental hygienists and who provide written documentation containing information outlined by Section 4.17.1 are exempt and may elect not to be screened. If you do not want your child screened, please reach out to the school nurse and provide documentation by November 20, 2024. Otherwise, your child will be screened for dental.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. A notice on your child(ren)'s dental screening will be sent home within a week from the dental screening.

All the best,

Alexia Trainor, BSN, RN, CSNT

Dear Melville Families,

We want to inform you of an update to our lockdown drill procedures, designed to ensure our students and staff are as prepared as possible in the unlikely event of an emergency. All recommendations and updates come from the Portsmouth Police in our full commitment to keeping our school community safe

During a lockdown, students and staff were previously expected to gather in one area of the room until provided with further direction.

Based on current recommendations from law enforcement, students and staff, during a lockdown, will continue to remain in their classrooms, but will now disperse around the room, staying low—either standing or crouching—out of sight. This position allows them to be prepared to evacuate quickly if directed to do so.

As always, we will guide students through these procedures with care and sensitivity. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep our school safe.

All the best,

Danielle

December 9th through December 13 schools nationwide celebrate Hour of Code in honor of Computer Science Education Week. Our focus for this week will be in STEAM and computer science careers. We are seeking family members in the computer science/STEAM field who would be willing to present to students about their careers and or lead them in activity. If you are interested please contact Erika Magilton (magiltone@portsmouthschoolsri). We appreciate your support.

If you would like to order a yearbook then please do so by following this link and use the SCHOOL ID.

Yearbook Order: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/
School ID: 12072425

If you do not pre order a yearbook, then we may not have enough available to purchase at the end of the school year when it comes out. We order some extra, but the only guarantee is to pre order, so I highly recommend ordering one ahead of time.

If you have a child in grade 4 and need financial assistance to purchase a yearbook, then please email me directly at lauried@portsmouthschoolsri.org and we will make sure your child gets a yearbook.

🦃November

11th- Veterans’ Day Observance (No School)

13th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

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

December 🎄

5th- Picture Retake Day

10th- Holiday Craft & Ornament. 4:30PM-6:30PM, Melville Cafeteria and Library

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

⛄January.

8th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

17th-Staff PD Day (No School for Students)

1/27 – 1/31: Scholastic Book Fair Week & Reading Spirit Week

February💕

6th-Parent Teacher Conferences, 3:30-6:30

12th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

🍀March

12th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

April ☔

9th- MPTG Meeting 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

14 – 18: Spring Recess (No School)

🌸May

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

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

30th-Grade 4 Field Trip to the State House

June 🌞

11th- MPTG Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

11th- Field Day (Rain Date 12th)

11th- MPTG Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

16th- Grade 4 Stepping Up Celebration

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

19th: Juneteenth (No School)

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

Portsmouth Youth Lacrosse is very excited to OPEN REGISTRATION for the Winter Skills beginning in January 2025.

Click HERE to Begin Registration.

The cost per player for 8 x 60-minute sessions is $105. That's a little more than $13/session and aims to cover the cost of the field rental at Longplex.

Girls Grades 5-8 will practice on Thursdays, Field # 1 from 4-5PM; 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, and 3/6.

Boys Grades 5-6 will practice on Thursdays, Field # 2 from 4-5PM; 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, and 3/6.

Boys Grades 7-8 will practice on Fridays, Field # 1 from 4-5PM; 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, and 3/7.

*NEW* Coed Grades 2-4 will practice on Fridays, Field # 2 from 4-5PM; 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, and 3/7.

(We will not hold Winter Skills sessions during the Portsmouth School District February Break, 20 & 21 February)

Participants will need a valid USA Lacrosse # through the end of the Winter Skills. To obtain or renew your USA Lacrosse #, visit USA Lacrosse.

To learn more about the Winter Skills Clinic and the benefits to your athlete, visit HERE.

Spaces are limited so don't delay!

If you are interested in helping coach the Winter Skills sessions. You may also register HERE.

If you have any questions, please us a note at portsmouthyouthlax@gmail.com

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. 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 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