At the high school, the students are at the center of the effort
Photo by Janet Hefler
Stephen Nixon.
As the summer comes to a close, we prepare to return to school for another exciting school year at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. We will be welcoming the Class of 2014, whose members are set to begin their own adventure with memories that will last a lifetime. Our sophomores will ease into the comfort of their second year, while our juniors and seniors begin the hard work of preparing for after-school life. They will be entering a school that has had a few changes over the summer.
We have two new assistant principals in Matt Malowski and Andy Berry; a new athletic director in Mark McCarthy; and new teachers in almost every department. We have lost some hardworking and dedicated people to retirement, but we have filled their spots with some experienced, enthusiastic, and forward thinking educators, some of whom have moved to our Island to work with our young people. As we continue with our goal of having teachers of the highest caliber in our classrooms, in order to ensure the success of our students, this year's new staff members should allow us to stay true to that objective. The most important part of our school, as I enter my third year as principal of MVRHS, is our kids.
I am sure you have seen them this summer; they work at the beaches, they work in our shops, they help care for our smaller children, they practice for their fall sports, they are buried in books, and they laugh out loud as they enjoy all this Island has to offer. Soon they will shift their life's education back to school and the classroom. It is from here they will achieve remarkable things; perform brilliantly in our theater productions; create science fair projects that will mesmerize adults; score on the athletic fields inspiring all of us to cheer; and impressively represent us in a myriad of ways around the world.
As your principal, there is one thing I would like to ask of our close-knit community. This year, when you see young people, wish them well. Tell them how much we appreciate them and what they do, because we are aware of just how hard it truly is. Tell them just how proud they make us, and how much we support them. Knowing that the adults around them are interested and respect what they do is just as much a part of the education process as anything we may do within our building.
Stephen Nixon is principal of the Regional High School.
