Principal's Newsletter
September 2016
September Happenings
School Store Fundraiser
Participating retailers and percentages of sales, which come back to the Block Island School when you shop through Schoolstore.com
1-800-FLOWERS - 6% Dollar General - 5% Office Depot - .5%-6%
Ace Hardware Store - 5%
Advance Auto Parts - 8%
Aeropostale - 4%
Avon - 6%
Barnes and Noble - 6%
Bass Pro Shops - 5%
Best Western Hotels - 5%
Best Buy - 3%
Buckle - 5%
Cafe Press - 15%
Carbonite - 35%
CoffeeForLess.com - 5%
Crayola Store - 10%
DirecTV - $110
Discount Contact Lenses - 8%
Disney Store - 3%
Discount School Supply - 5%
Dollar Tree - 5%
Emeril Store - 7%
Exterior Accents - 12%
Fandango - $.10
Finish Line - 5%
Foot Locker - 5%
Fossil Watches - 10%
GameStop - 5%
GAP - 4%
Hooked On Phonics - 15%
ICE.com - 10%
Kohl's - 4%
Kmart - 1.5%-6%
Lane Bryant - 5%
MacMall Apple Superstore - 1%-3%
Musicians Friend - 3%-6%
New York & Company - 3%
Old Navy - 4%
Office Max - 1%-6%
PetSmart - 5%-6%
Sears - 1.5%-7%
Sephora - 5%
Starbucks - 7%
Target - $4-$8, 1%%
The Children's Place - 2%
The Pfaltzgraff Co. - 6%
Things Remembered - 1%
Under Armour - 8%
Verizon Wireless - $30-$75
Virgin Mobile - $10-$45
Walmart - 1%-4%
Zales Diamond Store - 4%
School Telephone Directory
Staff Directory
Baker, Joan 247
Breunig, Laura 223
Canole, John (Principal) 228
Carson, Victoria 257
Ceramics 267
Closter, Robb 233
Computer Room (Rm. 11 - downstairs) 254
Conway, Jayne 255
Cotter Marsella, Shannon 256
Cousins, Maura 241
Cunningham, Lynne 221
Durden, Judy 251
Flaherty, Maureen 239
Gammell, Kelsey 272
Gibbons, Susan 240
Gomes, Betty (Guidance Counselor) 274
Greenaway, Nancy 237
Gutierrez, Marsha 226
Gym Phone (hall) 244
Hart, Deborah 253
Hawk, Mark (Special Education Director) 249
Hennessy, Megan 230
Henshaw, Stacy 250
Lindsey's Room 268
Little Room 263
Lundsten, Judy (Superintendent) 225
MAC Lab - Library 231
Martin, Kathleen 242
McTeague, Lauri 245
Mello / O'Brien 265
Monje, Kristine (Principal) 222
Moran, Matthew 260
Mulshine, Kathy 273
Nelson, Scott (Maintenance) 258
Office - Extension 224
Pence, Glen (Kitchen) 243
Reeves, Melanie 227
Riker, Summer 262
Robb, Lisa 232
Sick Room - office 229
Smith, Donna 259
Staff Room 275
Tarbox, John 235
Tito, Frank 266
Wall, Libby 252
Warfel, Joanne 246
Weight Room 264
Wood, Jessica 238
Wygant, Pat 236
Curriculum Work
This year, our teachers will be hard at work reading books about science, attending workshops and rewriting curriculum to make this happen, all while continuing to hone our math and language arts curriculum and of course teach kids everyday! Below is a link to learn more about NGSS.
Fitness and Sports
Just recently, we have partnered with the South County Healthy Bodies and Minds and the RI Dept. of Health to promote their program , 5-2-1-0 Lifestyle Everyday. This program recommends a daily dose of 5 or more fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks, more water. To learn more about the program visit http://bodiesminds.org/programs
Weight training has been a program at our school for many years. This year students returned to school with a new weight room thanks to a $17,000 grant made possible from the Block island Wellness Coalition and Bob Rae from Frontline Fitness. Take a peak at our new facility.
Lots of dumbbells, a preacher bench, and lifting stations!
Bob Rae of Frontline Fitness
New treadmills and Universal!
Superintendent's Corner
Attendance Counts!
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Student attendance for September looks good at Block Island School. Thank you for supporting your children and the school in this way; it really counts! Across the country superintendents, business leaders, parents, school committees, and community members are delivering the message that attendance matters for success in school and in life. We all have a stake in ensuring that our students are in school every day so they can learn. I know many of you are taking advantage of the Friday dismissal time to schedule off island medical and dental appointments.
Usually chronic absenteeism is defined as being absent 10% or more days per school year. 10% equates to 18 school days. Obviously, because Block Island presents certain challenges in regards to being off island, I don’t believe 18 days a year is applicable. However, as a community that certainly supports our students, we need to be paying attention to student attendance.
Please make every effort to get your children to school on time every day. We want your children to succeed. Above all, let us know how we can help.
Drop in!
It was nice to see many of you at the back to school night. As I visited classes that evening, I was happy to see the interest parents took in learning about the curriculum and classroom procedures and policies. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with the teachers, the administration, and the school committee. Please feel free to drop in and visit with me. You can email me at jlundsten@bi.k12.ri.us to make sure I’m in the office. My schedule varies by week and day as I can only work 90 school days a year.
Policies!
Just like your students have goals, I, too, have several goals this year. One of these goals is to review all school policies. Any school policy that may be added, revised, deleted, or changed will always be presented, reviewed, posted, and voted on by the school committee. I would hope that if you have thoughts on these policies you would share your ideas and concerns with the school committee and me. Most recently we have revised the technology policy in regards to the use of cell phones during class time. Students will be asked to leave their phones in a container on the teacher’s desk as they enter the classroom. Students will only be allowed to use their cell phones during instructional time for educational purposes. Please do not call your student or text during class time. Students will be allowed to use their cell phones during lunch and passing time. Like any technology, it’s essential that students use these devices in a responsible manner.
On the October school committee agenda will be the second reading of a proposed security cameras policy. The school committee has authorized me to place additional security cameras in public places, i.e. hallways and at entrances to the building in order to improve security and safety in the building. When the policy is adopted, all families and community members will be sent the policy. In addition, the policy will be reviewed with students and the staff. You can find the proposed policy posted on the school’s website.