Dear Coventry Grammar School Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!
I hope your summer has been filled with laughter, adventure, and plenty of time to relax with family and friends. Whether your child is walking through our doors for the very first time as a kindergartener or returning for another year at Coventry Grammar School, we are thrilled to welcome your family.
At Coventry Grammar School, we believe every child deserves a school where they feel safe, known, challenged, and celebrated. Our goal is to create classrooms filled with joyful learning, meaningful relationships, and opportunities for every student to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Most importantly, we know that the strongest foundation for student success is a genuine partnership between school and home. Thank you for trusting us with your child each day. We are honored to be part of their journey and look forward to another incredible year of learning and growing together.
As we prepare for our first day of school on Wednesday, August 26th, I'd like to share a few important updates and reminders to help make the transition from "summer mode" to "school mode" as smooth and positive as possible.
Welcoming New Faces
Every school year brings new opportunities and new members to our school family. Please join me in giving a warm CGS welcome to:
Ms. Kelly Huhtanen, Kindergarten
Ms. Eileen St. Jacques, Kindergarten
Ms. Olivia Seethaler, Grade 1
Ms. Liana Weisse, Grade 2
Mrs. Brooke Bolger, Special Education (FINS)
Mrs. Kaitlyn Morse, School Nurse
Ms. Jo McQuaid, Paraeducator
I'd also like to officially welcome several staff members who joined us during the last school year:
Ms. Chelsea Alejandro, Main Office
Ms. Molly Reibeling, Special Education (High Needs)
Ms. Michele Levesque, Paraeducator
Ms. Andrea Gonzalez, Paraeducator
Mrs. Amanda St. Peter, Paraeducator
As we welcome new staff, we also say goodbye to several valued members of our CGS family. Please join me in thanking Ms. Dore, Mrs. McConnell, Mr. Fiondella, Mrs. Dunnack, and Mrs. Viscuso for their dedication to our students. We wish each of them happiness and success in their next adventure.
School Day at a Glance
While your child's teacher will share classroom specific schedules and routines, here are a few schoolwide reminders.
School Hours
Student Drop Off: 8:10 to 8:30 a.m.
School Begins: 8:30 a.m. (students arriving after 8:30 are considered tardy)
Dismissal: 3:10 p.m.
Parent Pick Up: 3:10 to 3:30 p.m.
Lunch
Kindergarten: 11:05 to 11:35
Grade 1: 11:40 to 12:10
Grade 2: 12:15 to 12:45
Students also enjoy 30 minutes of recess each day, weather permitting, along with a daily 40 minute special including Art, Music, Physical Education, Library, or STEAM (Grade 1 & 2).
Please be sure to review the district calendar and note early dismissal days, holidays, and other important dates throughout the year.
Stay Connected
Strong communication between home and school is one of our greatest priorities.
Each Friday at 4:00 p.m., you'll receive our family newsletter, The Weekly Splash, which includes:
Important reminders and upcoming events
Schoolwide goals and celebrations
Ideas for supporting learning at home
Photos highlighting learning and fun across the school
Our first edition will arrive on Friday, August 21st and will include transportation information, beginning of the year reminders, and everything you'll need to know before our first three day week together.
Returning families will also notice a refreshed, more user friendly format, thanks to your thoughtful feedback!
Dismissal Changes
We will continue using PickUp Patrol to manage daily dismissal plans. The platform/app is free, simple to use from your phone or computer, and plays an important role in helping us keep every child safe.
If you have questions about PickUp Patrol or don't receive our communications, our Main Office team is always happy to help.
Family Homework
Before school begins, please take a few minutes to complete the Annual Update Forms in your PowerSchool Parent Portal as soon as they become available. Keeping your family's contact and emergency information current helps us provide the safest and best possible care for your child.
If you need assistance accessing your account, please contact the district Help Desk at help@coventryct.org or visit the Technology Help Resources section of our new district website for step by step guides and videos.
Thank you for your partnership, your support, and the trust you place in us each day. We are incredibly excited about the year ahead and cannot wait to welcome our students back into classrooms filled with curiosity, joy, kindness, and meaningful learning.
Enjoy these final weeks of summer, and we hope to see you for “Meet the Teacher” on Tuesday, August 25th from 8:30-9:30AM.
Warmly,
Jennifer Hammer