The School Bell
Williston Schools / September 8, 2023
In this issue...
A message from WCS Principal Jackie Parks - Important Dates - Tips for safe Backpacks - Important Health Office Welcome Info - Chorus and Band Details, and more...
A Message from the Williston Schools Leadership Team
by Jackie Parks, Williston Central School Principal
At the beginning of each year at WCS we schedule time to officially welcome our students back and provide an overview of the changes for the year and reteach the expectations for how we interact together within our school community. Our values are based on personal responsibility, safety and honoring others' right to learn. WCS just finished holding these assemblies with students and would like to share the content of these with our families.
We have now officially retired our mantra of “Be SMART” (Safe, Mindful, Accepting, Respectful and Truthful) and the use of SMART cells. Over the summer, faculty and staff met and developed a new mantra designed to build our school expectations around. Introducing….
The Wildcat Way!
Take care of yourself
Take care of others
Take care of this place
All school expectations are connected to these three values. We have designed a school matrix that outlines these expectations for the common spaces in the school including: hallways, bus, recess, cafeteria, technology and more. Please click the following link to view these expectations in detail. 23-24 WCS PBiS Matrix
Additionally, each team/program area is in the process of developing a classroom matrix with students that centers around The Wildcat Way. Once complete, these will be posted in each space as a visual reminder for students of our expectations.
Over the summer we also worked to update our Planning Room tools and procedures. Some of the highlights of that work include:
An updated reflection tool that adults will use to help minor behavior challenges with students with specific consequences connected to the situation. Ex. recess concerns may result in a short-term loss of recess
Faculty members will be communicating with the parents/guardians of students when a behavior reflection tool is used in the form of a phone call, email or email with the processing work attached. This will ensure parents have direct access to the adult working with their student on behaviors.
A protocol of next steps in the form of a parent/ guardian meeting if a student exhibits a pattern of minor behaviors within a 30-day period.
Major behaviors that include bullying, harassment, hazing, physical aggression, threats, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, vandalism and leaving school property are still immediate referrals to the Planning Room and processed with one of the Planning Room Directors. This includes parent communication, a plan specific to the student and situation, as well as increased programming and loss of privileges. Examples of additional supports could include small group instruction linked to the behavior such as strategies for impulse control, personalized goal setting and/or additional adult check-ins throughout the day.
Middle level Teams are also working to build reward times into the week that students will earn access to through positive behavior and work completion.
We will be sharing additional information about the updates to our behavior programming system, as well as sharing how it is working. Finally, all of these changes have been created in the context of our Program Council shared belief statements about behavior that adults across both schools worked to develop last year. I will close by sharing that belief statement with you.
“In the Williston Schools, we believe that behavior is a form of communication; and is a function of a person’s view of themselves, others, and the world. All members of our system thrive when they are able to form positive relationships at school.
In order to build a positive learning environment in which individuals experience growth and belonging, our system will…
Provide opportunities to learn and practice various ways to act as positive members of our community.
Support faculty and staff in understanding and responding appropriately to behaviors that cause harm in our community.
Include the perspectives and voices of students, parents/caregivers, faculty and staff.
Take into account the diverse identities and backgrounds of students, families, faculty and staff.
Continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of our learning community.”
You can learn more about these changes and ask questions at our upcoming Open House events or by emailing Jackie Parks at: jparks@cvsdvt.org.
5th-8th Open House on Thursday, September 14th from 6:30-7:30 pm
3rd-4th Open House on Thursday, September 21st from 6:30-7:30 pm
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
09/11 - Williston Schools Ice Cream Social at WCS, 6-7pm
09/13 - 4 Winds Training, 8:15 - 10:30am @WCS Community Room
09/14 - Families as Partners Meeting, 8:30-10:30 @WCS Community Room
09/14 - WCS Middle School Open House, 6:30 - 7:30pm
09/18 - ABS Picture Day
09/19 - WCS Picture Day
09/25 - NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur
09/21 - WCS Grades 3 & 4 Open House, 6:30 - 7:30pm
09/28 - ABS K-2 Open House, 6:00 - 7:00pm
10/06 - NO SCHOOL, Student Conference Day
10/09 - NO SCHOOL, Indigenous Peoples Day
Lunch Menu
Health Office Updates
Welcome back from the Health Office!
