The School Bell
Williston Schools / January 13, 2023
Reminder: No School on Monday January 16th
In this issue...
A Message for families from ... - CVSD Intra-District School Choice - ABS End of Day Changes reminder - CVSD Budget Development and Virtual Town Hall Meetings - PreK lottery open - Paraeducator openings at both schools - and more...
In every issue...
Keep scrolling for Info/Links:
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- DAMLibrary and Williston Rec - Upcoming Events/Programs
- Calendars, Handbook, Volunteer Information
- Food Service / Busing / School Safety links
- CVSD District & School Board Links
- Important Family Resources
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
by Jacqueline Parks, WCS Building Principal
It is hard to believe that our year is about half-way through. It is at this time that we begin our second round of common assessments for the year to measure student growth. All K-8 students will engage in math and literacy assessments assigned to their grade levels. This allows us to compare fall to winter scores and determine the progress that each student has made. If the progress falls short of what we would expect, we adjust the programming and monitor progress on a regular basis. This analysis occurs on a Wednesday afternoon during our professional development time.
CVSD also is using a Social-Emotional-Learning assessment called the “Engage Survey” with all students in grades 3-12. This survey asks 8-12 developmental appropriate questions to students about their school experience related to school/classroom climate, peers, adult supports etc. Teachers will also analyze this data during a Wednesday professional development time and respond to themes, as well as to individual student concerns.
K-4 families will get some literacy or math information on their upcoming report card and/or during the March parent conference. Middle school families can ask about this data during their March conference and/or some might be shared on the trimester two report card.
These common assessments, along with the classroom level assessments that teachers use, provide us with a piece of information about your child that we put with other relevant data in order to provide the best programming. If you have any questions about our common data system, please email Jackie Parks at jparks@cvsdvt.org.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
01/16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
01/25 - 5th & 6th Grade Beginner Band Debut Concert, 6:30pm WCS Auditorium
01/27 - 7th & 8th Grade Dance, 6:30-8:30pm (permission slip linked)
02/03 - Preschool Lottery Application Deadline
02/07 - 4th Grade Chorus Concert, 6:30 pm WCS Auditorium
02/18 - Swift House Bottle Drive
CVSD Early Education Programs News
Preschool Lottery is now open for 2023-2024!
The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random preschool
lottery drawing for the 2023-24 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of
our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our school-based preschool
classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based,
developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our
curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).
Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by
September 1, 2023, who have not enrolled in kindergarten, and live in the communities of
Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery.
Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program
access their Act 166 publicly funded pre kindergarten funds for the school-based program.
All applications must be received by February 3, 2023, and are located on the CVSD Early
Education website under 2023-2024 Preschool Lottery . Paper applications are available upon
request.
For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s
development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at
egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in
the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development,
and cognition.
Update on CVSD Diversity Equity and Inclusion Work
As a team, the DEI Coaches and Director are working to move forward in the Equity Audit’s first recommendation of creating a shared understanding for Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work at CVSD as well as in each school individually.
Since the beginning of the school year 2022-2023, the DEI coaches at the schools have been working on collecting input from the school communities about what DEI means to them. This input, along with the equity audit report information, and the history of the school district’s DEI work will be used by the DEI team to create a draft document that represents a shared vision for DEI work in our district that will be no more than four pages. The shared vision draft will explain the focus of CVSD DEI work and provide shared definitions for all community members.
As part of this work, we are forming a committee to give us feedback on this document. Our goal is to have 17-20 members on this committee including teachers, students, parents, community, support staff, and admin. This feedback committee will not include CVSD leadership because they will have a separate feedback committee.
The rough timeline for the committee is as follows:
Forming the committee in January.
Share the draft document with the committee by February 1st.
The committee will share their feedback via email and/or at a 2 hour in-person/hybrid by mid February. We will try to provide childcare for this meeting for those that attend in person.
