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.

Dates" sections of this email, so you can save the dates!

Each month at the MPTG meetings, I provide a Principal's Update. These updates can be found by clicking the link below in our weekly newsletter. at the September meeting, the Melville team reviewed RtI and MTSS-please see more information below.

Thank you to the families who were able to attend.

• Melville RtI Letter

• Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
  

• Title I Supports for Students at Melville School

In this illustrated adaptation of the bestselling fable, The Energy Bus, author Jon Gordon models strategies for children on how to overcome negativity and everyday challenges to be their best. This story will inspire students to find their inner motivation and pass on that positive energy to others.

If you would like to borrow a copy of The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon to read for yourself, then send me an email at lauried@portsmouthschoolsri.org and I will be happy to lend you a copy.

The PSD School Committee met on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Highlights from the meeting can be found in the links below and include:

• The Committee recognized close to 30 new PSD staff members

• In Dr. Kenworthy’s District Updates, a new PSD initiative for middle and high school students called Rachel’s Challenge was discussed; Rachel’s Challenge is a program that attempts to address the root causes of school violence, bullying, prejudice, and self-harm through student wellness programs that build connection, hope, and resilience; All PSD parents/guardians are invited to an informational session on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 6:00-7:00pm in the PHS Auditorium

• During the business portion of the agenda, the Committee discussed Dr. Kenworthy’s goals for 2023-24 which will be finalized at the next meeting; a virtual instructional day plan (to be used if needed in case of emergency) was approved to be sent to the Rhode Island Department of Education; and, the April 2024 regular meeting date was moved to April 9th

Linked Agenda

Meeting Recording

It has been an honor to serve as the student services coordinator for the elementary schools in Portsmouth. I have the children, families and district personnel in Portsmouth to thank for the truly positive experiences I have had here.

I have resigned from my position here in Portsmouth in order to pursue the opportunity to serve as the early childhood coordinator in the district where I reside and my children attend school. My last day in Portsmouth will be October 6, 2023.

Until my departure date, I will continue to fulfill the responsibilities of the student services coordinator, while beginning to transition some of those responsibilities to colleagues. During this time, I will continue to be the main point of contact for special education and Section 504 referrals. Special Education case managers are the primary contacts for parents of students who have current, active IEPs.

Beginning October 7, 2023, Charity Shea, Director of Student Services, will be the primary contact for new special education referrals/ eligibility. Donna Powell can be contacted regarding Section 504 referrals and current plans.

Thank you for a wonderful eight years in Portsmouth. I wish nothing but continued success for Portsmouth students and the district.

Sincerely,

Deana

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.

During the school day, we are responsible for keeping all students safe as well as protecting their privacy. For this reason, we have limited guests in the building during school hours and we require anyone working directly with children to go through our Volunteers in School Process (see below). This year we have a new security system.

Visitors who are entering the building for a meeting, volunteering, or an event etc...

When you arrive:

• Enter the vestibule.
• Approach the platform and tap the button on the screen that aligns with the purpose for your visit.
• Follow the cues on the screen. All visitors must have their license with them to enter the building.
• Once complete, then ring the buzzer.
• Our office staff will verify that you are ready to enter the building and will unlock the door for your entry.

*There is also a QR code on the screen that you can scan with your cell phone's camera and it will bring you through this same process.

If you are dropping something off for the school, class, or a particular child, then you do not need to sign yourself in on this system.

• Ring the buzzer and the office staff will respond.
• Notify the office staff of the purpose for your visit,
• We will then ask you to leave the item in the vestibule and we will ensure it gets to where it needs to be.

Thank you for your support in keeping our community safe.

We will only serve food with your permission. Please complete this Melville Food Permission Form.

We handle food in this manner because we have students in our school family who have serious food allergies and we are committed to keeping everyone safe.

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.

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

EBCAP Head Start is enrolling children 3-5 years old for center-based classrooms in Tiverton, Middletown and Newport. The program provides high quality education & family services to children and families. Please call 1-401-367-2001 for more details.

Here is a link to a one-minute youtube video, which gives a quick snapshot about our program.

https://youtu.be/sSlx9XYKUVc?si=k8-zoGPcL_bwTS3G

Do you like hiking, camping, learning new skills and knowledge, or doing fun activities with kids your own age? Would you like your child(ren) to learn about leadership, boost their self-esteem, be more helpful and kind towards others, and work on their overall positive character development? If you answered YES, then scouting may be for you!

Portsmouth’s Pack 1 is always looking for new boys and girls that are interested in Cub Scouts. Students entering grades K thru 5th in the fall are eligible to join cub scouting. Currently, Cub Scouts meet at the church hall at St. Barnabas on Thursday evenings at 6 pm.

Questions on cub scouting please contact Amy Nicodemus at beachgirl627@hotmail.com

September

18th-22nd-It Starts with "Hello"-please see information in this Newsletter

20th-Rescheduled Hearing Screening

21st- Melville's Open House Pre K-4 4:30PM-6:00PM

25th-Yom Kippur No School

27th-Fall Festival Planning Meeting, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

October

9th-Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (No School)

10th–Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

11th-MPTG Monthly Meeting, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

16th-Fall Festival Planning Meeting, 6PM-7PM, Melville Library

17th-FLU Vaccine Clinics

20th-Corn Maize Night 4PM-DUSK

25th-School Picture Day

28th-Fall Festival 10AM-3PM

November

2nd-Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30 (teachers will send out scheduling information)

9th-Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30 (teachers will send out scheduling information)

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

13th–Veterans’ Day Observance (No School)

22nd-25th–Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

30th–End of Trimester 1

December

7th-School Picture Day Make Up Photos

13th-Holiday Crafts and Ornament Party 5pm-7PM, Melville Cafeteria

23rd-31st-Holiday Break-No School

January

1st–New Year’s Observance (No School)

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

12th-Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

15th–Martin Luther King Day (No School)

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)

March

12th–End of Trimester 2

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

29th–Good Friday (No school)

April

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

15th-19th– Spring Recess (No School)

23rd–Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

May

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 (raind date 5/23)

27th – Memorial Day (No School)

June

7th– PHS Graduation (Tentative Date)

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

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