THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /September 13, 2017
A Message from the Administration
The Power of Teamwork, Revisited
by Greg Marino
Last April I wrote a piece for “The Bell” about the power of teamwork. After experiencing the amazing start-up we have had at WCS and ABS these past few weeks in the midst of a major renovation at WCS I have been truly inspired to ring this bell again! The power of teamwork is not something that many of us would need much convincing about. Hopefully we have all had an experience being a part of something much bigger than ourselves; something that required much more than just us doing our part with quality and precision. We know that to accomplish something truly exceptional it often takes the work of a well-functioning team of people dedicated to a common purpose and goal. I am so fortunate in my role as Lead Principal to have the regular opportunity to witness team work at its best right here in our two amazing schools. This year’s efforts to bring the start of the school year to such a smooth take-off has been a fantastic example of this.
Did somebody say renovation?
I know that many of you have been following the progress of the WCS renovation on the renovation website. We will continue to use this tool to send out regular updates, mostly via pictures. If you have not already checked out the site, here’s a link. There will be an update later this week with some fresh new images from the kaleidoscope / Harbor areas.
Celebrating a Special Anniversary, ABS turns 20!
Allen Brook School is celebrating “20 years of Teaching, Learning, and Inspiring” this year as the ABS facility turned 20 last January. Commemorative T-shirts have been donned by faculty and staff. Various celebrations will occur throughout the year as we mark this special anniversary. You may even be able to order your very own ABS 20th anniversary t-shirt. Stay tuned!
Important Safety Reminder: One key element to maintaining safety in an emergency situation is effective communication to families. With this in mind, the Safety Committee has prepared the informational letter, Parents Expectations During A School Emergency. We are providing this letter again now and are asking you to become familiar with it in advance of possible emergency situations at either of the schools. If you have questions or concerns after reading the letter, please feel free to contact me directly. In terms of school safety, we will never be “done” improving our habits, routines, and procedures in order to help us be prepared and stay safe in different types of emergencies. We take the responsibility of ongoing improvement in this area very seriously. On behalf of the Safety Committee, I thank you for your partnership in this work.
Curriculum Nights/Learning Expos (Please note time correction for ABS)
. The dates for the Allen Brook School and WCS 5th-8th grade curriculum nights have been changed as follows:
- ABS, Curriculum Night and Learning Expo has been moved from Wednesday, 9/20 to Tuesday, 9/19, 6:30pm
- WCS, 5th -8th Grade Curriculum Night and Learning Expo has been moved from Thursday, 9/28, to Wednesday, 9/27, 6:30pm
- The WCS 3rd-4th grade Curriculum Night and learning Expo remains on Thursday, 9/14 at 6:30 pm. Child care is available. Click here to sign up.
Picture Day(s) Next Week
ABS is Tuesday Sept. 19 / WCS is Wednesday, Sept. 20
All students should have received photo order forms. If you plan to order photos, please insure forms are completed and payment ( if paying by check, make payable to Ambient Photography) is included. Forms should be handed in on picture day. All students will receive a class picture (no purchase necessary).
Volunteers Needed
At WCS: We are looking for three volunteers to work one three hour shift on Wednesday, Sept. 20th. Complimentary photo packages provided. First come first serve. Please email Liz Neeld at lneeld@cvsdvt.org.
At ABS: We are looking for two volunteers to help on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Complimentary photo packages provided. Please email Cindy Pavlik at cpavlik@cvsdvt.org
Recommendations for outdoor school activities from the Health Office
This applies when students go on outdoor field trips to hike, camp, have a day of fun at the beach, outdoor classrooms, “Forest Fridays”, “Monday in the Woods” … etc.
· It is best to send children in long sleeves and long pants especially for activities that take place in the woods. This will help keep mosquitoes and ticks at bay, especially if pants can be tucked into socks.
· Bug / Tick repellent of your choice, applied at your home, is also recommended, but not required. Please, note that bug spray should be applied at home and not brought to school in student’s backpacks.
