Administration Student Interview

By: Alida Grim

Some information is subject to change if COVID-19 policies change.

The below Q&A was an interview with Andrea Spas. Some questions were from the student body, and others were ones that I myself had. This is to clear up some things for the upcoming school year, and just to learn things that some people were curious about. It is to be noted that these are not full quotes. The answers are a brief summary of the answers given.

Q: Do we still have early release?

A: We do not have any early release dates this year. We have State PD (Professional Development) days where teachers have a full day of PD and where students have a Distance Learning day. These dates were identified by our Department of Education.

Q: Was there any rules in the dress code that were established after a student did something?

A: Our behavioral codes are reviewed annually and approved by our School Committee. Our codes are not updated based on specific student incidents, instead our codes are reviewed each year based on building and student needs. We bring behavioral code and policy reviews to important stakeholders like our School Improvement Team, our Student Advisory Board and our Department Heads.

Q: Will we still have in person school in the winter, more specifically when it gets much colder?

A: It will depend on the guidance we receive by the Governor, our Department of Health and our Superintendent at that time. Students were given the option to opt for Distance Learning and we have granted those requests. We are grateful to be able to have our students reporting in-person and our hope is to remain in-person as long as it is safe and follows guidance from the State and our Department of Health.

Q: How do you sanitize the library books after they are returned?

A: According to the Office of Library Services, the recommendation is to “quarantine books/library materials for 72-hours”, which is the process we follow.

Q: Why are blankets a violation of the dress code?

A: Bringing blankets to school is a health issue due to concerns with spreading contractible conditions like bed bugs, head lice, etc. If warmth is a concern, students are encouraged to dress in layers. We have also messaged leniency in regards to hat wearing to assist with warmth needs as well.

Q: Will there still be Spirit week this year?

A: We are working with our Student Advisory Board and our Athletics Department to discuss the possibility of a Spirit Week. We are looking for safe and unique ways to celebrate being a Charger!

Q:Is gym equipment going to be used in gym class again at some point during the year?

A: We follow guidance provided to us from the State and the Department of Health. Our instructors are working in creative ways to ensure our lessons address a variety of PE skills.

Q:Why do we need to keep the windows open the entire year?

A: We have not received guidance that this is for the entire academic year. Right now, the RI Dept of Health recommends that we provide ventilation when allowable and that we try to exchange the air in the classrooms whenever possible. Our ventilation systems are designed to provide acceptable air exchange, but the additional air though the window is beneficial for the students and instructor in the room.

Q: Will we be going back to hybrid or distance learning if several covid cases are discovered?

A: We follow guidance from the RI Department of Health & our Superintendent. We will make decisions as each situation presents itself. This is why it is important that students and instructors are ready to adapt and move from In-Person to Distance Learning as needed throughout the year.

Q: Why was discord blocked on the computer?

A: Discord is typically used for gaming and instant messaging. Our devices are to be used for instructional purposes and Discord does not meet these needs.