1. Early Winter Break: 12/23 - 1/1

2. 01/02/2025 - Welcome Back & Happy New Year

3. New Website launched - be sure to update any bookmarked pages!

Important Upcoming Dates to Note

12/23 - Early Winter Break begins

01/02 - Back To School, Happy New Year!

01/06 - WCS Drama Program, Parent Information Night, WCS Auditorium

01/09 - Williston Families as Partners Monthly Meeting, 8:30am @WCS Community Room

01/09 - Celebrate the Arts + Community Night, 5-8pm @CVU

01/14 - Intergen Book Groups

01/16 - Walk and Roll to School Day

01/20 - No School / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

by Angela Filion, Allen Brook School Principal

I hope this letter finds you well as we continue working together to support the growth and development of your child/children into the New Year. At ABS, we take pride in nurturing not only academic skills but also the social and emotional growth essential for lifelong success.

Recently, we have observed more and more situations where students are struggling to handle the word "no" or manage disappointment effectively. While this is a normal part of childhood, it highlights an area where we can work together to strengthen their ability to cope with boundaries and challenges in a healthy way.

Teaching children to hear and accept "no" is an important part of helping them develop resilience, emotional regulation, and critical life skills. It’s not about being harsh or denying them opportunities but about preparing them to navigate the ups and downs of life with confidence and adaptability.

Here are some ways you can help at home:

1. Set Clear and Consistent Boundaries
   Children thrive when they know what to expect. Saying "no" when necessary—whether it’s about extra screen time, treats, or other requests—helps them understand the importance of limits and fosters self-discipline.

2. Validate Their Feelings
   Disappointment can be tough for kids. Let them know their feelings are okay by saying things like, "I know it’s hard not to get what you want," or, "I understand you’re upset." Acknowledging their emotions helps them feel heard and supported.

3. Teach Healthy Responses to Disappointment
   Model calm and constructive ways to handle setbacks. For example, instead of focusing on what went wrong, talk about what they can learn or try differently next time.

4. Encourage a Growth Mindset
   Praise their effort and perseverance rather than focusing solely on results. Statements like, "I’m proud of how hard you tried," helps them see the value in persistence, even when things don’t go as planned.

In school, we are making a concerted effort to address these challenges by incorporating lessons on emotional regulation, empathy, and problem-solving into our daily routines. Whether it’s during classroom activities, group play, or conflict resolution, we use these moments to teach students how to cope with limits and find constructive ways to express their feelings.

Some families have reached out to us asking for some helpful resources to support children in learning how to handle "no," manage disappointment, and build resilience:

Books/Articles for Parents

1. "Raising Resilient Children" by Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein

• Practical advice on nurturing a child’s ability to bounce back from challenges.

2. "Parenting with Love and Logic" by Charles Fay and Foster Cline

• Focuses on helping children learn responsibility and emotional regulation through natural consequences.

3. Article: Building Resilience in Children

4. Article: Everybody Gets Mad: Helping Your Child Cope with Conflict

Activities and Tools for Families

1. Emotion Regulation Games

• Apps like Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame help young children practice calming strategies in a fun and interactive way.

2. “Calm Down” Jar Craft

• Make a glitter jar to help children self-soothe when they feel upset. When shaken, the swirling glitter gives kids time to breathe and refocus.

3. Family Role-Playing

• Practice scenarios where children hear "no" in a safe and supportive environment. For example, rehearse situations like “No, we can’t buy a toy today” and brainstorm ways to respond calmly.

Community Resources

• Local Parenting Workshops or Support Groups

Your partnership in this effort is invaluable. By reinforcing these lessons at home, you can help your child develop the skills they need to face challenges with resilience and confidence. Together, we can equip them to grow into thoughtful, capable, and emotionally strong individuals. If you have any questions or would like additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to help every student thrive.

If next week is a time for gathering, celebrating, and family connectedness, we wish you joy and happiness. Those moments are precious. If this time of year brings up challenging emotions - stress, loneliness, or missing loved ones - please be kind to yourself.

For those whose celebrations involve alcohol, be mindful of the young people who are present and watching. The way adults model responsible drinking behaviors significantly influences the risk perceptions and actions of young individuals. We recognize that not all aspects of holiday celebrations involving alcohol are within our control. However, many situations are preventable, particularly concerning underage [binge] drinking and impaired driving. For a little more on the topic, check out this take from Jessica Lahey, a renowned NYT bestselling author, parent educator, and prevention coach.

This time of year is also a prime opportunity to have a conversation about alcohol and substances with your kids. Just try starting from a restorative place about their safety and genuine concern rather than a restrictive "don’t get caught" mindset. We know that when we have open, honest and curious conversations about substances, our words can have a more significant impact on their choices and behaviors.

For more prevention resources, check out our library for parents and caregivers here.

Have a wonderful break!

All end of day or attendance changes must be communicated to the Front Office of your student's school. It is important that all drop-offs and pick-ups check in with the front office so students are accounted for at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.

*Allen Brook School: absattendance@cvsdvt.org

* updated email address - automatically includes the front office, nurse and team assistant all in one email!

Williston Central School: wcsattendance@cvsdvt.org

The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7

The holiday season can be joyful and stressful. For youth, the holiday break can bring unstructured and unsupervised time away from trusted connections, leading to risky behaviors or feelings of isolation and loneliness. Remember the free, confidential 988 Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide support and local services - you don't need to be in crisis to call.

Whether it’s struggling with tough emotions, substance use, or just needing someone to talk to, no crisis is too small. Read more at cvsdvt.org/988-lifeline

Be sure you see all there is to see...

Williston Rec, DAML, Community Events, Buzz at ABS, WCS Wildcat What's Up, Bus Information, WFAP & Four Winds, and more! Don't see it all? click VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE at the end of your email

The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2025-26 school year.

All applications must be received by February 7, 2025, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under PreK Enrollment. 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.

Whether you’re spending time at home or traveling to visit family, secure any firearms in your home and ask how guns are stored in homes you’re visiting. Unintentional shootings are far more likely to occur when children and teens are home from school, including on holiday breaks. Need help securing your firearm? Free cable gun locks are available throughout the community, including at the front desks of schools.

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 24/7 - 365 for call or text
• 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.