Parents/Guardians » Inclement Weather/Emergency

Inclement Weather/Emergency


Dear parents and guardians,

Please review the following information and be aware of how and when we will delay or cancel school.

All families must be prepared with a plan in case of any unexpected weather-related changes to the school schedule. It is also important that your children know the plan and know what to do if a change is made.

Cranston Public Schools

Snow/Inclement Weather/Emergency Information

2024-2025 School Year


School delays or cancellations and subsequent moves to Distance Learning Days may be announced in the following ways:

  • CPS Mobile App

    • The RI Broadcasters are no longer sending out school closures and delays, via text message. While the messages will still be available through news/media outlets, we must rely on the schools to share important and timely information.  The easiest way for parents and staff to receive timely information is to download the Cranston Public Schools app on your phone or device and set the school notifications to your school or schools. When you install the app, you are asked which schools to include.  Please include Cranston Public Schools, as well as the individual schools. Remember to allow notifications for this app.
       
      Here's how to ensure you have notifications on the app: Go to your phone settings and look for Notifications. Make sure that notifications are turned on for this app. It does ask you if you want to allow notifications when you install the app, make sure you allow or you will not get the pop up notifications.
      Here are the links for the Apple Store and Google Play store for the correct app to install.

      Apple Store:
      https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cranston-public-schools/id1618396331
       

      Google Play Store:
      https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edlio.CranstonPublicSchools&hl=en_US

  • RI Broadcasters Association:   web site listings

  • CPS website: Cancellations or delays will be posted on the front page of our district website.

Twitter Page: @CranstonSchools

Instagram Page: cranstonpublicschools

LinkedIn Page: cranstonpublicschools

  • District and/or school emails: Be on the lookout for messages from the school department `sure your email contact information is up to date.

  • Robocalls to homes will be used for emergency purposes, or when used by law enforcement

  • Individual school closures: Please be advised that there may be times when individual schools are canceled due to specific issues at those schools, but not the entire district. 

Delayed Openings: The RI Department of Education allows districts flexibility with delayed openings. When appropriate, we will delay the start of school, instead of closing for the day. Delays can be anywhere from 1-2 hours. Buses will be delayed for the same amount of time as school openings (i.e. 1 or 2 hours), but expect slight variations in bus times due to weather.

Know your child's normal start time so that if a delay is announced, you will know when the children are expected to be in school. For your convenience, we have also listed the school hours for each Cranston Public School at the end of this document.

Cancellations and Virtual Learning Days:  In very harsh or dangerous weather, we will cancel school for the entire day. We have permission from the RI Department of Education to use distance learning for three of our snow days for the 2024-2025 school year. In this case, these days count towards our 180 school days and do not need to be made up at the end of the year. Students will be moved to distance learning as they are able (assuming power, internet connection, etc.) Virtual Learning Days will be synchronous learning days. Student attendance will be taken and classes will run on a set schedule throughout the day starting at 9:00 am and ending at 2:00 pm. Students are welcome and encouraged to use the opportunity to get outdoors for snow play before school, during breaks, and after school hours. Any snow days beyond the initial three used for distance learning will need to be made up at the end of the school year.

Cancellation of after-school sports and activities: If after-school sports or activities are canceled due to inclement weather, these announcements will be made as soon as possible on CPS website, CPS Facebook page, RIBA, emails, and/or school listservs.

Early Dismissal: Unless absolutely necessary, we will not release schools early. This is the most disruptive option for families and our schools. However, we need to plan for emergencies that may arise when this is deemed necessary. 

  • We will use all media previously mentioned above to contact families in the event we release schools early.

  • If we close schools early, buses will deliver their students to their appointed stops. Again, please be patient as we deliver all students with safety in mind. Please be sure that students know the plan for what to do when arriving home at an unexpected time of the day.

  • If your children walk, or you pick up your children at school, please discuss an alternate plan with your children so they are aware of what will happen if school is released early.


Student and staff safety is paramount in the decisions made to cancel or delay school. Families must have a plan ready for times when these delays or cancellations occur. It is important that students are aware of this plan. All delay/cancellation decisions are made in collaboration with CPS Transportation, Buildings, and Grounds Departments, as well as the City of Cranston Police and Public Works Departments. Often Rhode Island Emergency Management (RIEMA) and Cranston Emergency Management are consulted in cases when power outages or violent weather is expected. 


2024-2025 School Start and End Times:
High Schools: CHSE/CHSW/CACTC: 7:37 am to 2:00 pm 

AES: 7:25 am-1:42 pm

Middle Schools All four middle schools begin at  8:05 am and end at 2:20 pm

Elementary Schools: 

Arlington: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Dutemple: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm

Eden Park: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm 

Edgewood Highland: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm

Garden City: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Gladstone at Barrows: 8:50 am to 3:05 pm

Gladstone at Waterman: 8:50 am to 3:05 pm

Glen Hills: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Oaklawn: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Orchard Farms: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Peters: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm

Rhodes: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Stadium: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Stone Hill: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Woodridge: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm


Additional Programs

Sanders Academy/Cranston Transition Program: 7:40 am to 1:40 pm

Alternate Education Program: 7:37 am to 1:45 pm

Early Childhood Learning Center: 8:55 am to 3:10 pm

(AM Session 8:55-11:25, PM Session 12:40-3:10)

Horton Building (Special Services): 8:55 am to 3:10 pm


A printable start and end times flier can be found here in both English and Spanish.


Sincerely,

The Cranston Public Schools Leadership Team