THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /December 18, 2019
No School December 23 through January 1 * Early Winter Break * School resumes Thursday, January 2, 2020 *
A Message From The Administration
by Angela Filion
Simplicity Parenting author Kim John Payne shares with us that in today’s world we are busier, faster, have too many choices and too little time. Children may feel the impact of all of this hustle and bustle and become anxious. Can we create more of a simplified path to allow kids to flourish? Payne says this approach "helps you to make small doable changes, worry less, and enjoy more!"
Here is a summary of some things to consider and perhaps slowly try while the children have some time off from school. Avoid over scheduling by dialing back on the amount of family activities that are happening, embrace ordinary days, reduce toys and use baskets/bins to reduce visual clutter, require children to play outside often, give them the gift of boredom as this facilitates creativity and resourcefulness, eat together, talk less and step back to give your children space, filter out the adult world, sleep (about 10 hours a day for kids 6-11), and of course value family time! In Kim John Payne’s book, Simplicity Parenting, he recommends to get rid of all screens for children under age 7. While that may seem radical to many families, might we find a healthy balance? In our home we started at a place that felt natural to us. My 16 year old daughter knows that she is not allowed to have devices in her room or during times that we are eating together. She has an allotted amount of screen time and then the wifi shuts off. Recent studies are finding that too much screen time is linked to learning, attention, social problems, childhood obesity, and sleep disruption. Screen time before bed is known to mess with the release of melatonin and should be avoided for at least a few hours before bedtime for young kids.
Here are some tips to help with reducing screen time: keep art supplies stocked, get comfortable hearing, "I'm bored" (they will find something imaginative to do), doing physical work around your children like washing dishes, sweeping, laundry etc. inspires our kids to do their work (play), bring back car games instead of turning on the DVD player, and create mealtime rituals. On the nights that we are home as a family we go around and share about our day - it is such sacred time for us! Create rituals that work for your family, and enjoy your moment of pause. If you would like to learn more here is the link to the Podcast on Simplicity Parenting.
I came to my office the other day to find this opinion piece on why people should consider coming to Allen Brook School. Mrs. Schwartz and her class have been studying opinion writing and this was one of the pieces they wrote together. I happen to strongly agree with these young authors that ABS is an awesome place to be!
WCS Concerts: Wednesday, December 18
ABS Doors to Remain Locked until 7:30 am starting January 13
Supervision is provided in the cafeteria for students between 7:30 am and 8:00 am (breakfast is also available during this time).
Access to the classrooms begins at 7:45 am.
Families dropping students off at school should plan to arrive no earlier than 7:30 am when the doors are open and supervision is available.
Learn To Ski/Ride Program- K-8
Registration Deadline- January 1 • Register •
The program is a collaboration between Williston Recreation and Williston Schools. The emphasis is on learning to downhill ski or snowboard, through weekly lessons. The program is primarily for the participant that wishes to learn or improve on their skills. All participants will take a one hour weekly lesson. (Lower level participants will have weekly lessons that are longer until they progress up the levels). The Learn to Ski/ Ride Program is for children in grades K-8.
NOTES:
Kindergarten students must be transported to and from the mountain and accompanied by an adult, this means an adult is required to help out with their child during lessons.
Learn to Ski/Ride Program Information:
The program is at Cochran's and meets Tuesdays- Jan. 7-Feb. 18. (The schedule is weather dependent).
The lessons and ski/ride time is from 2:30-4:30pm.
Bus transportation is available at dismissal at both schools- WCS & ABS..
Transportation is back to WCS Only at 5:00pm. Buses arrive by 5:15pm.
Parents who are picking their child up at the mountain must do so before 4:45pm to check them out.
Vacation Food
The Williston Community Food Shelf is providing vacation bags of food to Williston and St. George families who might need some support over the Holiday Break. Bags include breakfast and lunch foods and can be picked up from the food shelf during regular operating hours, which are Tuesdays 5-6:30pm, Thursdays and Saturdays 9-11:00am. Vacation bags will also be available before the February, April and summer breaks. For more information visit our website at
http://www.willistonfoodshelf.com or call (802) 735-6303.
Think Global, Act Locally!
