Tuesday Begins a Brand New School Year

For the first time in nine years, the back-to-school picnic was rained out, and activities were moved into the gymnasium. Trace Dominguez, an interpreter at Fort Mackinac dressed in an 1800s soldier's uniform, played his fife for students gathered in the gymnasium.

When the first bell rang at 8:15 a.m., the front doors of the Mackinac Island Public School opened, and 75 students poured into the hallway, soaked and dripping from a heavy rain that began shortly before dawn. The school's nine teachers, with classrooms ready, awaited the students.

As the new school year began Tuesday, September 4, younger students made their way to classrooms, while those in grades eight and up headed toward the gymnasium to pick up class schedules and receive a briefing on locker assignments, cellular telephone use (they should be turned off), and dress code requirements.

Five new classes will be offered this year, said Superintendent Roger Schrock, speaking to students gathered in the gymnasium. The new classes include basic law, social studies, performing arts, environmental science, and publications.

Opening lockers for the first time as the school year begins Tuesday, September 4, are (from left) ninth grade student Jesse Straight and eighth grade students Anthony Rickley and Austin Jaruzel.

The law class will be taught by Seth Baker and will include a mock trial and a moot court. He will teach social studies, in which students will learn about the ethics and mores of society. Mr. Baker also will teach the new performing arts class, which will include speech, debate, and theater. The class will end with students presenting a children's show.

Science teacher Jeffery Ferguson will instruct students on ecology and science ethics in the new environmental science class.

Working on the school newsletter and the yearbook will be a part of the publications class taught by Susan Bennett.

With six seniors, this year's 12th grade class is three times the size of the 2006 class of two. Ten students make up the junior class, and all grades have at least four or five students, Dr. Schrock told the Town Crier.

At right: Nicholas Pokora (front) and Aaron Riggs try to master hoop spinning during game time at the school's indoor picnic.

The girls winter basketball program, which will begin in November, has been resurrected, he said. The last time the Island had a girls team was about 20 years ago. The mandated move of volleyball from winter to fall, which is the same time as the soccer season, could impact the school's sports teams, said Dr. Schrock, although until school gets underway, it is too early to determine the effect of the schedule change.

Six professional development days have been scheduled for teachers through the school year.

"The state's standards are continually changing," he said, "so we work real hard to make sure that our curriculum matches up."

Foreign language eventually will become part of the state's graduation requirements, he said. Many of the Island students already take a foreign language, which is offered through the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District through its interactive television program.

Above: Beginning their junior year, Arial Leeper (left) and Danielle Wightman serve hot dogs and hamburgers to students, teachers, parents, and visitors. Food for the picnic was prepared by school cook Donna Killips (not pictured).

Throughout the coming school year, he said, the school board will continue to consider improvements to the infrastructure at the school, including work on the ventilation system in the gymnasium, door replacement, and painting and staining the storage building, which also houses the wood shop class.

"We're looking forward to a great year," he said.

At left: Second grade student Sadie Johnson practices indoor skiing as other students play volleyball and indoor games at the back-to-school picnic.