1. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Closed 10/14

2. Walk or Roll to School - Tuesday, 10/15 (Click here for info)

3. Be "Bear Aware" in Williston

Important Upcoming Dates to Note

10/15 - Walk or Roll to School Day

10/17 - Williston Families as Partners Monthly Meeting - WCS Community Room @ 8:30am

10/25 - 7th & 8th Grade Dance

10/28 - Multilingual Celebration

11/01 - Diwali / NO SCHOOL

11/02 - Williston Craft Show

11/12 - Intergen Book Group

11/14 - WFAP Monthly Meeting

11/25 - NO SCHOOL / THANKSGIVING BREAK

by Angela FIlion, Allen Brook School Principal

Happy Fall from ABS! We have been very busy settling into the start of the year with much to celebrate and be proud of! It was so great to welcome our families last week for our annual open house. It was so wonderful to see the excitement and enthusiasm the children had when bringing their families around the school to visit and share all the wonderful things that makes us ABS!

We filled the beehive!!! Students get “buzzies” when following our school commitments of being safe, kind, and responsible. Each classroom has a buzzy jar that gets filled. When they fill up the classroom jar they have an in classroom celebration (PJ day, extra recess, stuffy day etc). Then the students bring the buzzies to our school wide beehive and when that is filled up we celebrate as a whole school. Our first celebration was a school wide dance party and we stopped, dropped, and danced around the school…so fun!

I wanted to share with you some work we have done with our DEI(Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) coach and a small committee of people who are dedicated to promoting an inclusive learning environment for all. For those of you who are new to Williston Schools and CVSD, we have a board adopted policy and definition that supports this very important work that you are welcome to learn more about by clicking here: Board Definition of Equity (adopted June 2018) Board Equity Policy (adopted December 2020).

The DEI committee worked to identify common reads across PrK-2 that every classroom teacher will incorporate into their read aloud and discussions throughout the year. We have also been brainstorming ways for extending activities to our essential arts classrooms as well. Here is the list of the books that have been selected. We are proud of our work with culturally responsive and inclusive practices and aim to continue this very important work.

DAML will be closed Monday, October 14th. Please be sure your WCS student has an alternative plan if they usually go to the library after school.

Earlier this week a staff member was out for a walk on the rec path in the direction of Coyote Run. While returning to the school they spotted a black bear, which crossed over the rec path and headed into the trees adjacent to the school property. No cubs were spotted.

All faculty and staff were reminded to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

As black bear sightings have become increasingly more common around Williston, we send this message as a reminder to be "bear aware" when outside in the area.

If your child's daycare or other after-school activity is cancelled, please be sure to notify the school so that we may ensure your student(s) are safe and in the right place. Thank you!

ABS: 802-871-6200 or absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org

WCS: 80-871-6100 or wcsattendance@cvsdvt.org

Students may not ride buses other than their usual routes. A standing schedule for childcare, after-school activities, etc. can be set up with the front office of your school.

We do not allow students to ride buses for playdates, etc as one-time or rare event. It is important that we know who is on the buses regularly for both safety and behavior reasons. This also allows our drivers to get to know and build relationships with their students. Thank you for your cooperation.

Our schools use School Messenger for communication with families and caregivers. That includes emails, such as this newsletter, as well as emergency updates. In addition to emails, we may also use phone messages and texting to keep everyone informed. In order to receive texts, you must opt-in. If you have not received texts this year and would like to, see the flyer below or details.

WCS VISION SCREENING - Thursday OCTOBER 24th

ABS VISION SCREENING - Tuesday OCTOBER 22nd

The Health Offices at WCS and ABS will start testing students' vision and hearing. Vermont schools are required by the state to test students' vision and hearing in Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grades.

Chittenden County Lions Club will be coming to our schools on Tuesday October 22nd (ABS) and Thursday October 24th (WCS) to perform vision screening.

The vision photoscreening will only happen on indicated dates. It is a one-day event and we strongly encourage your child not to be absent from school on that day. There will be no make-ups.

Vermont Lions KidSight program uses a photoscreening digital device called a SPOT to objectively check for vision problems. The photoscreener is like a large camera. It takes a picture of your child’s eyes. With that and the measurements obtained from the images, SPOT can detect a number of potential eye conditions.

If we find a problem, we will send you a referral letter. If your child’s SPOT results form states “Complete Eye Exam Recommended” at the top right of the page, it is a referral and we recommend that your child visit an eye care professional.

On the SPOT referral, you will see a section on the right side of the page called “Potential Condition”. This includes

information about the potential eye condition(s) detected by the SPOT device.

If you do not hear from us, your child passed the screenings.

If you have any concerns, please contact the Health Office.

Thank you so much!

Any time a student is going to be absent, or has a change to their dismissal/end of day plan,

please notify the following:

1. The classroom teacher

2. Front Office: absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org or this form

3. ABS Team Assistant Celeste Plouffe: cplouffe@cvsdvt.org

4. School Nurse (if due to illness): slove@cvsdvt.org

Reminder: If there is any change to your student's typical end of day plan, please be sure to contact the school BEFORE 1:00PM (or 12:00 pm on Wednesdays). Changes in your student(s) schedule will not be accepted after this time unless it is an emergency.

It’s time for WCS musicians to order their WCS Performing Arts shirts! All students in Band and/or Chorus will wear this shirt on concert days, to field trips and other organized events.

Who should order a shirt?

• 4th Grade Chorus members

• 5th-8th grade Band and/or Chorus students that are new to the program.

• Returning 5th-8th grade Band and/or Chorus members that have lost or outgrown their shirt from last year.

How do I order a shirt?

Order your shirt here. Shirts need to be ordered and paid for by Friday, October 25, 2024. The cost is $13 and financial support is available.

What if I already have a shirt?

__ I found my shirt, tried it on and know it will still fit on concert day.

• If you can check that off, you do not need to order a new shirt.

Can I order a shirt if I am not in Band or Chorus?

Yes! If you wish to support our musicians, you may order a shirt.

Please check it out!

It includes:

1. announcements

2. important dates

3. ensemble descriptions

4. Wind Ensemble (grades 7/8) morning rehearsal schedule

5. Beginner Band information

6. Jazz/Pop Band information

7. Instrument repair and rental information

8. Link to our Instagram page

Any time a student is going to be absent, or has a change to their dismissal/end of day plan,

please notify the following:

1. The classroom teacher

2. Front Office: wcsattendance@cvsdvt.org or this form

3. Your student's Team Assistant(TA)

4. School Nurse (if due to illness): wcshealthoffice@cvsdvt.org
   

Reminder: If there is any change to your student's typical end of day plan, please be sure to contact the school BEFORE 1:00PM (or 12:00 pm on Wednesdays). Changes in your student(s) schedule will not be accepted after this time unless it is an emergency.

Communication with parents and caregivers is a key component in maintaining family engagement and support. Currently, every teacher/team and school communicates regularly in some way to families. Emails, blogs, newsletters, websites, and Facebook are a few of these methods. If you reach out to a person who works in the district, you can expect a response to your communication within two (2) school days (keeping in mind that weekends and the days school is not in session are not included). In the event that a response will take more time, district employees may acknowledge receipt of your email, call, or otherwise contact you with information about when they will be able to provide resolution to your request. Please remember that if you have a concern, please go to the person most directly involved first. You are also encouraged to use the CVSD Connect With Us page.

• 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.