Hunger can seem far away, but we have children right here in our schools whose families struggle to keep them fed. Federal guidelines for the free lunch are less generous than we think. A single mom who makes $32,000 will find that her child is not eligible! These families can fall behind in making payments to the foodservice program, but tight budgets require us to continue to send them bills. Can you help make the holidays a little brighter for food-insecure families in our community? Make a donation by sending a check in to your school with "help feed hungry kids" on the memo line. An option to make donations right in MySchoolBucks is coming soon!
Champlain Valley School District School-based Early Education Program Peer Lottery Application
The CVSD School-based Early Education Programs are now accepting applications for a random peer lottery drawing for the 2020- 2021 school year. Our preschools are 5 STAR accredited licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) and Teaching Strategies Gold. We believe that a diverse classroom offers opportunities for adults and children to practice acceptance and compassion and also provides a broad range of learning experiences. Our programs are part day and partial weeks. Our programs generally follow the CVSD school calendar.
The lottery will be drawn in February 2020. Applications are due by February 6, 2020
Peers who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2020 are eligible to enter the lottery for our programs.
If you are interested in your child being considered, please complete this form and deliver to your school.
SPARK Enrichment After School ~ Session 3
The 3rd session of Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, takes place from January 9th - February 6th. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by January 7th. You will be able to rank your choices for better placement!!
Penguin Plunge 2020
This year’s Penguin Plunge is on Saturday, February 2nd. We invite all students, parents, guardians, and staff members to join our efforts by either taking the icy plunge or making a donation to support our brave plungers.
Last year, our 46 fearless plungers raised over $17,000 – placing us second among other schools across the state. Ironically, CVU took first! Our goal this year is to raise over $20,000.
The Penguin Plunge is a Special Olympics event that supports sports training and competitions, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
These fundraising efforts also support our very own Unified Sports Teams. On Monday, December 16th our Unified Bowling Team proudly represented Williston, bringing home two bronze medals, four silver medals, and three gold medals from the Champion Schools Bowling tournament in Barre.
If you’re interested in taking the plunge or making a donation, please click here . Questions can be directed to this year’s Team Captain, Ashley Sutton – asutton@cvsdvt.org. Ashley is a Special Educator at WCS and co-coaches our Unified Sports team.
8th Grade Challenge Project
My name is Kevin Lahiri. Help me as I seek funds to improve the WCS playground basketball court. The court is in need of some site work and new backboards, hoops and nets, so that the court is safe and functional. I have started a GoFundMe site to begin fundraising for this school improvement, which is part of my 8th Grade Challenge on Voyager House. The link to my fundraising site is:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/wcs-outdoor-basketball-court-improvement-project
TREX Plastic Film Recycling
Every year hundreds of schools across the nation compete against each other to recycle the most plastic film. Williston Schools has entered the challenge and in doing so are learning about plastic film and what it can be used for. In addition to providing a better understanding and appreciation for the importance of recycling, Trex will happily donate a high-performance composite bench to the winning school, and bestow honorary awards to every school that participates.
The challenge began on America Recycles Day, November 15, and lasts until April 15
Trex has provided us with promotional materials and three recycling bins
A volunteer must weigh and report the collected materials every month before delivering them to one of our participating drop-off retailer locations
Winners are announced on Earth Day
Students in both schools are collecting the plastic film that they use within the school day and depositing it in the TREX recycling boxes located in both cafeterias and the WCS lobby. We are not collecting plastic film from homes, however, you can participate yourself by collecting plastic film from home and depositing in the collection bins at Shaws, Hannaford, or Walmart when you shop. Check out the TREX recycling program here. If you would like to help our schools in this endeavor please contact Julie Rogers at jrogers@cvsdvt.org
FAP Speaker Series
Thursday January 9th at 6:30!
in the WCS Community Room
Michelle Spaulding is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been in private practice for over a decade in St. Albans, Vermont. She works primarily with teenagers, young adults, new mothers and adults struggling with anxiety, depression and trauma. She can be found on Psychology Today and also has a public Facebook Page where she writes about taking care of one's mental well being, infusing personal stories and humor into her posts.
2020 Williston Variety Show
Show us your stuff! Audition for the 2020 Williston Variety Show. Calling performers of all ages -- students and community members. Showcase your singing, dancing, comedy, mime, magic, or whatever other talent you're proud of.
