THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /March 4, 2020
A Message From The Administration
PLAY
By ABS Principal Angela Filion
In my opening letter of this school year I wrote about the power and importance of play. Recently I was fortunate to bring a group of educators from Allen Brook to a day long workshop on play and restorative practices. Through out the day we played various games together as adults. The laughter and joy was both refreshing and infectious. One of the presenters, Howard Moody, reminded us through his mission that "the workplace should be an environment that encourages people to be themselves and function at the highest level of insight, creativity, and teamwork as possible". He has been facilitating workshops for over 25 years and he designs presentations that are engaging and fun and focus on play, mindfulness, social emotional learning, communication, and cooperation.
When the school year concludes I have arranged for Howard to come to Allen Brook to do a training with all faculty and staff. He will teach and play games from his book, The Heart of Play. My hope is that we will deepen connections amongst each other and then bring these ideas to our children to broaden their connections. The goal is for us to be fully inspired, creative, and playful! Stay tuned for updates about this upcoming training.
Through the spirit of play Allen Brook participated in the 3rd annual Global Play Day on February 5th. What is Global Play day and why would we participate? Play builds creativity, imagination, problem solving skills, communication skills, positive peer relationships, empathy and more... all things our world desperately needs. Global School Play Day is more than just a day of play. It's a day of acknowledgment that play matters, that kids need play, and that our society needs to find the balance with the use of technology/academics/assessments and the value and importance of the child's right and need to play! I leave you with some photos of kids at play across ABS.
Read previous posts, more pictures
Kindergarten Meet & Greet Sign Ups
Please select a day and time that works for you (one spot per child - you do not need to reserve a spot for parents/guardians).
What to expect during the Meet & Greet:
Upon arrival the children will separate from parents and visit a kindergarten classroom where they will listen to a story and participate in some fun activities with teachers.
While the children are in the classrooms parents will meet with Principal Angela Filion to learn more about Allen Brook School and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Please be sure you have completed and submitted registration forms and paperwork (copy of birth certificate, proof of residency, and immunizations).
Lucky U
Walk to Friendly’s – Fishing – Felting
Yogurt City – Learn Hip Hop with the Principal – Batting Practice
Tickets will be on sale next week – Enter to Win!
Here are a list of activities at ABS and WCS.
Lucky U at WCS
These events and more are part of this year’s Lucky U!
Students will have the opportunity to enter individual raffles for a chance to win a special activity or experience with staff from both buildings to help raise money for FAP grants, field trips, etc. We have many opportunities, with many winners, between ABS and WCS!
Tickets will be sold the week of March 9th – 13th at each school
Drawing on Friday, March 13th and winners notified during the week of March 16th
Each student will get one free ticket and additional tickets will be sold for 25 cents each (suggested limit of $5). During the week of March 9-13 students at ABS can purchase tickets outside the gym between 7:45am and 8:30am and at WCS during all lunches. The winners will be chosen on Friday the 13th and notified the week of March 16th.
** Click HERE to sign-up to help sell tickets mornings at ABS and lunches at WCS **
Contact Emily Downing Ponce/FAP with questions
2nd annual Spring Book Fair at ABS
Mark your calendars! Families as Partners is having our 2nd annual Spring Book Fair at ABS Tuesday April 7th through Thursday April 9th. All students at ABS will have a chance to shop the book fair with their classes. WCS students will NOT be bused to ABS and instead all WCS families will be invited to a special WCS family night on Tuesday, April 7th from 5-8 pm, which will include food, games, prizes and giveaways!
More info below
The spring theme is Elephants, Tigers, and Books, Oh My! Our spring book fair will be the perfect opportunity to stock up on books for Easter and the dreaded summer slide! We are looking for parent volunteers to help with set up, during the book fair and clean up. Please sign up at https://signup.com/go/hUbjgAb if you are interested in helping. Thank you for your support, all profits from the Book Fair go to benefit all of our Williston students at both schools. We get 25% of each purchase. Hope to see you there!
