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.

• FRI- 1/26 and MON 1/29: Students will have the opportunity to view the Book Fair and make Wish Lists.
• TUES 1/30, THRS 2/1, FRI 2/3- Students can purchase books during their Library class. Please see information below about different ways you can shop.
• WED 1/31-Book Fair will be open from 4:00PM-5:30PM for family shopping. Please enter at the Lobby and make your way to the Library.

Please see the Scholastic Book Fair letter and visit our homepage to learn more and get started at:

www.scholastic.com/bf/melville

In respect to the privacy of our students, we have to limit devices that are brought into school from home. If a watch or device has the ability to take pictures or record, then the student will be asked to keep that watch or device in their backpack during the school day. This applies to Apple watches. We understand that Apple watches have a "school mode", however given the many responsibilities of teaching and manage a class, we cannot safely assure that each watch or device has been put on "school mode" each day. Please know this is done with the best interest of our students in mind and we appreciate your support. Please see below a snippet from the newsletter that address this matter.

Enhancing your child's focus ability is a key factor in their academic success and overall well-being. One effective strategy is to establish a dedicated study environment, free from distractions such as electronic devices or noisy surroundings. Encourage regular breaks during study sessions to prevent burnout and promote sustained attention. Additionally, consider incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or short meditation breaks, to help your child manage stress and stay focused. Ensure they maintain a healthy lifestyle with sufficient sleep, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity, as these factors significantly contribute to improved concentration. By fostering a supportive and structured environment, you can empower your child to develop strong focus habits that will serve them well in their academic journey.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Family STEAM night on Tuesday, February 27th from 5:30-7:00 pm. It will be a fun-filled evening with various STEAM challenges and demonstrations that both our students and their families can explore and engage in together.

We are also looking to add tables of professionals who are experts in the STEAM world and are interested in showcasing their STEAM profession. This is an excellent opportunity to expose students to a wide range of career possibilities. If you are working in a job that falls under STEAM and have something that you can either demonstrate or have small activities, and would like to participate in, please send an email to Margie Brennan at brennanm2@portsmouthschoolsri.org.

We are in the middle of the Cold/ Flu/ Covid/ RSV season and just wanted to reach out with some guidelines. If your child is sick- please keep them home and communicate with the Nurse.

If your child has a fever greater than 100 Degrees, please keep them home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

If you have taken your child into the Pediatrician or Urgent care please communicate that with the Nurse and send any paperwork via email or your student.

Any questions- please call me and I will be happy to walk you through your next steps!

Below are some guidelines from RIDOH.

Every year, influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during the fall and winter virus season. In the United States, we now have more tools than ever before to help people protect themselves, their families, and communities, including:

• Safe, updated immunizations – For the first time ever, immunizations are available for all three major fall and winter respiratory diseases – flu, COVID-19, and RSV (for groups eligible for RSV immunization).
• Widely available, effective treatments – Treatments are available for flu and COVID-19 and can reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
• Testing – Tests, some of which can be done at home, can quickly detect these respiratory viruses so patients don’t delay treatment and other actions that can protect their family, friends, and coworkers.
• Everyday actions – Other tools like masking, physical distancing, washing hands, and improving airflow in the places where people live and work can provide an additional layer of protection.

Immunization against flu, COVID-19, and RSV remains the best way to safeguard against hospitalizations, long-term health impacts, and death. In August and September 2023, CDC made the following recommendations:

• Everyone 6 months and older should receive the seasonal 2023-2024 influenza vaccine and the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine.
• All infants should be protected against severe RSV either through vaccination of pregnant people 32 through 36 weeks of gestation (Pfizer RSVpreF only) from September through January, or through immunization of infants less than 8 months born during or who are entering their first RSV season with nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody. In addition, some children aged 8 through 19 months at increased risk for severe RSV should receive nirsevimab when entering their second RSV season.
• Adults 60 and older may receive RSV vaccine if the provider and patient think it’s right for them.

Stay Healthy!

Please send in your Clement's Receipts. Our MPTG collets them and over the year Clements gives Melville back a percentage of what was spent. This year Clements gave our MPTG approximately $600!

We go outside as much as possible and we want our students to be safe, warm, and ready to play! Please help your children select weather appropriate clothing as we are in the coldest months of the year.

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: 12072424

If you do not 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.

You can learn more by visiting this site:https://feinsteinfoundation.org/jr-scholar-card.html

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 a school community that students and staff should not leave the classroom and should gather in one area of the room until provided with further direction.

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.

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!

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.

We will have our Planet Aid bin again this year...please continue to fill it with clothes and shoes.

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

January

29th-2nd-Scholastic Book Fair

February

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

8th-Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30

19th–Presidents’ Day

19th-23rd –Winter Recess (No School)

27th-Family STEAM Festival

March

12th–End of Trimester 2

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

14th & 15th- Grade 3 Seal Watch Field Trip (date to attend per class TBD)

29th–Good Friday (No school)

April

2nd–Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

10th-MPTG Monthly Meeting, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

15th-19th– Spring Recess (No School)

May

3rd -Whale of an Evening (more information to follow)

6th-10th-Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

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

16th - TBD tentative date for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30

21st-Fun Run (rain date 5/23)

24th-Grade 4 Field Trip

27th-Memorial Day (No School)

29th-Grade 2 Family & Caregiver Celebration

30th-Kindergarten Family & Caregiver Celebration

31st-Grade 3 Wax Museum and Family & Caregiver End of Year Event

June

3rd-Field Day (rain date 6/4)

5th-Grade 1 Family & Caregiver Celebration

6th-Grade 4 visits PMS

6th-Casey Farm Field Trip

6th-Pre Kindergarten Graduation

7th–PHS Graduation (Tentative Date)

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

13th-Grade 4 Stepping Up Ceremony with Family & Caregivers

14th- or 180th day – Last Day of School – All Students

17th,18th, 20th, 21st– Snow Makeup Days

19th – Juneteenth (No School)

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