THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /January 30, 2019
By Angela Filion, ABS Building Principal
If you take a look at the above picture you see the beauties of winter. What you may also see is perseverance. These kindergarteners remind us that being persistent gets you to where you want to go. As they are trenching through the high drifts of snow they are using all of their energy to stay the course. They are faced with the elements of wind, heavy snow, and fatigue. However they never gave up! In the end they reached their destination and felt proud of their achievements! Did everyone get there at the same time? Did some students have more stamina then others? Was it easier for some students to stay the course? These are the questions we face in education when we are working with students to find their success. As we answer these questions we realize that every student has their own unique path. How they get to where they need to go varies from student to student, however this idea of perseverance is what we foster in all kids to stay the course and not give up! Often times we do this by setting goals/targets with the student and monitor the progress of this goal. The more a child can be connected to the goal they are trying to achieve the more likely they will persevere. Here are some great articles for parents on this idea of teaching perseverance, grit, and goal setting.https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/how-to-teach-kids-perseverance-goal-setting/. https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/encouraging-grit-and-teaching-perseverance-to-children As parents we often want to do whatever we can when we see our children struggle through something. One of the best things we can do for them is to not do it for them, rather with them! Setting small and measurable goals and guiding them through the struggle will make them feel that they can do it and can achieve it-which is such a powerful journey for them to experience.! When you hear them say the words "I did it" you know the pride they are feeling inside. It's also likely that they will tackle other struggles along their journey!
This is what it looked like once they achieved their goal! "We did it!"
students using perseverance to lift hoops with ropes
Suggested Book Reads
Phew!
Food Shelf Offers Vacation Food
Free & Reduced Price Meal Benefits
We'd like to remind everyone that any family with a change in income as a result of the shutdown (or any other reason) may apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits at any time during the school year based on their most current income.
3rd/4th grade chorus concerts
Wednesday, February 6th at 2:10pm and 6:30pm in the WCS auditorium.
The musicians are required to wear concert attire* for both concerts.
The musicians need to arrive at WCS at 6:10pm for the evening concert.
*What is concert attire?
Option 1: long pants, shirt with collar, and a tie
Option 2: dress or skirt of appropriate length, or dressy pants, with an appropriate top
Shorts, t shirts, hats, athletic wear, flip flops, and jeans are not appropriate.
Please do not wear them.
Bus Cameras
Over the winter break, while families everywhere enjoyed the holidays, CVSD transportation received a different kind of treat; internal and external cameras for our bus fleet. These cameras, which will provide a new level of safety for our students, are scheduled to be turned on the first week of February. The following protocols will be followed:
- All surveillance camera recordings in the district will be subject to board policy, currently under review by the CVSD School Board. The policy will be posted on the District website.
Recordings from the internal cameras are not monitored in real time and will only be viewed after an incident and at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools. As always, incidents on our buses are handled by the CVSD Chief Operations Officer or appropriate school administrator per that school’s procedures.
Recordings of automobiles which violate state laws regarding the passing of school buses will be turned over to the local police authority.
Cameras in CVSD are used only with the goal of improving the safety of our students. If you have any questions about the use of cameras, please contact your local principal or the CVSD COO, Jeanne Jensen, at 802-383-1234
Big Basket Raffle seeks committee members
Have you heard of FAP’s Big Basket Raffle and Silent Auction School Fundraiser? It’s attended by 300+ community members and last year it raised over $9,500 for educational programs that complement classroom learning. Over 55 themed baskets are raffled off and 25 other items are bid on through a Silent Auction. The Basket Raffle will be held in the evening on Saturday, April 13, 2019.
This fundraiser is the result of the efforts of many volunteers and planning efforts begin next month. AND WE NEED YOU!! Are you good at marketing/advertising? Are you good with computers and formatting documents? Are you creative? How do you feel about approaching businesses you frequent and asking for a donation for your children’s school? These are just some of the tasks that go into planning this significant school fundraiser.
Please contact Emily Downing Ponce at emilydowningponce@gmail.com for further information!
