THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools / March 25, 2022
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
By Jacqueline Parks, WCS Principal
As we roll into springtime, our students in grades 3-8 will be taking the required national assessment called the SBAC. The SBAC gives us information about student performance in the areas of literacy and mathematics. This is an online assessment that gives us information at the student, grade level, school and district level.
Each team will be scheduling their SBAC assessment during a window of time that begins in April and ends at the end of May. In preparation of this, teachers will review examples of the types of questions that could be asked and provide them with practice opportunities. It is important to note that our curriculum (based on the national standards) are already aligned with this assessment, so it should be a strong measure of achievement based on our instruction.
We are very pleased to share as we move into the SBAC that our local assessment data (IReady) in literacy and math from the January check-up was quite positive. The IReady data shows positive trends in both literary and math.
Be on the lookout for information from your child’s team that outlines the dates of the SBAC assessment. Please do your best to ensure your student is in-school (as long as he/she is healthy) and is ready to do his/her best. We know that when both parents and school staff convey that the assessment is important that students do better.
We will receive information at the student level, and you will also receive a copy, as well as at the grade level, school, district and national levels. It helps us inform student programming, curriculum programming and district programming. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about the SBAC. jparks@cvsdvt.org
Return to School Following Illness - Information for Families
What happens if my child has symptoms in School?
* If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be sent to the Health Office, a nurse will perform a LAMP COVID test in the Health office and you will be called to come pick up your child.
* If the test results are positive, the nurse will communicate the isolations guidelines and return to school timeline.
* If the results are negative, your child will still need to go home. Your child may return to school once symptoms are improved.
* If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop - your child will need to be re-tested for COVID
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be mild, moderate or severe and may include:
Fever (100.4 °F or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
What happens if my child has symptoms at home?
* If your child has ANY of COVID-19 symptoms listed above, keep them home from school and call the school nurse to report their absence.
* Get your child COVID tested - Take 2 antigen (rapid) tests as close to 24 hours apart as possible; or take 1 PCR or LAMP test
* If your child tests negative - they should still stay home while symptomatic. Your child may return to school once symptoms are improved.
* If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop - your child will need to be re-tested for COVID with a PCR test.
* If you choose not to test your student, they can return to school after day 5 from onset of symptoms.
A reminder: Students should continue to stay home when sick, regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19. Students may return to school when their symptoms improve.
As with other contagious illnesses, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, we ask that you inform your school’s nurse.
Please email Nurse Maria (WCS) = mkapetanovic@cvsdvt.org or Nurse Love (ABS) - slove@cvsdvt.org with any questions.
A Reminder from Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
From Sterling House...
We are overwhelmed by the response and support for our backpacks for Ukraine effort. We were presented with this opportunity to help only a week ago. Our goal was for each 5-8 homeroom to fill a backpack, which would have been 20 backpacks total.
Tuesday morning we loaded 75 backpacks into a pickup and those were flown to Germany this week. Thank you to all who helped in any way possible!
But this is just the first plane, not the last! So if you are wanting and willing to help us again we will be collecting more items to send. The last day for donating will be Friday, April 1st so we can send them on Monday, April 4th.
We had a few items of toys, and snacks leftover, but we ran out of backpacks to fill. So here's a list in order of what we need the most:
Backpacks
Socks, underwear, t-shirts
Older kid toys (playing cards, etc- items for middle school kids)
And all the stuff we asked for before:
Toys,
Toiletries,
Non-perishable snacks
Items can be brought down for Sterling at any time!
We love our community.
Keep scrolling for information from Williston Recreation & Parks, Four Winds, and Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
SPARK Enrichment After School Session 5
We are excited to offer your child an opportunity to participate in Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8. Sessions will run for 5 weeks from 3:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m. with our 5th session startingApril 14th and ending May 19th. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that can be found on the link below. Students and caregivers will receive an email (using the email given on the form) informing them of the assigned workshop on Monday or Tuesday of the week that workshops begin. In order to take full advantage of this learning opportunity, students will need to make a commitment to attend all five Thursdays. If your child decides to not take part in this session after having registered please contact Julie Rogers so that others may fill the spot. The after-school activity bus will provide transportation home for students in need of a ride home.
The dates of session 5 are: April 14, 28, May 5, 12, and 19. When registering, students will be able to rank their choices for better placement! Students will be placed on a first come first serve basis. Registration form and a listing of workshop descriptions. Contact Julie Rogers (jrogers@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6022) with any questions.
School & District Communication: Text Messaging is Coming!
