What a whirlwind summer this has been. There are tons of changes going on at the Oak Bluffs School, as we get ready to start our new year. Before we can move on though, we have to acknowledge the contributions of one person who will be missed in our community.

Laury Binney came to the Oak Bluffs School 14 years ago and deserves accolades for the many positive changes he made within our school. He can be credited with hiring some of the best teachers on the Island. He also worked tirelessly towards improving instruction.

He brought the Responsive Classroom social curriculum that all of our K-8 schools now use. One of the most memorable things I remember Binney saying to me as a new assistant principal was that he wanted the Oak Bluffs School to be a beacon on our Island. Hats off to you, Binney — job well done. The Oak Bluffs School has that certain something that no other school on this Island can touch. I am so proud to be from Oak Bluffs.

We’d like to welcome the following new staff members: Carla Hoyt, Mike Magaraci, Melissa Murphy, Kathryn DeBettencourt, and Barbara Binder. We look forward to having you on our team.

We are busy finishing our summer clean up, with thanks to our custodial staff for all their hard work in getting everything ready: Richie Combra and the O.B. Highway Department and Brian Kennedy and the Sheriff’s Department for our grounds work; and finally to Erik Adams and his painting crew for our fabulous new paint job. Thanks to you, Tuesday morning the school will be ready to open its doors and welcome our community.

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be back in Oak Bluffs. Our teachers and staff are top notch, and I see nothing but positive outcomes coming our way. As we continue to set high standards in all areas of curriculum, our concentration will be on math and ELA, with strategies that work toward continuing improvement in those areas. We will also continue to use Responsive Classroom and Developmental Design to focus on our social curriculum. Given the recent focus within Massachusetts schools, we will work together to develop strategies that directly deal with bullying and continue to make strong advances towards a bully-free environment.

As you break out your brand new calendar to record upcoming activities for the school year, note the following must-do’s:

September 7: PTO Family Pot Luck, back field, from 4-6:30 pm.

September 17: Grades 6-8 Back-to-School Night, time to be announced (TBA).

October 7: Grades K-5 Open House/Pasta Dinner, time TBA.

There will be a parent coffee after you drop off your children the first day of school. I’d love to see you there. If you can’t make it, I’d like to make sure we connect at some point. My door is always open to you.

Kids, enjoy your last weekend. I hope Hurricane Earl stays far away but somehow stirs up your excitement about coming back to school.

We’ve got an exciting year ahead, and I’m ready to meet it head on.

Are you?

Carlin Hart is principal of the Oak Bluffs School.