THE SCHOOL BELL
Williston Schools /October 8, 2021
NO SCHOOL- Friday, October 8, 2021 & Monday, October 11, 2021
A Message from the Administration by Jacqueline Parks, WCS Principal
In addition to the federally mandated SBAC assessment, CVSD uses additional common assessments that help us monitor student progress. Assessments measure one moment in time and it is always best to have multiple data points to get an accurate picture of what a student knows and can do. Having a robust common assessment system helps us to do this.
This year all students in grades 2nd-8th, are using a new assessment tool called IReady, to assess their progress in literacy and mathematics. The i-Ready Diagnostic is a type of computer adaptive test that matches the difficulty of test questions to the ability of each student. As students answer questions correctly, the test becomes more difficult. As students answer questions incorrectly, the test becomes easier. In both situations, the test adapts to find the precise ability of each student in the quickest, most efficient ways possible.
Students will be taking the i-Ready diagnostic assessment three times per year in the fall, winter and spring. At this point, most students have completed their fall i-Ready assessments and teachers are in the process of analyzing the data for instructional purposes. The i-Ready program also has a personalized learning tool in it which allows teachers to assign instructional lessons to students based on their instructional needs.
As our system gains experience with this tool, we will be sharing more information with students and families about student progress. Meanwhile, if you have questions about i-Ready specific to your child, please email your child’s teacher.
COVID-19 Update for Williston Families, from Lead Principal Greg Marino
We are pleased to provide the update that we have had only one positive case to report in the last week, and this case was confirmed just earlier today. This is the first reported case in 12 days. The new positive case is associated with Kindergarten at Allen Brook School and one of our school buses. All close contacts associated with the case have been notified.
Though we are pleased with the significant decline in positive cases, we acknowledge and appreciate the impact that even one case has on students, families, and staff. Of course, we will remain diligent with all of our mitigation measures, including the enhanced measures introduced over the last three weeks. We also ask families to continue to be mindful about making choices that reduce your family members' risk of coming into contact with the virus. Our continued partnership in these efforts is essential. Given the fact that we had no new cases to report until this morning, the weekly letter from Superintendent Sanchez was not planned for this week. ~ Thank you
NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINING
We are pleased to announce that starting the week of 10/4, the Williston Schools will offer optional daily learning opportunities for students who are quarantining without their class and teacher. On each school day there will be two types of learning opportunities that can be accessed by students: “Meets” with teachers and learning menus. The activities completed during the “Meets” and through the learning menus will not directly connect to the lessons happening at school, but they will allow students to access productive and engaging grade appropriate learning opportunities.
This slide deck contains more information about these opportunities including the “Meet” schedule and links to math, science, and literacy activities:
Hispanic Heritage Month
Digital Citizenship Week is October 18-22
All CVSD schools will participate in Digital Citizenship Week later this month. Using many resources, including those from Common Sense Education, we will focus on one strand collectively across the district: Privacy and Security.
From Common Sense:
We care about everyone’s privacy. Students learn how to protect personal information and gain a deeper understanding of their data privacy rights so they can advocate for themselves and others.
We will share more information as we get underway. Here are some resources for families related to Online Privacy and Security from Common Sense.
If you are not familiar with Common Sense Media, it's a fabulous resource for families on all topics related to technology in the lives of our children. (reviews, forums, and much more!)
Important Updates About Curriculum Nights and Parent-Teacher Conferences
We are making some changes to the format for curriculum nights and parent / teacher conferences this year. Please note these changes below.
Curriculum Nights:
The school will not be hosting live curriculum nights this year.
In place of this, teams will prepare a slide presentation (or packet) for parents. These will contain the information that is typically presented at in-person curriculum nights and will be sent home to families anytime between now and the end of October.
Teams will provide opportunities for parents / caregivers to ask any questions they may have, either in a virtual office hours format, or at parent-teacher conferences.
Parent Conferences:
Virtual Parent-Teacher conferences will be offered by all teachers / teams between Oct 8 and the Thanksgiving break and will be in touch with information about how to sign up.
Families may request an in-person conference if there are circumstances that will make a virtual conference difficult.
Are you getting all the correct school communications?
Williston Central School is looking for Mentors!
Welcome to the CVSD IT Help Desk Portal
Early Release Days for the 2021-2022 School Year
Parenting Resource
If you have a child who is experiencing anxiety, depression or other social and emotional challenges, Amy will be on hand to offer her support and guidance and be armed with useful resources in the community if you need/want them. For more information, click here.
You can pop in for a quick question or to chat through a situation. Amy would love to try to help! Here is the link to join: http://meet.google.com/nfm-tovh-bjz
Are you interested in a part or full time paraprofessional position in Williston?
Elementary and Middle School Levels:
We are still seeking several energetic folks to join our team! We are looking for skilled, caring individuals to provide support for individual and small groups of students in personal development, behavior support, and social-emotional skills.
