Welcome to the Block Island School.
The philosophy of the New Shoreham School Department is based on the premise that the most valuable resource of the Town of New Shoreham is its children. It is our belief that schools benefit not only children and their parents, but all of society, by helping to assure that each individual is capable of contributing to the overall good of humankind. The school experience should be a catalyst to help students clarify their own goals and values, to acquire healthy attitudes toward success and failure, to understand the function of experimentation in learning, and to gain sufficient confidence to take appropriate risks in order to achieve. Fundamental to the educational process is the conviction that students learn differently from one another and each must be regarded as an individual worthy of our interest, respect, and best efforts. (Policy AA Educational Philosophy on School Committee Policy Website)
Being new to the school district, I have begun meeting community members, staff, alumni, and students. I am extremely impressed with the dedication of all constituents to the School Committee Philosophy. I recently sat with a teacher and alumna on the ferry. We had a great conversation about the amazing education that she and her siblings have received at the Block Island School. I could see the pride in the teacher’s eyes as he asked her how she was doing in college and we all reminisced about academic and athletic excellence from the past. I have been able to visit the school this summer. I have also observed the hard work that is taking place behind the scenes in the summer by the School Committee, administrators, clerical staff, custodial staff, food service staff, and town agency staff in preparing for the upcoming year.
Last year we faced a once in a lifetime pandemic. The Block Island School mitigation strategies were so successful that we could not trace any transmissions of COVID 19 occuring in the school. We continue to remain committed to maintaining an in-person learning environment in the Block Island School and have developed our school re-opening plan for the 2021-22 school year with that in mind. We will remain flexible to increase or decrease safety protocols as needed throughout the year. Collaboratively we will continue to follow health and safety guidelines, including wearing masks, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing. I am confident that we will have another successful year!
Sincerely,
Bob Gerardi
Robert J. Gerardi, Jr. PhD
School Superintendent