THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /September 11, 2019
A Message From The Administration
By Jacqueline Parks, WCS Principal
Over the summer, a core group of staff met to examine our behavior protocols and to realign our response system to include Restorative Practices. This work rose to the surface as a result of our data over the past several years which showed students having difficulty resolving conflicts with peers. Our goal is to teach conflict resolution skills, so that the outcome results in a positive school community and an increase in tolerance for others.
Restorative Practices will help our system incorporate the principles of “who has been harmed”, how does a student “make it right” and how is “community restored” through our response. To get this work started, we are all focusing on building a stronger sense of team and school community. This work has already occurred during our beginning of the year assemblies and will continue during Morning Meetings and Advisories throughout the school. Some of this work includes having each core classroom sign-up for a year long job that will contribute to the school. Some potential jobs include organizing the indoor recess cart, maintaining a positive bulletin board, keeping the courtyard clean etc.
Throughout the fall, several Restorative Justice trainers will be providing staff with professional development in this area. This will support staff growth in Restorative Practices.
These restorative practices are not replacing our current planning room process for working through behavioral challenges. We will still investigate behavior reports, hold students accountable for infractions through education and reflection and inform parents of major infractions involving their student. In addition, we will use restorative practices to identify who has been negatively impacted and involve their voice in what “making it right” looks like.
If you would like to learn more about Restorative Practices, a great resource is: The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education by Katherine Evans and Dorothy Vaandering. I look forward to sharing more information with parents as we work on this throughout the year.
Curriculum Nights/Learning Expo Dates
Thursday, Sept. 19 / grades 3- 4 / Williston Central School / 6:30 pm
Thursday, Sept. 26 / preschool / Allen Brook School / 6 pm
Thursday, Oct. 3 / grades 5-8 / Williston Central School / 6:30 pm
Student Picture Dates
Picture Day Volunteers Needed
Two volunteers needed at WCS Picture Day, Wed. 9/18 from 8:00 - 12:30. Complementary photo packages offered. If interested, please contact Liz Neeld at lneeld@cvsdvt.org. First two offers will be taken.
SPARK Enrichment After School~Session 1
The 1st session of Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, takes place from September 26 - October 24. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by September 24th. You will be able to rank your choices for better placement!!
ABS Ice Cream Social
We will be serving ice cream in the garden space from 5 to 6 pm.
Full Time Custodial Position (2nd Shift)
Williston Schools has a full time 2nd shift (2:30 pm to 11:00 pm) custodial opening.
Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Clean floors: vacuum, sweep, dust mop, wash, strip, wax, and buff.
- Wash and clean windows, walls, chalkboards, trashcans, water fountains, and sinks.
- Dust furniture, fixtures, wood work.
- Provide set up and break down of cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium, or other spaces for special events.
- Empty trash receptacles and pick up litter in and around buildings.
- Unload materials from delivery trucks.
- Clean and stock bathrooms, change and clean shower curtains.
- Move furniture.
- Routine maintenance of electrical, heating and ventilating vents and fixtures
- Remove snow from immediate walks and exits.
- Monitor building and grounds to ensure standards for cleanliness and safety are maintained.
- Troubleshoot maintenance problems. Handle minor repairs directly.
- Available to support students and staff during evacuation drills and emergencies.
FAP CRAFT SHOW COMMITTEE SEEKS MEMBERS
We are seeking a few more people to share their time and talents on the Craft Show Committee. Join us to be part of putting on this successful school fundraiser, now celebrating it's 28th year! Please contact Paula LeBlanc and Karen Olson at wsdcraftshow@cvsdvt.org to learn more and to get involved. The Craft Show is on November 2nd.
Nutrition Program Changes
Important Safety Reminders
One key element to maintaining safety in an emergency situation is effective communication to families. With this in mind, the Safety Committee has prepared the informational letter, Parents Expectations During A School Emergency. We are providing this letter again now and are asking you to become familiar with it in advance of possible emergency situations at either of the schools. If you have questions or concerns after reading the letter, please feel free to contact me directly. In terms of school safety, we will never be “done” improving our habits, routines, and procedures in order to help us be prepared and stay safe in different types of emergencies. We take the responsibility of ongoing improvement in this area very seriously. On behalf of the Safety Committee, I thank you for your partnership in this work.
