COMMACK SCHOOLS

First-year North Ridge principal Melissa Blady is getting to know the primary school’s students while reinforcing the Commack Champion character traits.

Blady began a tour of classrooms on Thursday morning by reading “If I Built a School” by Chris Van Dusen to second graders in Maureen Mackenzie’s class.

Blady opened the visit by reviewing the 10 character traits comprising a Commack Champion: balanced, caring, communicator, inquirer, knowledgeable, open-minded, principled, reflective, risk-taker and thinker.

Then, as opportunities arose in the book, Blady enlisted the students help to link applicable character traits.

In “If I Built a School,” a boy fantasizes about his dream school, including classroom, cafeteria, library and playground.