Auditions are Monday, Jan 6th, 6-7:30 pm and Tuesday, January 7th, 5-6:30 pm
Show is Friday, January 31, 6:30
More information about auditions
Sign up for auditions online or grab a form in the front office of either school.
$500 Exxon Mobil Education Alliance Grant Awarded to Williston Schools
Thanks to the Jolley Short Stop at Taft’s Corner, Williston Schools has been awarded $500 through the Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance program. This program supports improvements in math and science from pre-school to higher education and is based on the belief that it is fundamentally important to encourage the next generation to pursue studies and careers involved in these fields.
Williston Job Openings
Food Service Subs Needed
Join our Food Service Team. Flexible hours, Training provided, Fun and Friendly atmosphere. Pick up an application or contact Scott Wagner with Questions: swagner@cvsdvt.org / Phone:(802) 871-6198
Preschool Bus and lunch / Recess Aide
ABS is seeking an energetic, child-centered adult to ride the preschool bus and assist with supervision to our elementary students during lunch and recess each day that school is in session. Hours vary by day of week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10:45pm to 12:45 pm; Tuesdays: 10:15 am to 12:45 pm; Fridays: 11 am to 12:45.
Interested candidates should submit an application or contact Cindy Pavlik, cpavlik@cvsdvt.org, 871-6203.
Substitute Teachers and Paraeducators
If interested, contact Cindy Morin (cmorin@cvsdvt.org) or Cindy Pavlik (cpavlik@cvsdvt.org)
Intensive Paraprofessional
Williston Central School is looking for a skilled, caring individual to provide intensive support in the areas of multi-layered curriculum or curriculum overlapping, communication, behavior and activities of daily living. Ability to promote child growth and foster independence and a willingness to learn. 6.5 hrs a day for 194 school days. The hourly range is $16.70 - $18.27. Lifting is a requirement. Supporting students on the bus ride to or from school may be required. If interested please email cmorin@cvsdvt.org or apply online: www.schoolspring.com
Benefits include health insurance options, paid holidays, sick and personal time.
Full Time Custodial Position (2nd Shift)
Williston Schools has a full time 2nd shift (2:30 pm to 11:00 pm) custodial opening. Great benefits including paid holidays, health insurance options, sick and vacation time.
Contact Lyall Smith with questions. lysmith@cvsdvt.org or 871-6013.
Box Tops for Education
click for a video explaining the changes and more information
Bus Information
Part 2
Four Winds Volunteers
FOUR WINDS
Learn more about this fun science program on our website
November topic is: Conifer Clues
Monthly Fitness Fun
School Nutrition Program
Please make payment checks out to 'CVSD - ABS' or 'CVSD-WCS'
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
CVSD Committee, Board, and and Budget Meetings
Committee meetings are on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6 pm excluding Dec. and Jan., at CVUHS, Room 160, 162, 165
Regular Board Meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm, excluding Dec. & Jan.
Budget Meetings: Jan. 7, Jan. 21, at 6 pm in the CVU HS rm. 160.
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.
Upcoming Events
Wed. Dec. 18 / Concert Day (gr. 5-8) / WCS Auditorium / 5:30pm (gr. 5/6); 7:15 (gr. 7/8)
Mon. Dec. 23 - Wed. Jan. 1 / NO SCHOOL - Early Winter Break
Mon. Jan. 6 / Drama Auditions / WCS Auditorium / 3-6 pm
Mon. Jan. 6 / Variety Show Auditions / WCS Auditorium / 6-7:30 pm
Tues. Jan. 7 / Drama Auditions / WCS Auditorium / 2-4:30 pm
Tues. Jan. 7 / Variety Show Auditions / 5-6:30 pm
Tues. Jan. 7 / Ski & Ride starts
Wed. Jan. 8 / Four Winds Training / WCS Community Rm. / 8:30-10:30 am
Wed. Jan. 8 / Drama Auditions / WCS Auditorium / 3-5:30 pm
Thurs. Jan 9 / FAPAC / WCS Community Rm. / 8:15 - 10: am
Thurs. Jan. 9 / FAP Speaker Series / WCS Community Rm / 6:30-8:30 pm
Mon. Jan. 20 / NO School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
More Links, More information
DAML Programs
Click here for Important info related to after school hours
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