THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /December 17, 2021
A Message from the Administration
By ABS Principal Angela Filion
The month of December is a time when we spread light and joy. It is a time meant to stop and think about the ones we love and provide gift offerings to show our love and appreciation for one another. While for some this is an enjoyable time of year, for others it produces stress and perhaps even financial burden. Most recently, many people who surround me are having a difficult time finding their light and joy. Our days have little daylight as it is dark for roughly 15 hours. We can very easily fall into a slump from limited sunlight, all the things we have to get done in preparation for the holidays, the harsh reality of the things we are facing in the world today, and the fear of the unknowns. I myself have found it extremely difficult to "get into the spirit." This group of Kindergarteners featured in the above photo certainly helped me spark some of that joy!
One thing I know ALWAYS helps me when I am in this slump is to spend some time with the students. Most recently I have been really intentional about raising student voices and listening more intently about what they have to offer us. Their perspective on life is so pure and not as tainted by all the hurt and harm in the world right now. In fact, I have found our children to be the most adaptable and resilient in adjusting to pandemic life. There are lessons to be learned from these young people. If we lean in and listen they may offer us a perspective that helps us see the light and joy in the world during a time where we may be struggling to see it ourselves. That said, I decided to spend some much needed time with some of our students and asked them what brings them light and joy. Click here to listen to their testimonials. We wish you all a joyous and restful holiday season and hope you find light and joy surrounding you and your loved ones!
Next Wednesday is the last day of school before break!
Our final day of school in December is Wednesday, December 22nd.
School resumes Monday, January 3, 2022.
Best wishes to everyone as we close out 2021!
SPARK Enrichment After School Session 3
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 3rd session starting January 13 and ending February 10th. 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 3 are: January 13, 20, 27, February 3, and 10. 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.
ABS LIBRARY
This semester our ABS Library has checked out 14,339 books to our 496 patrons.
Patrons include students, families, staff and faculty who share our resources.
Thank you all for sharing the gift of reading together!
Your presence in our school library is the greatest present of all!
CVSD Budget Presentations
Please join the CVSD School Board for the next in the series of budget presentations.
- January 4, 2022: topic: Summary & Tax Implications
- January 18, 2022: Final Approval and Warnings
All of these meetings will be hybrid meetings; you can join in person, via Zoom, or watch on the Media Factory's website. The Zoom information will be posted on our district's website a few days before the meetings. https://www.cvsdvt.org/
CVSD's Board Chair, Angela Arsenault, has provided this introduction to kick off a series of videos pertaining to the budget development process. These videos are also available on the Budget Page of the CVSD website.
The series now includes videos about Special Education, ESSER, Education Quality Standards, the Operations budget, and more. See all of the videos here.
Learn to Ski/Ride Program Wednesdays 2022
- Program is for grades K-8th. (Kindergarten children must be transported and have an adult on the mountain with them)
- The 1st-8th program meets for 7-Wednesdays- Jan. 5-Feb. 16. Six weeks of lessons and the last day is the “Donut Hole Races”
- The Kindergarten Program meets for 6 Wednesdays- Jan. 12- Feb. 16
- The program is from 2:30-4:30pm, with lessons from 2:30-3:30pm and free ski/ride from 3:30-4:30pm.
- All children are required to wear a helmet to participate in the program.
- See more on the Community Events Page
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 Hulburt at shurlburt@cvsdvt.org
From Your ABS and WCS Libraries
We love curling up with some fiction to escape. What about you? There’s no right or wrong!
Borrow your choice on the #SoraReadingApp. Download today!
Not sure how to use SORA? Check in with Ms. Arapakos or Mrs. Clopton for quick tips!
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUARANTINING STUDENTS
Williston Schools offers learning opportunities for students who are quarantining without their class and teacher. Learning menus are provided for each grade level. These 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: Learning Opportunities for Quarantining Kids
Information about guidelines for fully vaccinated children
The best way to keep your family safe and healthy, and to keep students in school, is to make sure your child is vaccinated if they are age 5 or older.
We want to share with you the guidelines that will apply to your children once they are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the second dose).
Scenario 1: Your fully vaccinated child is identified as a close contact to a positive case (at school or outside of school, including living with someone who tested positive in the household)
If they are fully vaccinated and do NOT have symptoms of COVID-19:
They do not need to quarantine if they do not have symptoms
Get your child tested 5 to 7 days after they were exposed to someone with COVID-19 but they don't need to stay home while waiting for their test results. They can continue to attend school.
If your child is fully vaccinated and they have symptoms of COVID-19:
If they develop any symptoms within 14 days of being exposed to someone with COVID-19, they should stay home and get tested right away. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, but occasionally people who are fully vaccinated can get COVID-19.
Your child needs to quarantine at home and away from other people while they wait for their test results. They cannot come to school until their negative results are received.
Scenario 2: Your fully vaccinated child developed any symptoms of COVID and they are NOT close contact to a positive case
If your child has symptoms, even if mild, you should keep them home and get them tested. Even if they are vaccinated or had COVID-19 in the past, you should get them tested. Your child’s pediatrician can send a referral for testing or you can go to a testing site. Keep them home and away from other people while you wait for their results.
Not everyone with COVID-19 has a fever. Even mild symptoms (like a headache or runny nose) could be signs of COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, but occasionally people who are fully vaccinated can get COVID-19. Most often symptoms will be mild, therefore, it is important to get tested even for mild symptoms.
Your child needs to quarantine at home and away from other people while they wait for their test results. They cannot come to school until their negative results are received.
Please refer to our Return to school following illness protocol
Help Desk Portal for Technical Issues
FAP Needs Council Members
Williston Families As Partners (FAP) NEEDS COUNCIL MEMBERS! In order to continue to provide support to our schools a council is required to assemble. Please contact willistonfap@cvsdvt.orgif interested!
Williston's FAP, "PTA" organization, provides a forum for parents, administrators, faculty, staff, and community members to actively discuss activities, events, and programs in the WIlliston schools. The participation of faculty, staff, and administration differentiates our FAP from a typical PTA/PTO and helps further promote our children's health, well-being, and educational success. FAP also serves as the fundraising arm of the Williston schools.
Volunteers are needed in all areas! Please fill out this form if interested in helping!
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 refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:
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
Four Winds
Nature's News Newsletters
Slides Presentations (ch)
Lesson 1: Leaf-Eaters
Lesson 2: Life in the Dirt
Lesson 3: Snags and Rotting Logs
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
School Nutrition Program
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
Upcoming Events
No School Dec. 23 - 31
No School Monday, January 17
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
Learn more about CVSD's Strategic Response 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
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