THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools / March 18, 2022
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
by Sarah Crum, Director of Student Support Services
Asset Mindset
I had the great pleasure of recently attending the SXSW Educational conference in Austin, Texas March 7-11, 2022). Throughout the many workshops I participated in, there were some very clear themes: building relationships, cultivating joy, increasing student agency, helping students develop meaningful purpose and approaching teaching with an asset mindset. I want to highlight today that last theme: Asset Mindset.
Having an asset mindset begins with the belief that we all have important strengths we bring to the table. We have passions and knowledge, skills and interests, personality traits and learned behaviors that help us contribute to a larger community. That community can be our family, our classroom, our school, our town and the world. And it is so important that we celebrate the varying strengths that different individuals bring to their community because it is that variety that allows us to become stronger collectively than any one individual.
An asset mindset is also a crucial factor in leveraging new learning. When students are clear about what they know and can do, they are more likely to use those skills to acquire new learning and grow in areas that are not yet as well developed.
A note about Covid cases
We wanted to acknowledge that there seems to have been an increase in our positive Covid cases in the last week. While in our district, all the schools have been following the same guidelines and protocols, each school has had periods of increased positivity at various times. As we move to this endemic phase of the pandemic, we will likely see both increases and decreases at various times in smaller communities despite the overall decline of positivity and serious illness in the state. Consequently, there is not a recommendation to adjust the response and mitigation protocols. We would like to encourage families to be vigilant about monitoring for symptoms and to keep children home when they are experiencing symptoms. Mask wearing, limiting large group gatherings, and frequent handwashing are all additional layers of protection that help us keep everyone in our community safe and healthy. As allergy season begins here in Vermont, we realize symptoms that may have typically been attributed to allergies could also indicate the presence of the virus. If you need access to additional home tests, we would be happy to accommodate that. Please reach out to the school nurses if your child is experiencing symptoms and you have questions about what to do.
We are now about two thirds of the way through this school year. We are having our second round of parent conferences and hearing about all the growth our students have made, even in this year of continued pandemic impact. Our students’ assets are tremendous. I can see it in the artwork hung throughout the buildings, I can hear it in their imaginative play, I can see it in the way they are learning routines and developing empathy, I can see it in their increased stamina for academic tasks, especially the complex deep thinking activities teachers are crafting. Our students have so much to offer and our world will be a better place for all the assets they will bring to the table.
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 COIVD
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 you 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 COIVD 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.
Keep scrolling for information from Williston Recreation & Parks, Four Winds, and Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
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
School & District Communication: Text Messaging is Coming!
As mentioned in previous newsletters, 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.
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:
Williston Little League registration is open!!!!
https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/wllbaseball
Tee Ball $95 Starting 3/1
Baseball & Softball $100 starting 3/1
$20 sibling discount
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 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 Breath 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 Hulburt 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
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