THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston School District /May 20, 2015
NO SCHOOL MONDAY, MAY 25 (Memorial Day Holiday)
A Message from the Administration
Thank You Parents! / Technology in Schools
by Jacqueline Parks
The faculty and staff of ABS and WCS would like to thank our FAPAC and parents for the wonderful Staff Appreciation Week! The notes, the flowers, the positive chalk talk messages and the desserts made the week extra special. We value our parent community in so many ways and appreciate working together with you!
Technology
Mike Thomas received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Design & Technology Education Association in recognition of a career dedicated to excellence in design & Technology Education at Williston Central School.
Schools are continuing to use technology as an educational instructional tool on a frequent basis. This year, our technology committee and teachers put together a document titled the “Top Reasons For Technology in Schools.” This document is helpful as it allows teachers to share out their observations around the benefits of student technology use.
Top Reason for Technology In Schools
Anytime, Anywhere: Digital tools allow anywhere, anytime learning.
Informational Literacy: Digital citizens need to know how to access, evaluate, and use, at a high level, information available online.
Digital Citizens: Digital citizens use digital etiquette in order to safely and responsibly interact online.
Global: Digital tools strengthen our understanding of other cultures through global communication and collaboration.
Deeper Learning: Digital tools provide opportunities for deeper learning via simulations, video, and virtual manipulatives.
Self-Expression: Digital tools provide flexibility for self-expression.
Careers: Digital tools are integrated into so many careers, both current and future.
Teachers continue to work hard in order to train students on proper technology use, but we all realize that it is a learning process. If you want to learn more about technology use in the Williston School District, please look on our website.
2014-2015 Parent Satisfaction Survey
Please take the time to fill out the 2014-2015 Parent Satisfaction Survey. Your valuable input provides us with important information that helps us improve the education of Williston children. The deadline for submitting the Parent Survey is Friday, May 29th. Thank you in advance for your time.
From the WCS Library ….
Please start rounding up the Williston Central School library books at your house and send them back to school. We really appreciate your help in reminding your children to locate any missing titles. We would appreciate having all library books from students going to Washington by May 22. Thank you!
ABS Annual Art Show
A video preview is below.
WCS Art Show
See a preview of the art on the video below.
Placement Transition Dates for Lower Houses
Kindergarten to Grade 1:
May 29: Parents Informed of Placement by mail
June 5; 8:10-8:40am: K Step Up (Grade 2 goes to K-ALL School participates except looping grade 1)
Grade 2 to Grade 3:
May 29: Grade 3 Parents Informed of Placement by mail
June 1; 8:15-9:40 am: Step Up for Incoming Grade 3 at WCS
June 8; 6:30-7:30 pm: Parent Orientation to WCS for Grade 3 (Not a visit to classrooms)
Four Winds Nature's Newsletter
FAMILIES AS PARTNERS
Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/willistonfap
Cafeteria Accounts
Information for graduating 8th graders..
Starting 5/11/2015 there will be no charging at all for 8th graders for the remainder of the year. If your 8th grader has a negative balance please pay it off right away and plan ahead for future purchases. Your students may either prepay for purchases, bring cash,
or bring food from home. All positive balances will be automatically transferred to CVU. You must maintain a positive balance at all times to make any purchases from CVU.
The SmartPay feature of mylunchmoney.com will be temporarily disabled as of 6/1/2015 to prevent inadvertently overfilling a student’s account with only a few days remaining. You may still make payments manually on mylunchmoney.com up until 6/19/2015.
If your graduating 8th grader is not going to CVU, please let us know as soon as possible. In that case, we will attempt to transfer any positive account balance to a younger sibling in our district. If that is not possible, we will automatically refund any balance $10 or greater. If your student’s balance is less than $10 you may request a refund in writing or by email to Scott Wagner. Any unrequested balances will be transferred into the WCS Sunshine Fund on 6/19/2015.
Thanks very much for your attention to this important end of the year information. Have a great summer and congratulations! Scott Wagner
Sign Up for a Midsummer Reunion with School Friends at the Lake Monsters Game!
Saturday, July 11th at 6:05p.m.!
Grandstand tickets are $6 each.
50% of ticket sales go back to Williston Schools!
Tickets can be exchanged for another game if your plans change, so why not buy them from school? Tickets can be purchased at Williston Runs for Education this weekend and at the Art Show May 21st.