While on the topic of Safety, I would like to thank parents and caregivers for being particularly mindful and attentive to safety in our parking lots, pick-up, and drop-off zones. Your careful driving and attention to safe pick-up and drop-off procedures help avoid accidents and assure student and adult safety, especially pedestrians. Please note that at WCS, there have been changes to the procedures for pick up of students in the afternoon. The most important change to note is that the front of the school is no longer being used as a student pick-up area. Please see details and map here.
Morning Start Time / Late Arrivals at Allen Brook School
The school day for students at Allen Brook School starts at 7:55 am. School buses arrive about 7:45, and parents dropping students off are asked to drop off by 7:55.
The front doors will be locked at 8:00 am, and families arriving after that time are expected to stop in the office and sign in.
Students arriving after 8 am are considered late, and will be given a late pass when they stop at the office. Students can then proceed to class and hand the pass to their teacher.
If you need to drop off items for your child after 8:00, please leave it with Laura or Cindy in the office with your child's name and teacher and we will see that it is delivered.
Thank you for helping ensure your child's class can start on time with everyone in attendance.
Four Winds Nature Institute
Volunteer Information
Is your child interested in science and the world around them? Are you looking for a way to be a part of your child’s classroom experience each month? Consider being a Four Winds Volunteer!
Four Winds is a parent-led program created by the Four Winds Nature Institute. It is designed to give young students an opportunity to study nature both in and around the school. Children learn science concepts and practice science skills such as asking questions, making observations, and communicating information. Using prepared materials and an entertaining puppet show, parents will present a new topic to classrooms each month and guide students through hands-on activities. This year our theme is Patterns in Nature.
Join our classroom teams! The first training is on Wednesday, Sept 11th from 8:30-11:00 in the WCS Community Room. To sign up or get more information email Deb Rosenfeld and Amanda Carr wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org
September topic is All Sorts of Insects
Four Winds Training Dates the 2019-2020 School Year
Sept 11, Oct 16, Nov 13, Jan 8, 2020, Feb 12, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13
WCS 3rd/4th Grade Chorus
When:
Wednesdays after school, 3:00-4:00.
Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, September 25th.
The first two rehearsals are “open.” Students can come to check it out with no obligation.
Starting Wednesday, October 16th, 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 in early February and in early June.
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.
Sign-up forms will be coming home in your child’s take-home folder!
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) dtrasciatti@cvsdvt.orgHow can I join the band program at WCS?
If you are a 4th grader
You can join the program in October. All 4th graders will attend a “Beginner Band Demo” in October where they will learn about the different instruments. Sign up information will be available at this time.
If you are a 5th-8th grader and wish to continue playing an instrument
Easy! Start attending rehearsals.
Symphonic Band- Tuesday, Thursday at 11:50
Concert Band- Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 11:50
Wind Ensemble- Daily at 7:30 (am) with lots of days off built into your schedule.
If you are 5th-8th grader and wish to start an instrument
You may begin taking lessons as soon as you have an instrument. Here are
some important steps to take:
Decide which instrument you wish to play. You may choose from flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/baritone, and sometimes (if there is room) percussion.
Have a parent contact Kim Thompson at kthompson@cvsdvt.org or 871-6033 in order to officially enroll.
If you don’t have access to an instrument, you can rent or purchase one from Ellis Music Company. (Ellismusic.com) or 802 234 6400. Please note that financial support is available to families in need.
Ask Mrs. Thompson about other supplies you might need as they vary for each instrument.
Purchase the book, Tradition of Excellence book 1 for your instrument.
*Beginning 5th -8th graders will have a weekly lesson to learn to read music and play their instrument. When skill level is appropriate, students will be invited to start attending rehearsals with whichever grade level will best fit their needs. These placements are assessed individually and can change throughout the year. Typically, beginning students move into a 4th or 5th grade group in November.
8th Grade Challenge
Please support Aidan Morris's 8th grade challenge project in working with NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Vermont for their annual fundraiser, the MINDWalk. M.I.N.D. stands for Mental Illness Non-Discrimination and NAMI Vermont stands for families and individuals who need mental health care because it is health care, like any other kind of health care.
Please join us as a walk team member or make a donation to this wonderful cause. Please join us!