Kids Heart Challenge First and Second Grade
Last year there was a new program through the American Heart Association called the Kids Heart Challenge. As with any new program there are learning curves as things change. We recognize that this past year was no exception. The children did their part and the fundraiser was very successful. Unfortunately things did not go quite as planned in the transitional period with the money and prizes. Somewhere the checks got lost. We have been assured that this was not on our end and that the kids were given total credit for their efforts. We have also made sure that all prizes that were earned have been distributed. We are certain this will not happen again this year. We believe in the value of this program and the quality work done by the American Heart Association.
"Dining for a Cause" at Grazers
Thursday, March 19th from open to close
Grazers Restaurant in Maple Tree Place is generously donating 10% of all sales (including take-out) towards the WCS student trip to New York City.
This end of year trip provides an educational opportunity outside the traditional school environment and complements out academic curriculum.
Please help support our student!
Frozen Ticket Sales
Go to the cvsdvt.org, Williston-Drama-"Seat Yourself" link.
SPARK Enrichment After School Session 4~ March 5 - April 2.
Classes will be held on Thursdays from 3:00pm - 4:30pm, March 5 to April 2.
An activity bus is available for those needing transportation home afterward.
3rd/4th grade chorus
The 3rd/4th grade chorus will begin rehearsals for its spring semester on Wednesday, February 19th. The group rehearses every Wednesday after school in the WCS Chorus room (Mrs. T-H and Ms. Kennedy’s music room) 3:00-4:00.
All 3rd/4th graders may come to the first two rehearsals (February 19th and March 11th) to sing, watch, and just check it out with no obligation to join. However, starting with the March 18th rehearsal, only “official” chorus members may continue to attend. So… If your child “officially” wants to be a member of the 3rd/4th grade chorus, please click here and submit the bottom of this paper on or before March 18th, and your child will attend rehearsal each Wednesday afternoon. If your child does NOT wish to be a chorus member, please disregard this form.
Read more
Upcoming 7/8 Concert Details
Tuesday, 3/10- dress rehearsal 8:10-dismissal
Wednesday, 3/11- Concert day. Performances during the school day and at 7 pm.
Concert dress: black, bottoms, black top, and the WCS Performing Arts shirt
Snow date plans:
If school closes on 3/11, our concert day will be on Thursday, 3/12
If school closes on 2 of the above dates, we will follow the schedule below:
Monday, 3/16- dress rehearsal 8:10- dismissal
Tuesday, 3/17- Concert day. Performances during the school day and at 7 pm.
Physical Education: What Happens at Allen Brook School in EEE and Kindergarten
Have you ever asked your child “What did you do in Physical Education Today” only to hear, “I don’t know” or “nothing”. Well we can assure that is not the case. The gymnasium is in fact a very busy space. We begin to develop lifetime skills starting in EEE and those skills progress as the children progress through the grades. The lower elementary Physical Education is the foundational building blocks for the upper elementary and upper house activities.
In the EEE Physical Education program the children have PE one time a week for 30 minutes. This gives these children the opportunity to get used to being in the gymnasium and learning the systems before kindergarten. Basic motor skills are introduced such as jumping with two feet, hopping on one foot, galloping and skipping. We also work on safe movement and learning to look out for others and finding safe ways to move. This is a challenging skill at times for children this age. In addition we do a great deal of exploration of other skills such as throwing both underhand and overhand, kicking, basic gymnastics skills such as log roll, egg roll and body positions, tuck, pike and layout. Striking skills are introduced using lollipop paddles. We also do some basic fitness activities and talk about healthy nutrition. We use stuffed friends when learning to catch (these are safe and not scary like balls can be). Most of what is done at the EEE level is exploration.
In Kindergarten Physical Education we begin to build on the foundational skills in EEE. Kindergarten students have PE two times a week for 40 minutes. We recognize that not all students have been to the ABS EEE program so much is re-introduced at the kindergarten level. Once again we work on motor skills, throwing and catching, gymnastic skills, fitness activities, nutrition related activities and making healthy choices. Here is an overview of the possible look of the curriculum year. We always allow for new ideas and activities that are age appropriate.
Yearbooks on Sale
Family Reading Night March 26th
Allen Brook School families, have you selected your book for Family Reading Night 2020? The books just arrived today! Make your pick by Thursday, February 6th!