New this year! Order online! Williston is seated in Section 101
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=120926&promocode=wfap
For more information click here
Sterling Math Project Open House
This school year, 5th and 6th grade students in Sterling House at Williston Central School have been working on self-designed independent projects as part of our curriculum. The guiding question they have been asked to work towards answering is, “What can you do to change your world, and how can math help?” This has required students to think critically about how math can be applied in the real world, and track the mathematical habits they use to solve problems. Students developed their projects from brainstorm, to timeline, to implementation, to reflection. Please join us on Thursday, May 28th from 5:30-7pm to help us celebrate all that these students were able to accomplish. We will kick the evening off in the auditorium from 5:30 to 5:45, and then head down to the Sterling House classrooms to see the presentations students have created. We are looking forward to seeing you. Please contact Jared Bailey with questions, jbailey@cssu.org or 802-233-5639.
Fun Day (grades 1-4) Monday, June 8
Your support will be greatly appreciated by volunteering to either run a station or help with making water balloons. No experience required or special knowledge, just your enthusiasm, energy, and presence. We really need help with making the water balloons! If you aren't able to help that day, volunteers can make water balloons at your own home & deliver on the morning of June 8 to the WCS old gym. Please fill out the slip and mark off whatever you are able to help with.
The morning groups for Fun Day will be 1st and 2nd graders (Synergy, Harmony & Horizon). The afternoon groups will be 3rd and 4th graders (Equinox, Kaleidoscope, & Mosaic).
__________________________________________________________________________________
Fun Day (Mon.) June 8 (rain date June 9)
I can help on Fun Day
____ 9:00-11:00 Synergy, Harmony, & Horizon
____ 12:40-2:40 Equinox, Kaleidoscope, & Mosaic
____ I will help with water balloons
Name_________________ Phone ________________________________________
email _____________________________________________
please return to your classroom teacher
More Part 2 Offerings
Part 2 Move Up Day for Incoming 3rd Graders
On June 3rd, WSD Part 2 is offering a Move Up Day at Williston Central for the incoming 3rd graders . Current second graders can preview Part 2 at WCS, meet the staff and experience the new program first hand. Participating students will check in at Part 2 in the Allen Brook cafeteria then take a bus to WCS Part 2 and will be picked up by their families at WCS. WSD Part 2 Move Up Day is free to non-Part 2 students. Families must fill out the form that was sent home and return to Alyx Herbert by Friday May 29.
Middle School Performing Arts Dates:
Thursday, May 21- evening concerts for grades 5-8 (formal concert attire)
- 5:30 concert: (5:10 call- Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, 5/6 Chorus)
- 7:00 concert: (6:50 call- 7/8 Chorus, Varietones, Wind Ensemble)
3rd/4th grade Chorus Concerts
Wednesday, June 3rd at
2:00pm and 6:30pm in the WCS auditorium.
The musicians are required to wear concert attire* for both concerts.
The musicians need to arrive at WCS at 6:10pm for the evening concert.
*What is concert attire?
Boys: long pants, shirt with collar, and a tie
Girls: dress or skirt of appropriate length, or dressy pants, with an appropriate top
Shorts, t shirts, hats, athletic wear, flip flops, and jeans are not appropriate.
Please do not wear them.
Please contact Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) with any questions or concerns. dtrasciatti@cssu.org
Join Chorus Remind 3/4!
Beginner Band Concert:Thursday, June 4
Greenhouse donated
Garden for Life would like to thank Avery Longley for his generous donation, an amazing new Greenhouse! Sterling students were asked "What can you do to improve your world and how can math help?" His answer---Construct a greenhouse for the school garden! Well done Avery!
Additionally, the garden received a huge donation of plants from Bonnie Plants! Thanks to Ryan and Corey, our garden is off to an incredible start!
Health Office
THE TICKS ARE BACK AND ACTIVE!
Health Department Warns Tick Season Already Underway
BURLINGTON – Ticks are a lot like weeds: they survive winter’s freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall and lack of sunshine. These resilient critters can carry pathogens – microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites – that cause illness.
“Ticks are abundant in all parts of the state. Using bug spray and doing daily tick checks should be part of every Vermonter’s routine,” said Erica Berl, an infectious disease epidemiologist for the Vermont Department of Health. “The earlier you remove a tick, the less likely you are to become sick.”
Thirteen different tick species have been identified in Vermont, but only four are known to carry pathogens that cause disease in humans.
ttp://healthvermont.gov/prevent/zoonotic/tickborne/resources.aspx#schools
Lyme disease, one of the more common tickborne diseases in Vermont, is transmitted from the bite of infected deer ticks. Symptoms of Lyme disease include an expanding red skin rash, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms.
Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, especially if treatment is given early. Left untreated, Lyme disease may affect other parts of the body, including the heart and nervous system. If you believe you may have been infected or have developed a rash or fever, call your health care provider as soon as possible.