CVSD is excited to share that we will soon roll out a new communication method for our district and its schools. Families, caregivers, and staff will have the opportunity to opt-in to receive text messages. We promise not to overuse this feature and will not be flooding your mobile phone with text messages.
You can set this up yourself starting now. This flyer shows how easy it is! Your mobile phone number needs to be in PowerSchool for this to work.
For those that don’t set it up yourself, on March 28 we will send a text message out to all phone numbers that we have in PowerSchool. It will come from this short number: 67587. It will look like this:
“Champlain Valley School District alerts. Reply Y 2 confirm, HELP 4 info. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies. schoolmessenger.com/txt”
In order for us to move forward, it is important that we have the most current contact information. If you have not yet set up your PowerSchool account, please do so as soon as possible. In addition, once you have set up your PowerSchool account, you will now be able to use the PowerSchool app on your mobile device to complete Annual Update Forms. Please contact your school if you need your initial access ID and password to create the Parent Portal account. The information on this document outlines the necessary steps.
Thank you for your support as we enhance our communication methods.
Mud Season Recess Success!
Extra Clothing Reminder:
With snow melting and mud season approaching, we remind families to pack a change of clothing in your child’s backpack (they can keep it at school in their cubby), so they can change in school in case their clothing gets wet during recess.
We don't have any extra clothing left in the Health Offices and would have to call parents to come bring a change of clothing if needed.
We also will gladly accept any donations of used clothing at Williston Central School in sizes 8-12. Specifically, we are looking for leggings, pants and socks.
Please reach out to WCS Health Office nurses if you would like to send/drop any used clothing.
WCS Health Office 802-871-6170
Nurse Maria mkapetanovic@cvsdvt.org
Nurse Carol calbertelli@cvsdvt.org
Nurse Samantha susher@cvsdvt.org
INTRA-DISTRICT K-8 SCHOOL CHOICE
Children entering grades K-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children. Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
ABS Safe Drop Off & Pick Up
It is very important to stay in your vehicles during arrival and dismissal. We appreciate all you can do to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!
Please do not stop in the handicap parking spot or the crosswalk in front of the school - this creates safety and accessibility challenges when these areas are blocked.
Students being driven to ABS in the mornings can arrive between 7:30-7:55 for all 1st and 2nd grade students. 7:50-8:00 for all Kindergarten and PreK students. Walkers are welcome as early as 7:30. School begins at 8:00.
Please refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:
ABS Dismissal Update
*Please note: we did not shorten learning time for our students, we are just making the time students are waiting to leave and waiting outside less.
Family Resources
Resources to keep accessible:
- First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
- In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
- 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: USA)
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
- UVM Breathe In Breathe Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
Help Desk Portal for Technical Issues
Internet Connectivity for Families
CVSD has been awarded a federal grant that provides assistance for Internet connectivity for families that qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program.
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is designed to help students who currently lack Internet access that they may need to connect to classrooms. It is funded through June 2022.
If you have any questions about the program, please send a note to CVSDECFProgram@cvsdvt.org . If you have questions about your student’s eligibility for the Free and Reduced Meal program, email Stephanie Hurlburt at shurlburt@cvsdvt.org
Four Winds
Nature's News Newsletters
December - No Newsletter
Slides Presentations
Lesson 1: Leaf-Eaters
Lesson 2: Life in the Dirt
Lesson 3: Snags and Rotting Logs
Lesson 4: Squirrel Tales
Lesson 5: Staying Warm
Lesson 6: White-tailed Deer
Williston Four Winds Program
Contact Us: wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org
FAP Information
We are looking for volunteers in all areas, our council, house representatives, and event volunteers! Please fill out this form if interested in helping!
https://forms.gle/AvVx1EHUGWWAikWn9
Upcoming Events
Apr 6 - Kindergarten Meet & Greet, 2:00-4:00pm @ Allen Brook School
Apr 13 - Four Winds Training, 8:30-10:30, WCS Community Room
Kindergarten Meet & Greet, 2:00-4:00pm @ Allen Brook School
Apr 18 - Apr 22 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
May 3 - Eid al-Fitr - NO SCHOOL
May 11 - Four Winds Training, 8:30 - 10:30, Location TBD
May 19 - WCS Concert, Band & Chorus
May 26 - WCS Concert, Beginner Band
June 10 - Last day of school / Half-Day
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
Learn more about CVSD's Strategic Response Plan and provide feedback at this link.
More Links, More information
Williston Schools
Email: wsschoolbell@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org
Location: 195 Central School Drive, Williston
Phone: (802) 878-2762
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Williston-School-District-1483758238612170/timeline/
Twitter: @wsdvt