· We recommend that you check your child for ticks as soon as they get home after time outdoors.
SPARK Enrichment After School ~ Session 1
The 1st session of Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, takes place from September 21 - October 19. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by September 19th. Read more.
Continental Mathematics League 2017-2018
Registration deadline for grades 3-8 is September 22nd (Registration for grade 2 will be announced in October.) Continental Math Online Registration 2017-2018 Grade 4-8 Meet dates: November 15, December 20, January 17, February 14 & March 14 Grade 3 Meet dates: January 17, February 14 & March 14 The Enrichment Program administers the Continental Mathematics League (CML) for motivated students seeking an additional math challenge. Interested students in Grades 2-8 participate in the Euclidean Division, which means “students participating require average reading comprehension and analytical reasoning capabilities. Their computational skill should be appropriate to their grade level.” Click here for more information.
Activity/Late Bus Available from both Schools Mon. through Thurs.
*Times on Tuesdays: ABS: 3:25 pm; WCS: 3:35 pm
Morning Time Change for Bus Route J
Please note the earlier pick up times for Bus Route J:
7:00 US2/Williston Rd (east)
7:03 Governor Chittenden
7:10 Sunrise Dr
7:12 French Hill Manor
7:12 US2/Williston Rd (west)
7:14 North Williston Rd
7:16 Lefebvre Ln
7:19 Golf Links
7:20 Fairway Dr
7:23 Hillcrest Ln
7:25 Tamarack Dr
7:26 Spruce Ln
7:29 Governor Chittenden Rd
7:35 North Williston Rd (south)
7:38 US2/Williston Rd (west)
7:41 Lambert Ln
7:41 Timothy Way, Rita Rd, Cedar Ln
7:50 Talcott Rd to ABS School
7:55 WCS
Intergen Reading Program / A Monthly Book Group
What is it? FAP teams up with the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library to sponsor a fun 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.
When? The program will kick-off in October with a “Get Acquainted” luncheon. The book groups will then meet during school hours once a month through April to discuss books in a relaxed and fun setting.
If your 5th-8th grade child is interested in being considered for this program, please register by Wednesday, September 20th using this online link: https://goo.gl/forms/bZnLoUydvV0Es6df1
if you have questions, please contact Karen karen@willistonruns.org
Four Winds Nature News
School Lunch Menus
Please make payment checks out to 'CVSD'
Monthly Fitness Fun
WCS 3rd/4th Grade Chorus
When:
Wednesdays after school, 3:00-4:00.
Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, September 20th.
The first two rehearsals are “open.” Students can come to check it out with no obligation.
Starting Wednesday, October 4th, students need to make a final decision to be a chorus member or not. Chorus members must attend all rehearsals. (Absences from school are excused.) Non-members are not permitted to attend rehearsals.
Where:
WCS Chorus room (Mrs. T-H’s and Ms. Kennedy’s music room)
Students should bring a snack to eat between school dismissal and the start of chorus rehearsal. No food is permitted in the rehearsal room. Only water is permitted.
There is a 4:30 activity bus available to take students home.
Other Information:
The 3rd/4th grade chorus will give performances in early February and in early June.
The chorus sings a variety of music from different time periods, cultures, and styles. The students will be singing in different languages, meters and tonalities. The songs range in level of difficulty.
No audition- just a love for singing!
No cost.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H)
How can I join the band program at WCS?
If you are a 4th grader
You can join the program in October. All 4th graders will attend a “Beginner Band Demo” in October where they will learn about the different instruments. Sign up information will be available at this time.
Gr. 5-8 wishing to continue playing an instrument
Easy! Start attending rehearsals.
Symphonic Band- Tuesday, Thursday at 11:50
Concert Band- Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 11:50
Wind Ensemble- Daily at 7:30 (am) with lots of days off built into your schedule.
