The School Bell
Williston Schools / September 23, 2022
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
by Lauren Goracy, Director of Student Services
Hello Williston Community!
My name is Lauren Goracy and I am the new Director of Special Services at Williston Schools!
In the last couple weeks, I've witnessed incredible educators who make up both Williston Central School and Allen Brook School. These educators in our buildings are not just the amazing teachers. They also include the wonderful Paraeducators, Special Educators, English Language Teachers, Planning Room Staff, DeltaStaff, Reading and Math Specialists, Interventionists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, School Counselors and SAP Counselors, SEL Coaches, School Psychologists, and Speech and Language Pathologists. These are all special services that support students who may just need that little extra something in our schools. I’ve seen these staff members pivot right on the spot every day to meet student’s individual needs. These special providers work with students on assignments that might just feel hard. They might need to explain a math problem in a different way, but the work they do is more than just your typical subjects. They help students with communication so they can make friends. They work with students and teachers to ensure they can play on the playground, participate in morning circle, make friends at lunch, or join in PE activities. They support students who may feel dysregulated and need a sensory break. Learning is happening literally in every corner of our buildings.
Williston is an incredibly welcoming place who accepts ALL people and works to make sure this is a community that feels safe and all members have a sense of belonging. I feel incredibly humbled to be part of this place and to witness the incredible work of these special services.
You may also recognize me from the last two Open House Events. I was standing at the table asking community members if they would like to sub, become a paraeducator, or custodial staff. In the last month, we have hired parents, caregivers, neighbors, and many community members to work in our schools. These amazing people, who have joined our staff, have a fresh set of eyes and bring a new set of skills to our schools. This makes our community stronger and ensures that all students' needs are met. This embodies the true saying, “It takes a village”. Please see the information below if you are interested or know of someone who may be interested in working in our schools.
With gratitude,
Lauren Goracy
Attention Parents & Caregivers - Have you completed your Annual Powerschool Updates?
Please take the time to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and navigate to the “Forms” icon on the left-hand toolbar to review, update and submit the following forms for each of your children as soon as possible. Click here for detailed instructions, if needed.
Please note that your submission of the Health and Permissions forms are required before your child may participate in any off-site field trips.
Annual Student Contact Updates
Annual Student Health Update (required for field trip participation)
Annual Student Permissions Update (required for field trip participation)
Annual Student Transportation Update
Ready for Recess!
If you need help locating boots, jackets, etc. please reach out to your school's guidance office.
It's Picture Time!
Williston Central - Monday, October 3rd
Allen Brook School - Friday, October 7th
Online ordering is available for school photos at:
Event: WCS
Password: wcs322 (case sensitive)
Event: ABS
Password: abs322 (case sensitive)
Student May Not Ride Another Bus
Just a reminder that we are not allowing students to ride on buses other than their regular route(s). This ensures all students are safe and accounted for. Seating charts will be used on all buses.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Be sure to read the arrival and dismissal procedures for your student(s) school [linked below] if you plan to drop off or pick up your child. We appreciate all you can do to follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!
Thank you for your continued cooperation during arrival and dismissal.
Wednesday: Early Dismissal!
ABS @1:35 - WCS @1:45
Something to Smile About: Dental Screenings Available for Students in Kindergarten and Third Grade
This year our school was one of 32 schools chosen to take part in Vermont’s Children Dental Health Survey. Schools are chosen at random to represent the general population of our state, this is how the Health Department gets important data about the oral health of Vermont children. Here is the link to the last survey that was done so you can see how the information is used. Children in Kindergarten and Third Grade will have the opportunity to get an oral health screening by a dental hygienist; the results of the screening will be sent home to parents/guardians, and all participating students will get a dental health kit. The screening is limited to children in K and 3rd grade because the Health Department can get all the data they need by screening these two age groups. Good dental health is an important part of being healthy; we’re excited that our school was chosen to participate in this important activity!
If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please contact your child’s school nurse.
If you want your child to take part in the survey, you don’t need to take any action.
