THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /March 6, 2019
Notes, Thoughts, and Inspirations
by ABS Principal Angela Filion
February was filled with many activities and opportunities for our students. From the 100th day of school, to Valentines day, to a school dance to raise money to help injured horses, to an activities hour on the last day before vacation-Allen Brook was "buzzing" with fun! By far one of my favorite traditions as an educator has been to dress up like a 100 year old lady on the 100th day of school. I have been doing this from the very start of my career and each year I do it I am reminded of how much joy it brings to the children to see adults "play dress up." It is a great reminder that we need to foster imagination in our youth. As I went around to each classroom in my "disguise" on the 100th day the children lit up with wonder, curiosity, and laughter! It has been shown that kids with very active imaginations are more likely to dream and strive for greater things as adults!
Dr. Stephanie Carlson, Director of Research of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, studies pre-school-aged children to see if their immersion in non-reality is getting in the way of developing self-control. She concluded that practice in pretending helps you come up with alternative ways of being and results in more creativity and better problem-solving.
The following excerpt from an Ideas to Go blog entitled “Why You Should Have a Child-like Imagination (and the Research that Proves it)” explains the processes that make up self-control, also called executive function.
"What we think of as "self-control" is actually a group of mental processes that, together, are called “executive function.” Executive function is the conscious control of yourself (as opposed to automatic or non-conscious control of things like breathing). So it’s self-regulatory, in that we have to think about it. Our executive function allows us to do things like not blurt out something inappropriate when it occurs to us, or to wait in line without getting overly frustrated, or to listen to instructions and wait until they’re done before acting, or to hold in mind the rules of a game—and to switch our actions when the rules change. Executive function involves a few mental processes: Working memory—the ability to hold things in mind, Inhibitory control—the ability to stop or suppress an action that might be the first choice, and Flexibility—the ability to shift your focus of attention to adapt to a new, or difficult situation. Executive-function is not well-developed in young children. The pre-frontal cortex (area of the brain responsible for much of executive function) is not fully developed until well into the teenage years."
In conclusion of Dr. Carlson's work she found that creativity and executive function work in collaboration (to learn more about executive functioning click here). So there you have it...children benefit from using their imaginations as it promotes creativity, problem solving, and increases their executive functioning! As Walt Disney once said, "Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever."
SPARK Enrichment After School ~ Session 4
The 4th session of Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, takes place from March 7 - April 4. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by March 5th. You will be able to rank your choices for better placement!! More info
lunch and Recess Aide
Allen Brook School is seeking an energetic, child-centered adult to assist with supervision to our elementary students during lunch and recess. We are looking for candidates who love to work as part of a team, will provide positive reinforcement and redirection, and follow established protocols to keep children safe. This position is Monday through Friday 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM when school is in session, beginning in March.
Interested candidates should submit an application or contact Cindy Pavlik, cpavlik@cvsdvt.org, 871-6203.
Dear Members of the CVSD Community
Champlain Valley School District is a vibrant and diverse district. In response to recent acts of
bias perpetrated at our high school we are reaching out to send a clear and united message:
Hate has no home in the Champlain Valley School District.
It is the responsibility of the CVSD Board, in partnership with the Administration, to ensure that
every person walking into our buildings feels welcome and secure. We strive to provide all students with the opportunity to learn in a safe, supportive setting where every member is treated with respect and dignity. Verbal slurs and racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, which occurred recently on the CVU campus, go against our core values of diversity and inclusion and we denounce them. These acts of intimidation by a person or group within our community are an attack on our community’s health.
Our educational mission is to develop citizens who demonstrate a capacity for empathy and
respect for differing cultures, values, and points of view. We understand that student safety and emotional well-being are critical components of that mission. We will continue to foster a nurturing environment where every student receives the resources and educational
opportunities they need to learn and thrive.
We welcome an open dialogue with the broader community as we move forward with the
resolve to do better. While the discussions may be difficult and the solutions complex, we know that we must create systems that disrupt unfair practices, address implicit and explicit biases, and promote methods that will help all students succeed.
Kind regards,
CVSD Board and Superintendent Pinckney
Josilyn Adams
Kelly Bowen
Erin Brady
Russ Caffry
Dave Connery
Lynne Jaunich
Ray Mainer
Kevin Mara
Barbra Marden
Colleen McKinnon
Brendan McMahon
Lucky U!
2 on 2 Basketball Tournament – Movie Matinee – Tye Dye Fun
Root Beer Floats – Learn Hip Hop with the Principal – Batting Practice
Tickets on sale soon – Enter to Win!
Would your student enjoy one of the above activities?
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 over 30 opportunities, with over 150 winners total, between ABS and WCS!
Tickets will be sold the week of March 11th – 15th at each school
Drawing on Friday, March 15th and winners notified by Monday, March 18th
Each student will get one free ticket and additional tickets will be sold for 25 cents each (suggest limit of $5). During the week of March 11-15 students at ABS can purchase tickets outside the gym between 7:45am and 8:30am and at WCS during lunches. The winners will be chosen on Friday the 15th.
New this year! Bring a non-perishable item for the Williston Community Food Shelf and receive one free ticket at ABS!!
** Click HERE to sign-up to help sell tickets mornings at ABS and lunches at WCS **
Contact Emily Downing Ponce/FAP with questions
CAMP ROCK
WCS Drama Club is pleased to announce the upcoming presentation of Camp Rock!
Performances Friday April 5th at 7pm
Saturday April 6th at 2pm and 7pm
Tickets available through http://willistoncentral.seatyourself.biz
Enjoy the Show!!
Seeking Indoor Garage Sale Donations
Voyager House is holding its annual Indoor Garage Sale Saturday, March 30th in WCS's cafeteria 8:00am - 2:00pm! It's a giant indoor Reuse/Resale that raises money to benefit Voyager House.
If you have any quality, sell-able items to donate to this sale we'd be most appreciative!! We are looking for furniture, household items, athletic equipment, working electronics, artwork, toys, rugs or anything that could be a treasure to someone new!
We are asking for items that can be sold! 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 you best to consider the shape of the products you donate.
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. Click for list
Drop off donated items from 6:30pm - 8:30pm Friday, March 29th in the WCS cafeteria. Students will be available to help unload your donations. Contact Ted Milks at Tmilks@cvsdvt.org with questions. And THANK YOU for your support!
Grazers Restaurant Benefit Day for Voyager – March 20, 2019
Be a WINNER! Eat School Meals!
*Random WINNERS selected during each week. All winners get a free healthy snack!
**Students must be purchasing a school meal and have a positive or zero balance on their lunch accounts in order to be eligible to win.
*** Keep your account in good standing and eat school meals!
Check out our monthly menu and other great info on the school website: www.cvsdvt.org
K-8 IntraDistrict School Choice Program
It's Time to Play Recorders in Music Class!
Students who ordered recorders from Mrs. T-H will receive them in music class. Students who have their recorders at home need to bring them in to school for their next music class! Thank you!
Do You Want to Join WCS 3rd/4th Grade Chorus?
When:
Wednesdays after school, 3:00-4:00.
Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, February 20th.
The first two rehearsals are “open.” Students can come to check it out with no obligation.
Starting Wednesday, March 13th, 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. Supervision is provided between 4:00 and 4:30.
Other Information:
The 3rd/4th grade chorus will give performances ion June 5th.
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). dtrasciatti@cvsdvt.org
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
Please make payment checks out to 'CVSD - ABS' or 'CVSD-WCS'
Monthly Fitness Fun
More Links, More information
Upcoming Events
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
Fri. March 15 / Ski / Ride Mountain Trip
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