Sterling House Fundraiser at Agave
Lunch, Dinner or Take-Out
Monday, February 11th
Agave Restaurant is generously donating 10% of their total sales all day Monday, February 11th, for the Sterling House field trips scheduled at the end of the school year. Please stop in and support our students while having a delicious meal with family and friends.
Thank you for your support
Williston Central School Students
Sterling House Team
CVSD School-based Early Education Program Peer Lottery Application
Our preschools are 5 STAR accredited licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) and Teaching Strategies Gold. We believe that a diverse classroom offers opportunities for adults and children to practice acceptance and compassion and also provides a broad range of learning experiences.
Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar.
Peers who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2019, but not yet 5 years old, are eligible to
enter the lottery for our programs.
All applications must be received by February 8, 2019. Students will be selected via a lottery.
Nutrition Program Substitutes Needed
Join our Wildcat Food Service team. Flexible hours. Fast pace. Fun work atmosphere.
No experience needed. We will provide training.
Contact Scott Wagner
Phone:(802) 871-6198
Celebrating Connecting Youth Mentors at WCS
This year’s National Mentoring Month display in the front lobby of Williston Central School features honeycombs of caring that comprise the CY Mentoring community (a.k.a. “beehive” ☺) at WCS. Across the top of the display are the words, “BEE Yourself, because everyone else is already taken.”
Please join me in thanking our fifty-eight dedicated volunteer CY Mentors at WCS for giving their middle school mentees one more safe place to ask questions, to explore new interests and perspectives, and to BEE themselves!
I would love to hear from you if you are interested in learning more about this hometown volunteer opportunity.
Nancy Carlson, CY Mentoring Coordinator at Williston Central School
802-871-6046 / ncarlson@cvsdvt.org
FIRST YEAR MENTORS: Ellen Arapokos; Norm Barohn; Amanda Cannamela; Dave Cobb; Agnes Cook; Tim Cook; Randy Fortin; Abby Granoff; Randy Hall; David Lyons; Woody Martel; Ginny St. John. SECOND YEAR MENTORS: Russ Joy; Brian LaPointe; Ted Milks; Julia Quinlan; David Rose; Chandler Smith; Arlene Sorgen. THIRD YEAR MENTORS: Carmel Blanchard; Laurie McLean. FOURTH YEAR MENTORS: Emily Brewer; Cara Medved; Jennifer Mignano; Bob Pasco. FIFTH YEAR MENTORS: Andrew Becher; Hallery Brunet. SIXTH YEAR MENTORS: Deb Chisholm; Jim Leahy; Laura McClure; Danielle O’Brien; Jackie Parks; Tim Platt; Peggy Stowe. SEVENTH YEAR MENTORS: Brian Goodwin; Karla Kennedy; Ruth Magill; Linda Scott. EIGHTH YEAR MENTORS: Jack Price; Jeff Teplitz. NINTH YEAR MENTORS: Louis Izzo; Greg Marino; Lynn McClintock; Kim McMahon; Nadine Paffett-Lugassy. TENTH YEAR MENTORS: Sarah Asch; Diane Downer; Melita Sedic-Lawton; Tom Spencer; Tom Tarracciano. ELEVENTH YEAR MENTORS: JoAnne Conroy; Liz Demas. THIRTEENTH YEAR MENTOR: Sally Dattilio. FIFTEENTH YEAR MENTORS: Eric Adler, Cheryl Lalancette. SIXTEENTH YEAR MENTOR: Micaela Wallace. SEVENTEENTH YEAR MENTOR: Nancy Colbourn. EIGHTEENTH YEAR MENTOR: Shona Mossey-Lothrop.
BeeYourSelf poster designed by Kevin Lewis and printed by Print TechDental Cleaning
During the month of February, your child can receive a dental cleaning, exam, and fluoride rinse for $20.00. This will be done by a dental hygienist from Dr. Jace Molinari’s office. She will also offer helpful advice about good nutrition and dental care. The dental cleaning will take place at school during school hours, on Fridays in February (ABS – Feb 8th, WCS – Feb 15th). If you are interested, please complete the form below and return it to the health office as soon as possible so plans can be made. The cost is $20.00 per student paid by cash or check.
