“Beginning on January 4^th, the first day after Holiday Break, South Kingstown High School’s tardy policy will go into full effect,” reads a December 14 email from Assistant Principal Mrs. Guerra to faculty advisors.

  Administration have decide it is now time to enforce the policy that appears in the  school’s Student Agenda.

  While the school has always had a disciplinary policy regarding students who are tardy to school, the policy was revised for this school year.

  The policy states that “South Kingstown High School does not distinguish between excused and unexcused tardies… After more than ten tardies to school students will lose the privilege of participating in extra-curricular activities, field trips, and [if they are a senior] will lose parking privileges.”

  Administration predicts that 55 to 60 students, including winter season athletes will be affected by the enforcement of the policy. Athletes who take part in a winter or spring sports this year should take warning, as during the five days of social probation they will not be allowed to practice, participate in games, or even travel with the team, which could result in the students’ dismissal from the team.

    If the student is late to school within the five days of his or her social probation, however, he or she will lose all privileges for the entirety of the semester.

    Prior to January 4, all students who arrived late to school more than 10 times before Holiday Break will be given a warning. If the students are late an additional time they will receive social probation.

  Assistant Principal Mr. Cronin explained that, “the students with more than 10 tardies will be treated as if they have only been late nine times. The next late will be considered their tenth.”

  In the future, at the closure of every semester, each student’s record will be wiped clean. After January 25^th, everyone will have zero tardy arrivals to school on their record.

In the past, the school has struggled to implement punishment for students who have been tardy to or absent from school.  

  Many students point out the lack of penalty after receiving a letter in the mail from the school concerning the number of times they have arrived late to school. Others question whether or not this policy will differ from those in the past.

    “The first semester could act as a warning,” said Mr. Cronin, “since after we return to school there will only be ten days of classes left before exams begin.”

Emma Christian kneels down to paint the bottom portion of the wall leading into a class room door.

  On Monday, January 18, Mrs. Colao’s G period sociology class completed a service learning project where the outcome benefited the school as a whole.

  For the class’ mid-term, Colao suggested the idea of doing a class service project together rather than doing separate community service hours on their own time.  With the support of the administration and the excitement of the class, the project came together.

  Andrew Figgins, a senior in Colao’s class said that the project “was rad.”

  The date the G period class chose was Martin Luther King Day, where the students used over 40 gallons of white paint to freshen up the Technology and Social Studies hallway on the second floor.  The chosen project name was “Fresh Paint.”

  SKHS senior, Katherine Tsiatas said, “[Painting] should be done to the rest of the school.”

  The sociology class comprised of juniors and seniors, worked from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with the help of senior Ben Sevey’s father, a painter, who donated brushes, paint trays, painting mats as well as other necessary supplies.

  The sociology class was not the only one who volunteered to paint that day.  Seniors Molly Reilly and Neil Redmond contributed their time that day alongside social studies teacher Mr. Taber.

  The following morning, the class alongside the other volunteers used dark blue paint to leave their handprint marks on the wall of the hallway leading to the back of the library.  Next to each handprint the students and teachers signed their name and graduation year.

  Though the project “Fresh Paint” was not optional, due to the fact that this project was the class’ mid-term, the students all participated in making a change in the school for the better.

  “This experience brought our class closer together,” said senior Emma Christian with a smile on her face.

The senior class voted on their class trip on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.  The senior trip is an annual tradition at SKHS.

“We think it went well,” said senior class officer Marissa McMahon.  “We made the ballots because we as class officers have similar opinions, and we wanted to make sure all of the class was represented.”

Ideas on the ballot include a hiking trip to Mt. Washington, a trip to Six Flags, and a “mystery ride.”  A “mystery ride” means that students would get onto a bus and be taken to various different activities, which have not yet been revealed by the Class Officers.

Results of the senior trip vote will be forthcoming, according to McMahon.