THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /December 5, 2018
School Safety Updates
By Williston Lead Principal Greg Marino
Who is the Safety Committee and What do we do?
The Safety Team is a passionate group made up of school staff, faculty, administration, a parent, local emergency responders, and town and community partners. Our mission is to continuously improve the knowledge, skills, and preparedness related to personal and institutional safety, especially in the schools of Williston. Please click on the link below to view a slide show that was shared at our Safety Open House / Meet and Greet that occurred in November at ABS. This slideshow provides a handy summary of who we are, what we do, and how we go about our work. The team has recently added a parent member, Mr. Peter Ferguson.
Williston Safety Committee Info Slides
It's important that parents have a clear understanding of what to do in the event of an emergency. We hope this document (linked below) provides you with this information. Please call or email if you have any questions.
Parent Expectations During a School Emergency
We have recently taken a critical look at our door security procedures and have updated these to match the new entry configuration at WCS and to provide better accountability for visitors who may be unfamiliar to our amazing receptionists, Laura Gigliotti at ABS, and Amy Benoit at WCS. As a result of these updates, family members or visitors who come to school to pick up a student will be asked to show photo identification if these individuals are unfamiliar to our receptionist. This will occur even if you have notified the school of the pick-up arrangement in advance. The school wants to be certain that we verify the identity of anybody picking up a child and that these individuals are approved to do so. You can help by letting your relatives or friends know who may pick up your child to be prepared to show photo ID. You can also help by making sure your child's emergency contact card is up to date with the information related to who is allowed to pick up your child. If the school is ever unsure about this in a given situation, we will alway err on the side of caution and reach out to you by phone for verification. SMILE FOR THE CAMERA: Another scenario you may encounter when visiting during school hours is that the receptionist may ask you turn towards the camera so that they can see you more clearly. People are bundled up in the winter time and it is sometimes more difficult to see faces under hats and hoods. Thanks for understanding if Laura or Amy ask you to turn to look at the camera so that they can verify who it is they are buzzing into the school.
Read more about School Safety Updates, including Facility Threat Assessment and Staying Current With Best Practices
John Churchman to Visit ABS Dec. 6
John will be signing books after his presentation. Phoenix Books is offering our school a 20% discount.Take advantage of this offer and order a book, or books, for your child. Autographed books make great gifts! Please make checks payable to Allen Brook School.
Payment and order form are due back to school by Friday November 30th.
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.
Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) is asking families to register their Kindergartners earlier this year, in an effort to get more accurate enrollment numbers for our schools. These enrollment numbers help us to plan our staffing needs for the upcoming school year.
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.
5th-8th Grade Concerts
5th-8th Grade Concerts are Wednesday, 12/19/18
5:30- Grades 5 and 6 (call time for musicians is 5:00)
7:15- grades 7 and 8 plus Stage Band (call time for musicians is 6:45)
Students will also perform during the school day. Please wear black bottoms and the performing arts shirt. 5th-8th Grade Concerts are Wednesday, 12/19/18
CAMP ROCK Information Meeting
On Monday, December 10 at 6:30pm come find out about the spring musical “CAMP ROCK”. The meeting will take place in the auditorium and will answer your questions on auditions, stage crew, stage managers and the show in general.
Students in grades 6-8 can audition for the play. Students in grades 5-8 can be part of stage crew. The stage crew builds and paints the sets and helps run the show during production week.
There will be a workshops for the auditions on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 11th and 12th after school till 4:30. Come learn the music, dance and practice the readings to prepare for the auditions in January after the break. Auditions will take place January 7-11. Rehearsals will start January 14th. “CAMP ROCK” will run April 5-6, 2019!
“CAMP ROCK” is looking for Stage Managers
Are you interested in becoming a stage manager for the spring musical? Are you free after school?
Stage managers must be available for after school rehearsals and have no commitments the time around the show, April 1-6. The stage managers will take attendance, take blocking notes from the director, keep track of props needed and how they are used, help run music for dance and fill in for actors who are absent at rehearsals.
We are looking for a total of 3 stage managers usually in grades 7-8. If you are interested, get a form from the drama board outside the theater and return it completed to the drama mailbox in the main office by December 14th. You will need to have your core teacher and a parent sign off on the form.
If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Simons (Rylant) at 310-5900 or crylant@cvsdvt.org.
Kindergarten Lantern Walk
Thursday, December 20, 4:45 pm at ABS
Dress warm!
non-perishable food items accepted
Questions, contact Heather Scandale hscandale@cvsdvt.org
more info will be sent home with your child.
