Facilities planning, early intervention for attendance problems, junior varsity sports policies and the search for a new principal all occupied the regional high school district committee at its first meeting of the new school year.

Now in its 10th year, the festival featured 20 films from all over the world over the course of four days.

With hurricane season under way and winter storm season on the way, West Tisbury selectmen heard from the town emergency manager this week about preparedness and ongoing efforts to operate an Islandwide emergency shelter during severe storms.

Tears were wiped away, encouraging words spoken and Tisbury School kids of all grades joined their counterparts across the Island on the first day of school.

Summer break is coming to an end and Vineyard schools will be back in session on Tuesday. This marks Matthew D’Andrea’s freshman year as superintendent of the Island public school system.

Overcrowding in West Tisbury kindergarten classes for this year led to brief discussion last week among school committee members about capping the number of kindergartners coming from Aquinnah.