If you are interested in being part of this committee, please contact Mike Fife at mfife@cvsdvt.org
As an additional opportunity to be more involved and informed around Diversity Equity and Inclusion in our district you are also invited to attend our DEI Town Halls which occur every other month. The next Town Hall meeting will be held on Feb. 8 at 6:30pm. More information and a zoom link to the meeting will be posted here shortly .
Now Hiring - ABS Lunch/Recess Supervisor
Allen Brook School is currently looking for one or more Lunch Recess Supervisors to join our team.
Lunch & Recess Supervisors will help build and sustain a positive and orderly environment both in the cafeteria and on the playground. They will be supported by paraprofessionals from each grade level who help provide supervision of students during recess. This is an hourly position, 3hrs/day, and does not include benefits. The typical hours are between 10:30am-1:30pm. 2, 3 or 5 days/week option.
Responsibilities will include:
Monitoring student behavior during lunch and recess periods to ensure safety and acceptable conduct
- Adhere to our safety guidelines from the AOE and DOH
- Direct the movement of students to and from the recess areas.
- Correct or redirect unexpected behavior and communicate any serious concerns to the school behavioral coach
Please contact Shani Varricchione with questions or if interested; svarricchione@cvsdvt.org.
CVSD invites all community members to learn about and join in on the budget development process by attending upcoming School Board meetings. All members of the CVSD community are always welcome to attend Board meetings. See the topics and schedule in the image above and on the Budget page of the district's website. https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget
Links to join the virtual meetings will be available on that page and on the website calendar. We will also post the presentations on the Budget page afterward for those that cannot attend.
CVSD Intra-District K-8 School Choice
Children entering grades preK-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children. Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
Food Service Substitutes Needed
We are looking for a few people to help out in the kitchen preparing and serving meals for our CVSD students and adults. No experience needed, we will train. Flexible hours. Fast paced and fun. Please contact Scott Wagner (swagner@cvsdvt.org) if interested. We would really appreciate your help making sure our customers get the best food and service we can possibly provide.
Support Our Schools - Box Tops for Education
All About ABS...
Important Reminder about End of Day Changes
Allen Brook School dismissal begins at 2:30 (1:30 on Wednesday) in order for buses to leave at 2:35 (1:35). Please click here for full arrival and dismissal details (also linked in the School Bell every week). In order for us to keep all students safe and accounted for, it is crucial we know about any and all changes outside of the usual routine for the day.
If your child needs to be released early from school, there is a transportation change for the day, or any other change to their typical end of day plan, please be sure to contact the front office and teacher BEFORE 1:45PM (or 12:45 pm on Wednesdays). Changes in your student(s) schedule will not be accepted after this time unless it is an emergency. Due to the number of students, classrooms, parents and after school activities we can not guarantee changes received after 1:45pm (by 12:45 pm on Wednesdays) will happen.
Send all emails regarding attendance and end of day changes to:
The classroom teacher
Front Office: absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org
The Team Assistant for your grade:
Kindergarten - cplouffe@cvsdvt.org
First/Second Grade - lsaladino@cvsdvt.org
Please be sure to include the following information: date/day of change, name of child, name of parent/guardian, teacher's name, and the reason/details
In the event of an emergency, a phone call to the main office at 802-871-6200 is the best way to ensure the message will be received. Unless it is an emergency, please make every effort to avoid dismissal changes after 1:45 pm.
Recess Gear Reminder
All grades will go outside for recess year round unless it is pouring rain, thunder and lightening or below zero.
Now that Winter has arrived, please make sure your student(s) has the following each day:
* Warm Jacket * Snow pants (optional for Middle School) * Mittens or Gloves * Hat or Hood * Snow Boots
If you need help locating Winter gear please contact your school guidance counselor.
What's Up at WCS...
WCS 4th Grade Chorus Concerts
Tuesday, February 7th
There will be a daytime concert for a student audience. The evening concert for family and friends will be at 6:30 pm in the WCS auditorium.
