By Chloe Nash, Staff Writer
June 10, 2023
ROCKLAND- More than five years after the project began, the Phelps Elementary School will be merging all three Rockland elementary schools in the fall.
The building can support up to 650 students, and the principal, Ms. Michelle Scheufele said a goal for the school is “ really getting out the curriculum from all three schools and making sure we are all on the same page.”
Ms. Scheufele grew up and graduated from Rockland and has been in education here for 29 years. Currently, she is the principal of Jefferson Elementary.
As she watches this new school be made, she said, “this is such an awesome development for Rockland.”
In a standard classroom, you will likely see that every room with have an interactive TV, and teachers and extra staff members will have their own laptops.
Some other uses of technology include Chromebooks that every student will be provided and a projection screen in the gym and cafeteria and a space in the school where kids have access to a 3D Printer.
Another goal Ms. Scheufele has is to have activities that every student can access like drama, intramurals, homework club, art and music programs, instrumental programs, and more.
As there is concern about traffic in the area as we start the new school year, Ms. Scheufele plans to continue using kid account of being able to call down students in an orderly manner and scan cards to make a safer drop-off.
Combining schools can become difficult, but Ms. Scheufele said, “Just really making sure every school has a voice. We are going to create our own traditions, but also keep personalities of all three schools involved for both students and the staff.”
Ms. Emily Adams, a teacher at Phelps, is in her 11th year teaching first grade and her 12th in the Rockland Public Schools, as she was a paraprofessional out of college for a year.
Ms. Adams worked at Memorial Park before joining the new school, and she said, “teachers can now easily collaborate and make decisions based to benefit all of the students not just a fraction of them.”
Ms. Adams is most nervous about starting with a new team and new people but is excited to see all three schools come together and the changes and opportunities that will come with it.
“Merging all of the elementary schools will make learning for students across the town more consistent. Teachers can now easily collaborate and make decisions based to benefit all of the students not just a fraction of them,” Ms. Adams said.
Ms. Susan Wells is becoming a new librarian at Phelps for her first year. She was a 4th-grade teacher for 11 years at Jefferson and Esten.
Over the past two years, Ms. Wells has been taking courses at Salem State University to get her school library certification. So when the job was available, she applied and is thrilled to have this opportunity.
She hopes to start some clubs like book club and homework club. She also wants to bring authors to the school and make the library a special place for the kids.
“Going from being a full-time classroom teacher to having over 700 students is a bit daunting, but I am excited to share my love of reading and learning with the kids,” said Ms. Wells.