In 1992 a group of parents and teachers collaborated on a new academic program for the Chilmark School. It sprang from the belief that children and adults can learn together outside the classroom.
Those were a few of the words the Chilmark School fourth and fifth grade class used in their class blessing at the school’s community lunch Friday afternoon. The lunch was the last of the school year in a series of gatherings organized by Island Grown Schools and volunteers.
Play dates at the beach, fresh rhubarb pies, trips to Hogwarts and warm hugs — this Mother's Day, the second and third grade students in Katy Maciel and Mariah MacGregor’s class at the Chilmark School share poems composed for their moms.
On Monday kindergarten and first grade students at the Chilmark School took their youthful expertise to the air. As part of a STEM project, standing for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the children collaborated on kite making. They were given 25 pennies to spend on materials for each kite and the designs were all their own.
Save the date for next Saturday, Feb. 9, when the Chilmark School holds its annual winter fundraiser. The party will be held at the Chilmark Community Center. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish provide the backbeat.
The fundraiser is from 7 to 11:30 p.m. That’s way past Chilmark midnight (8 p.m.) but, hey, time to step up and stay up for a good cause.
The cost is $15 at the door or online at ticketsmv.com/chilmark.
School costs are driving budget increases across the Island, but in Chilmark, one expense forcing voters to dig into their wallets for education spending may come as a shock.
The Menemsha School, barely four years old, already needs $100,000 in repairs that include replacing moldy floors and rotten doors. Voters will be asked Monday night at annual town meeting to foot the bill. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Chilmark Community Center.
The annual town election takes place Wednesday and will feature five override questions, but no contested races.
A bare quorum of Chilmark voters agreed without dissent this week to borrow another $200,000 to pay for a mounting list of problems in the physical plant at the Chilmark School.
"We are a little embarrassed but we are trying to put our best foot forward and fix the problems," said selectman Frank Fenner at a special town meeting held Wednesday night in the Chilmark Community Center.
The meeting saw a light turnout - about 40 voters attended. In Chilmark, 25 makes a quorum. Town moderator Everett Poole presided.
The money request was the sole article on the warrant.
Six Island educators are among the nine finalists now vying for the
interim principal jobs in both the West Tisbury and Chilmark schools.
The high-speed search for school leaders comes less than a month
after two principals in the Up-Island district - Elaine Pace and
Carlos Colley - handed in their resignations after each serving
three years on the job.
Armed with the results of an anonymous survey that praised the Chilmark School for it small class sizes and strong sense of community but was critical of its leadership, communication and staff turnover, the chairman of a fledgling school task force unveiled a report last night, urging regional school board members to take action on more than a dozen areas of concern.
