THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /April 29, 2020
A Message From The Administration
by District Principal Greg Marino
Dear Williston Families,
“When all is said and done, the real citadel of strength of any community is in the hearts and minds and desires of those who dwell there.” - Everett Dirksen
The quote above seemed a good fit in my note on March 11 and feels every bit as appropriate today, and maybe even more so. On behalf of the Williston teachers, staff, and leadership team, I sincerely hope this finds you and your families doing well. We know that the current situation has impacted students, parents, and families on so many levels and in so many different ways. We are right there with you - experiencing many of those challenges alongside you and doing our very best to be patient with ourselves and with the world around us, as we lean on our passion and creativity to navigate the unfamiliar terrain. But most of all, we have leaned on the combined strength of our community. You can feel it all around us and it has been a reassuring powerful force. The message that we will keep repeating is that your Williston Schools are here for you. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any question, concern, or need at any time. This extends beyond the typical school concerns and could include issues that relate to overall health and wellness of your family. If in doubt, please reach out. If in doubt, please reach out. (repeated for emphasis!)
Of course, we continue to be inspired and picked up by the day-to-day actions of so many in our school and town communities. Our teachers are pushing their creative limits beyond their comfort zones to find new, engaging, and effective ways to stay connected with our students and provide learning that is accessible, targeted, and fun. Just as when regular school is in session, your child’s homeroom or core teacher is often the best first person to reach out to with any concerns or questions.
Your feedback is valued and needed. Please be on the lookout later this week for a new survey to collect your thoughts about how things have been going since we entered the remote learning phase on April 13. We hope you will take a few minutes to provide us with the crucial feedback needed to inform our adjustments in the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us.
A special shout-out to our food service heroes: Our incredible Williston food service team, along with additional staff who have been lending a hand, under the capable leadership of Food Service Director, Scott Wagner, and chef, Sam Beatson, have been routinely serving over 1000 meals to our students and families on our food pick-up days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 9:00 - 10:45). It's hard to express how proud and grateful we are for this group's dedication and service in getting food to our students. These meals represent so much more than just nourishment for the body - which we all know is essential. It represents food for the spirit, as these students get to experience a tangible "piece of school" that they can touch and taste at their own kitchen tables. Watching them work, pictured below, has been incredible. Please join me in celebrating and appreciating them!
Thank you again for your partnership! We are here for you. If in doubt, please reach out!
CVSD FRONT YARD CONCERT
Monday, May 4 at 6 pm
Dear Band Families,
The CVSD Band programs are collaborating to perform in a district wide “front yard” concert on Monday, 5/4 at 6 pm. Band students in grades 4-12 are encouraged to step outside of their homes and play music to celebrate music in our schools AND honor the many heroes in our communities.
We will start with a famous cheer song often heard at sports events and then students can play whatever music they wish to, for as long or as short a time as they would like.
Please share this with your neighbors and community heroes and encourage them to step outside and safely enjoy the unifying musical event!
Parents are encouraged to take photos or videos and send them to their musician’s music teachers. These photos and videos will be combined into a montage to be shared at a later date.
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!
Faculty and Staff Appreciation
MONDAY MAY 4TH, 2020:
Share your favorite photos with Teachers and Staff on your school’s social media (and your own!).
Today’s Special Message: Use this My Favorite Thing About You template to share what you love about your teacher. Click here for a digital version you can edit in Google Slides.
TUESDAY MAY 5TH, 2020:
Record a video message or write a letter to your teacher! You can email it directly to them, or share a photo on your school’s social media.
Today’s Special Message: Use this You Taught Me template to share something special that you learned from your teacher, faculty, or staff. Click here for a digital version you can edit in Google Slides.
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
Offline Activities
- The ABCs of Screen-Free Time at Home
- Fitness Monopoly
- 30 Day Lego Challenge
- Coloring Nature- free print and coloring- sciences, biomes, anatomy, animals, plants...
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.
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.
Open a world of reading with our digital library!
Watch this screencast to learn more!
If you need help getting started, ABS Librarian Cara Clopton & WCS Librarian Ellen Arapakos are here to help!
Use the Sora app to browse our collection, check ebooks or audiobooks, and read or listen to them on your device.
We belong to the Vermont Schools Shared Digital Collection. Just log in with your school Google Account!
p.s. You can add Dorothy Alling's digital collection to your Sora account!
Install the free Sora app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or go to Soraapp.com on any device.
In Sora, use the drop-down menu to choose Allen Brook School or Williston Central School, then sign in. Browse the Explore tab and borrow a book. Your book will open so you can start reading right away.
Close the book and go to your Shelf to see all your books (including assignments).
From there, you can:
- Tap Open Book or Open Audiobook to read or listen to the book.
- Tap Options to renew or return the book and get to your notes & highlights.
Discover your next great read on SORA! Open a world of reading with our digital library!
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
Learn more about this fun science program on our website
March topic is: Nests
Ideas for Families
"Feathering the Nest" Slideshow
"Feathering the Nest" Nature's News:
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