Dear Families,
The Health Offices at WCS and ABS are excited to welcome you and your students to the 2023/24 school year. We want to update you on our current COVID-19 protocols and share other non-COVID related information with you.
COVID-19 considerations
The Champlain Valley School District and its schools will continue to follow the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education guidance.
Staying Home When Sick: students who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to other people.
If a student is presenting in the Health Office with mild symptoms, the decision to send home or return to class will be made by the school nurse based upon their clinical decision making. Mild respiratory symptoms include runny nose or nasal congestion, minimal cough, and absence of fever in an individual with no current or recent household exposure to Covid-19.
If a student is not well enough to learn or participate in school activities, regardless of whether they are tested for COVID-19, they will be sent home from school.
A student may return to school if their symptoms have improved, and they meet school criteria for their illness. COVID-19 testing will not be required for students or staff to return to school.
If a student has confirmed COVID-19, they should follow the Vermont Department of Health isolation guidance.
Staying home and away from other people for at least 5 days from the date of your positive test or the start of your symptoms, whichever is earlier.
You can end isolation after day 5 if your symptoms have improved AND you have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers.
Wearing a mask through Day 10 is only recommended for healthcare settings currently. General community guidance (which schools follow) does not include wearing a mask through Day 10.
Check out this link for general community guidance:https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-treatment
We will not share notifications about positive COVID cases unless there is an outbreak as defined by the Dept of Health. This follows the same process as we would for chicken pox, influenza, and other communicable diseases.
Non-COVID-19 information
Lions Club Vision Screening:
We are fortunate to be included in the Champlain Valley Lion’s Club Vision Screening Program again this year. All students present the day of screening will have their vision screened. If your child's vision screening results are outside normal limits you will receive a referral form to share with your child's doctor.
WCS Vision screening for 3, 5 nd 7th graders - Tuesday October 17th
ABS Vision screening - Tuesday October 3rd
Annual Student Health Update Form
In order to keep your students safe, it is important that we have updated and accurate medical information about each and every student. Please take the time to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, select the name of your child located in the blue ribbon on top and navigate to the “Forms” icon on the left-hand toolbar to review, update and submit the Health forms for each of your children. Please note that your submission of the Health form is required before your child may participate in any off-site field trips.
Immunizations
If your child received any immunizations over the summer please send in a copy of their vaccination record to the nurse so that their health record can be updated. If you need more information and necessary forms regarding medical or religious exemptions, it can be found here. A new religious exemption form is needed each school year.
Extra clothing
Please, pack a change of clothing for your child in case their clothes get soiled at school. The Health Office depleted our supplies of spare clothing at this time so in case your child needs a change of clothes - we will be calling parents to provide some from home. Please, pack extra underwear, socks and bottoms for your students of all ages (older grades students do come to the Health Office for a change of clothes! More often than you may think)
Communication
Please keep the school nurse informed of any health conditions that could affect your child while at school (e. g. absences related to any illness, injuries, or medical procedures). In addition, if a child is to have any restrictions in activity during the school day due to recovery from injury or illness, please send a physician’s note with the child informing the nurse of the nature of the problem, requested restrictions, and duration of restrictions.
We look forward to establishing a relationship with you and your child. We are always available by phone or email. Please feel free to reach out to us any time.
Williston Central School Nurses:
Maria Kapetanovic, MSN/Ed, BSN, RN
Carol Albertelli, BSN, RN
ph: 871-6170 fax: 871-6101
Allen Brook School Nurse:
Sylvia Love, BSN, RN slove@cvsdvt.org
ph: 871-6248 fax: 871-6201
Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers
Our district values your feedback! Starting on September 22 and continuing through October 9, we will be asking you to take a brief survey to tell us about your experience with the school(s) your child attends. To ensure we continue to provide high-quality learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need your feedback. We invite you to share your thoughts.
