Principal's Newsletter
12/23/16
Progress Reports
Youth-to Youth Block Island Wind Farm Outreach Partnership
Our Students Collaborateing with Students and Teachers from the Greene School
Poetry Out Loud
This year, five students, Mary Conant, Fiona Crawford, Julia Gasner, Andre Miller and Maya Veldman-Wilson, will compete locally by reciting their chosen poems on January 12, 2017. The winner will move to the state finals in March.
We are pleased to have Vanessa Gilbert, Artist in Residence for Poetry Out Loud, visit Block Island School on Thursday, January 5, to work on oral interpretation and recitation skills with our finalists in preparation for the competition.
Superentendent's Corner
Holiday gifts……
As we enter the holiday season, I want to reinforce the importance of school attendance. This holiday season, the best gift you can give your child is a good education. And the best place to get that education is in school. Every year, our absences spike in the weeks before and after vacation breaks as families squeeze in a few more vacation days. It’s time to break that cycle.
We know that just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. We also know that attendance is a habit that children should learn early on if they’re going to succeed in school and eventually on the job. Research tells us that a child, who misses more than 16 days of school in that first year of kindergarten, may not graduate. I hope that is alarming to you. It is to me.
School reopens on January 3, 2017. Please make sure your child is in school every day. Most of our students and families make daily attendance a priority since they know the habit of attendance will help them do well in school and eventually in a job. You can help convey the message about the importance of school attendance. Give your children the gift of an education.
While the schools will be closed during the holiday period, I will be watching my school email. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if I can be of assistance to you. If you include your phone number I will call you back.
My best wishes to your family and to you for a healthy and happy holiday season. Please stay safe, enjoy your family gatherings and have a restful break.