Port in a storm

The period between February vacation and April vacation always feels like the longest, hardest stretch of the school year for me; we’ve all been in school for six months but the end is clearly not in sight. I think this week just before the April break can be particularly trying, especially for many families this year whose lives were turned upside down by the flooding. Everyone is ready for the break. But one advantage we have working in schools is that there are always activities occurring that can re-energize us. Tuesday night, I went to see the drama club’s performance of the short play, “Killing Bill” which was a fundraising performance to help defray the costs of a trip to Falmouth, Maine where the group will be performing the play this weekend as part of the New England Drama Festival. The production, directed by Dave Price, is funny and well acted. The group was awarded first place at the RI drama festival which earned them the honor of performing in Maine. The kids clearly enjoy the play and it was a superb production. Wednesday morning, I headed over to Curtis Corner Middle School to observe the co-curricular fair. There were student reps. from around 20 clubs as well as from girls and boys sports teams, who got up "early" on Wednesday morning so they could talk to eighth graders and invite them to sign up as a potential member of their club or team. Next fall when those clubs meet, any of those eighth graders - who will be freshmen - will be contacted by the club and encouraged to attend their first meetings. The primary organizers of the event were science teacher Brenda Dillmann, Deb Harig from the South Kingstown Partnership for Prevention and the SKHS PTG. The event was a great success and one proactive way we can encourage freshmen attending SKHS to get involved. Last night, I attended a joint concert put on by the SKHS and Narragansett High School bands. The two groups had been rehearsing together over the past few weeks and considering they had just started working together, they sounded great. The boys’ volleyball team happened to be taking on Bishop Hendricken across the lobby so I was able to catch the last few points of that match as well. The boys played well but eventually lost. On most evenings at SKHS, you can find a team playing, a group rehearsing, a club holding an activity in the cafeteria. There are always kids – and their coaches and advisors – engaged in activities which demonstrate the passion, commitment and talents of our school community. And if nothing else, that is what keeps you going.