WCS - Grade 3 - Wednesday 10/12 @ 9am
ABS - Kindergarten - Wednesday 10/19 @ 8:30am
Williston Central Nurses - Maria Kapetanovic, MSN, RN and Carol Albertelli, BSN, RN WCSnurse@cvsdvt.org
Allen Brook School Nurse - Sylvia Love, BSN, RN slove@cvsdvt.org
Survey Coming for Parents/Caregivers of Students in Grades 6-12
ParentIN CVSD is working with the Champlain Valley School District to better understand the perspectives and needs of parents and caregivers of tweens and teens in our district. Those with students in grades 6-12 will soon receive a survey via email.
Your honest opinions on the questions in the survey are appreciated. Your answers are completely anonymous and will not be used to identify individual respondents in any way.
Results will help us evaluate current programs and plan new ways to support youth and families in our area. If you have any questions about this survey, please reach out to Amy Sayre at asayre@cvsdvt.org or 802-482-6290.
From the WCS Student Assistance Program Counselor Lynn Camara
Our partners at the United Way of Northwest Vermont and the Regional Prevention Network shared this information recently:
Talking To Your Child About Cannabis
It is never too early to have conversations with children about alcohol and other drugs. As young as 9 years old children report beginning to view alcohol in a more positive way, and approximately 3,300 kids as young as 12 try cannabis with THC each day. Using cannabis with THC is harmful to a child’s development. Having conversations with supportive adults makes young people much less likely to start using cannabis or other substances. Embrace the awkwardness and start a conversation today!
How do I get the conversation started?
Just A.S.K.
Advise - Most likely you’ll have to start the conversation. Do your best to advise your kids on the risks of substances in a neutral, non-judgmental way.
Support - Life has been challenging lately, so it’s important to talk about substances in a supportive way. Ask them questions and really listen to what your child has to say.
Know -It’s important your children know your expectations. Set boundaries and ask them what they will do to make sure they follow them.
Help is available.
ParentUP Vermont is a local resource with tips to support youth substance use prevention and intervention. https://parentupvt.org/. ParentUpVT has a list of warning signs and can connect you to resources to act quickly if you suspect your child may be using.
Also, check out Partnership for Drug Free Kids’s Free Marijuana Talk Kit.
Complete The Form by October 1!
While meals are free for students this year, your school still needs you to complete a school meal application. (On the left side at that link, you'll find a form that can be printed and filled out and an online form.)
When you return your school meal application, you are helping your student, your school, and our entire community. When more students turn in school meal applications, that means more money for education in the cafeteria and in the classroom. Even if you do not think you qualify for this, please take the time to fill out the form. Every response helps!
Did you know, there are many benefits to submitting a meal application? This is very important for the long-term possibility of keeping universal meals in Vermont. School meal applications can help:
- Students qualify for waived testing fees, low-cost internet, and discounts to some community programs
- Your school meal program bring in more federal dollars to invest in local food and farm-to-school programming
- Your schools qualify for important federal education funding
- Your community qualify for summer and afterschool meal programs
Read more about how it benefits you and the district in other ways.
Looking for Lunch & Recess Supervisors at WCS & ABS
Come and join our lunch and recess teams. Work with school staff to supervise and support students during lunch and recess times.
- 3 hours per day - up to 5 days/week
- $16 per hour
- no experience needed
- follows the school calendar
For WCS contact lneeld@cvsdvt.org and for ABS contact svarricchione@cvsdvt.org
Calling All Guest Teachers!
Visit our district website for more information about becoming a Substitute/Guest Teacher in our schools. Contact Shani Varricchione at 802-871-6203 or svarricchione@cvsdvt.org with questions.
Attention parents of 4th Graders!
The WCS 4th grade chorus will begin rehearsals for the first session on Tuesday, September 27th. The group rehearses every Tuesday after school in the WCS music room from 3:00-4:00. There will be a performance in early February.
All 4th graders may come to the first two rehearsals (September 27th and October 4th) to sing, watch, and just check it out with no obligation to join. Be on the lookout for a chorus info/permission slip in your child's take-home folder. If your child then decides to be a member of the 4th grade chorus, please send in the bottom portion of that slip. Alternatively, you may complete this online Google form. If your child does NOT wish to be a chorus member, then you don't need to do anything.
