THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /October 1, 2021
A Message from the Administration- Greg Marino, Lead Principal
It’s been four weeks since my last installment in the SchoolBell. As you may know, our leadership team rotates through taking these articles from week to week so that each of us has an opportunity to share our voices with you. It also provides a variety of perspectives and lenses through which we are communicating. We think this offers a richer picture of our story as a community. So much has happened in these past four weeks, yet it also seems a bit of a blur.
On Friday, you received a weekly letter from Superintendent, Rene Sanchez, with an update related to case activity and Covid-related information. One of the highlights of this update is that we have experienced significantly fewer positive cases this week as compared to the previous three weeks. In fact, we have not received notice of a new positive case since last Sunday, 9/26. This has provided a desperately needed respite for our system and has provided the leadership team a chance to take a breath and try to return its focus on providing the school leadership that our students, staff, and families need and deserve. With this optimistic news shared, I don’t want to minimize the disruptive force of this virus on our school and community nor overlook the fact that we still had four classes remote on Friday as I write this message. I also can’t overstate just how continuously impressed I am with our faculty and staff - many of whom have had to pivot to remote instruction at a moment’s notice.
NEW PROTOCOL FOR QUARANTINING STUDENTS
In addition to classes who are experiencing remote instruction, we have had a number of other students having to quarantine as a result of being close contacts, but not associated with a case that caused a class to pivot to remote. This results in a student being home while their classmates are at school learning in person. I am now pleased to report that starting this week, the Williston Schools will offer optional daily learning opportunities for students who are quarantining without their class and teacher. For each school day of the week, there will be two types of learning opportunities that can be accessed by students; “Meets” with teachers and learning menus. The activities completed during the “Meets” and through the learning menus will not directly connect to the lessons happening at school, but they will allow students to access productive and engaging grade-appropriate learning opportunities. This slide deck contains more information about these opportunities including the “Meet” schedule and links to math, science, and literacy activities., I want to thank Math Coordinator, Caitlin Bianchi, and Literacy Coordinator, Abby Reynolds, for their efforts in putting this protocol together.
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP:
Do you enjoy the feeling you get when lifting somebody else’s spirits? Keep reading! This is an opportunity for you. These last 4-5 weeks have taken their toll on all of us, and our faculty and staff have not been immune. As we all know, to support the physical, mental, and emotional health of others, including our students, we first need to be well ourselves. As one leader in this learning community, I am intentionally modeling that it’s okay to demonstrate vulnerability here and let you know that we could use your support. We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative group of community volunteers who would be interested in taking on the mission of lifting the spirits of our staff throughout the year. If you are interested in being part of such a group, or perhaps even lead or coordinate the efforts, please email me at gmarino@cvsdvt.org.
Partnering with Families to Combat TikTok Challenges
There is currently a disturbing trend on the TikTok social media platform that we want to make parents aware of. You may have seen stories about this in the mainstream media recently. The trend includes monthly challenges encouraging its users to do various devious, destructive, disrespectful, and illegal behaviors at school or in the community. We have seen behaviors at our CVSD schools, including at WCS, associated with these challenges, leading to the destruction and theft of school property. The monthly challenges include disturbing themes like trashing bathrooms, slapping a school staff member, jabbing a member of the opposite sex, making a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria, and more. The school will be sending a clear message to our middle school students that these behaviors are unacceptable, are in violation to our school conduct code, and in some cases illegal. Behaviors associated with these challenges will be investigated and treated very seriously by the school. Having to use time, resources, energy, and effort to process these disrespectful behaviors is especially troubling when we need to be doubling our efforts to focus on health, safety, and learning. We want parents/caregivers to be aware of this trend and ask that you talk to your children about it. This is a timely opportunity to talk as families about social media influences, both positive and negative, and support our child(ren) in navigating these complicated social dynamics and risks.