We have positions available in the following categories:
Non-Intensive ($14.28-$15.91 - last year's rates, will likely increase)
Intensive ($17.28-$18.91- last year's rates, will likely increase)
Specialist ($21.78-$23.41 - last year's rates, will likely increase)
Paraprofessionals are contracted 6.5 hrs a day for 194 school days and begin as soon as possible.
There is a different pay scale for each of these, as well as a different level of expertise needed. However, we CAN train folks and we have money available for PD along with GREAT benefits and student schedule.
Any interested folks can reach out directly to Sarah Crum, Director of Special Ed (scrum@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6140).
CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Maintenance and custodial openings
Full time with benefits. Part time option also.
Please contact Lyall Smith at lysmith@cvsdvt.org or 316-1275.
CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Playground/Lunch Assistant Needed
Substitute Teachers Needed
Allen Brook Library
We are excited to work in collaboration with the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library on a special project to provide a free opportunity for family literacy engagement centered on creating a welcoming and inclusive community. Our libraries were recently awarded a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grant.
We have offered BraveBooks Bags to each second grade family this fall. The bags include two picture books and two chapter books to spark conversations, understandings, and build caring, valued relationships. These books, created by Black authors and illustrators, were chosen to encourage conversations around racial equity and inclusiveness. The books range from picture books to middle grade titles, to encourage conversations amongst the very young as well as older family members.
As a follow-up to the distribution of the Brave Book Bags, on SATURDAY, October 16th at 10am (rain date: October 23rd), our Williston community community is invited to a celebration of the project on the Town Green. We will be reading aloud the picture book Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel to celebrate social justice and the partnership between DAML & Allen Brook School. The story will also be featured on a Storywalk® on the Town Green this month.
Our Hands Up! Celebration is open to all and we will have a limited number of additional Brave Book Bags to give away to interested community members at our event.
Your WCS and ABS Libraries:
Access CVU-New Class Registration is Open!
Popular classes fill quickly! Sign up today, tell your family and friends, and please help spread the word about our AWESOME classes!
· 202 awesome classes
· Back to in-person learning at CVU!
· 42 Online classes via Zoom
· 27 New instructors!
· 100% FUN- Bring a friend & sign up today!
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)
- 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: USA)
- 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
ABS - Reminder for Safe Drop Off & Pick Up
Pre K-2
It has been reported to administration from some parents that they are concerned about our arrival and dismissal procedures. As a reminder it is very important to stay in your vehicles during arrival and dismissal. It appears that many parents stop, get out of their car, talk to teachers or other parents, and stand around to visit. Some vehicles are being left unattended so parents can walk their child into school. This creates a line of cars backing up as other parents wait for a spot to pull up to. We have also seen some families not using the designated lane for your child's house as a means to get through the line faster. Please adhere to the procedures we have created and do your best to pick up and drop your child off in a timely and efficient manner. Thank you!
For K teachers only:
When dropping your child off in the K lane please be sure to pull up to the curbside to drop your child off as opposed to parking your vehicle as if you are in a parking spot. This helps with the overall flow and avoids having vehicles having to back up which causes congestion and traffic jams. Thank you!
We appreciate all you can do to follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!
Please refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:
From the Nurses Office- Return to School Following Illness COVID-19 Information for Families
Mask Reminder: Please remember to send a few masks to school daily with students. We thank you for your support.
Vision and Hearing Screening for Students
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.
Seeking 5th-8th graders to join our intergenerational Book Club! Known as "Intergen", this book club meets during school hours and groups students, parents and community members together to read and discuss 5 books, once a month. The program kicks off on October 12th and meets the second Tuesday of each month through March. 5th & 6th graders meet from 1:10pm-1:50pm. 7th & 8th graders meet from 1:50pm-2:30pm
If your 5-8th grade student is interested in being considered for this program, please register using this link: https://forms.gle/4rhvE244KfbAN5Fy5 . We are also seeking parent participants. Refer to the sign-up link for more information and to see the list of the books we will read.
Four Winds
FAP Information
We are looking for volunteers in all areas, our council, house representatives, and event volunteers! Please fill out this form if interested in helping!
https://forms.gle/AvVx1EHUGWWAikWn9
Williston Families as Partners
School Nutrition Program
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 11, 2021- No School
Wednesday, October 13, 2021-Four Winds Training Workshop (WCS in the Community Room, 8:30-10:30am)
Monday, November 1, 2021- Picture Retake Day
Intra-District K-8 School Choice
CVSD School Board
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
CVSD schools have re-opened for the 2021-2022 school year following the guidelines provided by the Vermont Agency of Education. Vermont school districts are working to meet the needs of all students, especially after a pandemic year. We were required to create a Recovery Plan for the Vermont Agency of Education for approval. CVSD is calling this our Strategic Response Plan. Learn more about the plan and provide feedback at this link.
DAML Programs
Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Click here for Youth Programming and upcoming events
Recreation & Parks Offerings
Community Events
More Links, More information
Williston Schools
Email: alongley@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