THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /September 18, 2019
A Message From The Administration
By ABS Principal Angela Filion
As I look at the picture above I am reminded of the importance of play....no matter what age we are! Seeing the joy and happiness that this brings to children(or adults) is both refreshing and infectious! Through play we pretend, discover, inquire, and learn!! One thing I value and appreciate is how well the teachers here at Allen Brook find that balance of learning through play! They are attuned to the developmental needs of our primary students and plan accordingly! If you would like to learn more about the significance of play click on this link. https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/importance-of-play-for-school-age-children . We opened up our year in preservice with a fun little adventure for teachers. Their task was to go on a school-wide scavenger hunt and take pictures of all the things on their list. In this photo they had to play "dress up." The lesson? How to actively and cooperatively engage in the task in a timely and effective way, while having fun! At the end of this exercise the teachers shared what strategies they used that were successful and what challenges they faced while having a common goal that they had to achieve together. The sharing of each others strategies helped teams reflect and learn from one another. These are the types of lessons we want to instill in our walls at ABS! We have had a great start to the year welcoming our students and families and we look forward to a great year ahead!
Incoming Kindergarten families join us for a Kick off at DAML
ABS librarian Cara Clopton reading one of her silly stories!
Enjoying some lunch with students during the first week of school.
ABS Ice Cream Social
We will be serving ice cream in the garden space from 5 to 6 pm.
Curriculum Nights/Learning Expo Dates
Thursday, Sept. 19 / grades 3- 4 / Williston Central School / 6:30 pm (childcare provided)
Thursday, Sept. 26 / preschool / Allen Brook School / 6 pm
Thursday, Oct. 3 / grades 5-8 / Williston Central School / 6:30 pm (childcare provided)
Parent Information Night: Options-Based Safety and Security Protocol
Presenting an overview of the new protocol and time for dialogue.
Monday, October 7, 2019, 6:00 pm, CVU room 160
CVSD Community Budget Forum
Come and share what's on your mind.
Monday, October 7, 2019, 7:00-8:30 pm, CVU room 160
If you can't attend this forum, please share your thoughts on this budget input form:
No School October 9, 18
No School on October 18 for parent / teacher / guardian conferences
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!!
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.
PBiS Corner - September 2019
What’s new in PBiS - Williston Central School
We have set a goal as a committee to create a student led group of 7th & 8th graders, who will work with our committee to make PBiS more relevant for their age level.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an overarching focus for the work we plan to do this year. We hope to integrate this type of learning as a committee.
We look to build and grow our school community by having team sponsored Friday smart cell collections, increase our student voice within PBiS, use our “paws for applause” system to encourage teachers to recognize each other, have each core adopt a project within the school, and provide our 7/8 students with the opportunity to hand out booster cells during our booster cell challenge weeks.
A final goal is to have a new type of PBiS bulletin board. The picture above, and the pictures below is our first installment of this bulletin board. We look forward to rotating different staff members as we move through the school year. It includes a picture, some interesting facts, and maybe a question to ask if you happen to meet them in the hall. A great way to build our school wide community!
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.
Student Assistance Program (SAP)
Hello! My name is Lynn Camara and I am the new Student Assistance Program (SAP) Counselor at Williston Central. My role is primarily as a support and resource person, and anyone who needs a quiet place to gather information, share and connect is welcome in my office. Are you concerned that your child is having difficulty with friends at school? Have you noticed a change in behavior or drop in grades and you need some information on how to support your child? Do you need some resources on how to help your child make healthy choices?
I am happy to help! I am at WCS on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school day in the Direction Center. Please drop by any time! If you have a moment, please complete this brief survey letting me know how I can best meet your needs. You can also contact me by phone at (802) 871-6162 and email at lcamara@cvsdvt.org.
I look forward to meeting you!
Lynn W. Camara, MA, MA
Student Assistance Program Counselor
Seeking donations for WCS Recess
Williston Central School would appreciate donations of soccer balls, basketballs, frisbees, and playground balls-like kickballs for recess. (No baseballs, or lax balls please.) Please send them in or drop them in the front office and we will put them to good use. Thank you!
CY Mentors Needed for WCS Students
Every child here, or at any school anywhere in the country, would benefit from the simple, caring, one-on-one attention from a mentor, one hour per week. Middle school students find it very empowering to have this time, during which they decide what to do. They are learning who they are: what they like to do, what they are good at, what they like to learn, how they want to be treated, and how they will act with others.
You can make a difference! By spending just one relaxed hour each week together at school, you can help a Williston middle school student develop his/her abilities, self-confidence, and connection to school.
To find out more about becoming a Connecting Youth Mentor at Williston Central School, Call or e-mail today:
Nancy Carlson, CY Mentoring Coordinator
871-6046
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.
8th Grade Challenge
Please support Aidan Morris's 8th grade challenge project in working with NAMI (National Alliance on 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/
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.
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
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
Mon. Oct. 7 / Parent info on Options-based Safety / CVU rm. 160 / 6 pm
Mon. Oct. 7 / CVSD Budget Forum / CVU rm. 160 / 7-8:30 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