THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /March 11, 2020
A Message From The Administration
By Greg Marino
Dear Williston Families,
“When all is said and done, the real citadel of strength of any community is in the hearts and minds and desires of those who dwell there.” - Everett Dirksen
It was so great to see everybody back at school this morning and again celebrate the power of community. On behalf of the Williston leadership team I want to thank all of you for your support and patience over the last few days. We thought we would use this week’s Bell article to share some information we thought might be helpful to families related to COVID-19.
First, we encourage you to review the CVSD communication to families for more details and answers to frequently asked questions. You are also encouraged to utilize the District’s Website’s page about COVID-19. And of course, the VT DOH and CDC are both excellent resources and are the agencies the District is taking its cues from.
Support of Students: Williston Physical and Mental Health Care Professionals (School Nurses, School Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists) in both schools are working closely together with teachers and staff around supporting students’ mental and emotional health in relation to potential worries related to Coronavirus. Consider your children’s exposure to media coverage at home and in the car and do what you can to limit this exposure.
I encourage you to explore these resources for managing worries that could come up around COVID:
Cleaning protocols: Deep cleaning and disinfecting has been done in both Williston schools and on school buses. Enhanced daily cleaning protocols will remain in place until further notice.
Hand Washing: Classroom teachers are implementing enhanced hand-washing routines. Students will wash their hands when they enter the classroom upon arrival to school, when they return to the classroom from any activity: EA, outdoor time, lunch / recess, or any other class outing, and before and after snack time. Students are being told that this is a required routine and something we are all doing to help keep us all healthy. Of course, our adults will be modeling the same behavior.
A Reminder to please keep students home from school with symptoms of illness, such as a sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, inflamed/red eye, coughing, earache, or fever/chills. Children should remain home until fever free, as well as free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours. All contagious diseases should be reported to the nurse.
Thank you again for your partnership! As always, do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.
7/8 Concert Rescheduled for Tuesday, March 17
The 7/8 concert has been rescheduled using the snow dates
we had scheduled on the calendar:
Monday, 3/16- dress rehearsal 8:10- dismissal
Tuesday, 3/17- Concert day.
Performances during the school day at 9 am and 11 am.
Evening performance 7 pm. (Musician call time is 6 pm)
Thank you!
Lucky U
Walk to Friendly’s – Fishing – Felting
Yogurt City – Learn Hip Hop with the Principal – Batting Practice
Tickets sales extended through Monday, March 16 (see below) – 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 sales are extended through Monday, March 16! 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
Help Needed with Basket Raffle
Creating beautiful baskets for the raffle, setting up and decorating, selling raffle tickets, making a food item for guests to enjoy – all of these are opportunities that are available between Friday, March 22nd and Saturday, March 28th.
We depend on you to help us with one of the largest community fundraisers.
Please check out this SIGN UP LINK for information on how you can help with the Big Basket Raffle and Silent Auction, as it takes the support of many.
Classroom baskets are now in place for family donations.
Baskets are only in classrooms until March 19th!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28th for the Big Basket Raffle and Silent Auction fundraiser – an event for grown ups only. If you have children in grades K-5th there is a Fun Night that same evening at WCS with Swift House!
Planning Committee Members: Rebecca Ashford, Karen Boutin, Emily Downing Ponce, Stacie Morris, Julia Nesbit, Pam Niarchos, Kristin Patten, Lyn Porter, Sara Roach, Christina Sicard, Shani Varricchione, Michael Wayman
Any questions, please email
Frozen Ticket Sales
Go to the cvsdvt.org, Williston-Drama-"Seat Yourself" link.
FUN NIGHT @ WCS
Concurrent with the FAP Basket Raffle
Drop off your child(ren) (Grades K-5) at the Swift House Fun Night. An evening of adult supervised fun which supports the Swift House end of the year field trip to New York City.
What’s Happening: Games, activities, crafts, a movie, food and Prize Table!!
Where: Drop-off/Pick-up through the Front entrance of WCS.
Who: Children grades K - 5
When: Saturday, March 28th 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Pre-Registration Discount: $10/child $15/family
At the door: $15/child $20/family
Snacks are $1.00 each / Pizza & Hot Dogs $2.00
(Cash only for food)
Pre-registration forms available at ABS & WCS front offices.
Questions? Contact Lisa Barland Swift TA @ lbarland@cvsdvt.org
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).
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!
Seeking Indoor Garage Sale Donations
The Voyager Middle School Team is holding its annual Indoor Garage Sale fundraiser on Saturday, April 11th.
We need donated items that are in really good working order and can sell easily - clothing, tools, furniture, toys, sporting equipment, household goods, DVD's, etc.
If the things you have to donate are really worn out, please bring them to Goodwill instead of our sale. The trips to Goodwill at the end of our garage sales have been really big! Just do your best to consider the shape of the products you donate.
Drop off donated items from 6:30 - 8:30 Friday, April 10th in the WCS cafeteria. Students will be available to help you unload your donations. Contact Ted Milks at Tmilks@cvsdvt.org with questions. And THANK YOU for your support!!
PLEASE NOTE: Goodwill does not take the following items. Please refrain from bringing them to our sale, as we will not be able to dispose of them if they do not sell.
Cribs
No household chemical products such as pesticides, paint, paint thinner, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, aerosols and other environmentally-unfriendly waste products.
No automotive hazardous waste such as tires, lead acid batteries, additives, gasoline, oils, antifreeze, etc.
No large appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, stoves/ovens, washers/dryers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, furnaces, microwaves, trash compactors, water heaters, large console stereos, reon-based appliances, etc.
No personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, nail polish remover, shaving cream, hairsprays, shavers, curling irons
No fragrance items
No mattresses/box springs, including waterbed mattresses and waterbed frames
No plumbing fixtures or building materials
No traditional recyclables such as glass, newsprint, office paper, cardboard, plastics, magazines, junk mail, etc.
No weapons such as guns, bows and arrows, ammunition, hunting knives, etc.
No cribs, car seats, walkers or other products that do not meet the current safety standards of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, including recalled items.
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.
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.
Family Formal
The annual CVU Family Formal will be held on March 21, 2020, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the CVU cafeteria. This year's formal is Carnival themed. All proceeds benefit Vermont Make-A-Wish. Food, games and activities, dancing, and a silent auction.
Tickets are available to purchase online .
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
Committee meetings are on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6 pm at CVUHS, Room 160, 162, 165
Regular Board Meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm.
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 / Four Winds Training / WCS Community Rm / 8:30-10:30 am
Thurs. March 12 / FAPAC / WCS Community Rm / 8:15-10 am
Tues. March 17 / 7/8 Concert Rescheduled / WCS / 7 pm
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 1-3 / Kindergarten Meet & Greet / ABS
April 3 & 4 / Frozen School Play / WCS
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