2019 NAMI Vermont MINDWalk
Saturday, September 28, 2019
NEW LOCATION! First Unitarian Universalist Society
(top of Church Street at 152 Pearl Street, Burlington)
Registration/Check In Starts at 12 pm
Walk Begins at 1 pm
Learn more about the walk here: http://namivt.org/walk/
Continental Mathematics League 2019-2020
Registration deadline for grades 3-8 is September 20th
(Registration for grade 2 will be announced in October.)
Continental Math Online Registration 2019-2020
Grade 4-8 Meet dates:
November 15, December 13, January 17, February 14 & March 13
Grade 3 Meet dates:
January 17, February 14 & March 13
Continental Math for grades 3-8 at Williston Central School
CML is a competition in grades 3-8. For students in grades 4-8, there are five tests. They are given at ‘meets’ which are held during school hours, beginning in November and ending in March. Third graders participate in meets in January, February, and March. In each 30 minute meet, students work as individuals on six problems; calculators are not allowed. Medals are awarded to the two students with the highest cumulative scores per grade level. Although this is a competition, the emphasis is on developing a love of mathematics while learning new strategies with other eager mathematicians.
Julie Rogers is the contact person for grades 2-8.
Continental Math for grade 2 at Allen Brook School
Participation in grade 2 is non-competitive. Students work in small practice groups and attend 3 informal meets. Registration for grade 2 will be announced in October.
SEEKING PARTICIPANTS for InterGen - A Monthly Inter-generational Book Group!
Families as Partners (FAP) teams up with the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library to sponsor a fun inter-generational book group that brings together WCS middle school students, seniors from our community and parent volunteers. Each book group will read and discuss 5 books over the course of the school year. Meetings take place during school hours.
The program will kick-off in October with a “Get Acquainted” luncheon. The book groups will then meet during school hours once a month to discuss books in a relaxed and fun setting. 7th & 8th graders will meet from 11:35am-12:15pm. 5th & 6th graders meet from 12:30pm-1:10pm. The program runs from October to March.
If your 5-8th grade child(ren) are interested in being considered for this program, please register by Friday, September 20th. We are also seeking parent volunteers! Use this online link to register your child or to sign up as a volunteer.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Olson (kao_wolverine@yahoo.com) or your child's Language Arts teacher.
Health Office Notes
Please be sure to have your doctor fax a copy of immunizations directly to your Health Office if your child gets immunizations during the school year. This way we can keep their medical records up to date, especially if they receive a flu vaccine.
ABS Fax: 871-6201
WCS Fax: 871-6101
For ABS students, in addition to spare clothing for outside, please make sure to send in socks and underwear. It can be a long day and we want to make accidents "no big deal" by having changes of underwear at all times.
Box Tops for Education
click for a video explaining the changes and more information
Bus Information
Part 2
Part 2 is offering enrichment classes this fall and there are offerings at ABS and WCS this September.
The link to sign up is on our website, http://www.parttwokids.com/.
Four Winds Volunteers
Monthly Fitness Fun
September Calendar
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.
Families as Partners
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
Thurs. Sept. 12 / K-2 Curriculum & Learning Expo / ABS / 6-8 pm
Tues. Sept. 17 / ABS Picture Day
Wed. Sept. 18 / WCS Picture Day
Wed. Sept. 18 / ABS Ice Cream Social / 5-6 pm
Thurs. Sept. 19 / gr. 3-4 Curriculum and Learning Expo / WCS / 6:30-8:30 pm
Tues. Sept. 24 / ABS Picture Day Rain Date
Wed. Sept. 25 / WCS Picture Day Rain Date
Thurs. Sept 26 / EE Curriculum Night / ABS / 6-8 pm
Thurs. Oct. 3 / gr. 5-8 Curriculum Night / WCS / 6:30-8:30 pm
Fri. Oct. 4 / School Dance (gr. 6-8) / WCS / 6:30-8:30 pm
Tues. Oct 8 / District Spelling Bee / 8am - 12:30 PM
Wed. Oct. 9 / NO SCHOOL
Thurs. Oct. 10 / District Spelling Bee / 8am - 12:30 pm
Thurs. Oct. 17 / Celebration of Learning / Davison & Patnode / 7:30-8:30 am
Thurs. Sept. 17 / CVSD School Board Mtg./ CVU High School Rm 160 / 6 pm
Fri. Oct. 18 / NO SCHOOL (parent / teacher conferences)
More Links, More information
DAML 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