THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools / April 1, 2022
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
By Angela Filion, ABS Principal
Springing Ahead
As we have been adjusting to the time change and seeing more daylight, we are reminded of the importance of sunshine and rejuvenation! Spring always gives me a feeling of hope and energy that you can just feel in the air. By now many of you have had your spring conferences with teachers. I always loved this time of year best as a primary teacher! There is so much growth in these early years and sharing that with families is such a great reminder of our purpose as educators. I am incredibly proud of all we have been able to accomplish as a community who has stayed the course amongst some of the most challenging times in our lives. I have a belief that the partnership between our schools and families is by far the most critical component to student success! It has been wonderful to slowly and carefully start having more in person opportunities for our families to engage in.
As we begin to think about our transition to the 2022-2023 school year, we will begin to start our placement process. Next week you can expect that we will send home a parent input survey for you to fill out and return to us by Friday April 15th. We use the input from classroom teachers, specialists, and parents to make informed decisions in our placement process. "The purpose of the placement process is to create classroom communities that are balanced, diverse, and positive for all students.” In order to achieve this vision we see families as partners in this process. Parents and Guardians should communicate a sense of their child’s well-being on the placement forms and also trust the school’s placement process. We believe that we approach the placement process with good intentions, using clear and collaborative processes & communication for all involved parties within the school. We encourage you to use the placement forms to provide input to the placement team. As you can imagine creating balanced and diverse classrooms is a very time consuming and thoughtful process. We appreciate you trusting and respecting our vision and look forward to helping your child/children transition to the next step in their educational journey!
SPARK Enrichment After School Session 5
We are excited to offer your child an opportunity to participate in Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8. Sessions will run for 5 weeks from 3:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m. with our 5th session startingApril 14th and ending May 19th. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that can be found on the link below. Students and caregivers will receive an email (using the email given on the form) informing them of the assigned workshop on Monday or Tuesday of the week that workshops begin. In order to take full advantage of this learning opportunity, students will need to make a commitment to attend all five Thursdays. If your child decides to not take part in this session after having registered please contact Julie Rogers so that others may fill the spot. The after-school activity bus will provide transportation home for students in need of a ride home.
The dates of session 5 are: April 14, 28, May 5, 12, and 19. When registering, students will be able to rank their choices for better placement! Students will be placed on a first come first serve basis. Registration form and a listing of workshop descriptions. Contact Julie Rogers (jrogers@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6022) with any questions.
Return to School Following Illness - Information for Families
What happens if my child has symptoms in School?
* If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be sent to the Health Office, a nurse will perform a LAMP COVID test in the Health office and you will be called to come pick up your child.
* If the test results are positive, the nurse will communicate the isolations guidelines and return to school timeline.
* If the results are negative, your child will still need to go home. Your child may return to school once symptoms are improved.
* If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop - your child will need to be re-tested for COVID
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be mild, moderate or severe and may include:
Fever (100.4 °F or higher), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
What happens if my child has symptoms at home?
* If your child has ANY of COVID-19 symptoms listed above, keep them home from school and call the school nurse to report their absence.
* Get your child COVID tested - Take 2 antigen (rapid) tests as close to 24 hours apart as possible; or take 1 PCR or LAMP test
* If your child tests negative - they should still stay home while symptomatic. Your child may return to school once symptoms are improved.
* If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop - your child will need to be re-tested for COVID with a PCR test.
* If you choose not to test your student, they can return to school after day 5 from onset of symptoms.
A reminder: Students should continue to stay home when sick, regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19. Students may return to school when their symptoms improve.
As with other contagious illnesses, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, we ask that you inform your school’s nurse.
Please email Nurse Maria (WCS) = mkapetanovic@cvsdvt.org or Nurse Love (ABS) - slove@cvsdvt.org with any questions.
A Reminder from Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
Visiting Classrooms
Students riding the bus
The Late Bus
Keep scrolling for information from Williston Recreation & Parks, Four Winds, and Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
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!
Please do not stop in the handicap parking spot or the crosswalk in front of the school - this creates safety and accessibility challenges when these areas are blocked.
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:
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.
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 Breathe Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
Help Desk Portal for Technical Issues
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
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 Hurlburt at shurlburt@cvsdvt.org
Four Winds
Nature's News Newsletters
December - No Newsletter
Slides Presentations
Lesson 1: Leaf-Eaters
Lesson 2: Life in the Dirt
Lesson 3: Snags and Rotting Logs
Lesson 4: Squirrel Tales
Lesson 5: Staying Warm
Lesson 6: White-tailed Deer
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
Apr 6 - Kindergarten Meet & Greet, 2:00-4:00pm @ Allen Brook School
Apr 13 - Four Winds Training, 8:30-10:30, WCS Community Room
Kindergarten Meet & Greet, 2:00-4:00pm @ Allen Brook School
Apr 18 - Apr 22 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
May 3 - Eid al-Fitr - NO SCHOOL
May 11 - Four Winds Training, 8:30 - 10:30, Location TBD
May 19 - WCS Concert, Band & Chorus
May 26 - WCS Concert, Beginner Band
June 10 - Last day of school / Half-Day
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
Learn more about CVSD's Strategic Response Plan and provide feedback at this link.
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