After five years as the head of the Edgartown School, Shelley Einbinder-Fleischmann announced Tuesday that she will retire after the school year. Vice principal Mary Ann Bartlett will also resign at the end of June.

Alicia Knight will head to Finland this fall to study inquiry-based learning, an educational method that encourages students' curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Nearly 200 parents attended an Edgartown school committee meeting last week, criticizing the district for a lack of transparency and a pattern of ignoring parental concerns.

Working with wildlife biologists at BiodiversityWorks, seventh and eighth graders in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury spent this month reviewing images of mammals from camouflage cameras placed around the Vineyard.

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

The half-day dismissal brought celebrations and reflections from students, teachers and parents alike. Some were nervous about transitions, others thrilled for the end of homework and the start of beach time.

The Edgartown School went into lockdown Tuesday morning after receiving an anonymous threat. Police later determined it was a hoax but will continue to monitor the situation.

Bucking a statewide trend, the Vineyard public school system continues to grow, with 2,253 students enrolled across the Island on Oct. 1 compared to 2,191 a year earlier.

Whatever feelings the Island's children may have about returning to school next Tuesday, Sept. 6, their principals, teachers, coaches and other campus leaders are eager to welcome them back for a school year with a return of cherished traditions.

Six students from the Vineyard are among the winners of the Steamship Authority's Sail into Imagination art contest.