Portsmouth School To Participate in Rhode Island Reading Day

Elementary schools will take part in state-wide reading day.

Melville Elementary School students will read “Is Your Hair Made Of Donuts?” on March 11 as elementary schools join a state-wide reading of the book. The story is written by East Greenwich resident Joy Feldman, a North Kingstown-based nutritionist, mother of two and award-winning author, who designed it to inspire children to make healthy food choices. During National Nutrition Month, Feldman will celebrate the nationwide release of the children’s picture book that explains why the phrase “you are what you eat” may be truer than children think. That celebration will involve more than 75,000 students at more than 200 schools, libraries, youth programs, and health centers throughout RI during the reading. “In addition to calling attention to…

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Portsmouth School Committee Appoints New Principals for Melville, PMS

The Portsmouth School Committee made two leadership appointments Tuesday night, including a hire for a brand new position.

Your child might just have a new principal next fall.  The Portsmouth School Committee unanimously appointed two new school leaders Tuesday night: a principal for Melville Elementary School and a new fourth/fifth grade Portsmouth Middle School assistant principal.  The new Melville Elementary School principal is Elizabeth Viveiros, who will fill the role held by retiring Dr. Joanne Olson. Lisa Little was selected as the new fourth/fifth grade Portsmouth Middle School assistant principal. This is a new position which was created by the school committee earlier this year.  Both of these new school leaders will begin their duties in July. Elizabeth Viveiros Viveiros is currently a principal intern and second-grade teacher at Hugh Cole …

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Prudence Island Residents Mixed About Mt. Hope Toll Proposal

Prudence Island residents share how they feel about the proposed toll for the Mount Hope Bridge.

Prudence Island resident Valerie Bachini travels on ferry, over water and over the Mount Hope Bridge five days a week just to take her children to public school in Portsmouth. If a new toll were placed on the Mount Hope Bridge, the mother of two says it would be more than an inconvenience for her. "I'm against it," Bachini said Friday while riding the Prudence Island Ferry back home.  Bachini's two young children both attend Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth. The town covers the costs for the ferry and Bachini says the proposed toll is not "a lot of money." But would Prudence Island residents be responsible for paying it to get to town? Prudence Island residents are, in fact, Portsmouth residents. Prudence Island inhabitants pay a …

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Portsmouth Public Education Foundation to Celebrate Its 10th Anniversary

Mark your calendars! A fall showcase is planned for Nov. 3 at the Glen Manor House.

The Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) passes along this information about its 10th anniverary celebration, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth   The public is invited to enjoy appetizers and a cash bar at the Fall Showcase and Social. You'll also be able to view exhibits of past Educational Excellence grant recipients and the current "Teacher of the Year." Exhibits from Melville Elementary School, Portsmouth Middle School and Portsmouth High School will be featured. Many local businesses have offered their support to public education by donating to the silent auction. Offerings include six-day free dockage at Brewers Marinas, golf packages from Green Valley, Newport National and Montaup …

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Portsmouth Living

You Can't Sell Your Snacks And Eat Them Too!

Christina shares an important lesson she learned in fourth grade.

Every September, when the kids go back to school, I start to think about my time as a student.  Some memories are good, some bad, some downright embarrassing. (I’ll save those for another article.) For whatever reason, I got to thinking about how the snack system worked when I was at Melville Elementary. (Don’t try to figure it out, I don’t know how either).   I don’t know how it’s set up now or if there even is a snack cart that makes the rounds, but in my day, there was a cart that the fourth-graders brought around filled with various potato chips, Doritos, Fritos and I can’t forget my favorite, Funyuns. Now, it’s probably loaded with yogurt and fruit or some other healthy snack. Or, at least I hope it is.  Each bag cost 25 cents and …

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PHOTOS: Meet Portsmouth's New Teachers

Twenty-six new teachers and four staff members will join the Portsmouth School District this fall. Have you met them?

Portsmouth students who head back to class on Thursday, Sept. 1, could very well see a new face in the hallway.  Twenty-six new teachers and four faculty members will join the Portsmouth School District this year. Meet these new faces in the gallery above. Ryan Moniz, physical education/health Steven Trezvant, athletic director Ashley Gould, social studies Lisa Zabel, science Kimberly Warrington, special education Shaun Horgan, computers Madeline Chisholm, science Nicole Desrosiers, special education Carol Leaver, food and consumer science Sarah Jakob, grade 8 science Staci Del Deo, grade 8 math Sarah Castanho, long-term substitute Morgan Curtis, special education Chris Dolos, grade 6 science Hannah Farrell, grade 6 science and robotics …

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Melville Elementary School Principal Says She Sees Progress As School Year Ends

Dr. Joanne Olson talks about the closing of Elmhurst Elementary School and the progress of her teachers, as well as students.

Melville Elementary School Principal Dr. Joanne Olson believes it has been a great, although fast, school year. “It’s been a very fast year," she said. Olson has been at the helm of Melville Elementary School for 15 years. Prior to that, she was a principal in the Coventry school system for eight years after moving to Rhode Island from Florida. According to Olson, the average student population at Melville Elementary School is 360 with a Navy population at 10 to 15 percent. There are 32 educators on board. She pointed out Melville school has very young students with it being the only school in Portsmouth with pre-kindergarten classrooms. “We start at 3-years-old and finish up at third grade,” she said. As for the closing and merger of …

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Newport Restaurant Owners Teach Melville Students the Importance of Eating Local, Fresh

Melville Elementary School students participated in a national program, Chefs Move to School, on Tuesday.

The first-graders at Melville Elementary School enjoyed fresh salads made with local ingredients Tuesday afternoon, while also learning about dining etiquette. Melville School particiated in “Chefs Move to School," a partner program with Newport restaurant Tallulah on Thames. The chefs' program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and “will help chefs partner with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet schools’ guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced choices.” First Lady Michelle Obama is a strong advocate of the program. Physical Education Teacher Pamela Storme organized the event and its curriculum at the school. “This is …

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Photos: Melville Elementary School Celebrates End of Year With Picnic

Students and parents enjoyed an afternoon of fun together on Monday, June 13.

The Melville Elementary School students gathered for their annual picnic Monday afternoon under cloudy skies on the basketball court. Many parents showed up to spend some time with their children, to eat potato salad and watch them play. Many of the youngsters said they had big plans for the upcoming summer. To view more from Monday's picnic, see the photo gallery featured above! Did you attend the picnic and take your own photos? Don't forget to add them to our gallery above!

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Melville Elementary Students Put Their Hearts to Work on Valentine's Day

The school hopes its annual American Heart Association fundraising event exceeds last year's donations.

Melville Elementary students really sprang into action Monday. The students spent Valentine's Day participating in the school's annual American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. Patch dropped by Melville as two of the four first grade classes jumped, skipped and hula-hooped along to thumping dance music. Physical Education teacher Pam Storme said she's anxious and excited to tally this year's donations. So are the students. That's because Storme promised that she would teach basketball while dressed in a pink and black tutu if the students topped last year's total of $5,500. According to Storme, the chances of topping that number are good as many students brought in donations of a $100 or more. 

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