District Update

Welcome to the last District update of 2024! It is amazing that in just a few weeks, we will be enjoying the holiday season and ushering in a new year!

I want to remind everyone that our regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10th at the District Office. During the meeting we’ll share information on the Elementary School Air Conditioning Project, Special Education Advisory Council update, and on upcoming computer-based testing. When we return from the Winter Recess, the School Start Time Committee will present the proposal for new school start times for the 2025-2026 school year at the January 14th Board of Education meeting. There will then be a comment period to allow for community feedback.

Adjusting school start times is based on research and information available for our youngest and older learners. These studies showed, especially at the middle and high school level, that students received more sleep with later school start times, experienced improved physical and mental health, including a decrease in anxiety and depression. Among the studies available, schools reported an increase in attendance, reduced tardiness, improved academic and athletic performance, and improved graduation rates.

District administrators, teachers, and our Board Vice President attended the National Conference on Adolescent Sleep and School Start Times in October. The research and information, along with our implementation timeline, have been available on the District website and discussed at our Board of Education meetings. In January, we will also have a frequently asked questions document available to stakeholders to reference as we continue through this process.

Don’t forget, our next Speaker Series on Literacy will take place on Thursday, December 12th. Christi Carroll, the District’s Director of English Language Arts, will share insight into ELA at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, along with our work to be at the forefront of the Science of Reading discussion.

As I wrap up, I want to remind our community that the Winter Recess is two weeks long. There is no school from December 23rd through the new year, with classes resuming on Monday, January 6th. Please be on the lookout as well as we are trying to coordinate another spirit day with U-B for their Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. Once we have details finalized, we will share that with our families and staff.

Please enjoy the holiday season and have a happy, healthy, and safe new year.

Date: December 10th
Time: Approximately 7:00 p.m.

Location: District Office

Date: December 12th
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom Webinar (Passcode - 9Ua61d)

Date: December 23-January 3
Classes resume on Monday, January 6th

The proposal for new school start times will be presented at the January 14th Board of Education meeting.

Following this meeting, there will be a comment period for community feedback. A "Frequently Asked Question" document will be available on the District website, along with additional research and information, on the District's School Start Times Informational Page.

• Country Parkway Elementary

• Heim Elementary

• Maple West Elementary
  
  

• Dodge Elementary

• Forest Elementary

• Maple East Elementary

Williamsville Central School District’s Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Program is a developmentally appropriate, learner-centered educational program to help four-year old children develop physically, socially, emotionally, linguistically, culturally, and intellectually. The program is aligned with the New York State Pre-K curriculum and addresses ELA, math, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning.

Children who will be four years of age by December 1, 2024 and reside in the Williamsville Central School District are eligible to be considered for this program. Parents and guardians who are interested in having their child considered for UPK must call the District Registrar at 716-626-8001 and confirm that their four-year-old is included in the District census. This step is required even if families have other children who are currently registered in the Williamsville Central School District.

UPK students are considered new entrants to the Williamsville Central School District and must meet the following program requirements as articulated by New York State and WCSD:

• Students must attend their UPK program 5-hours per day, 5-days a week, for the entire 180-day school year.

• Students must meet the expectation to arrive on time, and stay for the entire duration of the school day.

• Transportation to and from the program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

• Students must meet NYS immunization and mandated health requirements.

Currently, the Williamsville Central School District collaborates with eight community-based child care centers and two District elementary schools to provide the UPK program. UPK is a New York State and federally funded grant program that is offered to eligible children free of charge and is of no cost to parents/guardians.

Recently, a new community-based site located at ECC North was added to the district’s UPK program for the 2024-2025 school year, and additional spots are currently available.

Please contact the Office of Instruction at 716-626-8071 to speak to the UPK secretary with any questions, or to express interest in this UPK program located at ECC North.

The "Speaker Series" informational events are designed to provide stakeholders with insight into the work that takes place in our schools. This year's Speaker Series will focus on instruction.

All of the Speaker Series events will be held virtually from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. via a Zoom webinar. They will feature presenters and also a question and answer segment. The Speaker Series will be recorded and available to view on the District's YouTube channel after each virtual session.

Speaker Series Schedule

Tuesday, November 26th - The Arts

• Video

Thursday, December 12th - Literacy

• Zoom Webinar (Passcode - 9Ua61d)

Thursday, February 27th - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM)

• Zoom Webinar (Passcode - rC04Ni)

Tuesday, March 18th - Math and Computer Science

• Zoom Webinar (Passcode - Ttyzr9)