Vineyard Montessori, long a presence on the Island as a preschool, has expanded in recent years into the lower grades. Now the school is ready to expand again, and next year will offer classes through eighth grade.

Student enrollment is slightly down this year in Martha’s Vineyard public schools, according to the annual Oct. 1 school census.

Some 200 fifth and sixth graders from around the Island spent Thursday afternoon racing cars behind the Edgartown School. The cars were small, sleek and solar, built by the students themselves.

Mother Nature was a spoil sport on Saturday morning, shining no sun on the solar car races at the Boys & Girls Club. The event involves fifth and sixth graders from around the Island, testing their knowledge of gear ratios, UV rays, and, when it's too cloudy, how to quickly add a battery pack.

The search for a new principal at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School is well under way, superintendent of schools Dr. James H. Weiss said Monday.

A separate search has also begun for Mr. Weiss’s replacement when he retires in 2015.

Almost 200 fifth grade students from across the Island gathered at the Boys and Girls Club to race handcrafted solar cars Saturday morning. The event was the conclusion of a nearly two-week long study of sustainability, renewable energy and engineering.