Though the themes of this week’s note certainly had their ups and downs, I want to end with a spirit of optimism and gratitude. Optimism that we will continue to work together collaboratively as a community to provide our students with the safe, healthy, and engaging learning opportunities they need - and gratitude to be part of this incredible team that never stops growing, learning, and lifting each other.
To view in SPARK version format, click on this link.
NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINING
We are pleased to announce that starting the week of 10/4, the Williston Schools will offer optional daily learning opportunities for students who are quarantining without their class and teacher. On each school day there will be two types of learning opportunities that can be accessed by students: “Meets” with teachers and learning menus. The activities completed during the “Meets” and through the learning menus will not directly connect to the lessons happening at school, but they will allow students to access productive and engaging grade appropriate learning opportunities.
This slide deck contains more information about these opportunities including the “Meet” schedule and links to math, science, and literacy activities:
Hispanic Heritage Month
Important Updates About Curriculum Nights and Parent-Teacher Conferences
We are making some changes to the format for curriculum nights and parent / teacher conferences this year. Please note these changes below.
Curriculum Nights:
The school will not be hosting live curriculum nights this year.
In place of this, teams will prepare a slide presentation (or packet) for parents. These will contain the information that is typically presented at in-person curriculum nights and will be sent home to families anytime between now and the end of October.
Teams will provide opportunities for parents / caregivers to ask any questions they may have, either in a virtual office hours format, or at parent-teacher conferences.
Parent Conferences:
Virtual Parent-Teacher conferences will be offered by all teachers / teams between Oct 8 and the Thanksgiving break and will be in touch with information about how to sign up.
Families may request an in-person conference if there are circumstances that will make a virtual conference difficult.
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Williston Central School is looking for Mentors!
Voluntary Student Vaccine Status Information Requested
CVSD is requesting that families voluntarily share the COVID vaccination status of their child, if they are age 12 and up and therefore eligible for the vaccine. At this time, we will use this information in the event of contact tracing to determine whether or not your child must quarantine if they are identified as a close contact. Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine in the event they are exposed to a positive case. In the future, it may be used to calculate the vaccination rate for our school. If you have more than one child in our school who is eligible, please fill the form out separately for each child.
If your child is eligible for the COVID vaccine (age 12 and up) please fill out this form as soon as possible.
Welcome to the CVSD IT Help Desk Portal
Early Release Days for the 2021-2022 School Year
Clothing and Footwear for Physical Education
In physical education we are doing the best we can to help keep our students safe and stop the spread of Covid 19. We are taking our PE classes outside as much as possible and this means that our feet are getting wet, and yes, on occasion muddy. We are asking that you help your child have an additional pair of socks and dry footwear to change into after PE.
We will be going outside as much as possible and as the weather changes additional layers may also become necessary. Winter months may mean extra gloves or mittens so that if they get wet in PE they have dry ones for recess. If the weather is such that we cannot go outside, we will be inside doing reduced level activities to prevent rapid breathing and masks getting wet due to respirations. We recognize that this is not ideal, however we are doing all we can to keep everyone safe.
Thank you for your support as we all move forward with safety in a new school year. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to any of the physical educators.
Thank you,
Lyn Porter - ABS
Kate Grozier - ABS/WCS
Dustin King - WCS
Cathy Kohlasch- WCS
Parenting Resource
If you have a child who is experiencing anxiety, depression or other social and emotional challenges, Amy will be on hand to offer her support and guidance and be armed with useful resources in the community if you need/want them. For more information, click here.
You can pop in for a quick question or to chat through a situation. Amy would love to try to help! Here is the link to join: http://meet.google.com/nfm-tovh-bjz
Spark Enrichment After School- Session 1
Are you interested in a part or full time paraprofessional position in Williston?
Elementary and Middle School Levels:
We are still seeking several energetic folks to join our team! We are looking for skilled, caring individuals to provide support for individual and small groups of students in personal development, behavior support, and social-emotional skills.