Family Adventures in Reading Book Sign Up:
Get your Wildcat gear now!
Order before March 13th (click for order form). Contact Scott Wagner with Questions (swagner@cvsdvt.org)
Grief & Loss Overview: with Tips for Helping Children and Adolescents
March 19th at 6:30pm in WCS Community Room
In this workshop we’ll explore the various ways that children and adolescents may experience loss. The loss can include (but is not limited to) a death of a loved one/pet; family member living away from home; divorce; friendship changes; move, etc. We will discuss some ways that the adults in their lives can help with these losses.
Amanda Cannamela, LCMHC, LADC is a therapist who specializes in working with adolescents and adults around a range of topics, one of which is grief and loss. She often gets questions from adults around trying to understand what children/adolescents could be going through when it comes to grief and loss and how to help.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of VT is looking for volunteer mentors to work with Allen Brook students. The expected commitment is spending about 1 hour of one on one time with your mentee at school for the minimum duration of 1 school year. Matches are made based on compatibility, common interests, and scheduling availability. If you'd like to learn more, please reach out to Kelly at kelly@bbbsvt.org or 802-689-0141.
Needed: Tennis Equipment
Baskets Needed!
Were you one of the lucky winners of a basket at last year’s Big Basket Raffle fundraiser? Did you receive a gift basket filled with goodies over the Holidays? Do you have empty baskets in your home that need a new purpose? The Big Basket Raffle Planning Committee needs empty baskets to fill and decorate for the Big Basket Raffle fundraiser, which is on Saturday, March 28th. Please drop empty baskets off in either the ABS or WCS Main Office soon. Thanks so much.
Sustainability Bee Group is looking for donations
The Swift House Sustainability Bee Group is looking for donations to plant flowers. The Bee Group will be using these to plant flowers in the spring. We are focused on helping bees and creating a better environment. The donation boxes will be located in the WCS lobby Tuesday and Thursday morning starting February 18th and ending March 10th. Donations could be:
Gardening Tools, Lavender seeds, Lantanas Seeds, Soil, Mulch, Egg cartons, Gardening Gloves
Thank you,
Swift House Bee Group
Box Tops for Education
click for a video explaining the changes and more information
Submission deadline is February 28.
Bus Information
Part 2
Four Winds Volunteers
FOUR WINDS
Learn more about this fun science program on our website
February topic is: Track Detectives
March topic is: Nests
Monthly Fitness Fun
School Nutrition Program
Please make payment checks out to 'CVSD - ABS' or 'CVSD-WCS'
Mobile App
Download the WSD App and get notifications for groups, sports teams, 3-4 Chorus, etc. to keep informed.
Open App, tap on the 3 horizontal bars in the top right and select Notifications. Tap on the group boxes for those you want.
CVSD Meeting Schedules
CVSD Committee, Board, and and Budget Meetings
Committee meetings are on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6 pm excluding Dec. and Jan., at CVUHS, Room 160, 162, 165
Regular Board Meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm, excluding Dec. & Jan.
Tuesday Early Dismissal
ABS Dismissal is 1:35 pm.
WCS Dismissal is 1:55 pm.
The Tuesday schedule for morning Preschool is 8:00 to 10:15 am. Afternoon preschool is 11:15 am to 1:30 pm.
Upcoming Events
March 9 - 13 Lucky You
Wed. March 11 / Grade 7-8 Concert / WCS
Wed. March 11 / Four Winds Training / WCS Community Rm / 8:30-10:30 am
Thurs. March 12 / FAPAC / WCS Community Rm / 8:15-10 am
Thurs. March 19 / FAP Speaker / WCS Community Rm. / 6:30-8 pm
Fri. March 20 / NO SCHOOL / Parent /Teacher/Family Conferences
Thurs. March 26 / Family Reading Night / ABS Library / 6-7 pm
Sat. March 28 / Fun Night and Big Basket Raffle / WCS / 6-8 pm
April 7-9 / ABS Book Fair
More Links, More information
DAML Programs
Click here for Important info related to after school hours
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Williston Schools
Email: cpavlik@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