School Buses and hills when roads are difficult
On the occasions it is determined a Williston school bus will not be driving on a hill* road during the morning pick up, we hope to be able to contact families early enough for you to get students to a stop at the start of the hill to catch the bus. When the hills are closed for the morning bus runs, the preschool bus will also avoid hills.
Alternatively, during the afternoon bus runs, we will contact families to advise you that the bus will need to drop children off at the start of the hill, and you can meet the bus there if necessary. If no one arrives to meet younger students, they will be brought back to school until arrangements are made for them to be picked up. Please talk with your bus drivers to let them know if you are comfortable letting your child walk home from the drop off location.
We will use the Connect 5 automated calling system to send a voice message to all families, not just those affected by hills. This is a change from past practice, to ensure that no one is accidentally excluded from the message.
*These are the hill roads: Butternut, Highlands, Porterwood, Oak Knoll, Rabbits Run, Evergreen, Fortier, Douglas, Yantz Hill, lower River Cove, Meadow Ridge, Ledgewood, Bayberry, Terrace, Jasmine, Wild Ginger, French Hill**, Sunrise Drive**, Sunset.
**Students who live on or off Rt. 2 beyond the 4-way intersection at the Federated Church should be picked up from school, as the bus will not drive toward French Hill in bad weather.
Submit Hannaford Helps Schools $ by Dec. 8
Thank you from Hannaford Helps Schools 2018!
With just a couple weeks to go, we wanted to remind yo that school dollars MUST be turned in to stores by Saturday, December 8, 2018. Thanks for helping to earn money for our schools!
Fundraiser for All Breed Rescue
We are 5th & 6th grade sisters in Swift House and this year we are choosing to fundraise for the All Breed Rescue in Williston. Please consider sending in items with your son/daughter from All Breed Rescue's wish list which can be found here. The list includes: baby wipes, dog toys, dog treats, coconut oil and cleaning supplies, etc. There will be a bin outside the front office until February 1st so as you are out shopping, please keep these needs in mind. Many thanks and Happy Holidays! Emma Rich & Jaden Miller-Young
Library Books to Unwrap and Share this Season
This gift-sharing season, consider checking out library books to unwrap and read together!
Perhaps you'd select 8 books for Hanukkah or 24 books for Advent.
Families can check out as many items as they would like from our Allen Brook School collection.
Cozy up in pajamas, grab a hot cocoa, and share some library stories!
Then return them in January when we return to school.
Season's Readings!
Williston Schools Wildcat food service program
Welcome to the Williston Schools Wildcat food service program. Enrollment is automatic for all students to access the meal program or use their lunch account. Accounts are created when students enroll.
New students at ABS are issued a meal card that will stay in the kitchen and cafeteria for their use during meal service time. Students find their cards in the card pouches hanging on the cafeteria wall. They hand their card to the cashier to purchase a milk, breakfast, or lunch.
WCS students come to the cash register with their meal and give their last name and first name to the cashier. At both schools we will confirm the identity of the student verbally or by looking at the picture on the screen.
read more about
Adding restrictions to account use
Scott Wagner, Food Service Director
swagner@cvsdvt.org 871-6198
Yearbooks
Order your student a yearbook before they run out!
Order at www.jostens.com
Contact ABeauregard@cvsdvt.org with questions.
ABS Start time
Students arriving after 8:10 am should check in the office and pick up a late pass. They are considered tardy, and their arrival time will be recorded.
Supervision is provided in the cafeteria for students arriving between 7:30 and 7:45 am.
FLU SEASON IS COMING FAST
Below are links from the CDC for your information.
If your student receives the Flu vaccine please be sure to let your schools Health Office know.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
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
Thurs. Dec. 6 / ABS Author Visit /
Tues. Dec. 11 / CVSD Budget Mtg / CVUHS rm. 160 / 5:30 pm
Wed. Dec. 12 / Ski Equipment fitting / WCS / 6:00 pm
Thurs. Dec. 13 / FAP / 8-10 am / WCS Community Room
Tues. Dec. 18 / CVSD Budget Mtg. / CVUHS. rm. 160 / 6:00 pm
Wed. Dec. 19 / Winter Concerts / WCS Auditorium / 5:30 / 7:15 pm
Fri. Dec. 21 / Sterling Open House / 8:30-9:30
Holiday Break - Mon. Dec. 24 through Tues. Jan. 1
Fri. Jan. 4 / School Dance
Tues. Jan. 8 / CVSD Budget mtg / CVUHS rm. 160 / 6:00 pm
Upcoming Events on the School Web CalendarDAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
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