What To Expect At Coventry Schools For The Rest Of The Year

COVENTRY, RI — Here's what to expect at Coventry Schools for the rest of the year. In a message to the community, Superintendent Craig Levis announced plans for the school calendar, grading policies and how to collect personal belongings.

Three professional development days were planned for the remainder of the year: one on Wednesday and two others on May 20 and June 1. Students have this day off to catch up or relax, while teachers are asked to used the days to work with colleagues or on their own. May 15, meanwhile, is a vacation day, when all school functions will be closed. The last day of school will be June 15.

Over the next two weeks, the district will work to develop plans for the last two weeks of the year.

"It is important for our educators and students to reflect upon this year, celebrate our successes, and prepare for what the future holds," Levis said. "We want to develop activities that are engaging, focus on social and emotional well being, and put some closure on this year."

The district is working with the Rhode Island Department of Health and other state agencies to plan safe end-of-year celebrations. High school graduates can expect more information by the end of the week.

To address the unique circumstances of distance learning, the district has developed new grading procedures for elementary, middle and high school classes.

"We recognize there are so many variables that impact every student and their ability to access the curriculum," Levis said. "Our decisions have been driven by balancing equity with fairness ... We may not know for many, many years how this period in our lifetime will impact a generation of learners. Our decisions take into consideration the overall well-being of our learners."

Principals will share individual grading scales with students and parents.

The district is also creating a plan for students to retrieve any belongings they may have left at school. To ensure safety of students and staff, personal items will be returned over a two-week period.

"There will be many more decisions that will need to be made over the next few weeks and months," Levis said. "We do not know what next school year will look like when we return ... I have never been more sincere when I state that attacking this alone would be an exercise in futility. Your willingness and support instill hope."