Some students are becoming more worried about report cards and GPA scores.

Constantly taking tests and quizzes in their science classes, students often worry that their class grade and by extension their GPA suffer due to low exam grades.

Some students can now talk to their science teachers such as Mr. Vincelette and Mr. Johnson about an extra credit assignment.

The extra credit assignment is to outline science lectures being offered at the University of Rhode Island.

On Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. from September- December, the URI Honors Colloquium is offering lectures as part of their series, “Are You Ready for the Future”. Lectures speak about their view of the future.

Lectures include an author, a futurist, a cyber-security expert, a three time Hugo award winning science fiction author and many other experts who will be sharing their thoughts on what they believe the future will hold for mankind, in correspondence with their fields of study.

Sophomore Ian Doyle, who watched the lecture online, said, “It was interesting and cool.”  Doyle added that the idea of giving extra credit to watch these lectures makes it even better.

Doyle said, “It’s a good idea because it exposes students to stuff they normally wouldn’t learn.”

Only some teachers offer extra credit for listening and then writing about the lectures, however.

The lectures that are being offered for extra credit include:

Tuesday nights, beginning at 7:30 p.m. September-December 2011

Edwards Auditorium, URI Kingstown Campus

Free Admission for all:

•             October 11: URI professor and nanotechnologist Jason Dwyer

•             October 25: Technologist James Bellingham and hurricane researcher Joesph Cione and robotist Chris Roman

•             November 8: Cognitive scientist Deb Roy and media researcher Johanna Blankley talk about social media

•             November 15: cyber security expert Richard Clark on cyberwarfare

•             November 22: Week of Thanksgiving, no lecture

•             November 29: Director of Center for Bioethics, Science and Societyat Northwestern University Lauri Zololoth talks about ethics and genetics

•             December 6: Honors Colloquium students offer their thoughts on the future (last lecture)

See a more detailed schedule at www.uri.edu/hc/

“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.