We have positions available in the following categories:
Non-Intensive ($14.28-$15.91 - last year's rates, will likely increase)
Intensive ($17.28-$18.91- last year's rates, will likely increase)
Specialist ($21.78-$23.41 - last year's rates, will likely increase)
Paraprofessionals are contracted 6.5 hrs a day for 194 school days and begin as soon as possible.
There is a different pay scale for each of these, as well as a different level of expertise needed. However, we CAN train folks and we have money available for PD along with GREAT benefits and student schedule.
Any interested folks can reach out directly to Sarah Crum, Director of Special Ed (scrum@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6140).
CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Maintenance and custodial openings
Full time with benefits. Part time option also.
Please contact Lyall Smith at lysmith@cvsdvt.org or 316-1275.
CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Playground/Lunch Assistant Needed
Substitute Teachers Needed
Access CVU-New Class Registration is Open!
Popular classes fill quickly! Sign up today, tell your family and friends, and please help spread the word about our AWESOME classes!
· 202 awesome classes
· Back to in-person learning at CVU!
· 42 Online classes via Zoom
· 27 New instructors!
· 100% FUN- Bring a friend & sign up today!
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 Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
ABS - Reminder for Safe Drop Off & Pick Up
- Please stay in your vehicle and avoid extended chats with the adults as we are trying to efficiently move people through the pick up line. Please do not leave your car unattended in the lane at any time. We also prefer you NOT park your vehicle to come and retrieve your child. Our way of ensuring your child gets to you safely is that exchange at your vehicle for the adult to see.
- Please pull all the way up to the curb for pick up as others are waiting to move up behind you.
- Avoid "double-parking"/parking diagonally
- Please drop off and pick up your child at their team’s designated location ensuring that you leave space for the other team locations.
- For safety, all students must exit the passenger side of the vehicle
- Your child must have their mask on when entering the school
- Please drive attentively, slowly, and safely, following directions of school staff
We appreciate all you can do to follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!
Please refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:
From the Nurses Office- Return to School Following Illness COVID-19 Information for Families
Mask Reminder: Please remember to send a few masks to school daily with students. We thank you for your support.
Vision and Hearing Screening for Students
SEEKING PARTICIPANTS for InterGen-A Monthly Inter-generational Book Group!
Families as Partners (FAP) teams up with the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library to sponsor a fun inter-generational book group that brings together WCS middle school students, seniors from our community and parent volunteers. Each book group will read and discuss 5 books over the course of the school year. Meetings take place during school hours.
Seeking 5th-8th graders to join our intergenerational Book Club! Known as "Intergen", this book club meets during school hours and groups students, parents and community members together to read and discuss 5 books, once a month. The program kicks off on October 12th and meets the second Tuesday of each month through March. 5th & 6th graders meet from 1:10pm-1:50pm. 7th & 8th graders meet from 1:50pm-2:30pm
If your 5-8th grade student is interested in being considered for this program, please register using this link: https://forms.gle/4rhvE244KfbAN5Fy5 . We are also seeking parent participants. Refer to the sign-up link for more information and to see the list of the books we will read.
Four Winds
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
Williston Families as Partners
School Nutrition Program
Allen Brook School Library
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 11, 2021- No School
Wednesday, October 13, 2021-Four Winds Training Workshop (WCS in the Community Room, 8:30-10:30am)
Monday, November 1, 2021- Picture Retake Day
Intra-District K-8 School Choice
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
CVSD schools have re-opened for the 2021-2022 school year following the guidelines provided by the Vermont Agency of Education. Vermont school districts are working to meet the needs of all students, especially after a pandemic year. We were required to create a Recovery Plan for the Vermont Agency of Education for approval. CVSD is calling this our Strategic Response Plan. Learn more about the plan and provide feedback at this link.
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Click here for Youth Programming and upcoming events
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
More Links, More information
Williston Schools
Email: alongley@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