Please return the form below to the Health Office at WCS by February 12 or ABS by February 5.
Water Leaks at WCS
Some of you may have seen or heard that we experienced some water leaks at WCS last week. These leaks occurred in two areas of the school; in the ceiling above the lobby closest to the former Bell Tower entrance, and in the ceiling in the Full House corridor. Both leaks were the result of frozen and ruptured coils in two separate roof-top heating / ventilation units. Though investigation is still underway, it appears that the freeze-protection systems in these units failed. There was some damage caused to ceiling tiles, sheet-rock soffit, paint, and some copy paper that got wet. Luckily, no classrooms were affected. I am pleased to report that our construction company, ReArch, is taking ownership of the problem and fixing any damages at no expense to the school. Of course, steps have also been taken to be sure that this problem does not recur in any of the other units, regardless of the temperature outside.
ABS Artist-in-Residence
We are privileged to again welcome artist-in-residence, Sally Duback who will guide all K-2
students in creating an indoor mural for our cafeteria. The general focus will be gardens and healthy foods. Construction will take place during art classes from Mon. 3/11 - Fri. 3/15. We
are asking for specific donations. It would be great if these could arrive at ABS by February break, but we will gratefully accept after that. Following is a list from the artist of acceptable
items. Pre-sorting types of objects wherever possible would be most appreciated.
- Broken or unwanted ceramic or colored glass dishes (NO plastic or metal please)
- Broken/unwanted costume jewelry
- CDs
- Mirror glass
- Keys
- Plastic bottle tops
- Small hardware items for ex., curtain rings, washers and hinges
- Shells and stones
- Buttons and beads
Thank you in advance!
Sara Beeken – 871-6281 sbeeken@cvsdvt.org
Eighth Grade Challenge
Williston Schools Penguin Plunge
Williston Schools Penguin Plunge Team welcomes you….on Saturday, February 2, 2019 the Wildcats will take the plunge into icy Lake Champlain. We welcome all parents, students and staff to join us in taking the chilly dip.
Now in its twenty- fourth year, the Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge event series supports sports training and competition, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Vermont. These fundraising efforts support Special Olympics Vermont and our WCS Unified Sports Team. In 2018, Penguin Plunge events raised $542,706, nearly 40% of their operating budget. Register Here
2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration
Pre-Registration for Fall 2019 Kindergarten has begun for Williston and St. George children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2019.
We start the process by asking families to complete this pre-registration form.
Following submission of the pre-registration form, we'll collect registration forms* and paperwork (copy of birth certificate, proof of residency, and immunizations) in advance of Kindergarten screening in early 2019. *Families with children enrolled in the ABS EE program will only need to provide a copy of the birth certificate and these forms.
Please reach out to Laura (871-6200; lgigliotti@cvsdvt.org) or Cindy (871-6203; cpavlik@cvsdvt.org) with questions.
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.
Families as Partners
Tuesday Early Dismissal
Dismissal at ABS is 1:35 pm.
Dismissal at WCS 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.
Four Winds Nature News
School Lunch Menus
Monthly Fitness Fun
More Links, More information
Upcoming Events
Wed. Feb. 6 / 3rd/4th Grade Chorus Concert / WCS Auditorium / 6:30 pm
Fri. Feb. 8 / 8th Gr. NAEP Testing / 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Fri. Feb. 8 / Variety Show / WCS Auditorium / 6:30 pm
Thurs. Feb. 13 / 4th Gr. NAEP Testing
Thurs. Feb. 14 / FAP / WCS Community Rm / 8-10 am
NO SCHOOL Feb. 25-March 1
Fri March 8 / School Dance / WCS / 6:30-8:30 pm
March 11-15 / ABS Visiting Artist
Wed. March 13 / Four Winds / WCS Community Rm / 8:30-10:30 am
Thurs. March 14 / FAP / WCS Community Room / 8 - 10 am
Wed. March 20 / gr. 7-8 Concerts
Fri. March 22 / NO SCHOOL / teacher conferences
Upcoming Events on the School Web CalendarDAML Programs
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