Gr. 5-8 wishing to start an instrument
You may begin taking lessons as soon as you have an instrument. Here are some important steps to take:
Decide which instrument you wish to play. You may choose from flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/baritone, and sometimes (if there is room) percussion.
JARED CAMPBELL, MORE than just a musician !
What better way to get this school year off to a great start than an amazingly talented performer? We could not think of a better way so we invited Jared Campbell, singer/songwriter from upstate NY, to come to Williston Central School. Jared has been traveling the country and performing for thousands of people in hundreds of schools over the last decade. He has shared a stage with some pretty famous performers such as Jason Mraz, Gavin Degraw, The Zac Brown Band and even Journey! His music has been featured on MTV and in Billboard Magazine! He is such an inspiration and we were so lucky to have him here at Williston Central School on 9/13/17 for two shows with students from 5-8 grade, and what an amazing show it was!
He shares with the audience personal stories from his journey and people he has met along the way. He hopes his music will impact the lives of the students who listen to it by experiencing joy, finding comfort through pain and looking at past obstacles as stepping stones to a better life.
Talk to your students about Jared and his presentation. Check out his music online at JaredCampbell.com, listen to the same songs he performed for us like January Snow, The Fight or Beyond The Gray. I promise, you won’t be sorry you did. If you wish to follow up or if your student comes home talking about Jared, please feel free to reach out to me….I would love to hear what the students are saying.
Kelly Fitzpatrick, CY-WCS SAP
Outdoor Gear Needed for Kindergartners!
Wondering what to do with outdoor gear your child has outgrown?
We are in need of gently used gear for our Forest Classroom Time:
rain slickers- sizes 4,5,6,7
rain boots- sizes 11,12,13, 1, 2, 3
snow pants- sizes 4,5,6,7
winter boots-sizes 11,12,13, 1, 2, 3
warm mittens/gloves: kindergarten sizes
Please leave in donation box in front hallway.
Big Thanks from the kindergarten team!
Job Openings in Williston Schools
Paraprofessionals:
Williston Schools are seeking energetic paraprofessionals to join our Special Education team. We are looking for skilled, caring individuals to provide support for individual and small groups of students in academic areas, personal development/behavior, and social cognition. Candidates will be an advocate of inclusive education, problem-solver and strong collaborator, and a positive team member. Ability to promote child growth and foster independence and a willingness to learn are essential. Please note that lifting may be a requirement of this job. If interested please email cmorin@cvsdvt.org.
Bus Aide
Allen Brook School is seeking an energetic paraprofessional to ride the bus with students in the Early Ed. program (M, W, & Th 10:45 - 11:45 and Tues. 10:15 - 11:15).
If interested please email cmorin@cvsdvt.org.
More Links, More information
- PDF version of this week's Bell
- WSD Mobile App Flyer
- Williston Facebook Page
Upcoming Events
Thurs. Sept. 14 / FAPAC Mtg., 8:15-10 am / WCS Dining Rm.
Thurs. Sept. 14 / gr. 3-4 Curriculum Night & Learning Expo / 6:30-7:30 pm
Tues. Sept. 19 / ABS Picture Day
Tues. Sept. 19 / PreK-gr. 2 Curriculum Night & Learning Expo / 6:30-7:30 pm / ABS
Wed. Sept. 20 / WCS Picture Day
Wed. Sept. 27 / gr. 5-8 Curriculum Night & Learning Expo / 6:30 pm / WCS
Sat. Oct 7 / Fall Festival
Click here for athleticsUpcoming Events on the School Web Calendar
DAML Programs
Click here for the Bell listing of DAML events scheduled for children.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Tuesday Early Dismissal Times
Dismissal at Allen Brook School will be at 1:35.
Dismissal at Williston Central School will be at 1:55.
The schedule for Preschool on Tuesdays will be altered. Morning classes will be from 8:00 to 10:15, and afternoon classes will be from 11:15 to 1:30.
Williston Schools
Email: cpavlik@cvsdvt.org
Website: 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