The WCS Penguin Plunge Team Returns!
Please join the WCS Penguin Plunge team on February 4th as we jump into Lake Champlain once again! The plunge is a fundraising event that supports Special Olympics Vermont and is held on the Burlington Waterfront. We welcome students, parents, siblings, families and educators to join our team. Come one, come all and have a blast with us while supporting a good cause! Feel free to contact Julia Quinlan at JQuinlan@cvsdvt.org with any questions. Here is the link to register.
Bus Information
Hill Closings Locations - Buses are not able to travel certain roads during inclement weather and will meet at the intersection
Williston Schools Food Service
Williston Schools Safety Team
Click HERE for meeting highlights and updates
Four Winds Nature Institute
This year's theme is Cycles in Nature
September - Insect Life Cycles
October - Traveling Seeds
November - Birds on a Wing
January - Winter Ways
February - Galls Galore
March - Trees in Winter
April - Songbird Songs
May - Dandelions
Training Schedule 22-23
Trainings held at the WCS Community Room, 8:30 - 10:30
■ Wednesday, January 11th
■ Wednesday, February 8th
■ Wednesday, March 8th
■ Wednesday, April 12th
■ Wednesday, May 10th
Contact Four Winds
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer please contact: wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org.
Families as Partners
Basket Raffle is Back - April 15, 2023
We are looking for committee members to participate in organizing this wonderful event! Please contact Emily Downing Ponce at emilydowningponce@gmail.com if you’re interested. First meeting will take place in January.
- Connect to your child's school and enrich the experiences it offers all 1000+ PreK-8th grade students by joining the volunteers of the Williston Schools Families As Partners Organization!
- Be a part of this collaborative partnership whose focus is to enhance and support students, teachers and the community by providing materials, programs, field trips, guest artists, guest educators and innovative learning opportunities.
- Help elevate the potential for motivating, happy, healthy, and productive lifelong learners.
- For more information contact: willistonfap@cvsdvt.org
Arrival and Dismissal
Allen Brook School day begins at 7:50 am
Williston Central School day begins at 8:00 am
- To ensure all students are accounted for, everyone arriving after these times will be marked tardy and must stop at the office for a late pass.
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.
Attention ABS Families: Help us keep everyone safe by going to the designated areas for pickup and keep the sidewalks near the main entrance clear. This helps ensure adults can account for each and every pick-up that happens.
Wednesday: Early Dismissal!
ABS @1:35 - WCS @1:45
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.
Sign Up to Receive SMS/Text Messages!
Please enroll to receive text messages from the district and our school. If you haven't done this yet or if you are new to CVSD, follow the easy steps on this flyer. We don't overuse this method of communication, but it is helpful for reminders and quick announcements. Don't miss out!
Community Connections
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 802-878-4918 for more information.
Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Danielle for stories, songs, and rhymes.
After School STEAM Fun Activity
Wednesday, January 18, 2-3 p.m. Enjoy some science and fun after school!
Teen Night: Food for Thought
Wednesday, January 18, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12+. Join our teen advisory group – you bring the thoughts, we bring the food!
Preschool Music & Preschool Playtime
Thursdays, 10:30-11 a.m. Sing and dance with Linda Bassick! Followed by preschool playtime from 11-11:30 a.m.
Casual Crafting for Kids
Thursday, January 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Have fun letting your imagination go wild at the library!
Teen Genre Book Club
Friday, January 20, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12+. Read any historical fiction novel and discuss what you thought!
Williston Recreation & Parks
Instructors Wanted- Program and Camps
The Department is beginning work on the Spring/Summer Program offerings for March-August. An ad of programs will come out in February. Also, looking for instructors to offer camps in June, July, or August. Camp flyer coming out in February. If interested please fill out a Program/Camp Program Proposal Form, found on the Recreation website.
New Space- The R.O.C.
