Though too young to cast their own ballots, parents and school teachers brought youngsters out to the polls Tuesday to give them a firsthand view of democracy. 

This school year, students in Melissa McNickles' second and third grade class have started reading to Molly, a great Pyrenees mix, to practice reading aloud.

When noon struck on Tuesday, school bells rang at elementary schools all over the Island announcing that summer vacation had officially begun.

Kate Squire, a fourth-grade teacher based in Concord will take the helm as principal of the Chilmark School, according to an announcement from superintendent of schools Dr. Richard Smith.

A fourth-grade teacher in the Concord public school system and an Edgartown School third-grade teacher are the final two candidates vying to become the Chilmark School’s first new principal in 15 years.

The Up-Island Regional School District committee last week agreed to hire a principal for Chilmark School to replace school head Susan Stevens, who retires at the end of the school year.

After nearly 15 years at the helm of the Chilmark school and 49 years as an educator, head of school Susan Stevens last week announced she plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Kindergartners across Dukes County have a higher proportion of vaccine exemptions than anywhere else in the state, with a 6.3 per cent county-wide exemption rate compared to the 1.4 per cent state average.

Next week, two classes will be temporarily moved to the Chilmark Community Center as workers finish up HVAC work at the Chilmark School.

On Tuesday morning around the Island, bells were ringing again as Vineyard students headed back to the classroom for the first day of school.