BIS vs. BMS

Some of the differences between the Block Island School (K-12 pop. @145) and the Bath Middle School (6th - 8th pop. @400).

a) the BMS recently put a new addition on the old school (phenomenally done and incorporates everything a school needs and wants). It took approximately 9 months of full time planning (according to one of the three school secretaries) and 3 months of construction from start to finish. Huh.

b) school starts at 7:30 a.m.every morning (except Wed. which is a delayed one hour start, I don't know why) and ends 2:00 pm every day.

c) teachers at BMS are required to be present on school grounds no later than 7:00 a.m.

d) two out of every six teachers mentor/sponsor/lead an after-school group.

e) Home Ec is a required half year elective, alternating with tech ed.

f) A full time guidance counselor is on staff and actually calls the parents of new students to check on them.

g) The Principal and/or the Vice Principal stand outside the school every morning, meeting and greeting and making their presence known.

h) French and Spanish begin in 7th Grade.

g) While there are definitely cliques and "locals" with that attitude, for the most part newcomers are treated with some curiosity and definitely a certain amount of open-mindedness and out and out compassion by the majority of the kids at BMS.

h) my daughter has been "adopted" by two girls who genuinely like her, adore her and call her on too regular a basis. The people that my daughter grew up with have been much friendlier since this summer (now that they all hung out in town together and had that bonding experience) and call every great once in a while - which is more than they've done the last 12 1/2 years.