THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /May 6, 2020
A Message From The Administration
by ABS Principal Angela Filion
I stumbled upon this quote at the most perfect time..."Together may we give our children roots to grow and wings to fly." Why is this the most perfect time you may ask? Now more than ever we are having to find unique ways to work together as families and educators to provide our young ones with roots for their stability/growth as well as wings to fly on to the next school year. Many of you are probably wondering how can we possibly do this during a pandemic? How will we provide closure for this school year? What will next year look like? How will we help students transition to the next grade? These are all questions that we will need to answer together one day at a time. We will need to give ourselves permission to adjust and adapt, revise and repair, share and communicate-all for the best interest of our children! We are in this together and I want to take the time to not only appreciate our teachers this week but to the parents/families who are at home teaching their children right along with us! Another reason the timing seemed perfect for this quote is because recently a teacher shared with me a message to his 2nd grade families with these very same themes. When I read his message it brought me to tears. I immediately felt that his words deserved an even wider audience and needed to be heard by ALL of our Williston families! He has graciously allowed me to share...enjoy!
David Bolger writes, "Dear Parents, I know you have just been asked to turn in your "Placement Cards" so that our folks can consider your thoughts. As we place your child with a new teacher, In a new classroom, with new classmates, in a new grade, in a new school.....what could possibly go wrong? But remember all those little second graders who left us for WCS last June? And the June before? And the June before that? They've all grown, that's what they've done! In ways they didn't even expect. With new best-friends -- met in the first week of school, and a new teacher. So new, that no one had ever seen her before. But it turned out she liked origami, and hedgehogs, and ice fishing. Along with you, we teachers describe to our transition team who your child is, what motivates them, what's hard for them, what lights them up, what do adults and classmates admire in them, how do they help, and what kinds of kids make a difference for them. Your children are beautiful. We feel so lucky that this is our work! But I've been thinking: making sure the world really gets our child isn't enough. Teaching our child to leap...that's the business! Leap on a bed, leap down a step, leap into your lap, leap out of your arms, leap into the pool, leap across the rocks, leap onto school buses. It's time to leap! To a bigger school, with bigger desks, and more teachers, with bigger kids. Take your child by the hand, turn them towards the road. Tell them how life is about moving and stepping forward from where you were to where you've never been. Look both ways, my dear, but go! Step lightly. The world will get to know you by and by, as you get to know the world. Go!"
The Vermont Foodbank and Vermont National Guard are teaming up to distribute food to those in need THIS Friday, May 8 at the Allen Brook School parking lot in Williston from 9am-3pm.
Those in need of food can receive a seven-day supply of Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) for each member of their household.
Those who are ill, have been advised to quarantine, or lack transportation can send a friend or relative to pick up meals for them. Those picking up food can come to the Allen Brook School, open their trunk, and the appropriate amount of food will be loaded by members of the Guard.
Supply chains are strong to food shelves and Vermont grocery stores are not experiencing shortages in most food items.
For details, or to donate to the Vermont Foodbank visit https://www.vtfoodbank.org/.
Faculty and Staff Appreciation
WEDNESDAY MAY 6TH, 2020:
Decorate your neighborhood for the teachers, faculty, and staff so they can feel the love. Use sidewalk chalk to leave messages on driveways and sidewalks, create fun signs and put them in your yard for when they drive by — anything is possible! Share a photo or video on your school’s social media, or send it to your teacher, faculty, or staff member.
Today’s Special Message: Use this What I’ll Miss template to share what you will miss most about your teacher. Click here for a digital version you can edit in Google Slides.
THURSDAY MAY 7TH, 2020:
Give your teacher something special! Students can draw a picture, write a poem, sing a song — the sky is the limit! Share a photo or video on your school’s social media.
Today’s Special Message: Use this Favorite Memory template to share your favorite memory from your class this year. Click here for a digital version you can edit in Google Slides.
FRIDAY MAY 8TH, 2020:
Dress up like your favorite teacher, faculty, or staff member! Share a photo on your school’s social media.
Today’s Special Message: Use this Making You Proud template to share a special moment when you knew you made your teacher proud. Click here for a digital version you can edit in Google Slides.
Four Winds
Four Winds is providing family-friendly, nature-based science explorations for children and families to help support learning at home during these school closures. These explorations are designed to get kids offline and outside. They can be done in small chunks of time over several days and cover the same topics we had hoped to explore during our Four Winds time. We hope you enjoy this relevant science learning right outside your back door. Have fun exploring together!
In the month of May, we will discover Frogs and Toads.
Click the link to access your Home Explorations for this month.
Ideas for Families
"Feathering the Nest" Slideshow
Children's Hand- Made Cards
My kids have drawn cards and I would like to invite other children to send their hand drawn cards to me and I will send them to a nurse in the covid unit who will distribute them and take photos.
Please send your kids cards to me at the below address by May 11th :
Claudine Safar
234 Lyman Dr.
Williston VT 04594
Resources for Families
We realize that parents and caregivers are all working hard to support students with remote learning. With more time online, additional challenges arise around behavior and etiquette in an online environment. Classroom teachers are setting expectations, especially for class meetings. Parents and caregivers are also doing a lot! The district and school truly appreciate your involvement as well. Here are a few resources for families that we've compiled that you may find helpful.
