Coventry School Committee Policy #: 1010

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1010: GUIDING BELIEFS

WE BELIEVE THAT:

• Education is the shared responsibility among the student, the family, the school and the community.

• We have a responsibility to provide equitable education from grades K-12 and for special needs children from ages 3-21.

• Each student learns differently and should be provided with learning experiences designed to optimize individual potential.

• We should provide students with a knowledge of their rights and responsibilities.

• Education is a process of questioning, experimenting and problem solving to arrive at the nature of truth.

• The school experience is a catalyst in aiding the student in establishing a value system to live within an ever changing society.

• The student should have the opportunity to gather the information necessary to pursue career goals.

• Each student must be provided the opportunity to develop the basic skills necessary to become a contributor to the community.

• Educational opportunities should be made available to school children and interested adults in the form of vocational, avocational and recreational activities.

• It is the schools responsibility to provide the environment for positive academic, physical, social, emotional and aesthetic growth of our students.

• It is the community’s responsibility to provide the necessary finances and facilities; and that it is the school’s responsibility to provide a curriculum sufficient to meet these educational beliefs.

• A school culture, which embraces diversity, change, risk-taking, and shared decision-making, is the catalyst for change.

• Schools must be safe, nurturing environments for learning where norms of genuine respect are shared by all members of the school community.




Policy #: 1010

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MISSION STATEMENT


The mission of the Coventry Public Schools is to prepare all students to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives as productive members of a complex global society. Coventry will achieve this mission by providing a high quality, standards-based education for all students in an environment based on respect, trust, and ethical and responsible behavior.

We dedicate ourselves to:

• Enlist students and their families in a partnership directly impact the learning process, school governance and as a credible voice of continued communication.

• Maintain a safe, healthy, nurturing learning environment for all students.

• Create opportunities for all students to reach high standards of excellence.

• Recognize different learning styles and degrees for learning.

• Support individual and cultural diversity.

• Develop and empower the mind, body and spirit.

• Prepare students to pursue and achieve life goals.

• Provide preparation for broad career opportunities.


GOALS


WE WILL:


I. Improve student proficiency in the RI Common Core of Learning.


II. Make technology accessible in all schools to support learning and student achievement.


III. Provide professional development that enhances teaching and learning, leading to
improved student performance.


Policy #: 1010

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STRATEGIES


I. Improve student proficiency in the RI Common Core of Learning.

• We will provide quality instruction in order that all students can achieve at standard or above in all content areas of instruction.

• We will provide a safe, secure and healthy learning environment.

• We will continuously examine and revise curriculum in the areas of math, English and language arts.

• We will provide opportunities for community and parental involvement to affect student achievement.

• We will allocate resources necessary to accomplish this goal.

II. Make technology accessible in all schools to support learning and student achievement.

• We will establish a district wide technology committee to insure that all schools have access to appropriate computer technology.

• We will enable all teachers to support curricula with technology.

• We will assign responsibility for district wide coordination of technology.

• We will allocate resources to accomplish this goal.

III. Provide professional development that enhances teaching and learning, leading to
improved student performance.

• We will establish professional development committees at both the school and the district level that will jointly determine the professional development needs of the schools and the district.

• We will allocate resources on a district and school basis to support professional development.


1st Reading: 2-10-81 Adopted: 3-10-81
2nd Reading: 3-10-81 Reaffirmed: 8-28-90
Revised: 10-11-05