HPV FILM PREMIERE
Wednesday, June 3; 5:30-8:00 p.m., film beginning at 6:00
Davis Auditorium, UVM Medical Center
Narrated by Vanessa Williams, Someone You Love reveals how dangerous the HPV virus can be, potentially causing six different types of cancers in both men and women. For more information about the film and to view a trailer, please visit www.hpvepidemic.com or contact Allison Hicks at ahicks@freepap.org
ABS: 871-6248 / Sylvia Love, RN
Upcoming Events
Harmony House Reading Restaurant / Wed. May 20 / 6-8 pm / ABS
ABS Art Show / Wed. May 20 / 6:15-8 pm / ABS
WCS Art Show and Opening Reception / Thurs. May 21 / 5-7 pm / WCS Dining Room
Grade 5-8 Concerts / Thur. May 21 / 5:30 (5:10 call- Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, 5/6 Chorus); 7:00 (6:50 call- 7/8 Chorus, Varietones, Wind Ensemble)
No School / Mon. May 25
FAPAC / Thur. May 28 / 8:15-10:15 am / WCS
Sterling Independent Math Project Open House/ Thur. May 28 / 5:30-7 pm
Harbor 8th gr. Challenge/DC Mtg / Thur. May 28 / 6-8 pm
Parent Orientation to Middle School / Wed. May 27 / 6:30-7:30 pm / Auditorium
Step up Activities for gr. 2 to 3 / Mon. June 1 / 8:30-9:30 am
Chorus Concert (gr. 3-4) / Wed. June 3 / 6:30 pm
Beginner Band Concert / Thur. June 4
Step up Activities for gr. K-1 / Fri. June 5 / 8:30-9:30 am
Fun Day, gr. 1-2 / Mon. June 8 / 8:30-9:30 am / WCS
Fun Day gr. 3-4 / Mon. June 8 / 12:30-2:30 pm / WCS
Step Up for Middle School, 8th gr. Yearbook Signing / Wed. June 10 / 8:15-9 am
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Track and Field Program
After several successful seasons, the Track & Field program will continue the affiliation with the Parisi Speed School. Also back for another season is Coach Tova Tomasi!! Participants will learn the basics of running, jumping, throwing, and relays. There will be a state meet in August, as well as dual meets with other Recreation Depts. Practices are held at CVU High School. This program is for 7-15 year olds as of the date of 12/31/15. Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:15-7:45p. June 17- July 25, $45 per person.
Summer Camps
There is still time to register for summer camps. But don’t delay as some are filling fast. New this year is a camp for 4-5 year olds - Lil’Explorers Camp. Also, Jr. Explorers' Camp is for children completing grades K-2 this year. Camp Venture is a new name for our group of campers completing grades 3-6 this year. And our Teen Adventure Camp is for those completing grades 7 & 8 this school year. The day camps start the week of June 22nd and run for 8 weeks, ending August 14th. Lil’Explorer, Jr. Explorer and Camp Venture run Monday- Friday, 7:30a-4:30p, Teen Adventure Camp is 8:30a-4:30p. To register or check out the camp offerings visit our website at www.willistonrec.org. Be sure to check out our offerings of Sports, Specialty and Technology Camps also!
Camp Grid- click on this link- http://www.willistonrec.org/forms/5955_form.campgrid15.pdf.
Camper Info/Health Form- http://www.willistonrec.org/documents/camper_info__health_form.pdf.
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Programs for Kids
Reminder to Parents of Students who visit the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library:
This time of year brings challenges as students get excited about warm weather and the end of the school year. While we welcome your children at the library, we ask you to remind them that the library is a place for quiet reading and socializing. Students whose behavior does not meet the library’s guidelines will be asked to leave. If students repeatedly fail to meet these guidelines, they will be asked to leave for an extended period. Children must be age 9 or older to visit the library unattended. Library staff are not responsible for students at any time during their visits to the library.
Please help the library maintain a welcoming environment for all!
For our complete policy see http://www.williston.lib.vt.us/index.php/library-policies/library-behavior
Contact Jill Coffrin, Youth Librarian, if you have questions. Thank you for your help!
Click here for the Bell listing of DAML events scheduled for children.
Click here for the DAML newsletters.
Community Events
This week includes:
Private summer tutors
Events at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
Williston Summer Art Camp 2015
Previous Newsletters
Williston School District
Email: cpavlik@cssu.org
Website: www.wsdvt.org
Location: 195 Central School Drive, Williston
Phone: (802) 878-2762
Twitter: @wsdvt