Please contact Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) with any questions or concerns. dtrasciatti@cvsdvt.org
CVSD School Board
Information from your CVSD School Board here
Community Connections
RoboHawks Get to Work and Support the Community
This week the RoboHawks and JV Redhawk Robotics teams met and started to dig deep into brainstorming, designing and prototyping this year's bot after the season's release on the 10th, as well as hosted a workshop to introduce the CVSD middle school students to robotics.
The workshop hosted at CVU by the RoboHawks this past Tuesday for students and parents in the CVSD district focused on the FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics competition. The event marks the beginning of the program after months of behind-the-scenes work and makes their goal a reality of helping each district middle school start an FLL robotics team.
CLICK HERE to read the full blog post
Upcoming Youth Programs
Please Note: Children in 5th grade and up may use the library unattended, while those in grade 4 or younger must be supervised by a person over 16 years of age.
Hello from the Youth Department at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library! Please join us for a program soon! Visit www.damlvt.org or call us at 878-4918 for more information.
Preschool Story Time
Tuesdays, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Danielle for stories, songs, and rhymes.
Preschool Music & Preschool Playtime
Thursdays, 10:30-11 a.m. Sing and dance with Linda Bassick! Followed by preschool playtime on the patio from 11-11:30 a.m.
Tween Book Club
Monday, September 26, 3-4 p.m. Read the Golden Dome books and join this tween-led book club!
Robot Demo
Tuesday, September 27, 4-5 p.m. Have you been enjoying the robot programs this month? Wrap it up with this awesome demo of a locally built robot!
After School Meditative Coloring
Wednesday, September 28, 2-3 p.m. Relax with soothing music and calming coloring!
LEGO Time
Thursday, September 29, 3-4 p.m. Make something exciting with the library’s LEGO collection.
Access is back in Action!
Access is back in action with another semester of amazing enrichment options for both in-person and online learners. The Fall/Winter 2022 season runs from September – January, and the majority of classes take place at CVU High School, with the exception of online classes offered through Zoom. Class descriptions and details are listed on our website and can be sorted by category, month, week, or online. With over 200 class options and 89 fabulous instructors, there is something for everyone at Access!
ENROLL TODAY! Popular classes fill quickly, and low enrollment leads to canceled classes. To view the complete list of classes and to enroll online, visit our website https://cvsdvt.ce.eleyo.com/ (or Google, ACCESS CVU). For questions about classes or to enroll via email or phone, contact us at access@cvsdvt.org / 802-482-7194.
Mark Your Calendar!
Upcoming Events
09/27 - Explorers to Adam's Orchard
09/29 - ABS K-2 Open House, 6:00pm
09/30 - Kaleidoscope Coffee & Conversations, Synergy to Mt. Philo
10/03 - WCS School Pictures
10/05 - NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur & Dashian
10/07 - ABS School Pictures
10/10 - NO SCHOOL, Indigenous People's Day
10/11 - NO SCHOOL, Parent Conferences
10/12 - Grade 3 Dental Screenings
10/19 - Kindergarten Dental Screenings
10/27 - Kaleidoscope to VT Statehouse
Information in 1-Click
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)
- National Suicide Prevention Life line- 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call or chat online
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
- UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
- Vermont Support Line (833) 888-2557) - peer support warmline open 247 - 365 for call or text
- COVID Counselors @ VT-211
- Teen Crisis Text Line - Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support and information to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. You can text with a trained specialist 24 hours a day. Text “HOME” to 741741.
- Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - Website where you can find information to help yourself or a friend who may be having thoughts of suicide.
- Trevor Lifeline - 1-866- 488-7386 - provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. It offers free, 24/7, confidential counseling. TrevorText—text START to 678-678; TrevorChat—instant messaging at TheTrevorProject.org/help. It also runs TrevorSpace, an affirming social networking site for LGBTQ youth at TrevorSpace.