THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools / March 4, 2022
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
by Angela Filion, ABS Principal
To Mask or Not to Mask... That is the Question?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. By now you have likely read this note that came from Superintendent Sanchez about us not requiring masks as of Monday March 7th. As you can imagine this causes different reactions to different people. Throughout this pandemic we have had many twists, turns, burdens, and even some celebrations along the way! Each and every time we come to a big decision like this I have noticed the change in behavior it can cause in people. This is all based on our emotions. Our emotion of angst and fear of the unknown, our emotion of excitement as we inch our way back to life prior to this pandemic, our emotion of relief as we start to become less restricted in our daily habits. All of these emotions are to be expected and how people handle them varies. One thing that I have found to be helpful when we embark on these significant changes in protocol is to just name it and talk about it.
I encourage you to have conversations with your children about how they are feeling about this new change. Ask them what they feel they need as we make this transition. Encourage your child to express and articulate what feelings may be coming up for them. Remember many of our students have been wearing masks to school since they began...it is all they know! Here is a social story that was shared with our teachers as a resource and guide to talk to our children about this next step out of the pandemic. It was shared with us from some Shelburne teachers and we felt it was a great tool to help start a conversation with our students.
CLICK HERE to continue reading...
Friendly Reminder - Kindergarten Registration
Don't Forget... Please be sure to turn in your Kindergarten Registration packets
It's time to register for Kindergarten at Allen Brook School for Williston and St. George children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2022. Even if your child attends Pre-K at ABS, you will still need to complete the registration packet as it has a lot of additional kindergarten specific information.
Please submit this Registration Paperwork (preferably printed double sided) including copies of the following information:
⛭ proof of residence
⛭ birth certificate
⛭ immunization record
Questions? Email absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org or call 802-871-6200
Allen Brook School - 497 Talcott Road - Williston, VT
If Your child Tests Positive For COVID-19 with a PCR, antigen or LAMP test
Regardless of your vaccination status, you should...
Notify your close contacts that you have tested positive, including your school nurse. Visit this page to find your school nurse’s contact information.
If you took an at-home test, use this link to report your positive test results: https://bit.ly/ewsdcovid
Stay home and isolate for 5 days. Call your physician to notify them of the test results.
You can leave your home on (or after) day 6 if:
You never had symptoms, or your symptoms have improved and you feel better
AND you have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers
AND you wear a mask around others through day 10
AND it is recommended that you have two negative antigen tests performed at least 24 hours apart, beginning no earlier than day 5.
If you are not feeling better, fever-free or are unable to provide negative results with antigen tests, you should remain in isolation at home through Day 10. You can return to school on Day 11.
Williston Kids Vaccine Clinic - UVM Medical Center
Ages 5-11
Pfizer
Mondays 9:00-12:00 AND 1:00-7:00
Tuesdays 9:00-12:00 AND 1:00-3:00
(Closed 12:00-1:00 daily)
300 Interstate Corp Center Williston
UVMMC pediatric nursing staff!
Friendly, kid-centered environment!
Walk-ins welcome!!
Appointments can be made through the Department of Health’s website.
CLD Multicultural Mini-Art Museum
C = Culturally L = Linguistically D = Diverse
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
Dress for Winter Recess!
A Message of Gratitude From the CVSD Board of Directors
A heartfelt thank you for your continued support of the Champlain Valley School District’s students and schools. The CVSD FY23 budget and related articles all passed in a year that continues to test the creativity, patience, and tenacity of each and every one of us. Our community, once again, came together in support of public education.
As the CVSD Board moves out of the planning and development phase of the budget cycle and into the implementation, your voice remains an important part of the process.
We welcome you to continue to engage with us at the CVSD monthly board meeting. Meeting details, Zoom log-in, and agendas can be found on the school board page of the district’s website https://www.cvsdvt.org/Page/604.
Wishing you and your families continued good health and happy spring.
Kindly,
The CVSD Board of Directors
School & District Communication: Text Messaging is Coming!
CVSD is excited to share that we will soon roll out a new communication method for our district and its schools. At the end of March, families, caregivers, and staff will have the opportunity to opt-in to receive text messages. We currently have email and phone messaging capability through School Messenger and are adding SMS/text messaging. We promise not to overuse this feature and will not be flooding your mobile phone with text messages. We’ll be sending out more specific information in the coming weeks about how to opt-in.
In order for us to move forward, it is important that we have the most current contact information for parents/caregivers. If you have not yet set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please do so as soon as possible. In addition, once you have set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, you will now be able to use the PowerSchool Mobile app on your device to complete the Annual Update Forms. Please contact your school if you need your initial access ID and password to create the Parent Portal account. The information on this document outlines the necessary steps. Your mobile phone number needs to be in Powerschool for the text option to work.
Custodial Openings
Full time with benefits. Part time option also.
Please contact Lyall Smith at lysmith@cvsdvt.org or 316-1275.
Playground/Lunch Assistant Needed
CVSD is an equal opportunity employer
WCS Knitting for a Cause
Thank you to all who participated in the raffle. You helped to raise $108, which goes to a community cause of Anna’s choosing. Anna has decided to support the Cancer Patient Support Foundation, right here in Williston!
INTRA-DISTRICT K-8 SCHOOL CHOICE
Children entering grades K-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children. Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
Williston Little League registration is open!!!!
https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/wllbaseball
Tee Ball $95 Starting 3/1
Baseball & Softball $100 starting 3/1
$20 sibling discount
Internet Connectivity for Families
CVSD has been awarded a federal grant that provides assistance for Internet connectivity for families that qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program.
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is designed to help students who currently lack Internet access that they may need to connect to classrooms. It is funded through June 2022.
If you have any questions about the program, please send a note to CVSDECFProgram@cvsdvt.org . If you have questions about your student’s eligibility for the Free and Reduced Meal program, email Stephanie Hulburt at shurlburt@cvsdvt.org
ABS Dismissal Update
*Please note: we did not shorten learning time for our students, we are just making the time students are waiting to leave and waiting outside less.
ABS Safe Drop Off & Pick Up
It is very important to stay in your vehicles during arrival and dismissal.
We appreciate all you can do to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!
Students being driven to ABS in the mornings can arrive between 7:30-7:55 for all 1st and 2nd grade students. 7:50-8:00 for all Kindergarten and PreK students. Walkers are welcome as early as 7:30. School begins at 8:00.
Please refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:
Help Desk Portal for Technical Issues
Family Resources
Resources to keep accessible:
- First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
- In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
- 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: USA)
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
- UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
Four Winds
Nature's News Newsletters
December - No Newsletter
Slides Presentations (ch)
Lesson 1: Leaf-Eaters
Lesson 2: Life in the Dirt
Lesson 3: Snags and Rotting Logs
Lesson 4: Squirrel Tales
Lesson 5: Staying Warm
Williston Four Winds Program
Contact Us: wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org
FAP Information
We are looking for volunteers in all areas, our council, house representatives, and event volunteers! Please fill out this form if interested in helping!
https://forms.gle/AvVx1EHUGWWAikWn9
Upcoming Events
Mar 18 - No School for Students
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
Learn more about CVSD's Strategic Response Plan and provide feedback at this link.
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
More Links, More information
Williston Schools
Email: wsschoolbell@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