The Department will be opening a rental space named The R.O.C.- Recreation Opportunities for the Community. It will be a space that recreation programs can be offered year-round in. If you have a talent, craft, fitness, or other type of program that you would like to offer in the space fill out a Program/Camp Proposal Form today and send to the Recreation Dept. We hope to open this February.
Ice Rink
The Rink is CLOSED, due to weather. When open it is located near the warming hut at Village Community Park. Lights are Not working currently due to vandalism, waiting on the electricians to fix them. Entrance to the rink, by the warming hut, will be open when the rink is safe to use, and closed off by fence when rink is unsafe or making ice. Opening and Closing of rink will be posted on Facebook and on the home page of the Rec. website. Respect- Please respect the rink, be careful of liner, boards, and brackets, so they can be reused each year. Also, stay off the rink when closed so ice can be formed that is safe to use. Respect the users of the rink and share in the use. No one group has priority or allocated time. All are welcome!
PROGRAMS
Ninja Kids
Age 4-8 & 7-11. The play-based curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connection between mental and physical well-being. Instructor: ONTA Studio Staff. https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30206
Ninja Teens
Age 9-15. The play based curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connection between mental and physical well-being. Instructor: ONTA Studio Staff. https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30098
Dangerous Girls
Age 14+. This is a Women-only cardio- kickboxing class that combines strength and conditioning with practical combat skills. Learn trips and throws, bounce to Beyoncé, hit hard, laugh a lot. Instructor: Zachary Stevens, ONTA Studio
https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30092
Sangha Studio Yoga Pass
The 5-class pass allows you to donate to the Studio and receive five classes for $50 or $10 per class. At Sangha Studio, one of the core values is accessibility. This includes financial accessibility. We want everyone to practice yoga no matter what! Visit the Recreation website for link to purchase the pass. https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30261
Online Videos
There are a series of New programs now on the Recreation website- Home Programs to Enjoy! There are programs in National Park Tours, VT State Parks Videos, Green MT Club Videos, CSWD Videos and youth- Fun things to do Videos. Under each of these categories you will find links to videos that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. New videos will be added. https://willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/default.aspx
Learn More Online...
Upcoming Youth Science, Coding, & Engineering workshops
More information about each program and registration links can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/youth/announcements
January 21 - Come to our first teen science cafe of 2023 and learn all about AgroTek Innovation! This café will introduce you to different ways that technology is applied in agricultural settings to create new products or improve our environment as a teaser to get you interested in 4-H’s summer AgroTek Academy at UVM. You will also hear from past participants on their experience at last year's Academy.
January 24 - Come to this virtual teen science cafe to learn about Precision Agriculture & Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation from Scott Merrill. Scott Merrill is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Science, a Gund Fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment and the Managing Director of the Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation (SEGS) laboratory. As a quantitative systems ecologist his research spans a wide range of both natural ecosystems and social-ecological systems. Current work includes developing tools for precision agriculture, flood hazard mitigation, food security, animal health and climate change.
February 1 - Get your Science Olympiad team ready to compete! UVM will be hosting the Vermont Science Olympiad on Saturday, April 1, 2023, and we are looking for high school teams to join us for this exciting day of science competition!
February 2 - Have you ever wanted to learn how to program your own game? Well, here's your chance! In this 4-H World Changers: Learn to Code series, you will learn to program a collecting game using p5.js, a JavaScript library created especially for artists and designers. We will meet virtually each Thursday from February 2 - March 9, 7:00-8:00 pm.
February 11 - Have you ever wondered how rockets work, and what goes into designing them? Come to this teen science cafe hosted by Jeff Gibson, Deputy Chief Engineer at Benchmark Space Systems. At this cafe, Jeff will walk through basic principles and
show you how to design your own functional model rocket from scratch!
February 18 - Discover Engineering is a FREE annual event for youth in grades 5-12 who want to learn about engineering, build skills and network with engineering students, faculty and professionals.
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.