Dear Coventry Community,

Are you ready? Well, ready or not, it’s time! School is starting up again—and as refreshing as summer is, we’re all looking forward to getting back in the building. Schools just don’t feel the same in the summer. Sure, it’s quiet, but after a while it gets a little too quiet—we need some students back here to liven things up!

Coventry residents tend to have deep roots in this community. It was nearly ten years ago that I first came to the NEK, and as I drove through town recently, I found myself reflecting on how lucky we are to live in a place that many people travel a long way just to visit for a week. Rolling hills, deep green pastures, cattle slowly grazing, the smell of hay on the breeze—these are the things that make this a special place, a place we’re fortunate to call home.

The Coventry Village School benefits from a level of stability not all schools in Vermont enjoy. Our staff turnover is low, and the systems we have in place help keep our school running smoothly. This is thanks to the experience of our faculty and staff, the steady leadership of our school board, strong community expectations, and the work of past administrators who prioritized building a culture rooted in well-developed systems.

As I begin my third year as principal, my focus is on strengthening and expanding these systems. Specifically, we’ll continue developing repeatable, sustainable processes that allow us to collect and analyze data effectively—leading to instructional plans that best meet the needs of our students. This is complex work that involves not only academics but also the social, emotional, and behavioral growth of our students. Systems like these take time to build, and we’re fortunate to have a strong foundation already in place.

One of the things I appreciate most about Coventry is how closely connected the school is to the community. It truly feels like a community school because so many of you show up—at ballgames, afterschool events, fundraisers, and more. If you’re around the building this fall, I hope you’ll say hello to some of our new faculty and staff. Teresa Piette will be joining us as a part-time literacy interventionist, bringing decades of experience from her time at the Junior High. We’ll also be welcoming a new 3–5 math teacher and a new support staff member—once those hires are finalized, I’ll introduce them in the next edition of the Python Post.

Important Note: In your summer packet, you’ll find our annual Student Information Update Request. Please return this to us with current contact information—including phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts—for your children. If you have any questions or need help completing it, don’t hesitate to call or stop by the school. We’re happy to assist.

To the Coventry community: thank you for your continued support of our school. This is a special place, and that’s thanks to the many people who give their time, energy, and resources to help us thrive. If you ever have a question, or just want to talk, please feel free to drop me a line or stop by my office. My door is (just about) always open.

Sincerely,

Jason B. Lees

Principal, Coventry Village School

jason.lees@ncsuvt.org

802-754-6464