Common Sense:
Common Sense Media (ratings, reviews, tips, common topics for parents, guides, how-to)
Common Sense Media Plus ($3/month, $30/year - access to more resources)
Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Resources for Family Engagement (family activities, media agreements, discussion guides)
Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
Brainpop Videos (contact your school’s digital learning leader or librarian for login details, where needed)
The full collection of videos related to Digital Citizenship
Brainpop Jr. - Internet Safety
The Hive
Ms. Nicole and Ms. Nat
Office Hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30-12:30 Use this link
Drop in to chat or ask questions! If this time does not work for you, send an email to npfende@cvsdvt.org to set up a time.
#CVSDStrong
We invite everyone to share their #CVSDStrong anecdotes and photos at this link: https://bit.ly/
View the videos in the #CVSDStrong series here.
Schools Providing Food
CVSD is providing free meals to all children ages 18 and younger. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you can pick up two days worth of breakfasts and lunches for each child. Click on the link below or on our website to choose your pick-up location and your choice of lunch entrees. Saturday’s meal will be “chef’s choice”. If you can not pick up meals at the times listed, please contact your foodservice director or building principal to discuss options.
https://bit.ly/FoodserviceCVSD
Williston Central School – New pick up location added, plus extended time
1. The time span for picking up meals at WCS will be 9:00 - 10:45.
2. In addition to the visitor parking lot, band room entrance location, parents will now be able to enter via Central School Drive and park on the west side of the building and pick-up meals at the west doors (formerly the Bell Tower doors). Please choose either of these options when you come to get meals at the school. This screencast may be helpful.
9:00 – 10:45 Order at https://bit.ly/WillistonMeals
St George – Red Schoolhouse (off Rt 116). 9:30 – 10:30 AM
CVSD SCHOOL CHOICE INFORMATION
Because of the COVID19 situation, we have adjusted the timeline for CVSD School Choice Applications for this year. Applications are due by May 15. Applications will be stamped with their received by date and will be reviewed by the superintendent. Determinations will be made by May 20 after discussions between superintendent and building administrators. Parents will be notified of approvals/denials via email.
For questions, please contact Sandy Raymond, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at sraymond@cvsdvt.org.
Middle School Workshops
Leah Joly, Design Tech teacher at WCS, will be offering some small group workshops for middle school students. Kits will be available to be picked up at WCS or delivered before each workshop. Please click on the link below for more information!
Williston Community Food Shelf
The Williston Community Food Shelf is OPEN and providing food to Williston and St. George individuals and families who might need some support during this uncertain time. Our regular operating hours are Tuesdays 5-6:30pm, Thursdays 9-11:00am and Saturdays 9-11:00am.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the food shelf has changed its policy and is now using a "Curbside" delivery method to ensure that there is no direct contact between customers and volunteers. Each customer receives a pre-packaged box of non-perishable food filled according to family size and is also able to order breads, meats, produce and dairy depending on availability. Williston, St. George and Richmond families with school age children will also receive vacation bags (2 per month) of food.
Customers are asked to please bring a piece of mail with their name and address to verify residence. The WCFS website is currently down but more information can be found at our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Williston-Community-Food-Shelf or by calling (802) 735-6303.
From Mrs. Clopton, ABS Librarian
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library offers porch pick up service. Click here to learn how it works.
DAML Youth Librarian Jess George does a Dorothy's List Read Aloud on the DAML Youtube channel Wednesdays at 12:30pm.
Don't have a DAML library card? Email daml@damlvt.org or call us at (802) 878-4918 and leave a message and a librarian will get back to them to provide a barcode or setup a temporary card.
Need to Find Child Care?
Part 2 has put together this Part 2 staffing database of people looking to pick up hours during the school hiatus. Schedule, rate, payments, responsibilities, expectations, etc. will be up to you and the person you choose to employ.
Four Winds
In the month of May, we will discover Frogs and Toads.
Ideas for Families
"Feathering the Nest" Slideshow
"Feathering the Nest" Mini Lessons
"Animal Disguise and Surprises" Mini Lessons
Four Winds website
Monthly Fitness Fun
May Fitness Calendar
School Nutrition Program
Please make payment checks out to 'CVSD - ABS' or 'CVSD-WCS'
Health Office Medication Pick Up
If you currently have Epi Pens, inahlers, or emergency medication in the Health Office, please reach out to your child’s school nurse to arrange for pick up. We will offer pick up dates and times that align with school lunch pick up on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 10.45 am at WCS. Both ABS and WCS medications can be picked up at WCS. You still do have to contact the school nurse prior to pick up so the medications can be gathered and sent to the location.
You can decide to keep the medications at the school and we can use them for next school year. If your child is in 8th grade this year and will be attending CVU next year, you may contact us and we will arrange for the meds to be transferred to CVU Health Office.
Please note, all expired medication will be discarded if not picked up.
We also want to let you know that we continue to be there for the students and families even when the schools are closed. Please, reach out to us with any questions and concerns. We are here to help. Below is the link to our web page where we share some information that might be helpful to you. The best way to reach us is our email.
Stay healthy, be well, and take care of yourself!
Williston Central School Nurses:
Maria Kapetanovic mharlow@cvsdvt.org
Carol Albertelli calbertelli@cvsdvt.org
Allen Brook School Nurse:
Sylvia Love slove@cvsdvt.org
Consolidated Communications
Consolidated is pleased to be able to offer students two months of Free Home Internet Service, including Free Installation for those who don’t currently have Consolidated service.
See the flyer with more information at this link.
Internet Essentials
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
More Links, More information
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
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.
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