We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact us using Let's Talk.
Thank you,
Champlain Valley School District
Reminder: Annual Form Updates
Annual Update Forms MUST be completed in order for your student to participate in Field Trips and other school events. Forms may be completed on-line or using the PowerSchool Mobile App.
All About ABS...
Important Safety Update for End of Day Pick-Up
Allen Brook School End of Day Changes
Please remember: If there is any change to your student's typical end of day plan, please be sure to contact the front office and teacher 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.
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
Your child visits our library each week for lesson time and book exchange with Mrs. Clopton. This blue bag will be a safe place to keep and transport library books. Kids can also visit our library EVERY day in the mornings from 7:35-10:00 a.m. during flex time to exchange books.
What Up at WCS...
Important 7th and 8th Grade Band Information
The 7th and 8th grade band is called “Wind Ensemble.” Wind Ensemble meets at 7:30 am. Students are not expected to attend all 5 days each week. (The daily schedule will be clarified in class.) Our first class is on Tuesday, 9/5.
Timely communication with families is important because of the early start time. If class is unexpectedly canceled due to weather, Mrs. Thompson’s absence etc, families will be notified via REMIND.
You must subscribe to receive messages. This will ensure that all important information regarding rehearsal and concert schedules come right to you.
REMIND is intended for adults and students age 13 and older. If you are below age 13, please have an adult subscribe and communicate with you. If you are 13 or older, you may subscribe, but an adult should also subscribe.
REMIND was created for teachers to communicate brief reminders. I am limited to 140 characters. Please excuse the brevity of all REMIND communications.
Click here to sign up for the Wind Ensemble REMIND group.
Mentors Needed
Do you think kids are fun? Does spending time with children bring you joy? Are you interested in giving back to your community? Then you’d probably be a good mentor! CY Mentors at WCS are caring adults who spend a regularly scheduled hour with their middle school student
mentees each week that school is in session. They participate in many activities together on school grounds,including games, arts and crafts, sports cooking, and conversation.
Mentors bring with them a sense of shared fun, new experiences and great listening skills. Mentors bring encouragement and options for expanding a young person’s regard for themselves and their world. By sharing yourself with your mentee you can inspire them to create a richer future for themselves. If you would like to give back to the community in this incredibly meaningful way, please be in touch! We would love to hear from you.
Please contact Becky martell , WCS Mentoring rmartell@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6046
WCS 4th Grade Chorus Info
When:
Tuesdays after school, 2:50-4:00.
Rehearsals for session 1 begin on Tuesday, September 26th.
The first two rehearsals are “open enrollment.” (9/26 and 10/3) Students may come to sit in and check it out with no obligation.
Starting Tuesday, October 10th, students must make a final decision to be a chorus member or not. Chorus members must attend all rehearsals. Absences due to medical, religious, or family reasons are excused.
Non-members are not permitted to attend rehearsals.
Where:
WCS Music/Chorus room
Students should bring a snack to eat between school dismissal and the start of chorus rehearsal. No food is permitted inside the rehearsal room. Only water is allowed.
There is a 4:20 activity bus available to take students home. Supervision is provided between 4:00 and 4:20.
Other Information:
The chorus performances for session 1 will be on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.
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. (Or use this online form instead!)
Please contact Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) with any questions or concerns. dtrasciatti@cvsdvt.org
Four Winds Nature Institute
Families as Partners
For more information or to volunteer to help contact: willistonfap@cvsdvt.org
Visit our website at: https://willistonfap.wixsite.com/willistonfap
Donate online using the link to the Williston Annual Fund Paypal site below: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VUCV9BR5SWTA or https://tinyurl.com/bdzjf35s
Scan QR code above OR
Enclose cash or check with the linked form and return it to your student’s teacher. Printable Copy HERE Please make checks payable to: “Williston FAP”
Arrival & Dismissal
Community Connections
Transportation Information
Thank you for your patience as bus routes take longer the first couple of weeks of school as drivers and students are getting familiar with the stops the routine.
Allen Brook School and Williston Central School