A new school year begins in Coventry

Aug. 31—COVENTRY — Today marks the first day of the 2022- 2023 school year for Coventry Public Schools.

Superintendent of Schools David Petrone said the district is transitioning away from the COVID-19 protocols of the past few years and is returning to a more " normal" school year. Classes will be held in person.

" In- person learning provides the greatest benefit to children for their academic, social, emotional, and physical well- being," Petrone said in a letter to Coventry families.

Coventry Public Schools works closely with the Eastern Highlands Health District, the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Department of Public Health to monitor potential COVID-19 outbreaks and provide mitigation as needed.

The current COVID- 19 mitigation strategy for Coventry Public Schools is in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. This includes encouraging student and staff vaccinations for COVID-19 and Influenza; supporting the use of masks for those who choose to wear them; supporting wearing a mask due to illness or exposure; and maintaining ventilation systems per state guidelines.

In addition, Coventry's COVID- 19 mitigation plan entails conducting routine cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces regardless of community COVID19 and Influenza levels as well as providing state- issued COVID-19 self-test kits for those with respiratory symptoms or exposure.

Petrone said in an announcement to Coventry families on the district website that to help reduce illness in the town, parents are to keep their children home for 24 hours after they have a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more and for vomiting or diarrhea. Parents should also notify the school nurse if their child suffers from those symptoms.

To reduce the spread of

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